Content Advisory: Sexism / Genderism, Transphobia, Physical Violence, Suicide / Suicidality, Drug and Alcohol Use, Medical Oppression, Loss / Grief, Sexual Content
Roe Blumenstein (2nd from right) and friends Taxi during her first beauty contest, hugging her friend the late Sugar Belane. New York City, New York, 1997. Photo Courtesy of Roe Blumenstein.
Roe Blumenstein at 17 years old, hanging out at the Time Square Bar when Time Square was the Deuce. New York City, New York, 1977. Photo Courtesy of Roe Blumenstein.
Roe Blumenstein on stage at the Grape Vine Disco in a silver corset and matching elbow gloves. Roe shares that “the late Ms Lynda Roberts made me that corset. She took me in at age 17 & taught me the ropes. There is a dedication to her in my book Branded T.” New York City, New York, 1981. Photo Courtesy of Roe Blumenstein.
Roe Blumenstein with her friend Soy, who Roe shares died tragically young due to heroin addiction, “a common story to many street trans youth of that era.” New York City, New York, circa 1981. Photo Courtesy of Roe Blumenstein.
Roe Blumenstein stands on stage in jeans and a leather harness at GG Barnum’s Ball in New York City, New York, 1981. Photo Courtesy of Roe Blumenstein.
Roe Blumenstein (bottom row, left) smiles with 220 Club NYC at an after hours party with her club-coworkers; she shares that 220 Club NYC was an early mafia owned establishment. New York City, New York, 1979. Photo Courtesy of Roe Blumenstein.
Roe Blumenstein (middle) at a beauty contest at the Gilded Grape Club with other beauty contestants. New York City, New York, 1978. Photo Courtesy of Roe Blumenstein.
Roe Blumenstein smiles widely with her good friend Rick at the Narcotics Anonymous World Convention during her early recovery years. In New Orleans, Louisiana, 1987. Photo Courtesy of Roe Blumenstein.
Roe Blumenstein smiles coyly with a “Haymarket Boy Toy” at the 220 Club in New York City, New York, circa 1978/9. Photo Courtesy of Roe Blumenstein.
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Roe Blumenstein in white silky corset and lingerie set at the Show World Center, at the time she shares she’d been hooked on heroin. New York City, New York, 1986. Photo Courtesy of Roe Blumenstein.
Greyscale, glamorous portrait of Roe Blumenstein from a sex-industry work photoshoot. She credits late makeup artist Danny and Mark Raboy for photo credit. At Mark Raboy Studios in New York City, New York, 1985. Photo Courtesy of Roe Blumenstein.
Greyscale portrait of Roe Blumenstein, at age 27 newly clean and sober. New York, 1987. Photo Courtesy of Roe Blumenstein.
Glamorous portrait of Roe Blumenstein with a strobe/streak of light backlighting her. Location unknown, 1987. Photo Courtesy of Roe Blumenstein.
Roe Blumenstein dancing with her father at her step sister’s wedding. She shares that he died shortly thereafter, and “it was not easy for him dealing with me, but after I ran away he opened his doors again in my late teens.” Location unknown, 1988. Photo Courtesy of Roe Blumenstein.
Septia-toned portrait of Roe Blumenstein from a photoshoot. Location unknown, 1988. Photo Courtesy of Roe Blumenstein.
Roe Blumenstein (Center) with friends on the film set of “The Transexual Menace” directed by Rosa Von Praunhein. Germany, 1995. Photo Courtesy of Roe Blumenstein.
Roe Blumenstein wearing a formal black and white gown walking a black and white little dog during a “very happy time in life, surrounded by love and doing social justice work.” New York, 1995. Photo Courtesy of Roe Blumenstein.
Greyscale photo of Roe Blumenstein performing at They Lived it Out at the (LGBT) Center–celebrating those that died on the trans continuum. She shares that she led the event and that it aired on A&E “before transgender was even a common word in our society.” New York City, New York, 1996. Photo Courtesy of Roe Blumenstein.
Roe Blumenstein smiling with Professor David Valentine, while he was studying for his Anthropology, he worked under her while she shared she didn't yet have her degree. D. Valentine wrote “Imagining Transgender” book. Location and date unknown (1990’s). Photo Courtesy of Roe Blumenstein.
