november 2013 issue

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Pretty T Girls
November 2013
The Magazine for the most beautiful girls in the world
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Pretty T Girls
The Magazine for the most beautiful girls in the world
A publication of Pretty T Girls Yahoo group
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In This Issue
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Transgender Day of Remembrance Memorial
Editorial by: Barbara Jean
How To Find The Right Blush For You
10 Rules For Perfect Brows
Fall’s Sexiest MakeupTo Wear Now
How To Apply Makeup
The Exploits of Barbara Marie
Tasi’s Musings
Humor
Angels In the Centerfold
Mellissa’s Tips
Shopping In Drab by: Randy
The Adventures of Judy Sometimes
Tasi’s Fashion News
How to Choose and Use Shapewear
Gender and the Body Language of Power
The Best Coat for Your Body Shape
Lucille Sorella
David DeAlba Concert
The Gossip Fence
Shop Till You Drop
Calendar
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In Memory
This page is dedicated to the memory of those members of our
community who have had their lives violently cut short because of
who they were.
Transgender Day of Remembrance November 20 2013
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Slobs
An Editorial by: Barbara Jean
A school in England has prohibited girls as young as 9 from wearing skirts and next year they
will have to wear the same uniform as the boys (see September 2013 PTG for the article) In a
recent discussion on the various boards I belong to it was talked about how women today dress
compared to back in the fifties and early sixties.
Women today you will see wearing jeans, t-shirts, tennis shoes and flip-flops. And this is not
for just something like working in the garden or painting or something where otherwise old
clothes are worn, it is to go shopping and even to church.
Of course I can’t say men are much better. Jeans, they were only for dirty work or play, not
something you wore going to school or shopping. And where we once would not want them to
look anything but new today the more worn they look the more fashionable they are. Young
kids who wear their pants so low that their underwear shows, flip-flops, tennis shoes, t-shirts
with things like sport team logos, or some band logo or something else. All common to see
today. And yes, we see these wherever we go, shopping and even to church.
Is it a no wonder that many schools, yes even public schools are requiring the kids to wear a
uniform to school?
AMERICAN YOU HAVE BECOME A NATION OF SLOBS!
Those of us who are in our sixties or older probably remember how our teachers used to dress at
school. Women always wore a dress or at least a skirt and blouse, heels or some nice flats
would be worn. Men always wore a tie. My own mother who was a typist (she died in 56)
always wore a ladies suit and heels for work. At church, women were always in their Sunday
best and men always wore a suit and tie, or a coat and tie. Now at this point I must give the
African Americans (at least in the south) some credit. Church is Sunday best with them, men in
suits and ties and ladies in a nice Sunday dress, Oh and they even wear hats.
Passing, a term we like to often use, we try to blend in with the natural born women, to look so
much like them that people will assume that we are born female. Yet I don’t think many of us
would dress the way women today dress, at least not those of us who consider ourselves to be
crossdressers. Even those of us who are transsexual I think as a general rule dress better than
most natural born females.
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How many times have we heard a wife say that we were a better looking woman than they
were? All too often true. (Probably also a reason for Just not my husband) I find it interesting
that our own Judy Danials in one of her post mentioned that with her sundress Thursday group
initially she would be the best dressed and that soon the natural born women in her group
started dressing much nicer for their little outings.
Fashion changes, yes, and perhaps we of the transgender community can be the motivating
force to return women to dressing up more. After all they sure don’t want to be outdone by a
man in a dress. (Ah will the real woman please stand up…. Oh that’s us.)
A Special Thank You to all who have served protecting the freedoms of
our nation.
Veterans Day November 11th. 2013
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BEAUTY SCHOOL: HOW TO FIND THE RIGHT BLUSH FOR YOU
by Jessica Hagy
A perennial sign of femininity and youth, women have been pinching, pasting, coloring and
blushing their cheeks for a nice rogue since the days of Ancient Egypt. While the execution has
evolved over the years, it wasn’t until recently that we really saw our blush options expand beyond the powder. Creams and stains have been giving the traditional powder a run for its
money, so we decided to break down all of your blush options and decipher which texture is
best for each skin type.
Powder Blush
The Basics: With a great buildable nature, powder blush is good for a subtle look, or anyone a
bit color-shy. Unlike cream and stain blushes, powder sits on top of the skin, offering a more
finished, natural look.
Best For: The ‘ole faithful of blush options, powder blush works well on all skin types. It’s also
particularly great for oily skin, as it won’t feel heavy or greasy on your face.
Application Tips: For the longest-lasting rogue, apply foundation underneath to hold your color
longer.
Cream Blush
The Basics: Cream blush is having an undeniable moment and we’re loving this dewy option,
which blends seamlessly into skin.
Best For: Thanks to its soft texture, cream blush blends beautifully into skin and also hydrates
as you’re wearing it—making it great for dry or aged skin.
Application Tips: Cream blushes have slightly more color intensity than powder, so a little goes
a long way when blending.
Stain/Liquid Blush
The Basics: Usually the longest lasting of the bunch, stains and liquids offer a rosy, natural-
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looking flush that won’t budge.
Best For: Their durability makes liquid blush a great option for oily skin that is used to
smudged or disappearing color.
Application Tips: When applying your stain act fast—dab and blend immediately because once
the stain sets, it sets.
10 rules for creating perfect brows
Lucky Magazine
L.A. makeup artist/brow expert Kristie Streicher (Julia
Roberts and Rachel Weisz are thrilled clients) shares
her 10 fool-proof rules for perfect brows:
1. “Don’t tweeze more than once every three to four weeks. This keeps brows from looking
too thin.”
2. “Draw an invisible line straight up from the outer corner of your nose: Your brow
should start here and end along a line from the corner of your nose to the outer corner of your
eye. The highest part of your arch should line up just outside your pupil.”
MORE FROM LUCKY:
3. “Shower first to open your pores, soften your skin and make tweezing easier. After, use
aloe gel to prevent redness and bumps.”
4. “Pull hairs in the direction of growth, one by one, working in natural light.”
5. “Use a regular (not magnifying) mirror;otherwise you can end up with a hole. If you can’t
see the hair in a regular mirror, neither can anyone else.”
6. “Don’t make the ends too thin, and feather them outward—this gives the eyes a bit of a
lift.”
7. “Over-cutting brows can be as detrimental as over-tweezing. Brush brows straight up and
trim hairs one at a time.”
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8. “It’s a myth that you should never tweeze from the top. The truth is most people need to
take a little off the top in order to get the perfect shape.”
9. “If you change your hair color, change your brows to match. Darkening brows adds fullness. Don’t dye them yourself—get it done at a salon.”
10. “Delicate features look best with thinner, more elegant brows. Thicker ones are perfect
with stronger bone structure.”
Fall's sexiest makeup to wear now
Typical fall colors, like burnt orange and maple red, are nice if you're packing up to go
leaf peeping in Vermont. Otherwise, yawn. These makeup shades are made for the cooler,
sexier, and more adventurous side of the fall season. | By: Sophia Panych
PLUM LIPSTICK
Spiked with a dash of burgundy and a hit of black, plum
lipstick becomes "sophisticated in a twisted kind of way," says
makeup artist Tom Pecheux.
GET THE LOOK:
"A badass shade like this deserves to be strong and sharp,"
says Pecheux, so layer lipstick on top of a matching lip liner to
keep it in place, and use a stiff brush to get precise lines. Keep
your eyes simple with black mascara and your skin looking
fresh with highlighter.
CHOCOLATE LIPS
Why play around with timid neutrals? A chocolate brown lip
color is like a "tougher, more intense version of nude," says
Pecheux. A sheer, creamy finish keeps it from looking brutish.
GET THE LOOK:
Pecheux tapped the bullet directly onto the lips until he built up
the color to the desired intensity (which, at home, is entirely up to
you). Other factors to consider: shadow (a wash of taupe) and
mascara (lots of it).
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EMERALD SHADOW
If you have a few minutes to get all wing-y and artsy with your
shadow, let us suggest a metallic green hue.
GET THE LOOK:
Rim eyes in black pencil and add a dash of emerald shadow
along the lower lashes at the outer corners. "Lining the entire
eye can make it look smaller, but a splash of color beneath
opens it up," says Pecheux.
GARNET EYES
A deep metallic red sounds intense—and that's exactly how it's
meant to look. "It's rich and luxurious," says makeup artist Pat
McGrath.
GET THE LOOK:
No need to be precise; no need to be precious. Sweep it all over lids,
smudge on a ton of black pencil liner along the upper and lower
lashes, and call it a (smoking-hot) night.
SHEER TAUPE
On eyes, cheeks, and lips, taupe (that's brownish gray, to be exact) "has a surprising, understated sex appeal," says Pecheux.
That's because it has the same undertones as skin. Naked skin.
GET THE LOOK:
Dust a matte taupe powder under your cheekbones with an angled brush. Sweep the same shade across your lids in a winged
shape. To keep things luminous, dab silver cream on the inner
corners of your eyes and swipe on a sheer taupe
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GLOSSY LILAC
What shade of purple can you wear on eyes, cheeks, and lips?
It's not a trick question, or a recipe for crazy face—this purple
is so glossy and silver- tinged, it works on every feature.
GET THE LOOK:
A swipe of delicate lilac on the eyes and lips adds a faint flush of
color. Vary the intensity—and opacity—by choosing an eye
shadow that's a touch darker than your lipstick.
TURQUOISE STREAKS
We're no strangers to blue eyeliner. Navy, cobalt,
aqua—you name it, we've tried it. But this
supersaturated turquoise is so fresh and unexpected,
even we'd never worn it before.
GET THE LOOK:
Turquoise liner is bright and shocking on its own, and
that's a good thing. Make it even more so by applying it
in a thick, unapologetic swoop that extends past the
corner. Pecheux diffuses
VIOLET LINER
Metallic purple with flecks of purple shimmer: Sound a bit like
Prince, the makeup collection? Not when it's worn smudged
along the upper lashes. "It's so much more interesting than a
black liner," says Pecheux.
GET THE LOOK:
Draw a thick line of violet across lids and blur the edges with
your fingers. Purple can swing both ways: A hybrid of red and
blue, it accentuates both light and dark eye colors and works
with a nude or red-hot lipstick.
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How To Apply Makeup
Makeup should be applied in the following sequence:
A Foundation, preceeded if required by under eye concealers.
B .Corrections And Improvements.
C .Blushers.
D Powders.
E Eye Makeup.
F .Lip Makeup.
Use Of Under-Eye Concealers:
Concealers are applied to cover dark circles around the eyes, thereby greatly
enhancing the appearance of the face. They are matched to the skin tone and are
applied before using the harmony foundation. When any product is applied around the
eyes, special care must be taken so that the skin is not stretched. Instead of applying
the cream from the inside corner of the eye to the outside it should be dabbed on the
skin and then gently blended with the finger tips moving from the outside corner to the
inside corner. This procedure will not pull the skin. After the product has dried, more
can be applied to build up the desired opacity. To remove, use a cosmetic cleanser,
instead of vigorously rubbing the skin with soap and water.
A.Foundation:
Application Technique:
Put a little foundation on the hand(add a complimentary tone if necessary). Dot it over
the face-on the nose, the cheeks, the chin and the temples and in between the brows.
Using the tips of two fingers or a small clean, dampened sponge(from which excess
water has been removed) blend the foundation. Always work from the face outwards,
to avoid an accumulation of the foundation around the hairline-move from the cheeks
to the ears, from between the brows down over the nose, from the chin out towards the
jaw, then onto the neck. Work quickly, carefully and lightly. Blend well around the
hairline, on the neck, below the eyes and behind the ears. Also take the foundation
over the eyelids. Finally blot the face with a clean dry tissue, pressing it lightly over the
skin.
B. Corrections And Improvements Through The Use Of Make-up:
Correction of poor skin tones is achieved by using a correcting make-up base: a
mauve base can conceal pale and dull skin tones and brighten the skin. A green base
masks red blotches and ruddiness. The under-eye concealer camouflages dark circles
under the eye. These correcting bases have to be applied before applying foundation.
To improve facial features, use is made of the fact that pale shades lengthen, fill out,
and brighten, while dark shades reduce, deepen, darken, and conceal. This form of
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correcting base is applied after the use of basic foundation. These correcting bases
are available as liquids, creams and even as pencils.
1.Correcting The Facial Morphology:
The ideal facial shape is oval and by the clever use of dark and pale tones, every facial
type can be made to appear oval.
a. Trapezoidal Face: The trapezoidal face can be made to look more oval by redefining
the lower part with dark foundation and using light makeup at the temple.
b. Rectangular And A Square Face: Both these shapes are redefined at the four
corners with dark foundation.
c. Triangular Face: The triangular face needs dark foundation at the temples and to
shorten the chin while the lower face needs enlargement using light makeup.
d. An Oval Face: The oval face needs shortening at the forehead and chin with dark
foundation.
e. Round Face: The round face is made to appear oval by using dark makeup at the
temples and around the lower face.
