Ladybeard: a ‘transhairstorical’ story

[Shana A]

Ladybeard: a 'transhairstorical' story

http://www.thescavenger.net/queer/ladybeard-a-transhairstorical-story-transgender-85732.html

Bastian Phelan Fox decided to grow facial hair while still identifying as a woman. After creating the zine Ladybeard they received some unexpected reactions. Bastian reflects on what it means to transgress the gender binary as a bearded lady and now, as a bearded boi.

I started growing my beard in December 2009 when I first moved away from my family home to a new city. The beard began as a moustache, which was no stranger to my face, having come and gone over the years.

The beard, however, was new. Not because it hadn't been possible, but because I had been keeping it at bay for 10 years. It began as stubble – I had been shaving my face for several months in between laser hair removal.