TRANS ON FILM

As most in the LGBTQ know, November is Trans Awareness month. Never more important than ever in these times. With this gross administration it's important to support the trans community. I don't know if any of you have caught TCM this month, but wow...did they shove a big one up the administrations ass. Yes...I have been enjoying it all month and YES, TCM has celebrated trans movies through special programming most notably through their series of Trans Images on Film. The series is often presented with trans critics and authors who discuss the film and the history of trans representation in cinema. So far films such as Ma Vie en Rose, Dog Day Afternoon. Paris is Burning, Dressed in Blue, The Christine Jorgenson Story. Some of My Best Friends Are, and Come Back to the Five and Dime Jimmy Dean, a great movie I hadn't seen in sometime, and forgotten that Karen Black, Cher and Kathy Bates were in it and were incredible. I found the month to be very purposeful. The month-long series shed light on the history of trans identify in cinema and provide a more complete picture of trans experiences on screen, and not to mention what the trans goes through in life. I had seen most of the films but two, and were they excellent films.

The first was Some of My Best Friends Are.

This film starred Fannie Flagg, Rue McClanahan and a great performance by Candy Darling. The movie takes place on Christmas Eve 1971, in Greenwich Village, a group of gay men and lesbians meet at the mob owned Blue Jay Bar to talk about their lives and relationships.

Candy Darlings performance was something I can't help but wonder if many trans went through. In once scene she is embarrassed in front of the whole bar when a male patron discovers she is really a man. The scene was a bit hard to watch. But Candy Darling gave a hell of a great performance, an authentic portrayal of someone hiding inner heartache behind a public persona, which was a powerful and personal reflection of Darlings own life.

The seond treat this month has been another film I never saw, Ma vie en Rose, a 1997 Franco-Belgian drama film directed by Alain Berliner.

It tells the story of Ludovic, a transgender girl, and depicts her family and community struggling to accept her gender identity. Ludo find only rejection, isolation and guilt, as the intense reactions of family, friends, and neighbors strip away every innocent lace and bauble. As suburban prejudices close around them, family loves and loyalties are tested in the ever-escalating dramatic turns in this feature. It loved the film.

What a colorful and great film it was, and a powerful film. I think the film depicted more than any other film featuring a trans, what a trans person really goes through and the torment they face from those around them and even question their own path at times. Everyone in the film does a great job, but what a power delivery from the actor, Georges du Fresne, playing the main part of Ludo. What a performance by him who was at the time just a child. It was one of the best movies I've seen in some time. 

If you get a chance check these out . Have you seen any of these films?

MADAME MAYOR DEUSO

A democrat, Erica Deuso, easily won a race in Downingtown, an outlying suburb of Philadelphia last Tuesday. And just why was that so great??? She became the first Pennsylvanian to serve as an openly transgender mayor! 

Now, Mayor Erica Deuso, a former political organizer, received 64% of the vote to defeat Republican Richard Bryant, and in a fairly heavy red area on top of everything else. My goddess isn't that some great news! People looking pass people choices and lifestyles for someone to do the job, not to mention in a time with the Party of Rot in control! Deuso is a scientist, advocate, and community leader, raised in a working-class Vermont family, and learned resilience and the value of service. With advanced degrees in science and business, Deuso has built a career focused on innovation, advocacy and business improvement. She currently sits on the boards of the PA Equality Project, PFLAG, and Emerge PA. Her vision for Downingtown centers on diversity, accountability, and community empowerment. After living abroad, she made Downingtown her home, where she lives with her husband, their dog, and three cats. What a like most is her commitment to fostering the "Good Neighbor" mentality, creating a positive, inclusive community and plans to make room at the table for everyone. Just another success story for one of the letters in LGBTQ. Yet another role model to never back down, be yourself, and remember anything is possible.

Congratulations Madame Mayor Deuso!

VANITY FAIRE

If you do drag and don't know who Vanity is, gurl...who best expand your horizons! Any drag who drags has at least one wig creation from this queen. And if you're a fan of many well-known queens, most likely you've seen this queens work. Vanity Faire had a lifelong affair with wigs and makeup, he has toured the world as a successful makeup artist, a wig stylist, and drag performer. Vanity's artistic passion developed at a very young age, and fresh out of school decided to pursue a career in hairdressing. Not content with the simple life he packed his bags and moved to Sydney's Oxford Street where he felt right at home and Vanity Faire was born and became a full-fledged drag queen, where she stood out from the pack. Can you say Ultra Glam? It wasn't long before legendry queen, Carlotta, of Les Girls snapped her up for her touring drag show. While Vanity still does drag and performs with a busy schedule, in 2006 she and Courtney Act officially launched Wigs by Vanity and to some it would appear their new lace front wigs appeared within the drag community virtually overnight. Some queens will only wear a lace front wig. While they searched worldwide for a source that could produce these wigs at an afforded cost for drag queens, some companies charge up to $1,000 for a lace front....Vanity took it upon herself to learn the art of lace front wig making, and all these years later the joint company has blown up....Vanity's work on wigs are beautiful, big, full, glamorous and with undetectable hairlines and affordable... not to mention made by a drag queen for drag queens! And kids...Vanity is stunning to boot, and a hell of a performer. I'll have to share Vanity creations one day. 

Vanity Faire

PRIDE INTERTUDE- IM SO GAY!

 

Now... how about another Pride Interlude from trans artist Trisha Paytas with her homage to Too Wong Foo!!! With a bevy of familiar queen faces!

Happy Gay Pride!

