TRICK OR TRANNY?
by Peaches Christ

reprinted from Cream Puff Magazine, 10/28/99

Just before moving to San Francisco, I was living in the rural state of Pennsylvania, where the only tranny movie to come to town was some piece of shit called To To Wong Foo, Thanks for Everything... by Julie Newmar. Being a wee tranny with big dreams, I wanted more — much, much more. My friends and I were lucky if we found Tootsie at the local family-owned video store. Well, sorta lucky. Forget about John Waters, Paris Is Burning, or The Ballad of Little Joe — if you wanted a tranny, you'd better be ready to endure the tired antics of one Mrs. Doubtfire. Blech! Only one year after arriving in the City, did I read about the world's only Tranny Fest Transgender & Transgenre Cinema happening in my new backyard! Self-described as a "finger-snapping, groin-bumping, tear-jerking, heartwarming, gut-busting mix of experimental, documentary, drama and pornographic films," it was exactly why I came here.

Many props should be given to the co-founders and co-directors of Tranny Fest, Christopher Less and Alison Austin. They have been producing the festival together for the past three years. Christopher is a local producer/director whose previous work includes Trappings of Transhood and Alley of the Tranny Boys. Alison is a producer and Arts & Entertainment attorney who, for the past decade, has been producing queer events and benefits. This year the film festival takes place on Saturday, October 30 from 12pm-12am at the Roxie Cinema and includes five different film programs.

The first program, at noon, is rated PG (youth welcome) and admission is only $5. It features five different films, including one called Frankenpooh, where Winnie the Pooh gets monstrous. Also included is a special surprise video described as a "Drag Queen action hero comedy." No, it doesn't star me, but I'm sure it's still quite good. The feature finale of this opening program is Parris Patton's film Creature, where a North Carolina runaway transforms into someone called "Stacy Hollywood."

The second program of the day begins at 2:15pm, opening with Out & About, where drag and kink run wild during a Canadian border interrogation. Following this, directors Susan Stryker and Victor Silverman will present their work-in-progress Documenting San Francisco's Transgender History. This piece is going to feature rarely seen archival film clips and slides including the 1966 altercation in the Compton cafeteria that sparked the trans movement.

In program three at 5pm, we're treated to the short video Christopher, a portrait of a FTM. Following this is Homocore Minneapolis — Ed Varga's punk rock showcase in Minneapolis. Closing the program is Gendernauts, a personal and eye-opening documentary featuring SF locals Max Wolf Valerio, Texas Tomboy, Susan Stryker, Annie Sprinkle and more.

The fourth program begins at 7:30pm and opens with an appearance by Mayor Willie Brown. There will also be a "Millennium Halloween Costume Contest" hosted by Empress Alexis Miranda. Give a lil' sneak preview of your Halloween costume this year and walk home with prizes! This program features six different films including Anne Alvergues' Ladylike, examining the lifestyles of a unique group of heterosexual cross-dressers from San Jose to L.A. Closing the program is Woubi Cheri, a documentary on African Ivory Coast's woubi, yossis and transvestites.

In the final adults-only program, starting at 10:30pm, Christopher Lee is screening his newest film, titled Sex Flesh In Blood. It is described as a "hard-core triple XXX Gothic Punk '80s style Tranny porn — blood included." I was lucky enough to be able to preview the film, and as soon as I can, I'd like to donate a VHS copy of it to that video store back in Pennsylvania. The description of it is no exaggeration! Program five is called "Jack-Off Lantern" featuring tranny porn and more ... rated R to XXX! Also included in the sexy line-up is Samara Halperin's Corn Dog Kings, featuring a day in the life of five corn-dog-eating, car-washing cowboys in Oakland. This one is especially enticing to me because I have a real passion for both cowboys and corn dogs.

Well, besides the incredible film festival, there are four full days of free events leading up to it! To find out more about all of the performances, lectures, parties and films call the Tranny Fest hotline at 415/820-3245. None of us moved to this town for the abundance of Starbucks or Gap stores, so make your high rent more worthwhile this month and participate in something uniquely San Francisco.

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