july 2011 issue - Rachel Williston

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Pretty T Girls
The Magazine for the most beautiful girls in the world
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IN THIS ISSUE
A Big Sister Editorial
Amy Garbati Out of the Bag
Caroline (Tula) Cossey
Natural Beauty Tips for Women over 50
Best Razors for Women
Makeup That Does More
Island Girls Comes To An End
A Family Story with a Happy Ending
The Exploits of Barbara Marie
Tasi’s Musings
The Adventures of Judy Sometimes
Humor
Angels in the Centerfold
TG Tips by Mellissa
Kathy’s Korner
It happened in June—TG History
The Secret Feminizing power of Perfume
Tammy Chapter 5
Fashion News by Tasi
Beauty Tips by Audrey Hepburn
The Gossip Fence
Shop Till You Drop
Calendar
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A Big Sister
an Editorial By: Barbara Jean
Well I had something else prepared for this month, but then I got a letter from Kathy King concerning my last editorial. In part this is what she said.
“I have seen first hand what prejudice against TG people can be.
I saw with my own eyes two females belittle a young CD of 17 or 18 in Macys about a year ago.
I was dressed and comming out of a fitting room when I heard the commotion at a sales desk. I
observed for about a couple minutes, until this young CD ran out of the store. I confronted the
2 females and told them they should be ashamed of themselves and I took off to find the young
CD.
Well to make a long story short, I found the young CD crying by the side of her car.
I tried to console her and told her I was also a CD and could I help. She explained that this
was his first time in public and was very nervous and let his voice drop. Her clothes were not
fitted well and she did not pass at all. I had her sit in my car until the crying stopped and told
her my story. My recommendation was to observe other women, the way they walk, talk, and
dress. Take baby steps rather than leeps and bounds.”
Many of the support groups for our community have gone the wayside, I surmise the cause as
being burned out leadership and the internet. I have to wonder where is the support, the big
sister for the young TG person?
How old where you when you first discovered you were TG? For a large number of us we were
early teen or pre teen. We probably never even heard of the word crossdresser, or transsexual
or transgendered. We questioned WHY we had the infliction to dress as a girl. The clothes,
they were our sisters or our mothers or something like that. Fit properly they did not.
Support for the young TG person is virtually non existent. All of the TG Yahoo Groups, MSN
Groups and others are listed as adult groups where one must be at least 18 to be a part of.
Owners and moderators are required to enforce this rule or risk the shutting down of the group.
It is for this reason that we require a facial photo and the age to be stated in the Yahoo profile of
any person who wishes to join our group. And just as parents fight the teaching of sex
education in schools, they also fight the teaching of diversity in the school system. A bill in
Tennessee prohibits the teaching of diversity in all grades of elementary and middle schools.
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Our constitution requires a separation of church and state, but sadly it has been a one way street.
The government cannot tell the church what it can or cannot do, but the church is constantly
telling our government what laws to pass. Sadly this is just the opposite of what the bible
teaches. When adults tried to keep the children from Jesus, he said “Let the little children come
unto me”.
For the young adult discovering the transgendered yahoo or MSN groups can be a daunting
task. I wonder as I write how many groups we have joined and dropped out of as we discovered they were not really about support, but about sex, or some other aspect that many TG may
be a part of.
A big sister, that is something every little girl is in need of. Someone to help and guide her
along the way, to help her grow. And a big sister is something that every girl who wishes to
venture out of her closet for the first time is in need of. A TG sister who can be an adviser on
what to do, what not to do, where to go and where not to go, what to wear, what not to wear,
etc. A big sister who can help the little sister take the baby steps out of the closet. A big sister
who will turn out to be a real friend to that little sister. The big sister will go out with the little
sister, taking her by the hand so to speak, till she has the confidence to venture out on her own.
Then one day she may wind up being a big sister to another girl who is about to venture out for
the first time.
The little sister need not necessarily be young, she can be of any age. The big sister could
actually be younger than the little sister. But the big sister is one who had been through the
hoops, who has been out and seen the world but the good and the bad.
So I ask, are you ready to be that big sister to a little sister, to help bring her out of the closet, to
help her grow, and to have her find a real true friend in you?
DIGNITY TRI-ESS 2011 HOLIDAY AT
SEA
OCTOBER 17-21, 2011 ON THE RCCL
MAJESTY OF THE SEAS
OCTOBER 17-21, 2011 ON THE RCCL MAJESTY OF THE SEAS
Sail from Miami to Key West, Nassau and Coco Cay on the RCCL refurbished Majesty of the Seas for very low
rates of $254 for an inside, $259 for an oceanview, $329 for a large oceanview and $709 for a junior suite per person plus tax of $85. $50 onboard credit also provided. Seminars, lots of shopping, spas, and makeup and wig services plus all meals and entertainment.
Spend four days enfemme in a very supportive and accepting environment.
You do not have to be a member of Tri-Ess to be part of the group. We will be a group of 60+ among 2000 other
passengers who come on this completely refurbished ship to share our common love of femininity, party and have
a great time. Deposit is $100 per person to hold your cabin. We have a group hotel rate of $119 per night for before
and after the cruise at the Port of Miami Holiday Inn.
Call Mel at 888-347-7245 to book your cruise or email [email protected].
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Out of the Bag CATS moderator Amy Garbati shares her story of
self-discovery
by Greg Hambrick
SHAWN WEISMILLER
Amy Garbati is proof that trans individuals can live successful lives
"I was a little nervous about doing this interview," Amy Garbati tells me. "I'm not living stealth,
but I'm kind of semi- stealth. So this puts me out there a little more than before."
Garbati has been stepping out of the shadows recently to give a voice to the local transgender
community. She is the current moderator for Charleston Area Transgender Support (CATS).
The group has been functioning for more than a decade, but it's never made any efforts at community outreach. Now, Garbati is participating in panel discussions, working with other local
LGBT groups to coordinate events, and taking part in this week's Pride events.
"Part of my goal is not just to operate the support group, but to put forward that positive face for
the transgender community," she says.
Garbati's story is one that should help transgender or questioning people believe that a happy
life is not out of reach. In October 2004, Garbati was still living as a man when her wife suggested she dress as a woman for Halloween. Garbati had cross-dressed on and off since childhood, but had buried it deep for over 15 years. She put on the woman's outfit and discovered
that she had suppressed her own emotions for too long. "The feelings came rushing back with
such tremendous power. It was really almost too much" she says. "When you talk about dressing up, that's one thing. But when you talk about changing your life, that's vastly different."
For the next year, Garbati continued living her life as a man, while also carrying on a secret life
as a woman while interacting with people online. In late 2005, Garbati's wife found the
evidence of the online personality and confronted her.
"She was upset to begin with because of the deceit," Garbati says. "She said it never bothered
her, but it was me. It was just so overwhelming. She was able to help me come to terms with it
and accept who I am."
The couple is still together and they've celebrated 28 years together. It was Garbati's spouse
who first suggested that she transition in 2006. "That doesn't happen," Garbati says, before
trailing off in astonishment. "It's just ..."
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At the time, Garbati was prepared for a negative reaction at work and began searching for a job
out of town. She finally decided that she would approach her boss, telling him, "This is what's
going on in my life. Do you think this is something that can happen in this location or do I need
to look for another job?
"There was no written policy at the time," Garbati adds. "The possibility was that I could have
walked in there and gotten fired that day."
Instead, the management was receptive, and Garbati worked with them to draft a corporate policy regarding LGBT issues. The position was that every employee is judged on their performance. "I couldn't ask for any more," Garbati says.
And the announcement to the rest of the staff was overwhelmingly positive. Garbati received
congratulatory e- mails and notes of encouragement. When she walked into the office for the
first time a week later as Amy, people were stopping her and saying, "Hey Amy, welcome
back."
Even her personal relationships have withstood the change. Prior to transitioning, Garbati sent
an e- mail to her sister explaining what was happening. "I told her to e- mail me back, that I
couldn't talk on the phone or see her in person." Her sister's response started, "My dearest
brother/sister-to-be." Garbati chokes up as she recalls the message. "She said she'd always
wanted a sister."
