Tabloids and Men's Mags: Coccinelle - This Was A Man? She was the queen. The nasty girl to the girl-next-door that was Christine Jorgenson. Her name was Coccinelle and she was French and sexy. In this final part in their series on the men's mag and tabloid media between 1953 and 1977 Ms. Bob and Carol Kleinmaier focus on the famed TS who flaunted her sexiness and ticked off the tabs. A final review of the findings of the series is included. Lots of photos!
Tabloids and Men's Mags: My Sex Ruined My Life...So I Changed It! The tabloids saw transsexuals as selling points and made them a regular staple in their lineups. Many of the stories while based on real people were about as believable as the ones you see in the tabs today. But for camp value the old tabs can't be beat. Part six in the series on the pulpy media between 1953 and 1977 by Ms. Bob and Carol Kleinmaier
Tabloids and Men's Mags: The Most Persistently Startling World News The tabloids loved transsexuals though the feeling was not always mutual. Tabloids and men's soft-core porn magazines printed more articles about transsexuals between 1953 and 1967 than any other gender expression we have considered. A look at how it was by Ms. Bob and Carol Kleinmaier
Tabloids and Men's Mags: Hard Driving Steel Muscled & On Hormones The ambivalence that society had toward TGs shows up consistently in the yellow journals and soft core mags of the 1950s and 60s. Sometimes they reviled us other times they were fascinated. So long as we pretended to be straight we could be marginally acceptable especially as entertainers. A LOT of art in this story in the continuing series on Tabloids and TGs by Ms. Bob Davis and Carol Kleinmaier
Tabloids and Men's Mags: You Won't Believe Your Eyes TGs got plenty of coverage in the yellow journals and soft core mags of the 1950s and 60s including news about performers. Mixed in the with tabloid coverage of Jack Benny in drag were sensational articles about true drag performers. Surprisingly many were fairly sympathetic so long as the artist didn't appear like too much of a "limp wrister" for the author. A LOT of art in this story in the continuing series on Tabloids and TGs by Ms. Bob Davis and Carol Kleinmaier
Tabloids and Men's Mags: Covering The Balls TGs got plenty of coverage in the yellow journals and soft core mags of the 1950s and 60s but mostly it was crime and punishment stuff. Once in a while though they'd cover us in happier circumstances. But even then the hateful attitudes of the day were always on display. Still the photos are great! Ms. Bob Davis and Carol Kleinmaier take you back to another time...
Tabloids and TGs: Stay Off The Streets If You Know What's Good For You In the first of a series of articles Bob Davis and Carol Kleinmaier review a potpourri of articles and clippings that appeared in various men's magazines and tabloids from the 1950s to the early 1970s. Not a pretty picture in many cases but interesting and in some surprisingly illuminating and sympathetic. You can't understand today unless you understand yesterday.
Wearing Pants At Finocchio's In a marvelous interview Ms Bob and Carol Carol Kleinmaier chat with a man who played at the famed San Francisco female impersonator club for 23 years. Shep Shepherd saw them all and has wonderful remembrances of the ladies and gentlemen who played there. Finocchio's is an important part of our history.
A Lost History The first photo was yellowed the corners showing holes from thumb tacks as though it had long been on display. The Twins looking over their shoulders wore matching dresses shoes and hats and stood in front of an painted impressionistic drop. They were ob
2835 Mayfair Part book review part insight into the work of Dr. Havelock Ellis and part personal detective story Bob Davis and Carol Kleinmaier describe a fascinating tale from the turn of the century. A most entertaining and unusual column.
Flaming Youth! Was the camera invented by a cross-dresser? If not it should have been. No group takes saves exchanges or publishes more photos of themselves than crossdressers. Revisit one such TG from the early 1920s as Bob Davis takes a look at a phenomenon as old as shutter-and-lens.
Bring On The Gentlemen! Bob Davis recounts the careers of some of the great FTM entertainers of the early 20th century. Vesta Tilley was but one of the great male impersonators many of whom were seen on the sheet music of the songs they popularized. Final part of the popular series.
