The Most Fabulous Jeffrey Marsh & How To Be You
Last Tuesday we took a road trip to New York, New York. What was the occasion? An old friend from Philadelphia who had moved to the big city to make it in the big time… made it in the big time. Jeffrey Marsh, who has been mentioned in our TWIT column, is a performer/singer/musician who was based in Philadelphia. Pa. several years ago. Jeffrey, who identifies as a non-binary, gender fluid person, is a wonderful singer and has a very appealing stage presence.
Angela Gardner with Jeffrey Marsh.
So, did they hit it big on the New York City music scene? Not exactly. On Tuesday we went to A book launch party to celebrate the publication of Jeffrey’s book, How To Be You. How did this talented performer become an author? What brought Jeffrey’s initial fame was their Vine videos.
Vine, owned by Twitter, is an app-based video network where people post short videos of themselves doing performances, from the wacky to the sublime. It’s sort of like street theater without the street. Jeffrey achieved over a quarter billion views for their Vines, as they’re called. That got them involved with MTV/Logo, GLSEN and The Huffington Post.
Jeffrey’s Vines all revolve around the positive message that you should be who you are and not waste any time trying to be what someone else thinks you should be, what society has convinced you to be. Their Vines embrace gender fluidity and taking the elements of the binary genders that feel right and mixes them to suit your needs. Sort of a gender collage effect. For example Jeffrey shows of their legs in short skirts and dresses but keeps their hair short and sports facial hair balanced by dramatic eye makeup. They top it off with a smile that can light up any room.
Jeffrey’s book is an extension of their Vine vids. The book’s purpose is to help you ask the right questions of yourself that will help you find the patterns that hold you back and keep you from being the fabulous being that you are. In it you will find Jeffrey’s own story of growing up in rural America and finding solace in solitary performances in the family barn. There are other tales of people who have transcended their beginnings and found their true selves. It also contains work sheets, lists to fill in, and pages to draw on. There’s even a page where you design your own superhero cape.
Jeffrey entertains.
The book launch event was by invitation only with people chosen from Twitter and Vine. It took place in an anonymous space in the Chelsea section of New York. Refreshments were provided, including wine on tap and unlimited coffee drinks, and Jeffrey got the crowd warmed up by pulling out their ukulele and singing I Will Always Love You. Then they perched on the back of an upholstered booth and read from How To Be You. After the applause subsided it was time for Jeffrey to acquire a case of writer’s cramp as they signed the copies of How To Be You that everyone in attendance received. There was a goodie bag too!
If you are still searching for yourself, no matter what your age, you might consider picking up this goodhearted book, giving it a read and doing some of the exercises. How To Be You is a light shining against the darkness of ignorance and fear.
For more of the social media phenomena that is Jeffrey Marsh check out their Vine posts and follow them there and on Twitter. How To Be You is available from Amazon in both paperback and Kindle editions. Illustrations by Danny Coeyman.
Category: Transgender Community News
About the Author (Author Profile)
Angela Gardner is a founding member of The Renaissance Transgender Assoc., Inc., former editor of its newsletter and magazine, Transgender Community News. She was the Diva of Dish for TGF in the late 1990s and Editor of LadyLike magazine until its untimely demise. She has appeared in film and television shows portraying TG characters, as well as representing Renaissance on numerous talk shows.Subscribe
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