2.Correcting The Chin And The Nose:
Here again, playing with colours, you can balance other features of your face.
a. A Prominent Chin: This can be corrected by applying dark foundation on the tip of
the chin.
b. A Double Chin: This can be corrected by putting a dark foundation on the double
chin.
c. A Long Nose: A long nose appears short by applying dark makeup on the tip.
d. A Broad Nose: For a broad nose apply dark foundation along each side of the nose.
e. Short Nose: To emphasize a short nose apply pale makeup along the top of the
nose along its whole length.
f. Narrow Nose: For a narrow nose apply a bright foundation on each side.
g. Crooked Nose: For a crooked nose, cover the crooked side with a dark foundation
and the opposite side with a light foundation.
C. Applying Blusher:
The next step is the use of the blusher or the rouge. These cosmetics do several
things to your face.
How To Apply Blusher?
Use the colour on the blush area. This is the part of the face between parallel lines,
one extending outward from the corner of your eye and the second from the bottom of
your nose. Smile and lightly touch the blusher brush on the fatty part of the cheek and
gently brush the blusher toward the temple, making a slight curve. A touch of colour
across the forehead and on the chin completes the look. The cream rouge is applied to
the cheeks with the fingertips in small amounts and spread in the desired fashion. The
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powder blusher is applied with a brush.
D. Applying Powder:
Technique:
Make sure the foundation is well blended. Blot the face lightly with a tissue, especially
over the forehead, nose and chin. Pick up the powder on the puff and press it firmly on
the face, one area at a time. Don't try to smooth it on by massaging the puff over the
face. Now using a soft, thick powder brush, whisk away the excess, with downward
movement to stop the powder getting caught in the fine facial hair.
E. Eye Makeup:
Almond shaped eyes are considered to be the ideal. So when making up eyes, one
tries with the help of light and dark eye makeup to make the necessary changes to
give the eyes an almond appearance.
1.Eyeshadow:
Application Technique:
The following steps are followed in the application of eyeshadow shades.
i. Using a fine, blunt-ended brush, gently apply the base colour to the entire lid from the
inside to the outside corner and from the base of the lashes to the eyelid crease.
ii. If the eyes need extra definition, a deeper shade is blended into the crease line. This
gives depth to the eyes.
iii. The brow bone is highlighted with a light shade.This gives the eyes a wide, open
look. The colour is applied to the most prominent area and blended up towards the
brow and down to where the contour curves down, toward the eyelid creases.
Before using them on the lids, always test the colours on the back of the hand to test
the intensity. You can use even 3-4 colours, provided they are blended well. Remember pale tones emphasize, while deep sooty shades define.
2.Eye Liners:
Application Technique For The Liquid EyeLiner:
Test, on the back of your hand, the amount of pressure you should apply. Unless you
are a real artist, it is best to steady your elbow on a flat surface. Work from the inside
of the eye to the outside corner and keep the line light and even. If you stop at the
corner of the eyes, the effect will be round and wide-eyed; if you continue the line and
sweep it up and out, you would get a more exotic look. Finally smudge the edges with
a cotton bud to soften them.
Application Technique For The Pencil Eyeliner:
Pencils can be used in the same manner to define or extend the shape of the eyes, but
they give a softer, more natural line. Keep them sharpened and ready for use, as
blunted or broken points can spoil the whole effect.
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3.Mascara:
How To Apply Mascara?
For best results, first look down and brush the top lashes from the roots downwards,
then look up and brush the top lashes upwards. Then still looking up, brush colour on
the lower lashes. Wait for a minute for them to dry, and similarly apply a second coat.
Finally brush with a clean dry brush, to separate the lashes.
To Remove Mascara:
While removing the mascara avoid the colour from going onto the delicate area below
the bottom lashes and close your eyes. Roll a cotton bud dipped in a cosmetic
cleanser over the lashes, taking the mascara down onto the tissue. Repeat till all the
mascara is gone.
4.Correction Of Eyes Using Makeup:
You can improve your eye shape by experimenting with colour and texture. Identify the
shape of your eyes and follow the tips given:
i. For Small Eyes: Pluck the eyebrows fine to give maximum eye area. Use a little
shadow under the lower lashes as well as on the top of the lid. Blend the shadow on
the upper lid from the centre outwards, curving it upwards towards the brow in the
shape of a wing. Line both the lids, extending the meeting line fairly out, to increase
the length of the eyes. Mascara both the upper and lower lashes, using two coats on
the outer lashes only.
ii. For Wide-Set Eyes: Pencil the eyebrows close to each other.Add a little shadow onto
the bridge of the nose or blend your shadow close to the corner of the nose and stop at
the centre of the upper lid.To make the eyes appear a little closer, start outlining the
upper lid from the inner corner of the eye, bringing it near the nose ridge, leaving just
the width of one eye in between the two eyes. Continue the line towards the outer
corner but not quite extending up to it.
iii. For Close-Set Eyes: Shape the eyebrows so that they don't have the close-together
appearance. Use the eyeshadow on the upper outer half of the lid extending above the
eye and under the brow. To offset the closeness of the eyes, start drawing the eye line
on the upper lid away from the inner corner. Draw it up and out. Similarly, the lower line
should not begin from the inner corner.
iv. For Deep-Set Eyes: Use a dark eyeshadow under the eyebrow, but not on the lid,
where if you want to, you can use a lighter eyeshadow. Line only the lower lid and
extend the line fairly out and up.
v. For Round Eyes: Make sure the shape of your eyebrows is angular. Blend your
shadow from the centre of the lid and deepen it at the outer edge of the eye, extending
it a little beyond the outer corner of the eye. Line the upper lids, starting from the inner
corner and extend it out and up so as to suggest length.
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F. Lip Makeup:
Lipstick provides the final touch to your makeup; without it no look is complete. For a
perfect result, you will need a steady hand, some practice, the correct implements and
a knowledge of the correcting techniques.
What You Would Need?
A narrow, flat ended brush, a selection of finely sharpened lip pencils, lipgloss and
lipstick (either the conventional tube lipstick or the cream type with a sponge-tip
applicator. If your lip colour is uneven, then you will need a special lip base or balancer
-use a lighter tone on the dark areas and a dark tone on the light areas. These
balancers also form a base for lipstick and help to keep the colour of the lipstick pure
and clear.
Lip Makeup Application Technique:
1. Outlining With Lip Liner:
Before outlining the lips check that your lips are smooth and grease free. Use a sharp
lip liner pencil in a shade close to that of your lipstick colour and with a steady hand,
lightly outline the lips. For the upper lip, start at the centre and work out, towards the
corner of the mouth. For the lower lip, work from side to side.
2. Priming The Lips With A Lip Balancer:
Fill in the lips with a special base or balancer to even out the skin tones.If your lips are
of an even colour, use a face powder as a base.
3. Filling Up With Lipstick:
Using a lip brush, fill in the colour. For the upper lip start at the center and work
outwards. On the lower lip work from side to side. Don't pile up too much colour.It is
much easier to add more later than to remove any excess.
4. Blotting Off:
Fold a clean tissue and place it between your lips. Press the lips lightly together to
remove the excess colour and to help seal the remainder, so that it stays on the lips
rather than moving onto every glass you use.
5. Final Lip Gloss Application:
Finally finish with a lip gloss to get a gleaming look. However, women with extra-full
lips, should use lip gloss very sparingly.
Shaping Up Your Lips:
Through a knowledge of what you can do to correct lip shape you can truly achieve a
perfect finish to your face. Study the shape of your lips, identify the defects, if any, and
decide on what you want to achieve and then proceed.
1.Small Mouth With Small Lips:
These are easily corrected by taking the lip liner pencil outside the natural lip line.
Work slowly and steadily to form a perfect shape. Fill in with primer and finally with the
lipstick. A highlight of frosting on the upper lip would also create an impression of
fullness.
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2.Large Mouth With Full Lips:
Apply liquid foundation makeup to the entire mouth, then outline with a dark shade of
lipstick just inside the natural contours of the mouth. Then aply lipstick of a lighter
shade carefully and accurately within this outline. Subdued shades work well for this
kind of mouth. Use medium toned lip colours and avoid dark browns, plums, electric
brights or pale shimmer shades.
3.Full Upper Lip:
Aply fluid foundation makeup to the upper lip. Outline just inside its natural contour and
apply a dark shade of lipstick. Then outline the lower lip just outside its natural contour
and emphasize by filling in with a lighter shade of lipstick.
4.Full Lower Lip:
Outline upper lip just outside its natural contour. Apply a light shade of lipstick and in
the center add a touch of lip gloss. Apply fluid foundation makeup to the lower lip.
Outline just inside its natural contour. Then fill in with a darker shade of lipstick, using a
lip brush.
5.Wide Mouth:
Cover the corners of the mouth with foundation makeup or a cover stick. Apply lipstick
with a lip brush, stopping a few millimeters before the corners of the mouth are
reached.
Patching Up:
If makeup has to be touched up during the day, only powder makeup should be
applied, using a brush. Use gentle patting strokes and blot the excess off.
The Exploits of Barbara Marie
A TRIP TO VICRORIA SECRETS
BY
Barbara Marie Davidson
When I began to “explore my feminine side”, I bought some inserts from
the Breast form Store (on Line) to the tune of $159.00 a pair. Later I bought another pair for the
same price that was a C cup. (My wife was a double D cup as she was quite large) After some
experimentation, I decided that I like the B size better. Thus I went to Penny’s and was fitted.
The lady wanted me to remove my top and ect so that she could measure me exactly. I then told
her that I was a hetero cross dresser and was just “coming out.” She took my to the ladies
dressing area and measured me and I found out at that time I was measuring a 40 B. store. This
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was right after my wife passed away in 2006.
Fast forward to November 2009. After talking with a psychologist and making some long range
plans, I decided it was time to go down to one life – the one I am living now. I had been on
HRT For several years but with only a little “budding and tenderness” of the breast along with
becoming “chemically castrated”. I was however beginning my transition from male to
“female”. I had a friend who was about 15 years my junior that started HRT after I did and she
actually made it to a small A cup, In December of 2011, I went with her to Plano Texas where
she had her SRS surgery. I took care of her after her surgery as I am a RN. (see my article in
the February or march 2012 issue of the PTG Magazine – “A Friends Transition From Male To
Female”.
A year later, I was “thinking hard” about where the actions concerning my life were headed.
Thus in January of 2012, I started the paper work myself for a legal name change from William
M to Barbara Marie. My article should have appeared in the March issue of the PTG magazine
– “Have You Ever Thought About Changing Your Name”. On February 21st at 0925 in the
morning, I legally became Barbara Marie Davidson. However I was not finished considering
my next move. In May of that same year, I consulted a plastic surgeon about an Augmentation
Mammoplasty. Un be-knowing to me, my friend who had her SRS was doing exactly the same
thing. On June 25th, I became a permanent 38 C. On June 26th, she became a 36 D.
Approximately two weeks later the lady that owns the nail shop had hers done and is now a D
cup as well. This all was just a preface to my trip to Victoria Secrets.
For about six or eight weeks after my surgery I wore the sports (surgical) bras that I was given
when I had my surgery. After that I went back to J.C. Penny’s and bought several regular bras
to wear. When I was given the OK to get some under wire and pushup bras, I went for it. However I quickly found that I did not need a pushup, as I was “perky” enough with out them. I did
however like the under wire to the point that I found them quite comfortable. Some of the
ladies at the nail shop all wear Victoria secret’s Bras and wanted to know when I was going to
go to VS (Victoria Secrets) and buy some of their bras. I had bee numerous times with the ladies from the shop but never had bought anything for myself. Early in 2013, I finally consented/
decided that this was the time to go. It was my first shopping trip for me to purchase something
for my self.
At VS, I was looking around at the hug selection of bras available, when one of the sales clerks
came over and offered some help. I explained that I had recently had an Augmentation
Mammoplasty and needed to be “refitted”. I measured out as a 38 C just as I had done at
Penny’s. She then offered me several styles of bras. After several trials and errors, I finally
told her that I was a M2F transgendered/transsexual person recently post op. She then showed
me some bras that were more in my league. She explained that as time went on and I felt more
comfortable with my self, my taste would change. I picked out four bras that I like that were 2
for $49.00. At the check out counter, I decided to apply for a VS (angel) credit card and was
instantly approved for more than I would ever need. (I am constantly getting coupons and other
things for discounts or a free pair of Panties.) I must admit that the VS bras are quite
comfortable, as now I know why the ladies kept telling me that I would like them.
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I made several more trips to VS with some of the ladies but never bought any thing else for me.
In fact I gave them some of the discount cards that I had received in the mail for them to use.
Over the Labor Day weekend I made still another trip to Savannah to the Mall just to go to VS.