Karyl Norman - The Creole Fashion Plate A marvelous graphics-filled review of the Karyl Norman one of the three greatest vaudevillian female impersonators ever and the artist who taught Milton Berle how to use drag for entertainment. A remarkable look at a part of our history by the always excellent team of Ms. Bob Davis and Carol Kleinmaier.
Pudgy Roberts : Before RuPaul before JoAnn Roberts before Virginia Prince there was Pudgy Roberts trying to legitimze drag and crossdressing. Bob Davis & Carol Kleinmaier track him down and get the goods from the horse's mouth
History of Female Mimics Magazine: Pudgy's Challenge Famed female impersonator Pudgy Roberts tries to put out a less exploitative version of FM while the original magazine lies fallow. It is the early 1970s post-Stonewall and things are starting to change. Lots of art! Part 3 of a series by Bob Davis and an
History of Female Mimics Magazine: the Middle Years In the late '60s and early '70s the famed magazine moves away from professional Female Impersonators and begins showcasing drag queens and even a few "amateurs". A brief fling with nudity also marks this era in the remarkable history by Bob Davis and Caro
History of Female Mimics Magazine: Early Years One of the community's earliest publications Female Mimics was also one of the most popular in its day. The photos were often wonderful and it brought a lot of pleasure to thousands who had no other connection to transgenders. An important historical wor
Julian Eltinge: Crinoline Girl Julian Eltinge was probably the greatest female impersonator of all time and he did it in a periond of extreme homophobia. Bob Davis & Carol Kleinmaier present a short history of this great entertainer complete with rare photos.
Julian Eltinge -- Mainstream Songstress The end of the 20th Century is a golden age for female impersonation and one of the easiest ways to see it is to look at the popular media. So too was the beginning of the 20th centurywas also a golden age for gender pretenders. That too is reflected i
Footprints From the Past by Andee W
Footprints from the Past Footprints departs from the standard advice columns by Ann Landers and Dear Abby and explores how our issues were treated in some of the lesser known advice columnists
Footprints from the Past As advice columinist were starting to advise on the subject of cross dressing in the 80's some of us (and our S.O.'s) spoke up when they gave the wrong advice. Read what some of our "fore-sisters" had to say waaay back then.
Footprints From The Past: 1900 Now, picture the passengers in the scenes from the movie Titanic and try to imagine how the circumstances described in the letters this month really appeared
Footprints From The Past: Fin de Siecle At the turn of the century the popular media was often sprinkled with articles and letters from people who were clearly transgender sometimes very boldly considering the era. A wonderful fast and entertaining peak at another era by Andee W.
Footprints From The Past: Great War Andee W. walks through the history of Transgenderism as documented in the media of the day. This month in part Four we enter into the 20th century.
Footprints From The Past: Made to Be A Maid Come along with us Andee W. continues to walk us through the history of Transgenderism as documented in the media of the day. In Part VI this month we are just on the verge of the "Flapper Era"
Footprints from the Past: The Change In the Last Quarter Century Andee continues her review of our history in print. For this chapter we're in to the 1970's and a woman asks an advice column about her boyfriend who dressed as a Playboy Bunny for a costume party. The answer received isn't one we'd read today but times were changing...
Footprints from the Past: The Little Sisters In the past our existence was recorded in the printed media today we leave our footprints in electrons. As Andee continues to chronicle our past we learn that even though we were at the mercy of the mainstream media a special few fired back when lies were told. Enjoy this month's review of what a famous advice columnist had to swallow when she made a bold (and incorrect) statement
Footprints from the Past: The Revival After the 1920's the media steered us back into the closet no longer publishing much if anything about ordinary TGs. But finally came the '60s and advice columnists began to again publish letters and responses from our ever-braver community. Andee Ws delightful series continues...
Footprints from the Past: The Twenties The media in the late 20's was steering us into the closet. But before they slam the door for what would be several decades read this story of a young man who's family business needed him to be her.