Greyscale framed photo of Roe Blumenstein with NYC Mayor Dinkins, he’s giving her the Courage Award from the NYPD. New York City, New York, 1999. Photo Courtesy of Roe Blumenstein.
Roe Blumenstein at her MSW graduation in a black turtleneck, clapping with peers. (Most likely) New York City, New York, 2000. Photo Courtesy of Roe Blumenstein.
Roe Blumenstein waving atop a convertible car as the grand marshall of Brooklyn Pride Parade, Brooklynn, New York, 2000. Photo Courtesy of Roe Blumenstein.
Greyscale photo of Roe Blumenstein the day the New York Center officially changed their name at a garden party from LG to LGBT Center. She shares that “by that time I was fighting with the LG bureaucrats & emotionally-psychologically exhausted.” New York City, New York, 2001. Photo Courtesy of Roe Blumenstein.
Roe Blumenstein speaking on stage in front of a banner speaking out about the Transgender Experience at Bryant Park Pride; she shares that her speech “ tore the Gay and Lesbian communities a new hole as they were exclusively surround right for all sexual minorities.” Bryant Park, New York, 2000. Photo Courtesy of Roe Blumenstein.
Roe Blumenstein’s collection of a couple dozen New York Social Justice awards, certificates, and photo honors from 1993-2002. Photo Courtesy of Roe Blumenstein.
Roe Blumenstein (left) meeting with Dr. Barbara Warren, a leader/mentor from working at the LGBT Center from 1993-2002. Roe shares that “(Dr. Warren) and I began the Gender identity project at the NY LGBT Center.” New York, 2002. Photo Courtesy of Roe Blumenstein.
Polaroid of Roe Blumenstein (right, in red) smiling with dear friend Mz. Lynda Roberts, at a farewell dinner just before Roe moved to California; Roe shares that Lynda died less than a year after she moved. Los Angeles, California, 2002. Photo Courtesy of Roe Blumenstein.
Various photos of Roe Blumenstein “hanging and loving on many men from 1976 on… too many to count.” Locations: around the world, 1976-onward. Photo Courtesy of Roe Blumenstein.
Various photos of Roe Blumenstein “hanging and loving on many men from 1976 on… too many to count.” Locations: around the world, 1976-onward. Photo Courtesy of Roe Blumenstein.
Roe Blumenstein beaming with the infamous, late Dr. Beiber, a pioneer in trans medical surgical care. They were both presenting at HBIGDA, now known as the WPATH international conference. Location & date: unknown. Photo Courtesy of Roe Blumenstein.
Roe Blumenstein with fellow “The View” interviewees and clients of the GIP who transitioned while working at the New York Times. She shares this was before there were laws protecting those on trans continuum; and that Barbara Walters was horrible during this interview. New York, circa 1998. Photo Courtesy of Roe Blumenstein.
Roe Blumenstein posing in a Norma Kamali modeling photoshoot. In New York City, New York, 1980. Photo Courtesy of Roe Blumenstein.
Painting of Roe Blumenstein sensuously salsa dancing in a red dress with a man. Painting by Dalton Ellis, 2012. Photo Courtesy of Roe Blumenstein.
Roe Blumenstein smiles while salsa dancing with a (unknown) man; she shares that salsa became a “drug of choice.” Los Angeles, California, 2013. Photo Courtesy of Roe Blumenstein.
Roe Blumenstein being interviewed at a private residence for a documentary inspired first by Jazmun Crayton. Location & year: unknown. Photo Courtesy of Roe Blumenstein.
Roe Blumenstein dressed as Jessica Rabbit in a slinky dress, smiling with someone in army gear for Halloween. Los Angeles, California, 2016. Photo Courtesy of Roe Blumenstein.
Roe Blumenstein strikes a pose in front of the LA World Salsa Fest banner. Los Angeles, California, 2017. Photo Courtesy of Roe Blumenstein.
Roe Blumenstein in a slinky floor length gown at good friend Bamby Salcedo’s Queencenera party. Los Angeles, California, 2019. Photo Courtesy of Roe Blumenstein.
Roe Blumenstein playfully posing in a bejewelled red ballgown on the Garras Fashion Show runway, supporting the TransLatin@ Coalition. In Los Angeles, California, 2017. Photo Courtesy of Roe Blumenstein.
Roe Blumenstein in a bejewelled silver gown on the Garras Fashion Show runway, supporting the TransLatin@ Coalition. In Los Angeles, California, 2017. Photo Courtesy of Roe Blumenstein.
