We welcome a new contributor to TGF. Terri Lee Ryan is a woman who was married to a crossdresser. Unlike some spouses of CDs when she discovered he was a crossdresser (after wondering where her pantyhose kept disappearing to) she took the time to get to know her husband’s femme side and they added “her” to their lives. Now Terri is producing television shows about crossdressing. Meet her and maybe you can be on TV.
Christine-Jane has been commenting on the crossdressing lifestyle for years. First appearing in trans-magazines and newsletters before there was an Internet, she now comes to TGForum to skewer corssdresser foibles and fears with her pens and pencils. If the ladies in her cartoons seem familiar it’s because they are. We’ve all either met them or been them. Today she sketches one of a CD’s greatest fears.
Graham Holmes, our man in a dress, went on holiday in November. The spot he usually went to on the island of Grenada had closed so he was facing a trip to a new resort. His efforts before the holiday to inform the establishment of his sartorial habits caused confusion and initial rejection but thanks to a woman he knew from his previous Grenada vacations it was all sorted out and the vacation was a go. How did it turn out?
Nikki Nicole has been out and about in the transgender community for only a year. Now she takes some time to look back and see who she was a year ago and who she is today. Thinking about how she got to where she is she asked herself the question, “What would my life be without my feminine side?” Find out how she answered the question and read “Free to be Nikki.”
New years are seen as chances for new beginnings. We can stop the negative things we’ve been doing and make a change for the better. If you have been reading Dee Levy’s Crossdresser’s Wife posts you all ready know that what she counsels all CDs and TGs who are in relationships to do is come clean in the new year. Look your partner in the eye and give them the whole story. Read Truth and see if you can take that challenge.
Most crossdressers and many transgendered people remain in the closet for one reason — fear. They fear rejection by their family and friends so they keep quiet about their hidden nature. But the pressure to tell someone, sometime, becomes greater and greater every day. The hiding produces guilt and can lead to many negative physical and psychological problems. If a TG comes out to their spouse how should the spouse react? Find out in this post from T.R.U.S.T.
Remember when you were just starting to crossdress? Or maybe you’re at the stage now. What you needed was good information on how to achieve the look you desired. Of course there’s the Internet and there are a few books available that tell how to master the various skills necessary. Today we review the newest “how-to” book to join the pile. A follow up to Carollyn Olson’s first how-to book More Tricks of The Trade brings together a number of experts. Read Gina Vizavi’s review.
The old saying “you can’t judge a book by it’s cover” is often not taken seriously enough in today’s world. What’s on the inside is what counts, not the way the package is wrapped — but there are stereotypes. No matter what part of society you’re moving around in you will find stereotypes and we do have them in the transgender community. Today Linda Jensen catches up with a friend who has a story about a stereotype that was held by a nightclub owner she had just met.
Did you know keeping secrets can have negative physical consequences? Sure, you’ve been keeping your crossdressing a secret because you fear negative physical consequences from your loved ones or associates. Fear of the negative reaction of friends, family and society in general is what makes a transgendered person keep their inclinations a secret. Dr. Dana Bevan tells us about the effects of keeping the real you a secret.
Our Doodle contributor from England, Catie Maye, is not only a cartoonist but she is an author. Her book, set to be released in the U.K. in early February, is title Men Can Wear Dresses Too. It tells the story of Catie’s life and incorporates information taken from the most influential and respected surveys of the past 40 years. By special arrangement with her publisher, Authorhouse, we’re happy to bring you an excerpt from the book.
Lorraine Anderson is a seamstress and theatrical costumer who has been making clothing for the crossdressing community for many years. What started as a sideline to help her crossdressing friends has become a business called The Occasional Woman. Tell Lorraine what kind of dress you want and she can make it for you. Today she begins a new column on TGF giving advice and counsel to those who wish to dress in women’s clothing and look good doing it. Today — the basics.
Many crossdressers say they just want to blend in but then you find them wearing outfits that make them stand out. Not because they are so well put together but because they are badly coordinated and not age or place appropriate. So Tasi Zuriack says why not standout from the crowd in an attractive way that makes the first comment your provoke be about how great your outfit is and not something on the order of “That guy’s dress is awful.” Get fashion advice on how to find your go-to look so you can dress to impress.
