Chile - Meet Man-donna - the Chiean drag-artiste "Caroline Baily" (Elias Figueroa) who performs for crowds of 20,000... [2009-07-14 Daily Mail]

http://www.dailymail.co.uk/news/worldnews/article-1199601/Meet-Man-donna-The-Chilean-transvestite-performs-crowds-20-000.html

Tuesday, Jul 14 2009

Meet Man-donna: The Chilean transvestite who performs for crowds of 20,000

By MAIL FOREIGN SERVICE


Carolina Baily in his Madonna costume and makeup

Thousands of adoring fans line the streets, jostling to catch a glimpse of megastar millionaire Madonna.

But it's not the Material Girl they are looking at, it's male look-a-like Elias Figueroa, a poor boy from Chile who loved the superstar so much he decided to become her.

Elias, 28, became obsessed with Madge from the first moment he heard her music on his parents crackling radio in Santiago.

'I was still a schoolboy,' said Elias. 'I heard "Like a Virgin" and it totally blew me away.

'Madonna was so naughty, so sexy and unorthodox she broke the rules and I wanted to know everything about her.'

Now Elias is a gay lookalike and earns $12,000 a year as a Man-donna impersonator, three times the national salary in Chile, and the equivalent of around £50,000 in the UK.

'I live the life of a superstar,' he said. 'Strangers flock to me, tell me they love me and even try to grab my bum.

'I'm so good at playing Madonna, some people can't tell the difference between me and the real thing they don't even realise I'm a man.'

Elias, who listened to Madonna in secret as a child, became obsessed with the star and memorised her sexy dance moves alone in front of the bathroom mirror.

'I would lock the door, put a towel on my head to look like hair and sing into my toothbrush,' he said.

As Elias grew older he challenged the stifling control of his parents and began to hit the gay party scene in Santiago.

The first time he performed as Madonna to an audience was in 1996 when, at the age of 15, he gave a karaoke style performance at a friend's birthday party.

'My friend's didn't know how much I had been practicing so when they saw me they thought it was totally amazing,' he said.

'I watched every Madonna video I could find and studied every single detail her clothes, hair, make-up, gestures and attitude.'

Two years later, after scouring fancy dress shops and markets for the perfect outfit, Elias unveiled himself as Madonna dressed in a saucy bridal outfit with a veil.   'People were amazed at the transformation,' explains Elias.

'But I wasn't just dressing and singing like her. I had the whole package and took on her entire personality I stopped being shy Elias and became a real diva.'

Desperate to perform to a bigger crowd, Elias took his act to Santiago's clubs and bars and begged to be given a chance to go on stage.

He earned just £12 for his first gig, but was such a hit he was invited back immediately and after two years could charge what he liked.

After going full-time eight years ago he's now performing up to three times a week and earns up to £500 a show more than the average monthly wage in Chile.

Jet-setting Elias performs to up to 20,000 people at packed theatres and open-air stadiums.

'Being Madonna completes me,' he said. 'On stage I am her. I leave Elias behind and become completely confident, sexy and outrageous like her. She has so many roles and personalities in her songs that I get to be each of those.

'I feel sexy like her. She's like a modern Marilyn Monroe. And I love the attention of being on stage.

'The crowd always goes wild and I get lots of compliments. It's a gay man's fantasy to be so glamorous and live this lifestyle like a celebrity.'

He spends the equivalent of £10,000 a year on outfits, wigs and make-up for his act, forking out hundreds on designer dresses.

Maintaining Madonna's sinewy physique isn't easy and, although comfortably wealthy, Elias cannot afford micro biotic dieticians, pilates instructors and personal trainers to help him.

'I must be skinny and fibrous so I have to eat light and healthily,' he said.

'I avoid grease and make sure that I am always burning calories.

'I also have to shave my eyebrows and draw new ones to look more feminine.'

Elias now lives in a plush apartment with his male partner. 'He is not fan of Madonna, but he likes what I do,' said Elias.


Elias before he transforms himself into the Queen of Pop

'He just sees it as my job but he loves Elias not Madonna.'

Since the real Madonna's first trip to Chile as part of her Sticky and Sweet tour last December his career has taken off even more.

He's such a celebrity he now gets mobbed whenever he walks down the street dressed as his idol.

'I do get harassed sometimes,' he admits. 'But I love the attention and most of the time people congratulate me.

'They even ask if I've had cosmetic surgery to my face and say I've got a pretty body even better than Madonna's.'

