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.
We all know that RachelX is into S&M and a little bit of pain (or a lot) doesn’t faze her. But her favorite facial hair removal method sounds like it could really hurt. Her torture instrument? Tweezers. But don’t take our word for it. Rachel compares Laser hair removal, electrolysis, and her favorite method — tweezing — and lets you know just how painful each one is and how effective they are for her. Your results may vary.
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.
So you’ve put together a wardrobe of femme fashions. What’s next? Learning how to take care of it so that the classic items will be in good shape for years of future wear and all of it will be clean and tidy. How do you acquire the skills you need to maintain your wardrobe in top condition? Fear not! Victoria Williams has a Video Fashion Tip for that.
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.
Many of us live in fear. Everything from fear of missing a bus to fear of being mugged; fear of paying too much for something or fear of being outed as a crossdresser or TG. All of these fears exist and sometimes, like the one about being outed, the fears can repress us and dominate us. They can keep us from being who we really are. Sophie Lynne has been facing her fears. Today she tells us about them and tells us a secret about fighting fear.
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.
While cruising around the Internet our intrepid music columnist Pamela DeGroff came across a drag queen music classic. She stumbled onto a copy of a 1996 CD release called God Shave The Queen! it features music by 10 artists, most drag queens and the musical genres range from dance to funk, smooth jazz to cabaret, and more. The CD is still available online so check out Pamela’s review and see if you’d like to add it to your music collection.
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 presents a CD fantasy.
There’s more to getting a good photo of your femme self than standing in front of a camera. Wardrobe, hair, makeup and your pose are all essential in making the photo show your femme side. TGF member Leah Valdez has been doing amateur modeling as a female and she has some tips and tricks that will help you look your most feminine in photos whether you take them yourself or go to a professional photographer.
Of all the interviews I have done, this is the most difficult for me since I have known Robin Price for so many years. When I purchased my first home in the early ’70s in San Francisco, he lived across the street. We became friends quickly and though he had retired from Showbiz I learned […]
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.
Nikki Nicole, our contributor with two first names, is full of wisdom. Or silliness. Sometimes it’s hard to distinguish between the two. But today she takes on a topic we often hear about — the bucket list. And she asks the question, “What’s in your wallet?” We don’t expect she really wants you all to send her a list of what’s in your wallet, or even a list of buckets, but we think you’ll agree she covers her topic well and presents us with a bucket filled to overflowing.
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.
The New Jersey Legislature has passed a bill that allows transgendered individuals to change the gender on their birth certificates with only a doctor’s statement that they have undergone treatment for gender transition. They no longer have to have reassignment surgery once the governor signs the bill. Babs Casbar Siperstein looks at this development and some other legal advances TGs have made recently.
It’s a holiday tradition at TGForum that our music columnist Pamela DeGroff uses the last month of the year to review the best of the TG music she has reviewed throughout the year. In today’s column Pamela revisits Michelle Rocking Horse Garcia, Rev. Yolanda, Georgie Jessup, Vicki Estrada, Namoli Brennet, BeThisBell and Ryan Cassata. She also has music news and two mini CD reviews. For everything musical check out Perpetual Change.
RachelX is into whips and chains. Also being wrapped in duct tape, hung from the ceiling in a straight jacket and just about any other fetish found in the initials SMBD. Why does she like it? It’s all about power. Recently Rachel attending a fetish party, or gathering on the retinue of the mistress she serves ,and she illustrates this post why S&M is not what you see in Hollywood movies with some photos from that party.
The Artist D is never one to lack an opinion. Today she has an opinion about words. As The Bee Gees said before they went disco, “It’s only words….” Words can have power. Words can hurt. The Artist D feels that words only have the power to hurt you if you let them. Today her opinion is about the word “tranny” and whether those who use it are automatically doomed to the ranks of the transphobic.
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.
ENDA has long been recognized as an important political bill for the LGBT community. Standing for “Employment Non-Descrimination Act,” the bill has sought to brought about sweeping reform in the workplace, ending by law any discrimination based on gender identity or sexual orientation. In fact, when you consider this definition of ENDA, and our society’s […]
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.
We all, well most of us, like sparkles and beads and glittery jewels to accentuate our beauty. Adorning oneself with jewelry has been a common practice among members of the human race for years and countless years. But what is the right bauble? Should it be beads or pearls? Is silver the proper statement or does it have to be gold? Your jewelry questions are answered by Victoria Williams in this Video Fashion Tip on jewelry.
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.
