Trans History Moment-The First Trans Prom Queen

Was spending a little time on Twitter earlier today when an erroneous tweet popped up stating that Andii Viveros was the first ever trans prom queen.

That's true if you add the words 'in Florida' to that statement.

Stating that Viveros is the first trans prom queen is incorrect.   The first open trans prom queen ever in the United States was Crystal Vera of Fresno, CA.

She was elected the prom queen of Roosevelt High School  in May 2007 in the wake of transman Toby Covarrubias failed attempt to be elected prom king at Fresno High School just weeks earlier.

Andii Viveros is the second trans prom queen historically but the first in the state of Florida.


And since I mentioned it, as of yet we haven't had the first election of an open trans prom king.  Toby Covarrubias is the first open transman we are aware of attempting to do so.


TransGriot Note: Crystal is in the pink dress on the right in the photo

Meet Andii Viveros-Prom Queen

I posted a story back in 2007 about Fresno trans teen Crystal Vera becoming the first trans prom queen.  

In light of the drama that Andy Moreno went through in trying to become homecoming queen at North Dallas High, was happy to hear about what just transpired (pardon the pun) at McFatter Technical High School in Davie, FL.

17 year old Andii Viveros beat out 14 candidates to  become the second trans teen nationally to become the prom queen at her school.  To make it even more interesting, the prom king is 17 year old gay male student Juan Macias.


Andi is two years into her transition, and at times it has been rough for her despite the support from her family.  She had to deal with bullying and taunting behavior from students along with a less than supportive administration until this year.   She also had to deal with a faction of students who started a petition to get her removed from the ballot.

Andii told the Miami Herald in an interview this year the school got a new principal who was supportive of her.  She even encouraged Andii to run for prom queen.

Andii is planning to attend Broward College in the fall and get a degree in culinary arts management.

Congrats sis, and best of luck in your future endeavors.


 

'Photos Of Angie' Debuts At Denver Film Festival

Angie Zapata was brutally taken away from us three years ago, but her brief life and the people she touched during that time will live on.   

A documentary produced by Denver based filmmakers Alan and David Dominguez premiered last night at the 13th XicanIndie Film Festival in Denver.  

The film, 'Photos of Angie' moves between Angie’s life and self-discovery told through family and friends, to the trial of her killer, Allen Andrade, and how prosecutors used national hate crime legislation to prosecute him in 2009.

“Many aspects of this story struck me — Angie’s struggle to discover who she was and her courage to do right by herself, the fact that human sexuality is not nearly as neatly packaged as we like to think, and how common anti-transgender violence is,” said director Alan Dominguez in a news release. “Angie’s family took me on a very personal journey through their lives, and it led me to realize that only through compassion and understanding, all of us have to work together to write the end of the story — to create a world governed by freedom to be who we are, without fear.”

The Dominguez brothers through their Denver based production company called Loco Lane Filmworks shows films in festivals throughout the United States and Latin America.

Hopefully I'll get to see 'Photos Of Angie' at one near me soon.

WYFF-TV, Read Your AP Stylebook

Here we go again with more AP Stylebook failure filled 'reporting' on transpeople.   

Before I get started, let's review what the AP Stylebook says about how you write reports about transpeople. 

transgender-Use the pronoun preferred by the individuals who have acquired the physical characteristics of the opposite sex or present themselves in a way that does not correspond with their sex at birth.   

If that preference is not expressed, use the pronoun consistent with the way the individuals live publicly.

The picture gracing this post is of 22 year old Toni Silva of Greenville, SC.   She was reported missing and feared kidnapped after disappearing from the parking lot of a local nightclub

Here's how WYFF-TV reported the story,  and here's the way it should have been written according to the AP Stylebook

GCSO: Transgender Woman Found Safe

GREENVILLE COUNTY, S.C. -- The Greenville County Sheriff's Office said the transgender victim who was possibly kidnapped has been found safe.

Deputies were looking for Toni Silva, a 22-year-old Hispanic transgender female.  Investigators thought Silva may have been kidnapped at about 4:20 a.m. Friday in the parking lot of Mexicali, located at 1302 Cedar Lane Road in Greenville.

Deputies said Silva was found in the Poe Mill area Friday afternoon.Deputies said they determined that Silva was not the victim of a kidnapping, and that she left the club willingly with the subjects who were being sought as her possible abductors.

Now, was that so hard WYFF-TV?    Then why is it so difficult for you so called professional journalists to do it?