Tag: featured

Passing Is Possible: Follow The Women

| Oct 10, 2016 | Reply

This is a TGF Retro Rerun from Diane Hutchinson. It originally ran back in the late ’90s. See if you can find some of the 1990s references. Diane wrote about passing tips for doing so. Cate O’Malley’s post today gives her 21st century take on passing so we decided to run Diane’s post from the 20th century. They differ, of course. Diane’s advice is still good for those who want to blend in with the other women in a store, or restaurant. And she and Cate both agree that in case you don’t pass it’s best to not let it bother you. It’s not your problem. So return with us now to those days in the late 20th century and give Diane’s Retro Rerun a read.

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The Week In Trans 10/3/16

| Oct 3, 2016 | Reply

Today we learn that Norway allows legal gender change with an online form. South Africa has so few GRS surgeons it can take 25 years to get an appointment. A documentary show about trans people in the U.K. wins BAFTAs. Boy Meets Girl has been canceled by the Beeb. A list of the 10 most banned books is led by trans themed books. Military medical insurance now covers trans health needs. A candidate for senate in California used drag queens in his TV ad. Lots of legal decisions and lawsuits about restrooms. The Texas Association of Business is against anti-LGBT legislation. A trans rights activist has been paired with Watson to answer questions about trans issues. The staff of Johns Hopkins rebuke Dr. Paul McHugh’s bogus report on trans science. There’s all that and a lot more, plus a handful of TWIT Awards in this edition of TWIT!

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Goodbye Old Friend

| Oct 3, 2016 | Reply

To some people a car is just a method of transportation. They don’t name it, or give it a gender identity. They just keep it running and trade it in after a couple of years. Other folks look at their cars as more like a friend who is with them on the journey of life through all its twists and turns. Along with sudden stops. Amanda has had Maxx in her life for many years. He moved her from Pittsburgh to South Carolina and then all the way across the country to the Bay Area. But Maxx is no longer young. His calipers tend to squeal and his gaskets aren’t as tight as they used to be. Maybe it’s time for Amanda to consider getting a new friend.

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Unintended Column

| Oct 3, 2016 | Reply

What do you do when the path you have chosen, the path you must follow, takes you to territory that hurts? Takes you to a place where abuse and disrespect are common treatment and there is no, or very little relief. Our dear Sophie Lynne took the path she had to follow and it lead her to that place. A place where her family stepped away from her. A place where crying herself to sleep was the norm. She tried and tried but there was pain. So, she made a plan. A plan for a solemn morning in the peace of Valley Forge Park. But, when that morning came and she was there, alone with the pre-dawn wildlife and her thoughts — she let go of her plan.

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The Occasional Woman — It’s Fall! Stay Colorful

| Oct 3, 2016 | Reply

Some people feel that with the fall season comes a return to darker colors. They see black tights with brown and gray skirts and tops as appropriate for the season as the weather turns cold and damp. Lorraine Anderson, the woman behind The Occasional Woman custom clothing and alteration service says “Pshaw!” There’s no need, in her view, that fall clothes need to be drab clothes. A colorful top paired with a dark skirt and hose can lighten your mood as the chill winds of autumn blow. Give her fashion post a read and pick up some tips on how to stay bright in this darker season.

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Red Patent Heels & Other Inanities

| Oct 3, 2016 | Reply

Falecia keeps her totally en femme self indoors but goes out and about to run errands in an androgynous mode. She and her wife have an understanding about the extent of Falecia’s crossdressing. It only goes so far and it doesn’t go out the door in a dress and high heels. Today Falecia muses on what might happen if she did begin to present herself to the world as a woman. Would she be drawn toward bigger changes in her life? Would she want to be a woman 24/7? See what she decides about that question in this post.

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Crossdresser Memories, Chapter 4

| Oct 3, 2016 | Reply

Julie Gaum is 91. She’s been crossdressing since she was 15, after an earlier incident at age 7. Now she has written a book to share her story with the world. The book is called “Never Climbed His Mountain.” In the last chapter of her story she graduated from Wharton and went to Hollywood to work in the film industry. Then she found herself romantically involved with a Hungarian woman while Julie collected more women’s clothes in secret. At the end of Chapter 3 she was working for a home improvement chain in Canada and logging many miles on the lonely road.

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The Week In Trans 9/26/16

| Sep 26, 2016 | Reply

It’s the number one compilation of all the trans news we can find! It’s The Week In Trans! What do we learn this Monday? Jeffrey Tambor won an Emmy for Transparent and hopes he’s the last cis male to play a trans character. A new documentary looks at a marriage when the husband transitions. International pageant news from Spain and Thailand. Gavin Grimm’s case “might” not get taken up by the Supreme Court. An Ecuadorian trans couple are parents. A trans boy in Wisconsin is allowed into the proper facility. A NYC drag artiste transforms in Times Square. Tracey Norman is back in the modeling biz. New guidelines for trans people in shelters. Lots of info on the TV show Strut. There’s all that plus some more and a whole load of TWIT Awards! Don’t miss your TWIT!