Footprints From the Past: Victorian Times In a remarkable debut column Andee W brings you back to the Victorian era and several rather astonishing and exciting accounts of cross-dressing that appeared in popular media of the day. Well-written and very interesting.
Footprints Of the Past: The Twenties With the war over the media found that it had to change it's ways to go with the freer attitude of the times. One result was the publication in England by "straight" newspapers of stories and letters from people who could only be transgender. Fun sexy and definitely a must-read column from Andee W. Best of all it's all true...
TGs In Art and Literature Archives by Hebe Dotson
Ladies of La Mancha If you were looking for some fun TG reading would your thoughts turn to a 400-year-old masterpiece of European literature? Probably not but as Hebe Dotson shows there are some delicious TG tales in Miguel de Cervantes' The Adventures of Don Quixote. Cool.
Ladies of LaMancha (part three) In the last of her intriguing series on the transgendered characters in the Adventures of Don Quixote Hebe Dotson tells the tale of the jilted lover who whacks her cheatin' boyfriend and then turns boy herself. Cervantes himself gets a little wacky in th
Ladies of LaMancha (part two) Crossdressing in a 400 year old literary classic? You bet and there is a lot of it too in Cervantes' Don Quixote. In this part of her series Hebe talks about the amazing bearded ladies and Don Quixote's magnificent bid to get them justice. Tres cool.
Ozma: The Transgender Ruler of Oz In the second of his beloved "Oz" stories famed "Wizard of Oz" writer L. Frank Baum teams the Scarecrow (sound file 277K) and Tin Woodsman with a new character who has a shall we say "interesting" past. Most entertaining reading by a most entertaining writer: Hebe Dotson.
Tale of Two Centuries As the great odometer of time prepares to display three zeros some of us feel irresistible urges to try to gaze a little farther into the future. Hebe Dotson wouldn’t even think of trying to outguess the third millennium but she has fewer qualms about considering the next 50-100 years of transgenderism.
Tale of Two Centuries: Part 2 As the great odometer of time prepares to display three zeros some of us feel irresistible urges to try to gaze a little farther into the future. Hebe Dotson wouldn’t even think of trying to outguess the third millennium but she has fewer qualms about considering the next 50-100 years of transgenderism.
Transgenderism In Ancient Theater The character in the play is a woman but what about the performer who's playing the part on the stage? The answer to that question for much of the time that human beings have staged plays -- from ancient Greece and Rome to Elizabethan England -- would have been "It's a man." In her eminently readable style Hebe Dotson takes a look at the way they did it in the old days.
Transgenderism In Ancient Theater (Part II) While all female parts were played by men on the ancient Greek and Roman stage there were a few occasions when men played men pretending to be women. Yes there was cross-dressing that long ago...sometimes with not so good results. In her eminently readable style Hebe Dotson takes a look at the way they did it in the old days.
Transgenderism In Greek Mythology An excellent new series on gods who became goddesses heroines who became boys and every combination in between. Hebe Dotson's clear writing provides a fresh take on ancient myths that still delight and fascinate.
Transgenderism In Greek Mythology (Part 1) An excellent new series on gods who became goddesses heroines who became boys and every combination in between. Hebe Dotson's clear writing provides a fresh take on ancient myths that still delight and fascinate.
Transgenderism in Greek Mythology (Part 2) Hebe Dotson explains the role that cross-dressing played in the famous battle between Theseus and the Minotaur as well as several other gender-changing roles by some very famous legends. Our history is very long and goes very deep in Western culture.
Transgenderism in Greek Mythology (Part 3) Hebe Dotson discusses the instances of transsexual transformation in the ancient myths. Part three of a great series that illustrates the long history of our community.
General History
Sex Change and the Popular Press-Part One Contrary to the widely held idea that Christine Jorgensen was the start of transsexual history author Joanne Meyerowitz finds that there is a much longer record of TS people and it often appeared in mainstream media. In this opening chapter Meyerowitz gives an overview the press coverage of TSs that preceded Jorgensen as well as a peek at medical and psychological history of the early and mid-20th century. A fascinating series...
