Distributed for Hirmer Publishers
Trans Hirstory in 99 Objects
Spanning over four centuries, this volume brings together a wide-ranging selection of artworks and artifacts that highlight the under-recognized histories of trans and gender-nonconforming communities. Through the contributions of artists, writers, poets, activists, and scholars, this title reflects on historical erasure and imagines trans futures.
An expansive array of objects chart not a patriarchal history but a gender-neutral, trans-centric hirstory. The first publication of its kind, this survey celebrates trans forebearers, highlights struggles and triumphs, and reflects on the legacies of trans creative expression. Contributions by Kate Bornstein, Ria Brodell, Vaginal Davis, Leah DeVun, Mo B. Dick, Zackary Drucker, David Getsy, Martine Gutierrez, Andrea Jenkins, Jade Guarano Kuriki-Olivo (Puppies Puppies), Thomas (T.) Jean Lax, Abram J. Lewis, Miguel A. López, Amos Mac, Cyle Metzger, Deborah A. Miranda, Morgan M Page, SA Smythe, C. Riley Snorton, Dean Spade, Sandy Stone, Jeannine Tang, Michelle Tea, McKenzie Wark, and many others probe new horizons where institutional critique and trans culture meet. This book is copublished by the Museum of Trans Hirstory & Art (MOTHA), a conceptual art project of artist Chris E. Vargas that is forever “under construction” by design to allow continual transformation.
Reviews
Table of Contents
WELCOME TO MOTHA
Chris E. Vargas..................................................................... 10
MUSEUM/TRANS/HIRSTORY/ART
Christina Linden................................................................... 16
REFUSAL
1. DOUGHNUT THROWN IN THE RIOT AT COOPER DO-NUTS, MAY 1959
Morgan M Page.............................................................. 28
2. SIR LADY JAVA’S PROTEST SIGN, 1967
Kelly Besser................................................................... 30