Despite the incredible resemblance, Elias has yet to meet his idol.

'That would be a dream come true,' he gushes. 'She's a goddess.'

--

© 2009 Associated Newspapers Ltd

Malaysia - 26-year-old man fined RM25 for cross-dressing... [2009-07-14 The Star]

http://thestar.com.my/news/story.asp?file=/2009/7/14/nation/20090714161724

Tuesday July 14, 2009 MYT 4:15:00 PM

RM25 fine for cross-dressing

By AUSTIN CAMOENS

JOHOR BARU: A 26-year-old man was fined RM25 by a Magistrates Court here on Tuesday after he pleaded guilty to dressing up like a woman.

Sutesa was charged with committing the offence at a back alley in Susur 4 along Jalan Tun Abdul Razak here at 1:40am on July 14.

Magistrate Hafizah Johor Ariff Johor issued the maximum RM25 fine for the offence, under Section 21 of the Minor Offences Act 1955, which includes a 14-day jail term if the fine is not settled.

Sutesa paid the fine.

--

© 1995-2009 Star Publications (M) Bhd (Co No 10894-D)

US - Michael Jackson biographer: Jackson "dressed as woman…" [2009-07-14 Examiner]

http://www.examiner.com/x-12237-Transgender-Issues-Examiner~y2009m7d14-Michael-Jackson-biographer-Jackson-dressed-as-woman

Transgender Issues Examiner

Michael Jackson biographer: Jackson "dressed as woman"

July 14, 2009

Did Michael Jackson sometimes “dress as a woman”? And does it really matter?

Some Jackson fans will probably be upset with Unmasked: The Final Years of Michael Jackson, the new book by journalist Ian Halperin that is out today. Others won’t be bothered by Halperin’s assertions, in an interview on spinner.com, that Jackson was gay and “dressed as a woman” to meet dates.

Halperin claims that photos of Jackson dressed in women’s clothing will appear in his film that is due to be released next year, possibly on the one-year anniversary of Jackson’s death.

Over the years, many rumors have swirled about Jackson, which is par for the course for an entertainer of his magnitude and visibility. And, over the years, Jackson’s appearance changed dramatically, and there were many speculations about the reasons behind this.

It is certainly true that Jackson took on what our society would consider a more “feminine” appearance over his lifetime. Whether or not he had gender issues is an unknown at this point, at least publicly, as is whether or not he was gay.

However, the idea that Jackson dressed as a woman in order to meet male dates is an unusual assertion, for a couple of reasons.

A star of Jackson’s caliber and magnitude should have had no problem meeting men for dates. There are likely plenty of gay men who would have dated Jackson, and dressing as a woman seems like an odd way to meet them. Gay men would more likely have been drawn to Jackson as a male, rather than Jackson appearing in women’s clothing.

And most men who dress in women’s clothing, unless they are doing so for drag performance, which is an entertainment art form, are doing so to express a female gender identity — they are either crossdressers, who generally identify as male but are expressing a female part of themselves, or they are transgendered male-to-females, who were born male but have a female gender identity.

Many people get sexual orientation and gender identity confused and make assumptions that a male-born person who dresses as female is gay. Jackson may have been gay. But if he did, in fact, “dress as a woman,” was he really doing so in order to meet gay men? Was it a disguise so that he could leave his house and frequent particular venues without being recognized? Or was Jackson dressing in female clothing in order to express a female side of himself or a female gender identity?

It is important to keep in mind is that any speculation about Jackson’s gender identity is not a negative thing. If Jackson did, on occasion or even frequently, dress in women’s clothing, this is not a bad or negative occurrence, and it does not cast a pall on his memory. It is not wrong or bad to be a crossdresser or to be a transgendered male-to-female.

Jackson is not here to tell us about his gender identity. Halperin’s book and upcoming film may or may not answer any lingering questions about this. But whatever comes out in Halperin’s book or film about Jackson’s sexual orientation or gender identity, it should not be seen as negative or as an insult to Jackson, who was who he was and who lived his life accordingly.

-

Author: Matt Kailey
Matt Kailey is a National Examiner. You can see Matt's articles on Matt's Home Page
< http://www.examiner.com/x-12237-Transgender-Issues-Examiner >.

--

© 2009 Clarity Digital Group LLC d/b/a Examiner.com.