Sex Change and the Popular Press-Part Two Word of the sex change experiments in Germany reached a wider public in the early 1930s when the press reported on Danish artist Einar Wegener who became Lili Elbe. Author Joann Meyerowitz's study indicates that far more was going on in the medical world involving transgenders in the pre-World War II world than many of us knew and it was often reported albeit inaccurately in the journals of the day. The fascinating series continues...
Sex Change and the Popular Press-Part Three Way before Christine Jorgensen author Joann Meyerowitz's study indicates that far more was going on in the medical world and in our community pre-Christine days than many of us realize including an early U.S. case of an MTF and FTM marriage. The fascinating series continues...
Berdaches: Native American Transgenders Kristina Latham describes some of what is known about this most fascinating group of Native Americans. Originally well-respected and accepted things changes for them when the westerners arrived.
Rearranging Genders On the Titantic So what do you do: boat is sinking in North Atlantic. Men ordered not to get on lifeboats. Do you grab a Bible or your mascara? Robin Adams explains what happened on that famous night when it was women children and drag queens first.
Leonardo DaVinci: Man and Woman his homosexuality is acknowledged along with his artistic and scientific abilities that far out stripped his contemporaries. Could his imagination have been so strong that he could see himself as a woman? Was Leonardo transgendered? Is that why Mona Lisa is smiling? Take a trip to the Leonardo DaVinci exhibit with Margie McGhee as she looks at Mona Lisa from a different point of view.
TG Desires During the Great War It may not have been the most liberal of times but transgenders were definitely part of the life and times of the World War I era as Andee W. demonstrates in her series on TGs in the media. Some remarkably frank copy made it into the press in those days
TGs and Cross-Dressers in the U.S. Civil War During this horrible war between the states drag and cross-dressing were used both by spies and by women who wanted to serve in the military. A fascinating easily read article by Diane Kaye on a most unusual subject.
The Boulton & Park Trial (Conclusion) Celebrity comes to Boulton & Park stars of one of the most famous trials in England. The case took place in 1870 when the two young well-to-do men were arrested after they were identified as men in drag. April Williams' terrific historical account puts yo
The Boulton & Park Trial (Part One) One of the most famous trials in England took place in 1870 when two young well-to-do men were arrested after they were identified as men in drag. April Williams' terrific historical account puts you there.
The Female Pope was known to the world as Pope John VIII. How does an Englishwoman of German parentage become the infallible leader of The Roman Catholic Church? Pope Joan is the subject of a book by Peter Stanford called The She-Pope: A Quest for the Truth Behind the Mystery of Pope Joan. He has written an article on the subject and we give you a taste of the legend and the proof right here on TG Forum.
We've Come A Long Way Baby Imagine walking down the street doing nothing when suddenly a bunch of cops stop you make fun of you and then throw you in jail for the crime of...impersonating a woman. Robin Jean Peters tells a harrowing true tale of what it was really like to be transgender in the not-so-distant past. A very interesting gripping story. Worth your time.
Hate Crime Backlash: Characteristics There is some confusion about whether hate crime legislation sets ups "protected classes" of people with "special rights" Carolyn Woodward in a response to an interesting letter explains why hate crime laws are valid and why so-called "special rights" laws would be a disaster.
Hate Crime Backlash: Why It Makes No Sense You already know how liberals feel about hate crime laws. But Carolyn Woodward is definitely not on the left and her arguments about the validity of hate crime laws are both weighty and convincing. This is an excellent read that is both passionate and sensible. Steal her ideas the next time you hear a reactionary talk show host claim these laws are unnecessary.
Busted In Drag When You're Drunk You're driving along alone or with friends still in the car and you see that sight we all dread - red and blue lights in the rear view mirror. It's the cops and they want to talk to you. Oh-oh. Legal advisor Carolyn Woodward explains what you should do - and not do - if this ever happens to you.
