The Laverne Cox Barbie is the fourth in the Tribute Collection that "celebrate visionaries for their incredible contributions, impact, and legacy as trailblazers." Cox is a four-time Emmy nominated actress, Emmy winning producer, and the first transgender woman of color to have a leading role on a scripted TV show.
Thursday, May 26, 2022
Sunday, September 5, 2021
Stealth versus Invisibility
I have re-written this post several times as I try to include all of you who are still living in your closets. Finally, I decided to go ahead and publish it because hopefully there will come a day when you too can live freely as your authentic selves. Now, here is the post:
I used to resent quite a few of the transgender women I knew who underwent gender realignment surgery then promptly went stealth. By "stealth" I mean they went away to simply live their lives away from the remainder of the transgender community. Before you say the often irritated and jealous transgender community...I agree. In fact, in many ways, I don't blame them.
Even so, to a large degree, there were very few trans women and men to follow.. No one to tell us it was perfectly OK to feel and act the way we do.
Over the years, I have battled the urge to go stealth even though for the most part it has been available to me. Much of being able to go stealth has much to do with my partner Liz as it does with me and any so called passing ability. Since I so rarely go anywhere without her, I am so very used to letting her lead the way with calling me the proper pronouns.
Sometimes I wonder if being too invisible as a transgender woman once again is letting the community as a whole down. Or what the subject even means to the average transgender person just trying to get by.
As I try my best not to be too in depth about the topic at hand, recently I had a chance to unfortunately witness yet another ugly episode of transgender infighting. To make a long story short, in the transgender - cross dresser support group I am in (or used to be), a disturbance erupted between two members basically concerning who was more trans than the other.
Once again it seemed to me, the more things change over the years, the more they stay the same. I mean really, what does it mean if a person is more trans than another.
Maybe on the other hand, as a community we should protect the out and proud leaders we have gained such as Laverne Cox.
The more out and proud trans people we have, the more chance we can defeat the evils of the stealth and the invisibility culture.Friday, January 15, 2021
Dysphoria 1...Zoom Nothing.
In the past couple of days I have had three Zoom meetings to attend.
When the pandemic really began to spread of course, I had to learn all about Zoom. If you don't know, it is a on line visual "meet up" with one or a group of people. Early on in the process, I learned the fear of facing myself on the computer screen for however long the session lasted.
To put it mildly, the results sent my gender dysphoria into a death spiral.
Over the years, I have been able to maintain a delicate balance on how my presentation is perceived versus how it is received in reality.
To be blunt, I thought I presented well during my meeting with my therapist and terrible in my second session.
Look, I know my strong point is I am transgender and like so many of us (cis women too) will never reach the beauty plateau of someone such as Laverne Cox.(below)
I will have to save all of that for another lifetime. Over the years, I have been so fortunate to have met many people who have accepted my true self.
In the meantime, I will have to concentrate on the positives to keep my gender dysphoria at bay.
Maybe then, I can put Zoom up on the scoreboard.
Wednesday, December 30, 2020
Laverne Cox Celebrates the Holidays
Perhaps you have seen the gorgeous Laverne Cox in the "Smirnoff Vodka" holiday advertising campaign.
If you haven't, here is a look:
Thursday, November 19, 2020
Transgender Awareness Week
From Indie Wire comes a look at what to watch during the Transgender Awareness Week:
"Start with Laverne Cox in "Disclosure" and work your way to Isabel Sandoval's "Lingua Franca" for an eclectic array of trans storytelling.
This year saw the release of several quality films and TV shows steeped in authenticity, joy, and a genuine grappling with the complexities of the trans experience. There’s no better time to visit these projects than during Transgender Awareness Week, a week of celebration that culminates with Transgender Day of Remembrance on November 20, which memorializes victims of transphobic violence."
Wednesday, October 7, 2020
Transgender Gold...Bond
From "Cheddar" and Mike Nam
Monday, June 1, 2020
A Transgender Powerhouse
Wednesday, March 11, 2020
The Binary Blues?
Laverne Cox |
It's probably just me but I think most of the "non binary" emphasis is a more recent phenomenon brought up by the younger segment of the transgender community. It's just an easier way to say we don't fit.
However, in my travels, I have encountered more and more individuals who didn't fit a gender binary. I find it encouraging the people I have known (even on a limited basis) have had the courage to live a life somewhere outside the lines of the traditional gender binaries.
As for me, my authentic self is much like Connie's. I live as a binary woman. I do my best to present to the world as one and expect to be treated with respect as one.
I also think we are not being pushed out from under the transgender umbrella, we just need a bigger umbrella.
Friday, January 3, 2020
Battle Scars
The picture of her in a swimming suit dramatically shows the extent of the surgery.
This is just another instance of how Jazz has stepped up and showed the world yet another slice of transgender life!
Plus, another very accomplished and talented transgender woman is appearing in another very visible television role...Laverne Cox is a judge on the Bravo TV's design show Project Runway.
As always, Laverne is an articulate, gorgeous representative of the trans culture.
Before you head off thinking all I am doing is glorifying the very attractive upper portion of our culture, I am not. The greatest majority of us struggle to achieve our own level of femininity at all.
My only point is to show those who have achieved it and put their efforts to good use!
Monday, December 9, 2019
Laverne Cox Has been Busy!