US - Double Take - Transgendered reader keeping truth from boyfriend... [2009-07-14 Lawrence Journal-World]

http://www2.ljworld.com/news/2009/jul/14/double-take-transgendered-reader-keeping-truth-boy/

Double Take: Transgendered reader keeping truth from boyfriend

Wes Crenshaw and Kelly Kelin

July 14, 2009

Dear Dr. Wes & Kelly:

There’s no graceful way to say it, so I’m just going to be blunt; I am a transgendered individual. I started dating this great guy about a couple months ago. We’ve been taking it really slow, only kissing and holding hands, but things are steaming up. The only thing is that I’m pre-operation, and my boyfriend doesn’t know that I’m transgendered. I haven’t told him yet because he is from a conservative Christian background, and I’m his first girlfriend. I’m worried that he won’t accept me for who I am, and that I may scare him off from dating completely. Please help me. Should I dump him to save him from the shock or tell him the truth about me and hope he’ll want to continue our relationship?


Wes:

I believe you are sincere in your desire to work this out so that no one gets hurt, and I’m certain you’re going through tremendous agony over how to proceed. However, your decision to pursue this relationship without full disclosure is unethical, and you should not have allowed it to get this far. At this point, it’s hard to imagine either scenario you propose leaving anyone’s feelings and emotional health intact.

If you’ve read this column over the years, you know that we’ve discussed ethical conduct among gay and straight clients, adults and teens, guys and girls. So this advice is not about your sexual orientation. It’s about honesty and integrity in human relationships.

Your decision to withhold this key information from someone you are becoming intimate with is a blatant failure to afford your partner what we refer to as “informed consent” — the ability to make a decision about something with all the information at hand. As a psychologist, I understand that you experience yourself as female and operate from that emotional and psychological perspective. While many readers will find that hard to accept, I’d ask that we save that discussion for another day and focus instead on how your partner sees you. He has no idea that you are not biologically female, and you have not seen fit to share that information with him. Doing so is frightening, and you are quite likely to face rejection. But to avoid making a decision is to make a decision, and in this case you are not just making that decision for yourself, you’re unfairly making it for someone else. You’ve also made it knowing that this relationship will alienate your partner from his family and his faith, even if he were to accept you as psychologically female.

You’ve really placed yourself in a serious dilemma, and I’d strongly encourage you to pursue a therapy relationship to help sort out how you got here and how to avoid it in the future. In the meantime, I would argue that every relationship goes from where it starts, and this one has started badly. Your best bet is to either break off the relationship and simply explain that you’ve had a change of heart, or break it off and tell him the truth in the process — along with the most serious of apologies. I don’t know this guy, so I’m concerned about your safety and his psychological health if you share all. However, only you can decide which is the wise choice. What you cannot do is continue as you have been — lying by omission.


Kelly:

When people come to me about relationship advice, I always feel as though I give everyone the same answer. However, the more I continue to think about it, the more I realize how quickly and simply the answer brings about change. No matter what type of relationship it is, similar problems seem to revolve around the lack of honesty and communication.

The transition you’re seeking is one that does impose personal barriers, some of which could be easily avoided while others can’t. If you wish to continue the relationship with this guy, then you obviously must tell him the truth. He will either accept you for who you are, or things could go badly.

Wes is right. From the beginning of your relationship, you should have been honest with your boyfriend. You would certainly expect the same. Somewhere during this relationship, there was surely a moment when you could have confided in him. I know this is a big bombshell to drop on someone, but yet again honesty is essential. Even if you are fearful of the outcome, it’s better to be true to yourself.

I know for you this is a particularly hard decision to make. But the barriers that we face are ones that we learn and grow from. If you want to maintain a relationship with your boyfriend, then you need to tell him. He will either accept it, or not. If he doesn’t, it won’t be the end of the world. There is someone out there who will accept you for who you are. If you decide to break it off without telling him why, you will never have that closure. Yet there may or not be long term consequences, everyone’s situation is different. The ball is now in your court. But remember, during this time it’s important to be true to yourself and others. You shouldn’t have to try to hide who you are.

-

Next week: My boyfriend has ADD. How do I deal with him?

Dr. Wes Crenshaw is a board-certified family psychologist and director of the Family Therapy Institute Midwest.
Kelly Kelin is a senior at Free State High School.
Opinions and advice given here are not meant as a substitute for psychological evaluation or therapy services.
Send your questions about adolescent issues (limited to 200 words) to doubletake@ljworld.com. All correspondence is strictly confidential.