NIGHTLIFE AND BALLROOM

Pride usually brings up many different memories and thoughts for me. One of those- my love for the nightlife and the ballroom scene. It seems the LGBTQ I know either never liked the club scene and had no interest, or they did. I fall into the latter.  My, I will always have a fondness, connection and love for the nightlife, clubs, lounges and such, and at one time loved going to what was left of the heyday of ballroom. Even though I was never in the closet, or had any real bullying issues, I fell immediately in love with my first gay club night out and never looked back. It was so nice to have a place filled with people like me, no guards up, and you could act as gay and over the top as you wanted. Everyone was greeted with open arms, no judgements about your sexuality, no one cared. We were all there to drink, dance and be merry, and hell kids, even get laid. Dance the night away. It was like one big family even though you might not even know everyone. It was nice to feel that for a couple hours before returning to reality. I always did and still do feel more alive when I'm in a club and can dance my ass off. 

Ballroom was no different, a culture born from drag balls in the mid 19th century and flourished into house ballroom in primarily black and Latino LGBTQ communities in major cities, where even some of our own cast outs found, love, solace and acceptance in their own houses. For me the clubs and ballroom served as a safe haven and space for self-expression, especially by many who were rejected by their own families. While I did attend quite a few ballroom competitions from the sidelines, no way could I do all those moves. But I'm here to tell you, I can do a very mean walk with attitude on the runway. One of my schticks when out at the club, would be cutting runways to a song called I'm Beautiful, Damn It. While I'm far from a ballroom dancer, I do LOVE to dance to house and am pretty good if I can toot my own horn. I can still go for an hour or two of straight dancing. And don't get me started on some vogue moves. It was years later, once in New Hope, that drag was making a comeback, that I started my own drag house, House of Borghese with shows in New Hope and Philly every couple months. Surrounded here by Duke Borghese, Princess Borghese, Lady Borghese, yours truly in the center sitting, Miriam Webster, Queenie Borghese, Madsion Avenue, Empress Borghese and the Countess Borghese.

I sort of feel sad for the up-and-coming LGBT, that they will never know the feeling of ballroom, the energy of the big clubs, having church to the music, and good fun filled with campery and the magic of it all. If I hadn't had this, I feel I would be a very different person then I am now.  Even now, in my early 50's I can still move and love to hear the thumpa thumpa. 

And THIS is what I'm talking about kids!!! WERK, WALK.... 

And this bitch!!!! This BITCH...Honey Balenciaga

And these trailblazing and legendary MOTHERS.

Happy Gay Pride!!!

If you had a house, what would you call it?

WORLD PRIDE

By far my favorite snap from the day!

 So two weeks ago, the Clan was attending World Pride, and I ended up going unexpectedly for day. While maybe not as attended as the New York World Pride several years back, this was the 50th Anniversary of Pride and in the nation's capital. The final word was the event was attended by over 2 million from around the globe. An event as much as a celebration of LBGTQ and resilience as it was a call to action amidst heightened political tension. It was the global epicenter of Pride, solidarity and activism. The day I was there, there were independant marches, concerts and many events from short films, documentaries and immersive exhibits to view, to street festivals, and protest. And many groups to march with in the streets to promote equality in the country, thanks to those Stonewall rioters. And it's worth remembering that Pride began as a radical act of protest, and this history is more relevant than ever today. It was a long day and am I getting exhausted from Prides...I'm getting there, but I feel it's my duty to get out there be seen and attend so many Prides that I'm able too. I have to admit it was an exuberant feeling to walk to solemn marches and be part of our history to honor those who paved the way and push our visibility for a future where freedom is universal. Some of my snaps for the day.

This old bitch, Bianca Del Rio

Preston and boyfriend Anthony...in a touching yet hot capture! They were serving more cake that Tastykake, and legs that a bucket of chicken.

 

Two more Prides to go yet...New York City and Harrisburg.

I should be breaking wind with glitter by now.

IN THREE WORDS

In this weekly feature, I'll share a guest with you all each week, 

and you tell me in only three words what come to mind.

In Three Words...

April Ashley 

PRIDE INTERTUDE-EsTITTIES!

It takes a lot for a drag queen to stay relevant and known. And honey I'm here to tell you drag gal pal Salina EsTitties is going strong, dropping fairly entertaining music as only Salina can deliver with her trademark comedic side and over the top drag, serving exciting live shows all over the US while still keeping it local, will be headlining the New York City Pride later this month, not to mention preparing to mark her territory in Podcast land regularly...and was just named LA's Most Entertaining Drag Queen of the Year. She is a survivor who had to overcome many hardships to where she is today, including finding regular gigs. Just because you're on Drag Race doesn't automatic seal your future anymore, and she is right. In the earlier days up to season 9 you were automatically going to become a legend. Now? Now it's so oversaturated it's easy to get forgotten and lost in a very crowded and noisy field even if you do well, not to mention, the seasons and All-Stars come so fast and so many, fans can't keep up anymore and filler queens are even at this point not even memorable. But you'll never forget Salina EsTitties! Show this bitch some love kids! And if he keeps working on his male self, I told him I may jump him! 

Case in point....BOOTZ!

CATEGORY IS......

 .... DRAPED IN PRIDE, WRPPED IN HERTIAGE REALNESS...

YAS.....HOUSE OF LA FEYA!

JORDI

CLEMENTINE DEUS

the MISUA

MARHARLIKA

HANA BESHIE

LAMISHA BAY HANA

And while we're on the topic of fabulous Pilipino Queens, how about the stunning and sickening Marina Summers with her ditty....