I was on a mission for myself this time, although one of the ladies went with me, as she wanted
to go to VS Also. Due to the fact of my age when I started my HRT and somewhat lack of
breast development, which resulted in my mammoplasty, it was very hard for me to create the
cleavage that I wanted when wearing something “low cut”. One of the sales ladies came over
and I explained my situation to here and she offer some suggestions but not seemed to be what I
wanted. She then got one of the other sales representatives who had an augmentation her self
and was more in tune with what I was after considering my history which I again explained to
her. She was quite receptive to the fact that I was a “male” in a female “world.
My friend that was with me was going to try on some bras as well. I also valued her opinion as
to what I was doing so I explained to the sales rep. that we were going to share the dressing
room which was fine with her given the circumstances. “Robin” brought several styles of bras
for me to try on. She explained that these were some of the styles that ladies with
augmentations tended to favor. She was also sympatric to my reasons for wanting something
like these. She even came into the dressing room, at my request, while I tried several of them
on. We finally narrowed the choices down to two. They came close to what I was after but it
would have been better if I had a little more breast tissue to work with. These bras were $48.00
a piece. I had several coupons, which had expired in July; however, she said that they would
take them at the check out counter. One was for $10.00 off a bra and the other was for a free
pair of panties (which I gave to my friend, who got a bra and 3 pair of panties plus a free pair).
(Of Note, I was still a “gentleman” while sharing the dressing room with my friend as I turned
my back as she was trying on the bra and a pair of panties.)
At the check out counter, I received $10.00 off one of the bras per the expired coupon. The
sales lady came over and not only thanked me for my purchase but gave me her card with her
name and of course invited me to come back. I had purchased a beige and a black bra in one
style and a black bra in the other style. Over all, this trip was a very pleasant experience and
the sales lady was quite knowledgeable in what I “wanted”. She treated me with the same
respect that she would have given any of her female customers although she knew per a short
conversation earlier that there was a useless appendage still between my legs. Yes, I believe
that I will continue to purchase my bras from VS should I have the need for some new ones. I
do recommend that when any of you are in the market for a new bra, don’t rule out VS. At least
give them a chance, as most of their bras are comparable to the name brand that many folks do
buy. I will admit that some of the styles and colors are for the younger generation, so don’t rule
them out completely.
Hugs
Barbara Marie
20
Tasi’s Musings, November, 2013
Greetings from Merida
Do Mexicans celebrate Halloween? Well, yes they do. Over the years,
Mexicans have adopted any number of American holidays, like
Valentine’s Day, and put their own unique twist on it. It’s not the
traditional “Trick or Treat”, but rather something a little more low key.
Mexican trick-or-treaters do not shout “trick-or-treat,” which is difficult
to pronounce in Spanish. Instead, they chant queremos Halloween (we
want Halloween). In other words, the celebration has been Mexicanized
a little.
Some Mexicans argue against it because it falls just two days before one
of Mexico’s most famous holidays¸ Día de los Muertos, the Day of the Dead. In fact, the two
observances are historically linked. It’s more correct to say that the Day of the Dead in Mexico
is a Mexican form of the Catholic All Saints’ Day, and it contains both European and
indigenous elements. The traditional food of the day, pan de muerto, is of European origin.
The “calavera” (skull) is a humorously morbid poem
which is addressed to a friend or public figure. This
genre of poetry has its origin in Cervantes’ Don
Quixote, in early 17th century Spain. The small
platform called the “altar de muertos,” dedicated to
the memory of a departed loved one, is of indigenous
origin, although Catholicized. It might be more
correct to refer to the Day of the Dead not as a single
custom, but a complex of diverse customs, varying
greatly among the regions and families of the
country.
Both days derive from related dates in the Catholic calendar. Halloween (October 31st) means
All Hallows’ Eve, November 1st being All Hallows’ Day, and November 2nd, the Day of the
Dead, is All Souls’ Day.
That means that Halloween and the Day of the Dead, like it or not, have been related since
medieval times. And nowadays both are part of contemporary Mexican society.
In the News
Increasing Transgender Awareness. With all the forward motion on trans rights, how is it that
America is still behind the curve in having and enforcing equality and freedom? If you have
ever participated in an event on the Transgender Day of Remembrance, you know what I'm
21
talking about. The memorials of that day reveal that America has a pretty big losing streak.
Why do we consistently fail to treat gender-variant people well? Dr. Michele Angello is a
therapist who works specifically with transgender youth and their families. She has led the way
in educating entire churches, schools and communities about transgender identity.
New Zealand Ex-Brothel for Sale – Colorful Transgender History. The
name Carmen is synonymous with the transgender world in both
Australia and New Zealand. The former brothel of Carmen Rupe,
renowned drag performer, anti-discrimination and HIV/AIDS activist, is
on the market.
In her 1988 autobiography, Having a Ball: My Life, Carmen described
the century-old home in Hataitai, Wellington as the “ideal place for the
discreet entertainment of clients”. Click on the link above for more about
this interesting place.
Christians who refused to work with gays lose final court case Judges at the European Court of
Human Rights have blocked the final legal avenue for two Christians who refused to do their
jobs for gay people. Lillian Ladele and Gary McFarlane both argued their beliefs meant they
couldn’t work with gay and lesbian couples and that forcing them to do so amounted to
discrimination. The court ruled against them on 15 January saying their rights had not been
infringed by their employers. This obviously has implications for the transgender community
too.
Disney Princesses Become 'Disney Drag Queens'
for Halloween. For better or worse, Disney
princesses remain storied icons for generations of
Americans. With Halloween less than two weeks
away, classic female characters like Snow White,
Cinderella and Pocahontas are expected to be as
popular this year as they ever have been. That
spirit seems to have something to do with
cartoonist Kevin Bolk's illustrated recreation of
the Disney princess family, which he recently
reimagined as "Disney Queens."
Bolk's illustration serves up a little transgender
realness to the usually effete world of characters like Belle, Jasmine and Ariel. Though these
princesses are typically representative of very traditional gender roles, through Bolk's eyes,
they've become memorable illustrations of diversity and inclusion.
Atlanta Pride Trans March ensures 'T' is not silent. The fifth annual Trans March was held
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Saturday, Oct. 12, at Piedmont Park as part of the official Atlanta Pride activities, leading about
100 marchers through the marketplace in inside the park.
Petra Doan, 57, and her friend, Margeaux, 62, traveled
from Tallahassee, Fla., to attend Atlanta Pride as well
as participate in the Trans March.
"I came out in Atlanta 20 years ago as a trans woman.
Now we have Transgender Tallahassee, but it feels
like coming home [to be in Atlanta]," Doan said.
Books and Movies
Bargain Fever: How to Shop in a Discounted World. Discounts are no
longer the exception, they’re the norm. But is that bargain really a
bargain?
Paying full price is so passé. A quarter of the population will only open
their wallets if something is on sale. Everyone wants a deal, a steal, a
hookup with a discount or a way to cut costs. People don’t only want a
deep discount, they expect it and won’t settle for anything less.
So there’s never been a better time to be a buyer, right? Perhaps. Sellers have developed their
own tricks to protect profit margins amid such markdown mania—ones that include secret
sales, shifting prices, and shredding perfectly good clothes.
Want to know some of these secrets, then follow our Savvy Shopper and Putting It Together in
the Dressing Room at Sister House.
35 Years as the Unofficial
Photographer of Transgender Life
Mariette Pathy Allen’s 35-year
journey documenting the
transgender community had a
serendipitous beginning. In 1978,
Allen and her husband went on a trip
to New Orleans and happened to
stay in the same inn as a group of
cross-dressers. One morning after
breakfast, the group began taking
pictures by the swimming pool, and
23
Allen, already with her camera equipment, gently asked if she could take a few shots as well.
In 1990, Allen published her first book, Transformations: Cross dressers and Those Who Love
Them, a collection of images and interviews of what was then a taboo topic. Allen didn’t necessarily see the book as one that belonged to her, but she said she saw herself as a conduit for people who were aching to have their stories told, many of whom passed around copies, signing
them as if it were a yearbook. It’s an amazing story. Click the link above for the full story.
Fashion and Beauty
Plus size clothing not keeping up with US growth demand. When it
comes to women’s clothing sizes, there’s some funny math going on.
The average American woman is about 25 pounds heavier than she was
in 1960. Yet women’s plus-size clothing, generally defined as size 14
and up, still makes up only about 9 percent of the $190 billion spent
annually on clothes.
What’s wrong with this equation? It’s not that plus-size women aren’t
into fashion. Rather, the fashion industry doesn’t seem interested in
them.
The fashion industry has long spent more time, money and marketing on clothing for taut
bodies than for curvier ones because it’s easier and more profitable to do so. But retail analysts
and plus-size women say there’s something else at play: Stereotypes about larger women not
wanting to dress fashionably keep companies from making clothes that are flattering to them.
And in turn, that discourages them from spending more.
Carmen Barrington, 32, says that attitude has resulted in fewer plus-size options. Barrington,
who wears around a size 22, lamented recently after a day of shopping at Forever 21, Lane
Bryant and other stores that she sometimes can’t even find decent plus-size clothing at retailers
that specialize in it.
What’s this have to do with cross-dressing. Well, since men usually have larger frames than
women, then the amount of fashionable clothes available for us is also less. A woman’s 14 (in
misses sizes is a large) would be a chest measurement with forms on of about 40 in. Plus size
women start at 1X or a bust measurement of 43 in.
Although I suspect we may not be as discriminating as most women, Carmen’s dilemma is not
uncommon. I’ve walked into many a plus-size store and simply found nothing of interest, which
is the reason that I shop online…more choices.
Women’s sizes, which today range from 0 to 36 but vary from store to store, haven’t evolved
much for decades. And for the most part, neither have the range of plus-size fashions. Most big
box stores stop at 24.
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As a result, the amount spent on women’s plus-size clothing annually has only risen by one
percentage point to 9 percent since 2011, the furthest back plus-size data available from
research firm NPD Group
But there is some hope..
Lane Bryant, a plus size retailer, said earlier this month that it is expanding into higher-end
designer clothing. It will debut its first designer collaboration with Isabel and Ruben Toledo on
a collection of holiday clothes and later a spring line.
And online retailer ASOS three years ago launched a plus-size category called ASOS Curve
with sizes 14 to 24. The company fits everything on a size 16 model to “ensure we are offering
the right fit and comfort to our customers,” says Natasha Smith, an ASOS Curve buyer. The
company wouldn’t disclose sales figures but said they’ve been stronger each season.
Whether to carry plus-size clothing is a risk calculation for most retailers, said Daniel Butler, a
vice president for the National Retail Federation. “Most retailers can’t afford to fit everybody,”
he says.
That’s a challenge ModCloth, an online clothing retailer that sells clothes by indie designers,
faced when it decided to start offering plus sizes. ModCloth regularly works with 1,500 designers, but none of them offered plus sizes, says Samara Fetto, a category manager at the San Francisco-based retailer.
After ModCloth hired an expert to help the designers learn how to make larger sizes, the retailer
started selling plus sizes a year ago and officially launched the category in June. Now, more
than 100 vendors offer plus sizes and Modcloth’s sales of plus-size items have quadrupled
within the year.
The plus-size customer has been gaining a voice on social media lately. The blogging world is
helping open up people’s eyes to what is available and what isn’t available. Plus-size consumers
are hungry for more options, unique options, not just same thing off the rack. I hope retailers
that have not gone into plus sizes realize we have the same amount of disposable income just
like every other shopper.
On Sister House, we cater to all sizes of women. The secret is to really know your size so check
our article on sizing for your best guidelines and then read the manufacturers size chart when
you buy online or in the store.
Also check our latest fashion news in the Dressing Room.
25
Humor
And as Paul Harvey said, “Now you know the rest of the story”
So until next month
Hugs……Tasi
26
HUMOR
THE TURKEY!
The Turkey Shot out of the oven
and rocketed into the air...
It knocked every plate off the table
and partly demolished a chair...
It ricocheted into a corner
and burst with a deafening boom...
Then splattered all over the kitchen
completely obscuring the room...
It stuck to the walls and the windows
it totally coated the floor...
There was Turkey attached to the ceiling
Where there'd never been Turkey before...
It blanketed every appliance
It smeared every saucer and bowl...
There wasn't a way I could stop it
that Turkey was out of control...
I scraped and scrubbed with displeasure
and thought with chagrin as I mopped...
That I'd never again stuff a Turkey
with popcorn that hadn't been popped!
27
Sal
ly
Ma
e
Cha
n
tal
Angels In the Centerfold
Gin
ger
ean
s
yD
Tri
x
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29
Mellissalynn’s Tips & Tricks
Hi, girls! Welcome to November, one of my more favorite months. My birthyday is this
month, when I’ve turned <CLASSIFIED>. And the turkey is in the freezer, ready to be thawed
and cooked.
The US government shutdown is over, thankfully! This was a big stressor for me, as I get my
school money from the Veterans Affairs, and they weren’t gonna have any money to give me if
it had kept going. That would have made for a really lousy month…but it didn’t happen, and
all is well again. So now my big worry is graduating school again.
