Cate O’Malley hasn’t turned into a movie reviewer over the last month. The “purge” she writes about today is the one that the vast majority of trans people have experienced, not the movie about one day dedicated to lawless chaos. In the the trans purge the remorseful TG vows to give up their cross gender activities and throws out all traces of our other gender. Cate has some suggestions to consider if you feel the urge to purge.
When people strike out at members of the trans community, whether through violence or scorn and derision, the tendency is to want to seek revenge on them for their ignorance or violent acts. Who hasn’t heard of the murder of a trans woman and thought how great it would be to become and avenging trans superhero, hunt down her killer and exact retribution? Meggan Sommerville has a more Christian way to get revenge.
The weekend before last Sophie Lynne wanted to get out to have fun with her trans sisters at a local TG gathering spot. But snow arrived and icy road thwarted her desires. That left her home alone with nothing to do but settle in and try to write her column for TGForum. Since she was alone again, naturally her thoughts turned to her gender journey. She got a few of those thoughts compiled and here they are.
It’s only words. But words can break apart a community that needs to stand together against ignorance. Divisions over who gets to use the word “transgender” as a gender identity descriptor are still around in the transgender community. Do crossdressers get to call themselves “transgender”? That’s the question Angela Gardner comments on in this op-ed.
The Southern Comfort Conference, traditionally conducted in Atlanta, Ga. has decided to move further south to Fort Lauderdale, Florida for their 25th anniversary. As we did last year we will bring you reports on the conference throughout the year. This year we welcome Zelda Rose, Director of Communications for the SCC with her reports.
2014 was on balance a very good year for transgender people in America. As a trans activist there was much to celebrate for our movement and even the most negative happenings had a silver lining and gave hope for future progress. In Part 1 of this year end summary I reviewed the many positive things that occurred on a national level, mostly thanks to actions by the Obama Administration with input from our trans activists and policy people.
“I wanted to be like my mom. I admired her when she was doing all her woman’s things and I admired her woman’s paraphernalia equally. Until this point, nothing to be surprised about, I guess pretty common for every little girl. I might have been four years old and she ignored it. She didn’t want […]
From the red carpet at The Golden Globes to the winter chill of Moscow’s streets, we search the world over for all the transgender news that’s fit to print. Today we learn that “Transparent” won a Golden Globe. A former male “American Idol” contestant is a trans woman. Stu Rasmussen’s term as the first TG mayor has ended. An Indian hijra has been elected mayor in her town. Medicaid in Oregon covers trans health issues. Was Bug Bunny the first drag queen on TV? Are there any transgender superheroes in the comics? Conchita Wurst walks the Golden Globe red carpet. All that and more is waiting for you in TWIT!
Martin/Mary is back in this latest report from Linda Jensen. You may recall last year Linda told you about how her nephew came to visit and was transformed into her niece. In this latest tale from Florida Mary tells Linda that it is important to always be careful when you’re out and about being a lady. If you aren’t careful you could “back yourself out.”
The TG world presents images now and then of forced crossdressing, CD “sissy” maids waiting on their leather and stiletto clad mistresses and there are stories of men being feminized by dominant women. Do these stories and images mean that there is a strong connection between the worlds of TGTS and BDSM? Dana Bevan takes a look at that question.
The suicide of a trans teen girl in Ohio has caused a flood of reaction through the news media and social media. Her Christian parents still do not accept her gender and refer to her as a boy. Their non-acceptance and efforts to change her into a boy put enormous stress on the girl and to her it seemed the only way ti escape the pain was to end her life. Today Meggan Sommerville discusses Leelah’s legacy.
If you live over fifty years of your life in one gender and then transition to living in the other gender there are bound to be things that come up that seem odd. During the first fifty years you were learning about things related to one gender and then you’ve got to catch up in the other. And things start to happen because of your new relation to the world that seem kinda weird.
Sophie Lynne has been living as a woman full time for nine months. Today she pauses to reflect on what, after facing several challenges in the past year, she can expect in the new year. What will 2015 hold for her? Learn what she imagines things will be like in this essay titled “Now What?”
Return with us now as we cruise through 2014 and present the year in TWIT. Stories of importance from every month of the waning year are included. From January through December and from RuPaul winning the best reality show host to the Barney’s TG ad campaign, and Jeffry Tambor in “Transparent.” We’ve got it all in this year end TWIT.
