Protests
A week ago Sophie Lynne marched in a peaceful protest in State College, Pa., the home of Penn State University. Now that some time has passed Sophie had thought about the experience and gives you her conclusions in today’s blog.
Tag: opinion
Dina’s Diner, June 1, 2020
Dina Amberle has been on the kitchen at Dina’s Diner cooking up a passel of good brain food. Some of her ingredients in today’s fare includes a trans woman who went from wearing frilly clothes, heels and makeup to being comfortable with herself in no makeup and more androgynous clothes. Then she stirs in several paragraphs on the male geishas of Japan, blends in some dish on a man who gave up med school to make copies of all of Madonna’s video costumes so he could wear them, and spices it all up with the inspiration she found in What’s My Line? and an experiment that put men into women’s bathing suits. To savor the full taste and aroma of today’s dish you have to step into Dina’s Diner.
Dressing Up in Lock Down
With the pandemic disrupting our lives it’s hard to concentrate on what to wear while we isolate. Our correspondent from north of the border, Pauline Estelle, has some tips on how those of you who can indulge in femininity while in isolation can take advantage of the lack of interaction with your friends who may not know about your crossdressing to express yourself in the comfort of your home. And, she has hopes that some summer dressing will be able to happen and she has outfit recommendations for the warmer days ahead.
Dina’s Diner, May 4, 2020
Today’s Diner special has an Asian flavor as chef Dina Amberle heats up her wok with pretty male baseball players competing in a beauty contest in Japan. Then she turns to another pot simmering on the stove that is filled with a female swimmer’s misunderstanding of drag queens. Meanwhile, baking in the oven is a bit on color matching for ballerinas’ footwear and a loaf of glamor gratification from a NYC lady who wears her party attire while working from home. Dina rounds it off with a tasty commentary about crossdressers and their attraction to swimwear. For a hearty lunch or dinner you can’t beat Dina’s Diner!
Oppression Continues During the COVID Crisis
During the current crisis things are tough all over but marginalized transgender people are being hit harder than most. Today Claire Hall discusses the threats to trans people that were present before the pandemic and are exacerbated by it. She does see some positives however. Give her blog a read and see if you agree.
Somewhere On Facebook
Living in the 21st century we are now able to use the internet to learn things, communicate with others and even set up musical jam sessions with players located at many different places. This wonderful technology is even more useful and important during the current pandemic. That said, some of the social networking that goes on seems to be more “anti-social.” Rather than unite the transgender community platforms like Facebook seem to be doing more to divide us. Today Julie Slowinski has some thoughts on this phenomena.
When I am SHE I am not HE
Christine Burr has been living her life in two genders. Doing her job as a male, a successful male, and enjoying her a social life based on expressing her femininity. She has been able to transform from male to female presentation and finds that when she is being “her” all traces of “him” seem to evaporate. Everything male is gone. In today’s blog she wonders just where it is “he” goes while she is being herself.
Normal Is A Setting on Your Washer
What is “normal”? We live in a world where people always want a label to use in defining themselves and others. Jaelle Tarrell finds that when it comes to the many labels that exist for those who don’t fit into generally seen categories of gender identity and sexuality, or asexuality, things can get confusing. She finds that “normal” is not necessarily normal.
Ask Amanita
Do you have a gender question and don’t know where to turn? If so Ask Amanita! Amanita is a gender counselor who offers counseling to trans people around the world online. We’re happy to have her available here on TGForum. Today Amanita answers a question how to cope as an isolated trans person in a quarantined world.
Am I Trans Enough?
Christine Burr is with us this week with a new post. She has been pondering questions about the nature of her transgender identity. Why write a book about the questions she is grappling with? For one thing getting it all down on paper helped her get some clarity. She defines what she sees as the three different varieties of male bodied people who crossdress. There’s the part time crossdresser who is content to wear some lingerie, or other femme attire, the ones who dress fully and form social relationships, spending more time every month as their femme self, and those who go full time. Christine wonders where she fits and, as the title of her book reads, “Am I Trans Enough?”
Dina’s Diner April 6, 2020
We’re happy to inform you that while many eateries are shutdown during the Covid-19 outbreak there is one place that never closes. We call it Dina’s Diner and since it exists in the digital virtual world it’s always open, 24/7, 365! Today Dina cooks up another delicious menu of items including dating while trans, South Korea’s growing acceptance of transgender people, the first trans news anchor, the appeal of actress Valerie Perrine, and the greatness of big hair. Stop in at the Diner and eat your fill.
What does it mean to be gender nonconforming during a pandemic?
Many of us are impacted by the virus induced lockdown. While some of us whine and moan about how we can’t get out to our favorite watering hole for a few happy hour cocktails en femme, or are bummed out that we can’t wear a flirty dress at a nightclub there are many under the transgender umbrella who are facing real tribulations as the lockdown continues. Claire Hall uses her blog today to remind us of the far reaching consequences of the effort to shutdown the virus.
Our Transgender Youth Face the Streets
Our new blogger Robben Wendy Wainer debuts today with a post on the plight of trans youth. While many in the transgender community have safe, comfortable places to live transgender youths who are rejected by their parents for expressing their preferred gender are often kicked out of the house. If they have no other options they may end up trying to support themselves selling their bodies on the street. Robben writes about what needs to be done to stop this problem.
