Felsenthal, Kim D. “Creating The Queendom: A Lens On Transy House.” Home Cultures 6.3 (2009): 243-260. Art & Architecture Complete. Web. 21 Feb. 2016.

In this study, Kim D. Felsenthal explores the unique landscape of Transy Houses (transcape) and the person and place interaction within them. Transy houses is a trans-dominated communal house where residents control a defined socio-spatial territory. In her research, Felsenthal raises the issue on how there is little space in physical geography where trans persons can safely be who they are without fear of homophobic or transphobic violence. She explains how a transgender home is a place were they self identify and serve as multifunctional platform for everyday common use. The study shows how there are unique differences in each room of a Transy House, each having their own design and furnishing specific to that individual. In shared areas, you can see a collective identity is formed when attributes of one’s own characteristics and self-identification merge with that of the larger group with which one is associated. Kim Felsenthal explains how transcape provide the gay, lesbian, bisexual, transgender, queer/questioning (GLBTQ) communities; a private place where they are empowered to make their own trans-normative rules for behavior and gender expression. Additionally, occupants have opportunities to manipulate the physical environment to exhibit and fortify their trans identities away from norms and values of mainstream society.

I chose this source because it explores and gives more of a understanding to the LGBT community.