Melanie Speaks: A Voice Training Tape for Trans Women

Melanie Speaks, an influential voice training tape for trans women, provided tips, exercises, and encouragement for developing a more feminine voice. It was a valuable resource for trans women in the 90s seeking to change their voices to sound more traditionally feminine. The tape emphasized the importance of exploration and playfulness with voice, rather than focusing solely on pitch. It offered a range of examples of feminine voices, highlighting that femininity goes beyond vocal pitch. Melanie Speaks played a pivotal role in helping a generation of trans women find their voices and pass as cisgender, which was considered crucial at the time. While the tape may have perpetuated certain gender stereotypes, it also allowed trans women to explore their voices and feel a sense of safety and comfort in their identities. Despite the challenges in finding the tape today, Melanie's influence endures, and her guidance has been passed down through generations of trans women.