F Serano: It’s impossible for people who knew me knew who people It’sfor Serano:impossible Boyd: Betty long [lived]aguy as enough to have gender thatthetranspersononcewas? How dopeoplekeepfrom still“seeing”the be. might it suppose I people, some For Boyd: Helen, isfeminitiyinnate? femininityorigin,Serano:arehighlyin social otherswhileCertainof aspects femininity. HowcanIreconcile thetwo? performance, butinsomewaysI’mreally proud of“performing”my Julia, yousayweneedtorecognize thatfemininityisinnate,not femininity, passing and lesbian the space. sanctity of nist among the country’s alt-leaning transsexual and cross-dresser scene. femi well-known a is spouses), straight-to-gay (especially partners trans of chronicled her husband’s transition to her wife and championed the concerns lit scene (her readings are like mini-Butchies concerts). Helen Boyd, who has Man IMarried Femininity of Scapegoating the and of Serano,authorJulia are that,words.Two just their doingwith women us outrage and inspire,move to ability their for all, of entertainers greatest the are ones, queer especially dykes,manyauthors, to status. Buticon to exalt we whoathletes even cians, o many, For 64 THE GREAT ENTERTAINERS see the me. in guy can she her,since in guy the see can I when mind doesn’t Betty mine. of couple a with interactand see toable are whogenders, and of couple a have who people like I women. thing.tomboy,I’ma in masculinity like I and picked up habits. I don’t think of that as a bad understands. between biology and culture none us reallyof loops feedbackintricate very are there [and] nurture, and nature of combination some is gender [think] I women. of lot a for not it’s sure absolutely I’m and me, for was never It they say that “all gender is performance.” Gender is not any one thing. when constructed, or or entirelyartificial is femininitythat claim people thatmanyqueer women embrace theidea. WheredrawI the whenlineis tion and biology. Obviously, femininity socializa can be both a performance, of combinationcomplex [and] a I know is expressionGender not. are Weon insights few a gained Boyd,recentlyand and Serano chattedwith A transsexual lesbian feminist, Serano is a darling of San Francisco’s queer | curve Has Queer authorsJuliaSerano andHelenBoyd Transfeminis By DianeAnderson-Minshall are changingtheway we thinkaboutgender. h wr etranr en a eert—h atr, musi actors, celebrity—the a means entertainer word the . Whipping Girl: A TranssexualA WomanGirl: Sexism Whipping on a NewFace , and Helen Boyd, author of of author Boyd, Helen and ,

She’s Not the the She’sNot - - - Boyd: [At first,] I needed to feel the validation I got from others [as] this [as] others from got I validation the feel to needed I first,] [At Boyd: with whoyouthoughtyou’dbecome? Helen, intermsofyourmarriage,howdoyoureconcile whoyouare Serano: People will often say that I pass as a woman, but that’s not how I how not that’s but woman, a as pass I that say often will People Serano: they wanttobe? don’t flaunt,minoritieswhofitin),whileallowingpeople tobewho How dowecombatourpassing-obsessedculture (praisinggayswho because spaces lesbian in welcome feel don’t dykes trans most now, Right While all trans people face discrimination, trans women are more severely im Serano: The argument that lesbian spaces should onlybe open to those who’ve Boyd: Despite everything, socialization still counts. We still raise boys and girls raised femalethanawomanwhowasmale? Why isiteasierforthelesbiancommunitytoacceptamanwhowas

I reallyI am, and always really was, outed has itself. [my]being The idea of Now, they’re not so impressed, but to me it just feels like the truth who of the mode.with …“catch” guy grrl rock in punk was tomboy Betty weird me,in long so they as fully respect my female identity. don’tI [and] it’sthatthe think see they necessarily unsupportive if “male” male, been having me of memory any erase completelyto pre-transition transition. aman, as Ipassed but Iam awoman. my before did I what them—that’s of perceptionspeople’s other aging activelyman or hidingexperienceit. Passing—which is onethat implies enabling anti-trans woman sentiment. simply is that of bigotry.short their Anything on out them call to need community.their in They lesbians trans-misogynistic defending or dling women,transto stopcodally haveto theythenan be someonewantsto straight allies to stand up for me in my absence. By the same reasoning, if my expect I lesbian, a As it. of nothing think and women trans exclude ior is tolerated by the community. Many still attend events that specifically manylesbians are openlydismissive orhostile toward us, and that behav to ridicule or trans dismiss women than trans it is men. as inferior to, and less legitimate than, maleness and masculinity, it’s [easy] pacted…because worlda in where femaleness andfemininityare viewed these days. spaces lesbian in found be can privilege male experiencing] those [even men”guys,rathertransdubiousmany[supposition]how [a] given seems women. That trans women shouldbe turned awaybecause we “used be to awaytrans keepcontinuing tocommunitywhile the in stay to men trans allow to that’sdesigned invention,onerecent a is female socialized been it. It’s ahuge cultural divide that’s about much more than transness. culturally, view differentof points very frompolitically—youcome name really differently.MTFs are often comingfrom straight worlds, andmight married to an ordinaryan ordinary man—or woman—is laughable.

