A new definition of gender sought by the Department of Health and Human services would essentially eradicate federal recognition of the estimated 1.4 million Americans who have opted to recognize themselves — surgically or otherwise — as a gender other than the one they were born into. Why is this even being considered? Why are transgender people that threatening to conservatives? There’s an election just days away and that is one big reason.
For trans kids life can be a real burden. It’s hard enough being a teen and going through puberty when you’re not feeling there is something wrong with your body because your gender identity is congruent with your body. When you are “differently gendered” those teen years can be a real trial. That’s why some young people just suffer in silence. Sabrina Symington has a commenting cartoon for you that explains a lot.
Kimberly Hirschel offers four resources for those exploring their feminine side that help crossdressers of trans women become more confident and able to mix with the general population. These things have worked well for her and she shares them today. Read on and see what the advantages of each resource is and how they could help your feminine presentation.
in September our contributor Pauline Estelle reached the age of 83. She has been dressing up for many, many years and enjoys being a girl as much today as she did way back when. Today Pauline has assembled a random collection of thoughts and opinions she has gathered over the years. She likes the term “bi-gendered” instead of “crossdresser.” Likes having a large bosom, and bemoans the loss of the ability to wear high heels. See what other thoughts and opinions she expresses and read her post.
Take a seat at the counter or slide into a booth. However you feel comfortable is the way to experience Dina’s Diner. Dina always has special on the menu and today they include an appetizer about anti-discrimination laws “allowing men in the lady’s room.” She also has an appetizer of girls playing high school football that is sure to be interesting, and pave the way for an entree consisting of spicy “rollergirls” skating into Dina’s dreams. Her best entree item is an appreciation of the stylish ladies of the ’60s who influenced her fashion sense, and may still be providing role models for the drag performers of today. The desert special at the Diner is a sweet look at the Playboy bunnies of yesterday, and the new ones on duty today. Order a cup of java and settle down for another great time at Dina’s Diner!
Today Sophie Lynne, our resident Page Pundit, reviews CN Lester’s book of essays, “Trans like me: Conversations for all of us.” The fifteen essays that comprise the book deal with many segments of the transgender experience. The author is a respected activist and writer from the United Kingdom who identifies as non-binary. We will add a bit of a spoiler but hope it entices you to read on by saying that Sophie highly approves of the book and recommends it for insights into the transgender community.
Males and females have been assigned different characteristics by our evolving culture. Men are “supposed” to be stoic, unemotional, problem solvers. Women are “supposed” to be more willing to share things and support their female friends. While guys bury their problems and talk about football and cars, women listen to their friend’s and don’t try to immediately solve their problem. Claire Hall’s post talks about how she has experienced a shift from the stereotypically male approach to friendship and embraced the feminine model of friendship.
This week Cheryl Ann “Cassie” Sanders has assembled all the misleading and contradictory statements people have made over transgenderism and posts it all. Cassies feels that some of the quotes of “wisdom” are sure fire argument starters and even though she is only reporting the poppycock many people believe she’s ready to take some heat in the comments section for even mentioning some of this stuff. Read on if you dare!
Sabrina takes another swipe with her drawing program at trans-exclusionary radical feminists, TERFs. While saying they’re trying to promote one thing they seem to actually promote things that are harmful for trans women. Sabrina finds the humor in the situation when a trans woman debates a TERF.
To look your best when out and about en femme you mustn’t just put on any dress from your wardrobe and waltz out the door. A stylish woman takes into consideration where she is going, and who she will be mingling with. What you wear for an outdoor barbecue is different from what you’d wear to another outdoor event such as a garden party, or a sporting event. Each destination sets a tone for the look you want. Then you apply your personal style. Don’t miss Pauline Estelle’s tips on how to dress appropriately for any occasion.
Slide into a booth or take a seat at the counter. Wherever you sit you’ll always get a tasty mental meal at Dina’s Diner. Today Dina’s specials include some well aged older drag performers. Add a bit of seasoning from the Tour de France’s method of handing out trophies to the winners which relies on attractive women in heels and short skirts. For a main course Dina offers some Crazy Pretty Asians, and a side dish of the late Bill Cunningham’s millinery creations before he became a photographer for The New York Times. For desert Dina offers some comments on “odd-vante garde” drag. You’ll find it all delicious and nutritious, and a bit of fun. Don’t miss Dina’s Diner.
Our Page Pundit is Sophie Lynne. Today she reviews She’s Not There, the first book by Jennifer Finney Boylan. The book tells her story from her youth in Devon, Pa. to her transition. Full disclosure: Sophie has met and hung out with Ms. Boylan so she had to step back a bit to write this review. That doesn’t stop her from writing about the book and its message to all transgender people. Read on and learn what Sophie feels is important about She’s Not There.
Claire Hall has only recently transitioned and for her everything has gone pretty smoothly. One problem she has faced is criticism from people who can’t wrap their heads around the fact that trans women are real women. It’s the old complaints — “He looks like a man in a dress.” “All this person is about is clothes and makeup.” “It takes more than a pair of heels and some lipstick to be a woman.” Claire hits back, in a ladylike manner, in today’s post. Does she seem to take delight in feminine attire? Yes. Because for years she denied herself those clothes and the other things that go with her true gender. Read her post for all of her thoughts on what it is that makes you a real woman.