It has been such a positive experience that Garbati has taken this opportunity to speak out for
the transgender community and lead CATS.
"CATS is a peer support group that exists to support all members of the transgender community. I think it's most critical for someone who is just coming to terms with it," she says of the
group. "Someone who doesn't think they can live a successful life. I'm proof positive that you
can." Meetings usually include eight to 15 attendees who span the spectrum of the transgender
community, from cross-dressers and those just beginning their journey to those who have completed transition, both male to female and female to male.
Garbati is also reaching out to gay and lesbian organizations. The relationship between the two
branches of the alternative lifestyle community has been tense in the past. An effort to expand
employment nondiscrimination laws to include the LGBT community divided gay groups when
the transgendered were dropped from the legislation in a ploy to get more votes.
But the incident seems to have been an awakening among both the LGB community and the T
community that they're all in this together. "I think in a lot of ways we don't understand each
other," Garbati says. "But we're too small of a demographic to split."
Meanwhile, Garbati is sharing her story one straight person at a time. At a breakfast table on a
recent cruise, someone asked if Garbati and her wife were sisters. She explained their relationship and their journey.
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"I get some shocked looks sometimes, but usually by the time we finish the conversation, I've
opened some minds and broadened their beliefs about the transgendered community," she says.
"The more minds I can change, the more hearts I open up, the more people learn and accept."
SOUTHERN COMFORT IS 21!!!!
We're celebrating our "COMING OF AGE" with BLACKJACK theme this year!!
Southern Comfort is being held September 20 - 25, 2011 at the Crowne Plaza Ravinia in
beautiful Atlanta, Georgia.
We at Southern Comfort are extremely excited to offer a "once in a lifetime" chance for you ,
our attendees, to meet the most prestigious doctors, therapists, and many other World Professional Association for Transgender Health , professionals that are dedicated to helping the
LGBT community.
The Gay and Lesbian Medical Association will also take part in the symposium , they will be
offering a presentation at the conference.
You must register to be part of this event, click on our registration link below. There you will
find pricing and further details. There are a very limited number of spots available.
Both of these associations' conferences are strictly for their membership only , however, they
are offering an unprecedented chance for our attendees to purchase "day passes" to their respective conferences....go to their websites by following these links to get more information:
"http://www.wpath.org" OR "http://www.glma.org""http://www.glma.org/conference"
This event will take place on September 25 at the Emory University Conference Center.
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Tula
Date of Birth
31 August 1954 Brooke, Norfolk, England, UK
Birth Name
Barry Kenneth Cossey
Height
6' (1.83 m)
Mini Biography
Caroline Cossey (whose professional name is Tula) was born on August
31, 1954 in Brooke, England, United Kingdom, with male sex organs,
under the name Barry Cossey. Throughout her teenage years, even
though anatomically she was a male, she was extremely feminine, tall,
very thin, and often was mistaken for being female (even before transitioning). Later tests would prove that her chromosomes were in fact
XXXY, which make her genetic makeup sexually ambiguous...in other
words her genetics are more female than male, which gave her the extremely female appearance naturally, no facial surgery altering. She was
not "just a male" as many have implicated. Original reports in this biography have said she had XY chromosomes, which is incorrect. Later, in
her late teens (17), she moved to a part of town where other transgendered women helped her transition to the female gender, and she began living entirely as a female, underwent breast augmentation surgery, and in the early 1970s worked as a topless
dancer to raise money for sex-reassignment surgery (completely concealing her "male" parts in
custom- made (very uncomfortable) underwear. Ms. Cossey posed topless for several wellknown adult magazines still as a pre-operative transsexual, the photographers completely unaware of her "addition". In 1974 she had her (long-awaited) sex-reassignment surgery performed at Charing Cross Hospital in London, England. Her career then took off as a fashion
model because her Amazon Goddess height of 6 feet was in strong demand, and her beauty attracted photographers from everywhere. She modeled for various agencies, advertisements, and
appeared on numerous well-known magazine covers, as well as countless spreads, including the
glamourous Vogue.
She was cast in the 1981 James Bond movie "For Your Eyes Only", credited only as "Girl At
Pool". Major scandal erupted following the release of "For Your Eyes Only" when she was
outed as a transsexual by the Sunday tabloid, "The News Of The World". She was hounded by
the press, persecuted by tabloid journalists and photographers asking incredibly ignorant questions. Caroline fell into a deep depression, and contemplated sucide feeling her professional career was in ruins and completely over. In 1982, she wrote an autobiography titled "Tula: I Am
A Woman", which was told in straight- forward terms to defuse the situation by telling the full
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story, in her words. She eventually returned to modeling, in 1983 was the star/model of the music video "Rio" by Duran Duran, then in 1986 was featured as the model in the music video
"Some Like It Hot" by Power Station. She has done several pictorials in Playboy magazine, the
first (out) post-op transsexual to appear in the publication. In 1990, she published a second
autobiography "My Story". Unfortunately she had a failed engagement with Count Glauco, an
Italian national, in 1983, for his family forbid him to marry a transsexual. Caroline has worked
hard and endlessly for transsexual equal rights, and on attempting to have the British Government recognize transsexual marriages. In 1989 she had a brief marriage to Elias Fattal that only
lasted a couple weeks. She re-married in 1992 to Canadian-born David Finch, and as of 2003,
she is still successfully married to David; both reside in Atlanta, Georgia, and are both actively
involved in the transsexual community in USA, England, and around the world. They are living
happily ever after.
Trivia
Transsexual female actress/model/activist
First (Out) Post-Op Transsexual Female to appear/pose in Playboy
Measurements: 37-25-37 (Source: Celebrity Sleuth magazine)
Reportedly the only transsexual to have featured in Playboy Magazine pictorials (September
1991)
Because of her chromosomal makeup (XXXY) it would have been impossible to father a child,
had she stayed male.
Tula wrote a second autobiography title, "My Story".
Suffered blackouts during her adolescence due to the fact that her body was manufacturing both
female and male hormones.
Worked as an exotic dancer in France to pay for her gender reassignment surgery.
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Natural Beauty Tips for Women Over 50
A few fine lines, a hint of gray. The normal changes of aging are
inevitable. But with rejuvenation products, nonsurgical facial
treatments, and hair care products, it's easy for women over 50 to
enhance their natural beauty.
What Happens to Skin and Hair as We Age
The effects of sun exposure, smoking, and heredity become evident
on our skin as we get older. Stress, gravity, and diet also affect how well skin looks. And as we
age, our skin doesn't produce new cells as quickly as it used to. Skin gradually becomes less
elastic and prone to dryness.
Something similar happens to cells that give our hair its color, too. Hair pigment cells become
less efficient at renewing themselves, which makes hair gray.
8 Natural Beauty Tips for Your Skin
A few simple steps are all you need to care for your skin as you get older. These natural beauty
tips can get you started.
If you smoke, stop. Research shows that smoking prematurely ages your skin.
Just say no to sunbathing and tanning salons. Stay out of the sun between 10 a.m. and 4
p.m. when the sun's rays are the strongest. If you must be outside, wear a protective hat,
long-sleeved shirt, and sunglasses. Freckles, age spots, and blotchy complexions are
linked to sun exposure.
Wear sunscreen religiously. Use products with SPF 15 or higher, and both UVB and UVA
protection. Damage to the skin from excess or unprotected sun exposure is known as
"photoaging." These changes can include fine wrinkles and an uneven skin tone.
Check skin often for skin cancer. If there are changes that worry you, call your doctor
right away. Older, fair-skinned people are at high risk, and must have a yearly check.
Soothe dry skin. Use a humidifier. Use moisturizing soaps and lotions. See your doctor if
you still have problems.
Eat right and hydrate. Good nutrition helps the body repair skin. Drinking lots of water
helps hydrate skin from the inside out.
