Australia: DREADCIRCUS IN TRANSITION

Jade Starr will once again rock the music scene.

After months in the studios recording their next CD, singer Jade Starr and her troupe of transsexuals and lesbians, known as Dreadcircus, are set to launch their latest album this week before jetsetting to Adelaide for the Feast festival.

They will be joined on tour by Ikochi, an Asian transsexual band that promises to deliver a high-energy show thanks to its unique sound spanning the traditions of the Japanese Showa era through to rockabilly and punk.

Bass player Kota and drummer Datsuke will join Ikochi’s stunning transsexual lead singer and guitarist Chikako at the events.

But before the groups hit the road they will be playing at the Sandringham in Newtown on Thursday 15 November, then at Slide on Sunday 18 November with She Is. . . .

TV gives a role to transsexuality

With taboos being erased, story lines involving transgender characters have been emerging on prominent shows.

By Roger Catlin

Gay people on TV are old hat.

By now, Entertainment Weekly reports, 61% of college freshmen, who grew up with "Will & Grace," approve of gay marriage. The finding in the national poll is up 10 percentage points from a decade ago.

A turn around the dial will bring you gay story lines in daytime soap operas, same-sex dating on MTV shows such as "Next" and "A Shot of Love With Tila Tequila," and prominent gay characters in ABC's "Brothers & Sisters" and several cable shows: FX's "Nip/Tuck," HBO's "The Wire" and Showtime's "The L Word."

Suspected of being gay is no longer the guaranteed laugh it was on TV anymore, even on macho shows like "Two and a Half Men." And characters such as George on "Grey's Anatomy" or Barney on "How I Met Your Mother" can be credible as virtual Lotharios, though they are played by gay men.

No, to add shock to TV shows in 2007, writers have turned to transsexuals.

How surprising was it last season on "Ugly Betty" when Alex, the long-lost brother of Mode magazine editor in chief Daniel Mead, returned as Alexis, who was not only a woman but a woman who looks like Rebecca Romijn (exactly like her, as it turned out)?

A story line over the summer on "Entourage" involved Johnny Drama trying to get in good with the mayor of Beverly Hills by hooking him up with what appeared to be a beautiful woman at a trendy bar. Her pre-op secret was revealed in one of those skirt flash shots the paparazzi so love. But the mayor (Stephen Tobolowsky) decided he liked his exotic new acquaintance anyway.


Sultry blond

Another politician on a TV series who decided to stick with his transsexual is William Baldwin's Patrick Darling on ABC's "Dirty Sexy Money." Though a married New York state attorney general running for U.S. Senate, he is determined to continue his illicit relationship with Carmelita, despite entreaties from his family lawyer.

Carmelita, a sultry blond with a very low voice, is notable because she might be broadcast TV's first recurring transsexual character who actually is played by a transsexual. She is played by Candis Cayne, whose previous credits include "Wigstock: The Movie," "To Wong Foo, Thanks for Everything! Julie Newmar" and an episode of "CSI: New York."

A transsexual story line also occurs early on another new ABC series, "Big Shots," in which divorced cosmetics CEO Duncan Collinsworth, played by Dylan McDermott, hooks up with a transsexual prostitute at a rest stop -- a tryst that threatens his career when the story gets out.

A more normal depiction of a transsexual life comes as a small part of the FX series "The Riches," about a family of grifters, whose youngest son prefers to dress in women's clothes.

Even as more daytime talk shows take a more serious look at transsexuals, including an October episode of "Oprah Winfrey," some in the transgender community are not encouraged by TV's tendency to depict transsexual women, especially those of color, as prostitutes. The only transsexual women who so far escape that profession are white.


'I'm totally natural'

But on "There's Something About Miriam," an imported BBC series on the Fox Reality cable channel, a group of men vie for the affections of a Mexican woman. According to Fox Reality, the show involves "six eligible men, one beautiful model named Miriam and an enormous secret reveal you never saw coming."

But in this season of transsexuals, of course you saw it coming.

And if you didn't, it was revealed in the premiere (shown, oddly, on Halloween, following the announcement of a winner on "The Search for the Next Elvira").

