I have always respected Morgan Freeman both as an actor and as a show maker. His Through the Wormhole Series has always been a source of accurate science and entertainment. I have even enjoyed parts of his series exploring God. From astronomy to human and animal behavior, his shows have generally hit the mark. But […]
It’s the time of year when all publications do a year in review and TGForum is no exception. We’ve gone through every month of TWIT for 2016 and picked out a few stories from each week. Put all together they make a really long scrolling page but they will take you back through the year that just ended. Get ready to scroll! It’s TWIT 2016 in Review!
During the past eight years trans rights have been boosted by the Obama Administration. Rules were put in place to help trans people to get the equal treatment they are entitled to and President Obama was hailed as the “transgender rights president.” Trans allowed to serve openly in the military. Trans people actually visible in the administration. All those gains can be wiped away in just a few weeks when the new administration takes over. Babs Casbar Siperstein discusses what we may lose and she reports on the results of the 2015 U.S. Transgender Survey.
Miss Sophie Lynne was late with her post this month. Of course she has been busy. Works in retail and all that, so you wouldn’t expect her to turn her work in on time after a grueling day on the job. A job with extended holiday hours, too. So when she turned in her assignment late we semi-gave her but she has to have some punishment. That will be stepping up to the front of the room and reading her essay, “Late Christmas.”
Its time for The Week In Trans! Today we learn that a Distracted Elf transitioned in the online gaming stream. The Trump transition team wants to know who’s been working on gender equality and they’d like to take names. North Carolina’s HB2 was supposed to be overturned but that didn’t happen. Straight couples are switching clothes for the Switch it Up Challenge. “Bathroom” bills are poised for introduction in many places but they may not ever be law. Women don’t seem to mind trans women in the restroom as much as men do. A plus size trans model makes history. Various studies and surveys on trans have issued results. A trans woman runs for council in Minneapolis. There’s all that and a lot more waiting for you in TWIT!
(Bala Cynwyd, PA) Dr. Sherman Leis, founder of The Philadelphia Center for Transgender Surgery, one of the leading resources for transgender surgery and medical support in the United States, presents his annual list of the top 10 trends that will affect the transgender community in 2017. According to Dr. Leis, “While cultural and public support […]
New Year’s Eve! It’s the one night you can throw caution to the winds and wear whatever outrageous sequined, sparkly, snake print, feathered outfit you want. It’s a celebration and the best way to celebrate is in those sparkling 4 inch heels, that skin tight red dress and a ton of zircons, or real diamonds if you’ve got ’em. Lorraine Anderson, woman in charge at The Occasional Woman sewing service, has some tips on how to rock that New Year’s Eve party.
At the beginning of every year many people use the rolling over from one year to the next as a time to make New Year resolutions. Cate O’Malley doesn’t have a list of resolutions that will probably stop being resolved within a few months of 2017. Instead she has a list of wishes. Things she would like to see happen in 2017. Read on and see what her wishes are.
Amanda works in the retail business. At a large discount department store. The time leading up to Christmas can be bad for anyone but for those working retail . . . it can be downright awful. But the pre-Christmas rush is over. Christmas day has come and Amanda blogs about how her Christmas went as it got closer and closer to Christmas Day.
Katherine Diaz learned about a group of eleven talented trans artistes who call their theater group/band/art project, Gaadejo. Katherine has a video about the group and writes about them in her native Spanish.
Attention! The Week In Trans is on the air! Among our trans-related stories today you will learn that Major League Baseball will no longer be able to haze rookies by making them dress in women’s clothes. Cartoonist Barry Deutsch has a cartoon that sums up the “bathroom bills.” A court has let a trans girl continue to use the girls’ room. A special edition of National Geographic features trans people on the cover. The Coy Mathis documentary premiers in January. Trans women compete in marathons and cycling. The director of Boys Don’t Cry is met with protests. Jackie Evancho is in trouble with Trump supporters for having a trans sister. A young trans girl was instrumental in getting the laws in Malta changed. Trans activists in China held their first summit. Shangela has a naughty Christmas video. All that and more plus some TWIT Awards is waiting for you in TWIT!
Welcome to Dina’s Diner. Slide into a booth or sit at the counter. It’s your choice down at the Diner. Dina has a healthy stew cooking today. There’s a bit of nostalgia for the glamorous drag performers of yesteryear. Tasty discussion of how the internet has helped many people gain acceptance in their particular identity. A seasoning of cosplay and body painting helps to add some flavor, and then Dina stirs in a couple more ingredients; the use of crossdressed men in commercials around the world, and the penchant among crossdressing community members to dress up in a Santa type outfit and pose for photos by the Christmas tree. Order up a steaming bowl of today’s special stew at Dina’s Diner!
Why is it that some people seem to get so upset about gay or trans people? What could be the reason they feel they have to make their revulsion known to one and all? Could it be something that’s been bugging them for a long time that they just don’t want to accept? What might happen if the right stimulus came along at just the right time? Say when some vehement gay hater just couldn’t contain all that hate anymore? Sabring Symington has a cartoon that comically illustrates what could happen.