-

Comments:


14 July 2009 at 7:48 a.m.
Made_in_China (Paul R. Getto) says…

Human sexuality is so complex and interesting. At least we are now trying to face the fact that it exists on a continuum and people can be unique. This is an improvement over the arbitrary decisions made by doctors and parents in the 'old days.' “The odds of being born intersex, with key masculine and feminine anatomical features, can vary from 1 in 500 to 1 in 10,000 or more, depending on how “key” is defined, said Dr. Dan Marks, a pediatric endocrinologist at OHSU in Portland.” http://www.authorsden.com/visit/viewA…


14 July 2009 at 9:20 a.m.
50YearResident (Anonymous) says…

This “boyfriend” is going to be traumatized for life when he find out his first “girlfriend” has “balls”!


14 July 2009 at 9:32 a.m.
imastinker (Anonymous) says…

That is my thought. This kid may have some issues with the fact that he was dating a man - and if his family or friends ever find out it could really be bad for him emotionally (or physically). What an inconsiderate thing to do to another person! The best thing is to break up and lie about the reason.


14 July 2009 at 9:51 a.m.
gr (Anonymous) says…

“I’m worried that he won’t accept me for who I am,”

Do you know who you are?

“The only thing is that I’m pre-operation,”

Is that you are a girl wanting to be a boy, but haven't had the operation yet? Or a boy who wants to be a girl, taken chemicals to influence your appearance, and haven't yet cut your body parts off?

“Please help me.”

The best thing to do is lobby congress to get as much rights as homosexuals. Then, marry your boyfriend, or a girlfriend, change your body parts, then marry your another girlfriend or boyfriend. For there is no reason why you should not experience love as equally as everyone else. It's who you are. And you deserve the tax benefits! (Which homosexuals have yet to know what are since they don't understand anything about taxes, but whatever they are, you three should experience a third more of them) But make sure you lobby congress to get more rights so you can be complete with a wife and husband - or is it a husband and wife? It's so confusing….

––—

Paul, I don't believe there is any reason to believe he/she/it is a rare occurrence of having both sex organs, but merely someone who wants to be someone else.

–––—

“What an inconsiderate thing to do to another person!”
The best thing to do before dating anyone is to say, drop your pants, I want to check for parts and scars.

--

© Copyright 2009 The Lawrence Journal-World.

Britain - New genetic study of Asperger syndrome, autistic traits and empathy... [2009-07-15 PhysOrg]

http://www.physorg.com/news166869052.html

Genetics

New genetic study of Asperger syndrome, autistic traits and empathy

July 15th, 2009

Scientists from the University of Cambridge have identified 27 genes that are associated with either Asperger Syndrome (AS) and/or autistic traits and/or empathy. The research will be published tomorrow in the journal Autism Research. This is the first candidate gene study of its kind.

The research was led by Dr Bhismadev Chakrabarti and Professor Simon Baron-Cohen from the Autism Research Centre in Cambridge. 68 genes were chosen either because they were known to play a role in neural growth, social behaviour, or sex steroid hormones (e.g. testosterone and estrogen). The latter group of genes was included because AS occurs far more often in males than females, and because previous research from the Cambridge team has shown that foetal testosterone levels are associated with autistic traits and empathy in typically developing children.

The team carried out 2 experiments. First they looked at these genes in 349 adults in the general population, all of whom had filled in the Autism Spectrum Quotient (AQ) as a measure of autistic traits, and the Empathy Quotient (EQ) as a measure of empathy. Secondly, they looked at 174 adults with a formal diagnosis of AS, and compared them to controls.

The research found that single nucleotide polymorphisms (SNPs) in 27 out of the 68 genes were nominally associated with either AS and/or with autistic traits/empathy. 10 of these genes (such as CYP11B1) were involved with sex steroid function, providing support for the role of this class of genes in autism and autistic traits. 8 of these genes (such as NTRK1) were involved in neural growth, providing further support to the idea that autism and autistic traits could result from aberrant patterns of connectivity in the developing brain. The other 9 genes (such as OXTR) were involved in social behaviour, shedding light on the biology of social and emotional sensitivity.

Dr Chakrabarti commented: "These 27 genes represent preliminary leads for understanding the genetic bases of AS and related traits, such as empathy, in the general population. All of these are good candidates for independent replication studies in both low and high functioning autism samples. 5 of the genes we found have been previously reported in autism, but the other 22 have never before been reported in association with AS, autistic traits or empathy. We now need to test models of how these genes interact and construct 'risk' models for the development of AS."