Try anti-aging products. For women over 50, over-the-counter creams and lotions may
enhance natural beauty by rejuvenating your skin. Pentapeptides (a chemical compound
in many new products) may help prompt skin cells to produce more collagen, which is
the support structure that gives skin a firmer look. Prescription treatments and retinoid
creams are also options.
Know about skin treatments. Botox injections can ease wrinkles in the upper third of the
face. Chemical peels are effective in removing fine lines and smoothing skin, especially
around the eyes and mouth. Wrinkle fillers can plump up your skin and erase lines.
Dermabrasion and microdermabrasion erases ultrafine lines, rejuvenates your complexion, and improves skin tone and color. Laser resurfacing is another technique; it allows
doctors to improve sun-damaged skin, scars, and other facial problems.
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4 Natural Beauty Tips for Healthy Hair
Thus far, modern science has not yet found a cure for gray hair. Yet a colorist can work wonders, if you don't like your gray.
Shaya Scarratt, a stylist with Altered Ego Salon & Spa in Tempe, Ariz. thinks that naturally going gray is beautiful. Her advice for bringing out the natural beauty in women over 50:
Try highlighting. A few strands of color painted throughout hair can subtly hide gray hairs,
especially if a woman's natural hair color is fairly light.
Time for full color? Women who want a solid, darker color should realize it's going to require regular maintenance as the color grows out. If you don't want a salon appointment
every six to eight weeks, solid colors are not for you.
Try a new style. Your personal preference should guide the style. But don't feel compelled
to go short just because you've turned 50. Long hair can be beautiful no matter what
your age.
Fix thinning hair. A shorter cut gives more volume to thinning hair. Color is also good for
giving volume to fine, limp hair. Sometimes the right product, like a volumizing shampoo, can solve the problem. Hair extensions can also help give a boost to thinning hair.
Your favorite natural beauty tip may be as simple as wearing a radiant smile. Or it may mean
using a few products or treatments along the way. Whatever your choice, taking care of yourself
is ultimately the most beautiful thing of all.
Carollyn Olson has been a busy-bee this past 12 months culminating in the recent
release of her new book "Tricks of the Trade -- A Beginners Guide to Cross Dressing." Earlier this year she released a novel "Breaking Point," which is also available.
Tricks of the Trade is the fourth book penned by Carollyn, a married, straight, conservative, 50 year old cross dresser from California.
Ms. Olson has been an ambi-gendered cross dresser for over 30 years and is very active in the community. She's a proud member and the Post Mistress of the Vanity Club
and the co-founder of the Mature Woman
"My desire is to create an illusion which is a compliment to all women," said Ms. Olson. "Cross dressing is not meant to demean women, but to uphold their presence and
beauty. I try to accomplish that goal every chance I get."
"Reaching your goal as a woman is the reason I wrote this book. I hope I have given you the information you need
in the following pages to help you gain insight and confidence in every aspect of your feminine life."
Whether you cross dress full-time, frequently, rarely, or even just in your thoughts,
Carollyn Olson will get you on your way with this new guide full of practical tips and
advice.
The book is $12, including shipping, and can be purchased by contacting Carollyn (PO
Box 1241, Loomis, CA 95650 or [email protected]) or Mark (800-359-2116) at
MagsInc ([email protected])
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Best Razors for Women
Women panelists tried out 19 razors with three or more blades (seven refillables and 12
disposables) and rated their prowess at hair removal (without nicking), grip comfort, and
maneuverability. The competition was tight, but these five won by a hair.
Best Refillable
If you prefer refillable razors for their greener aspect (less plastic to
toss), you can't go wrong with the five-blade Gillette Venus Embrace
($12 with two cartridges). It glides oh-so-smoothly while cleanly removing every hair.
First year's cost: $75.*
Refillable with Trimmer
For shaving plus grooming your bikini line, try
the Schick Quattro TrimStyle ($11 with one
cartridge). Its four blades whisk away stubble; the handle has a
built- in waterproof motorized trimmer.
First year's cost: $63
Refillable with Gel
The three blades of the Gillette Venus Spa
Breeze ($10 with two cartridges) are flanked
by gel bars, so it glides over skin without extra shaving cream. It's also far less bulky than its competitor, the Schick
Intrusion
First year's cost: $70.*
Best Disposable Razor
Gillette Venus Embrace Disposables ($10 for three) topped this category,
thanks to the razors' five-blade heads--identical to the refillable version's.
Yearly cost: $77.*
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Budget Buy Razor
Four-blade Bic Soleil Bella Disposables ($6 for three) provide a great
shave at an even better price. They also come with scented handles,
which don't affect performance but left testers wondering, Why?
Yearly cost: $46.*
Are Men's Razors Better Shavers?
A lot of women think so, which is why we tested the men's market leaders. The three-blade Gillette Mach3 Disposable finished in last place,
while the refillable three-blade Gillette Mach3 Turbo scored just as well
as the top women's picks and costs about $62 for the first year.
pic mach3
*Cost assumes an average of eight every-other-day shaves per cartridge or razor.
Chicagoland TGirl Meeting
Date: First Wednesday of each month
Time: 8:00 pm - 12:00 am
Type: Meeting
Location: Club Krave, Blue Island, Illinois
Street: 13126 S. Western Avenue
City/State/Zip: Blue Island, IL 60406
Phone : 708-597-8379
Notes: An evening where we can dicuss how to make our yahoo site better and to
enjoy seeing each other and having some fun!
Chicagoland TGirl Social
Date: Third Wednesday of each month
Time: 8:00 pm - 12:00 am
Type: Party
Location: Club Krave, Blue Island, Illinois
Street: 13126 S. Western Avenue
City/State/Zip: Blue Island, IL 60406
Phone: 708-597-8379
Yahoo Group: http://groups.yahoo.com/group/ChicagolandTGirls
(ed. Note: Chicagoland T Girls group replaces Island Girls)
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Makeup That Does More
WebMD Feature from "Good Housekeeping" Magazine
By Beth Janes
You spend precious morning minutes putting it on, and another chunk of time taking it
off at night, day after day after day....No wonder you want your makeup to deliver even
greater benefits! Beauty companies have embraced this multitasking approach. Increasingly, foundations, blushes, and lipsticks boast the same wrinkle-fighting ingredients, double-digit SPFs, and botanical boosters you've come to expect from skin-care creams, sunscreens, and masks.
Anti-Aging Makeup
The promise: Youth-boosting skin-care ingredients such as retinol, peptides, and antioxidants
are popping up in foundations, lipsticks, and blushes, with claims they'll help minimize wrinkles and brown spots by improving their appearance even after you are no longer wearing the
makeup.
The reality: When makeup is loaded with proven wrinkle-reducing ingredients like retinol and
peptides, it can be effective, says Patricia Farris, M.D., a clinical assistant professor of dermatology at Tulane University School of Medicine in New Orleans. But to see an improvement
over time, these ingredients must be present above certain concentrations. For vitamin C, it's 5
to 10 percent, says Dr. Farris. For retinol, it's at least 0.1 percent. Two products that have that
0.1 percent: GloMinerals GloCream Blush in Fig or Guava ($25 each, gloskincare.com). Beauty
companies don't often tell you these percentages, though you can hedge your bets by checking
that active ingredients like vitamins and retinol are higher up on the ingredient list — and by
choosing creamy formulas over powders. Retinol and vitamin E, for example, are oily materials. "They're difficult to blend in powder at high levels because they make the particles stick
together," says Perry Romanowski, an independent cosmetics chemist. Instead, try a liquid such
as L'Oréal Paris Visible Lift Line-Minimizing & Tone- Enhancing Makeup ($14.25, drugstores)
with pro-retinol and SPF 17.
Also look closely at the claims. Few anti-aging cosmetics explicitly promise to eliminate wrinkles or sun damage, says Brandith Irwin, M.D., a Seattle dermatologist and author of The Surgery-Free Makeover. Instead, they "minimize the appearance of wrinkles" or "visibly reduce
fine lines." As for those studies showing a reduction in wrinkle depth, dermatologists often
credit the moisture in makeup, not the anti-aging ingredients, for doing most of the heavy lifting. "The quickest way to make a wrinkle look better is to smear moisturizer on it," Dr. Farris
says. Skin is like a sponge, wrinkled and rough when dry, soft and smooth once you add water.
