Way back in 1998 TGForum contributor Hebe Dotson wrote an article that imagined what someone in 1899 would prognosticate about the nature of things in the coming 20th century. We pulled it out of the Archives, dusted it off to be our Retro Rerun. Today we present part two of A Tale of Two Centuries in which Hebe attempts to gaze into the 21st century from 1998. Now that we have a few years of this century under our belts lets see how she did with her predictions.
Last month Pauline Estelle wrote about an important room in her life. The bathroom in her home where she does her transformations. This month she writes about another room that’s important to all trans ladies — a public restroom. It seems very logical that using a lady’s room shouldn’t be a problem for anyone involved. Unlike the men’s facility there are no urinals where you stand uncomfortably surrounded by other men with their zippers down. You have a discreet stall, with walls down to the floor in some upscale establishments. Why should there be any problem? Pauline takes a look at that and does a small experiment that shows how unenforceable the various restroom laws are.
Amanda may have found her mellow spot. After coming pretty close to rock bottom she has been lifted up again by Lyft. The ride sharing app has allowed her to make money doing something she loves, driving. She is all over the Baltimore area and even down in Virginia and Washington D. C. And she has a new therapist, is getting caught up on her bills and she tells you all about things today. And, she has a small slideshow of the amazing photos she takes while she drives around.
The only constant in life is constant change. Our Sophie Lynne had one idea for this blog and then in a moment that idea got pared down to only one part of her blog. Another section was necessary due to news she got about the passing of a friend in the community. Then she ends her blog today with some good news. You may want to read it all the way to the end and use the comment area to congratulate her.
Bone up on your math skills. Get your calculator and slide rule. Christine Burr has come out — as a math teacher. This week after class she had some free time before going home to get ready for a night out with the girls so she decided to apply her math skills to crossdressing. If charts and graphs are your thing prepare for an, admittedly tongue in cheek, look at the the lives of crossdressers through bar charts.
Transgender people have existed throughout history and are best helped with love and encouragement, not through oppression. Dana Bevan writes an open letter to the Catholic Church advising it to stop treating transgender people as if they were part of some fashion trend and to accept that they exist and they are not sinners. She calls for evidence based policies about transgender issues, not the adoption of the hardline rule that men are men and women are women, as is taught in Abrahamic religious doctrine.
There is one very important room in Pauline’s house. It the guest room bathroom. That’s where the important process of transforming into Pauline takes place. In this post Pauline writes about all the steps she goes through in her transformation bathroom. From shaving all body hair to her technique for shaving her face and the steps she takes in makeup application, it’s all here in today’s post.
Last year Jan Brown attended the 31st Annual Connecticut LGBTQ Film Festival and wrote a report for TGForum. Last week she attended the 32nd annual event and today she shares the experience with you along with her impression of the 9 films that had transgender themes. Several of the films were premiering at the festival. The nine films range from three minutes to eighteen minutes in length. Jan and her companion were both touched by the content of all of the productions.
Our Retro Rerun today is from 1996. It is apropos since June is the “wedding month.” TGF contributor Coreen Clark wrote about the urge many crossdressers have to wear a wedding gown, or in some cases have the whole bridal experience. She admits to having tried on her wife’s wedding gown at least once or twice but she wonders what the real fascination is for some people. To investigate she conducted some research with cisgender women and asked several of her crossdresser friends why they were attracted to the idea. It led to this essay on TGF about The Bridal Mystique.
While he was running for president Donald J. Trump said he would be the best president ever for LGBT people. He must have a different definition of the word “best” than we do. Because of his positive statements about the LGBT community many people in that community supported him with their vote. Surprisingly there are still some who support him. Sabrina Symington makes an editorial comment on that in today’s cartoon.
Dana Bevan feels that the words we use to describe members of the transgender community are no longer adequate or proper. Many of the words, like transvestite, transsexual, and others, were coined by psychiatrists or academics and over the years have picked up bad connotations or been applied in error to people who were not in that category. Why should we let the psychiatric profession label us and dominate the words used to describe our behavior, and our demographic and social groups? Dana thinks it’s time we got some new words and she would like your help in coming up with some.
Many times transgender people suffer in silence and present their birth gender face to the world because they are afraid of what will happen if their families know about their secret identities. There is the fear of rejection and there is guilt for the continuing deception. Often it is only when the pressure to live as their true self gets so great it cannot be ignored that their secret will be disclosed. How do you deal with family? Claire Hall has not written much about her relations with her own family. Today she gives you a look.
Women across the world are speaking out about the sexual harassment they have had to cope with, but what about feminine members of the transgender community? Trans women and crossdressers can be victims of #MeToo incidents when they are out among others interacting in a feminine role. Trans women who are employed are also exposed to treatment that far too often comes with the feminine territory. Angela Gardner relates a couple of #MeToo incidents she had to put up with while she was out having fun. She asks that you share any such incidents you have lived through by posting them in the comment area.
