KNOWhomo

Shout out post to fellow mods still in Virginia(!):

Ryan will be at VaTech on April 4th. -Rebecca

ryansallans:

If you attend Rutgers University - Camden. I will be sharing my transition story and speaking on the topics of sexuality and gender on March 28th from 5 to 7 pm with a meet and greet and book signing after! 

Not a Rutgers-Camden Student? Here is a list of other Universities  I’ll be visiting/speaking at this spring:

• Northwest Missouri State University - March 15
• University of New England - March 27
• Iowa’s Safe School Coalition LGBTQ Youth Conference - April 3
• Virginia Tech - April 4
• University of South Dakota - April 9
• Drake University - April 16
• Equality Forum, Philadelphia - May 2

You can find out more on my website!

LGBTQ* Graphic Novels to Keep on Your Radar

(AKA, LGBTQ* graphic novels the KNOWhomo team is currently reading)

TRANSPOSES by Dylan Edwards

“Transposes will teach you something about what it means to have  a body and to feel desire. About what it means, in short, to be human.” - Alison Bechdel From the foreword by the New York Times bestselling author of FUN HOME and ARE YOU MY MOTHER

TRANSPOSES separates gender from sexuality and illustrates six fascinating true stories of transgender men who also happen to be queer. The result is a laugh-out-loud, funny, heartbreaking, challenging, inventive, informative, and invites the reader to explore what truly makes a man a man. 

Interested? Read some of the first pages HERE.

Note from Rebecca: 

I ordered TRANSPOSES after running into it time and time again online. (I am an avid comic book and graphic novel reader.) I ordered it from NORTHWEST PRESS and had it in my hands within 2-3 days (at regular shipping price). If you are unfamiliar with NORTHWEST PRESS and enjoy queer graphic expression and fiction, I highly recommend spending some time on their site. 

LGBTQ* Statistics And Graphs You Should See

Transgender Statistics (2012)

from No To Homophobia, Australia

You are many definitions. 

LGBTQ* Deviant Artist You Should Know

OrigamiDragon - 

LGBTQ* “Rush” of History

“Mountain” Charlie Darkey Parkhurst

Legend states that Parkhurst started his young life by running away from his parents, being placed in an orphanage and escaped with only his trousers and shirt to set out as a farm and ranch hand. From there, Parkhurst went on to work his way towards California as a stagecoach driver.

Parkhurst was one of the toughest stagecoach drivers to ever work for Wells Fargo and command the mountains during the California gold rush. It is even said the Parkhurst shot and killed at least one bandit during the rush. Respected by miners and Wells Fargo, feared by those who upset the balance of the miners and a man of legend, Parkhurst was one of the most known individuals in California in the mid-1860s. 

Upon death, as neighbors prepared Parkhurst’s body for burial, it was discovered that Parkhurst was born biologically female. This information was not shared with newspapers or others. Both Parkhurst’s neighbors and doctor only shared with others that they would remember Parkhurst as one of the most impressive drivers and men of their time. 

Parkhurst has since made one of California’s “first-to-do-so” lists. Parkhurst is credited as being California’s first female born individual to cast a vote in an election (1868). 

(note: The above photo is from Wells Fargo’s Blog and I highly recommend reading their blogger discuss sharing the story with grade-schoolers.)

LGBTQ People You Should Know

Billy Tipton (December 29, 1914 – January 21, 1989)

* Born Dorothy Lucille Tipton

* Lucy would often cross-dress at a young age (and didn’t meet much hesitation)

* Billy Tipton started to live publicly as male in 1935 at the age of 21

* He was a talented horn and piano player and had a strong tenor voice

* By 1938, Tipton was a band leader for a swing and jazz band

* Sweet Georgia Brown was one of Tipton’s top selling records (selling more than 17,000 under an independent label)

* During his life, Tipton lived with five different female lovers, though he never married any

* Tipton had three sons (all adopted)

* All five of Tipton’s lovers never disclosed his biological sex and Tipton’s sons never learned of their father was assigned female at birth until his passing in 1989

* After his death, his sons went to newspapers/media  — making Tipton’s memory one more of scandal and speculation than his music

* In 1998 - Diane Wood Middlebrook wrote, Suits Me: The Double Life of Billy Tipton. (ISBN 0-395-95289-3)