Jenn Dolari @dolari@driveinsaturday.org

In 1945, a woman named Lucy Hicks Anderson was arrested for the crime of marrying her husband, Reuben Anderson, a soldier in the US Army.

Lucy Lawson seemingly always knew exactly who she was. In 1886, a beautiful black baby was born to Bill and Nancy Lawson of Waddy, KY. While this child was identified as male, she insisted that she was a girl. She chose the name Lucy and informed her parents that she would be wearing dresses to school.

At this point in history, the term 'transgender' had not yet been coined, and public knowledge about trans people was sadly lacking. Confounded, her mother and father took her to see the local doctor who advised them to raise her as they would any other little girl. Bill and Nancy did just that. And by all accounts, Lucy's childhood and school years were uneventful and happy.

At age 15, Lucy left home, taking domestic work to support herself, then moved west, first to Texas then to New Mexico where she married her first husband, a man named Clarence Hicks, in Silver City, NM. The couple settled in Oxnard, CA, a wealthy community about an hour up the coast from Los Angeles. There, Lucy's culinary skills opened doors for her, and she began to cater elaborate parties for Oxnard's rich and elite. Her rolls and fruitcakes reportedly won many local contests and awards. Lucy worked diligently and tirelessly, and saved nearly every penny she earned from her employment as a domestic worker, a nanny, and a cook. And in 1920, at the age of 34, Lucy managed to save enough to purchase business property — a local brothel.

Lucy's brothel operated between 1920 and 1933, a period in American history known as Prohibition. During this time, selling alcohol was illegal. But as a brothel madam, Lucy had already skipped merrily over the lines of propriety, so she served her customers alcohol anyway.

In 1929, Lucy divorced Clarence Hicks. Not much is known about her marriage or divorce to Clarence, so we can infer that the separation was mutual and uncontested by either party. Lucy kept her business, and kept bootlegging alcohol.

She was busted a few times, but her numerous social connections with wealthy socialites allowed her to avoid any aggressive prosecution. Rumor has it that one wealthy banker even posted her bail so that she could cater his party that evening.

In 1944, Lucy fell in love a second time. At 58 years old, she met and married the love of her life, Reuben Anderson. Reuben was a soldier stationed in Long Island, NY. But their happiness was not to last.

Just one year after their marriage, a sailor claimed he had caught a venereal disease from one of the women at Lucy's brothel. At that time, the law required all sex workers to undergo a medical examination, and the Ventura County examiner insisted on including Lucy. It was at this time that her trans identity was revealed, and subsequently made public. He chose to put her on trial for perjury, arguing that she lied on her marriage licence, impersonated a woman, and stole VA benefits to which military spouses were entitled. After the story ran in a small Pacific coast newspaper, Time Magazine ran an article on Lucy, exposing her as a trans woman to the entire nation.

During her trial, Lucy stated in her defense, "I defy any doctor in the world to prove that I am not a woman. I have lived, dressed, acted just what I am, a woman". However, the court convicted both her and Reuben of perjury, and they were both sentenced to incarceration in a male prison. Lucy in particular was court ordered not to wear women's clothes.

Reuben and Lucy's relationship survived these indignities, somehow. After serving ten long years in a male penitentiary, Lucy and her beloved Reuben retired to Los Angeles, where they quietly lived out the remainder of their lives together. At age 68, Lucy Hicks Anderson died and was mourned by all who knew her.

Lucy Hicks Anderson was not an activist. She was not even known as a trans woman for the vast majority of her life. She simply wanted to live her life, love her loves, and pursue the projects and interests that made her happy. Lucy wanted only one thing out of life, and that was to be the woman she knew herself to be. And it turns out she was willing to fight for that.

Tell our stories.
#PRIDE #TransHistory

TIL: Ray Bradbury wrote Fahrenheit 451 on a coin-operated typewriter he found in the basement of UCLA's Powell Library:

“So, exhilarated, I got a bag of dimes and settled into the room, and in nine days I spent $9.80 and wrote my story; in other words, it was a dime novel,” Bradbury said.

Source: http://magazine.ucla.edu/exclusives/from-dimes-to-fareinheit-451/ (via Neatorama: https://www.neatorama.com/2024/06/09/Ray-Bradbury-Wrote-Fahrenheit-451-on-a-Coin-Operated-Typewriter/)

#ScienceFiction #RayBradbury #SFF #scifi #humor #humour #typewriter #typewriters

I do not know the author but could not agree more.

Excuse me, I can't eat any more of your breadcrumbs right now, I have to take this case.

#GoingLive with #DuckDetective: The Secret Salami NOW at https://twitch.tv/fadedoasis

#Stream #Streaming #SmallStreamer #ClosedCaptions #IndieGames #IndieGame

"I don't want the world, I just want your half." - TMBG

My cousin is staying with me tonight on her way cross-country. She calls me from a turnpike rest area to tell me her car is making a noise, but “some guy who was smoking the whole time” diagnosed it, told her what part she needs to replace, and told her she’d be safe to complete her drive.

…that’s a really specific kind of fae that I had forgot existed.

So apparently the city of Portland is giving away free air conditioners this summer? You have to qualify under a household income threshold but it looks like you've got at least a 1 in 3 change of qualifying https://www.kgw.com/article/news/local/portland-free-air-conditioning-units-311/283-24361b3a-f195-4c31-82d6-481a6533345e

lesbox

Do I need to fear for my life because some of you refuse to vote for Biden? Trump is talking about prosecuting opponents; Bill Barr said Trump often spoke of executing rivals, and some of Trump's advisors talk of executing journalists.

I'm an old(or), white man fighting for the rights of women, people of color and the LGBTQ community. I'm vocal. If Trump wins, is my freedom or life in danger?

You are free to be upset at Biden over his policies, but PLEASE don't ignore what this election means.

#StarTrek

I learned today via a mainframe group I'm part of that Lynn Conway has passed away at age 86.

She was an absolute legend in computing, and led an inspiring, authentic life.

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Lynn_Conway

So true!