#billy tipton

[makingqueerhistory]

Queer history fact: Billy Lee Tipton(1914-1989), a jazz musician who managed to marry five times without anyone finding out that he did not have the genitals a cisgender man is expected to have, had a son who said of his father:

“I think he probably never told us because he was afraid we might have rejected him. I could have accepted it. He did a helluva good job with us. That’s what mattered. He was my dad.”

[our-queer-experience]

“Finally, one day when I was twelve or thirteen, found this National Enquirer wit anatide about Billy Tipton.

(Editor's note: Bily Tipton was an American jazz musician. Although he lived his adult life as a man, it was discovered after his death in 1989 that he was assigned female at birth.)

I hid this National Enquirer in our house like it was a Playboy magazine, so I could come home and look at it. And I stopped praying to God every day, because at least I then had a role model in Billy Tipton.

Billy died in poverty before his time because he didn't want to seek medical intervention to blow his cover. And still, just learning about him gave me a grounding to know that I wasn't crazy. There are people out there like me, that I can relate to, and I can figure out hopefully how to move forward.”

— Kylar Broadus in The Book of Pride

[thebrownleathernotebook]

Hey chat I'm making a fun little archive on trans men and transmascs in history and in the modern day. Although I have more names than I expected, it's still only 12 people, which is fucking depressing. If anyone knows of any trans men and mascs in history please tell me about them I'd really appreciate it. Brownie points if you have sources.

[m0rb1dc0rv1d]

Hey, trans elder chiming in with my two cents on this discourse:

Trans men and trans women are not enemies. Our existences do not inherently cancel each other out. Our fights may not be identical, but they are parallel, and we should be doing all we can to uplift and protect each other.

I’ve always said that in-fighting is going to be the death of our community. We bicker so much that we don’t even have the time or energy to focus on the very real threats that are being directed at ALL of us from those in power who wish to see us ALL eradicated simply because they can. There is no reason for the violence. The violence is the reason.

Transandrophobia and transmisogyny are both real issues that we respectively face, but they are also both symptoms of a broader issue: general transphobia.

If we want visibility, we must create it for ourselves. We cannot wait for it to be granted to us by people that think we do not deserve it. Our visibility comes with a price, though, and that price is placing an enormous target on our backs. As such, we need to stand together. We are a family, we are a community. And, damn it- we all better start acting like it sooner rather than later, because it’s gonna get ugly before it gets better. Before it gets safer.

Trans women, I promise that you are safe with me. I promise that I see you.

Trans men, I promise that I see you. I promise that you are safe with me.

Nonbinary folks, you are valid within our community and are safe with us. Your trans* siblings have your back.

Intersex folks, you belong here. I promise that you are safe and seen with us.

We are all stronger together. We will survive, like they said during the police raids and the violent political climates of our collective history, by continuing to fight, and continuing to dance.

[thylocalbard]

"all transmasc music is whiny uke-" first of all, just admit you hate transmascs. second of all, do your fucking research.

[lawofcollage]

I made this piece in honor of all the queer folks that came before us, especially the gender nonconforming ones. Many are not famous or well known, and that is on purpose. It hangs on my wall.

People mentioned here: Billy Tipton, Murray Hall, Charley Parkhurst, Joseph Israel Lobdell, John Smith and James Pratt, Mademoiselle de Beaumont, Lili Elbe, Kuchek Hanem, We'wha, Olha Koby Iianska, Akiko Uosano, Marcela Gracia Ibeas and Elisa Sanchez Loriga, Bayard Ruston, Yukio, Arthur Berloget, Bowery Queen, Zimri Lim, Ela, Sylvia Brake, James Clay, Albert Cashier, Public Universal Friend, Jack Bee Garland, Mary Jones, Thomas Hall, Boulton and Park, Sammy Williams, Nell Pickerell

Threadless

[queerasfact]

Happy international dog day! Here's trans jazz musician Billy Tipton chilling with one his dogs. Billy had several dogs, which he would sneak into pet-free hotels while touring by referring to them as his “kids” when booking.

[Image source: Cornell University]

[shamebats]

"why don't we see more older trans folks around?"