**EXCLUSIVE INTERVIEW**

Interviewed By Meghan Chavalier

There are so many great things I could say about Miss Gina Lance. I've known Gina Lance for almost 13 years. When I was first starting out in my career Gina had a television show called TV TV and she had me on as a guest and after that interview Gina promoted me everywhere she possibly could and I owe her a huge debt of gratitude.

Gina Lance has been an activist for the Transgender Community for many years, and has always been supportive of everyone in our community. She has brought many vital issues to the the Transgender Community through her television shows, magazines and fantastic websites. She recently released a new book called "Get Dressed! Breaking Out Of The Crossdressing Closet." She is outspoken and honest and I am so happy she is doing this interview for our website and I am honored to call her a dear friend.

Ladies and Gentlemen Miss Gina Lance...

 

I've known you for almost 13 years Gina and I've always found your work with the Transgender Community inspiring. What was the main reason you decided to become so active in the Transgender Community?

Well first Meghan, thank you for the great intro. I was so impressed with your comments and praise that I thought I was reading about someone else! You are a beautiful intellectual lady and a true friend!

Two things influenced my life as a transgendered person and why I do what I do. First – I come from an entertainment background so I’m always wanting to do something fun, entertaining, enlightening and project oriented. When I first came out as a crossdresser I knew there had to be more for me than hanging out at a nightclub once or twice a week – to me that was BORING! Secondly, most TG publications that existed in the 1990’s (and still exist) were either crap or just plain dull. I always believed that we should be able to have a classy publication about ‘us’, which could sit on a newsstand shelf and show us out and about and proud. Not just sitting home alone, or as a strictly sexual object. Not that either of those is wrong, but I wanted to show people (and other TG’s) that we could do anything we wanted to do while fitting completely into society. I think I achieved that with GIRL TALK Magazine in print, and now with TG LIFE on the net.

 

Where did you grow up?

I grew up in Penfield, New York which is a suburb of Rochester – upstate. Think snow belt and cold winters along with equally humid summers. That’s why I haven’t been there to visit for many years – I hate the weather. As a child I think my brother and I would watch each other sweat as a summer hobby! Or else freeze everyday coming home from school in the winter.

 

Did you always know you were transgender?

I remember investigating my mother’s lingerie drawers as young as four or five, and it grew from there. I hid my crossdressing for many years of my life, like most of us do, because of fear. And as I preach to people now, the fear is generally only within you. Once you face your fears, and throw away the guilt, you can become a whole, complete, happy person. Sure, many people face outer fears from other members of the public depending upon the location they live in, but I truly believe that the major fears we face as TG’s are within ourselves.

 

What fears did you have before you started your transition?

Well I’m a crossdresser and not a transsexual so my transitioning was basically one in accepting myself, and then getting to realize my dreams. I call myself a textbook crossdresser who really enjoys my male side and female side.

 

After transitioning, what did you realize about those fears that were reality and then the ones that were not?

The biggest fear I had was guilt – why I wanted to dress in women’s clothes. Back in the dark ages (before the Internet) there wasn’t a lot out there, information wise, and so I felt very alone. When I finally did start dressing and going out and meeting others the guilt disappeared. Because I have a background in rock n’roll, and had long hair and played in bands at a young age, I had put up with being harassed by some people years ago. So as a TG the occasional slur made by some ignorant freak rolled off my back – much easier than it does for some. I guess after I had been out really only a short while I became pretty fearless in the fact that I brought my entertainment background into my transgendered life. I’ve always thought that we, as TG’s, should be seen as just another segment of society as a whole, so I just dove in and created a television show, calendars, an international magazine and now a huge News/Entertainment Web
Magazine (with my partner Brianna Austin).

 

You've had an amazing career with television shows, magazines and websites. What made you decide to bring Gina Lance to the world through multimedia?

Like I mentioned before, boredom to me is sitting on a barstool at a gay or TG nightclub and thinking ‘is that all there is’. I just couldn’t do that. I had to do something that I thought was fun and entertaining and immersed myself with projects. Only as time passed did I realize I was helping a great many others by being a positive force and my outlook was altered. Now I really feel it is my job to help others in any way I can.