Getting Busted For DUI Transgenders do love to go out at night and events are often stages in bars and restaurants. Some of us enjoy drinking maybe a little too much. In this two-part series lawyer Carolyn Woodward discusses what driving under the influence (DUI) can do to spoil a night how to deal with being stopped and what you'll need to do if you're busted.
Legal Advisor: Name's the Thing A question about documents first created in another state prompt an interesting series of answers from Carolyn Woodward the world's leading TG legal advisor. Only in TGForum!
Legal Advisor: Divorce, Hormones on Demand Can the government force a divorce when one of the spouses has a sex change operation? What are the legal ramifications to hormonal treatment on demand? Even if it is legal will doctors want to take the risk of providing hormones just because someone says they need them? Thought-provoking discussions by attorney Carolyn Woodward.
Name Changing Experience Stacy Clement outlines the process she used to get her name legally changed. Your procedures may differ depending on where you live but the basic process is similar in may areas.
Divorce After the Transition A sex change doesn't automatically void a marriage attorney Carolyn Woodward explains. There is still a marriage certificate in the public records. The rest of the world does not know the marriage is void and that could create complications.
Changing My Name Anne Marie Pemberton takes you through the process that worked for her in getting this important detail done. Her experience was in one U.S. states but many are similar.
Legal Advisor: After SRS Can you legally marry after SRS? What is your status then? Can your partner be your original sex? Fascinating answers to interesting questions. By Carolyn Woodward
Legal Advisor: Bathrooms -- What Are Your Rights? You're out in public. You've got to go. Can you use the bathroom in the restaurant or department store? Will you be arrested? Carolyn Woodward our legal advisor has some answers for what is a rather basic question.
Legal Advisor: Changing Your Name Attorney Carolyn Woodward takes you step by step through the process of obtaining a legal name change. Simple legal forms are included with the story.
Legal Advisor: Changing Your Name Legally Our legal advisor Carolyn Woodward explains how to change your name get legitimate id and keep you Social Security and tax information accurate. A TGF exclusive!
Legal Advisor: Child Custody Case Missouri was not necessarily a disaster. The child custody case decided last week against a TS may not have been as bad as originally thought explains attorney Carolyn Woodward. Family issues are becoming a matter of growing importance in the community.
Legal Advisor: Divorce After the Transition A sex change doesn't automatically void a marriage attorney Carolyn Woodward explains. There is still a marriage certificate in the public records. The rest of the world does not know the marriage is void and that could create complications.
Legal Advisor: Divorce Custody Arrangements Carolyn Woodward lays it out clearly for those who may find themselves or are in this difficult situation. A very strong article on a topic that is of major concern to many transgender parents.
Legal Advisor: Divorce Custody Arrangements (Part 2) Attorney Carolyn Woodward has more information for those of you who are or might be going through a divorce where kids and transgender behavior are central issues. An important concern to many in the community
Legal Advisor: Inheritance after Transition What happens to a family's estate if you've changed your sex? Can legal complications cause probate issues? Attorney Carolyn Woodward has some answers for you.
Legal Advisor: Lawmakers Begin To See The Light A series of new laws granting us some protections against discrimination are useful but not the final answer. Attorney Carolyn Woodward explains the limitations and benefits of the new laws in Illinois and California.
Legal Advisor: Legal Transsexual Marriages TG attorney Carolyn Woodward discusses the problem of a British man who wants to know if a marriage to a US transsexual will be legal in the UK and here. Carolyn's answer may surprise you.
Legal Advisor: Pulled Over By the Law New legal advice column by Carolyn Woodward debuts this weeks with questions and answers about being pulled over by the cops and losing a job after telling a boss you want to transition. Your questions are invited...
Legal Advisor: TS With A Green Card Immigration issues can be mighty tricky if you are transgender. A very interesting issue and fascinating advice from Carolyn Woodward.