"I'm not a real woman. I wasn't born as a girl, I was born as a man. I'm a transsexual," Miriam says with about 10 minutes left in the first episode. "I see myself as a girl because I've been living about half my life the way I am living now.

"I don't have any operation. I'm totally natural, this is me."

A doctor from Spain is then interviewed, so he can say, "I can confirm that she has got masculine genitals."

"I see myself as a girl, so basically I like straight guys," Miriam says. The guys won't find out until the final episode.

When "There's Something About Miriam" first aired in the United Kingdom in 2004, it was called "the cruelest reality show idea yet."

Its participants sued the show for conspiracy to commit sexual assault, defamation, breach of contract and personal injury in the form of psychological and emotional damage.

The cases were settled out of court, and the show since has been shown in Australia and Poland. Still, it is perhaps understandable that the cast refuses to do interviews related to the show's U.S. debut.

Mara Keisling, executive director for the National Center for Transgender Equality, has said, "It's just natural that as there are more trans people visible in public, that's going to be reflected in popular culture."

But its emergence comes with terms that are offensive to the community, such as "she-male" and "tranny."

And conservative watchdog groups are against it altogether.

Christopher Gildemeister, in the TV Trends column for the Parents Television Council, says ABC has an "apparent fetish for transsexuals" in a season where "bizarre forms of sex are being emphasized to a much greater degree on television than ever before."

Bar installs new bathroom for transgender woman

11/12/2007

By Jennifer Korducki


A transgender woman has settled a civil rights complaint with a Scottsdale nightclub owner over the use of a bar’s bathroom.

A face-to-face meeting between Michele de LaFreniere and bar owner Tom Anderson over the weekend ended the dispute, now that the bar has put in a single-stall restroom available to every customer.

De LaFreniere originally filed a civil rights complaint over the use of the bar’s bathrooms against Anderson’s Fifth Estate a year ago.

The complaint was filed after Anderson banned de LaFreniere and some of her friends from the nightclub after women complained about men in dresses using the toilets in the women’s restroom.

De LaFreniere was also allowed to return to Anderson’s Fifth Estate, a downtown Scottsdale bar.

Rocky Risley Horror

Double Take: Rocky Horror Picture Show

November 14, 2007

By Meredith Richard

This weekend, red-lipstick wearing, feather boa bearing, experimental film enthusiasts united at Risley to celebrate the glory that is The Rocky Horror Picture Show. Huddled on the floor of Risley’s Great Hall, the students observed all of the traditions associated with this cult classic, with the aid of hosts Chris Macklin and Jasmine Haboubi ’08. For this weekend’s presentation of the show, students certainly dressed for the occasion, some in as little as lingerie, fishnets and high-heels. Others took the more traditional route, and dressed to emulate one of the stars of the show, yet this still did not entail much more in the way of body coverage. This costume-party atmosphere contributed greatly to the overall experience of the show.

Upon our arrival, the “virgins” were instructed to recite an oath: “I, virgin scum, do hereby admit, in front of all of these people, that I am a Rocky Horror virgin. I wish to lose all of my morals and accept decadence in my heart.” And as a sort of initiation, the virgins participated in various contests, some of which involved bananas and condoms, or faking an orgasm. The games were commenced, of course, on the count of 69.

The two usherettes opened the show, with a scintillating, choreographed routine to the opening credits, and the song, “Science Fiction-Double Feature.” While the iconic red lips mouthed the words on the screen set up behind the actors, audience members sang their own version, which complimented the original lyrics of the song. After this, the cast emerged in front of the screen, to reenact the events of the movie as they occurred.

For all of you virgins out there, The Rocky Horror Picture Show follows the newly-engaged couple, Brad Majors (Matt Taylor ’10) and Janet Weiss (Michele Batista ’10), as they attempt a visit to their friend, Dr. Everett von Scott (Scott Mooney ’11). When they get a flat tire along the way, they are left with no choice but to ask for help at the residence of Dr. Frank-N-Furter (Ethan Samuels ’10), a transsexual mad scientist. Formerly very straight-edge, the pair soon learns to embrace the self-indulgent lifestyle of Franky and his gang of eccentric Transylvanians.

