Linda Jensen records the story of one gorgeous transsexual and finds out that the lady’s first inklings of femininity had less to do with sexual urges or a feeling she should have been born a woman and more to do with a twelve year old boy finding he could pass and be respected as an older teen if he presented as a girl.
In Chapter 1 of “Murder at the Lavender and Leather” TV detective Dawn Benedict is hired to investigate the murder of a woman in the restroom of a popular lesbian bar. The murder victim’s girlfriend hires Benedict since as a crossdresser Benedict has a better chance of blending in with the clientele. In Chapter 2 Benedict starts the investigation and visits The Lavender and Leather. What could go wrong?
From every corner of the world, which has no actual corners, come the TG news of the day! Makeover maven Jodie Lynn is featured in Cosmopolitan U.K. NYC makes is easier to change your documents. The club scene in NYC gets a makeover from Ladyfag. Is the world ready for a all trans girl group? There’s a drag school in New Orleans. A trans girl in Georgia needs a new dress. She’s on the homecoming court. Canadians debate one word in a discrimination bill. Trans kids in New Delhi can go to school for free. All that plus more and a few TWIT Awards are waiting for you in TWIT.
Our young CD contributor has been experimenting with online dating. (Sorry fellas, she’s looking for a lady to love.) For the past three months she has been trying to find the right woman to share her life with. Today she shares some of the things she has learned about looking for love on the World Wide Web. And we have a slideshow of Chanelle giving her impression of a typical “girl next door.”
You may have heard the phrase “less is more.” It means that sometimes the less you work on something trying to perfect it the more effective your efforts can be. Too many notes can ruin a piece of music. Too much color can destroy a painting. Sometimes too much makeup and tight sexy clothing can make you the focus of attention but a bit less artifice can make you be seen as another woman in the room. Victoria Williams talks about how less artifice can be more effective.
Are you happy that The Diagnostic and Statistical Manual of Mental Disorders–5 changed “gender identity disorders” to “gender dysphoria”? If you feel that that is a big win for trans people you should read this post from Dana Bevan. It seems that the DSM is in Bevan’s words “a sham.” It’s not HIPAA compliant and it has become irrelevant to the mental health professions. What we need to change is the ICD. What’s the ICD? Let Dana explain it to you.
Meggan Sommerville is “church shopping.” For various reasons her old congregation was no longer meeting all her needs. Today she tells us why she made the decision to find a new church and what her approach to joining a new congregation will be. Meggan feels that honesty about her past is the best policy. You could tell that from the title of her post.
Transmen, where are you? I don’t know any transmen. I am ashamed to admit it and I am working to correct that shortcoming. I’ve been at gatherings where transmen are present and I briefly speak to them, but I have yet to get to know any and have meaningful and open conversations. I know I’m […]
Our Southern California correspondent Emily Fine has filed a short report on the weeknight scene for TG nightlife. Weeknights are often a good time to attend a TG party for the first time since the crowds may be lighter and you can take your time getting comfortable being out in public en femme. See where Emily recommends for maximum party fun in SoCal.
A drag performer in South Africa satirizes the government, 20 years later. No more “homo panic” or “trans panic” defense in Cali. Facebook apologizes to the queens. Trans candidates stand for election. A fashion show featuring a trans model is canceled. Hijra participate in an Indian festival. Walton Goggins was changed by his role as Venus Van Dam. A trans girl in Canada gets support after being bullied. Who makes those hot drag videos? An Amazing Race contestant is a drag queen. Grayson Perry is in the news. All that plus a bunch of TWIT Awards is waiting for you in TWIT!
There is the fashion faux pas, the mistake, or the wrong choice but then there is the fashion disaster. These often occur when people listen to fashion “experts” and try to make something work that will not work with their particular body type. Or size. Our professional costumer Lorraine Anderson of The Occasional Woman discusses a few fashion “tips” and trends that can make you look like a fashion disaster.
