Tennessee Vals June 1999 Online Newsletter  
 
 
Vals logo

New This Month:

Soccer Sport Monthly (The Queen's Throne)
Fear and Loathing in Las Vegas
Granny Trannies
A Meeting with Mrs. King
New Columnist: Susie Grant
A Blonde, Brunette and Redhead: by Julie Phillips
Book Review: Travesti
News TransMissions

 

June 1999 - Online Edition


Upcoming Group Meetings & Events

June 12-Discussion Circle

July 10-TBA

August 14-Cookout

October 9-Halloween Party

December 11- 7th Annual Anniversary/Holiday Party

Future Board Meetings:

June 27, July 25, August 22

TN Vals Special Events:

Saturday, June 12: Night in White, Regal Maxwell House Hotel (I-265 & MetroCenter Blvd.), 8:30-2:00
 



Her Majesty, The Queen, Marisa The Queen's Throne
By Marisa Richmond
marisaval@aol.com

The past few years, I have found myself looking increasingly forward to the month of June. This is the time of the year when the Nashville-based Southern Baptist Convention makes total fools of themselves and exposes their hypocrisy and bigotry for the world to see. In recent years at their annual meeting, this denomination, founded in 1845 in order to defend slavery, has renounced its original stance (a mere 130 years after the institution finally ended), declared the Walt Disney Corporation is not "family friendly", and said that all women must be submissive to men. Over the past year alone, we have also seen two Southern Baptists (Pat Robertson and Jerry Falwell) make singular fools of themselves. At this point, I have no idea what this year's idiotic resolution will be, although I have heard lately they have put American Airlines on their hit list because the company refuses to pass judgment on the private lives of its employees. But if recent history provides any clue, you can bet it will be a real rib-tickler--if only they were not so serious. Still, it's no wonder that recent news reports show their membership has declined....
 

Another example of religious intolerance has come out of our own state. Many of you may have heard of the case of 21-year-old April Divilbiss of Memphis who recently lost a custody battle for her three-year-old daughter. The Shelby County Juvenile Court ruled that Divilbiss provided a home "detrimental to the moral upbringing of the child" because she was in a plural, consenting relationship with two men simultaneously. There was no evidence that the child was ever harmed or in any physical danger at any time. This case calls into question the very definition of morality, since Divilbiss is a Wiccan and they, like traditional Mormons, do not define plural marriages as immoral. The last time I checked, the First Amendment of the Constitution guarantees freedom of religious worship, and since her views are clearly religiously based, it seems to me that her basic rights are now being violated. This is very relevant to the gender community, especially here in Tennessee. Many of us are responsible parents whose religious beliefs are tolerant of diverse views of morality. This case suggests that we can be deemed "detrimental to the moral upbringing" of our own children simply for being ourselves. In a similar case in Texas, a judge ruled recently that the Metropolitan Community Church was not one of the acceptable, "standard religious institutions" in which to raise children. The reason we have a Bill of Rights is to protect individuals from the tyranny of the majority. Sadly, those whose religions preach love and tolerance can still feel the sting of persecution from those who pass judgment.
 

Of course, few columnists this month will probably ignore the tragedy out of Littleton, Colorado, and I certainly cannot do so. I have already seen plenty of fingers being pointed in many directions to help explain this tragedy. What happened in Littleton has similarities with other school shootings around the country--including in Tennessee-- and some unique features. It is sad that the killers felt ostracized by others, a feeling many in the GLBT community have long felt. It is worth noting, however, that they expressed hatred for others different from themselves, especially African-Americans and Jews. It does suggest that one solution should be to step up our teaching of tolerance and acceptance of diversity. We are all different and there is nothing wrong with that. But when some believe that diversity is bad, as many continue to teach and others believe, then a person can justify destroying that which they perceive to be evil.
 

This month also sees the beginning of what figures to be the largest sporting event for women ever held: the Women's World Cup. This event, hosted by eight U.S. cities, promises to help further destroy gender lines and give lie to the notion that athletics is a masculine endeavor. Many in our society still believe in the virile male/docile female dichotomy. This is especially quite visible within the gender community as evidenced by much transvestite fiction. As we claim to blur the distinctions of gender, we fall back into the stereotypes of gender.
 

In March 1981, the right-wing military dictatorship of Brazil banned anyone from providing financial support for women's football clubs because, as sociologist Janet Lever noted in 1983, it "is a man's game requiring masculine endurance and involving violent contact." In contrast, during the last WWC in 1995 when I was attending the Be All Convention outside Cincinnati, I went to the hotel bar to watch the match between the USA and Australia. I asked the bartender if they had espn2, and he said "Sure!" When he changed the set and saw the action, he blurted out, "Soccer?! That's a girl's sport!" I replied, "Of course!" He then looked at me quite startled and said, "I'm talking to the wrong crowd!" and stomped off in disgust. How can the exact same sport be readily identified with masculinity in one culture and femininity in another? (For more on Brazilian society, see this month's book review.) To me, the answer seems obvious: gender is socially constructed. We can choose to adhere to stereotypes or discard them.
 

I am pleased to see more in our society challenge these stereotypes and move outside of the narrow definitions of gender. In January 1997, the National Soccer Coaches Association of America had their annual convention at the Nashville Convention Center. I went down there on the last day and had to stand in line to get the autograph of forward Shannon MacMillan. Besides all the women and girls who were there who see MacMillan as a role model, there were also quite a lot of men and boys in that line who recognize that talent and ability in any field is not limited by gender. Later that same year, I went to a friendly match in Chattanooga between the USA and Sweden. In the 69th minute, midfielder Michelle Akers powered an incredible shot past goalkeeper Ulrika Karlsson that left the audience stunned for seconds. Akers suffers from Chronic Fatigue Syndrome, and yet despite the stereotype that women are weak, she carries on year after year, accumulating over 100 caps, and continues to provide excitement. This March, I even stopped by the Nash Bash, Nashville's annual rugby festival. Although I have never played the sport and know only a few of the rules (no blocking, no forward passing, no biting when the ref is looking), I did have a long-term relationship with a rugby player and have worked and socialized with several others. Anyway, I watched two of the women's matches that day: Ball State vs. Purdue; Stone Lions (Nashville) vs. Smoky Mountain (Knoxville). Those women went a long way towards shattering myths of female fragility, although the best statement was made, not surprisingly, on a t-shirt for the University of Nebraska women's rugby club: a leather-clad dominatrix with a whip and the caption "We Like It Rough". What a contrast that provides to the signing of midfielder Paul Merson by Aston Villa last fall, in what is easily England's (like Brazil's) quintessential male sport.
 

The club's manager, John Gregory, noted that since Merson likes to wear women's clothing and likes having his bottom spanked, "he should fit in well." Ya just gotta love English football players....
 

