A couple years ago, when presenting to a class of medical
students at Emory University, I was surprised that the professor, one
of the WPATH spokespersons who had a lot to do with defining what most
understand to be the transgender umbrella, confided to me that he had not met a “crossdresser” before me or known one existed.
He thought all who crossdressed were en route to transition.
Do Crossdressers Really Exist is a really interesting post, from Tasi. Tasi is a crossdresser, with absolutely no desire to transition. She does not do it for sexual gratification and does not consider it a fetish. Problem is that some in the medical and academic communities, and the general public, equate crossdressing to transitioning. Not so. We know that!
As women our experiences are parallel. Natal born women cannot know what
it was like to grow up a Trans girl. Trans born women cannot know it
felt growing up a natal girl. We can however LISTEN and APPRECIATE each
other's experiences.
Jane goes on to describe her experiences growing up as a trans girl beginning at age three. Her life has been full of the bitter and the sweet. There's just no place for the current debate, yet it exists and Jane discusses the issue. Go here, for Jane's blog post.
Corbyn: Yes. Women might complain in private, but not in my hearing. I am welcome in Labour.
Here's a nice post, from Clare Flourish about the changing Labour Party, in the UK, and their increasing acceptance of not only women, but LGBT women, including transwomen. I love the quote, above, from Jeremy Corbyn, the current leader of the Labour Party.
A look at how transphobia and homophobia cause male to female
crossdreamers to behave in ways that seem to confirm the prejudices of
the narrow minded. It is time to break the vicious circle of
transphobia.
Grab a cup of tea or coffee and take some time to read this excellent post from Jack Molay.
So yes, I cried. I cried for things that are Gone. You lose so much in
transition, but this loss was not due to that.
The quote, above, says it all. Lone Pilgrim really isn't a trans related post, but it is a good, well written, old fashioned blog post and well worth reading. It's also so nice to see Sophie accepted by those who knew her (him) in her college days.
One night a month or two ago, my fiancee (who I have been with for
six years), were discussing our fantasies. She asked me if there was
anything I had ever really wanted to do in a perfect world with no
judgment.
Interesting post, from the Crossdresser Heaven site. The author revealed everything to the fiance. Read, Coming our to your partner, to find out how it went.
The service was excellent and the
waiter was professional and never once misgendered me, even though I did
talk to him.
I like to feature posts that are simply about someone being herself or himself for a day. This one is about a walk in the park, which is an item on Daniella's bucket list. She threw on a denim skirt, some wedge heels, and a nice top. There was a lot more than just a walk in the park on this glorious day. Read all about Daniella's day, which included her spouse, in T-Girl Bucket Listing 2.
I spent half an hour last night on Youtube watching a feminist attack
trans rights on feminist grounds. She told of the opposition to the
women’s suffrage movement a century ago, by women as well as men, based
on the idea that women were different and would not have the objectivity
to judge the interests of the public sphere. She has been held back by
this persisting idea of difference, which is the heart of women’s
oppression, and which she says “trans ideology” actively enshrines.
If you think Clare has a lot to say about this, you guessed correctly! It's a discussion about Trans feminism, from Clare Flourish.
In fact you don’t have to learn very much about trans kids to know that schools
are, by and large, not easy institutions to deal with if you are a trans child
or the parent of one, although some have got better recently.
The plight of trans kids is certainly better than it was when I was a child, but we're not there yet. Hate and misinformation still abound. This is a well thought out post, from Natacha. Although she's been blogging since 2009, I don't believe her blog has ever been featured on T-Central.
I would say that I am seen as male more than I am seen as female,
now. That’s huge. I don’t want that to tip too far in that direction,
but so far, so good. I’m still legally female, and I still almost
always go into women’s bathrooms and dressing rooms. I’ve never been
stopped or questioned.
It's always important to hear from our brothers in transition. In this case, it's a year on the T, for JQ.
It is not an easy life having dysphoria most particularly in our case as
you are fighting against the current of trying to stay married to a
woman who understandably wants no part of this.
Joanna shares a question from a reader of her blog, along with her response to the reader. The topic is that same topic that often gets swept under the rug. Read all of the transgender material you want, but, in my opinion, Joanna has it right. If you're trans, and dealing with the guilt and shame of the erotic component, do read this post.
Have you
noticed that your hair has started thinning in places or has been
falling out without explanation? If so, there is no need to despair
because there are several medical and surgical solutions available these
days that can assist with hair restoration...
Rhonda enlightened me on the subject of hair restoration treatment. I wasn't aware of some of the newer options.
I am guilty. Let’s get this out right
now, during the time I hid behind my mask, I acted in a way in which no
person could question my wrong-headed manliness. I once convinced a
married woman to cheat on her husband, it took me all night, lightly
touching her, whispering in her ear, gently kissing her, to cajole her
into having sex. I was determined to do it, not because we had an equal
desire to have sex, but because I didn’t like her husband, he had
questioned my masculinity. I am guilty.
The quote, above, is just a taste of what's in this post. It's brutally honest; It's from Beth; It's well worth reading.
This
also makes thoughts of being transgender and transitioning nearly
impossible. I am constantly questioning myself, finding doubt after
doubt just waiting in the shadows to pounce. Then there is the constant
thought of “I have survived this long as I am, I can continue to do so.”
Followed by “you’re a fool, delusional or crazy, to think you can be
anything more than what you are at this moment.
