Leslie Cochran
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Leslie Cochran (born as Albert Leslie Cochran[1][2] on June 24, 1951) is an American cross-dresser and arguably the most locally famous street person, according to local media sources, in Austin, Texas. He is an outspoken critic of police treatment of the homeless in the downtown Austin area. Many consider him to be the epitome of the 'Keep Austin Weird' campaign, as demonstrated by his two time run for mayor as well as numerous articles in The Austin Chronicle and local news stations.
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[edit] Early Life
Leslie lived in the Pacific Northwest and at one time worked as a truck driver frequently traveling up and down the West coast. Leslie has told the Austin American-Statesman that he was briefly married in 1985 and 1986. He says he grew up south of Miami, briefly attended University of Florida on a football scholarship, spent nine months in the Naval Reserve in 1974 and 1975, worked for Safeway grocery stores in Seattle, skinned road-kill in Colorado and tanned the hides, worked as a disc jockey near Steamboat Springs, Colo., lived in a converted bookmobile in Shreveport, La., Tampa, Fla., and Atlanta, and then took a year to ride a three-wheeled bicycle to Austin in January 1996.[1]
[edit] As an Austin icon
Leslie hangs out around 6th Street, usually around 6th and Congress during business hours. He can also often be found at Bouldin Creek Coffeehouse during late afternoons and early evenings. He is most frequently seen wearing women's clothing; his most popular attire is a leopard thong and high-heeled shoes. Leslie prefers to be known as a man.[3]
[edit] Hospitalization after apparent assault in 2009
Around 1:00 a.m. on the Saturday morning of October 3, 2009, Leslie Cochran was found outdoors in a vegetative state and was transported to University Medical Center Brackenridge in critical condition. Within two weeks he had regained consciousness and was transfered to a rehabilitation center. When he was released, on October 23, 2009, Cochran reported that he had been attacked after commenting to a group of people about the dangers of drug abuse.[4][5][6]
[edit] Election results
- 2,755 votes - 7.75%
- 2,107 votes - 3.52%
- 1,113 votes - 1.9%
[edit] Leslie Dress-Up Magnet
In 2006, Jimmy Haddox, co-owner of Wet Hair Salon, created the "Leslie Dress-Up Magnet," which contains an 8-inch likeness of Cochran along with several interchangeable magnetic outfits. Several Austin businesses sell the magnets, and Cochran himself receives 50% of the sales. Haddox predicted sales would exceed 10,000 by the end of 2006.[7][8]
[edit] iLeslie iPhone Application
In 2009, Costa Systems created the "iLeslie” iPhone application. The application contains an assortment of sound bites by Leslie; as well two longer interviews with Leslie where he recounts select experiences in Austin. The Apple iTunes App Store sells the application. [9]
[edit] References
- ^ a b Wear, Ben (May 25, 1999). "The trouble with Leslie". The Austin American-Statesman (Austin, Texas): p. A1.
- ^ Banta, Bob (June 18, 1999). "Downtown fixture 'Leslie' arrested for public camping". The Austin American-Statesman (Austin, Texas).
- ^ Clark-Madison, Mike (May 28, 2004). "Austin @ Large". The Austin Chronicle. http://www.austinchronicle.com/gyrobase/Issue/column?oid=oid:212988. Retrieved 2007-10-16.
- ^ Wise, Jarrod (October 13, 2009). "Leslie Cochran's condition is life threatening" (Text & Video). KVUE.com (Austin, Texas: KVUE Television, Inc). http://www.kvue.com/news/local/stories/101209kvue-LESLIE-WH.20ec67582.html. Retrieved 2009-10-13.
- ^ Wise, Jarrod (October 14, 2009). "Leslie Cochran in fair condition" (Text & Video). KVUE.com (Austin, Texas: KVUE Television, Inc). http://www.kvue.com/news/local/stories/101309kvue-Leslie-LATEST-WH.2143c4f65.html. Retrieved 2009-10-14.
- ^ "Leslie thanks the community for support". News 8 Austin. 2009-10-25. http://www.news8austin.com/content/top_stories/default.asp?ArID=256605.
- ^ http://www.statesman.com/news/content/news/stories/local/12/03/3kelso.html
- ^ http://www.dfw.com/mld/startelegram/news/state/16249065.htm
- ^ http://itunes.apple.com/us/artist/costa-systems/id321179375
- Clark-Madison, Mike (March 14, 2003). "A Little Respect: All hail Leslie Cochran, Austin's queen of political soul". Austin at Large (Austin Chronicle). http://www.austinchronicle.com/issues/dispatch/2003-03-14/pols_atlarge.html. Retrieved 2006-04-17.
- Cinelli, Carla (2004). "Homeless Cross-Dresser - 'Leslie - The Queen of Austin'". Photogallery. Cinelli, Carla. http://www.carlacinelli.com/Homeless_cross-dresser/. Retrieved 2006-04-17.
