We Love City Paper's Cover Story. That's Why We Did It In April.
City Paper has a great cover story this week, about T. Desiree Hines, a transsexual African-American female organist. Carolyn Huckabay's story is well-written, and has great photographs. So credit where it's due.
But we'd be a teeny bit remiss if we didn't let you know that Philadelphia Weekly had the story first. Our April Q&A with Hines was featured in our queer issue.
An excerpt:
And now that you’re in the profession, are things easier?
“The organ is primarily associated with Caucasian houses of worship, and is predominantly played by Caucasian men. Being unique in the field as African-American and open and out as a transwoman has its hurdles. It’s almost as though the pot calls the kettle black because most of those Caucasian men are gay and they’re closeted. I run into them sometimes when I’m having drinks at Knock or Bump and it’s a very insular community and they’re not very friendly. The younger generation, we have a much lighter sense of being. The fact that we can be proud and be out and say, ‘If this church doesn’t want to hire me, fuck you, I’ll find someone that will.’ There have been hurdles to jump through, but someone’s got to so other people won’t have them.”
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1. "cp staff" said... on May 28, 2009 at 11:13AM
“Yes, well played, "PW staff." Congrats on your Q&A (one comment!) a full month before her festival. I can see why you'd want to remind people about it.
BTW, the link to your piece actually goes to ours. Hmmmm.”
2. joeldermole said... on May 28, 2009 at 11:20AM
“Doh!”
3. Cyn DerBlock said... on May 28, 2009 at 11:28AM
“Normally i hate idea-biting, but Desiree's story needs all the exposure it can get--she is a warm, wonderful woman making strides in a profession and country that deems her an outsider. The trans community is arguably the least understood or sympathized-with spectrum of LGBT members in society; the more we can show the world the real people behind the initials, the better.
so kudos for at least linking the citypaper story. stop whining that someone else expanded a much-needed-to-be-shared topic that you happened to devote one page to a month ago. Forest for the trees.”