Replay: The Cliks - Oh Yeah

The Cliks 100.3 Q Interview

Album, Snakehouse

First Transgendered Lead Singer Signed by Major Label

From NPR this AM:

“The rock band the Cliks has gotten a lot of attention this summer after touring with Cyndi Lauper, and the band is being compared to the Pretenders and David Bowie. But there’s another reason why the band is in the spotlight: lead singer, Lucas Silveira. When the band was first formed he was a she — Lillia Silveira, who fronted an all-female band. But the musician has since transitioned into a male, making him the first transgender lead singer to be signed to a major label with the album, Snakehouse.”

You can listen to the segment here. Lucas has decided to not take testosterone for fear of altering his singing voice, a decision that was easier to make thanks to the example set by one of his FTM friends who purposefully chose to avoid hormones because he didn’t want to blend. Apparently he wants to be recognized as TS since anyone can be a genetic male but being transgendered is unique. An interesting perspective that is sure to stir up controversy in the community but probably a sign of things to come as traditional concepts of gender continue to be challenged.

Second Life: Testing being transgendered

A life less ordinary offers far more than just escapism

Anil Ananthaswamy
New Scientist
25 August 2007

WILLIAM WISE had always felt he should have been born a woman. A year and a half ago, he finally got the chance to live as one. He chose a provocative new look: a cute, contemporary hairstyle with bangs, a tank top with spaghetti straps and a plunging neckline, and bare midriff. There was one twist, however. He had to live inside an online virtual world called Second Life. . .

First Person: Bigendered

Gender Discrimination Charges In PDX, OR

My name is Lisa/Lee Iacuzzi and I have two separate gender discrimination complaints against two nonprofits in the city of Portland, OR. They have been officially charged for discrimination in housing through the Bureau of Labor and Industry. I believe these claims could have been avoided by having a clarification about people who are bigendered. Yes, I am saying another label in the gay community that is not being well used to describe individuals who are now called transgendered.

I believe the term transgendered does not accurately explain people like myself who have a different gender that they were born into but do not seek hormones nor surgery. We, bigendered people, struggle for equality because we do not exactly fit into the binary system of male or female. Recognizing in me that I am bigendered only creates understanding to others who might not like our presence in certain public and private spaces dedicated for a certain sex... For example, if my appearance is both female and male but I am a biologically female, does this mean that I cannot live or dwell in women’s’ places? If I say that I am bigendered and not transgendered that it is comfortable for me and others to use male or female pronouns. I have a female voice and I have noticeable breasts, how can I expect someone to call me a he? If someone calls me a he, this does not upset me nor do I ask individuals to apologize. I am often called he by people who did not know me. . . .

Transgender performance now at Rouge Bar

Katie Nelson and Peter Corbett
The Arizona Republic
Aug. 27, 2007 07:31 PM

A show Monday, Aug. 27 featuring the band Psychic TV and its transgender lead singer Genesis P-Orridge has been moved twice thanks to controversy over transgender people.

Psychic TV, whose seven members are mostly from New York, will now play at The Rouge Bar in Tempe, 423 N. Scottsdale Road.

"It's so frustrating," said P-Orridge, en route to The Rouge. "It has already cost us thousands of dollars. We had to stay here any extra day and we're loosing people who don't know where the hell we are now. I'm really sad for all my sisters in the transgender community. We've never ever encountered anything like this anywhere. We've played in over 30 countries and never been told we have to change venues because of what gender I am." . . .