Cast
"V-Day LA 2004 has assembled a cast of truly amazing women. From many backgrounds, ages, races and circumstances, from all over the United States, we have come together in solidarity against violence and hatred. Our participation as openly trans women challenges the notion that our community has little to offer society, and strengthens our assertion that women's issues are our issues, too." - Calpernia Addams, Director
Title Cast Welcome Calpernia Addams & Andrea James
As the founders of Deep Stealth Productions, Inc., and the GenderMedia Foundation, Andrea and Calpernia have devoted their lives to promoting positive representation of the transgender community and providing educational and supportive materials through the web and other media.
Original Song - "Fairy Tale" Asia Vitale is a six-year transgender advocate working at Asian Pacific AIDS Intervention Team. She has completed a Fellowship with the US Centers for Disease Control and Prevention Foundation, where she developed a Transgender Program for Excellence in HIV Prevention and Leadership, and presented on TG topics in conferences such as at the 2002 International AIDS Conference in Barcelona, Spain. She is a contributing writer and print model for Girl Talk Magazine, a six pageant-title holder, singer, songwriter, and entertainer. She was born in the Philippines and currently resides in Los Angeles. Worried About Vaginas 01 Becky Allison is an interventional cardiologist ("I blow up balloons"). She left her medical practice in Mississippi at the time of her transition in 1993, and has been living and working in Arizona for nearly ten years. She is most proud of her two grandchildren! Since 1996, Becky has maintained a Web site (now at www.drbecky.com) providing transgender support and information. Worried About Vaginas 02 Marci Bowers is an Obstetrician/Gynecologist who has spent 17 years delivering more than 3000 babies, transitioning from Male-to-Female in 1996-8 and now performs Genital Reassignment Surgery in Trinidad, Colorado (She builds Vaginas!). She is also a former Medical School Class President at the University of Minnesota, a Member-elect in the European Academy of Sciences, and the only physician on the Washington State Midwife Advisory Board. But, mostly, she is just proud to have a vagina.
Worried About Vaginas 03 Dana Beyer, physician, ophthalmic surgeon ("Doctor, my eyes!") and mother of two, advocates on behalf of DES-exposed and other gender variant and intersexed women. She is working to expose the links between endocrine disruptor chemicals ("estrogen mimics") and their effects on sexual development, gender identity and sexual orientation. She was last seen on stage in 1967 at summer camp, playing the role of Emile in South Pacific.
Hair Removed by request This participant lives in New York City and has been acting since the 4th grade. She is thrilled to be part of this important project. Wear & Say List 01 A 30 year veteran of the entertainment industry, she recently sold her highly successful New York advertising agency so that she might, in the words of Thoreau, "Go confidently in the directions of your dreams. Live the life you've imagined." A true New Yorker, the only time she's ever paid retail was for her vagina. Wear & Say List 02 Valerie Spencer works as a TransActivist in the area of social services, using the powers of intuition, insight and many years of experience being an open and proud Transgender Woman of Color. She has made the forward development of Transpeople her movement, and is developing Transcend Empowerment Institute, an organization addressing the wellbeing and cultural development of Transpeople from a holistic basis. "We are a special, gifted and courageous people who have been caught by the diversions of labeling, self-hate and misunderstanding. But there is hope and this hope will move us to the greatness of who we really are." Wear & Say List 03 Roxanne Skelly A senior software engineer having worked on security and encryption technologies, operating systems, robotics and networking at Microsoft and many start-up companies in Seattle, Roxanne now spends her days writing Home Networking software on the shores of Lake Washington. Her evenings are spent facilitating support groups at Ingersoll Gender Center, volunteering with LGBT youth at Lambert House, and most importantly, with her loving partner of 10 years and their Scottish terrier, Fergus. Being a Seattle Native, Roxanne really likes her coffee. "Homespun" by Calpernia Addams Calpernia Addams is a working actress, director, producer and writer in Hollywood. Recipient of the National Gay & Lesbian Task Force 2003 Leadership award, the inaugural Servicemembers Legal Defense Network's Visibility Award, and now a member of the Board of Directors of the National Gay & Lesbian Task Force, she has been a longtime advocate for human rights. She has published an autobiography, "Mark 947," various magazine articles and thousands of pages of free content on her websites. The movie based on her life story, "Soldier's Girl," was chosen as one of the American Film Institute's 10 Most