There will always be those, both in and out of the gender community, who accept the stereotype of women as bubble-headed Barbies ("Math class is tough"), as opposed to acknowledging strong, athletic heroines like historical legends such as Jeanne d'Arc or Mulan, or more recent fictional characters like Lara Croft, Kitana or Xena. The recent events in Littleton have led many psychologists to offer explanations of why this sort of violence pervades our society and, in particular, why the perpetrators are always male (although the fact that they are also all white has conveniently been ignored even though lacks are the ones often portrayed as the most violent and dangerous members of society). Anyway, many have suggested that one cause is our own society's stereotypes of masculine and feminine behavior that force people to behave in ways unnatural to them personally. This suggests that if we each learn to accept the diversity in all people, then both internalized and externalized hatred just might disappear.
 

And in case you are wondering, I predict the USA will recapture the Cup in Pasadena over Norway. Of course, my recent prognostications do leave a lot to be desired, so I'll hedge my bets and say that Germany, China or Brazil--and the Samba Queens have managed to overcome their slow start internationally caused by that 1981 law which was repealed once the country transitioned to democracy--can also win. Just don't run off to Vegas expecting to get rich off my predictions.
 

Another topic I wish to address briefly this month can be summed up with a single word: Netiquette. Since my picture appears in quite a few places these days, I often receive notes by e-mail from people claiming they wish to "chat." I have no objection to doing so, but when those notes are the online equivalent of grunts, it does not provide much of a beginning. If a person does wish to "chat"--whether it is with me or someone else-- then it is up to the initiator to begin some actual discussion of a topic of interest. Just before I went to New York in March,

I was contacted by a person whose e-mail address included "NYC". They claimed they wanted to chat but did not say anything even after I asked them to do so. If this person had introduced themselves and written coherently in complete sentences, I would have said I would be in New York a few days later. Instead, that person will just have to suffice fantasizing about me from looking at my photo on the Southern Comfort website. And unless one is specifically in a sexually oriented chat room, the discussion should not begin "Voulez-vous coucher avec moi, c'est soir?"
 

It should also be noted that the recent Lambda Literary Awards were held recently in Los Angeles. One category of note is "Best Transgender Book". This year's winner is The Empress is a Man: Stories from the Life of José Sarria by Michael Gorman (New York: Harrington Park Press, 1998). Sarria is the first admitted drag queen to run for Mayor of San Francisco...before Sister Boom Boom! Congrats are in order for this honor. And, yes, it is already in the Vals' library.
 

Finally, I hope everyone has marked Saturday, June 12, on their calendars. That is when The Night in White takes place at the Regal Maxwell House Hotel right after our meeting. This is an annual fund-raiser for Nashville CARES. I thought last year's party was simply the best social event I had ever attended in Nashville. Ever. I just hope they turn on the air conditioner a bit earlier this year. You'd be surprised how much heat 1000 people shimmying together can produce....


Back to Index
Dr. Love Wigged Out 
By Jennileigh Love
jlove1@ix.netcom.com

A slender black man is prancing on the stage. He sings, goading the crowd into singing along with him, "Tonight I'm gonna party like it's 1999!" It is 1999 after all. However, the man on stage is NOT Prince or The Artist or whatever he calls himself these days. The man on stage is an amazing impersonator of him and one of the featured impersonators at Legends in Concert, one of the longest running shows in Las Vegas. I sip my Zombie cocktails as "Madonna", "Michael Jackson" and "The Four Tops" spin medleys of their greatest hits. The "Righteous Brothers" were there also, and for all I know, it could have been the REAL Righteous Brothers. After all, we were in Las Vegas, where entertainers are put out to pasture.
 

The climax, of course, was "Elvis Presley" (who sang young skinny Elvis songs dressed as the fat, old Elvis). After the show, the featured impersonators were outside for excellent photo opportunities.
 

"Elvis" offered a kiss to my sweetie Cindy, but no kisses for your esteemed trans-gendered columnist. Boo hoo.. I was heartbroken.

Jenn, Cindo and the Faux Elvis

Yes, this is Las Vegas. What is real and what isn't? What is merely a façade and what is the genuine article? Walking out of the Excalibur hotel and casino, a stiff wind was stirring and Cindy and I asked each other "Is this real wind, or just a simulation?" Can you really walk from New York, New York to Monte Carlo? Yes, they are actually adjacent to each other in Las Vegas. I was fortunate enough to spend a spring vacation in Sin City in April. My sweetie, Cindy had a professional conference out there and I got the invitation to tag along.
 

Was Las Vegas trans-friendly? Well, overall I would say yes. I did get a few stares from some uneducated desert rats and various Northerners who had obviously never encountered a transperson in their entire life. I was certainly no big deal to Southwest Airlines. "Hey, this is Las Vegas!" was all the baggage checker said as he scanned my driver's license. I was just another tourist gawking at all the bright lights. We rode into the Strip in a limousine (Vegas has the cheapest limos anywhere - $4 per person) and debarked at one of the tackiest places
of all: Caesars' Palace. Well, to the high rollers who get suite comps, I guess it's a palace. My personal opinion was that it looked pretty much like any other hotel room I had stayed in--except for the Roman column-shaped shampoo bottles in the shower.
 

Caesars' really is a mixed up place. It's as if they can't decide whether or not to be a Roman palace or an ancient Greek palace. Of course, only the biggest nerds in the world would be in a casino pointing out the various historical errors in the decorations. At least all the pagan gods in the statues were referred to by their Roman names. We got to experience Casears' Magical Empire which is a new attraction including dinner and lots of magic shows. One magic show host in the Sultan's Theatre seemed to particularly enjoy his nice purple outfit with satin and sequins certainly a drag queen in the making.
 

While in Vegas, we got to go through the Star Trek Experience at the Las Vegas Hilton. The "Experience" includes a long winding passage, which obviously serves as a place for a line when

the crowds are heavy. Along the passage is a complete "history of the future" as told in Star Trek lore. There are also exhibits featuring props and costumes from the movies and television shows. The experience ends up with your tour group being abducted by Klingons into the future where you ride a shuttlecraft back to the Las Vegas Hilton. I can't share the exact storyline of the ride because the Starfleet officers present swore us to secrecy.
 

Suffice to say, our mission in the future affected the whole human race. (Yeah, right!) The ride ends up on the promenade of the space station Deep Space Nine where you can buy lots of Star Trek souvenirs (all rides in Las Vegas end up in souvenir shops) and have a tall Romulan Ale at Quark's Bar. Various characters from Star Trek wander around the area, intimidating the children and causing the adults to chuckle a bit. Klingons are apparently very keen on having their photos taken with humans.
 

