Drag may be under fire today by the enforcers of “family values,” but in the early 1900s female impersonators were the mainstay of family entertainment — on the vaudeville stage and the silver screen. Julian Eltinge, largely forgotten today, was hailed as America's greatest female impersonator at that time, entertaining audiences in the United States and Europe with perfect displays of feminine grace and manners.

In a conversation with journalist David Hunt, historian Andrew L. Erdman, author of "Beautiful: The Story of Julian Eltinge, America's Greatest Female Impersonator," shares fascinating insights into Eltinge's unique ability to engage audiences with his charismatic and boundary-pushing performances. Erdman explains how Eltinge's portrayals of women offered a thrilling yet non-transgressive lens through which audiences, especially men, could rethink societal norms.

As we trace Eltinge's transition from vaudeville to the silver screen, we uncover the challenges he faced in an evolving cultural landscape post-World War I. The shifting societal views on gender and sexuality, along with the decline of vaudeville, posed significant hurdles for his career. Yet, Eltinge's legacy remains an intriguing chapter in entertainment history.

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David Hunt is an Emmy-winning journalist and documentary producer who has reported on America's culture wars since the 1970s. Explore his blog, Tell Me, David.

The United States Supreme Court heard oral arguments on December 4, 2024, in a case that could decide whether transgender youth are protected by the Constitution’s promise of equal protection. Although the case seems to stand on shaky ground before the high court’s conservative majority, a transgender attorney arguing the case stood firm. Chase Strangio of the ACLU made history as the first transgender attorney to argue before the Supreme Court, challenging Tennessee's ban on gender-affirming health care for minors.

In this episode, transgender rights attorney David Brown unpacks the potential ramifications of this landmark case and explores some of the court's options. As we dissect the court's deliberations, we focus on the probing questions from Justice Ketanji Brown Jackson, who exposed the state's conflicting justifications for banning gender-affirming care.

In the program's second half, Kathie Moehlig, executive director of TransFamily Support Services, discusses the struggle for gender-affirming care in America, where 26 states have banned the treatment. Families face the harsh reality of relocating to "sanctuary" states for their transgender children's medical needs — if they can afford it. Listen in to gain insights into the emotional and legal landscapes families navigate and the pressing challenge of ensuring health care access for all transgender youth nationwide.

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David Hunt is an Emmy-winning journalist and documentary producer who has reported on America's culture wars since the 1970s. Explore his blog, Tell Me, David.

Meet Jimmy and Megan, a North Carolina couple who may be forced to move their family out of state to safeguard their nonbinary child's health. The Republican-dominated North Carolina legislature passed a series of laws targeting trans and nonbinary youth in 2023. One of those laws bans gender-affirming health care for children. Jimmy and Megan's middle child, who is nonbinary, may need puberty blockers in the next few years. With that option outlawed in North Carolina, the family is looking at other states, where gender-affirming care is protected. But moving means leaving behind friends and family members, a heartbreaking prospect for the family.

In an audio feature for This Way Out: The International LGBTQ Radio Magazine, Jimmy and Megan discuss their life in Raleigh, the new state laws targeting trans and nonbinary youth, and their efforts to help their child understand and express their gender.

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David Hunt is an Emmy-winning journalist and documentary producer who has reported on America's culture wars since the 1970s. Explore his blog, Tell Me, David.