It’s October, which means Halloween, which is my favorite holiday. So I’m going to write about that, right? Nope. I’m going to challenge you, dear reader, with a “what if” scenario. Last week on my blog, I wrote about a dream I had. In this dream, I returned to my fraternity house, where a current […]
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 crossdresser 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 C-J draws an example of a simple misunderstanding.
Legendary female impersonator David de Alba has done interviews with many of the stars of female impersonation. He has kindly consented to allow TGForum to publish some of his interviews. Today we feature de Alba’s interview with another legendary impersonator of days gone by, Laurie Knight. If you like to hear about what it was like in the “good old days” Laurie Knight has a wealth of stories to share. There was the time Knight worked in Bugsy Siegel’s place, and stories from Finocchio’s in San Francisco. Enjoy!
While it’s great to have fun when you’re out and about crossdressed it’s important to be careful. There’s the obvious factor that you’re dressed as a woman and being perceived as female. That opens you to problems from predatory males. Then there’s the worry that you’re not “passing” and someone will get out of line. But the threat our anonymous contributor writes about is one you can easily fix. It’s okay to party but know when to switch from alcohol to soda. Let her experience be your guide.
Crossdressers need role models, people they can look up to whose fashion sense can be trusted as a guide for how to look your best in femme attire. Some crossdressers choose young female pop stars as their role models. Others pick housewives from 1950s sitcoms as the style they want to emulate. Tasi suggests you follow the royal tastes of The Duchess of Cambridge. With Kate Middleton you can’t go wrong.
Pattaya, the beach resort in Thailand, has its share of ladyboys. Most of them are trying to better themselves and get legitimate jobs but there are only so many spots in show biz. Other’s are hoping to meet that wealthy foreign gentleman and move out of Thailand live as his wife. While that does happen from time to time the more likely ending is one of prostitution and crime. Christine Burr takes you on a visit to Pattaya today.
It was the middle of last century. That crazy year 1995. TGForum was still using html code to publish on the thing most people were still using the full name for, the World Wide Web. Back then TGF had a dame who could write a gutsy noir mystery and keep you all worked up like a school girl before prom waitin’ for the next chapter. The doll’s name was Rachael Robbins and her detective was Dawn Benedict, a babe who could work both sides of the gender border while solving a case. Take a trip back to the ’90s as we present “Murder at the Lavender and Leather” in a TGF Rerun.
Pamela DeGroff reviews the Broadcast CD of Hedwig and the Angry Inch which features Neil Patrick Harris as Hedwig. Pam finds that Doogie Howser has a good hard rock voice and uses it to good effect. Pam has audio clips so you can hear samples from some of the songs. Then she has news about Beth Isbell, Coco Peru, Justin Vivian Bond and Storm Florez. Does she stop there? No, she goes on with a mini review to he new Arianna Grande CD and has a mini-mini review of Cherry Cherry Boom Boom with a full track to listen to.
The Artist D comments today on the urgent need our society has to give everyone a single, “real” identity. When people ask The Artist what her “real” name is they just can’t wrap their brains around it being a single letter. Now Facebook has begun to demand “Your papers, please!” and to The Artist D that looks like there is less room for multiple identities than before. How will that affect us?
Our young crossdresser, Chanelle, has words of advice today about how to meet a woman through online dating sites. Funny, but the best piece of the advice she offers is “honesty is the best policy.” It’s not impossible to meet someone who is into all of you, including your desire to dress up. You may not find her right away but if you follow some of Chanelle’s advice you just might meet her. Dating advice from a 20-something? As they say, “out of the mouths of babes.”
Today Victoria goes beyond fashion and asks the question, “How confident are you?” You won’t be able to do the things you want to do en femme unless you beat your fears and learn to be confident. Confidence is more than half of what you need to present yourself as a woman. If you are timid and nervous you will attract attention no matter fashionably dressed you happen to be. After you view Victoria’s video use the comment field to answer her question.