Later that night we got to experience the ultimate in tackiness, Circus Circus, with its constantly running circus acts (which were actually very entertaining). Cindy and I skipped the casino and cruised the carnival midway. Cindy played a game where you used a hammer to knock a chicken into a stew pot and won a stuffed animal. Only in Vegas can knocking a chicken into a pot be a major excitement. We also went to the el cheapo Circus Circus buffet for dinner. In Las Vegas, one is required to consume at least one buffet meal per day. There are no exceptions. On the way back to Caesars' we caught the sinking ship show (say that ten times fast) at Treasure Island. That was absolutely the most elaborate advertisement for a casino I've ever seen.
 

Being a swishy transperson on vacation with my swishy girlfriend, we simply had to pay tribute the king of all things that are swishy. Yes, the Liberace Museum (www.liberace.org) is in Las Vegas. It's located in a tacky strip mall which also contains (surprise, surprise) Goodtimes, a Vegas gay bar. Wladziu Valentino Liberace had to be the queerest man in his time, which he denied publicly, but embraced privately. His outfits, cars and furniture were all featured in the museum, including "the world's largest Austrian rhinestone", tipping the scale at 50 pounds. I read on the Web that Liberace was actually almost killed by his costumes. In November of 1963, he was put in the hospital for kidney failure because his skin had absorbed so much of the dry-cleaning chemicals (tetrachloride) used to clean out the sweat he put in his costumes onstage. When was the last time your favorite dress tried to kill you? We sat in Goodtimes after the museum tour and meditated on what we had just witnessed and realized that Liberace was absolutely peerless in queerness.

Liberace: Did anyone ever actually believe he was straight?

Later in the trip, we visited Bugsy Seigel's casino, The Flamingo, now operated by Hilton. Bugsy was a tough guy/mass-murderer, but his hotel is mostly decorated in soft pinks and pastels. His hotel makes a hell of a buffet (note that this fulfilled our one-buffet-per-day requirement). Bugsy's photo is even featured on the Strange Currencies at the casino. He appears on the $5 casino chip. Later that day we went to New York New York (a hell of a town) and rode the Manhattan Express, a rollercoaster encircling the hotel that was positively bone-jarring. The casino replicates the Big Apple in miniature complete with the Chrysler building, the Brooklyn Bridge, rudeness and even graffiti all over the place. We even had a drink in the Motown Café, with its perpetual show of Motown songs.
 

Later that night was our finale on the Strip at "The Realm" Excalibur where we fair maidens did see the "Tournament of Kings". The king we cheered for was supposed to be the King of Ireland. The King was quite swishy with his long hair. All he needed was a nice maiden's dress and he would have been a maiden most fair. The tournament was a blast, and we were exhausted at the end from cheering so much. At Excalibur's Medieval Fantasy Faire, I won a big stuffed pink bunny playing darts, so I had to carry around this big stuffed animal for the rest of the night.

Jenn and the Pink Bunny trying to look inconspicious

You would think I would do everything in my power to "pass" when I'm out in public, but noooooo.. There I was in drag on the Strip in Las Vegas carrying around a giant pink bunny rabbit! Oh my, I hope I didn't draw any attention!

Oh yeah, and I think I won $3 on blackjack but lost some money on slots. Don't go to Vegas to win money. Go there to be entertained. We certainly were.

Back to Index
Left Arrow Left of Center 
By Pamela DeGroff

A friend of mine who recently turned 50 told me, "You know, I went out to the mail box the other day and the AARP found me already. Amazing. How did they do that?" I told her I didn't know, having had no previous dealings with the AARP. I sympathized with her, but forgot about this conversation until another incident brought home the fact that I'm...well, older now.
 

I'm in my forties--let's leave it at that; but I am old enough to remember black and white TV, with only three channels. Technically, I guess this makes me "middle aged". Several of my closest friends, who are all younger, have been telling me that it's time I get a prostate exam. My girlfriend, who is only a few years older than my daughter, has hinted that if I don't go get a physical, I might be spending a few nights on the couch with the dog. I like her dog, but... (I guess it's really a relationship when you have to start using sex as a bribe in order to get your partner to do something they don't want to do.) Anyway, I remember seeing a comedian do a routine about having a prostate exam. He talked about a device called a sigmoidoscope that was used in the procedure. "I felt like I had the Chrysler Building shoved up my ass!" he said.

I vowed right then and there never to have a prostate exam. No thank you, you could never get me drunk enough.
 

Okay, so health considerations are a part of growing older. But what else am I going to have to look forward to? And how does all this tie in with being transgendered? Does the American Association of Retired Persons recognize the fact that there are a bunch of greying trannies out there who might need their information? I wonder if they have any literature for the middle aged TG?
 

"Greetings from the American Association of Retired Persons. So, you are a transgendered person of retirement age now? Well, welcome to the Golden Years of your life. Please take a few moments to look over the enclosed information.
 

"Remember those spider veins you noticed a few years back? You know, you could have had them worked on when you went for electrolysis treatments. But nooo. Tried to save a few bucks, didn't we?
 

Now your left leg looks like a road map. Just like a road map, with all those red and blue lines.

Oh well, you're too old for short skirts now anyway.
 

"For all you female to male TG's, have you ever wondered why Grandpa always wore suspenders

that pulled his pants up to his armpits? We always thought it was because all that tension made him walk straighter, but we really don't have a clue either. Anyway, if you haven't had top surgery done, you won't have to worry about binding anything anymore. You can use your belt for that.
 

"For all of you who thought it would be real cute to get a tattoo of a butterfly, anywhere on your body, have you noticed that your cute little creature now looks like a pterodactyl?
 

"But hey, let's go back and talk about something we've only briefly touched on. Hair. You spent all that time and money to have unwanted hair removed, only to now find it poking out of places you never dreamed it'd show up? Do you have nose hair so bad you're starting to look like a party favor every time you sneeze? What about all that hair growing from the edges of your ear lobes?"
 

"How many times have you gotten some of it twisted up in an earring? You've got the pesky stuff growing out of your toes and your knee caps, don't you?
 

Well, so much for the negative side of aging. You're going to have a lot more free time after you're retired. Think of all the conventions you now can attend now. And with all the seniors benefits and discounts you are entitled to, you really go hog wild at the vendors' area.
 

"And speaking of vendors, remember how you used to laugh at those clunky, orthopedic shoes your uncle used to sell? It might be time to give him a call. (Fortunately, they're back in style this season.)
 

"For you FTM's, while the ladies are fretting about hair growing in unwanted places, you're probably ecstatic about the pattern baldness you're now experiencing. Have fun, but remember, the top of the head sunburns too.
 

"For everyone who is transgendered, guess what? As a retired trannie, you no longer have to be a fashion slave. People will no longer expect you to get your patterns and colors co-ordinated, all the time. And welcome to the joys of having to put together a summer wardrobe based around sweaters.
 

"Please read through the entire packet we've sent, and all the good parts are underlined in red, in very large type. Then send back the reply card with your membership fee, and welcome to the wonderful world of Geriatric Trannies. (Or, Granny Trannies.)"
 