Infusing it with hydrators is faster (and cheaper) than adding enough retinol or peptides to
makeup to smooth skin long-term.
Bottom line: Turn-back-the-clock makeup may offer some benefits, but it probably won't get
you carded at the wineshop. What it can do: soften the look of your wrinkles with lightscattering pigment and moisturizers. Try: Elizabeth Arden Ceramide Plump Perfect Makeup
SPF 15 ($39.50, department stores), Avon Anew Youth-Awakening Lipstick SPF 15 ($10,
avon.com), and Raw Natural BeautyPrimal Pigments Botanical Lipstick ($20, rawbeauty.com).
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Sun Shielders
The Promise: Foundations, primers, and powders now pack the high SPFs (think 15-plus) for
filtering out burning UVB rays, plus protection from skin-damaging UVA. Some even include a
UVA rating developed in Japan: You'll see a PA+, PA++, or PA+++ (to indicate the highest
level of UVA protection).
The Reality: Because the FDA regulates sun-protection claims, dermatologists are more enthusiastic about the efficacy of SPF cosmetics than of anti-aging makeup. So the number on the
label truly reflects the level of UVB filters you'll get. To bolster UVA protection (the rays that
are mostly responsible for skin cancers and skin aging), cosmetics often include the minerals
zinc and titanium. They form a shield on the skin's surface, diffusing UV light before it can
penetrate and damage your cells, Dr. Irwin says. You'll get even better coverage if your makeup
contains both. Try Revlon Age Defying Spa Foundation SPF 18 ($14, drugstores) and Prescriptives All Skins Mineral Makeup SPF 15 ($32.50, department stores). Or choose makeup with
SPF 30 or up, plus zinc oxide and/or titanium dioxide. Try Jane Be Pure Mineral Skin Perfecting Foundation SPF 30 ($5.49, drugstores) and Shiseido Sun Protection Liquid Foundation SPF
42 PA+++ ($33.50, department stores).
Even the more potent formulas can't replace an SPF day cream. "Relying on makeup alone is
like taking a boat intended for lagoon fishing out in the ocean," says Fredric Brandt, M.D., a
dermatologist in New York City and Miami. One reason: Most people don't apply enough. You
need about half a teaspoon for your face and neck to get the required thickness. Mineral-powder
foundation, such as Colorescience Suncanny SPF 20 Foundation Brush ($60, colorescience.com), stays put longer, but priming skin with an SPF- infused facial lotion is still recommended. So why bother with SPF makeup? Sunscreen lotions and sprays alone let some UV
light sneak through, and people skimp on application, just as they do with makeup. The best
way to stay protected: Double-up by layering makeup over a moisturizer containing an SPF of
15 or higher and UVA filters (Mexoryl, Helioplex, or avobenzone). Try Garnier Nutritioniste
Ultra-Lift Pro Deep Wrinkle Cream SPF 20 ($17, drugstores) or SkinCeuticals Active UV Defense Sunscreen Cream SPF 15 ($29, skinceuticals.com).
Bottom Line: Ultra-protective makeup is a boon for skin. But think of it as the Robin to your
sunscreen's Batman — a dynamic duo stronger together than either is alone.
Botanical Boosters
The Promise: Chemical-shunning makeup has hit the big time. From supermarkets to Saks,
new products brim with ingredients only (or mostly) from nature, not the lab. Many claim skinnourishing properties that are comparable or superior to their chemical counterparts.
The Reality: Natural ingredients can be good for skin. Plant oils and shea and cocoa butters
make fantastic moisturizers, Dr. Brandt says. Aloe and chamomile are soothing. And minerals
have become the darlings of new makeup lines for sensitive skin. Just as important as what the
natural formulas contain is what they leave out: Ideally, it's a long list of potential irritants, including synthetic fragrance compounds and dyes that can aggravate sensitive skin, and parabens, which are not as allergenic as once thought, though companies are using both natural and
synthetic substitutions instead. Try parabens- free Almay Pure Blends Makeup ($14, drug-
16
stores). Some powdered mineral makeup, like Jane Iredale Amazing Base Loose Minerals SPF
20 ($42, janeiredaledirect.com), doesn't require a preservative at all. "If the formula doesn't contain water, no preservatives are necessary," Romanowski explains. (Consider tossing it if moisture gets in, though.)
Natural isn't always synonymous with benefits, however. "If you have sensitive skin, acne, or
rosacea, be wary of products with a lot of plant and flower extracts," says Dr. Irwin. They may
contain various enzymes, proteins, and other compounds that increase the chance of an allergic
reaction on the skin. Plant oils, which are made up of relatively simple fatty acids, are gentler
on skin. Try Yes to Carrots C Me Shine Lip Gloss (shown in Flirty Pink; $6.49, Walgreens)
with castor-seed oil, or SukiColor Rich Pigment Mascara ($34, sukicolor.com) with sunflowerseed oil.
Irritants may be lurking in mineral makeup, too. That's because not all brands are pure minerals.
A quick scan of the ingredients may turn up parabens and other fillers. One without them: Physicians Formula Mineral Wear Talc-Free 100% Mineral BronzeBrightener ($14, drugstores).
Also be skeptical of claims made about natural antioxidants. Manufacturers may not use the
most effective form. Just because vitamin C, for example, fights free radicals doesn't mean orange juice or orange extract in your product will. "It won't hurt you, but don't pay extra for it,"
Dr. Irwin says.
Bottom Line: You'll get the best green bang for your buck if the top half of the ingredient list
contains naturals. But don't buy into the good- for-you claims if you also find a laundry list of
potential irritants.
Chicagoland TGirl Meeting
Chicagoland TGirl Social
Date: First Wednesday of each month
Time: 8:00 pm - 12:00 am
Type: Meeting
Location: Club Krave, Blue Island, Illinois
Street: 13126 S. Western Avenue
City/State/Zip: Blue Island, IL 60406
Phone : 708-597-8379
Notes: An evening where we can dicuss how
to make our yahoo site better and to
enjoy seeing each other and having some fun!
Date: Third Wednesday of each month
Time: 8:00 pm - 12:00 am
Type: Party
Location: Club Krave, Blue Island, Illinois
Street: 13126 S. Western Avenue
City/State/Zip: Blue Island, IL 60406
Phone: 708-597-8379
Yahoo Group: http://groups.yahoo.com/
group/ChicagolandTGirls
17
Island Girls Comes To An End
The Island Girls are closing up shop for good. Due to economic conditions, changing times, and
the time to devote to a very successful group is just getting overwhelming. Donna Greer, Bobbie Stone, and Rhonda Moretti are all sad to see this happen along with everyone else. A special
thanks to Linda Scott, Debbie Hunter, Diane Hart for doing a great job as Web Mistress for the
past several years in keeping the Island Girls web site up and running. Sara Fenwick, you were
always there to take pictures at our Anniversary parties and printing our Island Girl buttons for
all occasions. We can't forget Chicago Gender Society (CGS) along with Chi Chapter for all the
support they gave us over the
years.
We had over 275,000 hits on the Island Girls web site in 11 years. What a great accomplishment worldwide. The Island Girls was a success due to all the girls that came out to support the
group and help make this group a great success in the Chicago transgender community. We
were a support and social group. So many of you came here for the first time, we know it was a
great experience to come to a friendly atmosphere for the first time. A lot of good memories to
cherish for years to come. It was always nice to see all of you at the Be-all visiting our booth
and getting your Island Girls Be-all button.
We had girls come from overseas, Canada, and from 42 states in the U.S.A. I know this group
will always be in the hearts and minds of all the girls who attended our meetings and socials.
Bobbie Stone "
With the end of the Island Girls, a new group has formed in the Chicagoland area. The Chicagoland T Girls is meeting from 8:00pm to Midnight on the first and third Wednesday of each
month at Club Krave, in Blue Island, Illinois The club is located at 13126 S. Western Avenue, Blue Island, IL 60406 Their phone number is: Phone: 708-597-8379. The first Wednesday
is a meeting, while on the Third Wednesday they have a social event.
