Oct

05

Sweet Dreams Are Made of These

Politics and Opinion / Transgender Life  Posted by / 2 comments

lennoxAnnie Lennox, the gender-bending artist who came to fame as the voice (and soul) of the Eurythmics in the eighties, has recently become the sole focus of an art exhibit at the Victoria & Albert Museum in London called “The House of Annie Lennox” – a take-off on her website name – The House of Me.

She is even going to personally, physically be part of the exhibit.  In what she calls “a mix between art, video and showcase,” she will do some of her work at a desk within the display, on view to spectators but not able to see them.

If you don’t know Annie Lennox, treat yourself to a quick search online for her biography.  Or, just click this link: http://www.nationalpost.com/news/Diva+display/5452384/story.html

In one of the unusual anecdotes I read, she had to furnish proof that she was actually female before MTV would allow her Sweet Dreams video to air.

Read More»
Oct

02

Newspaper Apology

Politics and Opinion / Transgender Life  Posted by / 2 comments

My post yesterday dealt with an ad (from the so-called Institute for Canadian Values – don’t you just love the way certain people decide that their values are the ones for all of us?) beseeching government to stop confusing young children with questions about their gender and sexual orientation – especially regarding transgender issues.

Interestingly, just today, the newspaper in which the ad ran issued an apology for publishing it.

The paper is of a right-of-center political bent, so the apology may raise eyebrows further.

Read More»
Oct

01

Corrupting Children

Politics and Opinion / Transgender Life  Posted by / 6 comments

I am bringing this up with precious little in the way of insight.  Hopefully, some of you will have something to offer on the subject.

The ad below (please click on it to enlarge it to readable size) comes from a local paper and expresses concern with efforts to teach young children about sexual and gender diversity. (The title of this post comes from the name of the website responsible for this ad.)

Read More»
Sep

29

Faux Transition

Introspection / Transgender Life  Posted by / 16 comments

The “ Pretty Man ” experience set me thinking more and more about the idea.

If it proves possible to give voice to my feminine side without being a woman, then all the inner conflicts about whether I am two-gendered, or which gender I truly am melt away; the stigma of being trans, and the fear of discovery disappear.  I go back to being one person, with one name, one wardrobe and no secrets.

The first sign of trouble, though, came  the other night when I went out with friends, dressed in a tight-fitting mock turtleneck, narrow pants and somewhat feminine flats – all black. 

Read More»
Sep

28

Pretty Man

Health and Beauty / Transgender Life  Posted by / 7 comments

img_4455aFollowing on from the last post, I figure that as an exercise in personal evolution and introspection, I could try to give being a “pretty man” a try and see how it feels.

In some sense, it occupies a middle ground between regular guy and trans woman, so maybe I can find a way to get my mind around the concept.

As a start, I went out this past weekend to a party with friends, and then out for a late bite dressed as you see in the photo.  (I did not dare put on makeup.)

Read More»
Sep

24

Yowza Yaoi

Introspection / Transgender Life  Posted by / 6 comments

I was introduced to the term “Yaoi” by a friend I met at Southern Comfort in Atlanta.  I may have spoken of her before.  She was one of the most beautiful t-girls I have ever met, feminine both in appearance as well as manner.

Not long after our encounter, she gave it all up – being a girl I mean – in favor of being a yaoi-type – a beautiful feminine man who liked sleeping with men – saying that there was no need to become female to do and be all the things he wanted to do/be; he could do them just fine as a man.

Read More»
passport for gender traveler
Sep

17

Right-On Down-Under

Politics and Opinion / Transgender Life  Posted by / 4 comments

As you all know, I am a gender-traveler – not only from one gender to the other, but from one place to another.

My “home and native land” of Canada has disappointed me with its restrictive laws, which are unnecessary to any constructive purpose.  I recounted my dismay with Canadian air travel laws in a recent post (click here).

By contrast, I read today that Australia has enacted new rules that allow their citizens to acquire a passport with gender designated as M, F or X (for indeterminate), with only a doctor’s letter of support.  No surgery, no imminent surgery, no proof of medical condition required.

Read More»
Sep

03

All Aboard–Except the TGirl

Politics and Opinion / Transgender Life  Posted by / 7 comments

Having flown without incident as a girl on a number of occasions in the U.S., I was quite taken aback to read that in Canada – a country most people would regard as more progressive – the law requires airlines to deny boarding to anyone who “does not appear to be of the gender indicated on the identification he or she presents.” (Aeronautics Act of Canada Section 5.2(1)(b).)

My experiences in America have been nothing but pleasant. I have sung the praises, on these very pages, of both border agents and security personnel, who have gone out of their way to be accommodating and pleasant.

Read More»
Aug

31

Shoes First–Bass Ackward

Health and Beauty / Transgender Life  Posted by / 5 comments

Getting dressed has always been a pretty consistent process in my life.

Depending on the affair, choose the outfit, pick out a pair of shoes that match in both style and color, and off you go.

Well, not today.

I decided, based on a whim, that I wanted to wear a certain pair of shoes: my wedgie beige sandals with flowers on top.

It was my mood.

I wanted shoes with whimsy, and I wanted to show off my new pedicure.

Read More»
Aug

27

Out of Body Experience

Introspection / Transgender Life  Posted by / 3 comments

One of the reasons I sometimes doubt the authenticity of my feminine side is that I find myself almost with a feeling that I am observing myself.

I have many things to remember to do differently in order to be the woman I imagine myself to be, and there is a sort of internal dialogue going on sometimes as I evaluate myself.

That doesn’t seem natural and so I start to get a sinking feeling that if it takes so much effort, it may just be that I am putting the whole thing on. I start wondering whether it is simply an exercise in self-deception.

But, I probably should cut myself a little slack here.

Read More»