I had a really interesting experience the last
time I was out en femme. I went to our local
outlet mall in Tuscola and did some shopping.
While I was there, I had my first official bra
fitting! It turns out that I’m a 46DD with
forms and a 46B without. This is good stuff to
know! I had this done at Lane Bryant, and
ended up picking up four really nice bras.
So how was your month? Did you have a
great experience shopping, or maybe stress out
as I did over the shutdown? Tell me your
story! Or share a tip or trick that you think the
readers would like. You know the e-mail to
send them to: mlatjnadhmelly@gmail.com .
On with the column!
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We had a class recently regarding eyebrows in
school, and it stunned me to find out that most
genetic girls are just as clueless on how to treat brows as we are. There was a lot of debate and
a lot of conversation in the class, but these are the five most important tips I pulled from the
session:
1. Never tweeze when you're angry. Whether you’re mad or bored and just looking for
something to do, you should never take it out on your eyebrows. Focus that beauty energy
elsewhere! Maybe this would be a good time to take a pumice stone to your much-neglected
heels.
2. Stock your brow kit. Always have a brow pencil to draw in your ideal shape, brow powder
to fill in bald patches, and gel to set them.
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3. Treat brow color like hair color. When it comes to color, eyebrow hair is just like regular
hair. There is top and undertone to consider. Try on different brow powders in the store and see
how your brow shade complements your hair and skin tone.
4. Don’t cut yourself (or your brows) short. Many people think brows should end in line with
their irises. Actually, they should extend to follow the brow bone. If you’re finding that your
brow tails are no longer growing back, try a growth serum.
5. Know where to start shaping. The easiest way to decide where to start shaping is to place
your thumb on the nose bridge and mark both sides with an eyebrow pencil.
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When you notice your mascara is starting to run out you can stretch it a little farther. Simply
add a few drops of saline solution for eyes to the tube. You will be amazed by how well this
works.
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Here's a trick to fill in your eyebrows without looking unnatural. Go one shade lighter than
your hair color; this creates a far more natural look than using a darker color that makes you
seem to have bushy brows.
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Here’s a basic rule of thumb. If a color looks great on the walls of your house, it’s probably not
a good color to wear on your lips. I’m talking about nude colors, ladies. The purpose of a nude
lipstick is to make your lips look fuller, but a beige generally won’t do that for you. Try colors
like a sheer peachy pink, or maybe a golden tawny color. A touch of shimmer is a good look as
well.
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This month, I want to talk a moment about facial scrubs. Do you use one for exfoliating? You
should! A good facial exfoliation, which you can do in your own shower, is not only a great
beauty booster, but is also a way to better health. Exfoliated skin is clear of dead skin cells,
which lets your skin breathe better, and also helps prevent breakouts.
Having said that, here are two things to remember. First of all, beware of facial scrubs with
stuff like avocado in them. There certainly is avocado in them; little bits of broken avocado
that can cause microscopic abrasions in the skin. This isn’t exfoliating, this is harming your
skin, girls. Look for a different scrub.
The second thing I want to stress is that when your face starts feeling tight and squeaky…well,
you’ve gone too far. That skin has no oils left on it at all, and that’s just a bad thing. Your skin
does need some oil to stay limber and lubricated. More importantly, then you do this, your
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sebaceous glands (the ones that create the oil your body needs) will go into overdrive and kick
out too much oil, and that again can lead to breakouts. So temper the scrubbing, ladies, and
you’ll have beautiful, healthy skin.
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Here’s a quick tip for an emergency. Did you know that, in an absolute pinch, you could use
corn starch for face powder? You need to take care not to use too much in a sitting, however.
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Regina, one of the girls from deviantArt who reads this column, asked me recently how she
could get her hair to dry more quickly. Regina is one of us lucky girls who has a full head of
natural, long, luscious locks; hers are in a dark, gorgeous red. Anyway, now that my moment
of envy is over, I’m sharing this tip again. This one’s for you, Regina!
“You can cut up to fifteen minutes off your morning preparation time by trying this technique.
With your dryer set on low, turn your head upside down and dry while using your fingers to
style. Spend most of the time on the nape of your neck; that's the area that takes the longest to
dry. The outer layers of your hair will air-dry much more quickly.”
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You’ve been out for a night on the town with the girls, and you just got back. It’s time for bed,
you’re tired, but oops! You just discovered that you’re out of makeup remover wipes. What to
do?
This is a quick and inexpensive tip for removing makeup. Put some baby oil on a cotton pad or
ball. Swipe it across your face (be careful if you’re starting to get stubbly, as this will rip the
cotton and become messy in its own right).
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Do you have baby powder in your medicine cabinet? If you do, this tip is for you! Baby
powder can be used in your beauty routine. Let me outline a couple of ways.
Baby powder has worked quite well for me as an inexpensive beard concealer. Take a small
amount in your palm and work it into your freshly-shaven beard area. When done correctly, the
powder will coat the remaining beard follicles and disguise the color, leaving you with a much
lighter complexion in the chin and jawline.
Another use for baby powder is as a finishing powder. When you're done applying your
makeup, take your brush and apply a very light dusting of baby powder. This will give your
face a radiant glow.
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Be careful when using baby powder, however. You want to be sparing in its use. Too much
will make you look pale. Also, take care not to get the powder on your clothing, or on the floor.
Baby powder is very hard to remove without washing a garment. Also, the talc in it can cause
your floor to become slippery.
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As a budding esthetician, I can’t stress
enough to you ladies how important it is to
use your eye creams and moisturizer. As
we age, our skin loses its elasticity. This
causes the fine lines and wrinkles that no
one really wants. By tending to your skin,
this can be put off for awhile.
Cream, under-eye treatment, moisturizing
lotion, or almost any such product works
best at night. I know, this can become a
hassle, but you should your eye cream and
lotions right before going to bed. If you
use a lotion or moisturizer on your face,
it's a good idea to use it on your neck and
arms, too. Remember, beauty is hard
work, girls!
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Has someone told you that you shouldn’t
wear a red lipstick? Don’t listen! Red
lipstick can look good on anyone; it’s a
matter of finding the right shade of red. If
you have red or pinkish undertones, go
with a cool red with a pinkish or bluish undertone, or even a pure red; you want to avoid the
orange-based reds! Only use those, or peach-toned reds, if your skin has yellow undertones. If
you have olive skin, go for a pure red. Any skin tone is complemented by brown-based reds.
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Ladies, what is our best beauty aid? Say it with me now: sleep! You should strive to get at
least six hours of sleep every night. But here’s a way to look rested even if you weren’t able to
get those blessed hours.
Before you get in the shower in the morning, apply a thick layer of moisturizer to your face.
Use an invigorating shower gel and end with a cool rinse. Gently massage off the moisturizer at
the end of the shower with a damp washcloth. The moist heat helps get rid of fine lines and
creases temporarily, and will make you appear more rested.
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PS: this trick even works in boring boy mode. Try it!
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And, continuing in this same vein, what’s our second-best beauty aid? Drinking a lot of water,
of course. Keeping your body, and therefore your skin, hydrated is as important as any makeup
choice you could make.
Here’s a number for you to ponder: for every cup of coffee or can of soda you drink, you need
to take in three times as much water. So, if you have a twelve-ounce can of soda, that’s thirtysix ounces of water your body wants! Low-sugar fruits, like berries and melons, also help keep
your skin firm without being so sweet as to increase your blood sugar (which encourages water
retention and increased inflammation).
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I recently had a lady come into the school for a manicure. She was talking tome about how
brittle her nails are. Being at school, of course, I have the pro products to help with that, but I
also shared the following advice with her.
I told her that she might not be getting enough calcium. Calcium is very important to our bodies. Make sure you get plenty in your diet, both in the food you eat, as well as taking vitamins
if necessary (remember that you should always check with your physician before starting something like that, however.).
I also advised her to check the labels on any lotions she might be using. Many lotions tend to
contain alcohol, and can make brittle nails worse. This is something to remember when you go
shopping for a lotion for yourself.
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And that’s gonna put the wrap on this month’s column, kids. I’m off to get some other writing
done. I hope you all have a wonderful Turkey Day here in the US, and a wonderful month to
the rest of you poor souls who aren’t fortunate enough to get to enjoy our Thanksgiving. I will
think fondly of you all as I’m sitting down to my dinner that day…and again as I’m watching a
great football game…and again as I have a turkey sandwich or two later in the evening…and
then again that night as all the turkey I’ve eaten catches up to me and I pass out!
So if you want to talk about turkey, or football, or something else I’ve said in this column (or
any past ones for that matter), let me know! Nothing has changed from the beginning of the
article. I’m still at mlatjnadhmelly@gmail.com , and I’ll answer any letters I get.
Have a great month, ladies!
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Shopping in Drab Mode
By Randy
The various groups, of which I am a part, shopping often is a topic of discussion.
Ok, no surprise there, what girl doesn’t like to shop? For more than a few of us, this
joyful activity poses some logistical problems. Per agreement with my spouse, in my
hometown and in Branson, our frequent vacation spot, I do not go out en femme. If I
were to only go shopping en femme that would severely limit my shopping possibilities,
a situation with which I am not willing to live.
Since the majority of us did not grow up as girls, we are also on a sharp learning
curve when it comes to style and fashion. Where some of you ladies have wives who
are supportive and helpful, the majority of us do not. I am fortunate in having
developed a wonderful relationship with three fantastic women at three stores I often
frequent.
For me, there were two things that I had to get past in order to make my shopping
experiences beneficial. The first was overcoming the fear. I doubt if I really need to
describe what fear I am talking about. Who among us have not felt that fear in relation
to our femme sides when out and about? However, for the sales personnel to be truly
helpful, I felt that I needed to be honest that I was shopping for myself, even when in
drab mode. As a result I have been simply amazed at how helpful and understanding
the sale personnel have been towards me.
The second obstacle related to trying things on without my breast forms. Without the forms it was rather difficult to tell how well
an item would fit in the bust. I solved this
problem with what I refer to as my shopping bra.
It is a Maidenform bra in a 38B that is padded to
add two sizes. Although I don’t fill out a B cup, it
works sufficiently to approximate my normal size
of 38C with my forms. I carry it in one of those
little canvas backpack bags.
The first woman that really helped me
learn a great deal is Carolyn. I first met her while
vacationing in the Branson area at a Dress Barn.
I was trying to find a top that would go with a
skirt that I had purchased previously at my Dress
Barn at home. Carolyn was very astute in figuring out that the plaid skirt that I was describing
was in fact mine. In the ensuing hour, through
much trial and error, Carolyn taught me a great
deal about colors and what colors and styles go
with what colors and styles. Taking the time to
teach this fledgling girl that there is a difference
35
between a blue purple and a pink purple. (Who knew?) The outfit that we came up
with is one of my favorites in the photo below right.
Several months later, when I was again in the Branson area, I brought a photo to
show Carolyn how well the outfit came together.
When I showed her the photo, she exclaimed,
“That’s you? Wow!” From there, I learned another
lesson in being a woman and that is women notice
EVERYTHING! She asked about my nails,
commented favorably on my boots and critiqued
how well everything that she had chosen meshed
with the skirt. Needless to say, she put me on
cloud nine!
Since that time, the Dress Barn that Carolyn
worked at has closed. However, I learned through
asking at another Dress Barn in the area that she
had been employed as store manager by Limited
Editions for Her in the Branson Landing.
I travel to the area five or six times a year, and
always make sure to manage a visit to her store. I
am always greeted with a smile and a hug, and a
few minutes of catching up on what been happening since the last time I visited. Then
we get down to shopping. While I peruse the store, Carolyn will also search out items
that she thinks will work for me, sets up a dressing room, and often checks and gives
her opinion on how various items either work or don’t work for my figure and coloring.
To the left is a dress that she selected for me on one of
my recent visits.
The second woman that I am indebted to is Karla. She
is the store manager at a Dress Barn store, also located
in the Branson Landing. It may be months between
visits, yet she still greets me with a smile and calls me
by name. On several occasions I have found an item or
two and asked her assistance in coordinating. She
always sets up a dressing room for my use, and checks
frequently to see if I need any assistance. Additionally
her opinion of what does and does not work for me has
been invaluable. The dress to the right is one that she
helped me select on a recent visit.
The third woman is Marcha, the store manager of my
home Dress Barn store. Obviously, this is the store that
I frequent the most and the store that I do the most
business with. I have never entered her store and not
36
been treated with the utmost kindness and respect.
She always greets me by name and with a smile.
Often she asks about my parents and how they are
doing. She takes an interest in her customers
beyond mere fashion. Her attitude shows in her
staff as well. Recently I went in with photos of two
skirts that I had
purchased from Carolyn
while I was in Branson,
but couldn’t find any tops
that I liked.
