There is nothing like a cartoon to point out hypocrisy and double standards. That’s why we love Sabrina Symington. Today she takes aim at people who are prime examples of cognitive dissonance, who hold one idea about one group of people’s rights and another idea about their own rights.
Linda (in drab) spots another t-girl approaching down the Walmart aisle. Do they meet? Do they chat? Will this be the beginning of a long and cherished friendship? No, not quite. Today Linda explores the things that kept her from meeting and befriending a fellow devotee of the femme lifestyle. And looking back on the almost encounter Linda wonders if her body language might have scared the gal off.
Guest Contributor Melanie Yarborough of Neutral Corner support group in San Diego attended San Diego’s annual LGBT film festival and saw a screening of the controversial film Anything. It’s the story of a man who loses his wife in an auto accident and moves to Los Angeles to live with a relative. Moving into his own place he meets a transgender sex worker and they connect in a complimentary way. The controversy is around the casting of a cisgender male actor in the transgender role. Read Melanie’s thoughts on the controversy.
Dina’s Diner always has the freshest ingredients and the finest spices. When Dina Amberle whips up a recipe it always includes tangy tastes and delivers hearty intellectual nutrition. Today Dina uses such items as the beauty pageant scandal in Venezuela along with the seeming contradiction of acceptance of LGBT people and the Catholic foundation of the Philippines with some princesses and a rainwear fetish stirred in to create another tasty edition of Dina’s Diner.
Do you recall a time when no one except the fringe members of society had piercings and tattoos? Remember when “punks” listened to punk rock music and wore mohawk hair styles, and put safety pins everywhere? Even through their noses. Now it’s 2018 and depending where you live you are likely to see a lot more body art and piercing. While people still gasp at shocking modifications like large holes in cheeks and screw-in horns, for the most part no one notices the pierced lip, pierced nose or eyebrow. Today M, our youth correspondent, talks about writing. What M hopes for is a day when LGBTQ people are not noticed anymore than a tongue piercing or two earrings on a dude. A day when all the young LGBTQ writers grow up and write about LGBTQ issues and desires.
Cassie feels that it’s best to never tell your wife that you spend time away from her dressing in women’s clothes. All those “business” trips should remain strictly business trips and your wife doesn’t need to know about you releasing your feminine side in public. While “honesty is the best policy” Cassie feels that honesty is overrated and it’s more likely to lead to heartache than relief from the guilt you feel over sneaking around behind your wife’s back. But, if you’re not married yet Cassie recommends that you tell your girlfriend about your femme pursuits. What is her rational for these bits of advice? Read on and find out.
Debbie Louise Cannon is a Transformation Coach who has been going through her own transgender transition since July 2012. Debbie helps people by facilitating the process of overcoming their main fears and all the obstacles preventing them from following their truth. Today she talks with The Artist D! about how she works to help trans people live their truth.
In 2014 Dana Bevan asked the question, “Whatever Happened to Transgender Support Groups and Conventions?” Since then she has been collecting answers and putting together this report on the state of the transgender community. What did she find? That, like all things, the transgender support group scene has been evolving. Read “Transgender Support: Found:” and learn how it has evolved.
What’s cooking down at Dina’s Diner this week? Dina has several special items on the menu. Learn about the Japanese reliving the ’80s with tiara wearing “Princess Parties.” Then she stirs in a soupçon of the the phenomenon of androgynous models and wonders aloud if the thrill is gone, or if the models are still there but no longer shocking. Then she blends equal portions of the appeal of large hoop earrings and the “first pitch girls” of South Korea. She rounds it all off with the attraction of beautiful, professional, and intelligent television presenters. It’s all ready to be served up hot and spicy down at Dina’s Diner.
On behalf of a trans friend who wanted to begin transition The Artist D! began to make inquiries in her town about where to go for hormone therapy and eventual gender confirmation surgery. Believing that her city was one of the bigger, more progressive areas in the USA D expected things to proceed fairly quickly in the search for information. Apparently their expectations were too high. It seems The Artist D!’s “big city” is not as well informed about transgender issues as they thought. Which leaves D wondering what trans people in really remote small towns do for medical care.
Spring is in the air and spring fashions have wandered off of the runway and into many women’s closets. How do you determine which of the many springtime looks is right for you? With help and advice from Lorraine Anderson, the woman in the know when it comes to fashion! Lorraine is the owner of The Occasional Woman custom clothing and alterations service. Now, let’s leap into spring fashion!
Dina Amberle scans the media to dig in deep on stories that resonate with her crossdressing side. Today she praises Nicole Maines’ op-ed on a federal judge nominee and talks about other nominees of the current administration who hold awful views. Then it’s on to look closer at where it’s safe to be transgender, as inspired by the story of drag performer Maxi Glamour that we reported last week in TWIT. Mix in some thoughts on K D Lang’s androgyny, add a bit of Japanese bondage, and round it all out with rumination on Brooke Shields at 52 and you have a recipe that’s sure to sell out down at Dina’s Diner.
This ad won’t be running. Linda, MBICD, learns that a popular online dating service that she has relied on for many years to provide companions when she went out of town for a crossdressed holiday has suddenly closed up shop after a new rule is put into place by the government. She wonders what happens next. What’s a girl with needs to do?