Outstanding Programs of 2003, nominated for three Golden Globes, two Emmys, an Independant Spirit Award, a GLAAD media award, and others. Women's issues and violence prevention are very dear to her heart. Intro - The Flood Verba S. Deo completed a BA in Performance Studies and Gender Studies at the University of North Carolina at Asheville in May 2003. She arrived in Los Angeles on October 31, 2003 to pursue her career in performance art. As a pleasure activist and pan-sensualist she staunchly believes that sex is the secret to life and changing the world. Her works reflect this. The Flood Debra Davies Soshoux has practiced law in New York, Miami and now Los Angeles while she also works toward her long-cherished dream of being a flight attendant on private jets, just a slight change from the F-4 Phantom II she flew in the Navy. Debra retired from the Reserves with the rank of Commander. She is the proud parent of a seven year-old daughter. The Vagina Workshop Donna Rose During her first 40 years she experienced life as a world-class collegiate wrestler, a loving husband, a father, and a successful businessman. Her extraordinary experience of self-acceptance and gender transition is described in her deeply personal book “Wrapped In Blue: A Journey of Discovery” (Living Legacy Press, 2003). Today, she is an active and well-known speaker, educator, author and advocate on transsexual issues. Her work promoting corporate diversity, social awareness, self-acceptance, and the non-negotiable nature of human dignity remain cornerstones of her life. She currently lives near Austin, TX with her 18 year-old son, and two dogs. Vagina Happy Fact Dana Beyer Because He Liked to Look at It Leslie Townsend
After living in stealth for many years, Miss Townsend has come to embrace her transgender history and is now enjoying speaking at colleges and youth groups in an effort to educate and empower others. With past work as a model,actress and comedienne, Miss Townsend brings a presense and boldness to all she pursues.
Vagina Not Happy Fact Cheryl Hoffman
Born in 1957 to an Air Force Captain and his wife, she realized she was "different" early on, and was eventually institutionalized at age 12 for four years by her parents in order to “fix her homosexuality.” Rather than convincing her to be a straight male, she was more certain than ever of her true self. She began transition the next year, and with the help of her newly accepting father she managed to have SRS at age 22, in 1979. She now works as a Prevention Case Manager in West Hollywood.My Angry Vagina Valerie Spencer My Short Skirt Beverly Ann Smith is a uniquely versatile San Francisco based artist. A talented actress, director, singer/songwriter, she is also a cutting edge stand-up comic. Along with her many projects, she is currently work on her one woman autobiographical musical, "Once More Before Now" scheduled to premier at The Shelton Theater in San Francisco February 2005. An advocate against hate, Beverly is proud and honored to be performing in "The Vagina Monologues" for the second year running. Intro - My Vagina Was My Village Lynn Conway transitioned way back in 1968, and went into stealth to survive. Starting over as a contract programmer, she rose to become a rather famous computer scientist. A pioneer in microelectronics, her innovations impacted silicon chip design worldwide. She won many honors for her work, including election to the National Academy of Engineering. Just as she retired in 1999 she was outed, by links to early research done when still a boy. Lynn found it liberating to leave stealth. Now proud of her past, she's worked tirelessly on her website to help others find joy and success in life too. Of special joy to Lynn is life with her husband Charlie. Living in their country home in rural Michigan, they've been together for 16 years.. My Vagina Was My Village Margaux Ayn Schaffer has a long history of activism for trans causes. In Atlanta, she was the first trans person appointed to the Gay/Lesbian Task Force for the City of Atlanta/Department of Public Safety and helped plan sensitivity training for city personnel. She was Deputy Director of the American Educational Gender Information Service and has been an organizer and planner for the Southern Comfort Convention. As Art Director of Chrysalis Magazine, she created such famous cover art as the "GenderMatic" and the public service ads "Dangerous Curves Ahead" exposing the dangers of injected silicone. Margaux lives in Arizona, where she is a fine artist and graphic designer. The Memory of Her Face -
Islamabad
Asia Vitale Baghdad Dee Dee Flores was born and raised in Chicago, IL, until frigid winters drove her West. She's led an exciting life photographing gorillas in Zaire, Africa, as well as marine life in Hawaii, Costa Rica & the Carribbean. She is currently pursuing careers in acting, stand-up comedy, voiceover, tap and jazz modern dance. She is proud to be included in this very special presentation. "Thanks to all those who have helped foster my career, you know who you are!" Dee Dee currently resides in LA with her 3 Chihuahuas.