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Dina’s Diner 9/26/16

| Sep 26, 2016 | Reply

Slide into a booth at Dina’s Diner. Order a cup of coffee and settle in for some tasty treats from your hostess. Today Dina Amberle comments on the current movement toward “no makeup.” Oh the horror! Bare faces in public?! But Alicia Keys is one of those who is going without makeup and it’s stirred up quite a controversy. Then Dina comments on people who commented on photos of a teacher that had people saying she shouldn’t dress like that in class. Add in a dash of Disney princesses — all from one young man — and then round it all out with an observation about tattooed crossdressers. It’s all part of today’s special served up at Dina’s Diner.

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Perpetual Change — Shawna Virago Interview

| Sep 26, 2016 | Reply

Shawna Virago, the San Francisco based singer/songwriter, was last interviewed on TGForum when her Objectified album came out. Today Pamela DeGroff checks in with Ms. Virago and learns that she is now working on a new album. The interview covers touring, her work with a dance troupe, and her politics and musical influences. If you haven’t met her before give Perpetual Change a read and learn all about Shawna Virago. Then Pamela gives you a mini review of a new album from a group called Tritonal. Listen to one of their new tracks right here.

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Self-confidence Let’s You Take Control

| Sep 26, 2016 | Reply

Occasional contributor Kristina Mayhem has sent us an article about self confidence. Aside from the way you look when you are presenting as a femme person one of the biggest assets to being accepted as one is self confidence. If you walk with a confident air that says you have every right to wear that dress the only looks you get will be appreciative. If you act timid or nervous you will draw unwanted attention as those around you wonder why you are acting that way. Kristina has a list of confidence builders you can use to help you boldly go wherever you like as a self-assured, confident woman.

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Understanding Freedom

| Sep 26, 2016 | Reply

The word “freedom” is tossed about a lot these days. Some would argue that there’s no such thing as pure freedom. There is always something that restrains people from doing whatever they want to do whenever they want to do it. But in general freedom is used in our society to mean you can do what you want if you can afford it and you’re not breaking any laws. The right wing uses “freedom” a lot but they seem to think people exercising their freedom to be themselves somehow takes their freedom away. Here is a column about freedom from our contributor Diane Hutchinson’s husband.

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New Federal Civil Rights Rules Protect Gender Transition

| Sep 26, 2016 | Reply

Marc Mitnick writes about the new federal civil rights rules that protect a trans person’s right to transition. In the past health care providers have been turning away trans patients or treating them badly. Now with new regulations from the federal government any health care providers who receive federal money to subsidize their services must no discriminate against patients who fall into several categories, including being trans. Marc has all the details in his post today.

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Trans People are not Gay — Except for the Gay Ones

| Sep 26, 2016 | Reply

(Philadelphia, PA) – There is a popular conflation of homosexuality and transgenderism that is both inaccurate and can lead to misunderstandings about transgender people, according to transgender surgeon, Dr. Sherman Leis, founder of the Philadelphia Center for Transgender Surgery and a pioneer in the field. Dr. Leis notes that Transgenderism relates to gender identity while […]

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Metamorphosis – A Transgender Odyssey

| Sep 26, 2016 | Reply

Today we begin a tale of metamorphosis — of transmogrification, if you will. A young man who likes pretty things, and feminine expression is faced with a choice. Will he choose to drink the old crone’s potion on the chance that it will transform him into a woman? Is it really what he desires in his heart of hearts? New TGF contributor Raquel Swann has crafted a fantasy tale that starts with that choice. Where will it lead? Start your journey to enlightenment as we present chapter one of “Metamorphosis – A Transgender Odyssey.”

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The Week In Trans 9/19/16

| Sep 19, 2016 | Reply

It’s all the trans news from around the world in our news feature, The Week In Trans! RuPaul wins an Emmy. The NBA and the NCAA abandon North Carolina over HB2. California has a program to hire trans restaurant staff. A trans immigrant is suing Mike Pence to change his name. A Dominican woman was arrested and housed with male prisoners after she was misgendered. A trans woman soldier is on the front-lines. A German drag queen sues a right wing group for hate speech. Trans actor Jen Richards has been cast in “Nashville.” Chaz Bono is scary on “AHS.” Chelsea Manning ends her hunger strike with the promise of GRS. All that plus more stories from around the world and a boatload of TWIT Awards are waiting for you in TWIT!