When we’re young it’s easier for some males to make themselves pretty and be passable females. Those who have the advantage of a smaller frame or shorter stature can feminize themselves fairly well. As we age, after a certain point, we may not be able to continue to present as head turning hotties but we may be able to blend in more seamlessly. Why? Age causes features to soften and we actually get shorter. In many cases senior women and men are only differentiated by a little makeup and a different type of clothing. Pauline Estelle has some tips on how to take advantage of your senior status to just be one of the older girls.
Dina Amberle is always cooking up something tasty at Dina’s Diner. She uses the freshest ingredients culled from the news of the day. For today’s Blue Plate Special she starts with a portion of RuPaul controversy. Then she adds some information on trans tourism that will stimulate an appetite. Dina adds some spice to the dish with an appreciation of fishnet hosiery and she finishes the meal off with some musing about how crossdressing changes people’s personalities and devotes time to the preparation of a tasty dessert filled with cheerleaders and college dance teams. If you want to be fully satisfied the place to be is Dina’s Diner.
Everyone wants to feel attractive. Cisgender women, trans women, and crossdressers want to look good and attract attention. The right kind of attention, though. In these days of #MeTo and the exposure of sexual harassment in many areas is it possible to look attractive without garnering too much of the wrong kind of attention? Angela Gardner examines sexual attraction in our culture and gives her thoughts on how much attraction is too much. Give her opinion piece a read and add your comments on the subject.
It’s fairly certain that as the LGBTQ right movement grew there would be those in conservative circles who saw our existence as a threat to their way of life. With the Trump administration coming to Washington on a wave of evangelical support we have seen roll backs of regulations and legal interpretations that were put in place during the Obama years to guarantee everyone’s rights. The trans in the military ban was the first step in a campaign to stop the forward movement of the LGBTQ community. Beverly Anne Thomas has some insight into how the right wing’s battle plans were made.
Our Man in a Dress, Graham Holmes, writes about the “boy in a dress” character on the reboot of the Roseanne television show that premiers March 27 on ABC. The boy who wears girl’s clothes is played by Ames McNamara and the character’s name is Mark Conner-Healy. He is the son of one of the Connor family women. Graham has a lot to say about assumptions made about the character by the show’s producers. See if you agree, or disagree with his assessment.
Welcome to Dina’s Diner! The coffee is always brewing. Dina has specials of the day, and there’s pie! Today’s specials include Dina’s commentary on Tasi Zuriack’s commentary on how the umbrella term “transgender” has started to push out crossdressers and only apply to those who are going to transition. Then she has thoughts on all the kids who are reporting that they are trans, musings on pre-teen drag queens, and the trials and tribulations of being a working drag performer. For dessert she offers some thoughts on the royals depicted in The Crown. Take a seat at the counter or hop into a booth. Time to eat your fill at Dina’s Diner!
How many times have you been around other people who were joking or commenting negatively on a trans person they have seen? Our guest contributor Sophia Swift gives her opinion on people who have to give their opinion when they may, without knowing it, be talking to a trans person — either someone who has transitioned, or a trans person projecting the opposite of their true self. No one should be forced to endure someone’s anti-trans statements.
The Artist D! examines the recent controversy over the tussle between anti-sexual harassment activist and author Rose McGowen and a trans woman during an appearance by McGowen at a Barnes & Noble book event. The trans woman asked McGowen a question about remarks she made on RuPaul’s podcast. At sometime during McGowen’s response things went sideways and soon the two were shouting at each other and neither one was listening. The Artist D! has listened to the shouting and within it she finds rage and pain but she can’t locate the anti-trans statements attributed to McGowen. She includes the video of the incident in this post along with her analysis.
Our Fashion Maven Tasi Zuriack takes a fashion break and writes today about crossdressing in general. She asks if crossdressers even exist. Since many of our readers identify as crossdressers we suspect that they do exist. TGForum’s official policy on crossdressers is that they exist under the transgender umbrella. They’re part of the transgender community and the Tasi points out that the word “transgender” may be causing problems for people who just like to dress up like ladies and feel pretty. Read on and see what you think.
Babs Casbar Siperstein, our political correspondent shares some thoughts on Chelsea Manning’s big to compete in the primary for Maryland’s senate seat. Then she updates you on the progress on trans issues being made in New Jersey now that their unpopular governor has left office and been replaced with a Democrat.
Constant vigilance is necessary as the media are often not through in researching who they use as an “expert” in shows dealing with trans issues. Dana Bevan is always on the look out for the inclusion of discredited “experts” and she recently caught one on the TLC show I Am Jazz. The offender in question was Susan Bradley, formerly of the Clarke Institute which morphed into the now closed Canadian Addiction and Mental Health (CAMH) center. Bradley is against allowing trans kids to be the gender they feel. Read on and find out what other misinformation the show allowed to air.
Today Kimberly offers advice on preparing to take that big step that takes you out of your closet and into the world. Before you jump into a dress and heels and walk out the door there are some things you need to check, and some questions you need to answer. Are you ready to go public? Have you practiced being feminine? Is your outfit attractive but bland enough to blend in with the other women you will be mingling with? I you bread cover working? Have you worked on a feminine voice if someone asks you a question? If you get “read” will you run home? If people point at you and laugh will you be upset?
If you weren’t socialized from an early age as a female you may have to work at presenting yourself to others as a woman. Women are raised soaking in culturally imposed gender related behaviors that trans women don’t get exposed to. Trans women often spend too many years learning to hide their femininity so as to fit in with societal expectations of how they should behave as men. Christine Burr came to understand that she was female after she reached middle age. She had to work to acquire the traits of a mature woman and new when she is expressing her true gender she is left wondering if she is acting.
