Spring is in the air and spring fashions have wandered off of the runway and into many women’s closets. How do you determine which of the many springtime looks is right for you? With help and advice from Lorraine Anderson, the woman in the know when it comes to fashion! Lorraine is the owner of The Occasional Woman custom clothing and alterations service. Now, let’s leap into spring fashion!
Dina Amberle scans the media to dig in deep on stories that resonate with her crossdressing side. Today she praises Nicole Maines’ op-ed on a federal judge nominee and talks about other nominees of the current administration who hold awful views. Then it’s on to look closer at where it’s safe to be transgender, as inspired by the story of drag performer Maxi Glamour that we reported last week in TWIT. Mix in some thoughts on K D Lang’s androgyny, add a bit of Japanese bondage, and round it all out with rumination on Brooke Shields at 52 and you have a recipe that’s sure to sell out down at Dina’s Diner.
This ad won’t be running. Linda, MBICD, learns that a popular online dating service that she has relied on for many years to provide companions when she went out of town for a crossdressed holiday has suddenly closed up shop after a new rule is put into place by the government. She wonders what happens next. What’s a girl with needs to do?
When we’re young it’s easier for some males to make themselves pretty and be passable females. Those who have the advantage of a smaller frame or shorter stature can feminize themselves fairly well. As we age, after a certain point, we may not be able to continue to present as head turning hotties but we may be able to blend in more seamlessly. Why? Age causes features to soften and we actually get shorter. In many cases senior women and men are only differentiated by a little makeup and a different type of clothing. Pauline Estelle has some tips on how to take advantage of your senior status to just be one of the older girls.
Dina Amberle is always cooking up something tasty at Dina’s Diner. She uses the freshest ingredients culled from the news of the day. For today’s Blue Plate Special she starts with a portion of RuPaul controversy. Then she adds some information on trans tourism that will stimulate an appetite. Dina adds some spice to the dish with an appreciation of fishnet hosiery and she finishes the meal off with some musing about how crossdressing changes people’s personalities and devotes time to the preparation of a tasty dessert filled with cheerleaders and college dance teams. If you want to be fully satisfied the place to be is Dina’s Diner.
Everyone wants to feel attractive. Cisgender women, trans women, and crossdressers want to look good and attract attention. The right kind of attention, though. In these days of #MeTo and the exposure of sexual harassment in many areas is it possible to look attractive without garnering too much of the wrong kind of attention? Angela Gardner examines sexual attraction in our culture and gives her thoughts on how much attraction is too much. Give her opinion piece a read and add your comments on the subject.
Sabrina Symington’s cartoon alter ego is known as Bria. Today Bria comes to the realization that she is real. Not in the real world. In Bria’s cartoon world. But even that is an accomplishment when everyone keeps telling you that you’re not real, that you’re crazy of trying to deceive. Bria has a right to get a little pumped up.
It’s fairly certain that as the LGBTQ right movement grew there would be those in conservative circles who saw our existence as a threat to their way of life. With the Trump administration coming to Washington on a wave of evangelical support we have seen roll backs of regulations and legal interpretations that were put in place during the Obama years to guarantee everyone’s rights. The trans in the military ban was the first step in a campaign to stop the forward movement of the LGBTQ community. Beverly Anne Thomas has some insight into how the right wing’s battle plans were made.
Our Man in a Dress, Graham Holmes, writes about the “boy in a dress” character on the reboot of the Roseanne television show that premiers March 27 on ABC. The boy who wears girl’s clothes is played by Ames McNamara and the character’s name is Mark Conner-Healy. He is the son of one of the Connor family women. Graham has a lot to say about assumptions made about the character by the show’s producers. See if you agree, or disagree with his assessment.
Welcome to Dina’s Diner! The coffee is always brewing. Dina has specials of the day, and there’s pie! Today’s specials include Dina’s commentary on Tasi Zuriack’s commentary on how the umbrella term “transgender” has started to push out crossdressers and only apply to those who are going to transition. Then she has thoughts on all the kids who are reporting that they are trans, musings on pre-teen drag queens, and the trials and tribulations of being a working drag performer. For dessert she offers some thoughts on the royals depicted in The Crown. Take a seat at the counter or hop into a booth. Time to eat your fill at Dina’s Diner!
How many times have you been around other people who were joking or commenting negatively on a trans person they have seen? Our guest contributor Sophia Swift gives her opinion on people who have to give their opinion when they may, without knowing it, be talking to a trans person — either someone who has transitioned, or a trans person projecting the opposite of their true self. No one should be forced to endure someone’s anti-trans statements.
The Artist D! examines the recent controversy over the tussle between anti-sexual harassment activist and author Rose McGowen and a trans woman during an appearance by McGowen at a Barnes & Noble book event. The trans woman asked McGowen a question about remarks she made on RuPaul’s podcast. At sometime during McGowen’s response things went sideways and soon the two were shouting at each other and neither one was listening. The Artist D! has listened to the shouting and within it she finds rage and pain but she can’t locate the anti-trans statements attributed to McGowen. She includes the video of the incident in this post along with her analysis.