Professor Baron-Cohen added: "We chose to look at the genetics of AS because all other genetic studies have focused on classic autism, which can include learning difficulties and language delay. AS is a more 'pure' condition because these other factors are absent. These new results represent a significant advance over our previous work in showing that the sex steroid hormones (e.g. testosterone and oestrogen) influence social development and autistic traits. The new study also confirms earlier reports that other molecules (such as oxytocin) are important in understanding autism, autistic traits, and empathy."

-

Source: University of Cambridge (news http://www.physorg.com/partners/university-of-cambridge/ : web http://www.cam.ac.uk/ )

--

© PhysOrg.com 2003-2009

China - Red tape to test transsexuals' GRS desire... [2009-07-16 China Daily]

http://www.chinadaily.com.cn/china/2009-07/16/content_8435100.htm

Red tape to test transsexuals' desire

By Chang Ailing
China Daily

2009-07-16

He has been aware of it for many years and knows in his heart there is only one solution: an operation to make him a woman.

The 35-year-old wants to be among the rare few that undergo gender reassignment surgery every year in China, a traditionally low-key group, bar the odd beauty pageant and grand public wedding.

But the group has found itself thrust into the spotlight as authorities attempt to improve the procedure for transsexuals, moves that have met with a mixed response due to fears that newly proposed government regulations could hinder, rather than help.

It was revealed last month officials at the Ministry of Health plan to set clear criteria for people who qualify for the surgery, as well as the hospitals and staff allowed to carry it out. Some in the transgender community, however, have raised concerns the new rules could be too strict.

"The idea of guidelines is a good thing, sex change operations would be legalized," said Yang. "But it cannot be so strict as it makes it harder, or even impossible, for people to have the surgery."

His fears center on the fact that, if the rules are approved, patients will have to prove they have had the desire to swap their gender for at least five years, and have lived full-time as their chosen gender for two years.

"How do you prove you have wanted to change sex for five years straight?" asked Yang, who was born in a poor peasant family in northwest China but now performs in a "she-male" show in Shanghai. "Does it start from when a person applies for the surgery? If so, five years is too long for someone to wait.

"Every person who applies for the surgery knows clearly what he or she wants. A sex change is a personal issue, so why should it be made so difficult?

"I have been saving my money for a long time, waiting desperately for my chance. But in the end I may be forced to go abroad for the surgery, like Thailand."

Transgender operations have been available in China since the 1980s and, although there are no official figures, to date it is believed around 500 have undergone the operation. The numbers are said to be low mainly because of the massive expense.

Han Bingbing, 34, is a post-op transsexual. She spent almost 200,000 yuan ($29,000) on several procedures to make her "an ordinary girl" in 1999 and sees the proposed rule changes as a mixed blessing.

The draft guidelines state candidates must be at least 20 years old and have already told their immediate family of their decision to swap sexes.

"I would not be able to have the surgery if there was such a guideline in 1999," said Han, who hails from Inner Mongolia. "My mother died when I was seven and I was not able to speak to my father about my feelings until I returned to my hometown after the operation.

"He was outraged and heartbroken. Even now I can see how sad it still makes him.

"Most transsexuals are not on good terms with their family. That is the reality. They sometimes change their names and move far away. What happens if their family refuses to let them have the surgery?"

Dr Li Jianning, an orthopedic surgeon with the No 3 Hospital of the Peking University in Beijing, said candidates would probably be forced to prove their "five-year desire" with the help of friends, family or a professional psychologist.

Despite unrest among the transgender community, many in the medical profession have welcomed the Ministry of Health proposals.

Dr Chen Huanran, one of China's top orthopedic surgeons and a sex change specialist, said he feels changes to the law have been "a long time coming" and added that, because of a lack of adequate government supervision, unsuitable hospitals were now freely allowed to carry out gender reassignment operations, usually unsuccessfully, leading to many lawsuits and ruined lives.

If the new rules are approved, clinics and hospitals will have to set up an ethics committee to evaluate all applications, as well as have a plastic surgery department that has operated for more than 10 years.

Only surgeons with more than five years' experience or training in sex change operations will be permitted to perform the procedures.

"Stringent criteria will protect the interests of both patient and surgeon," said Chen, who completed almost 200 sex swap operations between 1990 and 2003. "There is a story behind almost each stipulation. Candidates must prove a five-year desire to stop them regretting their transition later.