Marcha was busy with
another customer, but a
young sales associate by
the name of Cristin
helped me. I showed her the two photos, told her what size
I needed and off we went. While in the process, Marcha
came to greet me and to make sure that Cristin was helping
me appropriately.
After selecting about a dozen tops, Cristin then led me
to a dressing room to try them on. As you can see, Cristin
did very well in her selections.
I have had very similar interactions
with most of the sales associates in
her store. I always feel welcome.
I feel that it is vitally important is
to show appreciation. I shop at these
are three stores frequently, and the
primary reason is the help and
assistance that I have received from
these awesome women. I have written
numerous e-mails to the respective
corporate offices detailing the
wonderful help and acceptance that I
have received in these stores. I also
follow up by taking in pictures of the
outfits when I have the makeup and
hair done, so they can see the finished
package. I have learned much from
their comments on the photos of when
I’m doing it right and when I need to
rethink a particular look.
37
Is shopping in male mode optimal? No, absolutely not. It can still be an
enjoyable and rewarding experience. It is all about the attitude.
The Adventures of Judy Sometimes
Judy Danials
The California Girl
A couple years ago I reconnected with a women I went to high school
with. We really weren't friends per se, but our paths crossed throughout
our school years. Kay was a grade behind me, but we had many common
friends that we would hangout with on school nights and weekends.
Our friendship started out with a friend request to my boy profile on Facebook and after a few
months of corresponding I felt comfortable enough to send her a friend request from my Judy
page. Without much surprise she accepted the request right away and we started corresponding
through my Judy profile exclusively. Over the next few weeks a real bond seemed to be
forming and one day she hit me with a real bombshell, she came out to me. So, the girl that
could get any boy she wanted to in high school was a lesbian, was I surprised, you bet, I had
know idea. OK, how would I know or any friends from her past for that matter, she left Fargo
over 30 years ago.
Like many of our friends Kay left for bigger and better things and was off to start college in
Arizona with sights on a degree in graphic design. What I didn't know at the time was that she
went down there with her boyfriend at the time, Paul, a mutual friend, but sadly they parted
ways within three months of arriving. It wasn't long after that she discovered her attraction to
women. She tells me she met an amazing women that she instantly found her self attracted to
and with a single kiss her life changed forever.
Kay eventually obtained her degree and moved off to San Diego to claim her fortune. She
found success in her field rather quickly and enjoyed the first few years of her California life
living paycheck to paycheck like many young people starting out their careers. In the early 90's
she found herself in a unique position. She was offered a graphic design job with Playboy, yes,
you heard that right. Once she established herself in the industry she decided to go out on her
own and freelance with the likes of Penthouse, Hustler and all the rest of the popular men's
magazines. During this time in her life she tells me she lived almost a fantasy life, living in the
fast lane if you will, which eventually lead to design work in the porn industry.
Now, the bulk of her work was web design, not the actual pictures so many of us like to oogle.
As she describes it, she designed the outside of the house, the eye candy the draws us males to
the websites. Her career in the industry earned her a life on easy street up until around 2008
when the recession hit. She had been making a 6 figure income for the better part of 15 years
and had most of the material things a girl could possibly dream of wanting, but there was one
38
thing she didn't have, she didn't really know who she was. For the last 7 years or so she has kind
of just floated around, she still does graphic design and web development, but on a much
smaller scale and far from the porn industry. Which brings us to where we are today.
Last spring she started talking about coming for a visit, my description of life in the midwest
seemed to interest her, after all she did grow up here. She told me she really hadn't been back
here other than a few 3 day stints to visit family over the last 30 plus years and she wanted to
experience fall, or as I call it, shorts, sweatshirts and bonfire season. What she really wants to
do is come to our cabin, which she is doing this weekend. We had talked about the lake area
many times in our conversations on Facebook and she said she really misses experiencing it. I
sent her pictures of our place and she has literally fell in love with what we call "Summer
Wind".
Anyway, she and a friend arrived here in Fargo in mid September and much to my surprise I
was one of the first people she wanted to see. I thought this odd, especially since we weren't
close in high school, merely distant friends. I will admit I had some real butterflies in my
stomach upon our first meeting, which by the way was at Speck's Breakfast Club of all places.
When she walked in I waved her over to where we were sitting and she gave me one of the
biggest hugs I have ever gotten, I knew right away good things were going to come from this.
Our first chat was absolutely amazing, if it had not been for our previous plans I have no doubt
that we could have sat there all day and caught up on each others lives.
We have since went out several times and our bond seems to get stronger with each visit. I
don't know if its the fact that she has come out to me that has made the difference or not. I
might add that very few of her old friends that are still around here know of her lesbianism so
she has only had contact with about a half dozen old girlfriends. I sometimes wonder
if everybody hasn't already figured it out, after all, why would one of the most popular girls in
high school want to hang out with a crossdresser ? lol. Oh well, I certainly don't care because
I'm having the time of my life.
Kay is staying with her brother while here and has since decided to spend the winter in Fargo
saying she needs to find herself. She says she is burned out on her California life and needs to
"find her roots" as she describes it. As you can imagine her California friends thinks she's crazy,
but she assures them this is something she has thought about for quite sometime. I am truly
happy for her and am glad she has included me in finding herself. She has invite my wife and I
out for dinner in late October when her "special friend" arrives, a life long California lady who
has never been to the Midwest. They have dated on and off for the last four years and I think
she has finally decided this is "the one". It should be fun, I will let you know the details next
month.
Judy (Life is all about good friends) sometimes
39
If You Have Style, You Must Be a Woman
Tasi Zuriack |
Style is a person’s means of expressing themselves through clothing, hair, and
accessories
Fashion fades, only style remains the same
–Coco Chanel
Style seems to be very elusive at times,
particularly if you are a beginner crossdresser,
but it persists even to full-time dressers. In the
beginning, I bought what appealed to me with
no real idea of how clothes went together to
express my inner feelings of femininity. I liked
it, I bought it and when confronted by my wife
or another helpful female, the response to my
selections all too often was “whatever were you
thinking?” My wife referred to my clothes as the
Daniels Bible Church look, a look from our time in West Virginia when all the ladies wore their
floral dresses to church. An awful lot of those early styles ended up at Goodwill.
The books all say that your clothes should reflect your inner personality but it’s not all that easy
when you weren’t raised as a girl and experimented along the way to find out your style
preferences. Fortunately help is at hand. I’ve probably taken a dozen style quizzes over the
years and although the results were reasonably consistent, it didn’t take me to the next step. But
knowing your style personality is at least a starting point. Check out this Style personality quiz
from the Chic Fashionista. You should walk away with some sense of your fashion persona.
It’s probably true that that some clothes just don’t speak to you or make you feel good while
others feel just right.
In my case, and it may be true for you as well, I favor a mix of styles. I love the classic look,
but more often than not dress in a Bohemian style with bright colors and long flowing skirts
(did I tell you my roots come from Bohemia…maybe it’s in the genes) Now aside from
showcasing your dazzling personality, developing a personal style helps you maintain a
consistent, pulled together appearance which some call style.
Now I’ve talked about Caryn Franklin before. Her website, How To Look Good, has a wealth
of information and by defining your body shape, you can download her free books which talk to
dressing for your body shape. These body shapes go by different names, but for us it’s normally
a rectangular, apple, or heart-shaped/inverted-V. Most women are pear-shaped.
No one expects you to look like Kate Moss or Victoria Beckham who have personal stylists and
unlimited budgets so they look like they just stepped out of Vogue when they run to the grocery
40
store. That’s not likely to happen with our limited bank accounts (and other disadvantages), yet
fashion experts say that you can look fabulous, regardless of how much you have to spend. Part
of the key to becoming a fashionista is figuring out your personal style — then finding specific
wardrobe pieces that highlight it.
Here are 10 ways to cultivate your own special look. You’ll find out how to buy clothes that
accentuate your assets, learn tips for making the most of your existing wardrobe and discover
how to look like a million bucks — without spending anywhere near that much.
Now all of this guidance is heading somewhere and that’s to Sister House’s Grand Opening and
our Style Contest. So far, ten lovely ladies are competing for a prize of a fabulous corset from
Hips & Curves. But we need more, many more. I’ve seen too many pictures of lovely transgendered women not to know that you should be sharing your taste in clothes with the rest of us. In
addition to the prizes, the winner will become the Sister House Style Icon and featured in many
of our articles. The judges are three real style experts, two with Master’s degrees in fashion.
And by joining Sister House, you can download my
free book on Top Ten Fashion Mistakes by
Crossdressers and How To Fix Them. Actually this
book is good for most women, not just TG women.
Or you can check out The Fashionable TG Woman
blog which focuses on fashion and style for the TG
woman in practicable and useful ways that you can
apply in your everyday dressing.
Now I also understand that fully 40% rarely go out or
if you do (another 20%), then you are unsure of
Audrey Hepburn – Marilyn Monroe yourself. If you are like me, it’s because no one ever
taught me how to do these things. It’s fine to sell me
stuff, but not knowing how to combine the various fashions into cohesive outfits leads to many
of the humorous outfits that I’ve seen all too often on Flickr and other crossdressing picture
sites.
Lori’s column, Putting It Together in the Sister House Dressing Room
is just one place you can go for help. And my blog is and will continue
to provide you help in becoming a well-dressed woman. I don’t need to
reinvent the wheel as my sources are many. For instance Reah
Norman is a fashion editor and blogger for plus-size women and her
advice is usually appropriate for many of us out of our 20s. Reah
shows us how to use this year’s fall fashions to create five fabulous
outfits. Once you get a sense of how it’s done, create your own Look
Book. Polyvore is a good place to start. Or follow your favorite style
icons.
To me, the styles of Marilyn Monroe and Audrey Hepburn were
unbeatable. But this year we are seeing a return to the 90s fashions
Kate Middleton
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with Drew Barrymore and Kelly Bundy (Married with Children) being two excellent examples
of the fashion of those times.
But the most iconistic example of style in modern times is without a doubt Kate Middleton,
Duchess of Cambridge, on both sides of the Atlantic. This woman has it all. What she wears is
usually sold out in hours of the first photos appearing. And she takes it from the casual to the
glamorous. You can follow Kate’s latest style on this blog and I have to tell you that her latest
designer creation (silver gown) is nothing short of a knockout. Follow Kate and you can’t go
wrong. She has become known too for her ability to look stylish on budget clothes so royalty or
not, you can become your own style icon
How to Choose and Use Shapewear
By Rebecca Felsenthal Stewart
WebMD Feature
Shapewear can make you look slimmer and sleeker in a cocktail dress, work clothes, or jeans
and a T-shirt.
If you've tried it before, you might be in for a surprise.
"In the beginning, shapewear used to be too tight and it would push the fat in the wrong way,
which was just not flattering," says Los Angeles celebrity stylist Sophia Banks-Coloma.
"I remember going on a date and thinking I had food poisoning because I was wearing bad
shapewear. I had to remove it in the bathroom."
As long as you wear it properly, shapewear should be relatively comfortable. "There are
different levels. It can be ultra or light slimming," says Milena Joy, an image consultant in
Denver. "You don't have to wear something that will totally change your shape. You can choose
what spots, to target just your thighs, butt, stomach, or multiple areas."
...That is, if you know how to choose and use your shapewear, and know why it should never be
too tight.
Get the Right Fit
Although you can buy shapewear online, it's worth it to go to a store to try on several brands
and styles. If you're buying for a specific dress or outfit, bring it with you. A quick hip and
waist measurement can help you make sure you're looking at the right size, Banks-Coloma says.
Be realistic. You can count on shapewear to smooth out lumps and give you a sleeker
silhouette.
Going down a shapewear size, however, won't help you zip yourself into a smaller dress.
"Women sometimes try to size down to add extra firmness," Joy says. "But that makes you look
bigger because it can cause bulges, and it can be uncomfortable."
42
Too-tight shapewear may lead to health problems, says neurologist Orly Avitzur, MD, medical
advisor for Consumer Reports. "Any time we put on really tight garments we take the risk of
compressing organs or nerves."
Avitzur says that in her practice, she has had patients complain of tingling and numbness in the
front to outer thigh region, from hip to knee. Avitzur has traced the cause back to restrictive
clothing like shapewear or skinny jeans.
Some stars, such as actress Octavia Spencer and singer Adele, admit to layering pieces of
shapewear for special occasions.
"I've done two or three layers for an appearance or commercial," Banks-Coloma says.
"Obviously it isn't comfortable, but it can be effective."
That trend may be better left in Hollywood, Avitzur says. "Special events are meant to be enjoyed, and that's hard to do if your garments are squeezing you like a vise." Layering shapewear
makes compressing nerves or organs more likely, she says.
Not Only for Special Occasions
You can wear shapewear to work, as long as it's not bothering you. "The benefit," Joy says, "is
that it can help you feel more confident and it can boost your self-esteem."
If you wear shapewear every day, pay close attention to how comfortable you are. "If you're
afraid to go to the bathroom because your shapewear is difficult to remove, you might be
putting yourself at risk of a UTI [urinary tract infection]," Avitzur says.
