After hearing the advice “follow your dreams” for most of her life Cate O’Malley has decided that is good advice by it needs to be amended. Not everyone will want you to chase your dreams. There will be those in your life, those you care about deeply, who will not understand your dream. See what Cate advises if that happens when you try to follow your dream.
It’s almost time for Halloween and the ghosts, goblins and ghouls will be competing with the Donald Trumps for as much Halloween candy as they can get. Sophie Lynne has mixed feelings about Halloween. On the one hand it’s the holiday that let her true-self out of the closet. On the other hand now that she’s out and living as her true-self she doesn’t want to be anyone else.
Our contributor and gal pal Christine Zee went to the Southern Comfort Conference in the Fort Lauderdale, FL area. This is the 25th year of this venerable event and there was concern that moving it from Atlanta to Florida would change the tone of the conference. Some were concerned that it wouldn’t attract attendees. Find out how it went with Christine’s report and some photos from the event.
The only constant is constant change. Amanda has been on a journey, both in space and time, and in gender. From the east to the south and then off to the west, Amanda has been on the road. San Francisco always called to her and now she lives near that city by the bay. Will she stay or does her journey continue?
Heads up! It’s The Week In Transgenderism! Today we learn that a waitress had the perfect answer for a little girl. There are children in the Dominican Republic who are raised as girls but grow a penis at puberty. Kylie Jenner without makeup is a lesson for CDs. Jersey City adds health benefits for trans workers. A Thai kick boxer is a ladyboy. A trans man is in the top 5 to be on the cover of Men’s Health. A trans prisoner has won a lawsuit against the prison for horrible abuse. A trans man teen has won homecoming king. All that plus much more, and a few TWIT Awards, is waiting for you in TWIT!
The general public, thanks to the burst of publicity generated by Laverne Cox, Caitlyn Jenner, and others, has come to know the word “transgender.” But do they know the diversity of the people that fall under the transgender umbrella? Is it possible that crossdressers are being seen as trans women? If so, is that a good thing or a bad thing? Do CDs want to be the invisible transvestites?
Thailand has a reputation of being tolerant to its trans people, known as “ladyboys.” But there have been barriers placed in the way of a ladyboy achieving success. While they can pursue an entertainment career you don’t see many ladyboy CEOs. New laws have gone into effect in Thailand that are aimed at stopping the discrimination that holds back the ladyboy population. Learn more in Christine Burr’s Dispatch From Thailand.
Here it is! The Week In Transgenderism! Today we learn how Gigi Gorgeous became a star. Find some tips on transitioning — your wardrobe for the fall season. There’s change in the air for Harvard’s Hasty Pudding theatricals. We learn the story behind Too Wong Foo…. Every leading man in Hollywood tried out for the part Patrick Swayze landed. A trans girl wins homecoming queen. An Indonesian trans rights activist graduates from law school. Another state has refused to let a trans girl get her photo ID. Learn Ashley Diamond’s story. Iowa welcomes the Miss Gay pageant. Plus a lot more and a few TWIT Awards!
Christine’s Journey continues. So far things have been proceeding according to her plan. She is on track to begin full-time as a woman on December 1. She has spoken to all the management people at her job and is getting a “coming out” letter for her clients. Intensive electrolysis is doing its job. There are a couple of problems though, with family. And so the journey continues.
In many people there is an innate need for a spiritual connection to something greater. For some it is God. Others feel one with nature. Still others see the universe through science and appreciate its complexity as an indication of a celestial planner. Dana Bevan sees trans-ness as a scientist does but she has a friend who sees it as a spiritual experience. Which one is right depends on who you are.
Hannah has come out of the closet for a week and allowed Dawn to help her be a woman. Dawn takes her out and treats Hannah like a lady. And a week is not enough. Now she is exploring her new world and learning what it’s like to be a girl, not the over-sexualized girl of her fantasies but a real trans woman who is finally free. Dawn continues to document how their lives have come together just when they both needed something.
Cate O’Malley has learned that no matter how supportive people in your life would like to be they may not be 100% on board with your gender choice. Sure, when you first tell them they be with you all the way but might that be them just wanting to not hurt your feelings with their doubts? Or maybe after some time spent with the new you negative feeling might surface. Today Cate runs through some of the “I support you but…” things she has gotten from family and friends.
When you’re contemplating gender transition it’s important to remember that there will be many challenges ahead. Even with the greater awareness of trans issues in recent years the trans road can be a bumpy one. It’s best to be aware of all the challenges that await you so you can do your best to prepare for meeting them head on.