The Chicagoland T Girls also have a yahoo group. To join go to
http://groups.yahoo.com/group/ChicagolandTGirls
18
New Beginnings by Linda H.
A Family Story With a
Happy Ending
Our lives as transgender women are complicated and often filled with family drama
that can be traumatic, even heartbreaking.
Sometimes family relationships are damaged beyond repair, but other times the
damage is only temporary, or short-term.
Happy endings do happen, and broken
relationships can be put back together with time and patience.
Six years ago I lived in Bangor, Maine. I was very much in the closet then, but I did find friends
and support in the online community. It was there that I first met Carollyn Olson, or CC, as
friends call her, who is the author of several works of transgender fiction, as well as a regular
contributor to Facets with her monthly fashion and makeup column.
Even five years ago, I was afraid to go out the door as Linda, but with help from CC I soon
overcame those early obstacles, and since I moved to California, we have made getting together
in Sacramento a regular event.
From there I developed rapidly along my own path toward transitioning and living full-time as
Linda which I began in July of 2009. But as is so often the case, this resulted in severely
strained relationships with some of my family members, especially my daughter- in- law, Alexi,
and her mother, Ginger. My son, Brian, who is married to Alexi, is supportive, although because of his work schedule I am rarely able to visit with him. As a result of this estrangement, I
had never even been able to meet my little granddaughter, Hailey.
However just this summer all of that has begun to turn around, almost like a miracle. It began
with a surprise phone call to me in August from Ginger, who had reached a point on her own
where she felt the desire to reach out to me. Not knowing the purpose of her phone call, and
suspecting perhaps something bad had happened to Alexi, I accepted the call was delighted to
learn the she wished to repair our relationship.
From that moment on things just seemed to start falling into place. I have been able to begin reconnecting with Alexi and Ginger and finally was able to give Hailey the stuffed animal toys I
had bought when she was born, but wasn't allowed to give her. Then when Ginger pointed out
to me the way she was cuddling them all on her lap in the back seat of our car, I was completely
overwhelmed. The experience was joyful for me beyond words.
I also had the added excitement and pleasure of going out to eat with Ginger, Alexi and Hailey
at the Hometown Buffet and being regarded by fellow diners as just another grandmother, out
with her grandchild and of course the child's mother and other grandmother – just the thee
women of the family! I really felt like my whole life made more sense than it ever had before,
that I was welcome and accepted back into my family's life, and that I fit in and passed comfortably in public with my other female relatives!
I went from being very unhappy and rejected to feeling on top of the world in a very short space
19
of time, just because after such a
long time, these other two women
had come to a point in their lives
and their thinking and feelings
about me that they were once again
ready to accept me, only this time
as the woman I really am. Best of
all, both Hailey's mother and grandmother told me they loved having
another woman in the family, and
that they'd agreed Hailey never
needed to be told that I had ever
been any other way than as I am
now. It just doesn't get much better
than that.
Since that meeting I am happy to report that my friendship with Hailey's other grandmother,
Ginger, has developed and we have spent several wonderful times together, such as visiting
Mission San Jose and a trip to Ardenwood Farm to see the many railway-related exhibits there
and savor a wonderful picnic lunch that she had made for us.
After that picnic lunch, I accidentally cut myself while we were in the gift shop at the railway
museum, and the two of us went into the ladies' room together to administer a little first aid. It
all seemed so natural for both of us. This marked the first time I had gone rail "fanning" since
making the change to full time in July 2009. It was great and we even engaged a couple of other
women in conversation there while photographing trains. I was totally accepted by all. Not one
bad look or comment came my way, and Ginger made the comment that if she had seen me on
the street she would swear I had been born a girl.
Now everything seems to be going my way. I was out riding my bicycle to the store a little
while ago and a lady driving her SUV stopped me and asked if I remembered her. I did, and
said "Yes," although I didn't remember her name or where I had seen her. She then reminded
me that she was one of the two ladies that I had spoken with at Ardenwood Farm while photographing the trains there! I don't know which of us was more surprised when we found out we
both lived in Stockton. Anyway, she said that from now on whenever she sees me she will stop
and say hello. And then she added, "Welcome to the better side of humanity!"
I am really beginning to see things from a different perspective and it feels wonderful to once
again be accepted.
Girls, if you have problems with your families because of who you are then it is only their loss.
I hope this will help a lot of you in realizing that sometimes miracles do happen and at times
only need a little nudge to accomplish the seemingly impossible. It may have taken 4 years, but
I like to say all is well that ends well.
20
The Exploits of Barbara Marie
BARBARA’S EXPLOITS FOR
MAY/JUNE 2011
BY: BARBARA MARIE
Well folks, it has really been an interesting month for me. I had just about finished my
article for the next issue of the magazine and was in Atlanta this past weekend (June 1012) and was the victim of a “smash and grab”, thus I am having to rewrite my article.
More on this incident will be a little later in this article. About a week after I finished my
last article, I received a certified letter from the Society of Colonial Wars in the State of
Georgia. It was a letter stating that I had violated article so and so, paragraph so and so
of the Bi-laws of the society as conduct un-becoming a member which could bring notoriety and ridicule to the Society. They were threatening me with expulsion from the society
of which I had been a member for nearly 25 years or more. In last months article, I mentioned that I had attended the Scottish games in Savannah en femme as part of the official
color guard for the games. A member of the society made a formal written complaint to
the board of the society. The allegation was dressing in public as a female. Also, they went
on to say that it was for fun and humor at the expense of others, as well as exploration of a
transgender issue in late adult hood and exploration of transsexual issues all of which
were inconsistent with the by laws of the society. I was not acting as an official representative of the Society nor was I attending an official function of the society. I was a private
individual attending a public gathering. My first response was to contact Lambda legal.
However, they were of little help although they did give me the names of two lawyers in
Savannah that were in their network. Apparently, since the Society is a male oriented private organization, it dell out side of the Lambda Legal’s realm. My first responding letter
consisted of two pages. It was later revised to one page. The final draft, which I have
mailed, was two short paragraphs. Basically I did not deny the first allegation, as I was
dressed en femme at a public function. I denied the rest of the allegations with out going
into detail. The tone of their letter was such that I felt charged, tried, convicted and sentenced of all charges. I did not feel that my appearing at the board meeting or going into
detail of explaining the rest of the charges would have any merit on the out come. So
rather that given them the “pleasure of throwing me out”, I resigned as a member in good
standing. Remember ladies I have been 24/7 now for 18 months now. This has been my
first major hurdle.
The Pilot club had their spring fling in May. It was a low country boil . However, it was
not well attended, but those of us that went had a great time. However, there was a lot of
21
food left over. Thus, Yours truly brought some home. Being the resourceful “lady” that I
am, I took the shrimp and made a shrimp paste/dip that could be used for a dip or sandwiches. I made scalloped potatoes with the potatoes and I ground up the sausage for use in
a sausage and egg casserole. Nothing was wasted. I later made the casserole and took it to
church. Later I went over to one of the new members of the bread guild home and helped
her to make the communion bread for the church as she had never made it before. While
it was rising her husband grilled some chicken breast and we had a very delightful dinner
before finishing the bread making. Since she had the month of june by her self, I offered
to make a batch as well to help her out, which I did and took it by the church a few days
later.
A few days later, I took one of the ladies from the shop for a physical and for a dental appointment in Savannah. The ladies had a nice outing. A couple of days later, I got a call
another girl and had to take her to the health department for a pregnancy test, which was
positive. I helped her to get her Medicaid # and then took her and set up an appointment
for her prenatal visit. All of this was done ina period of two hours. The next morning, I
got a call from her husband that they were in the ER at the hospital. After all that work,
she had a miscarriage and needed a D&C. Thus I spent the day with them in the hospital
and made sure she was OK before leaving. All in all it was an interesting week. Some
where during this time, I got mad with my first generation droid phone and went to Verizon and got a new one (HTC). It does not make pocket/purse/butt calls like my other one
did nor does it cut me of in the middle of making a text message. I can honestly say that I
love this one. Since it was time for my son to up date his phone, I took him there also. He
wanted one similar to the one had, but it was no longer made and the replacement was not
very good. Thus, he wound up with a Samsung smart phone. His agreement with me was
that he would pay the difference for the Data plan which is $30.00. We share 1400 minutes as it is now with a two line family plan. Some times I think that my son thinks that
this lady is made out of money.
