Anjelica Kieltyka's art and writings

Anjelica Kieltyka is credited by her real name and by the pseudonym Cher in J. Michael Bailey's book The Man Who Would Be Queen. Anjelica contacted Bailey in the mid-1990s after seeing him on television talking about transsexualism. She hoped to explain how she viewed her own life trajectory and to share her theories about gender variance with someone she saw as a respected authority. This led to a long-standing relationship where Anjelica would get further validation and attention by performing in front of Bailey's classes on sexuality. Anjelica would in turn provide Bailey with access to young transwomen she was mentoring, as well as older transgenderists she knew through a local support group. Bailey would then see these women in a clinical or lab setting, and he would socialize with the young, attractive ones at nightclubs.

Anjelica has since filed a formal complaint with Northwestern University for the inaccurate and lurid misuse of her biographical information in that book. She has also reported that Bailey admitted to fabricating a key final scene in his book.

She 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.

Anjelica is a Chicago-based artist and free spirit whom I have had the pleasure of meeting and conversing with many times. She's never at a loss for words, and she's always got a surprising insight of some sort for those who really take the time to listen to what she has to say.

Anjelica has been a tireless researcher in this matter since she came to understand the ways in which her attempts to express her own feelings and opinions were being exploited and misrepresented by Bailey to further his narrow agenda and interests. The entire matter has left her very troubled and distrustful, as she feels Bailey and others have duped and exploited her.

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

In a wonderful case of turning the tables, Anjelica has caricatured Bailey in some wickedly funny cartoons on the links below.

LINK: The Sinking of the Queen (by Anjelica Kieltyka)

LINK: Cartoons (by Anjelica Kieltyka)

LINK: Anjelica Kieltyka's Story (by Lynn Conway)

LINK: Anjelica's adventures at the International Academy of Sex Research conference (by Lynn Conway)

LINK: Kieltyka easily vanquishes Bailey in televised Plethysmograph Challenge (by Sonia Azul)