You are very active in the political side of our community which is really fantastic, what awards and honors you've received are you most proud of?

I’ve received a few awards but the one I’m most proud of is for my help with Aid For Aids in Los Angeles. I think they are a fantastic group. I’ve also worked in conjunction with APAIT (Asian Pacific Aids Intervention Team) when I published GIRL TALK Magazine – another great group of people.

 

What was your reaction to the re-banning of Gay Marriage in California in the recent election?

Another example of stupid religious zealots who are non-thinking homophobes getting to vote.

First off, I’m not big on organized religion and all of the offshoot overly zealous religious groups out there. Many bend the words of the bible to whatever point they want to say, often ignoring the rights of others. For example: I’ve known many born again Christians, and I have to admit that every one I’ve known personally is an idiot. If Jesus was to appear again on earth, he’d probably kick them all in the ass.

I think gay people should have the same rights as straight people – no more, no less. Sexual preference and how you are born has nothing to do with a person’s goodness, or their character, or the love they possess.

 

What do you think the LGBT Community needs to do to gain equality and civil rights?

I think they need to keep showing the world that they are the recognized talent and force that you and I know we are. Laws can be mandated but laws can be broken. If people’s spirits can’t be broken, acceptance will come over time.

 

What can the Transgender Community do to stop the infighting within our own community?

We, like most other loosely knit groups or ‘communities’ have too many members that are constantly complaining or deriding other members. I was just one of the keynote speakers at the Kansas City Fall Harvest TG Convention and at the Southern Comfort Conference in Atlanta which were both attended by crossdressers, TV’s and Transsexuals – every part of our community. There was no in fighting there that I saw. I think many of these complainers sit at their computers way too long and are self righteously annointed by themselves. If we accept one another and realize this is a loose knit group to begin with, we’d get along a whole lot better. Many crossdressers get offended when they are referred to as drag queens or transsexuals and vice versa. I just call everyone a TG – if you don’t like it, too bad – send me an email. But to me one term to include all of us, if we really are a group, seems to be more logical
to me. Tell yourself you’re whatever, but tell others you are transgendered.

How do you feel the world perceives the Transgender Community today compared to say 10 years ago?

I don’t know about the world but I think in the U.S., the last ten years have made a world of difference regarding TG acceptance. And being a media person I think this has occurred mostly due to television and films. Here’s my analogy: 20 - 30 years ago on television sitcoms and in films, a gay character always lived down the hall from the principle characters of the show. You knew he was gay because he was a florist and effeminate and everyone snickered when he would appear on screen. Those days are long gone. Now gay characters are leads in most every show on television. Instead, we now have minor TG characters popping up, taking the place of the effeminate florist of yesteryear.

When the writers of the Drew Carey Show several years back made his television brother a crossdresser, that enlightened a lot of non TG people, believe it or not. When you could laugh with the character, and Drew and his friends just treated him as the brother who liked to dress up, a lot of America’s television audience got their first glimpse of the relative who crossdressed. And because it was treated as perfectly normal most of the time by the show’s other characters, it became acceptable to a lot more people.

In general, I don’t think people’s opinions change quickly about any given group, except over a long period of time. Most discriminated groups only became accepted when members of that group became more visible doing extraordinary things.

What projects are you currently working on?

Well other than being Editor-in-Chief of www.tglife.com, a large News/Entertainment TG website, and promoting my new book GET DRESSED!, I just spoke at 3 conventions within 30 days. I was a Keynote Speaker at the Southern Comfort Conference in Atlanta and also at the Fall Harvest TG convention in Kansas City. I do promotion for the companies Suddenly Fem, Smart Cover Cosmetics and the Breast Form Store. And I am currently working with another company to bring out a signature line of cosmetics for crossdressers, along with a step-by-step instructional DVD so ‘girls’ at home can get a bit more glamorous!

 

Your website is amazing can you tell us a little more about the concept behind it?

TGLIFE is by, for and about the trans community, FREE, and has content of interest regardless of where you fall on the gender spectrum. We have a dozen columnists as well as guest contributors, news and the largest trans and trans-friendly events list on the web. But the strength of the site will come in our next generation, with tools that we are working on behind the scenes now that will essentially allow the members themselves and the advertisers to build their own interactive world: new ways to connect, buy and sell products and services, and be rewarded for participating.

