FTM Contributions to the Performing Arts, Music, Drama and Film

Lazlo Perlman is a professional actor and film maker.

Lazlo Perlman, Performance Artist

Max Valerio, San Francisco

Film "You Don't Know Dick" with James Green, Max Valerio, Loren Cameron and Stephan Thorne

Robert starred in the documentary "Southern Comfort," which tells the story of how doctors did not understand how to treat an FTM with a medical condition that is usually associated with women. Robert died because the doctors were not aware of the medical issues of providing care to FTMs.

Robert Allen Eads 1945-1999 subject of the film "Southern Comfort"

A film about Robert "Southern Comfort"

Brandon Teena, born Teena Brandon, was a young FTM living as male when his female anatomy was discovered. He was raped and then murdered for being FTM. The film "Boys Don't Cry" is a documentary of the gender based violence which took his life.

Brandon Teena subject of the film "Boys Don't Cry"

A film about Brandon "Boys Don't Cry"

Billy Tipton 1914-1989, born Dorothy, lived as a male jazz musician all his adult life without hormones or surgery, traveling on the road in close quarters with men. He finished high school as female then early in his career he obtained legal documents listing him as male, transitioning in 1933 at age 19. He mentored many young musicians, married five women and adopted three boys during his long traveling career as a jazz musician in the first half of his life and a talent booking agent in the second. When he died in 1989 at age 74, having lived 56 years as a man, his female anatomy was reported to the press by the coroner.

The Transcendance Gospel Choir brings together FTM and MTF singers to enlighten audiences nationwide.

The Transcendance Gospel Choir

Gender awareness performers, including FTMs, raise gender awareness through their performance as individuals who transcend the categories of gender.

Phranc, a female pioneer of a masculine image in the recording industry without hormones or surgery.

Peggy Shaw, a female performer, won Obie and other awards for portrayal of male characters without hormones or surgery.

Drag Kings perform as male characters without hormones or surgery to raise gender awareness.

Gender awareness performers without hormones or surgery have brought gender issues into public awareness through lectures, magazines, books and films. Gender awareness performers are known by many terms including cross-dresser (CD) and drag king (DK). Some are trans (Elizabeth Taylor Carthaus who performed as drag king Lizerace transitioned with hormones and surgery and is now Ethan Taylor Carter) and some are not. The use of prosthetic facial hair is a practice that was first demonstrated in gender workshops by pioneer drag king Diane Torr. A thin line of flexible spirit gum adhesive is applied to hold finely cut pieces of the individual's own hair to achieve a natural appearance.

Storme Delarverie Raising Gender Awareness in the early to mid twentieth century in the Jewel Box Revue

Diane Torr as "Danny King" Raising Gender Awareness in New York City

Maureen Fischer Raising Gender Awareness in New York City

As "Mo B. Dick"

Shelly Mars Raising Gender Awareness in New York City

As "Shel"

Raising Gender Awareness`in Berlin

As "Antonio Caputo"

"Antonio Caputo" Raising Gender Awareness`on Magazine Covers

Clare Smith Raising Gender Awareness in Toronto

As "Flare"

"Jacques" Raising Gender Awareness as "The Man with the Golden Gun"

"Jacques" Raising Gender Awareness as the Impressario in "Tipping the Velvet"

"The Backdoor Boys" Raising Gender Awareness in Magazines

"Allix" Raising Gender Awareness in Washington DC's Metro Weekly

Raising Gender Awareness in San Francisco's SF Weekly

Melanie Corn Raising Gender Awareness in San Francisco

As "Jake Danger"

Leigh Crow, Laurie Bushman and Annie Toone Raising Gender Awareness in San Francisco

"Lost Bois" Raising Gender Awareness in Los Angeles

Max Madrigal, FTM Alliance of Los Angeles Board Member, as "Drag King" Los Angeles

"Disposable Boy Toys" Raising Gender Awareness in Santa Barbara

San Diego Kings Raising Gender Awareness in San Diego

"San Diego Kings"

Cooper Lee Bombadier Raising Gender Awareness in a Book by Judith "Jack" Halberstam and Del LaGrace Volcano

Judith "Jack" Halberstam, Gender Awareness Author, Los Angeles

Raising Gender Awareness in Magazines

Mildréd Gerestant, Diane Torr, Del LaGrace Volcano, Bridge Markland, Storme Webber, Mo Fischer, Dee Finley, Shelly Mars, Philly Abe, Hans Scheirl, Svar Simpson, Simo Maronati and Judith Halberstam Raising Gender Awareness in the Film Venus Boyz

Raising Gender Awareness in Louisville, Kentucky.

Kendra Kuliga demonstrating a male chest presentation

"Enno" without hormones or surgery demonstrating prosthetic chest hair.

"Dawson" from Louisville Kentucky without hormones or surgery demonstrating prosthetic chest hair.

"Gage Gatlyn" from Florida without hormones or surgery demonstrating a male chest presentation.

"Antonio Caputo" from Berlin without hormones or surgery demonstrating a male chest presentation.

FTM Family, Friends and Allies

There are many performing artists who are allies of the FTM community.

Dana International, Singer

Dana International, Singer

Becoming a Man | Our Gender | Our Transition | How We Transition without Hormones and Surgery | How We Transtition with Hormones and Surgery | How We Transition Legally | Our Lives During and After Transition | Our Families

Our Lives as Men | FTM Bodies | FTM Minds | FTM Spirits | FTM Family | FTM Community

Our Contributions | FTM HIStory | FTM Contributions to Art, Architecture and Photography | FTM Contributions to Literature and Journalism | FTM Contributions to Performing Arts, Music, Drama and Film | FTM Contributions to Medicine, Psychology and Science | FTM Contributions to Business, Government, the Military and Law | FTM Contributions to Education and Spirituality