3. BROOKLYN LIBERATION, JUNE 14, 2020
Andrea Jenkins.............................................................. 32
4. BETH ELLIOTT’S GUITAR, 1973–PRESENT
Allucquére Rosanne (Sandy) Stone............................. 34
5. MANUEL MATHIEU, THEPROPHETESS2, 2020
Jonathan Michael Square............................................ 36
6. NANCY VALVERDE’S BARBER CHAIR, c. 1950s
Raquel Gutiérrez........................................................... 38
7. SIRENE MARTIN, NOTHIN’SGONBOTHERUNOW, 2022
Kameelah L. Martin...................................................... 40
8. CECE MCDONALD’S SCISSORS, 2011
Ralowe T. Ampu............................................................ 42
9. MISS MAJOR’S WHITE OPERA PUMPS, n.d.
Miss Major and Toshio Meronek................................. 44
10. LEO BAKER’S CHEST BINDER, n.d.
Amos Mac...................................................................... 46
11. CRYSTAL LABEIJA’S ICONIC READ IN THEQUEEN, 1968
Sydney Baloue............................................................... 48
12. CONNIE NORMAN’S PUBLIC-ACCESS TELEVISION PROGRAM GAY AND LESBIAN NEWSMAGAZINE, 1992–95
Connie Norman, Dante Alencastre, and John Johnston........................................................ 50
13. VANGUARD’S BROOMS, 1966
Eric A. Stanley.............................................................. 52
14. NICKI GREEN, BREAKING DISHES AT GENE COMPTON’S, 2016
Jeanne Vaccaro............................................................. 54
TRANSFORMATION
15. ULTRA-HUMANITE’S BRAIN, 1940
Justin Hall..................................................................... 58
16. HEATHER DEWEY-HAGBORG AND CHELSEA E. MANNING, PROBABLYCHELSEA, 2017
Annalee Newitz............................................................. 60
17. CANDICE LIN AND P STAFF, HORMONALFOG, 2016–22
Christina Linden........................................................... 62
18. AV-6 VISUALLY KEYED SHOCKER, c. 1973
Kate Davison................................................................. 64
19. MOCK-UP FOR HARRY BENJAMIN’S THETRANSSEXUALPHENOMENON, 1966
Aaron H. Devor............................................................. 66
20. MICHA CÁRDENAS, BECOMINGDRAGON, 2008
Jeannine Tang............................................................... 70
21. JEFFREY CATHERINE JONES, LIGHT, 1970
David Evans Frantz...................................................... 72
22. PIPPA GARNER, SUPERSHUFFLE, 2018–PRESENT
Christina Linden........................................................... 74
23. SANDY STONE, PGP :THEPUBLIC GENITALS PROJECT, 2000
McKenzie Wark............................................................. 78
24. FORREST BESS, THEHERMAPHRODITE, 1957
Cyle Metzger.................................................................. 80
25. LOREN REX CAMERON’S SHUTTER RELEASE, c. 1990s
Jeanne Vaccaro............................................................. 82
26. PUPPIES PUPPIES (JADE GUANARO KURIKI-OLIVO), ANDREWD.OLIVO6.7.89–6. 7.18, 2018/21
Puppies Puppies (Jade Guanaro Kuriki-Olivo)....... 84
HYPERVISIBLE
27. MONICA HELMS’S TRANSGENDER PRIDE FLAG, 1999
Monica Helms and Chris E. Vargas........................... 90
28. AUTUMN SANDEEN’S NAVY UNIFORM, 2009
Bree Fram...................................................................... 92
29. PRITZKER MILITARY MUSEUM & LIBRARY, 2003–PRESENT
Dean Spade.................................................................... 94
30. MURRAY HILL FOR MAYOR CAMPAIGN FLYER, 1997
Mo B. Dick..................................................................... 96
31. TRACEY AFRICA NORMAN ON CLAIROL BORN BEAUTIFUL BOX 512, 1975
Eric Darnell Pritchard.................................................. 98
32. TIME FEATURING “THE TRANSGENDER TIPPING POINT,” JUNE 9, 2014
Kate Bornstein............................................................ 100
33. MARTINE GUTIERREZ, INDIGENOUSWOMAN, 2018
Martine Gutierrez...................................................... 102
34. ARIANA AGUILAR IN THEGAYESSAY AND HOMEBOYBEAUTIFUL, 1970/1978–79
David Evans Frantz.................................................... 106
25. SHU LEA CHEANG, BRANDON, 1998–99
Banyi Huang................................................................ 110
36. PATRICIO MANUEL’S BOXING GLOVES, 2014–19
Karleigh Webb............................................................. 112
SENSATION
37. MUJERCITOS IN ALARMA!, 1963–86
Susana Vargas Cervantes.......................................... 116
38. TOURMALINE, MARYOFILLFAME, 2020–21
Thomas (T.) Jean Lax................................................. 120
39. HARRY ALLEN’S BOWLER HAT, c. 1900
Greta LaFleur.............................................................. 124
40. BILLY TIPTON, BILLY TIPTON PLAYS HI-FI ON PIANO, 1957
Amos Mac..................................................................... 126
41. CHRIS E. VARGAS, TRANSVESTISMINTHENEWS, 2015
Ms. Bob Davis.............................................................. 128
42. REFLECTIVE SURFACES IN DRESSEDTOKILL, 1980
Dan Vena..................................................................... 132
43. THE TRANSEXUAL MENACE T-SHIRT, 1993
Riki Wilchins............................................................... 134
44. DUSTIN HOFFMAN’S DRESS IN TOOTSIE, 1982
Chris Straayer............................................................. 136
45. GREER LANKTON, CANDYDARLING, 1995
Cyle Metzger................................................................ 138
46. CRAIG CALDERWOOD, THISWORLD WILL SOON BE OURS, 2015
Abram J. Lewis........................................................... 140
47. VAGINAL DAVIS, FERTILELATOYAHJACKSON MAGAZINE, 1987–91
Vaginal Davis and Brontez Purnell......................... 144
48. REED ERICKSON’S PSYCHEDELIC SELF-PORTRAITS, c. 1977
Abram J. Lewis........................................................... 148
DEITIES
49. VINCENT CHONG, TEAL AT 98.6 °F, 2022
Vincent Chong............................................................. 154
50. SYLVESTER’S SEQUINED BLAZERS, c. 1985
Richard T. Rodríguez.................................................. 156
51. LORRAINE MERRITT, PORTRAIT OF CHRISTINE JORGENSEN, 1954
Zackary Drucker......................................................... 158
52. JEROME CAJA, ASCENSIONOFTHEDRAGQUEEN, 1994
Cyle Metzger............................................................... 160
53. RACHEL POLLACK, THESHININGTRIBETAROT, 2001
Edgar Fabían Frías.................................................... 162
54. JAYNE COUNTY’S PAINTINGS OF BASTET, THE GODDESS OF WET DREAMS, c. 2019
Jayne County.............................................................. 166
55. RIA BRODELL, JEANNE OR JEAN BONNET 1849–1876 UNITED STATES, 2012
Ria Brodell.................................................................. 170