The audience participated vociferously at several points throughout the show. We waved our arms back and forth for the windshield wiper scene, held lighters up for the song, “Over at the Frankenstein Place,” and stood to dance the steps to the “Time Warp.” We applauded uproariously when Franky appeared on screen, and threw toast when he held up his flute of champagne during the dinner party scene and suggested “Let’s have a toast.” One member of the audience ran up just in time to give the appearance of having been hit by the lightning bolt that cracked on the screen. Several people also ran up to the screen at the end of the film, to make it look like they were spinning the projected image with their hands.

People yelled taunts and lewd comments at the screen, some of which were personalized to Cornell (i.e. comparing the wacky transsexual Transylvanians to the Cornell Football team). Overall, the show was a vastly entertaining experience, and I would recommend it to any of you Rocky Horror virgins out there. . . .

Living in a transgender world

Q&A clears up confusion in terms of gender

By: Freddy Hunt

11/14/07

If Uncle Bill wants to become a woman - well, actually he's always been a woman, she's just stuck in a man's body - which public restroom will she use? What about her facial hair? Will she have surgery? And if she still likes women, is she a lesbian?

These are some of the questions raised by three children in a film shown at yesterday's workshop, Transgender, Allies and Social Change. The name of the film is "No Dumb Questions," which would have also been an appropriate title for the workshop since Joelle Ruby Ryan encouraged any and all questions.

Ryan, founder of Transcendence, the University based transgender support group, said workshops will be held throughout the week to further educate people on transgendered people and the obstacles they must overcome.

"Everybody asks, 'Why?', but nobody asks, 'Why are people heterosexual or gender normative?'" Ryan said. "The real question is, 'Why do we live in a world that wont accept people for being themselves?"

It is important to educate society on the difficulties transgender people face to gain allies and also because some people will go their whole lives unhappily living a secret, suppressing their identity, Ryan said.

Marlene Bomer, community liaison for Transcendence, said nothing felt better than when she came out and started living outwardly as she felt inside.

"Hello world this is who I am and if you don't like it, tough!" Bomer said sternly. "There's one person that I'm going to worry about and that is myself. If you don't like it, fine, just don't beat me up for it. I'm going to be myself."

There are many colleges and universities nationwide that have included gender identity and expression in their non-discriminatory policies, which would protect gender expression, but BGSU is not one of them.

Although Ryan said there is lots of support at the University, from USG, Faculty Senate and the Student Senate, a policy must be approved by the Board of Trustees in order for it to be implemented. . . .

Miss International Queen 2007, Thanyarat Jiraphatpakorn

Mexio: Town's gender lines blurred

by Angela Kocherga

12 November 2007

JUCHITAN, OAXACA, MEXICO. - A small town where not everything is what it appears, Juchitan is rich in tradition from the fresh cheese made by local women to the hand-embroidered blouses known as 'huipiles.'

But there is another tradition at work; one that may not be evident at first glance. They're known as 'muxes' in the native Zapotec indian language: men who assume the role of women.

Jose Antonio Sanchez said his grandfather and uncle were muxes. Jose's transgender experience began when he was a child. Sanchez has photos of his own 'quinceanera,' the traditional sweet 15 party for girls in Mexico.

Jose now goes by the name Mistica. He wants to be referred to as a 'she". Mistica recalls her mother saying he must be accepted as a gift from God. Many families consider muxes a blessing because of their earning power. In the small town, most men eake out a living fishing or as subsistance farmers.

Muxes build businesses around the town's active social life including festivals, religious ceremonies, and weddings. Mistica makes good money embroidering huipiles. Another muxe that ABC-7 spoke with, Felina, is a successful hair salon owner.

Muxes are so central to life in Juchitan that every November, the town is the site of a gender bending fiesta that attracts people from around the world. The scenes were captured in a recent documentary by a Mexican director who chronicled the muxe tradition.