What do we learn in today’s edition of TWIT? It looks like a gender fluid actor will be nominated for both genders in the “best supporting” category of the Academy Awards. Medicaid in New York will cover gender-transition for youth. Australia tries to update trans specific laws. They’ve also replaced Santa with drag queens. Malta accepts trans identities. Samoa celebrates its trans people. Miss Waria Indonesia 2016 has been chosen. Washington state Republicans seek to repeal anti-discrimination protections. Texas learns nothing from North Carolina and moves ahead on a bathroom bill. Walmart’s health insurance now covers trans related medical care. There’s all that and much more, along with a load of TWIT Awards, waiting for you in TWIT!
Today Amanda devotes Trans Media Arts to an in-depth interview with San Francisco trans folk/punk performer Shawna Virago. The interview covers such topics as who is Shawna’s favorite Beatle, what was the inspiration for her stage look, what she does for fun at the Motel 6 every month and where she what motivates her to write songs. The Shawna Virago interview is today’s Trans Media Arts, and Amanda includes a video of a song from Shawna’s new album.
Every year we hear people go on about how it’s been the worst year, ever. Some respected people died, wars were waged, and the taxes had to be paid. In today’s post from The Artist D she postulates that this is what has been going on for centuries. Every year always brings disappointments since people do die, taxes are always due and awful things do happen. It’s just that in 2016 they are all right there on your smart phone every minute of the day. The Artist D likens it to cave people with smart phones. See if you agree.
Ray Dandelion is a teenager living in Northern California. He is working to help LGBT+ youth become more accepting of themselves and fully understand who they are. Ray’s main goal is to educate parents of LGBT+ youth on what their kids are going through from his own perspective and what he sees happening with the many people he has met throughout his journey. Here Ray offer advice to young people about coming out as trans.
Here we go again! Time for The Week In Trans! What do we learn today? A 73-year-old former female impersonator tells her story. Jennifer Finney Boylan says don’t blame trans people for the election loss. Los Angeles will fund programs to get trans people jobs. “The Trans List” premiers tonight on HBO. East Harlem is getting a transgender clinic. A trans man fired by GE sues. Concerns about the coming administration and some pro bono help with legal matters. 11 trans people in our history. India Willoughby is accused of being a misogynist. A Pakistani trans model does a photo shoot to fight discrimination. There are all those stories and more, including a boat load of TWIT Awards, waiting for you in TWIT!
This “how to” TGForum Rerun appeared on TGF in 1998. It’s by the late Roberta Angela Dee whose advice on beauty remains sound in the 21st century. In this Rerun Roberta acts as a makeup advice columnist and answers common questions with simple makeup tips.
Emily Ott has been around and she knows that the next four years are going to bring many changes in the treatment of trans people by the federal government. We have been making progress toward ensuring all of our civil and human rights but the nature of the incoming administration has many concerned. Emily among them. What will the next four years bring? At this point no one knows but Emily has some ideas that she takes from history.
Like many in the U.S. Sophie had hopes for the next four years under the leadership of a more liberal administration, possible with more cooperation from congress, that would protect the rights of trans people. After the election when the Electoral College votes gave the presidency to the Republican candidate Sophie was in shock. She pulled back from social media and had to adjust to this radical shift in reality. Today she shares some of her thoughts on how the election will affect her and other trans people for at least the next four years.
Amanda has been in northern California for two years. While there are many things she enjoys about the region there are many things that she doesn’t like. It’s expensive, crowed and it’s hard to connect with other people. On the other hand it’s close to gender reassignment surgeons. The weather is good for much of the year. But there aren’t enough hugs. Family and old friends are thousands of miles away. Oftentimes she wonders why she is still there. Holiday time makes it all worse.
Dallas Denny takes us back to the days of Germany’s Weimar Republic, a socially liberal, progressive democratic government that ruled Germany after World War I. During that time trans people became bolder and began to be seen out and about in public places. The good times ended when Adolph Hitler was elected chancellor and his National Socialist party came to power. Dallas feels that those who ignore history are doomed to repeat it and she finds chilling similarities between the fall of the Weimar Republic and what is currently happening in the U.S.A.
Katherine Diaz has sent us another video about trans life in Columbia. This one is called Princesas de la Noche — Fue un Sabado en la Noche. Katherine tells us about a new place her my city where many trans girls go on a Saturday night. She also fills us in on the “tranxtienda” where many Columbian trans girls first venture out of their homes. The text of this post is en español.
When you start living your life as your true-self and announce to everyone you know that you are trans and proud of it you will encounter several types of reactions among your family, friends, co-workers, and acquaintances. Emily O has come out and to help you identify the various types she has made a list of the ways people took her revelation. She has assigned them labels and lists them here so you can keep an eye out for them when you decide to come out.
It’s The Week In Trans! Today we learn about a popular Israeli drag performer who comes from a conservative background. We get word that the VA will not be able to provide gender confirmation surgery even though they would like to. A prosecutor’s office in Michigan has adopted a Transgender Interaction Policy. Lil Miss Hot Mess reads to children at a New York City library. Provo, Utah is getting an LGBTQ resource center. A trans woman is running for mayor in her Oregon town. A judge has ruled that MinnesotaCare must pay for trans-related services. YouTube has tons of queens doing makeup tutorials. David de Alba is featured in a Las Vegas newspaper. There’s all that and plenty more waiting for you in TWIT! And yes, we have a few TWIT Awards to hand out as well.