My time's coming, I know. I've already complained that I can't spend the entire day in heels like I used to when I first came out, I've gotten lazy enough to not shave my legs and go for pants, even for a semiformal occasion, and I've actually had to buy a girdle.
 

Of course, with age always comes wisdom, so they say. I have learned a lot about being TG, the least not being how to color coordinate. Perhaps, though, the most important bit of wisdom that comes with age might be this: tolerance. To any, and all, because that is what I want.
 

Next time, girlfriends.
 

Back to Index
AC! Behind Blue Eyes 
By Anne Casebeer
agc@cwix.com

If you are working for rights for transpeople, you are absolutely full of bovine residue if you do not work at the same time for civil rights for all who lack them. To do otherwise is the height of hypocracy, but I still hear of those who would be doing just that. Of course, HRC's done that with regards to us for years, but that's a topic that I've hashed enough in the past. The movement to gain rights in employment for GLBT people has its roots at Stonewall, but the smart ones among us learned what to do and how to do it by listening to others who fought for civil rights in the past. When you do that, the trail will lead you to Ebenezer Baptist Church in Atlanta, where Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr., preached. Dr. King's words still apply-- and live today for all people who fight for civil rights; and they also live in the legacy that he left to his wife, Coretta Scott King.
 

So, now flash to May 3, 1999. What possessed two trannies with the urge to drive six hours each way to Youngstown, Ohio on a one-day trophy dash? Well, my compadre in crime, Dawn Wilson, was asked to present a seminar on transgenderism at a diversity conference at Youngstown State University. The keynote speaker for the afternoon session was Coretta Scott King. Dawn could bring one guest.
 

She didn't have to ask me twice. So, there I was standing in front of the mirror at 3:30 AM, a time when I would normally be getting to bed or asleep, cutting myself shaving and attempting to cover up the resulting wound with massive amounts of makeup. Despite this, we hit the road at 5AM, made the trip in record time, and were greeted by the security personnel at YSU, who courteously directed us to our parking and building. No "tin soldiers or Nixon coming", and we were not on our own.
 

Dawn had admission to a luncheon with Mrs. King, which I didn't have, so I went to the lobby of the student center, and accessed the internet with their campus system. After being online for a few minutes, I'd noticed that the lobby was full of minicams and news media people, and at that moment, a white Lincoln limousine pulled up and disgorged Mrs. King and her entourage. I got a minor wave in before the wave of humanity swept on by. She is a petite woman (about 5'3 I'd say), resplendent in a maroon pantsuit that was obviously well tailored, and she was immaculately mannered and groomed. She appears to be 25 years younger than the 72 years of age that she is. She gave a short press statement (I couldn't hear what was said), and swept on towards the luncheon.
 

That was my cue. I had 90 minutes to kill before her keynote address, and proceeded to the food court in the basement. Ordering a grilled chicken sandwich from Arby's, I found myself greeted by two male students, about my size, who wanted to know why I was crossdressed. That resulted in a pleasant 20-minute conversation, in which I was able to open their eyes--they were amazed to learn that many transpeople suffer discrimination and hate crimes and are not protected by law from that; that most transpeople never have SRS and that many don't want it; and that many crossdressers (this one included) are otherwise heterosexual males who date women and have happy family lives. Their only knowledge of transgenderism came from attending the Rocky Horror Picture Show, and it was fun to be able to point out to them that I was attending that conference with a transsexual with a degree from Transylvania University. After this encounter, I proceeded to gather a souvenir for Amy (a keychain with the Youngstown State Fighting Penguin , which resembled a very pissed-off prom date) at the campus bookstore, where I received a nice compliment on my makeup and outfit from the young lady at the checkout. Things were slow, and I related that I'd had a big makeup problem that morning, and she let me know that I'd repaired everything properly. After this, I visited the campus music exchange, picked up a couple of used CDs and had a nice chat with the clerks.
 

The time for the keynote address had come, and I met Dawn in the lobby where she related the news that she'd had a chance to chat with Mrs. King for a few minutes, and that she had seemed knowledgeable and supportive of transgendered people and issues.
 

Pictures had been taken, of course, and Dawn had a chance to give Mrs. King the birthday card that she'd purchased for her. We then were treated to a very forceful forty-minute address by Mrs. King, who stated that the fight for civil rights for all must continue, that we must learn to work in new ways (with business, with religious leaders, with local governments, and by running for office), and that to support rights for one interest group and not support rights for all is the height of hypocracy. She did, when speaking of GLBT rights, did say the T-word.
 

The address concluded; I checked myself over again (you know you are out as a transperson when you can fire up an electric razor in the ladies' room before retouching your makeup), and prepared for Dawn's seminar on transgenderism, knowing that I'd be involved in an unofficial sense. The seminar was well attended, with about forty students there, actively asking questions of both of us: ranging from sexual preference to religious affiliation to workplace issues. Most were supportive--a couple were not--and some minds were opened and changed. The students revealed that Youngstown is not considered a particularly friendly place to be queer, and most of the students identifying that way that we spoke to prefer to do their socializing in Pittsburgh, Cleveland, or other major cities, instead of in Youngstown or Akron/ Canton. Further, nearly all allowed that they planned to leave Youngstown after their college years, which doesn't bode well for Youngstown.
 

That is precisely why employment rights legislation is needed: intelligent young people need to be made to feel welcome in their own hometowns and not feel that they have to move to be themselves.
 

On the way back to Louisville, we stopped at a favorite pizza place in Montgomery, Ohio, LaRosa's. When we walked in, one of the waitresses jumped to attention, immediately seated us, and gave us great service, despite both of us looking road-ravaged after 16 hours. The truth came out when the pizza arrived; her "father" was a former member of CrossPort who had undergone SRS is the early '90s. The restaurant was empty, and she spoke to us openly about her journey of acceptance, as well as having to teach "Dad" the craft of womanhood. She was refreshing, good humored, and very outgoing and upfront in her support of us. I hope that I get to meet her "dad" someday, if I haven't already.

If you consider yourself a supporter of rights for trans-people, learn this lesson fast: we need to build co-alitions with as many interest groups as possible, work with business and clergy, show that we are honorable and reasonable people with something to offer. Why? Because it's common sense and it works. Besides, Coretta Scott King said so. That, my friends, is good enough for me. But will others listen? I hope so.
 

Back to Index
Send me a recent pic, Susie! Living Day to Day
By Susie Grant
grantdg@bellsouth.net

Five days a week Monday - Friday, I get up and go to work. I work for 10-12 hours a day beginning around 3-4 in the afternoon, and ending somewhere around 2 in the morning.

I am the night shift supervisor for my department at work, doing such things as supervising my employees, making management decisions, writing computer software, and sometimes handling hundreds of calls a night on the help desk for which I am in charge. After the night is through, I go home, sit up for a short time, relaxing, preparing to go to bed. Then I go to bed, and then get up the next day and start again.
 