56. ASSUNTA FEMIA’S SCAPULAR, n.d.
Chris E. Vargas........................................................... 172
57. GIOVANNI ANTONIO CAVAZZI, DEPICTION OF A JINBANDAA, c. 1665–68
SA Smythe................................................................... 174
58. FREDDIE MERCADO, CARIÁTIDECARIBEÑA, 2020
Lawrence La Fountain-Stokes.................................. 176
59. CORABONELLI STATUETTE, n.d.
César González-Aguirre............................................ 178
60. SUNNY A. SMITH, UNQUIETCOMFORTER, 2022,
Scott Larson................................................................. 180
DISCOVERY
61. JUAN VAN DER HAMEN, PORTRAITOFERAUSO, c. 1625
Cabello/Carceller........................................................ 186
62. CHARLEY PARKHURST’S STAGECOACH, c. 1849
KJ Cerankowski......................................................... 190
63. ANTHROPOMORPHIC FIGURE, CHORRERA, c. 500 BCE–500 CE
Gabby Omoni Hartemann......................................... 192
64. JOHN MONEY’S “DISTRACTION DOODLES,” 1974
Jeanne Vaccaro........................................................... 194
65. LUCY HICKS ANDERSON’S CLUTCH, c. 1945
C. Riley Snorton.......................................................... 196
66. MAGNUS HIRSCHFELD’S DEATH MASK IN LI SHIU TONG’S SUITCASE, 1935
Liz Rosenfeld.............................................................. 198
67. CHELSEA THOMPTO, LANDMARKS, 2021
Dorothy R. Santos....................................................... 200
68. KIYAN WILLIAMS, REFLECTIONS / REFRACTIONS IN BLAQ, 2017
Leila Weefur............................................................... 202
RESTAGE
69. TUESDAY SMILLIE, STREETTRANSVESTITES1973, 2015
Morgan M Page........................................................... 206
70. RÍO SOFIA, FORCEDWOMANHOOD!, 2017
Harron Walker............................................................ 208
71. VIVEK SHRAYA, TRISHA, 2016
Vivek Shraya............................................................... 212
72. KENT MONKMAN, HONOURDANCE, 2020
M. Carmen Lane......................................................... 216
73. TOBARON WAXMAN, FEAROFABEARDEDPLANET, 2007–PRESENT
David Evans Frantz.................................................... 218
74. VERO MAJANO, BROWN AMY, AND KARI ORVIK, THE Q-SIDES, 2015
Marcel Pardo Ariza.................................................... 222
75. CARMEN SELAM, SWITCHDANCE, 2022
Hank Cooper............................................................... 224
76. YOUNG JOON KWAK, HERMAPHRODITUS’S REVEAL II, 2017
Leah DeVun................................................................ 226
77. BRANDY BASURTO, EMMA YESICA DUVALI, CÉSAR GONZÁLEZ-AGUIRRE, TERRY HOLIDAY,
ERICK MOLINA, SAMUEL NICOLLE, AND MARÍA PONCE, CLOTHINGHOSPITAL, 2022
César González-Aguirre............................................ 228
TRACES
78. “ARTIFACTS” FROM THE STONEWALL RIOTS, n.d.
