Feminine Men Not Wanted | First Person #5 | PBS Digital Studios

In the fifth episode of PBS Digital Studios' First Person, “Feminine Men Not Wanted”, host Kristin Russo talks with artist and drag performer, Donald Shorter, creator, writer and star of the one-woman show, GENDEROSITY, about his experience as a gender non-conforming gay man, misogyny and hyper-masculinity among gay men, gay sex apps and more,

In addition to his work on GENDEROSITY, Shorter’s resume as a performer includes dancing with Bill T Jones/Arnie Zane Dance Company and touring with Broadway productions such as Hairspray, A Chorus Line, and La Cage Aux Folles.

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Brought to you by PBS Digital Studios and WNET Interactive Engagement Group. Special thanks to Donald Shorter. Find more about him and GENDEROSITY:


Filmed in the Starr Studio at WNET.

Edited at YouTube Space NY.

Executive Producers: Daniel B. Greenberg & Joe Harrell
Producer, DP, Editor: Meredith Heil
Host and Producer: Kristin Russo
Associate Producer, Art Director: Casey de Pont
2nd Camera: Eric Olson
Lauren Witte, Production Assistant
Intern: Marc Baill

Mix + Original Theme Music: Joanna Katcher
Mixed at Nice Manners

Help us caption & translate this video!

[FredC]

Just be yourself. Pretending to be what you're not creates too much stress.

[johnnj]

As a masculine male, I'm completely attracted to the feminine persona, both male and trans women.

[treesandhoney]

OMG these episodes just keep getting better and better...thank you so much for producing these. I believe in the good things coming.

[capnmochi]

Keep these fantastic episodes coming, I am enjoying this series so much!

[DamianAhmadi]

I've seen this is an ever-present problem within the gay male community that fem guys are just... depreciated, and even blamed for the homophobia against gay guys. I don't know about violence, but there's a lot to see from the language and, imho, it all roots from mysogeny.

[canttouchdylan]

Kristin Russo is such a cutie! Love this channel and can't wait to see more - keep up the good work!

[jasminejones]

Folks need to leave these men alone. If some men are feminine let them be OK. Don't let anyone tell y'all otherwise .feminine men are really just being who they are.

[eerbrev]

Great episode! Donald seems like an amazing person!

[snowwin]

thank you i love watching this show!!! what about an episode about being agender?

[hadarpepperstone]

YES YES YES PLEASE AN EPISODE ON ASEXUALITY!!! Maybe you could talk to the creator of AVEN? I don't really know about many other people.

[AERZTElalelu]

I love your show, it's absolutely amazing and you talk about so much important stuff! Everytime I learn sth new, thanks for enlightening me :)
Recently I accidently stumbled over your tumblr, so that combines pretty well now ^.^

[firstpersonpbs]

Let us know what you think of our latest episode, Feminine Men Not Wanted, with drag performer Donald Shorter.

[echojardini]

Thanks for this episode! It really helped me to understand drag better. I've always been a little uncomfortable with drag because it seems unfair that people can put on other genders when I rarely get seen as my own gender (because I'm trans). But the way Donald explains it as playing with gender presentation and expressing gender in a different way makes a lot more sense.

[stonebitchblues]

Kama La mackerel recently gave a talk called 'From Thick Skin to Fierce Femme Armour: On Femme of Color Art, Organizing and Resistance!'   She blew my mind, and I think would give an amazing interview, as she focuses on the issues and resilience of trans women of color.

[Sparky]

Love the series and I'm SO EXCITED about the upcoming asexual feature! David Jay is great, but he's shared his story already, and for many, he's almost a celebrity. I'll throw a new name out--YouTuber Dearlie. She's a singer/songwriter who identifies as asexual. Personally I'd like to see her speak about her experience being a creator and speaking her truth in a non-asexual world.

[maryann]

Hi! I love the video and I'd really like to share it with my friends. Since I live in germany, some of my friends can't understand english that well. So how about subtitles with translations into different languages so more people can be reached? If you want, I can make a german translation for you.

[inoclasism]

If I wanted a girl I'd go get one.

[trapsoul]

I am gay because I like men, normal regular men, not men in makeup or a dress.

[justjen]

Who else thought that was funky dineva?

[funkielocs]

This was a very good episode and I enjoyed it. could you talk about alternative black girls who identify as LGBTQ. I would love to hear it.