Juchitan may be tolerant, but muxes who venture beyond the city limits know that in other parts of Mexico they and those who defy gender roles face discrimination and in extreme cases might be the target of hate crimes.

"They're treated equally here," said one Juchitan man. But that tolerance does not always start at home. "It's no paradise," Felina said. While mother's embrace their muxes, many fathers reject these sons who want to act like daughters.

Felina blames machismo. Beatings are a rite of passage for some young muxes. Though the men ABC-7 spoke with ultimately gained their father's acceptance. Muxes are comfortable with their identities, none wants a sex change operation.

They're proud to be different. Felina said she's not a woman but does not want to be a man either. Instead, Mexico's muxes revel in their special status in a town where blurring gender roles date back generations. . . .

Korea: Male-Turned-Female Actress Appears in ‘Sex Is Zero’ Sequel

Lee Dae-hak By Park Si-soo 11.12.2007 An actress, who will feature in a Korean film scheduled to open next month, has drawn media attention because she has changed her gender. Lee Sea-youn, 28, who previously went under the name of Lee Dae-hak, will appear in the sequel to ``Sex Is Zero'' to be released nationwide on Dec. 13. Reportedly, Lee underwent a sex change operation earlier this year. The actress is still legally registered as a male. She has not made any contact with anyone since her sex change became known to the public Friday, ``I am still afraid of showing up before the audience, who may see me with a biased view,'' a movie official delivered Lee's message on her behalf. The movie production, a sequel to ``Sex Is Zero,'' also faced barriers in promoting the film because many media outlets here have given more weight to the transsexual entertainer rather than the new comic movie. ``With Lee's experience being treated merely as an eye-catching story, we are extremely cautious about handling the issue for fear that she may be affected negatively by what people and the media say,'' said the official. ``We hope Lee will show up in the near future and explain her opinion on the issue.'' . . .

The Forgotten Veterans

November 11, 2007

by Monica Helms

Veterans Day is one the three most important days in this country when it comes to patriotism and pride. At the eleventh minute, of the eleventh hour, of the eleventh day, of the eleventh month, we start the day honoring all the veterans who have served this country, both in peace and in war. Today, we have 26 million military veterans in America, but sadly, we lose 1500 WWII each day and a similar number of Korean War veterans as well. Soon, the Vietnam War veterans will pass away in similar numbers.

The men and women who fought in those wars over the last 230-plus years came from every diverse background this country has ever known. People from every race, religion, ethnicity, economic status, social status and sexual orientation have fought, been wounded or died for this country. A current example of sexual orientation is the first person wounded in the current war in Iraq. Eric Alva lost a leg in the very early days of the war and then came out as being gay after his discharge.

Amongst the wide diversity of people who have served this country, Transgender Americans have been an important part of the military since the Revolutionary War. The word “transgender” has come to mean “Anyone who crosses the gender lines, regardless of whether it is temporary or permanent.” Dictionary.com has the definition as, “Noun: A person appearing or attempting to be a member of the opposite sex, as a transsexual or habitual cross-dresser,” and, “Adjective: Being, pertaining to, or characteristic of a transgender or transgenders: the transgender movement.”

We have found that in the early part of American history, women could easily fight as men because they didn’t have to go through a physical exam before enlisting. That changed during the Spanish American War. Some of the women who did fight in those early wars indeed returned to a life as a woman, but many did not.

In the early and middle parts of the 20th Century, we found that most of the transgender veterans who served at that time started life as boys, but became women in the years after the wars had ended. Others crossdressed throughout their lives and even did so while serving in the military. In the middle 20th Century and early 21st Century, women began serving more frequently and even in combat roles where they could not previously serve. We started seeing more women who later became men after those wars were over.

One of the notable examples of a woman who fought as a man was Deborah Sampson, a tall woman for her day, served in the Revolutionary War as Robert Shurtliff and even became wounded. Another person was Lucy Brewer, who started her early adult life as a prostitute, but served as a Marine on board of the USS Constitution in the War of 1812. After the War, she appeared as a man several times. Around 400 women served as men in the Civil War, for both sides. Some continued their lives as men after the war. . . .