Before you can choose flattering femme attire you must first learn your body type. A dress that looks fabulous on a slim hipped body can look disastrous on a pear shaped body. Today Victoria Williams talks about how to figure out your body type so you can choose the best fashions to flatter your figure.
The 7th season cast of “Drag Race” is announced. There’s a book on the history of high heels. New York state law says insurance plans must cover treatments for gender dysphoria. A new reality show is title My Transparent Life. A trans woman in the U.K. is the first to run for Parliament. The Air Force Secretary is for letting TGs serve. The SF Transit Police are getting a TG policy. A Kinsey Sick is becoming a rabbi. Batgirl comics loses cred for a stereotypical character. There’s all that plus more and a few TWIT Awards besides, in this edition of TWIT!
By Kristina Mayhem Over one hundred people gathered for a special presentation called Leading Inclusion: Gender in Engineering on November 18th 2014 in Chesebrough Auditorium on the beautiful University of Michigan North Campus. It was sponsored by Own It, a UofM organization of student engineers. Own It wants more inclusiveness in engineering and cited statistics […]
As a trans woman coming to femininity later in life there are plenty of things that Cate O’Malley is finding frustrating about her new femme lifestyle. Shoe shopping for male feet was simple. Not so with shoe shopping as a lady. And why can you try on two dresses, both the same size, and have one that hangs off your body and one so tight you can’t zip it up? Cate has other things too that make her say “I don’t get it!”
(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, has identified 10 important trends that will affect America and its transgender community in 2015. “Although society has made a great deal of progress for the […]
It’s The Week In Transgenderism! Panti Bliss wins an award. Does a Pentagon personnel policy mean TGs can serve openly? A trans woman convicted for “walking while trans” appeals. Women’s colleges are dealing with trans issues. 19th century crossdressing! The Canadian Senate is blocking a trans rights bill. A trans woman is starring in a play about a trans woman who is outed, and the play may out her. TGs don’t get good healthcare. There’s a film called “Alaska Is A Drag.” Our Lady J is writing for “Transparent.” All that plus more — and several TWITS are waiting for you in TWIT.
A recent interaction with a group of ladyboys got Christine Burr thinking about transgenderism. The women were modeling wedding dresses at an event promoting various wedding salons to prospective brides. Christine started talking to them about what it means to be a ladyboy in Thailand. After listening to them and ruminating on transgenderism in general she has come to some conclusions.
Ever since she ran into a group of crossdressed people during Mardi Gras in 1978 photographer Mariette Pathy Allen has been documenting trans people in photographs and assembling the photos into books. In 1989 her book “Transformations: Crossdressers and Those Who Love Them” featured members of Renaissance. Her latest book is “TransCuba.” Recently she was honored at Fantasia Fair with the 2014 Pioneer Award. Jan Brown visited Allen in her Manhattan home and introduces you to her.
Lypsinka is back! Philadelphia drag performers attempt to set a world record. Elle Fanning portrays a trans teen boy. Miami-Dade County is set to enact trans protections. Mexico City simplifies name and gender change. Australia is urged to treat trans kids differently. Andreja Pejic is in the news. A Thai modeling agency reps trans models. Hijra in Bangladesh celebrate pride. TDOR is this week. Drag queens cavort at Indochine. College drag shows! RuPaul’s makeup man has a photo exhibit. Another photo exhibit documents the East London drag scene. L.A.’s Bad Suns release a music video on gender identity issues. All that and more is in TWIT!
Linda Jensen records the story of one gorgeous transsexual and finds out that the lady’s first inklings of femininity had less to do with sexual urges or a feeling she should have been born a woman and more to do with a twelve year old boy finding he could pass and be respected as an older teen if he presented as a girl. In Chapter 2 Patty manages to go away to school — as a girl.
(Philadelphia, PA) Recently, there has been much controversy in the news surrounding the issue of, “how young is too young for transgender teens to undergo sex change operations?” As more and more transgender people, including teenagers and children are becoming more comfortable outing themselves in today’s society, this question often arises once they begin to […]
We welcome Sirena Rivera as a TGForum Contributor. Sirena was at Fantasia Fair 2014 last month and she promised to write something for us about her experience there. It took her s few weeks to get settled down from the feelings of liberation and peace that she found there so it’s taken till now for her to share her report with us.