Helen Boyd Julia Serano - - - - MERIDETH KADLEC Serano: When I first started writing and performing spoken word, I really I word, spoken performing and writing started first I When Serano: ed thatitwasn’t anautobiography. I havetosaythatloved Boyd: It’s not so much because we’re two women, but because Betty [realized] to change? know who’s ontoporwhopaysthecabdriver. Whydidthingshave In Boyd: It’s absolutely astonishing to move from LGBTbeing an ally of people that impactyou? Helen, you’re really aware you’re losingprivilege.Howmuchdoes my before more issues these with dealt Ironically,Dani Serano: partner my Boyd: For a while I probably mentioned my heterosexuality a little too much posite way? and I’mreally alesbian.Helen,didyouexperiencethis—intheop first sixmonthsItoldeveryonethatmyhusbandusedtobewife I wassoconcernedaboutlosingmyvisibilityasadyke,thatforthe around.wayWe other the up be grow to tends women,Forit transSerano: are femininity and femaleness that believe to raisedwe’re Culturally Boyd: ing withdolls,likingmakeup). they’re womenincludethingsthatalotoflesbiansneverhad(play It seemslikesometimesthenarrativeabouthowtranswomenknow my of most for dyke a as passed has who someone as add, to want I Boyd: She’s Not point, you so may get your wish! evolved into this book. I do hope to finish that one-person show atsome eventually that and … stereotypes those challenge to ways on working started I So me. onto those projecting just were they and be, to posed most people … [But] had these stereotypes [about] autobiographical.what a transsexual woman more is sup was that [material] do to wanted switch, at [but] least she’s to play willing the part when Ineed her to. a into evolve she’ll hoping still I’m [one]. into locked feel to didn’twant just I so … both like I did. she [when] top, the playing at sucked really she’s way more submissive than she was … pretending to be. Honestly, she citizenship really pisses me off. has made me more political, more visible, and more experiencedout. I’ve This second-class loss The clueless. similarly are allies most that is guess didn’t.I My clue; a had I thought myself.I LGBT as perceived being to changes identity. in straight. So when I transitioned … she didn’t have to struggle with drastic about as readpeople mostrelationship that a in talk be to her for was often it weirdhow would she out, going first were we when … and life, adult her of most for dyke a as identified had after.She than transition I’m mention heterosexual. I when get can people scornful how see to me amuses It for room some can’tpeople.and heart[challenging] athelp punk me. makea I’mlikepartners to trying was I where spaces, queer in [mostly] femaleness. of femininity,express sense to ourdesire rather butour not is transition to us drives what not, than often more But both. of little a some culine, mas some feminine, are us of some general, in women Like female. be should we profound,thatpersistent,understanding subconsciousa with the womanness. very idea of being not questionof “real” toaccused up grow be may women,they and result,may theya masculine. As or androgynous more be toinclinations own with their female.are they may conflict because feminineThis be to same.the were socialized Forin theythat one lesbians, meansmany that active attempt at deceiving anyone. life … sometimes passing is more like a mistake in observation, and not an , youwritethatnowyou’re twowomenyoudon’t Whipping Girl n , butwashonestlydisappoint “I - - - - - hire a dyke to make sure someone concentrates on work. When you have a lot cute, of half-naked men around, you really need to How didyouwindupincharge oftwoman-meatflicks? I’m in the business makingof entertainment for and about the LGBT com Is yourgoalthentomakefilmsthatappealallaudiences? under not [Audiences]mightit. in money fuckingthere’sIt’s becauseno persist? Why doyouthinktheperception thatgayfilmsare badsemmsto classic romanticto nod comedy pictures.road a picture is This It’s a about Does Palm Springs. invasionof lesbianromanticannual thelesbian place comedy at takesthat film, ture Colichman from here! Networks providing the financing for her latest fea financing since producing writer-producer-director, as her onemore of impulsive schemes to raise money for her firstfilm project “I r “I Thewriter-producer-director soundsoff. JD Disalvatore in the whole script. … In that.changingsubjectwateringmatteranythingdomynotor todown aboutlesbians. strikesitIf chorda like and by film a make to audience.” want my I say, not simply is I “That on crossover the about asked I’mmunity. When and worth the investment. therefore prove to financiers and companies that we are aviable audience and dvd the purchase or ticket a buy theatres and the profitable, to go nomics;financepeople people films willwhen gay gay make films] [the mortgage homes.their homemade look are. because They they It’s eco stand that to make LGBT films for our community, most people have to once! Mecca, that which you must do before you die. ’sNo, notgolf mentioned lesbian the like of it’ssortWeekend.Shorescript Dinah the theIn to NewYorkfrom femme gotraveling cross-countrya Cityto and butch i pped The RoadtoDinah Road to Dinah Shelter my clothes off at karaoke,” at Disalvatore, to admitting off JD clothes says my — Laurie K.Schenden — Laurie , and an offer on her next picture next her on offer an and , , everyone’s gay. I don’t think there’s a straight person Eating Out 2: SloppySeconds2: Out Eating haveanythingtodowithgolf? Gay PropagandaGay Bound . She’s less in need of creative of She’s.need in less September 2007 did, that’s great, ambut I The Road to Dinah to Road The h Ra t Dinah to Road The ,whichlead toPaul n

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