Mariette Pathy Allen - Transformations: Crossdressers...

1990, English, Mariette Pathy Allen, USA,

Full title: "Transformations: Crossdressers and Those Who Love Them" by Mariette Pathy Allen.

According to Mariette Pathy Allen's website, Mariette Pathy Allen has been photographing the transgender community for over 40 years. Through her artistic practice, she has been a pioneering force in gender consciousness, contributing to numerous cultural and academic publications about gender variance and lecturing throughout the globe.

Her first book "Transformations: Crossdressers and Those Who Love Them" was groundbreaking in its investigation of a misunderstood community. Her second book "The Gender Frontier" is a collection of photographs, interviews, and essays covering political activism, youth, and the range of people that identify as transgender in mainland USA. It won the 2004 Lambda Literary Award in the Transgender/Genderqueer category. Daylight Books has published Mariette’s books, “TransCuba” in 2014, and her new book "Transcendents: Spirit Mediums in Burma and Thailand" in 2017.

In 2023, I interviewed Mariette and asked her about the photos included in this book: "I was one of the first people to photograph gender-diverse people in the daylight of everyday life, as relatable human beings rather than freaks. People who were beginning to be political activists wanted to be photographed and included in “Transformations: Crossdressers and Those Who Love Them” because they wanted to change the way they were seen by society. When the book came out, they felt comfortable showing it to their parents, wives, and even strangers. They finally had a book that showed them in a positive way." 

"Monika: You have mentioned parents and wives. Some photos present gender-variant people with their spouses and children in the middle of everyday situations. Was it intentional?

Mariette: My goal was to present crossdressers as relatable people so showing them with their partners, family members, and friends was important."

"Monika: “Transformations: Crossdressers and Those Who Love Them” (1989) includes photos of 30 crossdressers and transgender people that you took in 1978-89. How did you carry out the selection process? Was there any key behind why you chose specific photos?

Mariette: I had a number of criteria: good photographs, stories that presented a range of people and their lives so that outsiders couldn’t assume gender-expansive people were all the same, and finally, if I had a good rapport with them."

Available via Amazon

Heroines of My Life

and mariettepathyallen.com

1st photo via atlantavintagebooks.com

2nd photo via biblio.com