On the weekends, I go places and do the normal things that any woman my age would do. I go

grocery shopping, clean the house, pay the bills, get gas for the vehicles, go to the bank, do the laundry, and handle problems that my four children and seven grand-children seem to come up with all the time. I attend support group meetings, have tires put on the family vehicles, meet and talk with my neighbors, meet friends for lunch, spend as much time as possible with my spouse when work schedules allow, and try my best to live the best way I know how.
 

Now that doesn't seem like much out of the ordinary, right? At least that is the way that it would

seem, until you take into account the fact that I am Transgendered. I am a Male to Female trans-

sexual. This throws a whole different light on things, or does it?
 

I am very fortunate that I have a very supportive family (except parents), spouse, friends, community, and workplace. At work, I became the night shift supervisor of the department in which I work, AFTER I made them aware of my Transgendered Self. I had worked there approximately six months when I started making them aware of my desires to become a female. I worked at telling my workmates one person at a time until they all knew about me. The company heads came to me approximately two weeks after telling them, and called me into a meeting. This was probably the scariest time of my job life, because I was not sure what they were going to say to me. I was looking at the possibility of no longer having a job. We sat down and they started by saying, "We want you to know that we will do anything necessary to make your transition easier. And if anybody harasses you in any way let us know. We are behind you 100 percent. "And they made me aware that they knew of my needs. I was very fortunate that the company I work for, is open minded and looks at my abilities and not my looks and gender preference. I have also made a lot of good friends here who don't seem to mind one way or the other. They all refer to me as Susan (my chosen name-and also my legal name), not the "old" name I used to have. Some of my employees have even taken to calling me by a nickname, "Mama", since I am their overseer and mentor as well as their supervisor. They have made the transition very easy and also enjoyable. We joke and have fun. I tell jokes with them; they tell them back. We don't take life too seriously. We just have fun.
 

At work, I have what I like to call "my fashion advisors". This is a group of 3-4 women, who constantly comment on my clothe, and hairstyles. One day after talking about hair styles, and them commenting on how they liked mine, I told them how I fixed it. One of the biggest compliments I feel I could get came the next day when one of the girls came in with her hair fixed exactly like mine after using my method of fixing her hair. This made me feel good, to have this type of relationship with these women. Come to think of it, I have yet to hear one of them say anything bad. We make plans for going to lunch and have even talked about going shopping together. We bring in clothes magazines and discuss styles and what to wear to work--and even what to wear for different special occasions that we may be getting ready to attend.
 

The company seems not to have any problem with me representing the company in any way. I recently went to Atlanta to attend a seminar pertaining to my work--totally paid for by the company. The seminar was hosted at a large hotel in the Atlanta region and lasted for two days. The people I met there were very friendly and I made friends easily. I had purchased new clothes just for the event and I don't think that it could have went any better.

In this type of situation, the people who attended the seminar had the perfect opportunity to shun me because of what I am, but they did no such thing. When I arrived at the seminar, I was the first there. I was a little apprehensive because I was out of my comfortable little work environment, away from home and out in the REAL world.
 

I went in and chose my seat. The others started filtering in. There were 25 people who attended:

three male, the rest female in the age range of 22-70. Some of the first people in came on over and sat down next to me, and started chatting up a storm. Even at lunch, I chose a table and had people crowding in around me. It did not seem to matter to them WHAT I was as much as WHO I was. Over the two days there, I had a fantastic time. After the seminar, we chatted, went to dinner and had a grand old time.
 

Another area that seems to be a major concern for all involved is the restrooms. The ladies there did not seem to care one way or the other. During breaks from the seminar, we would all go to the restroom, and while waiting in line, would continue to chat and have a good time. Never was there an indication that there seemed to be a problem.
 

I think that what all this adds up to is one thing: ATTITUDE. If you have the right attitude and are out-going, people will not seem to care. I think you can also take attitude too far. I have seen those that tend to go overboard in the female attitude by being too "girly". Personally, I think that this tends to take away from what I am trying to do--and that is live a normal life. I have not had a single problem anywhere I go.
 

Although I do get some funny looks occasionally, I tend to shrug them off. I know that I will not always pass; I have good days and bad days. But as long as you keep a good attitude and outlook, people will let you be yourself.
 

I always try to dress appropriately for whatever I am doing. With the help of my spouse and my "fashion advisors", I have gone through many different styles and fashions until we found the correct attire that suits me. (That, of course, has been a long road but I can relay that in another story.) If I am attending a business meeting (such as my Atlanta trip), I dress accordingly, which is business casual. I don't try to overdo the makeup or try to be more than I feel I am.

I like wearing dresses, so I have lots of casual dresses and business casual dress attire. (But,

maybe again, this is another story. Shopping has gotten me in trouble more than once with my other half).
 

I guess this may not always work for everyone but I feel it may for most. Just be yourself, keep a positive attitude, keep a good outlook on life and always keep smiling.
 

I guess what I try to do is simply live my life. I keep the thought that I am just being my real self. I act and feel like I think I should (and would) as a natural-born woman. I think that my living--acting the way I do--reflects on our community. I think it helps simply because of the exposure. I am out to all and living full- time; I work, and play full-time. I am constantly exposed to people everywhere. In my line of work, not only am I on the phone with hundreds of people each week, I am occasionally going out to our on-site stores and dealing with the public there. I try to educate people, to help rid our society of the ignorance surrounding our community. I let them know that we are not just a group of weird people.
 

We live, work and play just like they do; we are smart and hold jobs with important positions. In everything I do, I try my best to act and look like the woman I feel that I am, and try to give an overall good impression. And, once again, I keep up the positive attitude, and the smile.
 

To all- live well and be the Woman you wish to be.

Back to Index
Julie P. A Blonde, Brunette and Redhead
By Julie Phillips
Fabulbabe@aol.com

My trip to the Vals board meeting last month was important for two reasons: it was my first Vals board meeting AND it one of my rare trips out into that frightening, horrifying territory known as...(cue the orchestra)...DAYLIGHT. (The Psycho shower music plays here. )
 

Unlike Susan (in the preceding column), I just don't have the daylight thing down yet; its a scary proposition to me. As much as I hate to admit it, I'm just not the bravest girl sometimes, especially when I'm out by myself. I'm much more daring and secure within the security blanket of another person or a group. All I can say is "thank heaven for the Vals"! (Now don't let me influence you; I'm also unnecessarily nervous about clowns and those fat-free potato chips.) I'm not sure that this will change very much, as I tend to be like that anyway. However, making the occasional daytime trip--and being relaxed and comfortable doing it--is my last real hurdle--and one that I can overcome.
 