Chris E. Vargas........................................................... 234
79. KEIOUI KEIJAUN THOMAS, MEMORIESONCOTTON ANDSUGARCANERECEIPTS, 2022
Uri McMillan............................................................... 236
80. BAPTISMAL REGISTER OF MISSION SAN JOSÉ, SEPTEMBER 2, 1797–NOVEMBER 17, 1830
Deborah A. Miranda................................................... 238
81. LYNN EDWARD HARRIS’S DRIVER’S LICENSES, 1977 AND 1981
Hans Lindahl.............................................................. 240
82. EMMETT RAMSTAD, PUBEFILE, 2012–22
Maxe Crandall............................................................. 242
83. LOU SULLIVAN’S JOURNALS, c. 1960s–91
Emji Saint Spero........................................................ 244
84. JAMIE DIAZ, THE NAKED TRUTH, JUNE 27, 2020
Jamie Diaz and Gabriel Joffe................................... 248
85. STERILIZATION RECOMMENDATION LETTER FOR MARIA RAMIREZ, JULY 1, 1940
Alexandra Minna Stern............................................. 252
86. CASSILS, PISSED, 2017
David J. Getsy............................................................. 254
87. MILLIE WILSON, FAUVE SEMBLANT: PETER (A YOUNG ENGLISH GIRL), 1989
Millie Wilson............................................................... 256
SPACES
88. GLITS 1 SOUTH, 2020–PRESENT
Harron Walker............................................................ 260
89. MARK AGUHAR, LITANIESTOMY HEAVENLY BROWN BODY, 2011
Mark Aguhar and Bishakh Som............................... 262
90. “CAMP TRANS: FOR HUMYN-BORN HUMYNS” SIGN, 1994
Michelle Tea................................................................ 264
91. BEVERLY SHAW’S STAR SIGN, c. 1950s
Bobbie Hughes............................................................ 268
92. VIRGINIA PRINCE, TRANSVESTIA, 1960–86
Ms. Bob Davis and Dallas Denny............................. 270
93. AMOS MAC AND ROCCO KAYIATOS, ORIGINALPLUMBING, 2009–19
Jamison Green............................................................ 272
94. CHRISTOPHER LEE, ALLEYOFTHETRANNYBOYS, 1998
Cáel M. Keegan.......................................................... 274
95. GIUSEPPE CAMPUZANO, MUSEO TRAVESTI DEL PERÚ, 2003–13
Miguel A. López.......................................................... 276
96. ABSOLUTE EMPRESS III SHIRLEY, FELT BANNER USED TO REPRESENT THE GRAND MERE, ABSOLUTE EMPRESS I DE SAN FRANCISCO AND THE WIDOW NORTON, JOSÉ JULIO SARRIA, THE NIGHTINGALE EMPRESS, c. 1965
Tina Valentin Aguirre............................................... 278
97. EL ARCHIVO DE LA MEMORIA TRANS ARGENTINA, 2012–PRESENT
Luisa Paz, Beatriz Evelyn Silva, and Kouka Garcia de Mesureur 280
98. IMPERIAL LODGE OF ELKS IN PARISISBURNING, 1990
Sydney Baloue............................................................ 284
99. WU TSANG, THEFISTISSTILLUP, 2010
Raquel Gutiérrez........................................................ 286
APPENDIX
MOTHA CHRONOLOGY: 2013–PRESENT
Sage Ballard de la Bastida................................................. 288
ACKNOWLEDGMENTS.................................................... 294
CONTRIBUTOR BIOGRAPHIES..................................... 296
CREDITS AND PERMISSIONS....................................... 303
* Interior of Cover and Section Dividers: Edie Fake
** Cover and Drawings of Objects: Chris E. Vargas