TRANSGENDER IS THE NEW BLACK

We've always been intrigued by the portrayal of cross-dressers and transgenders in art and cinema. 

Victor Victoria. La Cage aux Folles. Too Wong Foo, thanks for everything. The adventures of Priscilla Queen of the Desert. Rent. RuPaul. Lypsinka (aka John Epperson) from George Michael's illustrious video Too Funky. And many more.

While all of the above are thoroughly entertaining classics, very few roles were played by members of the LGBT community. By the way, its ok if you don't know what the acronym means...Google it!

Leaps and strides have been made since. Boundaries are being broken.

I'm currently loving these three in real and reel life.

Laverne Fox just made history (again) 

The Emmy’s just nominated her as the first ‘openly transgender’ acting nominee in the dramedy Orange Is The New Black.

In general, we see more LGBT stories being acknowledged at this year’s Emmy’s be it Modern Family or The Normal Heart.

She’s one of my favorite characters on the show. Anyone who can look that good in prison is a babe in my book.

If you didn’t get into this show yet, I urge you to give it a shot. Despite the prison backdrop, the content and characters are a hoot. Besides, how else can you get your 101 hook-up on the latest in prison fashion – aside from going to real prison.

Laverne Cox is also the first transgender
person to bag a TIME magazine cover

Here comes the bride

Wait, she's got a beard. Wait, she's a he. Its Conchita Wurst (aka Thomas Neuwirth).

Jean Paul Gaultier sure does have a flair for the controversial.

You know how the grand finale in a fashion show is always an extravagant bridal number? Monsieur Gaultier chose none other than Conchita Wurst, the ultimate drag queen du jour to be his bride. 

Conchita was catapulted to instant international fame when she won Europe's most popular Eurovision Song Contest this year.

Eurovision singing contest winner, Conchita Wurst closed 
Jean Paul Gaultier's show in a stunning black-red-gold number

Art-Life in effect

DC Comics just introduced the world's first openly transgender character in the mainstream Batgirl comic. It makes business sense. After all, the LGBT community are avid patrons of the content. 

"It’s great that people love those characters (created in the 50's). But if we only build around them, then we look like an episode of ‘The Andy Griffith Show’ for all eternity” said Batgirl writer Gail Simone to Wired. Simone is already working on introducing another transgender character- hush hush on details for now.

Batgirl's room mate Alysia Yeoh, DC's first
openly transgender character is also bisexual

Images:

http://www.independent.co.uk/news/people/laverne-cox-becomes-first-transgender-person-to-appear-on-the-cover-of-time-magazine-9458084.html
http://www.dailymail.co.uk/femail/article-2687179/A-bearded-lady-finale-It-Jean-Paul-Gaultier-Conchita-Wurst-makes-catwalk-debut-couture-shows.html
http://www.wired.co.uk/news/archive/2013-04/11/dc-comics-transgender