Feb

16

The Boy Is Back

Politics and Opinion / Transgender Life  Posted by / 7 comments

isis_antm the boy is backTsk! Tsk!

America’s Next Top Model quickly removed an ad picturing transgender model contestant Isis with the tagline “The Boy is back” after complaints from the TG community.  The company responsible offered apologies.

“The Top Model ad campaign is certainly not intended to be offensive, nor controversial, and we apologise for any offense it has caused. We see it as enormously positive that a hit mainstream show such as ANTM features gay and transgender contestants, and believe that Isis will be one of the stars of the upcoming series. We have, however, received feedback over the past few days that the tagline ‘The Boy is back’ used on the posters featuring Isis is offensive to the transgender community, and in response have already taken steps to have the posters in question removed.”

The complaints basically surround our desire to be referred to in the gender we present, or with which we identify.

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Feb

15

Compulsive Crossdressing

Politics and Opinion / Transgender Life  Posted by / 17 comments

I recently published a post on Tough Love, which invited members of our community to be more realistic and perhaps judicious in their unconditional support of crossdressers.

Given the consequences of our behavior, I think any of us should be more than happy to defend our choices against strong, well-intentioned opposition.  Such an exercise can provide us with more clarity and a better understanding of ourselves.

As I stated in that previous post, I had a comment from a blogger who claims to have been emancipated by his escape from the habit (or addiction) of crossdressing.

For those CDs in our midst who want to read a good challenge to their decision to wear women’s clothes, I refer you to an interesting post on his site “Healing From Crossdressing.”

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Feb

11

Intimate Portraits

Sexuality and Fantasy / Transgender Life  Posted by / 0 comments

I was watching an episode of Pan Am the other day, in which a stewardess was mortified to find her privately-taken nude photos in a local art gallery.

The gallery owner was quite sympathetic to her embarrassment, but at the same time expressed the profound conviction that the photos were exceptional and beautiful, not for the way they looked but for the way they made him, or viewers generally, feel.

They were art.

Yes, I recognize that porn is also about how it makes you feel, and while we can debate the merits of that another day, the difference here is that the photographs in question touch viewers in far more complex (and even intimate) ways, emotionally and intellectually.  Titillation, if at all present, is a subtle nuance rather than a slap in the face (or a yank in the pants).

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Feb

09

Tough Love

Politics and Opinion / Transgender Life  Posted by / 14 comments

I received a comment a ways back from a blogger who claims to have been emancipated by his escape from the habit (or addiction) of crossdressing.

His story piqued my interest because it is very different from the vast majority of what I hear out there – what most of us hear.

Truth be told, there is a lot of supportiveness out there – perhaps too much.

Don’t get me wrong; it is wonderful that we all encourage one another.  But, it is good to remember that crossdressing may not be constructive for everyone who undertakes it.

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parking ticket - taking this to court
Feb

08

Day in Court

Out in the World / Transgender Life  Posted by / 12 comments

I had a date with the judge today on the small matter of a particularly vexing parking ticket.

I don’t normally fight these things – they are SUCH a waste of time! – but the sneaky guy actually gave me the ticket while I was in the car.

So, I got dressed in a sports jacket, black trousers and white shirt, tied my hair back in a neat low pony tail and went to court.

I presented myself to the prosecutor, who took a quick look at me, and said, “And, what’s the name, ma’am?”

I showed her the ticket with my male name on it.

Unfazed, she inquired, “Are you his representative?”

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Feb

07

Yet Another DC Area TransWoman Shot

Politics and Opinion / Transgender Life  Posted by / 2 comments

I am saddened and dismayed to learn of the spate of violence against trans people that has hit Washington, DC.

Deoni-JonesX400 transgender violence victimDeoni Jones, a 23 year old transgender woman was fatally stabbed on Thursday night at a bus stop in North-Eastern Washington just a few days ago.

Police, understandably, are hesitant to jump to the obvious conclusion that this is a hate crime, but I suspect they will in time.  And this is why:

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Feb

05

Super Bowl Cutie

Politics and Opinion / Transgender Life  Posted by / 1 comments

Just a quick note on today’s big football game:  I am voting for the Patriots.

My reason: Tom Brady, the cutest man in football.

Go Pats!

super bowl cutie

Jan

30

Delicious Dreams

Sexuality and Fantasy / Transgender Life  Posted by / 2 comments

[…continued from Play or Pass…]

What does a girl say to a guy she finds handsome and sweet and funny and sexy, who wants to take her to bed with him?

Apparently, this girl says, “No.”

I was not playing games, not teasing him.  And, it wasn’t anything like saving myself so that he would respect me in the morning.

Turning down a guy I felt like I wanted to be with was admittedly contradictory, illogical, unpredictable… but also, totally honest, spiritually driven and a move towards intimacy rather than away from it.

I passed on the opportunity for sex mostly because, amazingly, I wanted something else even more.

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Jan

27

Men Being Men

Politics and Opinion / Transgender Life  Posted by / 9 comments

A couple of days ago, I asked a question about the way crossdressers portray themselves photographically.  Today, I will offer an opinion, which you may infer from the title.

I have made mention in the past of men’s inclination to represent themselves by their sexual organs, often to the exclusion of their faces.  Oh, they take pictures of it from every conceivable angle and then share it with the world as if it were the most amazing thing.

If you’ve got something, show it off: my car is faster than yours; my drill is more powerful; my cellphone is newer, etc.

Crossdressing doesn’t seem to change this:  my heels are higher than yours, look what I can fit in my… (I just can’t say it), and so on…

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Jan

25

Seeing Ourselves in Others

Politics and Opinion / Transgender Life  Posted by / 8 comments

disturbing self-photographyEvery day, I get people friending me on flickr, and when I go to check them out, I find that a disturbing number of them seem to have gone through a surprisingly similar routine in their self-photography.

What they seem to do is take a few pictures of themselves facing the camera, with their heads cuts off, and then they turn around and bend over for the camera.

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