Girls With Balls

By Brianna Austin

For many years I have pushed the gender envelope. My friends and I would invade the mainstream to interact with people of all varieties, stimulate them to interact with us, each other, let loose and just have a good time. Sometimes, if we were nudged a little, Chrissy, Lorna and I would even hop up on the bar or a stage and dance a little -- or a lot. So, it should be no surprise that I admire anyone who has the fortitude and courage to push the barriers of gender expression just a little further. So, let’s celebrate, “the girls with balls!”

HEY BIG SPENDER! I introduced Fran Sisco to a weekly cabaret show called “Le Scandal,” at the Cutting Room (19 West 24th St.). My friend Rose Wood, a great trans ambassador of good will (and the only CD stripper I know of), was performing the night Fran attended. Fran was blown away by the whole concept of a return to the days of magic, burlesque and sideshow spectacle on a single stage. She has never been a performer, but she was suddenly motivated, and told Bonnie Dunn, the producer of the show – “I want in.” Several months, a choreographer -- that Rose helped her find -- and a lot of practice later, her chance came. 

Fran Sisco

She entered stage left and demurely sat on a chair – her back ¾ to the audience. She peeked over her shoulder and slowly turned as she sang in a baritone voice, “the minute you walked in the joint…” The crowd, now realizing Fran was not born a woman, loved it. Fran was neither a great singer, nor a great dancer, but with her beaming confidence and clever lyric changes she carried the performance to a rousing applause. But, it was something more, a deeper honesty and sincerity in who she was that the crowd experienced. Fran was having a great time, and it was infectious: pure entertainment. Good energy = good response. Fran said later, “That was great! I can’t wait to do it again,” as though she had just ridden the Cyclone at Coney Island for the very first time. We’ll be seeing more of her!  

 

Atlantic City Car Show

CAN YOU SPARE A RIDE?

Many trans girls -- cross dressers in particular -- don’t tend to mix their “girl life with their “boy interests.” Not so with Louise from southern New Jersey. She put on a pretty summer outfit, applied her make up, fixed her hair, and stepped out to enjoy her other love – cars. She attended the Atlantic City Auto Show, and wandered the floor exuding confidence and a joy in being who she is. But, what I want to know is, did you try on the pink T-bird, or the 4x4?

Jack a/k/a Mother Sabrina

 

THE QUEEN

When you speak of girls with balls, there is only one Queen, Flawless Sabrina, known to her friends simply as, Jack. In the fall of 2003 she did a one-woman show at “The Passer By,” a little club on West 15th Street, entitled, “The Reading of Beads.” Jack dispensed some wisdom about life, asking the standing room only crowd, “Who is your favorite man? Who’s your favorite woman? Then telling them, “It has to be you. Your favorite man is you, your favorite woman is you.” Later she explains, “The higher you put your barriers, the more they reduce your choice, your voice.” 

Flawless Sabrina knows of what she speaks, she has been a trans-warrior challenging the status quo since before most of you had a thought in your head about dressing, let alone going out. In 1959 she launched the first beauty pageant for trans-girls, which became a national organization, and was the basis for the documentary entitled, “The Queen.”  “In some cities, like Chicago, being dressed in public could get you arrested,” she explained, “And, we’re not talking about a slap on the wrist, we’re talking about a felony. The girls competed for Miss New York, Chicago, Philadelphia – but, there was never the word gay or trans in the title - the winner was simply referred to as the Queen of….”  

Flawless Sabrina, fondly called Mother by the NY performance crowd, is a quiet legend that is driven by her heart, not her ego, which of course is why people are so inspired by her. Lead on Mother Sabrina - lead on.

 

Lisa Jackson at the Canal Rooml

Leading By Example

You just can't salute the girls with balls without paying tribute to the trans entertainers who challenge the status quo every time they step on a stage. Moreover, through their music people who may never have given any consideration to a trans person, takes just a moment to reflect on what the lyrics they are hearing have to say. 

Lisa Jackson, who I have written about tirelessly, continues to do just that. And at a performance downtown at the Canal Room, she performed to a very straight crowd who were there to see the headliner --  those bad boys of Rap "Naughty By Nature" (Arista Records). A funny thing happened -- she transcended gender: the crowd loved her, which was evident when a member of the audience yelled, "That tranny is great … not that I'm into trannys - but she's great!" How cool is that?  TG performers that challenge the status quo make YOUR life as a transgender person easier, and in time will make your life more acceptable, so SUPPORT THEIR EFFORTS!.  Other performers include Venus & All The Pretty Horses, Yolanda, Armen Ra, Bianca Leigh  and many more. 

As always, be happy, be safe, and think pretty.
Brianna Austin  

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