Anjelica Kieltyka's art and writings

Anjelica Kieltyka is credited by that name and by the pseudonym Cher in J. Michael Bailey's book The Man Who Would Be Queen. Kieltyka contacted Bailey in the mid-1990s after seeing him on television talking about transsexualism. Kieltyka hoped to provide an autobiography and to share theories about gender variance with someone Kieltyka saw as a respected authority. This led to a long-standing relationship where Kieltyka would get further validation and attention by performing in front of Bailey's classes on sexuality.

Kieltyka would in turn provide Bailey with access to young transwomen Kieltyka had met, as well as older transgenderists Kieltyka knew through a local support group. Bailey would then see these clients/research subjects in a clinical or lab setting, and he would socialize with the young, attractive ones at nightclubs.

Kieltyka filed a formal complaint with Northwestern University for the inaccurate and lurid misuse of this biographical information in Bailey's book. Kieltyka has also reported that Bailey admitted to fabricating a key final scene in his book.

Kieltyka sent the following to Professor Bailey in the wake of his claims they were friends:

Dr. Bailey, Please refrain from any future remarks about "Cher" and/or Anjelica Kieltyka as being your friend....I am not your friend...You could not be my friend and write that book....Do not link Anjelica Kieltyka to "Cher" and /or Autogynophilia and or/ non homosexual transexual except in the context that I , Anjelica Kieltyka , vehemently and emphatically refuse that classification/diagnosis/opinion by you. Any further remarks by you in print or spoken word or use of my image/video describing me, Anjelica Kieltyka as "Cher" and/or Autogynophilic/non homosexual I will consider libelous and/or slander. Most openly and honestly yours, C. Anjelica Kieltyka P.S. I hope to teach you a "great deal" more about the souls of transexual women in the days to come.

As someone well-versed in matters related to media, I know that most people are not going to see past Kieltyka's eccentricities or unique worldview. This is a true tragedy. It is much easier for people like Bailey to reduce people to a caricature than to treat Kieltyka like a human being.

Professor Lynn Conway has gathered a variety of materials about Kieltyka's involvement, including Kieltyka's reflection on the fiasco, some cartoons and other humor, a biography, and Kieltyka's protest at the 2003 International Academy of Sex Research conference. The entire matter has left Kieltyka very troubled, distrustful, and feeling duped and exploited by Bailey and others.

In 2006, Kieltyka began seeking attention and validation from Bailey coworker Alice Dreger as attention from the press and the trans community died down. Dreger exploited Kieltyka's need for attention and validation through a number of calls and correspondence, and then published that information in her defense of Bailey in a sexology journal Bailey edits. Like Bailey, Dreger has a long history of exploiting attention-craving eccentrics like Cheryl Chase (aka Bonnie Sullivan) and Kiira Triea (aka Denise Tree) in order to get money and publicity.