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Roe Blumenstein in a silky, red gown with friends attending the Grammy Awards ceremony. In Los Angeles, California, 2020. Photo Courtesy of Roe Blumenstein.
Roe Blumenstein (bottom, left) meeting w/ colleagues she used to engage while directing Gender Identity Project after leaving to reinvent her social work practice. Location & year: unknown. Photo Courtesy of Roe Blumenstein.
Sepia-toned photo spread of Roe Blumenstein in a provocative 2019 Calendar. In Los Angeles, California, 2019. Photo Courtesy of Roe Blumenstein.
Photo of a museum show, featuring a collage-wall of Rosalyne Blumenstein from Zackary Drucker: ICONS show at the Baltimore Museum of Modern Art. Baltimore, Maryland, 2020. Photo Courtesy of Roe Blumenstein.
Roe Blumenstein’s friends/family (names unknown) smiling next to a red-toned portrait of Roe at the Baltimore Museum of Modern Art. Baltimore, Maryland, 2020. Photo Courtesy of Roe Blumenstein.
Close-up picture of Roe Blumenstein post nose-surgery, “anything to try to be beautiful.” Los Angeles, California, 2021. Photo Courtesy of Roe Blumenstein.
Roe Blumenstein in a playful baseball cap smiling atop a mountain hike during the pandemic. California, 2021. Photo Courtesy of Roe Blumenstein.
Roe Blumenstein in a chic all-white outfit and bob on New Years Eve. Los Angeles, California, 2021. Photo Courtesy of Roe Blumenstein.
Roe Blumenstein kissing an elder woman, they’re both smiling and wearing matching birthday hats– she shares this was during her 15 years of medical hospice work. Los Angeles, California, year unknown. Photo Courtesy of Roe Blumenstein.
Roe Blumenstein smiling in denim overalls at an Esalen Institute Spiritual Training. Location: unknown, 2022. Photo Courtesy of Roe Blumenstein.
Roe Blumenstein (second from left) smiling and “healing (her) soul with her salsa sistahs and the amazing Jovinna Chan” at the Esalen Institute. Big Sur, California, 2022. Photo Courtesy of Roe Blumenstein.
Selfie of a tanned Roe Blumenstein swimming in a glimmering pool in Italy, 2022. Photo Courtesy of Roe Blumenstein.
Roe Blumenstein in a jewel-toned silky ball gown walking the runway for the Garras Fashion Show, benefitting the TransLatin@ Coalition. Los Angeles, California, 2023. Photo Courtesy of Roe Blumenstein.
Greyscale photo of Roe Blumenstein taking an outdoor shower amidst palm trees during Magnus Hastin’s Rainbow Revolution photo project. Los Angeles, California, date unknown. Photo credit: Magnus Hasting. Photo Courtesy of Roe Blumenstein.
Roe Blumenstein coyly smiling in a red dress in a pastel kitchen for a photoshoot. Los Angeles, California, date unknown. Los Angeles, California, date unknown. Photo credit: Magnus Hasting. Roe Blumenstein. Photo Courtesy of Roe Blumenstein.
Roe Blumenstein looks off-frame in a shimmery silver dress for a photoshoot. Los Angeles, California, date unknown. Photo credit: Magnus Hasting. Photo Courtesy of Roe Blumenstein.
The cover of Roe Blumenstein’s memoir: “Branded T” featuring a torso photo cladden in a silver lamé bikini. Published in 2003. Photo Courtesy of Roe Blumenstein.
The back-cover of Roe Blumenstein’s memoir: “Branded T” featuring photos of Roe Blumenstein. Published in 2003. Photo Courtesy of Roe Blumenstein.
Roe Blumenstein dancing on a beach in a red bikini for a photoshoot. Los Angeles, California, 2022. Photo Courtesy of Roe Blumenstein.
Cartoon-animated filtered photo of Roe Blumenstein (right) with good friend and TransLatin@ community collaborator Maria Roman-Taylorson. Maria’s caption reads “love me some Roe Blumenstein!” Los Angeles, California, year unknown. Photo Courtesy of Roe Blumenstein.
Roe Blumenstein powerfully walks the Garras Fashion Show runway in a regal-warrior outfit, benefiting the TransLatin@ Coalition. Los Angeles, California, 2023. Photo Courtesy of Roe Blumenstein.