Thai crowned world's transsexual beauty queen

11 November 2007

PATTAYA, Thailand (AFP) — Dressed in a flowing yellow gown with matching earrings, a demure Thai business student wept and embraced her rivals after being crowned the world's most beautiful transsexual.

Tanyarat Jirapatpakon was named Miss International Queen 2007 on Sunday, besting 23 stunning transsexuals who had come to the Thai beach resort of Pattaya from as far as Germany and Puerto Rico for a shot at the diamond crown.

The Thai's extravagant yet elegant costumes and dedication to environmental causes helped carry the day, taking her past runners-up Aleika Barros of Brazil and Chanel Madrigal of the Philippines.

"I feel excited and so happy. Everybody enjoyed the contest and I didn't expect anything like this," the 21-year-old said from atop her throne after winning 10,000 dollars and the title.

In a nation obsessed with beauty pageants and famous for its sexual tolerance, this elaborate contest is taken every bit as seriously as the more traditional competitions.

Contestants' costumes can cost up to one million baht (33,000 dollars), and the audience was treated to all the glitz and glam of conventional beauty pageants, complete with swimsuit and evening-wear rounds.

"This is the night I have been preparing for my whole life," gushed Colombia's Melania Armenta, a 25-year-old model.

Festivities began on Saturday evening, with last year's winner Erica Andrews performing "Mexican Aztec" -- an upbeat, pulsating dance homage to her homeland complete with ancient pyramids, flashing native symbols and historic outfits.

In the costume round, Tanyarat had to compete against a butterfly, a swan and a Mercedes Benz, but the top prize in the category was given to Japan's Beni Tsukishima for her authentic kabuki ensemble.

Tanyarat's angelic white-beaded evening wear, fit for the grandest of galas, gave way to the more salacious floral pink bikini in the swimsuit competition, showing off her shapely legs and slim figure.

But she finally wooed the crowd with dedication to loftier issues.

"Global warming is one of the most serious problems the world faces today," she said when asked how she helps educate people on environmental issues.

"I tell them to 'think about it'. It's your world too," she said.

The crowd, consisting of mostly Thais and the occasional bewildered tourist, cheered loudly for the homegrown favourite but were upstaged by feverish, flag-waving Filipinos who supported four of their compatriots.

Tiffany's Show Pattaya, which runs the event and claims to be the world's largest transsexual cabaret, said more than 25 million Thai television viewers had been expected to tune in.

Known in Thailand as "kathoey," or the third gender, Thai transsexuals have slowly been leaving cabarets for mainstream success in music and other endeavours, helped in part by the popularity of beauty contests.

Participants praised Thailand for its progressive attitude towards sexuality.

"There is still a lot of discrimination against people like me in the Philippines," said 24-year-old Rain Marie Madrigal, from Manila.

"Thailand is like a utopia for transgender people."

Letters: Transgender health care a manageable condition

Gerri Cannon

Merrimack

I read the letter to the editor written by Jeffrey Winslow in the Oct. 28 Sunday paper ("N.H. transgendered bill the wrong approach") and realized that Mr. Winslow is uninformed on the subject of transgender health care.

Gender Identity Disorder is a diagnosed condition defined in the DSM-V (The Diagnostic and Statistical Manual of Mental Disorders). The Harry Benjamin Standards of Care is a consensus opinion on transsexual treatment by medical and psychological experts.

Guided by the information provided in these sources, therapists and doctors can work with a patient to diagnose and treat this condition.

Almost everyone considering transition goes through many therapy sessions and potentially years of counseling before a diagnosis is reached and hormone treatments are prescribed by the patient's therapist, doctor and/or endocrinologist.

In other words, a person just can't decide one day to change genders and be put on hormone treatments. It is a long and well-documented process, just like many other diagnosable conditions.

Mr. Winslow suggests that alternative therapy should be used to encourage the patient to lead a more "traditional" life. This would be an excellent solution if it worked, but this approach has been tried numerous times with many patients and health-care professionals across the country and around the world.