It’s The Week In Transgenderism! An action packed distillation of TG news from around the world. Today we learn about Miley Cyrus and her prancing queens. Lot’s of items about The Danish Girl, more roles for trans actors, and Candis Cayne making a point. BD Wong plays trans, again. A gay Filipino TV host poses in glamorous pastels for a fashion magazine. The government may be expanding TG health care. Caitlyn Jenner is on Ellen. A theory about why trans women join the military, and a whole boatload of TWIT Awards! It’s all right here in TWIT!
The march from summer into fall and eventually to winter has a tendency to bring some people down. The falling leaves and the colder temperatures don’t evoke the pleasures that can be found in fall. For some it brings on depression. Sophie Lynne sees the world sliding into the autumn and she feels like this year we should seize the change and turn it positive by working to educate, agitate and make the world better for trans people.
After you’ve almost sunk to the bottom a couple of times the Dating Pool becomes less inviting. It can take some time to feel like you’re ready to dive in again. Amanda F. has been underwater in the Pool a few times and now she’s beginning to feel that she’s ready to at least dip her toes in. Does she see love lurking in the depths of the Pool? Or is that heartache doing the backstroke?
What time is it? Time for The Week In Transgenderism! All the trans news from around the world condensed into one heaping helping. Today we learn all about Candis Cayne, hear about Dr. Drew’s shows devoted to trans issues and get informed about a new Stonewall movie that has the trans community up in arms. There are several stories about trans women from around the world. There is some criticism of The NYT’s coverage of trans issues but they did a cover article on Phyllis Randolph Frye. Wayne Brady will be the next to don the Kinky Boots. A Walk on the Wild Side video has surfaced. All that and a lot more is waiting for you in TWIT!
The grill down at Dina’s Diner is heated up and ready to cook up some new dishes with ingredients gleaned from the press. Today Dina brings us Caitlyn costumes, gender-nuetral clothing, and a McDonald’s worker who is becoming a star. She also throws in some lightly sautéed musings on whether greater visibility for trans folk means CDs have more trouble passing. And some breast reduction for a TV star rounds out the menu. Where? Down at Dina’s Diner.
Is too much diversity a bad thing when the transgender community is fighting for rights? Does the umbrella of transgender confuse people when they find everyone one from Caitlyn Jenner to weekend crossdressers standing under it? Christine Burr is concerned that it could be the case that the non-trans public won’t be interested in helping us since they can’t figure our who “us” is, leaving her asking “What Next?”
The Week In Transgenderism is here and it’s packed with all the TG news we could find! Today we learn that there’s a new trans employee on The White House staff. NCTE is conducting an online survey. There’s a trans housewife on The Real Housewives of Atlanta. Three cities will soon have a new trans health resource. The BBC trans comedy has a trailer. Drag Race star Willam makes videos for WeHo. Vanity Fair puts out a special trans issue. Another trans girl is nominated for homecoming queen. Starz comedy Blunt Talk features a trans actress. Caitlyn Jenner could be charged with vehicular manslaughter. All that and a few TWIT Awards is waiting for you in TWIT!
It’s The Week In Transgenderism! What did we learn last week? To Wong Foo. . . was released 20 years ago. Mike Huckabee bellyaches about the cost of trans serving openly in the military. A California prisoner will get her GRS. It’s not all sweetness and light being Jazz Jennings. How did Eddie Redmayne prepare to play Lili Elbe? A trans comic from the U.S.A. is touring England. There’s a kids book about a trans teddy bear. Lot’s of trans model news. Trans people in the workplace, and a lot more. Plus some TWIT Awards!
Dana Bevan has filed this report from the Transgender Word War. She feels that transgender people have been engaged in a war to find words to adequately express the phenomenon that we share. The war of words has proceeded along three fronts. In this post she outlines what those three fronts are and engages in a bit of hand to hand combat with the psychiatric establishment.
It happened by accident but we’re transitioning as a couple. My very first post publicly talking about the way I am experiencing Hannah’s transition was a bit overwhelming, as I revisit the last 7 months of our lives and discuss things with Hannah I realize that so much has happened and that to re-tell every […]
All the weddings Cate has attended have required her to wear a tuxedo and be the man. Now things are much different. She is living honestly as a woman. Cate has a single son who will one day most likely get married. Cate has been thinking how different it will be when she attends that wedding. Will the bride’s Great Aunt Fanny have a clue as to who she is? Cate imagines how it will be.
GREATER FORT LAUDERDALE TO WELCOME SOUTHERN COMFORT TRANSGENDER CONFERENCE GREATER FORT LAUDERDALE, Fla. (August 05, 2015) — Greater Fort Lauderdale will welcome the 25th Annual Southern Comfort Conference to its sunny shores this year, a first-time honor for Florida. The destination will host the conference, one of the largest gatherings of the transgender community in […]