Now about the “smash and grab”. It was time for me to go to Atlanta for my long weekend with Sig Eps so I picked up my rider on Thursday morning and we took off for Atlanta. Upon arriving at her daughter’s home, we had a very nice Vietnamese lunch and I
met her other granddaughter who was also very accepting of me. After lunch I went on to
my brothers for the weekend. We went to an Italian restaurant for dinner. Friday morning I went to a Vietnamese hair salon on Beaufort Highway and got a wash and blow dry.
It was fantastic, as during the wash, she massaged my head and my neck. It really felt
good. I was really please with the way she blew dried my hair. It was only $18.00 and most
places charge $25.00 or more. She did not know I was a guy until I told her right before I
left. I did tell her that I would see her again next month. Although she did not speak
much English, I could tell she was very complimentary tome. From there, I met a couple
of “Ladies” and went to Hooters for lunch and some afternoon shopping. We arrive at
the hotel and got ready to our as a group of us about 11 or 12 were going to a play that
night. We arrived at the public parking lot at 735 pm and paid $5.00 to park there. It was
well lit. Since we were only a couple of miles from my brothers, I had decided not to return to the hotel but to drive my car and go on home after the play. I had place my com-
22
puter case on the floor behind the drivers seat and covered it up with a couple of dirty
towels and a small bag of trash. In the 2 hours and 20 minutes that I was gone, the
“smash and grab” occurred. The thief went between my car and another one on my passenger’s side, smashed in the rear passenger door window, leaned in reaching all the way
across, and grabbed the bag of trash, towels and the computer case and fled. The doors we
locked at the time. In my glove compartment was a gun, and $100.00 cash which was untouched. It only took the police 1-½ hours to get there after I made the 911 call. In the
case was a net book, external dvd/rewrite, Kendal reader, 7 in android tablet and 2 digital
cameras. Total value was a little over $800.00.
While waiting for the police to arrive, I chambered a round in my Kel Tec P 3AT 380 pistol and stood there with the loaded gun in my hand until the police arrived. He was very
nice and polite as I was wearing a black and white sundress and black sandals at the time.
He did not bat an eye when I handed him my drivers license as it was mam this and mam
that the whole time he was there. He said it would take 7 to 10 working days to get a copy
of the report. It was after 2 am by the time I got the window covered with plastic and
went to bed. Saturday, I file with my insurance company. I have 0 deductible for the
window and it will be fixed today (6/16). As to the articles stolen, I filed under my homeowners and with my $500.00 deductible, I will be getting a check for a little over $300.00.
Thus Ladies, I learned a very valuable lesson. If you cannot lock it in your trunk, which I
did not have, take it with you. But don’t become a victim of a ‘smash and snatch”. If they
think there is something to take, they will try.
Earlier this week, I attended several lion’s club functions as Barbara. The incoming district governor is a friend of mine and he has asked me to be on his staff as the district Lion
Tamer (sergeant at arms in some clubs.) He wanted me to got to a couple of functions with
him and I was introduced and accepted as Barbara. Think I might be the first TG or heterosexual cross dresser to have the honor as I am already known in the district and at national levels as Barbara and not Bill, member and secretary of the Bulloch Lion Club.
I realize that this may not be my usual article, but there are a few very crucial and important issues in it. One is “how important is it”? One has to be careful in expressing their
feminine side as there are many who do not know or understand and, thus afraid of you
or do not what you around as in my case. The other one is “don’t leave your valuables in
the car, no matter how safe you think they are as some one will find away to “help them
selves” to your stuff. I hope that every one had a safe Memorial Day weekend and remembered the veterans in their lives. Also since this will be coming out in July, have a
safe and pleasant 4th Of July. Hugs to all.
Barbara Marie
23
Tasi’s Musings
Going back a few years, I was still in WV and chairing a forming Tri-Ess chapter, Lambda Beta Rho, in Roanoke VA. We
had a Yahoo group and I would periodically write a column
called “This and That”, talking about things of interest in our
TG world. In Feb last year, my company transferred me out
here to the wilds of west Texas (well, you know the song about
Rosa’s Cantina in El Paso – it’s still here). Anyway my column
seemed to be well received by our ladies and those in the Baltimore chapter (CES) as well. I’ve missed doodling my writings
since I moved so here again are some periodic thoughts on
events that I hope you find interesting. If not, just say “Enough,
Tasi” LOL
Books and Movies
“The Danish Girl.” It’s a novel and true story (available
through Amazon) about Danish painter, Einar Wegener, who
becomes Lili Elbe,, the first man to undergo a sex-change
operation and his American wife, Greta, (also a painter) and
how she sets him on the path to transformation. It’s quite a
remarkable story which takes place in 1930’s Denmark. The author, David Ebershoff , does a
remarkable job getting inside Greta’s head and heart. I’ve read the book and you will enjoy –
it’s poignant
Now producer, Lasse Hallstrom, is producing a film of the book scheduled to be released next
year. Nicole Kidman will play “Lili” and Rachel Weisz will play “Greta”. I suspect this film
will rival “TransAmerica” in its creativity – something to look forward to.
“I Rise”. By Toni Newman. Although there are many stories of MtF transsexuals and their
journeys, this one caught my interest. Toni tells her story of being a “sissy boy,” a
scholarship student, a business professional, an escort, a drag queen, a
NYC prostitute, an LA dominatrix, and finally, a transsexual attending law
school in order to help her transsexual sisters in need. She’s a graduate of
Wake Forest and hopes to practice law defending the rights of transgenders. Available through Amazon but a tad expensive.
Lady Crabtree is a British comedy character created 33 years ago by author and broadcaster,
Paul James. I think there is something special about British humor. Check out this clip from
YouTube: http://www.ladycrabtree.co.uk/index.html?_ret_=return and then have fun exploring
more of her history. She is an incredibly fascinating character.
Famous Men In Drag: The Video Quiz. http://www.buzzfeed.com/semiteautomatic/famousmen-in-drag-the-video-quiz-kr3. See if you can guess the famous men behind the mascara in
these movie clips. My favorite is the first clip, but that’s because he’a an action figure and an
unlikely feminine image. When you're done check the source link to see what your score says
about you. You might also enjoy the short video that follows about a Marlena Dietrich Impersonator.
24
Products
Did you know that Amazon has more than 270 transgender products? Check here: http://
www.amazon.com/tag/transgender/products
Did you know there are 23,629 pair of clip-on earrings for sale on Ebay??
What Your Legs Say About You - Spiderwebs, Fishnets and Other Shocking Stockings Are
Hot Accessories, but Which Ones Can You Wear to the Office?
Hosiery used to be boring. Stylish women virtually dropped it in recent years, opting for bare
legs and careful pedicures. But now, tights and stockings are exploding into fashion, with a
rainbow of brilliant hues and eclectic patterns. I have the full article in a separate document
which is available on request. http://online.wsj.com/article/
SB10001424052748703445904576118600991988140.html?KEYWORDS=christina+binkley
Fashion
From Carol Tuttle’s blog “Dressing Your Truth” http://www.caroltuttle.com/
“It is typical that as women age they feel they have to adapt to a certain fashion
style that is for “older women.” I teach “older” women that “grandma is a ROLE
not a STYLE!”
Kmart Launches New Exclusive Apparel Collection for Plus-Size Women
Kmart will debut LYS—Love Your Style, Love Your Size—this month, a new and exclusive plussize apparel line. The collection features trend-forward separates designed to flatter plus-size
women of all shapes and sizes. From printed halters to skinny jeans and tunic dresses, LYS features must- have pieces that will add a contemporary element to any woman’s look.