 

Will there be another television show in the future?

In the past year and a half I’ve done some videos for YouTube that have been seen by an immense audience. I’ve wanted to do something more expansive and for years a producer I know has spoken to LOGO and a few other networks. But here’s the problem; most gay networks or productions companies only see drag as a medium that their audiences will watch. And I mean drag queens - not crossdressers or transsexuals. That’s about it. When I produced TV TV in Los Angeles in 1997, many of our audience members were gay men who thought watching crossdressers with low voices like mine was a real hoot. I know this because they told me. Unfortunately many gay owned and gay run companies aren’t quite as in tune with their audience as they think are.

I know exactly what I want to do and there is some talk that maybe it will be possible for 2009 – I’ll keep you clued in. I need a co-host!

 

What do you like to do when you're not working?

Well first of all I am one of those crazy people that loves my work. I have been called a workaholic but when you truly love what you do it’s hard to slow down sometimes. But I love films – I worked in the business for a while and love watching a great, well made film. I also love cheesy low budget crap for a good laugh. I like all kinds of music and played drums professionally for 16 years. I even was a touring member of a reformed Gary Lewis and the Playboys years ago – remembered for the pop classics ‘This Diamond Ring’ and ‘Count Me In’.

I really enjoy work when I’m going out and meeting and talking with people because that makes it fun. I have evolved, I believe, into a reassuring voice to those coming out of the TG closet.

I also dabble in the antique business to get my mind clear. I love to go out treasure hunting and I do possess a large amount of knowledge of useless facts which helps me to find some treasures that others often overlook.

 

Can you tell our readers something about you that would surprise them?

My hair was purchased – I am not a natural blond.

What are the three most important things in your life?

First: My brother who has always stood by me no matter what crazy endeavor I created. Second; the image I have created for myself ( I just won’t do certain TV shows or accept advertisers for TG LIFE that I don’t like – I do have scruples) and thirdly, my friendships I have built with people like you!

 

Where do you see yourself 10 years from now?

President of the United States. I’m a good community organizer but I do lack political experience – of course, that’s getting to be a plus in current times. I always need bigger closets and the White House might work just fine, there appears to be lots of room there. I’m not bad at press interviews and I do work well with people from foreign countries. I know some martial arts which might be to my advantage at the UN from what I’ve seen. And I get great compliments on my legs which would tend to give me the upper hand when dealing with ruthless politicians and enemy dictators.

 

If you could describe your life in one sentence what would it be?

How about one word – Amazing. I’ve been a musician playing for thousands of people and toured the country; I’ve acted on television and in films as my male self. I’ve written comedy for television. I’ve been on television and hundreds of radio shows as my TG self doing interviews. Most importantly, I do believe I’ve helped a great many people by just telling the truth and helping them in turn, find themselves.

Despite the many ups and down, I’ve had a ball and wouldn’t change a minute of it. Well maybe a few minutes of it!

 

If you could offer young transgender women and men any advice what would it be?

Forget the Fear, Drop the Guilt and treat your transgendered side as a Huge Gift!

 

I want to thank you so much for doing this interview Gina. You are an amazing person, and someone that our community can look up to, and it's an honor to know you.

Thank YOU so much! Meghan, not to blow up your skirt, but when I mention some of the smartest , most forward thinking, TG’s I know, it’s a short list and your name is right at the top. I’ve always thought you were brainy and beautiful! Thank you so much for having me here and I hope I didn’t ruffle too many feathers.

I want to invite all of your readers to come and visit TG LIFE – www.tglife.com Our columnists are as varied as our readership – crossdressers, TV’s, drag queens and transsexuals. We even throw in some medical advice from straight doctors to spice it up! And TG LIFE is FREE to all readers – no membership charges.

I also think many of your readers might enjoy my new book – GET DRESSED! Breaking Out of the Crossdressing Closet. I won’t guarantee it will save the earth or grow you a new head of hair, but it might just make you feel a whole lot better about being your TG self. It’s available at www.ginalance.com for a signed copy and www.amazon.com among other locations.