Just out., August 01, 2008, Page 43, Image 43

justputi«
a singer, Klipp founded San
Francisco Bay Area Artist
Development and Support
to help others reach their
artistic ambitions. He also
holds a law degree; sits on
the board of directors for
Youth Speaks, a poetry and
"So far, the general public seems more willing to accept me as a
man and an artist than they are with my talented trans women
musician colleagues," says Joshua Klipp.
spoken word organization;
and is the artistic director of San Francisco’s pop­
tional exposure. 1 definitely am recognized on the
ular Freeplay Dance Crew.
streets far more than before. Sometimes I even get
Joking he’ll know he’s made it “when 1 can
pay for health insurance from my music-related
hugged by complete strangers, which is odd, but
strangely I don’t mind.”
income,” Klipp adds: “There are days 1 feel like
Klipp also garnered the attention of Cho, who
I’ve made it just booking a couple gigs, reaching
has a special amour for trans men. “Margaret was
out to a few people, seeing my music video on TV.
great,” he raves. “I didn’t realize how incredibly
Maybe I’m not on the cover of Rolling Stone, but
supportive of the trans community she was until
I’m having a good time being a musician. And
she asked me to do the video with her. Here’s this
that’s really what it’s about for me.”
big-time celeb...and she singles out LGBT artists to
Still, Klipp worried that the world wasn’t
ready “for a guy like me,” and initially expected
spend her ‘spare time’ making music videos for them.
I can’t thank her enough. She’s a hero to me.”
he wouldn’t reach mainstream success as an
For 2009, Klipp is working with his co-writer,
openly trans musician. Since then, “all kinds of
openly gay producer Kristopher Cloud, on an al­
people from around the world have contacted
bum. He also hopes to record a compilation CD of
me—gay, straight, trans, you name it.... [Now] it
queer musicians, collaborate with a major main­
seems more plausible that a trans musician could
stream artist and, of course, do more touring.
make it big, maybe even sooner than I thought.
But now, fresh from headlining EuroPride in
It’s probably going to take a longer time for a trans
Stockholm, Sweden, he is excited to launch his
woman musician to make it. So far, the general
short tour of the Northwest.
public seems more willing to accept me as a man
Despite all of the attention his work has gotten,
and an artist than they are with my talented trans
Klipp insists: “Nothing means more to me than a
women musician colleagues.”
message from someone who says I’ve made a posi­
Believing that trans musicians are already
tive impact on their lives. I’ve had the incredible
changing the music industry by challenging no­
privilege of not only getting to make music, but to
tions and expectations about gender, Klipp still
do it in a way that effects positive change in the
cautions other trans musicians. “If you put the
world. No matter what else happens...! feel in­
‘trans’ in front of the music, then that’s what peo­
credibly fortunate to have experienced what I’ve
experienced so far. ■©
ple will want to talk about. Keep strong boundar­
ies with the press: I don’t hear them asking Be­
yonce about what’s in her pants!”
J oshua K lipp performs during Eugene/
Klipp learned the latter from The Tyra Banks
Springfield Pride 8 p.m. Aug. 9 at Alton
Show. “The producers were very well-educated on
Baker Park in Eugene and 9 p.m. Aug. 12 at
trans issues and largely respected the fact 1 wouldn’t
Mississippi Pizza Pub, 3552 N. Mississippi
talk about certain topics, but when it came time
Ave. Won’t Stop Now is available via CD
to tape the show, anything went. I had to stand
Baby and iTunes. For more information visit
my ground and not feel pressured into answering
www.myspace.com/cutelittlewhiteguy.
questions 1 didn’t want to answer—which was sur­
prisingly [difficult]...sitting on a couch next to a
Trans writer J acob A nderson -M inshall co­
6-foot supermodel with 10 cameras trained on me
authors the Blind Eye mystery series and co-hosts
in front of a live studio audience.”
Q Literati —a queer lit event held every second
Of course it wasn’t all bad. “As an artist,”
Klipp recognizes, “you can’t buy that kind of na­
Wednesday at Q Center—with his co-pilot in
life and love, Curve magazine editor Diane.
State-of-the-art VIDEO ARCADE
100 channels of all new releases
New DVDs starting at $4.99
72-hour rentals
Toys, novelties, magazines and more ...
Paradise Video
Upscale Adult Video Store
503.255.9414
14712 SE Stark Street, Portland • Open 24/7 • Over 18 only
PDXSEX fact: m2m syphilis rates dropped last year
STD Clinic 503.988.3700
CHOOSE WHAT WORKS FOR YOU: learn • protect • test • treat
[need to tell a partner about a positive test? try www.inspot.org/portland] i