Dina’s Diner 3/9/20
Sometimes Dina’s Diner doesn’t have enough ingredients on hand to do any fancy entrees. On those days when things are just too busy to order more supplies Dina Amberle goes through the walk in freezer and pulls out a bit of this and some of that and pretty soon she’s got a hearty slumgullion stew simmering on the stove. Just the right thing to hit the spot. In today’s stew you will notice hints of going for realness in black trans women’s hair. You might catch the subtle flavor of Rosa from Tiktok, a dash of found drag photos from Kansas City in the early ’70s, plus more than enough curvy cosplay (Picachou with cleaveage?) and some old flavors from Dina’s youth in Philadelphia. Bon appétit!
Dina’s Diner 2/10/20
Are you ready for some delicious dishes straight from the kitchen of Dina’s Diner? Today’s Specials are sure to please! First Dina serves up a 13-year-old who puts a different spin on the youth drag queen scene. This young drag queen is a cisgender girl! The next entree served with a side of laughs is devoted to playwright and actor Charles Busch. Then Dina offers a palate refresher in the form of BroadwayCon and the fans who wear fishnets. Then it’s on to two delectable desserts. One is the modern advances in beauty technology that allows J.Lo at 50 to be so hot, and the other is the way your bangs can define what kind of woman you are. Don’t miss all the tasty treats down at Dina’s Diner!
The War Against Transgender People
With legislation being introduced in state legislatures around the country that is aimed at taking away transgender people’s right it seems like we are in a war. Why the sudden interest in state capitals over doctor prescribed puberty blockers? What is behind bills that would jail doctors who provided care to trans patients, and with the effort to remove protections from anti-discrimination laws? Claire Hall has some thoughts on the subject.
Ask Amanita
TGForum was contacted recently by a cis woman who is married to trans woman. Her name is Amanita and she is a counselor, who after meeting her partner, has specialized in counseling for trans people and their partners. Today she answers a question submitted by Felicita in her Ask Amanita column.
The Festivities are Now Over, Almost
Pauline Estelle writes about her Christmas holiday, Boxing Day bargains, the merits on online shopping, and more. She then looks forward to the new year and what it may bring in fashion trends to add to the wardrobes of mature ladies. And she poses a question. If you know the answer use the comment area to let her know.
Dina’s Diner 12/16/19
Dina Amberle has cooked up a delicious stew for this wintery day. (If you’re in North America.) First she adds in a young boy who wanted to wear a dress for his school’s picture day to the stewpot. Then she sifts in some youthful drag queens, adds a touch of Christmas crossdressing (heavy on the color red) and brings out the full flavor of the stew with some drag bingo with Linda Simpson before sprinkling a dash of rock and roll stars in makeup and glitter. The stew has been simmering away in the Diner kitchen and is ready right now for consumption. Bon Appétit!
Thoughts on Black Friday
Although Pauline Estelle is from north of the U.S. border she still finds that Canadians get excited about Black Friday and Cyber Monday deals. She has some words of advice if you intend to take advantage of online bargains. The first rule of cyber shopping is the same as with any kind of shopping. Let the buyer beware.
November Rambling about Boobs
Of course the title of Sophie Lynne’s post today is a bait and switch. Sorry, not sorry. (Stole that from Reese’s.) It was just a ploy to get you to read her thoughts on being the last girl on campus for the holiday season. Give her post a read and send her your holiday greetings in the comment area. Show the lady some love! And, she does at least mention bras at one point.
Letter to the Editor
Possible it’s time to change “Letters to the Editor” to “Emails to the Editor.” Last week we received a message in our inbox that says it is an “open letter.” In that spirit we publish it today so you can see what the author is saying and then, if you are moved to do so, add your comments in the comment area.
The Occasional Woman — Dress Up Right
We all, or most of us, look forward to going to some event at which we can really, as they used to say in the good old days, “put on the dog.” Why they said that we’ll never know but they said it and it meant to get glammed up and dress in high fashion for a formal occasion. Today The Occasional Woman discusses the things you shouldn’t wear to such an event. Lorraine Anderson may have strong opinions about what is attractive but she’s right about the tackiness of VPL and dresses that look like sausage skins. Read on for her critique of other attendees at a recent formal affair.
You Can’t Get What You Want (‘Til You Know What You Want)
Our lady out and about, Lynda Martini, files a report on her latest adventures. From meeting a guy who she clicks with and going on dates with him, to attending a lesbian happy hour mixer with her bestie, Lynda is on the move in the Philly social scene. Give her latest report a read for insights into what life is like for a trans lady on the move.
Dina’s Diner October 21, 2019
Order up a slice of pie, a cup of joe and the latest musings of the woman in charge down at Dina’s Diner, Ms. Dina Amberle. Today she whips up some frothy confections and delicious desserts with nothing more than a few news items and her particular brand of spice. She takes a Muslim trans/drag performer, an attorney who represents female victims of sexual assault while wearing six inch spike heels, adds in Japanese women who marry themselves, sprinkles it all with an appreciation of gingers, then serves it with a light blend of impressions from a corsetry convention. Prepare to be entertained and satisfied with the fare at Dina’s Diner.