"International studies show people can live to regret the change, with some even going so far as to have the surgery reversed and return to their original gender. Parts of the surgery are irreversible, so it should be considered rationally. And that takes time."

He said getting consent from parents could also prevent the harassment faced by surgeons from family members unhappy at their relative's sex switch.

Psychology, before and after the operation, plays a massive part in the sex change process, with opinions often split over whether transgender candidates are really "born in the wrong body" or are suffering from some kind of mental illness.

The reasons behind feelings of mind-body incompatibility remain unclear, but experts say transsexuals can turn to self-harm or even suicide if they cannot find a way to live as the opposite sex.

"Transsexuals are not freaks. We are born this way. Only through a sex change operation can we be saved and become the people we really are," said Yang.

But Zhai Xiaomei, a bioethicist at the Peking Union Medical College in Beijing, disagreed and warned: "Surgery should be a last resort. Doctors should tell patients about other options first, such as hormone therapy.

"They should also explain to patients about the risks of the operation and the underlying social barriers after it, such as employment discrimination, and administrative recognition and approval."

Under the proposed rules candidates will have to undergo at least one year of "successful" psychological therapy before they get the go-ahead, potentially posing another financial headache.

The average cost of a sex change operation is already around 50,000 yuan, not including any extra plastic surgery or facial remolding. But the average wage for those Chinese living in urban areas was just 16,943 yuan last year, according to government figures, while for rural residents it was just 6,481 yuan.

Han said her sex change was not covered by her medical insurance, adding there is also no avenue for a transsexuals to borrow money from a bank or charity fund.

"Many transsexuals, like myself, have to work in she-male shows to make enough money quickly for the expensive surgery," she said.

Despite praise for the draft guidelines, Chen said there was still much room for improvement as they only address the physical side of the sexual transition and fail to take on the problem of discrimination.

"Even though transsexuals are the absolute minority in society, their rights and interests should not be neglected," said Chen, who stopped performing gender reassignment surgery because of the high legal risks and the fact most of his patients went on to live "such miserable lives". He now trains other surgeons in the field.

"What's the point of the surgery if the lives of the patients become even worse after it? It's too painful to watch them live miserable lives and not be able to do anything."

To make sure his patients were able to find jobs, he said he set his own "unreasonable criteria" for candidates: Men had to have a college degree, while women had to prove they would be able to earn a living after the surgery.

"Many people, including transsexuals, criticized me for such criteria. But I had no discrimination against anyone, my sole purpose was to make sure that they would be able to get a job and live a normal life afterwards," he said. "Compared with medical problems, post-operation support to transsexuals is equally important. Only when a transsexual enjoys equal rights and is accepted by the society, can we say his or her surgery is successful."

Han agreed and said the rules, if not improved before implementation, will make little impact.

"I talked with some of my sisters (people who have undergone male-to-female operations) about the guideline. Their reaction was, 'Does it matter?' I don't think the draft can help solve our practical problems, like discrimination and employment difficulties," she said.

China has no laws stipulating the new gender of a transsexual should be recognized, but the Ministry of Health has asked local public security bureaus to change the ID cards of patients if they can provide the necessary medical documents.

"We are lucky compared with transsexuals in other countries where gender on ID cards is based on birth certificates," said Han. "But a new ID card does not mean we are accepted. Compared to deciding to go ahead with the operation, being accepted by society is far more difficult."

Han, a former teacher at a dance school in Beijing, was fired shortly after her father learned she was a post-op transsexual. He complained to her boss, who was unaware of her past. "They were worried I might be a bad influence on the kids," she said.

She revealed that about 80 percent of Chinese transsexuals are forced to turn to she-male shows or even prostitution in order to make a living, adding: "Finding a decent job is almost impossible." In 2001, Han studied clothes design and now runs her own fashion studio.