There are those in our group who plow full-steam ahead with no concern or fear of the random busy-body giving them the feared and dreaded "funny look". I have great respect for these not-easily-deterred girls; they inspire me to push my own boundaries. While the threat of someone giving me a "funny look" doesn't have the power it possessed in the fifth grade, it still has an unjustified power over many of us. (Thankfully, Darth Vader never discovered this dangerous weapon.) These daylight-be-damned girls don't run into any real hassles because the old saying is true: if you project confidence and act as though you belong, then you do belong and people won't mess with you. It's hard to give a confident person much grief. I know this is true and I sometimes even I'm surprised by my confidence; those situations, though, have generally been after sunset.
 

One of my favorite sayings is "Revlon ain't no friend of the sun." I'm only half-kidding when I say that. Sure, genetic women wear make-up every day of the week to work, to shop, to dine--but odds are they aren't wearing quite as much as I am. (This is an interactive column, so insert your own Tammy Faye Bakker joke here.)
 

OK, so I don't go that far overboard with the mascara, but I do generally sport what the make-up books call a "glamour" look. Every CD has her own "look", and this is mine. The only way I can explain why is to say, "It's just sooo me."
 

But I realized "Sooo Me" was not going to cut it on a Sunday afternoon drive down Demonbruen. I knew I had to go for subtle if I wanted to fit in my surroundings. Yes, I wanted to pass; No, I didn't want to be mistaken for a Deja Vu dancer just getting off work. That would guarantee several hundred "funny looks"--far more than I was up for that day. If I wanted to pass, this meant scaling back. "What the hell," I thought. "I'll give it a try." Temporarily forgetting my recent birthday, I convinced myself that I really wasn't too old to learn a new trick
 

There was no way for me to cut down on the foundation, but I could underplay the rest of the make-up. While you do see a lot of short shirts, I decided to go for broke and throw on a pair of jeans and a simple top. (This may not sound unusual to you, but it's a major departure for me.)
 

I was determined to challenge myself totally and drive the longest way possible to the meeting, taking as many downtown streets and stop lights as possible. Why not? I was actually pleased with the new downsized look and I had my courage up.
 

I think you already know how this story ends: My car hits an iceberg and Leonardo DeCaprio pledges his undying love to me just before he sinks like a rock. Wait--wrong story. Sorry. In this story, I drive all over Nashville during the broad daylight without one single "funny look" or problem. In fact, it was even better than I could have expected. I actually had a couple of guys a traffic lights look over and smile.

At the risk of sounding trite and cliched, I ended up learning what I already knew: if you use common sense and dress for the occasion, you'll fit right in. Perhaps more importantly, if you have confidence in yourself, most people won't give you any grief. Once I "bit the bullet", I ended up having an excellent and much-needed confidence building adventure.
 

Different Topic/Same Column:

Having successfully turned purse-carrying non-gendered Tinky Winky into a national celebrity and a lovable symbol in the fight against intolerance, Jerry Falwell has decided to work his magic once again and improve beer sales.
 

Upon learning of a Budweiser print-ad showing a same sex/gender couple holding hands, the Rev. is declaring a boycott of Anheuser-Busch products. (If he'd gone to more "Pride" celebrations he'd know A-B has been dumping cash on the queer community for years.) Calls for a boycott are nothing new from Jer-- but this one is more perplexing than usual: exactly WHO is he asking to boycott Bud? Couldn't be his loyal followers? Al-key-haul never touches their lips. Couldn't be us in the GLBT community; he doesn't talk to us. That just leaves people who pay no attention to him. Nice target demo, Jer.
 

There comes a time when each of us has to make a stand. (At this point, cue the band to play Yankee Doodle.) I am willing to do just that. That's why this Tinky Winky-owning hand-holding GLBT-magazine-reading crossdresser, whose love of screwdrivers is well-known in certain circles, will forgo "the usual" this weekend---- and order a beer. (I'll pause a moment while the patriotic music builds to a crescendo.) I know, this shocking behavior is totally out of character, but none's talking me out of it. Make it a long-neck, too. This one's for you Tinky, my

sister or brother...this one's for you!
 

Her Majesty, The Queen, Marisa Speaking of Books
By Marisa Richmond, PhD
marisaval@aol.com

Travesti: Sex, Gender and Culture Among Brazilian Transgendered Prostitutes by Don Kulick (Chicago: University of Chicago Press, 1998, ISBN 0-226-46099-1)
 

In many of the works being done today on the transgender community, the focus tends to be on those who are often from middle-class backgrounds in the United States and the struggles they face. Often overlooked is how transgendered life varies in othercountries, and even more so, how those further outside the mainstream of society struggle to maintain a day to day existence in professions such as prostitution. In Travesti, Don Kulick, an anthropologist from the University of Stockholm, attempts to shed light on this particular subculture of the transgender community.
 

Travesti focuses on those who are anatomically male, but live as women, in the city of Salvador, a community of over 2 million people, making it Brazil's third largest city, behind only São Paulo and Rio de Janeiro. For eight months in 1996 and 1997, Kulick lived among the travestis along Rua São Francisco, the main street housing, at any one time, approximately 35 travestis who migrated to Salvador from Bahia province (of which Salvador is the capital) and elsewhere in northeastern Brazil. The room in which Kulick lived was directly below that of an old man who had a dog with a urinary problem that literally trickled onto Kulick's papers and mattress. He describes having to battle the native ten centimeter (four inch) long roaches while the basement of the house was euphemistically called favela de cocô (slum of shit).
 

The travestis with whom Kulick interacted were nearly all prostitutes. At an early age, many had begun to exhibit effeminate behavior, or in some cases, began sexual affairs with men, leading their parents to throw them out of the house. Despite religious based intolerance from family, many travestis retain their own religious beliefs and many are fairly devout. In addition, Brazil, like many countries (including the USA) has no laws protecting people against discrimination, so attempts to work in mainstream society was often met with hostility and many were fired. This forced them to, in their own words, cair na vida (fall into the life) of prostitution in order to survive as they quickly realized they were sexually desirable and could make money from it. It is worth noting that the majority of the travestis openly admit to enjoying sex.
 

The life of the travestis is very hard and filled with danger. While some, like model Roberta Close, have become national icons, most face severe economic problems and political oppression in a society that only eliminated slavery in 1888 and ended decades of military dictatorship in 1985. Kulick observed that the life span in Brazil is 65, but among the travestis, it is only 45. One factor is violence perpetrated against travestis. Due to their low wages and low social status, they live and work in crime ridden neighborhoods. Sometimes, their clients will attack them. More common, however, is police harassment which is a continuation of the practices left from decades of rule by military dictatorship. A second factor behind the short life spans are health problems. Many do contract AIDS since they do not always use condoms with their partners. In addition, the poor conditions lead to other diseases such as tuberculosis which are rarely treated properly due to the lack of health care in Brazilian society. The health problems are exacerbated by the fact that virtually all travestis receive direct silicone injections, called bombada (pumped), in order to present a more feminine image. These injections are extremely dangerous and help shorten life spans for the travestis.
 