The documented results are very poor and many times create other physiological problems with potential suicidal outcomes. In most situations where the patient is married and has children, the entire family is already in therapy, early in the process, even before any decision is made to start a transition process.

Yes, the challenges this family will face adjusting to a member with a new gender is a challenge. There are many families that have adjusted when they see that their loved one is a much happier and stronger individual when they are comfortable in their gender transition. There are also families that don't. . . .

TRANTASIA - Film Trailer

India: Nose Ring As Thorn

He was unhappy with his body. Now, more comfy in her skin, Rose awaits her TV talk show.

by Pushpa Iyengar


"Being a star is not easy," declares Rose, as she arrives fashionably late. Draped in a yellow sari and matching accessories with scarcely a hair out of place, she announces that she will host a weekly talk show that will discuss gay issues, sexuality, and other 'taboo' topics. It's not just the subject matter of Ipadikku Rose (Yours, Rose) that is expected to make waves in this largely conservative city when it launches on the Star Vijay channel from the end of December. It's Rose herself who seems all set to create a sensation in Chennai.

"I started out as a boy. But the body must have the same gender as the mind," explains the 28-year-old, who 'came out' nearly four years ago to embrace her new persona. From Ramesh she became Rose, after a journey both tortuous and torturous that first saw her battle deep-rooted prejudice and outrage within her own family. Twice, she was thrown out of home—the last time in February 2007, when she won the Miss Chennai title in a beauty contest organised by Sahodaran, a gay group.

Gradually, though, her family is coming to terms with who she is. Things are better now, she says, to the extent that a sister-in-law has loaned her the yellow sari, and her father, her worst critic earlier, now takes her side against a censorious brother. But is Chennai ready for her brand of in-your-face discussion on alternate sexuality?

A couple of years ago, a renowned psychiatrist, Dr Matrubhudam, broke new ground by hosting a show called Pudhira Punidhavam (Is it revolutionary or is it Sacred?) that had 250 episodes discussing sex. In fact, the show was aired in rural areas, and featured sexual problems that people in rural Tamil Nadu faced. Chennai-based sexologist Dr Narayana Reddy comments that with the proliferation of Tamil channels, they need to do something different beyond cinema and politics to get eyeball attention. "Having such a show as Rose's could be one way of doing so."

Through her show, Rose wants to change the overwhelmingly negative image of transgenders as beggars and sex workers that is perpetuated by films and TV. "We have no role model and I wanted to fill that vacuum," she says. She hopes that with youth in the studio audience, and discussion of subjects like child sexual abuse and other sexual crimes, her programme will bring into the open issues that have been hushed up for too long. Some 26 episodes are planned, and shooting starts next month. . . .

Transgender Bill May Be Close to Passing

Legislation to Protect Against Gender Identity Bias Drops Bathroom Stipulations

Maryanne Arnow of Germantown, a transgender woman, says she's had a hard time finding restaurant work since she started her transition four years ago. (By Ricky Carioti -- The Washington Post)

By Ann E. Marimow

November 11, 2007

Montgomery County appears poised to join the ranks of 13 states and the District this week by passing broad protections for transgender individuals in housing and employment. But when the County Council takes up the issue for a vote Tuesday it will not include a controversial reference to their use of public restrooms, something opponents equated to indecent exposure.

Faced with a flood of e-mails, phone calls and radio advertisements, the bill's sponsor, council member Duchy Trachtenberg (D-At Large), said yesterday that she was pulling language referring to the restrooms and was confident that the measure had enough support to pass the nine-member council and win approval from County Executive Isiah Leggett (D).

"We're just being pragmatic here. The bill still does what it's supposed to do," Trachtenberg said, dismayed by what she called a "campaign of misinformation and hypothetical, hyperbolic rhetoric."

Trachtenberg, a past president of the Maryland National Organization for Women elected to the council last year, was inspired to seek protections for the transgender community in part by her chief of staff, Dana Beyer, a retired eye surgeon and transgender woman. Similar anti-discrimination legislation introduced in the Maryland General Assembly failed by one vote in a Senate committee this year, and proponents plan to try again in January.

