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American TranStand, it's about time.
article by Dasha Snyder
producer and writer of The
D Word
all photos courtesy of Velvetpark Magazine
 Arriving
at the Canal Room in downtown New York City, I found a line of beautiful
queer folks of multitudinous sexualities, gender expressions and colors
waiting to enter the packed club. Our community coming out to play!
The Henny Youngmen-era comedian Murray Hill was as suave as ever,
interviewing the night's celebrities outside at the velvet rope for gay
cable television. Inside, the raffle table was topped with baskets of sex
toys donated by Chicago sex toy shop Tulip and piles of Velvetpark
Magazines, the night's primary sponsor.
The evening's master of ceremonies, the
handsome Imani Henry, got things started by introducing the most rocking
tranny band around: Lisa Jackson & Girl Friday followed by the hip-hop homo
stylings of God-des & She, replete with baby dyke dancers showing us how to
"Lick It!" (watch for God-des in TLW S3 finale.) The statuesque Hanifah
Walidah made urban performance art sexy even drinking water out of a bottle
became Sapphicly theatrical in her hands. We were then treated to the boi
models of Parisa Parnian's queer clothing line Rigged/OUTfitters (Parisa's
Rigged line will be worn on S3 cast members Sarah Shahi, Daniela Sea, the
staff at the Planet and others.)
Why all this fabulous queerness? To support the Sylvia Rivera Law Project.
SRLP, named for the Stonewall veteran and trans activist Sylvia Rivera,
works to guarantee that all people are free to self-determine their gender
identity and expression, regardless of income or race, and without facing
harassment, discrimination, or violence. So, it's no accident that most of
the night's entertainment placed all over the Kinsey scale and gender
spectrum, thus paving the way for the first ever Queer Idol talent contest.
 The
L Word's Momma, Ilene Chaiken, supported the event by heading the panel of
celebrity judges of the Queer Idol Contest which also included Murray Hill
and poet and long time activist Emanuel Xavier. Queer Idol contestants
Liquid Sun, Tanwi Nandini, Clay Drinko, Ali Xtravaganza, and Dynasty Handbag
all sang and danced and rapped their way in various states of undress and
talent. The night belonged to the soulful rhymes of Geo Creed Wyeth aka 'Tha
Novice.' Using his body as a drum set and his voice as melodic clarion call,
this tranny boy rocked the judges, the house and everyone in it, winning
first place. Ironically, Geo is one of the stars of The D Word, The L Word
spoof playing at LGBT film fests this year.
The highlight of the evening for L word fans came when Ilene Chaiken
introduced the newest L Word cast member Daniela Sea. On the trans night to
end all trans nights, there was the person who was about to bring the term
FTM into the cable-equipped homes of America. Daniela Sea will play Moira
who transitions to Max over the course of the upcoming Season 3 of The L
Word. Androgynous and hot, Daniela spoke softly and humbly about her new
role and the impact she hoped it would have on the community. She also
talked of the pride she felt in being
queer and portraying that queerness onscreen. The crowd
lapped it up and wanted more. They had to
settle, happily that is, for Daniela Sea on bass as she backed up to her
partner, the musical performer, Bitch. Bitch ended her set by leading the
 crowd
in a raucous call-and-response anthem 'Pussy Manifesto.'
The celebrity
judges were awarded harnesses from SpareParts HardWare and lucky crowd
members got beaned in the head by Tulip's flying condoms and silver bullet
vibrators, and others luckier still, as winners of baskets of sex toys and
signed boxed sets of Season 2 of The L Word. Of course, there was the
requisite BETTY sighting, and L Word fans galore crowding the floor, craning
for an up-close glimpse of Ilene, Daniela and assorted VIP's. All in all, a
very queer-licious night of song, dance and support.
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