Andrea James

News

My column and glossary for The Advocate

My guest column for the December 18, 2007 trans-themed edition of The Advocate is now available online. I was asked to write about questions not to ask.

Don’t Tick Off Trans: Transgressive questions likely to be a transgender conversation-ender by Andrea James

I also wrote a very abbreviated glossary (defining sex and gender in 250 words is no easy task!):

Words to the Wise: A glossary of basic sex and gender terms you should know.

There’s some other great stuff, including the cover story Gay vs. Trans in America and a round table with gay and trans people speaking pretty plainly about the tensions within the LGBT community. Subscribe online or have a hard copy delivered!

By Andrea James | December 5, 2007 | Activism |

Pic of the Day: Rooftop pool

Continuing my obsession with pools at night. This is with ambient light on a long exposure.

Andrea James’ Pic of the Day: Rooftop pool.

By Andrea James | December 4, 2007 | Photography |

Coyote sighting

On the way home tonight I saw a coyote. I hear them a lot, but I’ve only seen one in the yard once. Sometimes at night they will catch something in a nearby park, and a whole pack of them will start yelping and howling. It’s creepy but beautiful, if that makes sense. They kind of just look like dogs, but there’s something about the way they walk that says they are feral. It’s a tension in their muscles, as if they are more tightly wound than a dog. Since I was in the car and didn’t even have the camera out when I saw it, I didn’t have time to make the shot look all cool like the coyote in the film Collateral., which is one of the best movies in terms of capturing the feel of LA at night. Still, I was happy to get a shot of my friendly neighborhood coyote.

By Andrea James | December 3, 2007 | Random thoughts |

The Advocate: Don't Tick Off Trans

advocate-com-logo

ANDREA_JAMES

BY ANDREA JAMES
DECEMBER 03 2007

Let’s say you’re at work, a social setting, or political event, and a real live transgender person says “Hi!” You don’t want to say anything wrong since you recall the tedious questions and responses you’ve endured about your sexuality, but you want to appear interested and engaged. Thankfully, there’s etiquette for talking to trans people. Here’s a look at questions to avoid. Trans people will thank you for it.

Read the rest

http://www.advocate.com/news/2007/12/03/don39t-tick-trans

By Andrea James | December 3, 2007 | Activism, Writing |

The Advocate: Words to the Wise

advocate-com-logo

BY ANDREA JAMES
DECEMBER 03 2007

A glossary of basic sex and gender terms you should know. Note: Terminology is hotly debated and ever-evolving.

Read the rest

http://www.advocate.com/news/2007/12/03/words-wise

By Andrea James | December 3, 2007 | Activism, Writing |

Crosscurrent: Fusion Shorts

Last night I went to see a collection of short films playing at the Outfest Fusion film festival, the only multi-racial, gender-inclusive film festival of its kind.

* A Two Woman One Act, directed by Vanessa Libertad Garcia (2007, 11 min.)

* Just, directed by David Maurice Gil’s (2007, 12 min.)

* Fighter, directed by Sharon Barnes (2007, 11 min.)

* Doorman, directed by Etienne Kallos (2007, 18 min.)

* Shooting Geronimo, directed by Kent Monkman (2007, 11 min.)

* I’m Jin-Young directed by Sung-eun Lee (2007, 19 min.)

My personal faves were “Just,” an intense post-hookup conversation (beautifully shot), “Doorman,” a moody piece about a troubled romance between a doorman and a tenant, and “I’m Jin-Young,” an adorable story about a fourth-grader with a crush on her mom’s friend.

I also talked to the shorts programmer for Sundance, who said they had 5,100 (!) entries this year. That is a lot of films to screen! She said some days you would only see one good one the whole day. Yikes.

After I went with some filmmakers to Cafe des Artistes for a drink, then an out-of-town visitor took me to a lovely dinner. A great day!

By Andrea James | December 3, 2007 | Film and media news |

I made the cover of American Family Association Journal!

I don’t know how I missed this when it came out in July 2006, but I was featured on the cover of the American Family Association Journal! Calpernia and I apparently exemplify the “sexual radicals who hate Christianity.” AFA Chairman Don Wildmon’s beef is with Ford Motor Company, and his magazine’s caption for our pic notes:

Ford Motor Company sponsored several GLAAD Media Awards ceremonies, including this one in San Francisco in June. Pictured at the ceremony are GLAAD President Neil Giuliano (center) with transgender actor Calpernia Addams (right) and transgender activist Andrea James (left). A transgendered individual is one who dresses as or has surgically altered his/her body to mimic the opposite sex.

To read the whole hilarious report, see:

* American Family Journal July 2006 cover story

Oh, and the first car I ever bought was a used Ford Maverick for $750. I drive a Ford right now, too, and it is seriously the best car I have ever had! So there!

* Support GLAAD and its sponsors!

By Andrea James | December 2, 2007 | Activism |

Andrea & Calpernia read blog comments about Transamerican Love Story

Calpernia Addams and Andrea James read some of the worst comments people have left on perezhilton.com and abc.com in response to “Transamerican Love Story,” their new Logo transsexual dating show coming out in February.

By Andrea James | December 1, 2007 | Film and media news, Transamerican Love Story |

Andrea & Calpernia read blog comments about Transamerican Love Story

Calpernia Addams and Andrea James read some of the worst comments people have left on perezhilton.com and abc.com in response to “Transamerican Love Story,” their new Logo transsexual dating show coming out in February.

By Andrea James | December 1, 2007 | Film and media news, Transamerican Love Story |