The LYS collection offers items that are easy to mix and match to create casual yet sophisticated looks from head to toe. The ready-to-wear collection ranges from drape- front sweaters,
cropped jackets and reversible tank tops to denim cargo, satin pants, embellished leggings and
tiered miniskirts. The LYS line offers its endless chic combinations in the seasons’ hottest colors to help women transition seamlessly from the work week to the weekend.
“Over the past year, we have strengthened our brand offerings in apparel to appeal to a young,
contemporary customer,” saidTara Poseley, senior vice president and president of Kmart Apparel. “The launch of LYS sends another strong message to the market that Kmart is serious
about fashion and committed to bringing incredible style and quality to all women. With the
addition of labels like LYS, the Sofia Vergara Collection, Bongo and Dream Out Loud
by Selena Gomez, we’re giving them a number of compelling reasons to shop our stores or
check us out online.”
The LYS collection arrives just in time for spring. Kmart will offer the separates in a price
range of $14.99 to $29.99. The LYS collection is currently available in 450 stores across the
nation and online in a variety of sizes, including 1X to 3X and 18W to 26W.
“We are always looking for ways to enhance our brand portfolio to better meet the fashion
needs of all of our customers,” said John Goodman, executive vice president of Apparel and
Home for Sears Holdings. “Many retailers overlook the plus-size category, which has created
an opportunity for Kmart to become a destination for that particular customer. We are excited to
launch LYS, offering trends and styles that all women want, at approachable prices.”
25
The Adventures of
Judy Sometimes
Public Education Can Go a
Long Way
Good morning All, it had been somewhat of I dry spell as far as my dressing had gone this
week as my busy season is in full swing with my business so I was definitely itching to get out.
My Sundress Thursday group had a fun evening planned and as usual it was very interesting to
say the least.
My wife and I were in need of a few things for the Kentucky Derby party we will be attending
on Saturday so our first stop was Burlington Coat Factory to find a couple floppy hats. BCF always seems to have a good variety of hats and we found just what we were looking for. With
that task done our next stop was Hobby Lobby to find some adornments to make them even
more spectacular. I ended up purchasing a few white roses to spruce mine up while my wife
found some feathers to add to hers.
Our weekly get together was to get underway at 6 so we hurried home to drop off our purchases
and change into our evening outfits. I had planned on wearing a dress, but decided to go with a
camisole top and shorts covered by spring blouse worn open. Of course the outfit wouldn't have
been complete without a cute pair of sandals so I choose my newly purchased off white gladiator sandals.
Our first event for the evening was a Cinco de Mayo art show being put on by our friend Kim.
The feature of her show was the photos and watercolor paintings from our winter trip to Playa
del Carmen. She is an accomplished painter as well as a photographer and is becoming quite the
local talent. She had a good supply on Mexican beer on hand as well as some margarita mix for
our sipping pleasure as we ood and aad her work.
\
My Sundress Thursday group likes to try out different venues each week and this time around I
chose a bar that was opening that night. The bar is located in an old American Legion building
and is called the Pickled Parrot which kind of has a Margaritaville/sports bar theme to it. Tonight's event proved to be popular as we had about 20 ladies in attendance. As it turned out my
outfit choice was a good one as many of the ladies opted for shorts as well. Like our motto says,
no sundress required, but please wear something.
As the evening was winding down I noticed a table of individuals near us giving me a heavy
stare. Now I do a pretty good job of blending in, but it soon became apparent that I had been
discovered. When I started staring back women from their table got up and come over to our
table. By this time it was only a few of us left including a crossdressing friend in guy mode. She
26
stood next to me and asked what my name was, I said Judy and she gave me a funny look so I
added or Dan. She said, so you are a guy, I said yes. She said the reason I ask is my husband
thought you were an old roommate of his named Paul Spencer. I said, nope, my name is Dan.
With that she sat down next to me and said, so you're a guy dressed as a women, I said yes, I
thought we already had that established with a little smirk. She said I know, but your so convincing with the hair, the nails, the polished toes, the shaved legs as she rubbed my leg (which
happens quite often by the way), are you gay ?, I said no, in fact I've been married for 25 years
and my wife is sitting at the bar. She said REALLY ! and she's OK with this and I said absolutely. I then proceeded to give her the Readers Digest version of our 25 year marriage and how
we've learned to integrate this into our everyday lives. In the end she was simple amazed that I
had the courage to be myself and thanked me for taking the time to explain things to her. She
added that she apparently has lead a pretty sheltered life as I was the first crossdresser she had
ever seen. I said, well there are a few of us in town, but sadly the vast majority are deep in the
closet because of various reasons and are to afraid of being discovered and with that my crossdressing friend shows her a picture of the two of us dressed. I thought she was going to nearly
faint as my friend is extremely macho looking with a crew cut and tattoos. He is also a former
marine and guardsmen with the nickname Kujo. She got a pretty big kick out of the drastic
change in him from boy to girl. She then added if I looked much different, I said no, I pretty
much look this way other than the clothes. Its kind of hard to hide the long hair, acrylic nails,
shaved legs etc.. so I just go with an androgynous look 24/7.
To top all that off on the way out of the bar I was hit on by a rather attractive guy who wanted
me to dance with him. Not sure if he knew my secret, but its pretty cool to receive such positive
attention.
PS. - Stay tuned for my next adventure as I'll have my Kentucky Derby party to write about.
Judy sometimes
Good afternoon All, if ever I had any doubt that people weren't accepting of a guy in a dress
being among them it was put to rest Saturday. The highlight of my day come shortly after the
running of the derby when our hostess Brittney announced the winners of the prizes that were
awarded in several different categories. Yours truly was voted none other than the most elegant
ensemble by some 40 guests, the majority of them being women. To say I was humbled with
such a unexpected title when there were so many beautifully dressed women would be an understatement. Acceptance like this I can live with.
Our day got underway around noon when it came time to pick an outfit that would go best with
my hat. I had several possibilities as my dress collection has grown significantly since starting
my Sundress Thursday group. I ended up choosing one of my favorites, a sleeveless, deep v
dress with a retro 60's pattern that falls just below the knee. I've always gotten compliments
from my women friends when I've worn it so I figured it would be appropriate for the festivities. Of course there is one drawback to wearing such a dress and that's that it needs an ample
amount of cleavage to fill it out. Fortunately I'm rather fleshy in that department and with the
proper bra and forms I can easily create the illusion. I paired the outfit with a matching earring
and necklace set and white wedge sandals with a 3" heel.
27
My makeup for the day consisted of a light green eye shadow that matched one of several colors in the dress and a burgundy lipstick. My wife graciously gave me a lovely fluff of curls and
after donning my newly adorned hat we were off.
The Derby party has been held at a bar called Dempsey's the last few years as it has outgrown
Brittney's home. In the early years it was just a hand full of people, but has since grown to numbers that are fast approaching 50. Close friends provide a variety of dishes to go along with the
main course of pulled pork, our contribution this year was Nat King Cole salad and a heaping
plate full of brownies. The day’s festivities got underway shortly after 2 with most of the guests
in place around 4. Guests were given the option of buying a horse for $2 and then were able to
draw out of a hat randomly. We decided to purchase two and ended up with Archarcharch and
Midinight Interlude, 2 of the top 5 that were given the best odds of winning. Unfortunately none
of those 5 horses were even in the top 5 with Animal Kingdom taking the win.
Things started to wrap up around 6 so we did some fast clean up and decided to move down the
street to a bar called the Empire. Much to out delight there were quite a few who decided to follow. I didn't do a head count, but there were about 15 of us in the bunch. While we sipped our
cocktails and chatted up a storm I received a call from my old high school friend Linda. It was
just last spring that we were reunited after going 24 years without seeing one and other. That
first meeting was so wonderful and it was like no time had passed at all. I almost told her about
my dressing that night, but in the end chickened out. She actually found out by accident only
about 6 weeks ago when she and a friend unexpectedly showed up at a bar my wife and I frequent. She was in town as her father was having emergency surgery and decided to pop in and
see if we were around. I just happened to be dressed that night and she got a full dose of my
feminine side. Fortunately for me she was cool with the whole thing and hardly even blinked an
eye. Of course later on in an email she had a ton of questions for me and I filled her in on what
its like to be a socially active crossdresser. Apparently all is good because she showed up with
the same friend in tow last night and we had a wonderful visit once again.