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The Bell Sleeve and Return to the ’70s

| Sep 19, 2016 | Reply

Our fashion maven, Tasi Zuriack, touts the adaptability and style of the bell sleeve. Whether on tops or dresses the bell sleeve adds a feminine boho touch to any outfit. With different accessories and fabrics they can work on anyone and go anywhere. Check out this primer on how to wear bell sleeves and look fabulous.

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The Authenticity of the Sloven Beast

| Sep 19, 2016 | Reply

Today The Artist D looks at the price of fashion and beauty. Not how much it costs in dollars to look fabulous. She’s talking about the work you need to do in order to walk out that door drop-dead gorgeous. So many people seem to think that it’s okay to go out in flip flops and a torn t-shirt. The Artist D believes that it happened because people wanted to be “authentic.” They don’t want artifice to obscure who they really are. Then someone had to go to the supermarket in pajama pants and it’s been down hill from there.

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GRS: More than a little penectomy, orchiectomy, and vaginoplasty

| Sep 19, 2016 | Reply

Canadians have the advantage of getting their healthcare taken care of by their government. There is no need for health insurance in Canada as each citizen has government paid healthcare. But, and you knew there just might be a “but,” trans people in Canada can get their GRS covered — and nothing more. The government plan does not pay for removal of testes, hormones, breast implants, trachea shaves or voice surgery. Linda Jensen tells the story of one woman, along with several comments from other trans women, and lays out the case for the health plan to cover more.

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When they call Us selfish

| Sep 19, 2016 | Reply

Sometimes it seems like trans folk are held to a different standard than everyone else. Today Sabrina Symington uses her cartoon art to comment on other people who can be just as “selfish” when it comes to their lives.

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Diversity

| Sep 19, 2016 | Reply

If you look at the trans community as an outsider you see a vast range of gender identities. There are people who claim no gender and their are people who are gender-fluid, going back and forth between binary poles. Feminine one day and later that day butch as a pro wrestler. It can be confusing and Christine Burr thinks is contributes a bit to the negative reactions conservative, judgemental people have when they read about or meet people from across the gender spectrum. Will the conservative mind ever be able to appreciate the beauty of the trans spectrum?

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Hair Today — Epilators: A Review

| Sep 19, 2016 | Reply

In her ongoing battle with body hair Emyli Evyrling obtained a device that some liken to a medieval torture machine — an epilator. The epilator has spinning discs or springs that grab leg hair (or other body hair) and swiftly jerk it out of your skin. Longer lasting smoothness is one benefit of the epilator method of hair removal but is it worth the pain? Emyli tells us today about her new Phillips epilator and how it gets the job done.

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The Week In Trans

| Sep 12, 2016 | Reply

Time for The Week In Trans! Today we learn that two notable personalities in the trans community have passed away: The Lady Chablis at the age of 59, and Alexis Arquette at the age of 47. GRS is now legal in the United Arab Emirates. RuPaul will give an inspirational talk. The creator of Susan’s Place has transitioned. Airbnb promises to stop discrimination in its rentals. A trans woman is running for the Washington state legislature. A defaced Bettie Page mural is fixed and Divine joins her on the wall. Andreja Pejic attended Burning Man and it was hot. Trans Bolivians can get correct gender ID. Melissa Sklarz joins the team at the TLDEF. All that plus more and a load of TWIT Awards is waiting for you in TWIT!

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Mayer and McHugh Part II

| Sep 12, 2016 | Reply

A recent report in The New Atlantis, a quarterly journal with conservative or skeptical tendencies was about a “study” done by two individuals, Mayer and McHugh, who oppose the idea that trans people are real. They ascribe trans behavior to mental illness or a phase of child development. Their “study” has been picked up and disseminated by right wing media outlets. Our own scientist in residence, Dr. Dana Bevan, has been going through the Mayer and McHugh “study” point by point and reveals how the authors cherry picked their data. Today she argues that the Mayer & McHugh Report seeks to bring about the end of gender.

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Visit to a Trans Sex Party

| Sep 12, 2016 | Reply

Contributor Jamie Fenton attends a sex party in San Francisco that welcomes trans people and those who are “trans attracted.” Jamie is suitably attired for the evening’s activities in panties, a slip, and thigh hi stockings. The rest of the crowd is either also scantily clad or naked. What went on at the party? Jamie let’s you know in this post, and she gives you the information you need to find such a party in your area. Be advised that this post is about sex so if you are easily shocked it may be a post you should skip.

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Being “Out” Is Now In

| Sep 12, 2016 | Reply

Our political correspondent Babs Casbar Siperstein has met a number of trans women who have worked hard, gotten educated and made their way successfully in the business world. Now she is happy to report that two of them have decided to leave their mainstream jobs behind to devote themselves to working for the trans community. What’s exciting is that there are now organizations that serve trans people’s needs that can hire people for real salaries. Meet two of Bab’s friends who are now gainfully employed in a trans organization.

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