Our Fashion Maven Tasi Zuriack takes a fashion break and writes today about crossdressing in general. She asks if crossdressers even exist. Since many of our readers identify as crossdressers we suspect that they do exist. TGForum’s official policy on crossdressers is that they exist under the transgender umbrella. They’re part of the transgender community and the Tasi points out that the word “transgender” may be causing problems for people who just like to dress up like ladies and feel pretty. Read on and see what you think.
Bria is devoted to bringing those who disparage trans people in the news media to an understanding of how hurtful their little ploys to undermine us can be. So she has to sometimes use a bit of subterfuge to get her point across. Don’t miss the latest Sabrina Symington cartoon! Visit her website: www.lifeofbria.com
Constant vigilance is necessary as the media are often not through in researching who they use as an “expert” in shows dealing with trans issues. Dana Bevan is always on the look out for the inclusion of discredited “experts” and she recently caught one on the TLC show I Am Jazz. The offender in question was Susan Bradley, formerly of the Clarke Institute which morphed into the now closed Canadian Addiction and Mental Health (CAMH) center. Bradley is against allowing trans kids to be the gender they feel. Read on and find out what other misinformation the show allowed to air.
Today Kimberly offers advice on preparing to take that big step that takes you out of your closet and into the world. Before you jump into a dress and heels and walk out the door there are some things you need to check, and some questions you need to answer. Are you ready to go public? Have you practiced being feminine? Is your outfit attractive but bland enough to blend in with the other women you will be mingling with? I you bread cover working? Have you worked on a feminine voice if someone asks you a question? If you get “read” will you run home? If people point at you and laugh will you be upset?
If you weren’t socialized from an early age as a female you may have to work at presenting yourself to others as a woman. Women are raised soaking in culturally imposed gender related behaviors that trans women don’t get exposed to. Trans women often spend too many years learning to hide their femininity so as to fit in with societal expectations of how they should behave as men. Christine Burr came to understand that she was female after she reached middle age. She had to work to acquire the traits of a mature woman and new when she is expressing her true gender she is left wondering if she is acting.
Babs Casbar Siperstein, our political correspondent shares some thoughts on Chelsea Manning’s big to compete in the primary for Maryland’s senate seat. Then she updates you on the progress on trans issues being made in New Jersey now that their unpopular governor has left office and been replaced with a Democrat.
This week Sophie Lynne is concerned that the current administration in charge in Washington, D.C. is actively moving to restrict our rights to fair treatment by promoting the idea that people can refuse to serve, provide housing, or medical treatment to LGBT people strictly because the idea goes against their religion. Sophie feels that a new department of the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services Office for Civil Rights establishment of a Conscience and Religious Freedom Division is a direct threat to us. Give her post a read and let us know what you think.
Our new Australian correspondent offers some info on the difference between nomenclature in the LGBTQ communities of the USA and his native land. We’re all aware of some Australian terms like G’day; Sheilas; and “outback” but those are general terms used in everyday speech. How do the Shielas and Bruces in the LGBT community there chat with each other? Here’s some insight from John Storey.
Our Page Pundit Sophie Lynne works in retail. That means she just got through the busiest most hectic time of the year for retail employees. So, that gave her little time to read an entire book, take a critical look at its contents and then craft a concise and hard hitting review to post for you, the TGF readers. What has she reviewed for her first Page Pundit of the new year? Give a click and find out.
Dina Amberle has stirred up a hearty stew down at Dina’s Diner. Some of the ingredients she tossed into the pot include: Scientists who have developed software that can produce the perfect woman. At least an image of one. Talk of the demise of high heels is premature. Memories of the hot ladies of drag racing. (Who could forget Jungle Pam?) Then an appreciation of the women who worked in films with Jerry Lewis, and some rumination on why there are so many body building ladies living in Dina’s town. It’s all spiced up and flavored with Dina’s special sauce. Don’t miss a good dose of Dina’s Diner!
The Artist D! has a New Year message for one and all. Is it hopeful? Is it bleak? Does she wish everyone a happy new year filled with family and friends or a solitary exploration of self? There is only one way to find out. Click here and step into The Artist D! Zone.
Today Sabrina Symington takes on the TERFs, that’s the Trans-Exclusionary Radical Feminists, who will not accept trans women as women. Which leads them to go out of their way to find reasons why transgender females are not women. Sabrina enters the fray with several verbal weapons. See how she defeats the TERF in today’s Sabrina Toon.
Dina Amberle is always working in the Diner kitchen to whip up something tasty as a treat for TGF users. Today she has a mix of ingredients that will surely please the most discerning palette. First she stirs in some 10-year-old internet makeup whizzes who happen to be boys. Then she adds some trans history with Flawless Sabrina and Harlow. After that cools down for a few minutes she blends in some speculation on the existence of ladyboys in Vietnam back in the day, and then spices things up with “elevated” drag and an androgynous model from Holland. Oh! And a beautiful wedding gown. Take a seat at Dina’s Diner and get ready for another satisfying repast.
Our Page Pundit Sophie Lynne takes a look back at a book that was published a little over a year ago but has made a lasting impression on her. It’s Laura Jane Grace’s book “Tranny: Confessions of Punk Rock’s Most Infamous Anarchist Sellout.” Sophie discusses the many levels the book hit her on and why anyone who was put off by the title’s first word should put aside their feelings about that and read Grace’s story which combines pain and joy from which she emerges triumphant.
