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'''Leslie Cochran''' (born as '''Albert Leslie Cochran'''<ref name="aas99">[http://hpn.asu.edu/archives/2000-May/000742.html The trouble with Leslie], [[Austin American-Statesman]], May 25, 1999</ref><ref name="aas0699">[http://hpn.asu.edu/archives/2000-May/000742.html Downtown fixture 'Leslie' arrested for public camping], [[Austin American-Statesman]], June 18, 1999</ref> on June 24, 1951) is an American [[vagrancy (people)|vagrant]] [[transvestism|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 [[homelessness|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.
'''Leslie Cochran''' (born as '''Albert Leslie Cochran'''<ref name="aas99">[http://hpn.asu.edu/archives/2000-May/000742.html The trouble with Leslie], [[Austin American-Statesman]], May 25, 1999</ref><ref name="aas0699">[http://hpn.asu.edu/archives/2000-May/000742.html Downtown fixture 'Leslie' arrested for public camping], [[Austin American-Statesman]], June 18, 1999</ref> on June 24, 1951) is an American [[vagrancy (people)|vagrant]] [[transvestism|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 [[homelessness|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.


Prior to moving to Austin and meeting his life partner Jacob Tate (AKA Sugar Britches), 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 [[United States Navy Reserve|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, Colorado|Steamboat Springs, Colo.]], lived in a converted bookmobile in [[Shreveport, Louisiana|Shreveport, La.]], [[Tampa, Florida|Tampa, Fla.]], and [[Atlanta]], and then took a year to ride a three-wheeled bicycle to Austin in January 1996.<ref name="aas99">[http://hpn.asu.edu/archives/2000-May/000742.html The trouble with Leslie], [[Austin American-Statesman]], May 25, 1999</ref>
Prior to moving to Austin and meeting his life partner William Jacob Tate (AKA Sugar Britches), 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 [[United States Navy Reserve|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, Colorado|Steamboat Springs, Colo.]], lived in a converted bookmobile in [[Shreveport, Louisiana|Shreveport, La.]], [[Tampa, Florida|Tampa, Fla.]], and [[Atlanta]], and then took a year to ride a three-wheeled bicycle to Austin in January 1996.<ref name="aas99">[http://hpn.asu.edu/archives/2000-May/000742.html The trouble with Leslie], [[Austin American-Statesman]], May 25, 1999</ref>


Leslie hangs out around [[6th Street (Austin)|6th Street]], usually around 6th and [[Congress Avenue|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 [[G-string|thong]] and [[high-heeled shoe]]s. Leslie prefers to be known as a man.<ref name="The Austin Chronicle">{{cite news | first=Mike | last=Clark-Madison | url=http://www.austinchronicle.com/gyrobase/Issue/column?oid=oid:212988 | title=Austin @ Large | publisher=[[The Austin Chronicle]] | date=[[May 28]], [[2004]] | accessdate=2007-10-16}}</ref>
Leslie hangs out around [[6th Street (Austin)|6th Street]], usually around 6th and [[Congress Avenue|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 [[G-string|thong]] and [[high-heeled shoe]]s. Leslie prefers to be known as a man.<ref name="The Austin Chronicle">{{cite news | first=Mike | last=Clark-Madison | url=http://www.austinchronicle.com/gyrobase/Issue/column?oid=oid:212988 | title=Austin @ Large | publisher=[[The Austin Chronicle]] | date=[[May 28]], [[2004]] | accessdate=2007-10-16}}</ref>

Revision as of 18:51, 14 August 2009

Lesley Cochran at the Keep Austin Weird 5K.
Leslie Cochran with the uShip team.

Leslie Cochran (born as Albert Leslie Cochran[1][2] on June 24, 1951) is an American vagrant 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.

Prior to moving to Austin and meeting his life partner William Jacob Tate (AKA Sugar Britches), 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]

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]


Election results

May 6, 2000
  • 2,755 votes - 7.75%
November 6, 2001
  • 2,107 votes - 3.52%
May 3, 2003
  • 1,113 votes - 1.9%

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 15% of the sales. Haddox predicted sales would exceed 10,000 by the end of 2006.[4][5]

References

  1. ^ a b The trouble with Leslie, Austin American-Statesman, May 25, 1999
  2. ^ Downtown fixture 'Leslie' arrested for public camping, Austin American-Statesman, June 18, 1999
  3. ^ Clark-Madison, Mike (May 28, 2004). "Austin @ Large". The Austin Chronicle. Retrieved 2007-10-16. {{cite news}}: Check date values in: |date= (help)
  4. ^ http://www.statesman.com/news/content/news/stories/local/12/03/3kelso.html
  5. ^ http://www.dfw.com/mld/startelegram/news/state/16249065.htm
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