Maintaining the Facade

So what happens when you've finally acknowledged that you're not like other "normal" people out there yet accept the reality that you can't or won't transition for whatever reason?  You might stumble onto T-Central and read the various bloggers out there who have chosen to radically alter the course of their lives by transitioning gender.  Or, you might opt to fight the good fight and do everything in your power to accept yourself while maintaining the status quo with family, work, and most importantly, yourself. 

It's a life that we don't quite often read about enough.  Let's face it, the blogs you read on T-Central focus mostly on the transitioning aspects of transsexualism or the crossdressing side of, well, crossdressing. 

Thanks to Calie and this POST, Halle is yet another person choosing to share her perspective of that of a non-transitioner.  At least for now, right?  Kidding aside, I think it's high time we see and read about those in what might be the silent majority who might not otherwise share their story for fear of being judged, outed, or silenced.  We all deserve a voice, even those who don't follow the same path others take.

Halle's blog "Maintaining the Facade" can be found HERE. 

Oh, and thanks for the awesome words about me, Calie.  You'll always be family to me.

A place of her own

I've been reading insightful, intelligent comments from "ginasf" in other people's blogs for quite some time, so I was delighted to see that Gina has started a blog of her own. The name Skip the Makeup is in reference to the way filmmakers, when making a documentary about a trans woman, inevitably show her putting on makeup. Gina is not afraid to take on issues or to shy away from controversy. In her own words, the blog's "primary focus is on cis-cultured media's assumptions and presentations of trans identities & lives." She's been writing only since February, so it's not hard to catch up on her excellent postings so far.

[Addendum: D'oh! It helps if I include a link, right?]

It's My Life

A fellow blogger recently shared a link to friend's blog.  This woman is a truck driver who is trying to give up long haul driving to work for companies that offer local driving in her area.  In her most recent post "The Unraveling," Julie shares how she applied for a position with a company but was told that she was denied employment...not based on her qualifications but because of her gender identity.   She was told that because she is still pre-op that she must obey male dress code standards.  How would you feel if you were told to cut your hair and wear attire opposite of how you identify, even if you've already begun transition and have legally changed your name and gender marker? 

Head on over to "It's My Life" and show your support for Julie. 

Common Teri's Commentary

Ever since I began my first steps to transition, my friend Teri had a blog on Yahoo 360 where she would write her unadulterated thoughts about transition, life, and the new challenges of living as a woman.  She left the blog world for a few months recently but has returned with a new blog and new input.  Her most recent posts already prove she's back in true form sharing her heart and chronicling her life in a real and sensitive way.  

Please head over to her site and become a follower.  It's definitely worth it!

http://commontericommentary.blogspot.com/

Love the Skin You're In

Over on TransCanada, Veronique writes what I think is the best summation of how a great majority of trans friends I know, including myself, feel about being T. If only my blogs were as succinct and well written! Head on over by clicking HERE.

Calie's Chronicles

I don't often get to follow some blogs as closely as I'd like, but find myself making more of a concerted effort to follow Calie of Calie's Chronicles (READ HER BLOG HERE). (Plus, she's a friend of Rebecca's ;) )
Her many experiences and thoughts were so similar to my own, and she expresses her emotions very clearly. Her latest blog "Letting the Shields Down" hits the mark when she explains

I guess what I am trying to say is that I can feel like the real "me" just by being with someone who accepts me and understands me which allows me to release the shields that are almost always up.

Have you ever felt like that? When I first began making friends with accepting attitudes towards my T-ness, I quickly felt the need for makeup and dress much less significant. Nowadays I'm quite comfortable wearing a blouse and jeans, but there was a time when even that just wasn't quite enough.

Until someone friendly enough came along allowing me to let my shields down.

From Lori Anne to LoriAnne's World

Okay, that's not a photo of my twin and me, but I bet it made you look!

I did, however, just finish reading about the "week of incomparable lows and stratospheric highs" that my friend of same name and similar life LoriAnne experienced. LoriAnne continues to write about life in transition, this time as she is about to step into the corporate world as her true self. Her writing style is another that I eagerly covet, her ability to accurately express the ranging emotions of the highs and lows in our transtion rollercoaster ride.

Follow along and give her your best wishes as she takes yet another major hurdle within the next two weeks! You can read her blog (HERE).