If you are prone to bladder infections, yeast infections, or GI symptoms like reflux, wearing
shapewear every day may not be such a good idea, Avitzur says.
Pregnancy and Shapewear
If you're pregnant, you might want to check with your doctor about whether you can use special
maternity shapewear. It may actually help you feel better, says ob-gyn Laura E. Riley, MD,
medical director of Labor and Delivery at Massachusetts General Hospital and author of You
and Your Baby: Pregnancy.
"Maternity shapewear is fine for women to wear daily if they are comfortable," Riley says. "It
should help for women with varicose veins, which can be uncomfortable when standing, and it
should provide support to lift the uterus off the cervix and ease pain [if the pelvis becomes
misaligned]."
As a neurologist, Avitzur says "pregnant women are already at risk for compressing a nerve in
the abdomen if their belly is large."
If you do wear shapewear while expecting, make sure getting it on and off isn't such a struggle
that you put off urinating, as that can set you up for urinary tract infections.
43
Building a Shapewear Wardrobe
"Start with the basics like a mid-thigh shaper, a slip dress, and then add something more
specialized like underwear," Joy says. "You can build your shapewear wardrobe as you would
build a regular wardrobe."
For the most flexibility, look for pieces in a shade that's close to your skin tone.
Some of Joy and Banks-Coloma's favorite pieces:
Tights. This is a great place to start with shapewear, Banks-Coloma says. You can choose
options that slim the whole leg, or the thighs, rear, hips, and waist. They smooth out panty lines,
and there are butt-boosting styles. In the past, waste bands might have rolled over, but that
shouldn't be an issue anymore, Banks-Coloma says.
Full body suit with a chest cut-out. Body suits slim the hips and hold in the stomach, but they
can also flatten your chest, like a sports bra. New styles have an open bust that actually lifts
your breasts. (You wear it with a separate bra.) When you try on a body suit, make sure that the
overall effect is smoothing and that it doesn't create bulges in new spots, like where the seam
hits your thigh, Banks-Coloma says. If you're hoping to minimize a larger chest, choose a suit
that covers it.
If you think that shapewear will flatten your behind, you could try a butt-boosting style. Some
come with padding, some use panels that lift your rear, and others have cut-outs.
Camisole. "The number one spot women want to cover is their stomach," Joy says. If it looks
like regular clothing, you can let it show. "A cami can also help smooth out muffin top (tuck it
into your pants) and bra bulge on your back.
Panties. Shapewear panties can help eliminate panty lines and slim down your thighs, hips,
rear, and even your stomach. If you're looking for sleeker thighs, you can choose a boy short cut
-- just make sure that the leg bands don't cut into your skin. If you're not looking for help in the
thigh region, a brief cut can create a more seamless look, says Joy. To tighten your abdomen,
choose a high-waisted style with a panel that covers the stomach. You can look for rearenhancing panties, too.
Slip. If you're going to wear a slip under a dress, why not choose one with a little extra
smoothing power? "I use slips on the red carpet all the time," Banks-Coloma says. A good slip
can eliminate bulges and panty lines under thin or sheer dresses. Bring your dress into the store
with you. There are many options for necklines and straps, and you want one that won't poke
out of the dress, Joy says. If you're wearing a skirt, you can choose a half slip that starts at the
waist (and pair it with a camisole, if you like).
Mid-thigh shaper. These look like bicycle shorts that extend up to the waist (or higher) and
can cinch your thighs, butt, hips, and abdomen. "If you have bulk on your thighs and not around
your stomach you can get a short that comes up to the waist," Banks-Coloma says. "But if you
have bulk all over, you should find one that comes up to just under the bust."
44
If you go too tight, the band on the top will roll over. "Be careful if you have a flat butt that the
shaper doesn't make it look flatter," Joy says. If that's the case, look for a butt-boosting style.
Finally, always do a "sit" test with your outfit, Joy says, so your shapewear doesn't peek out
from under your clothes.
Gender and the Body Language of Power
by Lisa Wade, PhD,
Philosopher Sandra Lee Bartky once observed that being feminine often means using one’s
body to portray powerlessness. Consider: A feminine person keeps her body small and
contained; she makes sure that it doesn’t take up to much space or impose itself. She walks and
sits in tightly packaged ways. She doesn’t cover the breadth of the sidewalk or expand herself
beyond the chair she occupies.
Comic by A. Stiffler at Chaos Life.
.
Likewise, burping and farting, raising one’s voice in an argument, and even laughing loudly are
considered distinctly unfeminine. A feminine person doesn’t use her body to forcefully interact
with the world, she lets others do for her when possible. ”Massiveness, power, or abundance in
a woman’s body is met with distaste,” Bartky wrote.
Stunningly, when you think about it, these features of feminine body comportment are, in fact,
not uniquely feminine, but associated with deference more generally.
Bartky again:
In groups of men, those with higher status typically assume looser and more relaxed postures;
the boss lounges comfortably behind the desk while the applicant sits tense and rigid on the
edge of his seat. Higher-status individuals may touch their subordinates more than they
45
themselves get touched; they initiate more eye contact and are smiled at by their inferiors more
than they are observed to smile in return. What is announced in the comportment of superiors
is confidence and ease…
Acting feminine, then, overlaps with performances of submissiveness. Both men and women
use their bodies in more feminine ways when their interacting with a superior, whether it be
their boss, their commander, a police officer, or their professor.
New evidence suggests that this is not pure theory. Psychologist Andy Yap and his colleagues
tested whether “expansive body postures” like the ones associated with masculinity increase
people’s sense of powerfulness and entitlement. They did. In laboratory experiments, people
who were prompted to take up more space were more likely to steal, cheat, and violate traffic
laws in a simulation. A sense of powerfulness, reported by the subjects, mediated the effect (a
robust finding that others have documented as well).
In a real world test of the theory, they found that large automobiles with greater internal space
were more likely than small ones to be illegally parked in New York City.
Research, then, has shown that expansive body postures that take up room instill a
psychological sense of power and entitlement. The fact that this behavior is gendered may go
some way towards explaining the persistence of gender inequality and, more pointedly, some
men’s belief that they have earned their unearned privileges.
Best coat for your body shape
By Lauren Bernstein | Glamour
Chilly days and nights are creeping up and your hunt for the perfect coat is on. Might as
well be cute and flattering!
If you’re plus-size…
“I’m hourglass, and I love my shape. I like pairing a swingy,
bright coat with neutrals like gray tights that make you look
taller.”
—Marina Bulatkina, 28
Embrace your curves with this fierce leopard coat.
ASOS Curve Leopard Fur Coat, sizes 2-22, $124, asos.com
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Even a bold blue is flattering in a clean cut.
Old Navy Wool-Blend Mid-Length Coat, sizes 1X-4X, $54,
oldnavy.com
The secrets to allover print? Length and lines.
Dorothy Perkins Black and White Boucle Coat,
sizes 2-18, $77.20, dorothyperkins.com
If you’re busty…
“I’m a 28DD. I have a small frame but with ‘totters’ and a tush. I
like big, baggy, comfy coats, but I put them on with skinny pants—
otherwise I’d look like a box!”
—Caitlin Marino, 23
Wrap dresses let you pick the fit. Same idea in this coat!
Narciso Rodriguez for DesigNation, sizes 0-14, $130, kohls.com
A swingy cut skims your curves.
Talbots Plush Twill Coat, sizes 2-14, 0P-16P, 12W-22WP,
$270, talbots.com
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The cute flounce at the bottom balances your bust.
Betsey Johnson Double Breasted Coat, sizes XS-XLRG, $200,
betseyjohnson.com
If you’re short-waisted…
“I have a short torso and like to buy coats a size bigger than
what I need so that I can layer big sweaters
underneath. Sizing and how you tuck your clothes in can totally change your body.”
–Josine Tence, 21
The buttons and fur stretch your torso.
Liz Claiborne Cable Wool Coat, sizes S-XL, $90,
jcpenney.com
Above-the-waist toggles are flattering…
Express Fur Trimmed Wool Blend Toggle Coat, sizes XS-L, in Navy
or Pitch Black, $90, express.com
…and the space between these ones lengthens you.
Uniqlo, sizes XS-XL, $130, 877-486-4756 for stores…and the space
between these ones lengthens you.
Uniqlo, sizes XS-XL, $130, 877-486-4756 for stores
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If you're slim...
“My chest and bum are both small—I still have pants from
when I was 13! A structured coat helps create curves. And a
belt gives the illusion of a womanly figure.”
–Jasmine Jones, 21
The leather trim here helps define your hour-glass.
Bebe Coat, sizes XS-L, $189, bebe.com
Clean, bright white adds curves everywhere.
White House Black Market Double Breasted Belted
Coat, sizes XXS-XL, $248, whbm.com
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5 Best Shoes for Crossdressers and Transgender Women
ABOUT THE AUTHOR: Lucille Sorella is a GG (genetic girl)
who teaches crossdressers, transsexuals, and transgender
females how to look, act, and feel like real women. Her goal
is to help T-women express their inner and outer femininity
and increase their confidence as women. She has a
professional background in fashion, beauty, dance, and
natural healing and has been working with the transgender
community for the past 12 years. Her website is loaded with
useful information and is located at
http://www.flat2fem.com/index1.html .
Are you as addicted to sexy shoes and boots as I am?
The right pair of shoes can instantly transform the way you look, feel, and walk.
Since shoes are so important to your feminine image, I’d like to share some tips on selecting the
perfect shoes.
Here are 5 shoes I believe should be part of every crossdresser and transgender woman’s wardrobe:
50
1. Classic black pumps
Classic black pumps are the most versatile shoe style. They add a polished look to almost any
outfit. For the most mileage, choose a closed-toe, full-back style.
Worried about adding too much height? Try a short kitten heel. Even a 1” heel looks feminine
and gives you enough lift to loosen up your hips as you walk.
2. D’Orsay pumps
The d’Orsay is a pump style where the sides are cut away to reveal the arch of the foot. This is
one of the most beautiful and elegant shoes styles.
D’Orsay pumps are perfect for showing off shapely legs – an asset for most crossdressers and
transgender women.
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3. T-straps
T-straps add a sexy touch to pumps, high heel sandals, and flats. T-straps have two advantages:

The ankle strap offers extra support for your ankles, making it easier to walk in heels.
The vertical line of the center strap balances the horizontal ankle strap and makes your legs
look longer. (T-straps are much more flattering than ankle strap shoes.)
4. Wedges
Wedges are another good choice if you have trouble walking in heels. The sole covers more
ground, so they are easier to walk in.
52
Wedges tend to look casual, but you can also find elegant wedges for the evening.
Since wedges have a chunky look, they are best for girls with thin legs. Stay away from them if
you have large or muscular legs.
5. Knee high boots
Boots are sexy and sassy, so they are a wardrobe must.
Choose knee high boots for the most elegant look. Knee high boots are more flattering than
ankle boots or boots that hit the middle of the calf. The higher the boot leg and heel, the more
slimming they are.
Where can you find shoes your size?
Obviously, most crossdressers and transgender women have bigger feet and it can be difficult to
find shoes in large sizes.
Note: When converting your shoe size, remember to add 2 sizes to your U.S. men’s size to get
your U.S. women’s size. (For example, if you wear an 8 in men’s shoes, you are a 10 in
women’s shoes.)
Here are 3 great sources for large size women’s shoes:
BarefootTess.com (Barefoot Tess specializes in shoes size 10-15.)
Zappos.com (Zappos carries heels up to a size 16.)
Nordstrom.com (Nordstrom is the best source for fashionable shoes up to a size 14.)
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In Concert
David DeAlba Tribute to Judy Garland
Sunday November 24th 2013
2:00pm
Onyx Theater
Commercial Center
Las Vegas Nv.
54
The Gossip Fence
Transgender in the News
Kaiser Permanente now covering transgender services in plans
Kaiser Permanente will now cover services for transgender Coloradans in its insurance plans,
the company said. "Kaiser Permanente is committed to reducing health disparities and
providing culturally competent care to all of our patients," the HMO said in a statement. "
In March, the Colorado Division of Insurance issued a directive reminding insurers that it is
against state law to discriminate based on sexual orientation, including those who are
transgender. After that directive, Kaiser began reviewing its policies on transgender services,
the company stated.
Kaiser Permanente joins only the Colorado HealthOP cooperative insurance plan as the only
insurers covering transgender health care, according to One Colorado, an advocacy group for
the states lesbian, gay, bisexual and transgender residents.
Kaiser said, "For patients with a diagnosis of gender dysphoria in plans that are under Colorado
Division of Insurance oversight, coverage includes many medical services, including behavioral
health, medical testing, hormone therapy for members who have a drug benefit, and transgender
surgery. General exclusions and limitations that apply to all services also apply to transgender
services."
Trans couple make history as first to marry after both having gender reassignment
surgery
A British couple from the city of Hull have made history, becoming the first married couple to
have both transitioned, one from male to female and the other from female to male.