As initially written, Trachtenberg's bill did not explicitly address the use of public restrooms or dressing rooms by the transgender community. The council's health committee members -- Trachtenberg, George L. Leventhal (D-At Large) and Roger Berliner (D-Potomac-Bethesda) -- amended the bill during a work session last month after considering several options to clarify who should have access to public facilities. They unanimously settled on a standard used in Boston's human rights law that allows access based on a person's gender identity "publicly and exclusively expressed or asserted." . . .

Exploring sexuality

by Max McGowen

12 November 2007

Media Credit: Ryder Haske

Kaden Trifilio is a transgender freshman at GW.

Kaden Trifilio is a freshman. At the beginning of the year, he said he was "full of self-doubt." But this doubt, he said, was not because of classes.

It was because he, once a female, was considering becoming a male.

For Trifilio, life as a transgender student on campus can sometimes be complicated. "So far people have been respectful. But broader issues do persist, such as housing considerations," said Kaden, whose legal name is Katherine.

To confront the issues facing transgender students on campus, Transgender Education and Action, a committee of Allied in Pride, is hosting a series of events this month as part of Transgender Awareness Month. Allied is also continuing its campaign to change GW's housing policy for transgender students and update the University's anti-sexual harassment policy.

Only the Scholar's Village residence halls on Mount Vernon are fully gender-neutral, said Seth Weinshel, GW Housing Program's director of assignments. Additionally, he said there are very few singles available, even for third- and fourth- year students on campus.

For transgender students, questions always arise. Trifilio often wonders which bathroom he should use - and the answer varies. . . .

Culture shock makes us cringe, then change

Hyein Lee

11/12/07

Bebe Scarpi, the only transgender high school principal in America, was our guest lecturer last Tuesday for the class "Policing Same Sex Desires."

"I've never identified myself as transgender," she said. "I prefer drag queen. I've always been a 'she' and always will be."

Scarpi has no problem telling you straight up what she thinks. After years of fighting for gay rights - as the founding president of the Gay Community at Queens College and founding board member of the National Gay Task Force, to name just a few accomplishments - she is still fighting as she speaks with a voice that you can't help but tune in to.

From 2 to 3:15 p.m., this middle-aged woman with reddish-brown hair entertained our questions about her personal life, gay culture and the 1969 Stonewall Riots in Greenwich Village, an outbreak of violence involving the police and LGBTQ community.

"Forty-second street was nothing like it is today," said Scarpi, reminiscing a New York in rather different times: A time when the city, unlike its present attitude, was policing the LGBTQ community and performing raids on gay bars, arresting anyone violating a gender-based dress code or engaging in prostitution. "It was one big orgy, right down eight blocks. There was public sex everywhere."

I could only prop my chin on my right arm and listen, my eyes occasionally dilating in response to some of the edgier things that Scarpi said. . . .

Thai student crowned queen of the transsexuals

Tanyarat Jirapatpakon (C) of Thailand poses with runners-up Chanel Madrigal (L) of Philippines and Aleika...


Mon Nov 12, 2007

PATTAYA, Thailand (Reuters Life!) - At a ceremony full of feathers, frills and false eyelashes, a 21-year-old Thai was crowned queen of the transsexuals at a weekend beauty contest that bills itself as the world's largest.

Panyrat Kirapatpakon, a Thai business student, beat 24 transsexuals and transvestites at the extravagant pageant in the resort town of Pattaya to the "Miss International Queen" title and the $10,000 prize money.

The contest, in its fourth year, was held at the Tiffany's nightclub famous for its transvestite and transgender cabaret and aims to highlight the status of transsexuals around the world.

The contestants, shortlisted from more than 100 hopefuls, came from 15 countries, with a record number from Europe.

"I'm glad to see more people participating in these pageants and many countries giving more opportunities to transsexuals, because in the past many countries, including Thailand discriminated against us," winner Panyrat said.

"But this place has opened our chances and allowed the world to see us."

Bangkok is also a global centre for sex-change surgery, and on the surface, predominantly Buddhist Thailand appears very tolerant of homosexuality, with many openly gay celebrities.