Some call Thailand the Land of Smiles and say that in general, except for sudden changes of leadership orchestrated by the military, citizens and visitors can have an easy time living there. Our correspondent in Thailand has written in the past about the transgender women there, known as ladyboys, or the more derogatory name katoi, and how they are treated by the general public. Despite advances made in the area of civil rights for transgender Thais Christine Burr today reports that they are still second class citizens.
What tasty tidbits will Dina Amberle tease you with in this edition of Dina’s Diner? So glad you asked. First she stirs up a batch of dish on the fashion designer who sent men down the runway at his menswear show in menswear converted into not very attractive dresses. Then she delivers a tribute to the women of the twenty first century with the story of the warrior woman Shannon Kent who was killed in the line of duty. Moving on to a sweeter dish Dina blends in some movie scenes that touched her crossdressing nerve and helped make her be the woman she is today. Then it’s a soufflé of body suits and leotards to round out today’s menu at Dina’s Diner. Be sure to stop on by.
As spring approaches Dana Bevan wants you to prepare for a Spring Offensive. Not to say she wants you to offend anyone. It’s a call for all good trans people to get out there into society and make your presence known. Not by waving signs or marching but by being there where the cisgender people go. Dining in a restaurant. Setting next to them at the movies. Picking up the dry cleaning or at a car wash scrubbing your ride. Show the world your beautiful wonderful self and promote understanding that trans people are people. Read all 3 of Dana’s Spring Offensive in today’s post.
Pauline Estelle has some tips for the older lady who wants to dress appropriately for her age but desires to avoid the “frumpy” label. You know what we mean; baggy tops with dark floral prints paired with polyester pants with an elastic waist. It my be comfortable but it puts you firmly into the frump category. Pauline has some tips that will boost your fashionable looks and take a few years off of your age.
Dina Amberle ties on her apron and hits the kitchen like a whirlwind. She has whipped up some amazing entrees for the menu today at Dina’s Diner. First though, to clear the palette, she serves up a bit of information on the possibilities of finding out by testing which children might grow up and be trans. Then she serves up the supposition that many of the recent depictions of drag and trans characters on TV and in films are not as positive as they might seem. After that she fills a plate with the wonderfulness of sheer inserts in feminine attire, and then provides a potpourri of smaller dessert items. So tasty. Don’t miss Dina’s Diner!
Today Sabrina Symington takes on the TERFs. They keep insisting that trans woman are a threat to the safety of cis women. Are they really concerned about that or is it all coming from somewhere more sinister. Could the TERFs be being influenced in their anti-trans stance by some other group that is pulling the strings?
It’s been four weeks and we just know you are hungry for some takeout from Dina’s Diner. Dina has added some low fat items to the menu and you can get a healthy salad, but her speciality the comfort food. Today she mixes up some Valentina, a RuPaul’s Drag Race girl, then adds in a touch of a British trans ballerina, a pinch of award show gender bending and finishes the dish off with a sprinkle of cleavage. Then for desert she brings out a serving of the pretty Brolitas “girls.” Don’t miss this edition of Dina’s Diner.
Christine B. asks why is it that people who are uniformed about transgender people often assume that transgender people have mental health issues and that’s why they want to change their gender. The evidence that gender is not set in stone at birth is there for anyone to see throughout history, and in all cultures. Why do people say transgender identities are not real when there are other things that they accept completely on faith with no physical proof?
At the outset, let me say that I am not a U.S. citizen, don’t live in the U.S. and my observations below are from afar — and maybe I don’t know enough about the real mood on the ground, nor the intricacies of U.S. politics and the power games in play. I am, however, a […]
One day before the election, an election many feel will have a huge impact on transgender rights in the coming years, our political maven Babs Casbar Siperstein speaks out about how important Tuesday is for all transgender people. Of course Babs is voting a straight Democratic ticket and going to the polls to do so even though she is still dealing with ill health.
Back in 1997 Shirley Bassey sang a song called History Repeating. That’s the subject of Sophie Lynne’s post today. Not the song but the idea that if you wait long enough what has happened once will happen again. We don’t mind when the things that happen are nice and pleasant, but there are many examples of things that are evil and diabolical. With the current state of transgender rights Sophie is afraid that history may indeed be repeating.
The diner may be crowded but there’s always a seat. Step into Dina’s Diner and ask the hostess for a booth or just take a stool at the counter. Today’s special include a few gender fluid models, a slice of Mark Volman in drag in the Zappa film 200 Motels evoking admiration for body positive women, a plate full of stilettos for men, and for dessert, an appreciation of Cammy White cosplayers. So order a coffee or some tea and get ready for a good time at Dina’s Diner.
