Drag Kings in Afghanistan

Interesting article.  I am intrigued looking at how different cultures use cross-dressing, especially when it is to fulfill a societal advantage (i.e. sonless families need son to raise social status) and not in connection with one's sexuality (as we are trained to react in the US). I remember someone telling me that in some part of the world it's not unusual for families without daughters to pick a son to dress up as a girl and help his mother out around the house...but I cannot remember where this happened.  I'm pretty sure Kate was the one telling me this story so she should post an article about that!

http://www.nytimes.com/2010/09/21/world/asia/21gender.html?_r=1&pagewanted=1&emc=eta1

GenderFork

I found this awesome website of beautiful photography and quotes called GenderFork.com.
The theme of the website is gender ambiguity and expressing gender along a spectrum.  It's amazing looking through the pictures and having notions feminine and masculine challenged.  At the jump is one of my favorites...

Her Name Was Steve, Pt 2

This is my review of the CNN documentary following Susan Stanton, the former City Manager of Largo, FL who was fired after announcing she was going to transition from male to female.

There are several different areas I wish to comment on about this documentary.  First of all, I thought it was a really good news piece rather than a “documentary”.  It definitely felt more like an extended 20/20 episode than an artfully directed film.  The saving grace about this piece was there was no journalist following around the subject, Susan, asking her questions.  I think that saves it from the sensationalism of “LOOK it was a man, now it’s a woman, what a crazy world…let’s INVESTIGATE”.  The news-room style of the film actually works with the main subject, Susan, who agreed to be filmed periodically for two years from immediately before starting her transition.  There’s no looking back at pictures and old videos of Steve; we actually get to hear Steve talk about why he wants to become Susan and then get witness the transition.

Her Name was Steven

Hey All,

I was going to watch this and then report on it, but then I thought I should tell you all about it so you can watch it too! It's a documentary on a the former City Manager of Largo, FL who publicly transitioned from a man to a woman. It looks really interesting...check out more here: http://www.cnn.com/2010/LIVING/03/10/her.name.was.steven/index.html?hpt=C2

It'll be on CNN this Saturday from 7-9pm. I'm dvr-ing so just let me know if you want to catch it another time.


Happy Friday!!!!!!