As I understand it, this is actually the second year she (Laverne) has been in Smirnoff commercials. The brand also happens to be a big LGBTQ supporter.
In addition to her commercials, Laverne has been named beauty ambassador for the Matrix hair product line.
What a great ambassador she has become for transgender women everywhere!
Monday, September 23, 2019
Emmy News
Check out Laverne's clutch she carried on the purple carpet!
Saturday, August 17, 2019
Whatever!
What I don't understand though, is why they would support an administration which is so actively trying to trying to take our rights away. How are they going to react when their legal same sex marriages come under attack.
Perhaps too, maybe you have noticed I haven't even mentioned the continued attacks on transgender rights. I guess we have no rights either with the Log Cabin Republicans.
On a brighter side, Laverne Cox maybe the first transgender actor to win an Emmy! From Out:
"In 2014, Laverne Cox became the first transgender person to be nominated for a primetime acting Emmy for her work on Orange Is the New Black. Cox was not only the face of the transgender tipping point, she helped humanize trans folks through her dynamic performance as Sophia Burset.
Thursday, May 30, 2019
Top 20 LGBTQ
Each one though, shares a top spot and a thank you for helping our lives along to be just a little bit better. They also provide banners of inspiration to help us along in the difficult years to come.
It's not a surprise, but the "uber" talented "Laverne Cox"leads the list.
Laverne Cox |
Follow the link above for more!
Friday, January 26, 2018
Laverne Cox
"Laverne Cox is making magazine cover history yet again.
Friday, February 17, 2017
Laverne Cox and the Politics of Trans Beauty
"In 2015, transgender actress Laverne Cox told the world that “trans is beautiful.” Two years later, there’s proof of that everywhere you look.
Carmen Carrera |
Boy Meets Girl
The film is on my list of "must see's" which I just haven't seen yet! Thanks Paula :)
Connie also commented on the show:
"I was unable to catch the premier (Doubt) last night, but it's probably "on demand". I'm disappointed, too, about the "reveal" - especially right off the bat. Not knowing the question to which she responded, I don't know if her response was a very good one. I consider myself to have been a woman all my life; I only played the part of a man because I had to.
I think most of us come to this realization at some point, and I'm sure Laverne, herself, has. Being a transgender woman is hard enough to explain, anyway, but it bothers me when one of us is portrayed as a "woman who used to be a man". The answer to someones question should either be, "It's none of your business" or "Do you really want to learn something?". Of course, an attorney is going to charge for every minute of the lesson if it's done in her office! :)"
Connie, since it is on CBS and if the ratings are half way decent, I am sure they will show it again! Plus since the transgender subject has already been covered, maybe that will be the last we will see of it.
Thursday, February 16, 2017
Doubts?
A long-time advocate for the transgender community, Laverne Cox made history as the first transgender actress to play a transgender series regular on a broadcast television show when the legal drama Doubt premiered on CBS Thursday night.
While I was thrilled to see Laverne in the role, I wasn't so sure I was pleased when she explained to a client that yes, she used to be a man, but was now a woman. Somehow I had hoped the writers would let her play the character without ever mentioning she was transgender at all.
Thursday, January 26, 2017
Transgender Television
Katie Couric |
Laverne Cox (right) |
With the respect of National Geographic and the number one ratings of CBS, both of these shows can go a long way to insure transgender gains will not disappear in the near future!
- of gender through the lens of science, society and culture in the ground-breaking new two-hour documentary.clear cut. Join us as we set out to explore this evolving concept of gender through the lens of science, society and culture in the ground-breaking new two-hour documentary.
Wednesday, September 14, 2016
Nashville Cats!
Tuesday, August 23, 2016
Transgender Mini Series
Like the other day when my new endocrinologist asked me to start at the beginning. Really? The story would be like a mini series on the history channel. We would have episodes along the way of playing football while wanting to be a cheerleader, raiding my Mom's clothes while they would still fit, and how about the doll I wanted for Christmas I never got?
The problem I had with her was trying to color in the space of time I spent exploring my possible transition from crossdresser to transgender woman-and yes there was a difference. I was so much more than an ex guy with hormone induced breasts and emotions sitting across from her.
Obviously, I was the first "up close and personal" trans woman she had ever met and was fascinated. I even fascinate myself, sometimes not in good ways which could be a another show.
I often wonder if I ever had the chance to be the "flaming star" of transgender women (like Caitlin Jenner), how would I handle it? To be sure better than her because at the least I have more empathy towards the trans community than she seemed to ever show. The again, she didn't have to "come up through the ranks" similar to someone such as Laverne Cox.
Even though I would like to show empathy though, I know it's tough because of the issues all of us have faced to get us here in the transgender tribe. One episode could be centered in how we as a tribe are still terribly cannibalistic. It's like we carry whats left of our male ego, then mix it in with our newly forming feminine ego. We have talked about it here. Rather than say hello to another trans sister, we desperately hope her trans dar did not go off and read us.
Another interesting episode would take a look at the progression and in some cases digression our fashion senses take. Take me for example, I don't wear mini skirts or sky high heels but my jeans, flip flops and violet hair serve to announce my arrival and P.O. many other women my age. But you have probably figured by now...I don't care.
I could probably come up with two or three more shows without much trouble, like how does one become socialized as a woman etc... but more on that at a later time! Don't panic, I don't have a ton of producers knocking my door down anyway :)
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