Legal Advisor: Wills Is it nearing the time when you have to make some decisions about how your estate will be divided? Our legal expert Carolyn Woodward has some ideas and answer for you.
Arrest in Toronto Triple Murderer A 30 year-old man is arrested in Nova Scotia for the triple murders in Toronto last month. Why the three TGs were all executed remains unclear.
Bathroom Busts at Red Lion apparently invisible complainer leads to busts of TG people using the Ladies Room during a drag event at a Denver motel.
Beauty Murdered in Chicago Nashville native Christian Paige was brutally murdered in an apparent hate crime. A pageant-winner Paige was in Chicago to work in order to save for SRS. The killer has not been caught
Bikini buyer busted A California TS is expelled from an amusement park after trying on a bikini.
DC Tragedy A young transgender woman dies because EMS refuses treatment. Report on the incident indicates a cover-up may be underway.
Divorce: Some of the Legal Issues Marital break-up is unfortunately all too common in this community. In this important article attorney Carolyn Woodward discusses some of the major issues that you should consider if this is coming your way.
Drag heroines in Lexington Ky. save the lives of a police officer wounded in a shootout. The lawmen thank our folks but local media ignores it.
FTM Convicted In Rape Case In a case that seems very similar to one in Colorado in 1996 a Washington State FTM has been convicted of rape in connection with two 15-year-old girls.
FTM Gets Sentence in Sex Case A 21- year-old FTM who was arrested on sex charges because he once dated teen-age girls accepts a plea bargain and avoids 50 years in jail.
Gay Docs Take Us Back...Sorta The Gay/Lesbian Medical Association has agreed to restore transgender to its' literature but not without a lot of pushing by us.
Islamic Authority Okays SRS Seven years after throwing out a medical student who changed from a man to a woman Al Azhar the highest Sunni Islam authority in Egypt has permitted transsexuality under some conditions.
Journals from ICTLEP Reprints of some of the important ICTLEP Law Conference proceedings. This month important issues for Non-TS Transgendered People.
Lavender Law Conference Gets the Word Phyllis Frye gives gay and Lesbian lawyers the heat for asking for TG support for so many of their issues while not including us in things we care about.
Major Legal Group Considers Taking TG Cases A national coalition of groups engaged in "queer law" has openly considered taking on transgender cases. This includes the ACLU and the Gay and Lesbian Alliance Against Defamation (GLAAD) as well as others. Potentially a very important development fo
Massachusetts Town Protects Gender Expression Cambridge city council this past Monday voted unanimously to incorporate into the city's Human Rights Ordinance protection for freedom of gender expression.
New Hate Crimes Bill The new US hate crimes bill signed July 4 by President Clinton does not contain specific language for us. New effort under way to change the bill.
NY TS Wins First Round In Harass Case A former NYU student who claims she was sexually harassed won an important point in her $14 million lawsuit this week.
Success Looms in Pittsburgh A new law could soon pass in Pittsburgh PA that gives TG people the same protection against discrimination as other groups. A major victory looms. By Deni Scott
Teena Case protests mark start of important murder trial of one of the suspects in the murder of FTM transsexual.
Triple Murder in Toronto A serial killer has apparently targeted transgenders in Toronto. Three people were killed in a single night last week. Reported by Riki Wilchins and Adrianne.
TS Denied Child Custody Rights In a stunning blow to TGs a Missouri (USA) appeals court has ruled against a transexual in her bid for custody of her children.
TS Divorce Case Poses Major Questions An important custody battle is shaping up in St. Louis between a TS and her former wife. The case could have wide implications.
TS Shot Busted Finally Freed In a bizarre tale worthy of Kafka the TS victim of a shooting is jailed by a DA who considers her "weirdness" to have brought on the attack on her. Riki Wilchins reports.
Wedding Law For UK TSs Just Misses A bill to TSs to marry and adopt children ran out of time in the House of Commons in early February but John Horam a Government health minister pledged that the Government would seriously consider the issue.