In Theory and Practice Cheryl Ann “Cassie” Sanders gives a little bit of space to theory and devotes a lot of space to the joys of crossdressing. You might say the post is a a celebration of all the time and effort it takes to be out and about in the world and accepted as a woman. This post, like the others we’ve shared by Cassie in the past few months have all been featured on TGForum back in the last century. Cassie has spruced them up with some new makeup and a spritz of perfume so we could present the to you again.
Suicide is a problem among members of the transgender community. Transitions that are well planned often go smoothly but now and then someone’s life seems to be on a good path, living in their preferred gender and suddenly you learn that they took their own life. If things are not going well and they are losing family, friends and their job it’s understandable that the “black dog” of depression could take them over. The Artist D last had suicidal thoughts in their teen years. Today they write their thoughts on suicide, within and outside the trans community.
Today Lorraine Anderson, the woman behind The Occasional Woman seamstress and custom costume service, takes on two topics and they are connected. First she brings up the fact that Halloween, the holy day of obligation for crossdressers, is coming in just a few short months. Then she tells you how to shop for costume pieces and accessories in thrift shops.
Tasi Zuriack joins us today in departure from her normal fashion beat. Today she is blogging about her attempt to join a Facebook support group for transgender women over the age of 39. Tasi considers herself to be a transgender woman and she admits to being well over 39. But after she was initially approved for membership the group’s leader rejected her. Read her blog today and decide for yourself if it was a case of not being “trans enough” or if she wasn’t allowed in for some other reason.
Dina’s Diner is always loaded with tasty treats. On the Specials menu today we find a large helping of four young boys in the Philippines who dress in drag and sell peanuts. Then Dina gives us a soupçon of the Chinese talent show contestant Wang Ju, followed by a hefty helping of Serena Williams in fishnets and a tennis dress. Then she spices things up with a search for Russian crossdressers, and brings it all together with the strategies used by Takoyaki vendors in Japan to move more octopus balls. It all adds up to a satisfactory feast that we call Dina’s Diner.
Sophie Lynne is our Page Pundit and today she reviews a 2004 young adult novel title “Luna” by Julie Anne Peters. The story of trans teen Luna is told through the eyes of her younger sister. While Luna is the reason things happen the way they do the sister is a bit preoccupied with how Luna’s transgender nature effects her life. See what else Sophie has to say about the book in today’s Page Pundit review.
Cheryl Ann “Cassie” Sanders had been a contributor to TGForum for several years in our previous incarnation and she has cleaned up some of her old contributions and is sharing them again with a new generation of TGF users. Today she writes about how there is a difference in the way she thinks about men from the way she thought about men before she became Cassie. You might say she has been of two minds on the subject of the attitudes and habits of men. See what she thinks, in both cases, in today’s column, Thinking “Softer” about Men . . . and Love.
Now and then you may hear someone disparage leopard print in fashion as an “old lady” look. Why is that? Because leopard print has been adorning women since the time of the pharaohs. It is found in art work from centuries ago and was very popular in the mid twentieth century. Always coming back into fashion, leopard print is associated with strength, sexiness and feline poise. Today Tasi Zuriack, our Fashion Maven, takes you on a journey to the land of leopard print clothes, gives you some history and shows you how to style if for the most flattering effect.
Today, as always, Sabrina Symington uses her cartooning talent to highlight some aspect of trans life. This time she tells a short tail that makes you wonder why those who believe that trans women aren’t “real” women need to be so angry and aggressive about it. They seem to take their objections and lack of tolerance to new heights. In the case of the TERF portrayed in this cartoon they do so literally.
Lorraine Anderson, the proprietor of seamstress service called The Occasional Woman, has some tips for beating the heat by choosing the proper fabrics for summertime attire. She also offers advice on important steps to take before wearing sandals, and even goes so far as to suggest what perfumes and body spray scents will help you achieve a cooler state of mind when the humidity is high and the unforgiving sun beats down.
Dina Amberle, hostess and head chef at Dina’s Diner has whipped up another delicious confection to tickle your palette. She takes a dash of trans model Hunter Schafer, adds in some male ballerina spice and just a smidgen of African print dresses. Then she blends it all thoroughly and chills it for a bit before topping it off with an appreciation of the way new technology makes Elasticgirl’s body more bouncy in The Incredibles 2. Don’t worry about the calories! Enjoy!
Claire writes today about meeting a controversial figure in the trans community. Caitlyn Jenner. Ms. Jenner arrived in the community when she came out at 64 with no ties to the community. She didn’t even know any transgender people. Then she made several mistakes that opened her up to attacks from some trans community members. Claire was aware of all that when Ms. Jenner came to her area for a college speech. Knowing some would not approve, Claire managed to meet Ms. Jenner and blogs about it today.
The Artist D! has attended their first ever BDSM convention and with the sight of dominatrixes in head to toe latex walking their human “dogs” on leashes and the other somewhat shocking images to be seen at every turn The Artist D! finds a similarity between all conventions that celebrate life styles. And they wonder what the world would be like if the people at BDSM convention, furry conventions, and crossdresser conventions could be totally open and display their inner selves during their everyday life. Get The Artist D!’s other thoughts on the subject in “The Magic of the Gatherings.”