Juarez Vicky Ortega has been instrumental in ensuring that adequate prevention and treatment services are available for transgendered individuals. A commissioner on the Los Angeles County Commission on HIV Health Services and member of the LA County Prevention Planning Council, she is also the managing director of the Transgender Resource Center of Southern California, which provides an array of resources for gender variant persons. She also works as a full-time staff trainer with the non-profit PROTOTYPES and continues her endeavors to make the general population aware of TG issues and concerns. "Another Gwen" by Gwen Smith Gwendolyn Ann Smith is a writer, web developer and transgender activist. Gwen founded the Remembering Our Dead project and the Transgender Day of Remembrance. She shares her life in a legal same sex marriage with her partner of nearly 12 years, Bonnie.
Epilogue Lynn Conway Intro - Coochie Snorcher Christine Beatty
Christine Beatty is a computer programmer, a screenwriter and a published author who carries activism into her art and her life in Los Angeles. She regularly volunteers at "Children of the Night," a shelter for runaway youth rescued from the street.Coochie Snorcher Coochie Snorcher
This actress has always centered her life around the arts, her family, and her friends. She now works as an artist and filmmaker. Through her art she strives to increase trans acceptance and encourage people to look beyond gender generalizations.Vagina Smell List 01 Removed by request A 30 year veteran of the entertainment industry, she recently sold her highly successful New York advertising agency so that she might, in the words of Thoreau, "Go confidently in the directions of your dreams. Live the life you've imagined." A true New Yorker, the only time she's ever paid retail was for her vagina. Vagina Smell List 02 Cheryl Hoffman Vagina Smell List 03 Roxanne Skelly Ourageous Vagina Fact Christine Beatty Reclaiming Cunt Verba Deo A 6y/o Girl Was Asked Marci Bowers Intro - The Woman Who Liked to Make Vaginas Happy Beverly Ann Smith The Woman Who Liked to Make Vaginas Happy Andrea James is on a mission. After graduate school in English, she wrote ads for ten years at top Chicago agencies. In 1996 she began an ambitious project to elevate the status of transwomen through websites and media devoted to advice and consumer issues. Andrea has now branched out to film and television, to counter the media’s dismal depiction of transgendered people with more accurate and positive portrayals. V-Day LA 2004 is the first of many such projects, and she thanks everyone who made this dream a reality. Intro - I Was There in the Room Debra Soshoux I Was There in the Room Becky Allison They Beat the Girl Out of My Boy - Or So They Tried 01 Calpernia Addams
They Beat the Girl Out of My Boy - Or So They Tried 02 Removed by request They Beat the Girl Out of My Boy - Or So They Tried 03 Verba Deo They Beat the Girl Out of My Boy - Or So They Tried 04 Andrea James They Beat the Girl Out of My Boy - Or So They Tried 05 Asia Vitale Song - "What Did I Have That I Don't Have?" Cheryl Hoffman
On a Clear Day You Can See Forever
Music: Burton Lane
Lyrics: Alan Jay Lerner
Book: Alan Jay Lerner
Film: 1970Eve's Vagina Warrior Statement Eve Ensler has devoted her life to stopping violence, envisioning a planet in which women and girls will be free to thrive, rather than merely survive. Her work grows out of her own personal experiences with violence. THE VAGINA MONOLOGUES is based on her interviews with more than 200 women. The piece celebrates womens' sexuality and strength, and exposes the violations that women endure throughout the world.
Introduction of this year's Vagina Warriors Eve, Andrea, Calpernia, LACAAW, The Task Force
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