Katoeys -- Thai slang for cross-dressers, transvestites or transsexuals -- are common in offices, schools and on television, but activists say Thailand remains deeply conservative at heart and still has many rules discriminating against non-heterosexuals.

Like other beauty pageants, the contestants paraded in their national costumes, evening gowns and swimsuits to an audience of more than 1,000 people, many of whom were transsexuals and even more extravagantly dressed.

You are not welcome here, club tells Leona Lo

by Phin Wong

She has written about life as a transsexual woman and has given talks on transsexual issues. But on early Saturday morning, Ms Leona Lo was asked to leave a Clarke Quay nightspot, apparently for being a "lady boy." Ms Lo was at The Pump Room with a Singaporean Chinese man and woman and an American Chinese man.

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She said in an email to the media: "The bouncer … asked one of my friends if he knew me. My friend replied 'Yes'. Still, the bouncer … asked me to show him my ID. He said the bar did not welcome 'lady boys'."

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Ms Lo told Today she refused to show him her identity card because it was unfair that she was "being singled out". Ms Lo and her friends then left the bar.

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Her IC states her sex as "female".

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A spokesperson for The Pump Room would neither confirm nor deny the incident yesterday, saying there was not enough time to investigate the matter.

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Mr William Graham, director of the club, said: "The Pump Room has no general policy to exclude any particular groups other than the age guidelines we publish.

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"We do however reserve the right to refuse entry, at our discretion, to any individuals whom we feel are not in adherence to our entry policy.

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"For example, if the customer does not adhere to our dress code, is below our age guidelines, or if we feel they might create a disturbance or misbehave in the establishment based on prior experience, we might not welcome them."

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According to the bar's staff, the age limit is 21 for women and 23 for men on Fridays and Saturdays, and 18 for everyone on other days. The dress code bars sandals, slippers, shorts and sleeveless shirts.

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Ms Lo, 32, said she was wearing a "typical silver dress".

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"I've been there before. The band has even sung 'Happy Birthday' to me," she said.

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In her email, she added: "Ironically, Pump Room's anchor band is Jive Talking, which features a transgender lead singer."

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Ms Lo recently launched From Leonard To Leona, a book chronicling her experience as a post-operation transsexual. She underwent sex assignment surgery in 1997 in Thailand. . . .

Tom Snyder: Christine Jorgensen Interview Part 2

Part 1

Prehistoric women had passion for fashion

A Neolithic figurine showing the head of a goddess, found in the Plocnik archaeological site


By Ljilja Cvekic
11 November 2007

PLOCNIK, Serbia (Reuters) - If the figurines found in an ancient European settlement are any guide, women have been dressing to impress for at least 7,500 years.

Recent excavations at the site -- part of the Vinca culture which was Europe's biggest prehistoric civilization -- point to a metropolis with a great degree of sophistication and a taste for art and fashion, archaeologists say.

In the Neolithic settlement in a valley nestled between rivers, mountains and forests in what is now southern Serbia, men rushed around a smoking furnace melting metal for tools. An ox pulled a load of ore, passing by an art workshop and a group of young women in short skirts.

"According to the figurines we found, young women were beautifully dressed, like today's girls in short tops and mini skirts, and wore bracelets around their arms," said archaeologist Julka Kuzmanovic-Cvetkovic.

The unnamed tribe who lived between 5400 and 4700 BC in the 120-hectare site at what is now Plocnik knew about trade, handcrafts, art and metallurgy. Near the settlement, a thermal well might be evidence of Europe's oldest spa.

"They pursued beauty and produced 60 different forms of wonderful pottery and figurines, not only to represent deities, but also out of pure enjoyment," said Kuzmanovic.

The findings suggest an advanced division of labor and organization. Houses had stoves, there were special holes for trash, and the dead were buried in a tidy necropolis. People slept on woolen mats and fur, made clothes of wool, flax and leather and kept animals.

The community was especially fond of children. Artifacts include toys such as animals and rattles of clay, and small, clumsily crafted pots apparently made by children at playtime. . . .