Down at Dina’s Diner the coffee is always fresh and there is a great selection of pies and pastries. Today the specials at the Diner include a serving of Brit news woman India Willoughby; an entree of show tunes sung by drag queens in NYC cabarets; and role models for crossdressers — TV news women. Dina also offers some tasty side dishes like the allure of pantyhose and her best wishes for St. Patrick’s Day. Find it all at Dina’s Diner!
News about trans people and themes in movies, books, music and television! Amanda gathers it all together for Trans Media Arts. Today she tells you about a new documentary film titled “Kings, Queens, and In-Betweens” that follows the lives of LGBTQ people in the Buckeye State. Then she has word about an opera featuring a trans lead character, gives you news about Laverne Cox and Caitlyn Jenner, and tops off the column with news about a NYC play looking to cast trans performers. Then she brings it all home with info on the first book in a new Young Adult series about a trans girl who through an act of heroism acquires super powers — and a female body. Get the scoop in today’s edition of Trans Media Arts.
So you’re all dressed up and looking good as an attractive woman should but you’re too worried to go out of the house and mingle with the rest of the world for fear that your male voice will give you away. There is only one remedy for that and it requires doing a lot of work to achieve a believable feminine voice that matches your look. Speech therapist Marc Mitnick has some exercises for you. Whether you are a part time girl or a trans woman these techniques can help you find your feminine voice.
The Artist D is exploring why we have stick with a particular gender. Why not be what we want to be when we want it? Is it really necessary to pick one and move along? Gender fluidity is a growing phenomena in the trans world. Mixing elements of masculine and feminine becomes more common every day. Join The Artist D as she treks into the gender jungle and seeks out bold new ways to live and be happy.
A man named Mark drinks a mysterious potion in a remote cabin and seemingly turns into a woman named Raquel. Running from the cabin after her transformation Raquel finds her old male-self, Mark — now miraculously a separate person. They must cross a lake or die from the cold. TGF contributor Raquel Swann continues her fantasy tale of transformation with Chapter 7. Mark and Raquel have found a rowboat they climb in and begin to row across the lake. But what are those things flying toward them? There are so many of the little monsters! How can they survive?
Get the scoop on The Week In Trans! Today we learn that a modeling agency for trans people is prospering. Juliet Evancho has won the right to use her school’s girls’ room. The Gavin Grimm restroom case goes before the Supreme Court on March 28 and plenty of people are on his side. An Elle Fanning film in which she plays a trans man will be released in May. A Republican representative will reintroduce the Student Non-Discrimination Act since her son is trans. A ten-year-old trans girl delivers a message that points out the craziness of regulating where she can pee. More research on trans people, more stories about trans people. All that and a lot more, along with a few TWIT Awards is waiting for you in TWIT!
Looking for maximum fashion effect? You might want to think about adding a maxi skirt to your wardrobe. But, they’re so long. Can you wear a maxi and not look silly? Tasi Zuriack has the answers to all your questions concerning ways to work a maxi skirt into your style menu. From daytime, at work, to evenings out Tasi shows you how to make the maxi skirt look work for you.
Linda set out to discover what different crossdressers did about “coming out.” She has spoken to one who only told her wife. She wrote about another who hasn’t told anyone, even her wife, and another girl who has told all of her friends and associates about her femme self. Then Linda thought about another friend and she realized she was still on a voyage of personal discovery. Her friend shares Linda’s twist on the nature vs. nurture debate on the formation of one’s desire to crossdress and in today’s post the two go on to talk about what keeps them going.
It’s time for The Week In Trans! Today we learn that after only two episode CBS has canceled it courtroom drama Doubt. Gavin Grimm was misgendered by the complainants in his upcoming Supreme Court case. We examine a raft of stories about the Trump administration’s changes to trans student’s restroom rights. Caitlyn Jenner is upset with Donald Trump. So is Jackie Evancho. Trans helplines are seeing a marked increase in calls. A 17-year-old trans male has won a wrestling title in the girls’ division. There’s all that plus a lot more and several TWIT Awards waiting for you in TWIT!
Trans children are gaining more recognition in the world but there are still far too many who are experiencing rejection by their families, bullying and harassment from their peers and many end up homeless. Cate O’Malley feels it’s up to us, the members of the trans community, to treat these children as if they were our own. She feels it’s up to us to lend our experience and information to the kids and to any parents, guardians or agencies tasked with helping trans kids.
In light of Ms. Bob Davis’s current effort to preserve trans history by turning her massive collection of trans photos, memorabilia and books into an archive that will be available to the public we present a re-run from April of 1998. It is a review of a rare book, a detective story with science fiction overtones that was published in 1907, and features moving the consciousness of a man into the body of a woman. It’s also a satire of the type of detectives stories written at that time.
Diane Hutchinson had a regular column on TGForum back in the 1990s and she covered a variety of how-to topics. This particular column appeared in 1998 and it covers all of the things a would-be crossdresser needs to put some effort into in order to put forth their best feminine image. All of the tips are still good ones to follow today.
Elisabeth Walters, who served as the TGForum night life correspondent for many years, passed away on February 25. Liz started going out in the early 1990s. At ETVC she met TGForum founder Cindy Martin and they became friends. It took several months for both to realize that they shared an office cubicle as newspaper reporters at the San Francisco […]
All aboard the trans news train! The Week In Trans Express is leaving the station with all you need to know about the trans community around the world. Today we learn that the cover boy for CoverGirl makeup is in hot water on Twitter for a bad joke. The Texas legislature is determined to lose the state money by passing a restroom bill. University students are entering their preferred names into the school records. A survey says trans kids who transition early have better mental health. Over 800 parents of trans kids have written a letter to the president urging the government to stand by their children. Caitlyn Jenner explains her mission inside the Republican Party. A trans model is featured on the cover of Vogue Paris. Someone wants to kill Conchita Wurst. There’s all that plus a lot more and several TWIT Awards in this edition of TWIT!