So you’ve acquired lady’s clothing, accessories, shoes, jewelry and the undergarments you need to totally dress in femme fashion. But how do you decide what goes with what? Putting an outfit together is more than just throwing on some clothing. The stylish woman makes her clothing work together. Each piece compliments or reflects every other item of her attire. Victoria Williams gives you some pointers in today’s Video Fashion Tip, Putting Yourself Together.
Our correspondent in Thailand had an opportunity to get together with old friends and talk about this, that and the other thing. The “other thing” that came up was how they were all living parallel lives, being successful males in one life and secretly (or mostly secretly) expressing their feminine sides. Meet Marc, Trevor and Roland and see if they sound like your long lost sisters.
Can crossdressers be self centered? Narcissistic? Lack empathy for their spouses? Sure. But so can football fanatics or obsessed collectors. Today Dee Levy reminds CDs that it’s the holiday season and it might be nice to consider the feelings of spouses and family a bit more at this time of year. Of course Dee was married to a seriously self centered CD and she’s still more than a little angry about it but her cautionary tales may help you to see if you’re a bit too obsessed for the season.
Don’t you find you have a tendency to see transgendered people everywhere? Look at that woman over there. Isn’t she a bit tall? That jawline is a bit heavy, don’t you think? Well, large hand. Do you suppose? It’s an easy practice to fall into and when we spot someone we think is TG we want to somehow let them know that we know and that it’s okay because we’re TG too. But it doesn’t always work out.
Did you enlist in the armed forces to escape your transgender tendencies? Did you get married believing that settling down in a committer relationship would “cure” you? Is that really what goes on with TGs who enlist or get married? Some studies say yes, enlisting in the armed forces is a flight to hyper masculinity. Having to be the “man” in a relationship may be seen as another “cure” for TG issues. But are these behaviors what they appear to be? Could there be another reason why TGs join the military or get married? Dr. Dana Bevan has another hypothesis.
Christine-Jane has been commenting on the crossdressing lifestyle for years. First appearing in trans-magazines and newsletters before there was an Internet, she now comes to TGForum to skewer corssdresser foibles and fears with her pens and pencils. If the ladies in her cartoons seem familiar it’s because they are. We’ve all either met them or been them. Today she comments on the secret life of CDs.
People say they don’t like other people who play games. Let’s face it, many, many people are game players. There are all those video games and social media games and a plentiful number of old fashioned board games. So, yes, people don’t like it when you play games with their affections but games in general are a cherished tradition in our world. Today Nikki Nicole asks if you’ve ever played one of those old style board games. Maybe you’ve heard of TransGenderLand?
Most crossdressers understand that the women they are attracted to may not be interested, or even revolted, by the idea of dating a crossdressing male. So the majority of CDs keep it on the down low and do not tell potential partners that they have an advanced feminine side. This often ends up with the woman they do partner with having an image in her mind of her man. One that does not match the whole man, and that leads to problems. Get a woman’s perspective on this male image, with a bit of help from Tasi.
There is a organization in central Pennsylvania called T.R.U.S.T. (Truth, Respect, Understanding and Support for Life’s Transitions) Their mission is to help spouses and significant others begin to understand that living with a crossdresser or transitioning spouse is complex and requires the components of the group’s name in order to navigate your life with that […]
TGs often find themselves sexually aroused when they first begin to experiment with dressing up. While some claim they were never aroused by their crossdressing others in the community seem to be turned on at the drop of a high heeled pump. What does the science behind sexual arousal say about the erotic pull of femme attire for MtFs? Doctor Dana Bevan tells us in today’s post.
Linda Jensen winters in Florida. Today she recounts a shopping adventure she experienced when she went to Beall’s department store to buy just one single bathing suit. How was she to know that the advertised discounts were bolstered by more markdowns in the store? And, when she saw the sign promising an additional 50% off all clearance items what could she do but dive into the racks?
Christine-Jane has been commenting on the crossdressing lifestyle for years. First appearing in trans-magazines and newsletters before there was an Internet, she now comes to TGForum to skewer corssdresser foibles and fears with her pens and pencils. If the ladies in her cartoons seem familiar it’s because they are. We’ve all either met them or been them. See if her subject is of an historic nature.
It’s a pictorial feature on the 45th Annual Henri David Halloween Ball. The event happens in Philadelphia, Pa. and every year a couple thousand people (or more) get rigged out in costumes that range from banal to absolutely amazing. When people say that you can see anything at a Henri David Ball they mean everything. Check out the photos and see what we mean.