I so get Kira's feelings, questions, and self doubt, and I'm sure many of you can also relate. She's talking to herself, but we're all listening in.
To show how far I have come with my wife, I suggested that she try it on, as I thought it might work for her.
This is somewhat of an anniversary post, for Leslie, since she's been blogging for about 10 years now. She brings us up to date on a few things. Regarding the quote, above, those who have followed Leslie over the years can appreciate that she and her wife have come a long way in the past 10 years. Go here for her latest post. Go here to read Leslie's first post, in March of 2008.
But for some trans women, calling themselves a lesbian remains an uphill
battle. And even now, I still struggle to accept that I can be both a
transgender woman and queer. Sometimes, it feels like “lesbian” isn’t my
word to use.
Some trans women, especially those who are late transitioners have lived life prior to transition in a male-female relationship. After transition, they find themselves in a female-female relationship. In this post, Diana quotes an article, in the Daily Dot, on the subject of the trans woman admitting to herself that she is now a lesbian but also the acceptance (or lack thereof) of trans women in the lesbian community.
High profile Trans Women inevitably
come in for their share of transphobia. There has been much of it in the
press recently. Transphobic reactions seek to legitimise bigotry by
emphasising the bizarre or by making it into an issue about the rights
of women or of children. Other girls are apt to cry foul when someone
they see as male wins a beauty contest. In the end, no matter how
beautiful or complete a trans woman may look it is seldom sufficient to
ensure acceptance.
This is a well written piece, by Jane, which discusses not only Giuliana Farfalla, a cover girl in the German Playboy magazine, but how high profile trans women can not only help the cause but also bring out transphobia and hatred. Jane also contrasts her own life which has certainly not always been that of the typical trans woman just living life in the shadows.
Why is this so addictive? Why does it fill every empty space in my
mind? Before Kandi, I understood it or at least could intellectualize
it. Then it was only a dream, only a fantasy. Now? I go out
frequently, I have done things I could never have even imagined, let
alone be lucky enough to do. Why can’t I escape it? I Wish I Understood It....says Kandi. Don't we all.....
I feel you shouldn’t split the boys and girls up in PE class.
When you do that, you are assuming that all girls are weaker than boys.
That’s not true. I am a boy and there are some girls who are stronger
than me and some girls who are weaker than me. Everyone is different. CJ is in 5th grade. He wrote a letter to the physical education teachers at this school, beginning with the paragraph above. I could sure relate to this, when I was his age, and I bet a few of you do also.
A social worker and sex ed teacher contacted them saying it would be
good if their site could appeal to intersex, trans and non-binary teens,
and got a brush-off: “We don’t feel that growing boys need bras”.
Bras, is another good one, from Clare. You'll have to read it to get her point, but she ends up the post by saying, May we all be happy in our bras, and squabble less about the bras of others.
Now I am getting breasts. They are definitely different than anything I
have ever experienced before. What is the main thing? Pain! Ouch!
Getting breasts hurts! It hurts bad! I spoke to my wife, and my
therapist, who both assured me that it is completely normal and happens
to most girls. Wow, I had no idea, but now I have immense sympathy for
anyone who has gone through this. Seriously, ouch! As far as looks, my
wife and I can tell a difference, but really not much.
I love progress updates. Here's a 6 month update from Nadine.
If my ex-wife hadn’t stripped me of my self-worth, I might have accepted
where I was headed and who I really was, but I didn’t. I purged every
remnant of Brina and fell in love with a wonderful woman for seven years
to prove something. It was beautiful and sad. I never told her and it
ate me up. I also stayed true and didn’t dress. I didn’t need to because
we had good relations… until we didn’t, and I still didn’t dress.
From the Crossdresser Heaven site:
Brina is from Iowa, and she is steadily learning how to merge her two
halves into one whole. Still closeted after 40 years, she hopes to
one-day walk freely and confidently in the open. She spends most of her
time working as a self-published novelist under both personas.
So now what, is the question Brina is asking herself. Although the question remains unanswered, she has made some progress towards finding an answer. Great post from Brina.
Sadly
for me, not been out since 13th October last year, although had
opportunties to go out, circumstances and lack of money has conspired
against me that they have been passed up with great reluctance but
really no choice. Today, was the last day of employment and tomorrow I
sign on as another umemployed person which is the first time in my
working life I’ve had to do this.
I hate to see one of our bloggers starting out the new year in not the best of circumstances. Sounds like KD needs a hug, or perhaps a few encouraging comments.
I spent half an hour last night on Youtube watching a feminist attack
trans rights on feminist grounds. She told of the opposition to the
women’s suffrage movement a century ago, by women as well as men, based
on the idea that women were different and would not have the objectivity
to judge the interests of the public sphere. She has been held back by
this persisting idea of difference, which is the heart of women’s
oppression, and which she says “trans ideology” actively enshrines.
To show how far I have come with my wife, I suggested that she try it on, as I thought it might work for her.
Dear PE Coaches,
Now I am getting breasts. They are definitely different than anything I
have ever experienced before. What is the main thing? Pain! Ouch!
Getting breasts hurts! It hurts bad! I spoke to my wife, and my
therapist, who both assured me that it is completely normal and happens
to most girls. Wow, I had no idea, but now I have immense sympathy for
anyone who has gone through this. Seriously, ouch! As far as looks, my
wife and I can tell a difference, but really not much.
