Our young CD contributor has been experimenting with online dating. (Sorry fellas, she’s looking for a lady to love.) For the past three months she has been trying to find the right woman to share her life with. Today she shares some of the things she has learned about looking for love on the World Wide Web. And we have a slideshow of Chanelle giving her impression of a typical “girl next door.”
You may have heard the phrase “less is more.” It means that sometimes the less you work on something trying to perfect it the more effective your efforts can be. Too many notes can ruin a piece of music. Too much color can destroy a painting. Sometimes too much makeup and tight sexy clothing can make you the focus of attention but a bit less artifice can make you be seen as another woman in the room. Victoria Williams talks about how less artifice can be more effective.
Are you happy that The Diagnostic and Statistical Manual of Mental Disorders–5 changed “gender identity disorders” to “gender dysphoria”? If you feel that that is a big win for trans people you should read this post from Dana Bevan. It seems that the DSM is in Bevan’s words “a sham.” It’s not HIPAA compliant and it has become irrelevant to the mental health professions. What we need to change is the ICD. What’s the ICD? Let Dana explain it to you.
Meggan Sommerville is “church shopping.” For various reasons her old congregation was no longer meeting all her needs. Today she tells us why she made the decision to find a new church and what her approach to joining a new congregation will be. Meggan feels that honesty about her past is the best policy. You could tell that from the title of her post.
Transmen, where are you? I don’t know any transmen. I am ashamed to admit it and I am working to correct that shortcoming. I’ve been at gatherings where transmen are present and I briefly speak to them, but I have yet to get to know any and have meaningful and open conversations. I know I’m […]
It’s October, which means Halloween, which is my favorite holiday. So I’m going to write about that, right? Nope. I’m going to challenge you, dear reader, with a “what if” scenario. Last week on my blog, I wrote about a dream I had. In this dream, I returned to my fraternity house, where a current […]
While it’s great to have fun when you’re out and about crossdressed it’s important to be careful. There’s the obvious factor that you’re dressed as a woman and being perceived as female. That opens you to problems from predatory males. Then there’s the worry that you’re not “passing” and someone will get out of line. But the threat our anonymous contributor writes about is one you can easily fix. It’s okay to party but know when to switch from alcohol to soda. Let her experience be your guide.
The Artist D comments today on the urgent need our society has to give everyone a single, “real” identity. When people ask The Artist what her “real” name is they just can’t wrap their brains around it being a single letter. Now Facebook has begun to demand “Your papers, please!” and to The Artist D that looks like there is less room for multiple identities than before. How will that affect us?
Most trans people have big issues to occupy their thoughts. They often tend to forget the basic issues that will help them get the most out of life, whether they are transitioning to a new life or simply wanting to be healthy and fit so as to better enjoy their life. Here are some health […]
Our young crossdresser, Chanelle, has words of advice today about how to meet a woman through online dating sites. Funny, but the best piece of the advice she offers is “honesty is the best policy.” It’s not impossible to meet someone who is into all of you, including your desire to dress up. You may not find her right away but if you follow some of Chanelle’s advice you just might meet her. Dating advice from a 20-something? As they say, “out of the mouths of babes.”
Graham Holmes’ post in which he advocated being totally out about crossdressing as the only way that CDs will ever get their rights inspired our Canadian correspondent to investigate why people choose to “stay in the closet.” It can be a bit cramped in the closet but to some hiding their crossdressing is a lifestyle they’ve perfected over years. Can you actually come to enjoy hiding a major part of your essential nature? See what Linda and a friend named Donna have to say.
For trans people who come out later in life it is hard from them to explain to friends and family why, after all the years, they now feel the need to express another gender. Since people who are totally comfortable in their birth gender feel no unease or have any problems related to their gender they often put it down to someone’s mid-life crisis. And then they may suggest….
Life can be trying at times. The life of a trans person can be doubly so. Today Meggan Sommerville has some spiritual advice about the journey through life and she illustrates it with a story about her daughter when she was a little girl, and with a quote from St. Paul. How does she bring those things together. Begin your journey to enlightenment by reading Reward at the End.