Helen and Felix Fenlon became Britain’s first married couple to have both gone through gender
reassignment surgery, after being together for six years.
Despite the happy ending for the married couple, they both spoke of the torment they faced
whilst transitioning. Speaking of having been attacked, Mrs Fenlon said she “couldn’t go out
without being verbally abused.”
“For years, that continued. In the end I just stood up to them,” she continued.
55
On why the couple decided to go public, Mrs Fenlon said: “We want to show a successful
outcome to other trans people, and show that there is a life beyond all of the discrimination”.
Felix had two children before transitioning, and Helen had eight. One of Helen’s sons walked
her down the aisle, and the Daily Mail reported that Felix’s hands shook as he placed the ring
on her finger.
Tiny Ky. town sees windfall after banning anti-LGBT discrimination
VICCO, Ky. — Eight months after this tiny Appalachian town took a stand against gay-based
discrimination, it’s basking in a flurry of attention and even an infusion of much-needed cash.
All that hoopla has its openly gay mayor dreaming of reviving a place that had long seemed
past its prime.
Out-of-towners occasionally venture well off the interstate to make the trek to Vicco, a fading
coal town of about 330 residents where an aging row of buildings lines one side of the blocklong downtown. Railroad tracks run along the other side, though trains rarely pass by anymore.
Visitors pose for pictures in front of the Mayberry-like city hall or shake hands with Mayor
Johnny Cummings, 51, a chain-smoking hair salon operator who grew up in the town, spent
some time living on both coasts, and then returned home.
Perhaps even more welcome since passing the ordinance: a potential financial windfall for the
cash-strapped town that has seen its population steadily decline.
The town, about 130 miles southeast of Lexington, made national headlines when three of four
commissioners voted in January to pass the ordinance, which prohibits discrimination based on
sexual orientation or gender identity in employment, housing and public accommodations. City
leaders said at the time they simply thought it was the right thing to do, and today marvel at the
attention that has followed.
After passage, letters of support poured in from across the country, along with a handful of
letters condemning the ordinance, the mayor said. Money was tucked into some of the
supportive letters, mostly in the range of $25 donations. A pastor from New England sent $40
to buy a round of beers for locals who appeared in a segment about Vicco by Comedy Central’s
“The Colbert Report.”
A few other supporters are digging much deeper to show appreciation for the town’s action. A
mother and son in California pledged to buy all the new playground equipment for a city park, a
project that could reach $90,000, Cummings said. He declined to identify them, but said the gift
would greatly expand what was going to be a modest new playground. The town had scraped
together enough money to buy a couple of swing sets and a see-saw, he said.
The town is applying for an $80,000 grant from a private, out-of-state company that encouraged
the application, he said. A company representative reached out to town leaders after hearing
about the ordinance, Cummings said. The money would be used to rehab buildings and the
sidewalks in the downtown area.
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All together, the pledges and grant applications amount to more than $200,000, approaching
Vicco’s annual budget of about $300,000, Cummings said. Still, the town has only a tiny
fraction of that money in hand.
Vicco City Commissioner Jimmy Slone, who voted for the ordinance, said he hopes the
attention restores some vitality to the town.
“It was a dead town, but it’s looking up,” he said.
So far, no cases have come up to trigger enforcement of Vicco’s ordinance, the mayor said. One
landlord worried the ordinance would prevent her from evicting people who fail to pay rent.
Cummings said he reassured her that she could evict them.
Whitman-Walker Submits Discrimination Evidence to HHS
Whitman-Walker Health (WWH ), the local community health center specializing in LGBTsensitive care and HIV/AIDS, has submitted evidence of extensive anti-LGBT discrimination in
health care to the Office for Civil Rights (OCR) at the U.S. Department of Health and Human
Services (HHS) in an effort to combat the problem.
Whitman-Walker submitted the comments Sept. 30 in response to a general OCR request for
such information, which the office plans to use to counter anti-LGBT discrimination under the
Affordable Care Act (ACA), also known as Obamacare. Under the ACA, no health care
provider or institution receiving federal funds, nor health insurance plan operating under the
ACA or administered by the federal government, is allowed to discriminate on the basis of race,
color, national origin, sex, age or disability.
As part of its response to OCR, Whitman-Walker documented widespread discrimination by
health insurers, hospitals, clinics, nursing homes and other health centers against people
because of their sexual orientation or gender identity. Most of that discrimination was aimed at
transgender people, though lesbians, gays and bisexuals were all represented in the evidence.
Such instances of discrimination may include the refusal of health plans to cover same-sex
spouses, the refusal of health plans to cover health needs of transgender people, the failure of
hospitals and health care centers to allow visitation rights to same-sex partners, and even the
refusal to treat LGBT patients in physical distress, as well as hostile attitudes or inappropriate
comments by health care professionals.
53 Percent of Marylanders Could Benefit from Expanded State Civil Rights Law
Maryland would benefit from a consistent, state-wide law that protects against gender identity
discrimination
Amending Maryland’s civil rights law to explicitly prohibit discrimination based on gender
identity would extend protections to an estimated 53 percent of Maryland’s population,
including approximately 9,200 transgender people, according to a Williams Institute study
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authored by Reid Rasmussen Fellow of Law and Policy, Christy Mallory.
“This study highlights that the majority of Marylanders would benefit from a consistent,
state-wide law that protects against gender identity discrimination,” said Mallory.
“Additionally, a clear and uniform policy could also benefit businesses by eliminating the
inconsistency of existing protections in the state.” Currently, gender identity discrimination
protections in Maryland are extended through four local ordinances (in Baltimore City,
Baltimore County, Howard County, and Montgomery County) that are inconsistent, and, in
some cases, provide more limited remedies than Maryland’s state non-discrimination laws. A
gubernatorial executive order that applies only to state employees also exists.
Anti-transgender effort prompts Manteca teen to file AG complaint
Ashton Lee — a 16-year-old Manteca High student at the vanguard of the successful effort to
secure transgender rights in California public schools — is now making sure those trying to repeal the new law play fair. Ashton and his mother Catherine Lee filed a complaint with the
California Attorney General’s Office contending that the Capitol Resources Institute has been
operating illegally.
The organization caught Ashton’s attention as it is leading the effort to get Assembly Bill 1266
signed into law in August by Gov. Jerry Brown from taking effect Jan. 1. The CRI is also trying
to gather 505,000 registered voters’ signatures for a 2014 ballot measure to block transgender
rights in public schools as secured by the new law.
Ashton’s complaint stems from an IRS action in February that revoked the CRI’s tax-exempt
status. The organization had failed to provide mandated financial information for three straight
years. The CRI has since indicated they are tax-exempt as they collect contributions to further
its objectives including placing a measure to stop transgender rights in public schools on the
statewide ballot.
Ashton had delivered a petition with 5,700 signatures to the governor urging him to sign the
law.
“After years of failing to defeat other LGBT (Lesbian Gay Bisexual Transgender)
nondiscrimination protections, it is sad that these fringe groups are using their resources —
illegally — to target vulnerable students,” said John O’Connor, Executive Director of Equality
California in a press release on Wednesday. “It is an inspiration to see that Ashton is not so
vulnerable and has taken great initiative to organize and take action with his heroically
supportive mother.” “We are so proud to see Ashton, a young person who legally and honestly
fought for the opportunity to succeed in school, stand up to these fringe groups who have lied to
the public in their attempt to bully him and transgender students across the state,” said Carolyn
Laub, Executive Director of Gay-Straight Alliance Network.
Funding Sex Reassignment for Veterans
The Department of Veteran Affairs still does not provide coverage for the surgery—a treatment
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that standards say is “medically necessary” for some.
Transgender veterans can get transition-related health care at medical centers and outpatient
clinics run by the VA: Hormone therapy, mental health care, routine health screenings,
pre-operative evaluation, and post-operative care — everything but the actual operations. In
June 2011, the Veterans Health Administration (VHA) clarified VA policy on transgender
health care with a four-page directive. Although it didn’t create any new benefits, the directive
affirmed that transgender patients would receive all care included in the VA’s medical benefits
package, as do other veterans, without discrimination and “regardless of sex or sex
reassignment status.” In February 2013, the VHA reiterated this directive and expanded the
content to 13 pages.
“The goal of the directive is to ensure that we’re all working toward the same goal, which is to
provide high-quality care to transgender vets, including cross-sex hormones, psychological
evaluation, and post-surgical recovery,” said Dr. Jillian Shipherd, who helped draft the directive
and is co-coordinator of lesbian, gay, bisexual, and transgender program for patient care
services for the VA.
The directive states, “VA does not provide sex reassignment surgery or plastic reconstructive
surgery for strictly cosmetic purposes.” It cites federal regulations that say medical benefits for
veterans do not include “gender alterations” but does not explicitly define sex reassignment
surgery as “cosmetic.” This policy functions as an absolute ban. The Department of Health and
Human Services has also banned Medicare and Medicaid coverage for sex reassignment
surgery in a determination that came into force in 1981 and has not been reviewed in the 32
years since, though a recent administrative challenge calls it outdated and discriminatory.
Despite the unavailability of surgery, transgender veterans have access to more care today than
was available in the past.
The AMA has noted that transgender health care involves services usually covered for other
diagnoses, like mastectomy, breast reconstruction, hysterectomy, and other reconstructive
surgeries. According to the AMA, denying otherwise covered benefits “represents
discrimination based solely on a patient’s gender identity.”
Low Estrogen May Play A Role In 'Male Menopause'
TV ads tout testosterone treatments for "low T," but surprising new research shows a different
hormone may play a role in less sex drive and more fat as men age. Estrogen — the female
hormone — is needed by men, too, and the study gives the first clear evidence that too little of
it can cause certain "male menopause" symptoms.
"A lot of things we think are due to testosterone deficiency are actually related to the estrogen
deficiency that accompanies it," said Dr. Joel Finkelstein of Massachusetts General Hospital.
He led the U.S.-government funded study, which appears in Thursday's New England Journal
of Medicine.
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Testosterone is the main male sex hormone. Men's bodies convert some of it into estrogen, and
levels of both decline with age. Until now, there was no way to tell which hormone was
responsible for complaints of diminished libido, strength and energy.
The study didn't test hormones as therapy, but explored which ones had which effects. It
involved 400 healthy male volunteers, ages 20 to 50, who were given monthly shots of a drug
to temporarily reduce their testosterone production to pre-puberty levels. They were then given
various doses of testosterone gel or a dummy gel to use. Half also were given another drug to
prevent testosterone's conversion into estrogen.
Designing the study this way allowed researchers to compare the effects of different levels of
each hormone on things like strength and body composition. After 16 weeks, researchers saw
that muscle size and strength depended on testosterone, body-fat mass depended on estrogen,
and both hormones were needed to maintain normal sex drive and performance.
The new study was too short to see long-term benefits or risks, such as the effect of testosterone
supplements on the heart, mental sharpness, prostate enlargement or cancer. Also, abruptly and
artificially depriving men of testosterone the way the study did may not be the same as when it
falls off naturally and gradually over time.
New Gender Clinic opens at Healthy Communities
Brisbane’s new Gender Clinic opened at Healthy Communities in Teneriffe this morning.
The weekly clinic will open on Wednesdays and clients will be bulk-billed by Dr Gale
Bearman, who is the state’s leading GP on transgender health.
Dr Gale Bearman spoke of the particularly difficult obstacles facing her trans clients, but also
spoke of society’s changing attitude towards trans people. “It’s a shame that just as society is
on the cusp of change, everything is defunded – it’s appalling,” she said.
The Gender Clinic will open on Wednesdays and appointments are now being taken (call
Wednesdays only) on (07) 3017 1777.
HUD files lawsuit on behalf of Seven Points trans woman and partner
The Department of Housing and Urban Development has filed a lawsuit on behalf of Roxanne
Joganik and Darlina Anthony against George Toone, the owner of an RV park in Athens.
HUD gives these reasons as the legal basis for the suit in the court document:
1. It is unlawful to discriminate against any person in the terms, conditions, or privileges of sale
or rental of a dwelling, or in the provision of services or facilities in connection therewith,
because of sex.
2. It is unlawful to coerce, intimidate, threaten, or interfere with any person in the exercise or
enjoyment of, or on account of his having exercised or enjoyed, or on account of his having
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aided or encouraged any other person in the exercise or enjoyment of, any right granted or
protected by section 804 of the Act.
HUD alleges a number of housing discrimination charges but some are specific to the
transgender community: • prohibiting someone from dressing as a female in the park violates
federal fair housing laws. • requests that the park rules be amended to include protections
against sex discrimination were denied. • park rules included a rule that “Management reserves
the right to refuse entrance to the R.V. park to any person for any reason other than for reasons
based on race, religion, handicapped, color or national origin.” This rule should include sex or
familial status, protected classes under the Fair Housing Act. • park owner did not want
complainant to wear female clothing in the park because there are children around the pool and
it is “not the type of atmosphere we want to promote on private property.” Mr. Toone would
rather not have transgender persons in the common areas of the park.