The physical transformations the travestis undergo is an important part of their lives. By going to bombadeiras (pumpers), often retired travesti prostitutes, they change their bodies to look more like women. The focus in Brazil is on the bunda (buttocks) which are seen as the symbol of femininity. Many travestis then exhibit their new physiques by wearing revealing bikini bottoms called fio dental (dental floss). Some do get pumped in the chest, but many do not because they are afraid of a phenomenon called peito de pomba (pigeon breast), in which the silicone settles in the middle forming one huge lump (Fig.1). One thing that is not common to all travestis is drug use. One who did, named Chispita (Fig.2), began her transition at age 8 and wandered into traffic while stoned and was hit by a car and killed at age 13, but Kulick emphasized that many travestis do not drugs at all. They are vulnerable enough to physical violence even when they are in full control of their senses.
 

While the travestis will use hormones or silicone to alter their bodies, they reject full genital surgery. They tend to look down upon transsexuals and refer to them as objetos (objects) and bucetas (cunts), but never as mulher (women). The travestis still enjoy the physical act of ejaculation and place transsexuals in a different category.
 

With few exceptions, the travestis are all seeking relationships with strong young men who can make them feel mulheríssima (like a total woman). Their boyzinhos (boyfriends) and maridos (husbands) are all stereotypically masculine and sexually heterosexual. Kulick notices, however, that the husbands do not fit traditional western standards of masculinity. Virtually all are unemployed and live off of the travestis. The travestis actually prefer it this way because they insist it gives them control over their lives at home. The travestis will not enter into a relationship with any man they consider a bicha (queen) or viado (fag), and if they find their husband is one who dá o cu (gives his ass), they will perder respeito (lose respect). In general, they define relationships between two men as safadeza (abomination or atrocity). For that matter, they not only define transformistas (transvestites, drag queens, female impersonators) as safadeza, but also as estranho (strange), horrível (horrible) or ridículo (ridiculous).
 
 
 

Kulick attempted to offer some analysis of the work of the travestis, but he faced limitations. For one, their customers tend not to identify themselves publicly because of the (justifiable) fear of harassment from the rest of Brazilian society. Also, he tended to respect the privacy of the travestis and their clients and did not follow them into their programas (programs) with his notebooks and tape recorders. Still, he was able to draw several inferences. They mostly work from 8PM to 2AM. The people out on the streets at those hours generally expect to see the travestis and are less likely to harass them, although harassment and physical attacks can occur at any time. Brazil is a country of severe economic problems and the average salary is only 100 reais ($100) a month, and prostitution is simply not very lucrative. A cupadinha (blow job) can cost as little as 3 reais ($3), and sometimes, if a client is sexually attractive, a travesti will even provide a vício (free sex). The majority of the clients identify as straight and are often in relationships with women. Kulick discovered that most travestis claim their clients preferred to be penetrated, but when he conducted a survey asking the travestis each night to recount the specific acts performed, he discovered that only 27% of the clients are anally penetrated while 52% penetrate the travesti. Furthermore, because the pay is low and erratic, many travestis rob clients, usually by pickpocketing, but occasionally by knife assault, although Kulick noted that guns are not used because this only serves to increase the hostility from police they already receive.
 

Kulick's study clearly exposes the vast spectrum of gender and sexual orientation among the travestis, their clients, and their husbands. Kulick concludes, however, that while gender may not be binary, the travestis themselves do see identity in binary terms, but based on sexuality, not gender. They tend to define all people either as penetrators (homen, men) or penetratees (viado, mulher). In analyzing the categories offered by the travestis and described by Kulick, however, it seems as if the penetratee category can be further broken up into at least five parts--mulher, transsexual, travesti, transformista, viado--giving no less than six different gender identities.
 

Travesti is a book that forces one to confront the harsh realities of transgendered life for many whose families have tossed them out, and whose society condemns them. Still, Kulick portrays an active subculture, which he suggests may not be unique in Latin America, that has managed to find ways of surviving. This book goes a long way in exposing divisions within the transgender community as well as to expose a little known segment of it.
 


News TransMissions

We're the Cover, Girl

The May 25th issue of The Advocate, the award-winning newsmagazine, addresses transgender issues by spotlighting "sexual orientation and gender orientation".
 

Where does the transgender movement fit into the gay movement? The introduction to this issue acknowledges it's not an easy question for some to answer: "...We have had our share of criticism from activists and organizations, both gay and transgender, wondering why the magazine excludes transgendered people by identifying itself only as the national gay and lesbian newsmagazine. Many gay men and lesbians have little understanding of the transgender movement and what it means to be transgendered..."
 

The issue offers insight to the uninformed with articles on individual transgendered people, trans-activists, a woman who's former girlfriend who now considers himself to be transgendered, as well as the obligatory slice-and-dice listing of sex reassignment medical procedures.

The issue offers a glossary of terms that "covers the spectrum of sexuality and suggests that sexual and gender roles may be more fluid than we ever imagined."
 

While this issue of The Advocate is now off newsstands, back issues can be ordered and many of the stories are included on their website: www.advocate.com.
 

-from The Advocate on-line 5/25/99

website: www.advocate.com


Hide the Trannies, the Queen is coming!

Note: Salvador de Bahia is the city profiled in Travesti: Sex, Gender and Culture Among Brazilian Transgendered Prostitutes. The book is reviewed in this month's newsletter by Marisa Richmond.-jp

It has been revealed police in the Brazilian city of Salvador de Bahia cleaned up the streets for the weekend visit of Denmark's Queen Margrethe by locking up 18 transvestites.
 

Gay groups say the 18 were arrested on Friday and held until the Queen and Prince consort Henrik left the city early on Monday.
 

They say police told them they were being arrested because of the visit. Police have since admitted the detentions were not legal, but say they are

investigating local thefts allegedly carried out by transvestites.
 

-Received from QAnnounce News

website: announce.queer.org.au/

reported by Australian Broadcasting Company 5/12/99


Union OK w/"gender expression"

At its 64th international convention in Ottawa, Ontario, Canada, the Newspaper Guild (AFL-CIO, CLC) amended its human rights policy to include gender expression. The Guild, which represents about 30,000 workers in print and electronic news media, is an autonomous sector of the Communications Workers of America (CWA) with its own national structure, officers and policies.

According to one knowledgeable unionist, it was the first time a national labor union has explicitly included transgender people in its human-rights policy. The amended document reads:
 

"In all aspects of union activity it is our commitment to create a culture of respect and tolerance and a work-place free of discrimination because of irrelevant factors such as race, religion, ethnicity, language, sex, age, sexual orientation, gender expression, disability, family, parental, marital immigration or citizenship status."
 

-from GAIN news update


You Never Write, You Never Column

This is from Dina Amberle's "Vis a Vis" column in Transgender Community News. It was under the title "Do You Like To Write?" Look for two key words. -jp
 

That was the come-on line of a commercial for a correspondence school for creative writing a few years back. There doesn't seem to be a lack of writers in the world at large, but in our transgender community we could certainly use some new talent.
 