-

Related readings:

20-year-old crowned most beautiful transsexual
http://www.chinadaily.com.cn/world/2009-05/18/content_7787271.htm

First transsexual person [in China..]
http://www.chinadaily.com.cn/30znzw/2008-10/28/content_7149336.htm

Tianjin transsexual gets new ID card as a woman
http://www.chinadaily.com.cn/citylife/2008-04/24/content_6641495.htm

Miss Intl. Queen 2007 transsexual beauty pageant
http://www.chinadaily.com.cn/world/2007-11/11/content_6245689.htm

Transsexual undergoes sex change operation
http://www.chinadaily.com.cn/china/2007-07/06/content_912273.htm

--

China Daily Copyright 1995 - 2009

US - Cross-dressing career criminal Nicky Landor receives life in prison for killing friend... [2009-07-14 Times-Picayune]

http://blog.nola.com/tpnorthshore/2009/07/crossdressing_man_receives_lif_1.html

Cross-dressing man receives life in prison for killing friend

By Benjamin Alexander-Bloch
The Times-Picayune

July 14, 2009 4:38PM

A cross-dressing Lacombe man has been sentenced to life in prison for shooting a friend to death during a dispute over $20.
Nickey Landor, 35, was convicted of manslaughter in May, receiving 25 years in prison for the fatal shooting of Albert Marshal, 20, also of Lacombe. On Monday, state Judge Martin Coady labeled Landor a career criminal under the state's habitual offender law, which increased that sentence to life.


Nickey Landor

Assistant District Attorney Harold Bartholomew, Jr. prosecuted the case.

Landor has prior convictions in St. Tammany Parish for distribution of cocaine in 1998, issuing worthless checks in 1994 and second-degree battery in 1993, according to the district attorney's office.

He had been charged with second-degree murder, which carries a mandatory life term, but the jury returned a guilty verdict on the lesser charge of manslaughter, punishable by not more than 40 years.

Landor and Marshal argued about money on Oct. 4, 2006, in the driveway of Landor's home at 28019 E. Orleans St. off Lake Road.

As the argument intensified, Landor pulled a vehicle jack handle from his purse and Marshal pulled out a gun, authorities said.

After firing a warning shot, Marshal hit Landor with the gun, and a fight ensued, with Landor wresting the gun from Marshal, authorities said.

Landor shot Marshal in the leg, and then the gun jammed. While Marshal was on his hands and knees, Landor cocked the gun and shot him again, in his shoulder, authorities said.

Neighbors called 911 after hearing gunshots and identified Landor as the gunman, according to the St. Tammany Parish Sheriff's Office.

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COMMENTS (22)

Posted by rhythmnola on 07/14/09 at 4:44PM
3-time loser in a dress.
Whatever.


Posted by GaYToR on 07/14/09 at 4:48PM
What does his cross-dressing have to do with this story? Looks like a tabloid journalist's way to grab attention. That would have better been left to The National Enquirer.


Posted by MoReRuns on 07/14/09 at 4:55PM
I bet he was prettier when he was younger.


Posted by imnotashamed on 07/14/09 at 5:04PM
Why does the fact that this man is a cross-dresser have to be part of this story? His cross-dressing had nothing to do with the crime. It's obviously just a ploy to get people to read this and make trashy, homophobic comments. Shame on the writer and editors.


Posted by SweetPapa on 07/14/09 at 5:14PM
"Girls just want to have fun"


Posted by LSUseless on 07/14/09 at 5:49PM
If he were gay, would you put that in the headline and first paragraph? If you didn't have a picture of him, would you put black in the headline and first paragraph? Really, why is cross-dressing so pertinent to the story?


Posted by wordtoyourma on 07/14/09 at 5:50PM
Will he be allowed to cross dress in prison?

Cross dressing is a huge part of the story, it explains the weapon in the purse.

I know people in Lacombe that act like they live in God's country.

@MoReRuns--awesome!!


Posted by Valkyrie on 07/14/09 at 5:54PM
Sad, over $20, I needs to get ma nails filled , ya' hear!


Posted by imnotashamed on 07/14/09 at 5:54PM
What did Marshal pull his gun "out" of?


Posted by tina50 on 07/14/09 at 5:55PM
I guess with so many stories about crime and murder it helps to include a hook ( the cross dressing aspect) to get people to read the story. I hate to admit it but it did catch my attention when usually I just scan the stories and think, just another killing.


Posted by LakeToRiver on 07/14/09 at 6:15PM
The TP's keeping it classy!

I'd like to know more about everyone covered in your stories. How about "Alcoholic tourism leader announces new conventions" or "Doll-collecting hospital executive leads grant workshop" or "Porn-addicted journalist enters training for new industry now that newspapers are bottoming out"?


Posted by kamar on 07/14/09 at 6:18PM
If they hadn't stated that he was a crossdresser there would be a dozen comments on here that the T-P made a mistake stating that he pulled a vehicle-jack handle out of his "purse."


Posted by tacticlninja on 07/14/09 at 6:23PM
Congrats, Niki!