Calif. governor Jerry Brown signs transgender birth certificate bill
SACRAMENTO, Calif. — Gov. Jerry Brown has signed a bill designed to make it easier for
transgender Californians to obtain birth certificates reflecting name and gender changes.
Currently, people born in California can only get their birth certificates amended by court order,
a process that transgender rights advocates argued is expensive and needlessly invasive since a
legal notice of the requested changes has to be published in a newspaper.
The bill the governor signed, AB1121 by San Diego Assemblywoman Toni Atkins, authorizes
the state registrar to issue a birth certificate with a corrected sex to a transgender person who
provides proof of having undergone appropriate medical treatment.
AB 1121 will allow individuals to bypass the court and apply directly to the Office of Vital
Records to amend a birth certificate. That will both streamline individuals’ access to corrected
birth certificates and reduce the caseloads of overwhelmed courts.
The bill would also make the name change process more private and affordable for transgender
people, exempting them from the requirement that a person pay to publish a notice of the
intended name change in the local newspaper for four weeks.
Transgender name changes made easier by new law
Sacramento -- The public and costly process for transgender people to legally change the name
and gender on their California birth certificate will be streamlined under a law Gov. Jerry
Brown signed Tuesday.
AB1121 by Assemblywoman Toni Atkins, D-San Diego, allows a transgender person to change
the name on their birth certificate without a hearing in open court or publishing their request in
a newspaper. Court-ordered name changes are a prerequisite for changing other documents,
such as driver's licenses.
The process for changing a gender marker on a birth certificate will be an administrative
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process requiring a doctor's note indicating the person has undergone a gender transition.
VICTORY! CA Gov. Jerry Brown Signs TRUST Act
We are thrilled to announce that California Governor Jerry Brown has signed the TRUST Act,
which was re-introduced this year. The law will prevent police from turning in many nonviolent inmates to deportation officials.
Transgender people, especially transgender women of color, report extraordinarily high rates of
police harassment putting them at greater risk for deportation and creating mistrust between the
community, which is in great need of protection from hate crimes and violence, and local law
enforcement. Many participants of our Transgender Leadership Summit educated lawmakers
about the importance of the reforms in the TRUST Act.
«The TRUST Act, sponsored by State Assembly Member Tom Ammiano, addresses how
California law enforcement agencies implement the U.S. Department of Homeland Security’s
Secure Communities, or S-Comm, program. S-Comm actions currently affect people with no
criminal history, sweeping them into immigration proceedings and tearing families apart.
The TRUST Act would refocus S-Comm enforcement actions on the deportation of the most
dangerous and violent offenders, as was the original stated intent of the program. Instead, as
currently implemented, S-Comm actions have resulted in the arrest and detention of immigrants
for minor traffic infractions and interfered with the ability of law enforcement agencies to focus
on serious crime. Current S-Comm enforcement policies exacerbate distrust and suspicion
between law enforcement and immigrant communities.
The TRUST Act would adjust implementation of S-Comm across California communities and
restore the critical level of trust between police officers and community residents necessary for
effective law enforcement and protecting public safety.»
Call for Transgender Veterans to Participate in an Educational Program for the
Veteran's Health Administration
ST. LOUIS - Calling all transgender veterans! The Office of Patient Care Services from
veteran’s Health Administration is looking for 3-4 transgender veterans to appear in an
educational program for VA clinical staff on providing excellent, culturally appropriate health
care to transgender veterans.
According to The Office of Patient Care Services from Veteran’s Health Administration, “We
are looking for a diverse group of Veterans of different ages, ethnicities, gender, and branch of
military service. Participation will involve providing first-person accounts of lived experience
and perhaps role-playing a VA patient with an actor-clinician on video.”
Auditions and recordings will be held at the St. Louis Employee Education Resource Center
VA Medical Center, Bldg. # 48 in St. Louis. Auditions and casting are scheduled for Monday,
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December 2nd beginning 8:00-11:00 am and 12:00-2:00 pm. Video recording is planned for
Monday, December 2nd 2:00-4:30 pm with additional video recordings scheduled for Tuesday,
December 3rd from 9:00 am-4:30 pm.
Participation in the project is purely voluntary and those who are interested in auditioning can
contact Elizabeth Bowling at (314) 894-6540 with questions or concerns.
What’s in the ACA for Transgender People?
For thousands of transgender people around the country, the wait is over for health coverage
that is more accessible, affordable, and comprehensive than before. Too many trans people still
live without any health insurance at all – and many are now eligible for free or low-cost
coverage through their state health insurance marketplace.
So what do the new marketplace plans cover?
The marketplace insurance plans will cover several broad categories of benefits, including doctor’s visits, preventive care, hospitalization, prescriptions, mental health and substance use disorder services, emergency services, and maternity, newborn, and pediatric care. Unfortunately,
most plans still have unfair exclusions regarding transition-related care and deny coverage for
transition-related surgeries. In California, Colorado, Oregon, Vermont, and D.C., however, new
rules are in place to eliminate many transition-related exclusions, and we expect to see more
states join this trend in the coming years.
Many people will be able to secure highly subsidized or even free health coverage through the
new healthcare marketplace. To avoid problems when being evaluated for a subsidy, it is
important that transgender applicants carefully answer the first question on the healthcare.gov
website <https://www.healthcare.gov/> above, which can be a troublesome question for many:
“What is your gender: M or F?” On this question, trans applicants should select the gender
marker that is listed in their Social Security Administration record. This is only used to match
an applicant’s information against tax records for subsidy eligibility: no physician will see the
gender marker indicated on that application. In addition, the ACA’s new rules prohibit insurance companies from discriminating based on this information, such as by denying services that
are generally covered by your plan but are typically associated with a different gender than the
one listed for you.
Last but not least, healthcare will also be more affordable for those who now qualify for
Medicaid. Because of the Affordable Care Act’s reforms, 26 states are expanding Medicaid so
that more people can be eligible for the program. You can learn if your state is participating in
the Medicaid expansion here <https://www.healthcare.gov/what-if-my-state-is-not-expandingmedicaid/> .
While you may have heard about a penalty being applied to those who don’t get coverage, very
few people will actually pay the penalty. If you already get coverage through an employer,
Medicaid, Medicare, the Veterans Administration, or another program, or if you cannot afford
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to buy coverage despite the available subsidies, you will be exempt from the penalty.
There are protections against discrimination
Finally, the Affordable Care Act and its implementing rules prohibit plans from discriminating
on the basis of sex, sexual orientation, and gender identity. They also prohibit discrimination by
many health care providers, such as doctors, hospitals, and clinics. Unfortunately, the new rules
have not yet been interpreted to mean that discrimination includes denying someone transitionrelated surgery.
However, transgender people who have experienced discrimination in insurance enrollment,
coverage, or services can file a complaint <http://transequality.org/Resources/
HealthCareRight_UpdatedAug2012_FINAL.pdf> that the Department of Health and Human
Services will investigate.
Trans legal
Trans attorney Katie Sprinkle knows what it’s like to face legal challenges specific to the
transgender community. That’s why she’s offered to hold a free monthly legal clinic for
Resource Center’s transgender GEAR program.
Several years ago, Sprinkle was in line to pay at a department store. She was presenting as
female but still carried identification that indicated male. When she handed her credit card to
the 18-year-old at the register, the clerk asked for identification. Sprinkle said her ID at the
time “had this horrendous male picture.” The clerk looked at the credit card, looked at
Sprinkle, picked up the phone and said in a loud voice, “It’s dressed as a woman but all its IDs
are male.” The line behind her was getting longer and those in the next line turned to see what
was going on. Later, she sent an email to the store manager and district manager. The apology
she received noted the clerk was no longer employed by the store. “That’s one of the fears of
being transgender,” Sprinkle said. “Not having your identification information match you.”
Many trans people simply use cash so they don’t have to pay using a credit card and show ID,
she said.
Earlier in October, Sprinkle began a legal clinic to deal with the variety of issues transgender
people face. Those range from name and gender marker changes to divorce, child custody,
employment or even criminal charges relating to gender identity. Because unemployment and
underemployment are huge issues in the trans community, many can’t afford to hire an
attorney. At the first legal clinic, she talked to people about several name changes, employment
issues and custody. Sprinkle isn’t promising miracles, but said in some cases legal
representation can help. But there are legal limitations and companies get away with
discrimination all the time. Her friend Leslie McMurray offered a good example. McMurray
was the on-air voice of one of the Dallas area’s top-rated radio stations. When she began her
transition last year, she was promptly dropped from the station. The station manager told her
they were going in a different direction, even though the other stations owned by that broadcast
group all had lower ratings than hers.
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McMurray then faced additional problems. Her ID didn’t match her presentation and to apply to
stations in different markets, she needed to travel. “Try going through TSA without proper ID,”
she said.
In Texas, getting a name change is fairly easy but filing a gender marker change is harder.
Sprinkle said many judges in Dallas County will do both, although some won’t. A name change
is filed in family court, which is usually sympathetic, but a gender marker change is filed in
civil district court. A sympathetic judge who happened to like Sprinkle helped her. “My
driver’s license said Kathleen but had an ‘M’ on it,” Sprinkle said. “The judge didn’t even
know that a driver’s license had sex on it.” But when he realized how inconvenient that was, he
changed her legal gender and she was able to have her driver’s license changed.
One of Sprinkle’s goals with the legal clinic is to get rid of bad information that’s out there.
She said many people think it’s impossible to change gender markers in Texas. It is possible.
Sprinkle said Texas actually doesn’t have a law on gender markers, just bad opinions by the attorney general. Many think they have to file name changes and gender marker changes separately. They don’t. When filed together, the case goes into the civil district court.
Other legal concerns may seem common but may have special implications for someone who’s
transitioning. A lot of people divorce, but Sprinkle said it’s not uncommon for a spouse to use
blackmail as a form of retaliation, threatening to out the trans partner to an employer or family.
While many custody cases are decided against a spouse who has come out as gay or lesbian,
more and more judges especially in urban areas are discounting that as a reason to deny custody.
But trans parents are usually painted as unfit or worse in court and often are denied even visitation rights. Many judges don’t understand what transgender means and insist the parent only
visit dressed as the birth sex.
Sprinkle can’t guarantee success, but can certainly help with legal hurdles.
“Criminal history can affect a name change,” she said.
GEAR coordinator Blair High said the new legal clinic — along with the health clinic — is one
of the most important things they’ve offered since GEAR began in 2005.
Sprinkle hopes her experience will help a number of people with their transitions. She said
something as simple as a name change that they want to file themselves can be even easier
when someone hands them the correct form and tells them where to file it. She said she’ll be
offering forms and advice without charge at the new legal clinic but will be available to retain
for those with ongoing proceedings.
GEAR legal clinic is held the first Wednesday of the month at Resource Center. To make an
appointment, call 214-540-4498.
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Pat Robertson Likens Transgender People to Geldings
Reacting to the passage of a transgender rights law in California, the antigay televangelist
expressed incredulity about the LGBT community's influence and talked about the gelding of
his stallion. Pat Robertson expressed both outrage and ignorance on transgender rights issues
in his response to a new law that protects transgender students in California. The antigay
televangelist compared a transgender person to his "big and beautiful" stallion that had been
castrated. "Now, we talk about transgender. I have a former stallion who is now a gelding,
because stallions get very aggressive," Robertson said on a 700 Club segment Tuesday. "But he
wasn’t trying to be a girl. We just made him into a less aggressive male."
Reacting to the passage of AB 1266, which ensures California transgender students access to
the public school activities and facilities, like restrooms and locker rooms, that correspond to
their gender identity, Robertson also railed against the influence of LGBT people in the spheres
of politics and law. "It’s a tiny fringe, but they seem to have control of the levers of power in
the media and especially in Hollywood," he said. "But it’s insane. I just cannot believe that the
normal people in America, the people who want to just live their lives can’t be allowed to do it
without having this stuff imposed on them constantly."
Republican leaders also announced their opposition to the law this week.
Amnesty seeking to interview trans people on rights violations
Amnesty International will be in Ireland to research for their European project on Human
Rights Violations of Trans People.
Amnesty are seeking to interview individuals who would like to seek legal gender recognition
and who have experienced problems because of the legislative gaps in Ireland. (Due to the
parameters of the research, interviews will take place in the Republic of Ireland.) The
interviews will be carried out during the week commencing Monday 21 October.
All gender identifications are welcome, and all ages. They will hold some interviews in Dublin,
but would like to include people from across the country. They can cover some travel expenses
to Dublin, or may be able to travel to the interviewee.
If you are interested in please contact Ashling Seely at aseely@amnesty.ie
Downloads
Project Overview and Consent Form
<http://www.teni.ie/attachments/64febecf-5751-44e9-a3f0-74246014fae6.DOC
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