Leslie Townsend has had a very extraordinary life. Not only has she had a multitude of occupations including a model, comedienne, dancer and secretary, but twenty years ago she was also a man.
Leslie Townsend, now an out transsexual, will be speaking at the Stonewall Kats meeting tomorrow at 7 p.m. in the LSC Theater.
"[The speech] will be beneficial to the campus because it will educate them on the transgender community here," said Aaron Stewart, vice president of Stonewall Kats, "and help them to differentiate on different gender conformists. Personally, I think it will promote us and show that we're physically active on campus and not just a little gay group. We're visible and we're doing positive educational things on and off campus."
A crew for the upcoming LOGO will film the speech. LOGO is a new network aimed at the gay, lesbian, bisexual and transgender community, for a documentary titled Beautiful Daughters. The goal of Beautiful Daughters is to document the cast members of the first all-transgender "Vagina Monologues."
"I was friends with a transgender woman in L.A. named Andrea James and she e-mailed me because they were filming rehearsals for the first transgender 'Vagina Monologues'," said Townsend. "I didn't even have to audition; they wanted me immediately. I worked through the performance and I just blossomed. We're hoping it becomes a big deal."
Townsend's speech will also incorporate her story, as told through her autobiography Hidden in Plain Sight that began in the early '80s.
"I usually talk about my transition," said Townsend, "and my family and friends and how they evolved during my transition. I also talk about how I went into stealth for several years and about coming out. I try to dispel ignorance and promote tolerance for all of the gay, lesbian, bisexual and Transgender community."
The documentary itself is scheduled to air in June on LOGO and will be one of the fledging network's first shows.
"We're excited about her and hoping she will be a repeat speaker," said Stewart, "but at least it will open a lot of doorways with the documentary and will allow us to have future speakers."
The speech is open to anyone on campus and is free of charge.
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