I fashion myself as the world's leading authority on transvestite newsletter journalism (a dubious distinction, if ever there was one), reading through a couple dozen publications each month. And boy, or sister, could we use some people who like to write! Let me qualify that. We could use some people who know how to write.
 

Most of the TG newsletters being published are merely house organs (if you'll pardon the expression), filled with mundane group business and the recurrent first person essay on drag adventures. Almost all of the newsletters' editors have begged for more contributions from their members, and some have dwindled dangerously to a few sheets of meeting notes and advertisements. The newsletter is an important part of a group's existence because it signals the vibrancy of the group for it's current membership and acts as a public relations piece for potential members. The decline of the newsletter is a forward indicator of a group's viability.
 

Aside from the cases where there is almost no content, the other major weakness in TG journalism is the heavy reliance on very personal essays. These take the form of either mere fluff like "Dottie's Trip to the Mall" or far too serious and long-winded philosophical discourses on transgender self-discovery and so forth. The problem with relying on these types of personal essays is that they do not necessarily connect to other's reader's experiences or ideas. The better newsletters have writers who can step outside of their own personal experiences and report on topics of interest of us within the context of the real world at large. A very good example of this is the Tennessee Vals newsletter which has a stable of columnists who comment on a wide range of topics, which do not necessarily bear directly on TG issues, but rather run them through the prism of crossdressing to make a point with which the readers can identify on some broader level.
 

Our community counts among it's members some of the best educated and widely experienced people in a variety of fields. Certainly more of our "sisters" could contribute to our literature by bringing their intellect to comment on any number of topics that would be interesting reading, even if only marginally related to crossdressing or transgenderism in general. One needn't feel constrained to report only on their social adventures in women's clothing to write for our newsletters. We would all be enriched by greater levels of contributions from our community.
 

-from Transgender Community News 4/99


Honoring H'Wood's Tom Hanks, our one-time Buffy

Tom Hanks looked out upon a sea of faces honoring him in the Grand Ballroom of the Waldorf-Astoria hotel... Twenty-six motion pictures, a handful of blockbusters, hundreds of millions of dollars at the box office, and two back-to-back Academy Awards later, Hanks was saluted Thursday night at the 14th annual gala of the American Museum of the Moving Image. On hand were colleagues including Steven Spielberg, Sally Field, Geena Davis, Ron Howard, Nora Ephron, Ed Burns, and Heather Graham and 850 gowned and tuxedoed fans...
 

Before the movies, before Splash, there was, for a young Tom Hanks, television. The 1980-82 sitcom Bosom Buddies introduced audiences to Hanks and co-star Peter Scolari as crossdressing roommates -- Hanks in blue, Scolari in pink -- who lived in a women-only building Scolari, still Hanks' best friend, talked of how his bosom buddy, "helped me see a future that I could not envision," and how the Hanks of today is on the rising crest of "a career that is still very young as we grow older."...
 

-by Jerry Tallmer Mr . Showbiz on-line 4/30/99

webpage: www.mrshowbiz.com


Best Couple on British Soaps? Transexual and her S.O.

The British Soap Awards were presented at a gala this past weekend and the judging panel awarded "Best On-Screen Partnership" to Coronation Street's transsexual Hayley (Julie Hesmondhalgh) and her domestic partner, Roy Cropper (David Neilson). Although Britain's transsexual activists were angered that their offers of consultation were rejected when the venerable soap first added Hayley to its lineup, the mainstream has credited the show with advancing public understanding about some of the issues transgendered people confront, an awareness which is paying off in improved protections from job discrimination and a government review of other problems.
 

-from PlanetOut 5/17/99 website: www.planetout.com


Vote for TG Films in Movie Poll

GLAAD is conducting online voting for the "The 20 Best Lesbian & Gay Films of the 20th Century". Though the title doesn't include "Transgendered", the project commemorates the first 100 years of depicting lesbians, gay men, bisexuals and transgender individuals in film.
 

You get to vote for up to 20 of your favorite LGBT films (or favorite films with significant LGBT characters) from the past century in films that have screened in the U.S. or Canada.

The ballot includes practically all of the transgender classics, from The Crying Game to Different for Girls. If they omitted your favorite film, you can write-in your choices.

The "The 20 Best Lesbian & Gay Films of the 20th Century" will be unveiled by GLAAD in 2000.

GLAAD is The Gay & Lesbian Alliance Against Defamation, a watchdog group that fights for accurate representation of gay/lesbian/bi/transgendered people by the media.-jp
 

-from glaad press release website: www.glaad.org


COMING MOVIE ATTRACTIONS

Entertainment Weekly's "Summer Movie Preview" edition profiles trick, starring Christian Campbell (Malibu Shores) and Tori Spelling (Beverly Hills 90210). The film was bought by Fine Line Features at this year's Sundance Film Festival. The comedy depicts an evening in the life of a theater composer (Campbell) who picks up a go-go boy but runs into many diversions.
 

Despite the title and apparent subject matter, director Jim Fall says the movie is actually about "... first impressions, objectifying people, and not getting to know who someone really is."

One of the people Campbell's character gets to know is a drag queen named Miss Coco Peru. Miss Coco is the creation of an actual New York City entertainer (or, as they say at The Connection, entertaintress) who has been performing critically acclaimed cabaret shows in NYC for a decade. Miss Coco is said to bear a striking resemblance to co-star Tori Spelling. Spelling told E.W. "I did notice it, but I never said anything to anyone," says Spelling. "When I first walked on the set, I was like, 'She has the same color hair as me! Actually, hers is a richer tone -- I like it better! Can I take a snippet of your wig and take it to my colorist?"

trick opens in major cities July 23, elsewhere August 6th.

-from EW on-line at www.ew.com and Fine Line Features at www.flf.com-jp
 


N'ville Flick With a Hee Haw Chick

A small-budget film made in Nashville (by Nashvillians) was a smash at the Los Angeles Independent Film Festival in April. It's Existo, a musical comedy that's said to have "cult favorite" written all over it. Director Sam Cokes co-wrote the film with Bruce Arnston, who stars as Existo. Check out the plot synopsis from their webpage:

" ...In a future where Jesse Helms and Strom Thurman are gods and morality is state-mandated, a rag tag gand or art revolutionaries, led by performance artist Existo, wage a guerrilla war for perversity, drugs and the American way...Revolutionary headquarters is "The Sewer"--an underground nightclub run by full-figured drag queen Colette (Gailard Sartain)..."

You'll recognize Gailard Sartain. (His resume includes Fried Green Tomatoes, the Ernest movies, Mississippi Burning and Hee Haw). The official website guarantees, though that you've never seen him before in a floor-length gown.

It shows at the Nashville Independent Film Festival, June 12th at 9:30pm.-jp

website: www.existo.com



Return to the Vals Homepage