You won the jailhouse dating game.

You'll love prison, all them menses! They'll love you to, already turned out and all. I hear they serve sausage three times a week at Angola.

Later!


Posted by nogaffes on 07/14/09 at 6:37PM
Is that Shirley Q. Liquor?


Posted by nola4u on 07/14/09 at 6:38PM
Sounds like he flipped his wig


Posted by nannycams on 07/14/09 at 6:47PM
"What happens in Lacombe.... Stays in Lacombe"

Or is that Vegas?

--
nannycams
http://www.z-crypt.com


Posted by AlreadyDead1 on 07/14/09 at 6:49PM
Note that writing a bad check was one of the 3 charges that landed this guy in jail for life!

Three strikes you are out! I wonder if this is what the jury had in mind when they found him guilty on manslaughter not murder charge???


Posted by nevrquit on 07/14/09 at 10:24PM
Cross dressing, maybe he were angry and wanted to purchase a new knock off lace wig with the $20.00. His purse had to e very big to conceal a lug wrench. Good job officers. Now he can make all the dresses he wants with his sheets in the prison, I'm sure Big Bubba will enjoy him.


Posted by lesbianpower on 07/14/09 at 10:33PM
RE:
The TP's keeping it classy!

I'd like to know more about everyone covered in your stories. How about "Alcoholic tourism leader announces new conventions" or "Doll-collecting hospital executive leads grant workshop" or "Porn-addicted journalist enters training for new industry now that newspapers are bottoming out"?

LMAO! You nailed and in a great way.

It's so funny, and yet not ,how slanted this paper can be at times. Did anyone blog on the catholic bishop story not to long ago.

EVERYTHING EVEN SLIGHTLY OFFENSIVE TO THE CHURCH WAS DELETED.

Come on guys, be the journalists you were educated to be. What is this called yellow journalism?


Posted by SweetPapa on 07/15/09 at 9:32AM
I'm convinced that the media in the entire U.S. is a bunch of spin, trash, yellow journalism. The rest of the world laughs at us. Thats why i listen to the BBC at least you get a complete story. One thing the T.P. is good for ........ I line my cats cr*p box with it.


Posted by voodoowizard on 07/15/09 at 9:51AM
Good to see the fashion police are hard at work.


Posted by lamontb on 07/15/09 at 1:19PM
I don't know, I think he's kinda' cute.


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© 2009 New Orleans Net LLC.

South Korea - Post-operative M2F gender-variant dance-major Choi Han-bit — Qualified for Beauty Contest or Not? [2009-07-16 Korea Times]

http://www.koreatimes.co.kr/www/news/nation/2009/07/113_48603.html
   
Thursday, July 16, 2009
   
Transsexual — Qualified for Beauty Contest or Not?

By Kim Rahn
Staff Reporter

Is sex by birth a qualification for a beauty pageant?

It appears not, as a male-turned-female transsexual has passed the preliminary stage of the 2009 Super Model Contest.


Choi Han-bit

Choi Han-bit, 23, was among 50 participants selected from a list of 1,200 candidates at the preliminary stage of the contest on July 2. She still has to pass another preliminary on July 28 to be included in the final selection, but if she does, Choi will be Korea's first transsexual super model.

A dance major at the Korea National University of Arts, Choi underwent a sex change operation in 2006, and was legally recognized as a woman by a court. She also changed her name from Han-jin to Han-bit.

After grabbing the public's attention, she said on her blog, "This is only the beginning. I have not lived in a vain hope. I just believed that I can be happy and I can do it."

But cyber world is divided on Choi's selection in the preliminary.

Some Internet users, including several unsuccessful contestants at the preliminary, say that a person who has artificially changed sex should not be allowed in the beauty contest.

They claimed it is not right for a transsexual, who has obtained a female body artificially, to take part in the contest that evaluates appearance.

But many others supported Choi, saying she is just the same as other "real female" contestants who underwent plastic surgery. They left messages on her blog, saying, "You made a courageous choice," and "I saw a picture of you before having the sex change operation, and you were beautiful then as well."

SBS MediaNet, the host of the pageant, said the sex change does not conflict with the contest's rules because her legal sex is female.

It also said that Choi disclosed to other contestants that she is a transsexual.

In 2005, before undergoing the sex change operation, she appeared in a television show as a man who was disguised as a woman.

-

rahnita@koreatimes.co.kr

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© KoreaTimes.co.kr