There is a group on Facebook that is dedicated to keeping its members informed of the latest research going on in neurology, endocrinology and nutrition that may impact trans people. The group is called “Gender Research for All Genders” and it was founded by Rachel Francon. Ms. Francon has a medical research background and has studied psychology and neurology. Lenr more about the group’s goals and how you can participate.
“And the seasons they go ’round and ’round, and the painted ponies go up and down.” Today Sophie Lynne muses on the way the world works, and in particular what the season we are approaching swiftly means. Sophie has a birthday this month and birthdays do have a way of making a person think about the past, the future, and the seasons.
We offer a profile of Rachel Crandall, a trans woman who turned away from thought of suicide when she had hit rock bottom, and went on to start the transgender support group Transgender Michigan. The article was written by sometime contributor Kristina Mayhem and talks about Crandall’s life before and after she started Transgender Michigan.
The Artist D recently took a break. Fortunately for TGF she returned from her downtime in time to file her column for today. Taking a break can be anything from turning off your cell phone for a couple of hours to trekking out to a cabin in the woods for a week of quiet contemplation. Why would you do something like that? Give a read to The Artist D’s column today, Spirit Sucking.
Fiction writer and “girl on the holidays” Amanda Holiday was working on her next book when she had a revelation. Here heroine was not a girly girl, but rather a person who blended feminine and masculine aspects. After Amanda did some research she concluded that she, and her heroine, were two-spirit people. And then she began to consider the possibilities that could be explored if all humans were considered two-spirit.
With the advent of online connectivity we have seen the decline and disappearance of support groups for TGs. With the ability to network online (on sites like TGF) TGs can meet people, chat, discuss trans issues and exchange makeup tips. Does this mean that the in person transgender support group meeting is the dinosaur of the 21st century? And what about TG conventions? Many of those have disappeared, too. Get Dana Bevan’s take.
I have a news flash for you. The Christian church is made up of flawed humans. Big surprise right? I know. I am stating the obvious. But when it comes to understanding the issues that separate the Christian church and the transgender community, this is something that is forgotten on each side of the divide. […]
Popeye said, I yam what I yam and that’s all what I yam.” But what made Popeye what he is? In his case it’s simple. A cartoonist drew him that way. How else would you get forearms like that? But what about TGs? Sophie Lynne muses on the nature of the “nature vs. nurture” debate and concludes that we are the result of a combination of the two, so they should just stop opposing each other. Spy Vs. Spy can keep fighting it out but N vs. N should kiss and makeup.
Today a new writer joins our staff of contributors. We are pleased to introduce Chanelle Nirok, a young crossdresser who immigrated to the USA from Russia when she was thirteen. Being a practical young lady she decided at 16 to save up $1000 and use it to outfit herself with a wardrobe of women’s clothing and accessories. Now at the age of 21 she is out to her mother and close friends and has already lost a romantic partner due to her crossdressing. We’re happy to present her writing here on TGF.
Summer already feels like it’s winding down but there’s still a full month left! Plenty of time for fun under the sun. Even if you’re not ready to hit the beach en femme, we feel that every transgendered girl should have her own bathing suit for sunbathing, lounging by the pool or maybe even posing […]
A month or so back, I was in a well known chain of local coffee shops in Chiang Mai, about to enjoy my regular hot chocolate and over-indulge in a banana cream pie. The very pretty waitress who served me, gave me a lovely smile, and politely asked, “Where do you come from?” — a standard […]
Staking the top of the board into the soft powdery sand just above the high water mark where the sand is packed and damp you pull back your dirty blonde hair tying it into a lazy tail with the scrunchy that adorned your right wrist. You love the summer; your hair lightens and the sun […]
“Coming out” has become a big deal. Every day some athlete, actor or model “comes out” as this or that. You knew the trend was, well, trending, when they created a magazine about “coming out.” Today The Artist D asks what’s the big deal about coming out? D has been out since she picked up a dolly at age 3 instead of going for the bulldozer. You can’t have a deep dark secret if everyone knows. Give her post a read and see what The Artist D thinks about “coming out.”