Recognition. Many of us hope for it. To be singled out from the crowd and given a nod or a pat on the back. Others avoid recognition at all costs. Trans people in “stealth” mode for example. They want to be seen as members of their true gender and don’t want anyone telling them how brave they are for being different. So they don’t let the world know. Today Sophie Lynne writes about recognition. Recently she was chosen to appear in a production of The Vagina Monologues and that got her recognition. Because she stepped on to a stage and told her truth. She contrasts that with the recognition she often gets at her workplace. Most of it not good for her soul. Read her post on how she feels about being Recognized.
In the north east we are having an odd spring-in-the-middle-of-winter week. Temperatures will be in the area of 50 to 60 degrees F. all week long. No need for that long wool or down filled coat. Time to shave your legs and wear nude hose. You can forsake the warmth of heavy leggings, layered sweaters and fur lined boots for more spring-like attire. Lorraine Anderson, the seamstress who runs The Occasional Woman custom clothing service, says keep in mind — it will get cold again. So use this warm period to find clearance bargains on coats. And during the warmer week pick up a cool moto jacket. One of those motorcycle jackets that are fashionable and look great with a feminine flouncy skirt.
The article entitled “Are Gender Feminists and Transgender Activists Undermining Science?” (LA Times, February 10, 2017) omits much of the pertinent scientific evidence on gender and obviates a core scientific principle. With respect to gender feminists, the article confuses sex with gender, ignores social anthropology research on culture and omits salient research on transgender causation. […]
Tonight was a rough night. It was bad enough that it made me break into a hard cry. Work is definitely an anxiety trigger for me. I realize this. My retail job puts me right in the middle of hordes of people. That is very hard on a person who fights anxiety. Today it was […]
The night time is a magical time. Whether you are a crossdresser or not the night time has a sense of mystery and wonder. It seems like anything could happen. Our Columbian correspondent has been sending posts about the Princesses of the Night in her city. How the romance and glamor is heightened by the darkness. Today she talks about going out as a woman in the day light. It’s a different experience for sure. Of course she writes en Español so use Google Translate if you don’t know the language.
Every crossdresser has a tale of the first time. The first time they went out into the world of straight people dressed in their finest femme attire. For some it’s attending a Halloween party. Others decide to get dolled up for some event like a concert or trans friendly movie. Today our contributor Porja Braga tells her “first time” story and encourages you to make it a priority to live your “first time” out and about en femme.
Trans people have been around since ancient times. In the recent past of the last 100 years society in the west did not want to acknowledge the existence of trans people. Only in the last 15 – 20 years have we begun to get more attention and recognition as legitimate human beings, not oddities and aberrations. But the very fact that people in the past had to hide their true nature and “pass” as typical members of the straight world means that much of our history has been erased. Some people have been working to save as much of our past as possible. One of those is Ms. Bob Davis. Ms. Bob has a vision for a trans history archive. Learn more about it in an article from The Bay Area Reporter by Gwen Smith. Reprinted with permission.
Welcome Head Mistress Samantha as a TGForum contributor. She has been a strong woman on the trans scene for twenty years and her advice column has appeared in several publications over the years. If you have questions concerning the sissy lifestyle, becoming as mistress or a slave, or just want to chat about girly things with a woman who can give you the benefit of her experience, Samantha is ready to take your call. Today she advises a Type A male who wants to be a sexy blonde housewife.
It’s The Week In Trans! Today we learn that Britain’s Top Model has a trans contestant. The Cub Scouts welcome a trans boy. Israeli trans activist Gila Goldstein has passed away. Laverne Cox debuts on CBS’s Doubt. San Francisco starts a “hire trans” campaign. Amazon Eve goes to a comic book festival in her hometown. Gigi Gorgeous is a lesbian. Trans kids are seeking hormone therapy in Australia at higher rates. In Alberta, Canada it can take months to get trans medical care. Janet Mock has a new book coming in June. There’s a Jazz Jennings doll. Laura Jane Grace appears on The Daily Show to talk about her book. All that plus much more, and a few TWIT Awards, can be found in this edition of TWIT!
Dina Amberle welcomes everyone down at Dina’s Diner and this week she has some new specials on the menu. First up there’s a tasty discussion of genderless danshi, and that’s not sushi. Then she mixes in some pageant gowns, adds a spicy bit of news about a dress that Rose McGowen wore, and adds in a taste of Kodo Nishimura the drag queen monk. After all of that she hopes you have room for a dessert comprised of the sweet and saucy Sisters of Perpetual Indulgence. So stop in, have a seat, order a cup of coffee or tea and enjoy your time in Dina’s Diner.
Last week The Artist D talked about words that are used to hurt us and how those same words can be empowering when we stake a claim to them. Today Christine Burr takes a close look at the various terms that are used, within the trans community and by outsiders, to describe the many components that make up the trans world. She feels that because of all the words unity will be elusive. Give her post a read and see what you think.
We continue the story of a man named Mark who drinks a mysterious potion in a remote cabin and turns into a woman named Raquel. Running from the cabin after her transformation Raquel finds her old male-self — now miraculously a separate person. TGF contributor Raquel Swann continues her fantasy tale of transformation with Chapter 6. Mark and Raquel have providentially found a small rowboat in the nearby lake and they must get to the warmer weather on the other side — before they freeze.
