ENGLISH.GAY.RU: Life in Russia

To the top > Life in Russia > Trans

Trans

Boy reflecting as girl in the mirror. TRANS is a section for transgendered, transsexuals and transvestites. Human sexuality is not limited to being gay, bisexual, lesbian or straight. The Latin prefix trans- means "over", "beyond". Likewise all trans-something people, whether voluntarily or by virtue of circumstances, overstep the limitations of our traditional notions on gender roles and sexual identities.

For those that don't know the difference, transsexuals (transgendered) are people feeling that the sex of their souls does not match their biological gender and want to change that. Transvestites are merely men that enjoy wearing women's clothes. To add some confusion, it should be added that both can be gay or straight, thus giving rise to so-called transgays and translesbians.

Trans-people are bright and talented, they become renowned impersonators and travesti, they add colors and flavour to every show they partake in. Even the sternest homophobes cannot help admiring their artful performance. They bring joy and lightness into our being and we highly appreciate it!

Photo by "Trud"

All articles on "Trans"

· The Royal She
The nighttime transformation of Sergei, a member of a popular Moscow theater company, into Lora Kolli, director of an eponymous drag theater and the self-styled matriarch of Moscow's drag cabaret scene.

· Weird Moscow
Since its first few appearances on the Moscow scene in the late 1980's, drag has slowly been making a comeback in Russia. In Moscow and St. Petersburg, clubs with regularly scheduled drag performances have been opened, and performers periodically rent out theaters for shows.

· Go Girl!
Since its first few appearances on the Moscow scene in the late 1980's, drag has slowly been making a comeback in Russia. In Moscow and St. Petersburg, clubs with regularly scheduled drag performances have been opened, and performers periodically rent out theaters for shows.

· Shaved, Brave and Ready to Rave
"I've been dressing up as a woman for 15 years now," said Ivan, resplendent in silver hair and a long, lacy dress of his own design. "Before, we had to do it on the quiet, in secret, but now we can be women as much as we like."

· Julie's Desperate Search for Home
The 15th child of a Chechen elder, Julie is a transsexual - a man who is psychologically a woman - and must worry not only about Russian bombs but her Islamic homeland's traditional culture, which is not receptive to gays and transsexuals.