Our last stop for the evening was our home bar Duffy's, that's when Linda told me another high
school friend was on her way. This one was different though as this particular women is already
a FB friend and knows about my dressing, but had never seen me dressed other than the pictures on my page. When Kari arrived she gave me a great big hug and said, glad to finally meet
you Judy. Even being FB friends I wasn't sure how she would react to her first live visual of
me, but things seemed to go real well.
I had brought some brownies that were leftover from the party and walked around offering them
to other patrons and about half of them disappeared. I got the feeling some there probably were
wondering who the guy in the dress was and weren't about to eat anything off the plate I was
carrying. Oh well, there loss, lol.
The clock was approaching midnight by the time we decided to pull the plug on the day, but all
good things must come to an end as they say. I have posted a few pix from the day and evening
(pending approval), hope you enjoy.
Judy(Mint Julep)sometimes
28
Humor
Biker Story
A tough looking group of bikers were riding along the
highway, when they saw a beautiful young girl about to
jump off a bridge, they stopped.
Their leader, a big burly man, got off his bike, went over to
her and asked, "Do you know what you’re doing?"
She answered, "Yes, I'm going to commit suicide."
While he didn’t want to appear insensitive, he also didn't
want to miss an opportunity for some fun. So he asked, "Well then, before you jump,
why don't you give me a kiss?"
She gave him a long, deep, lingering kiss which lasted almost a full minute. After
their passionate tongue duel, the biker exclaimed, "Whew! That was the best Kiss I
have ever had. You have a real talent for making love. You could be famous. Why
the hell are you committing suicide?"
"Because my parents don't like me dressing up like a girl......"
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The 37th annual Fantasia Fair is shaping up to be one of
the finest trans events of the year! This year's Fair will
includes two formal banquets, daily luncheons, a fashion
show, cabaret show, a welcome reception, a special
"dinner & a show" and much, much more. Plus, after
hours parties, local dance clubs, spas, and everything else
that makes Provincetown a top tourist destination.
With an offering of more than 50 workshops, you'll find more topics of interest than just about
any other trans event. There are sessions that are geared towards helping you with your gender
presentation - including workshops on developing your voice, on makeup and on wigs. Spouses
and couples find support with a series of workshops devoted to relationships and family. There
are sessions on surgical advances presented by the surgeons themselves, a free health clinic and
whole lot more... So if you're CD, TS, TG, IS, MTF, FTM, SO or Q there's lots for you! There
will be daily keynote addresses from community leaders and knowledgeable professionals, including Donna Rose, Monica Helms, Jennifer Carr, Kelley Winters, and Richard Docter.
Fantasia Fair is unlike any other trans event. Is a whole week's worth of events, not just a long
weekend with a few activities – although you can come for just a long weekend if you want to!
It takes place in Provincetown, an LGBT resort town where you are safe, respected, and honored whatever your gender presentation. Because of this unique location, Fantasia Fair doesn't
take place in a single huge high-rise hotel, but rather, in many small inns, restaurants and various locations in and around the center of town. Most importantly, the Fair is intimate. You
won't get lost in the crowd and, with it lasting a whole week, you can actually meet and build
friendships with almost everyone attending.
Fantasia Fair is affordable with almost any budget. Since you decide which hotel, inn or bed &
breakfast to stay at, you can spend as much or as little as you want on lodging. Most inns offer
generous discounts for Fair goers, so you can get terrific arrangements at great rates. Since the
Fair is presented by a non-profit organization run entirely by volunteers, you can be assured that
the registration fees are as close to cost as possible. With seven lunches/brunches, three dinners,
three shows, six keynotes, and other events all included in the price, you end up getting more
bang for your buck at Fantasia Fair than just about any other trans event. If you act by June
30th, you can register for this year's Fair with a springtime discount.
Information on specific events, presenters, pricing, registration, and lodging is available on the
Fantasia Fair website, "http://www.fantasiafair.org/" .
See you in Provincetown!
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Lena Gibbons
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TG Tips & Tricks by Mellissa Lynn
Welcome to summer! It's hot and muggy here in Illinois, so I'm adapting with some summery
tips and tricks to fight back. Remember to carry those blotting strips, they're a girl's best friend!
And be wary of the big ball of fire in the sky. Sunscreen is our friend!
If you know some good ways to beat the heat for your makeup routine, I'd love to hear them
and share them! Please send your tips, hints, ideas, and suggestions to me at [email protected] .
And away we go!
This is a good time to remind everyone to go through
your makeup and see what needs to be changed out.
Remember, mascara is only god for about three
months, so you need to change it out fairly often. Keep
your makeup as cool and dry as you can; bacteria
doesn't like cool and dry!
@@@@@
Would you like to add some highlights to your hair?
Try lemon juice! Applying lemon juice to your hair
before going out in the sun is a sure way to lighten your
hair. The acid reacts with the sun's UV rays and accelerates the highlighting process.
@@@@@
Well, it's been HOT lately. In fact, it's been so hot that
I've moved from using an actual foundation to using a
tinted moisturizer. It takes a good CLOSE shave to
make this work, but the results are much better than
having your foundation dripping off. If possible, you
should use a moisturizer that has a sunscreen built in.,
one with a decent SPF factor.
@@@@@
34
This is a great and inexpensive recipe for a summertime exfolient. Mix 1/8 cup of olive oil and
1 heaping tablespoon of sea salt. Scrub all over in the shower and rinse off. Pat dry with a soft
towel. You'll find your skin is much softer for the effort.
@@@@@
'Tis the seasons of swimsuits and sundresses! And that, girls, means a lot of shaving, especially
for we T-girls who have lots of extra hair to remove. Here's a way to get more life from your
razors.
After shaving, run your razor under clean hot water for a moment to clear out any residue and
prevent bacteria from having a place to grow. blot your blades dry with a tissue or a towel
when finished. Put your razor in a sealed container with some silica gel packs (the ones that
come in shoes or other things that need to be kept dry). The silica packs will help prevent oxidation and keep your razor dry and sharp longer.
@@@@@
Here's a timely summertime tip. To soothe a sunburn, take a warm bath in VERY strong black
tea. The tannic acid in the tea draws the burn out of the skin and helps it heal.
@@@@@
This is a nifty little home recipe for softening your heels. Take a teaspoon of powdered milk,
sand, and water and mix. Apply this to your heels and use as an exfolient. The lactic acid in
the milk causes the dead sin cells to melt; the sand is just enough to remove them. Afterward,
try a lotion with alpha hydroxy acids; this will help to keep your heels smooth and softer.
@@@@@
Do you wear bangs on your wig, or naturally? In the summer, bangs tend to dangle in the face
and become sweaty. This isn't an attractive look! Try using some cute bobby pins to keep your
fringe in check. There ar some really great- looking ones out there now! By pinning your bangs
up, not only do they not get sweaty, but whatever perspiration you buildup will evaporate more
rapidly. And they look good! Your cheekbones will stand out more and your eyes will be highlighted.
Here's how to do this. Hold your bangs straight up, apply a light bit of hairspray, and tease
them a bit. Sweep them back to the side (not straight back, they'll have a softer appearance
swept to the side). Anchor with a jeweled pin or barrette. Ta-da! Instant chic and coolness!
@@@@@
35
Are you an outdoorsy girl? Do you want to be outside, enjoying nature? Great! Would you
like to avoid being eaten alive by mosquitoes without smelling like a laboratory? Here's an inexpensive alternative. Try rubbing a lemon or orange peel on your skin before you go out.
There's an oil in citrus peels called limonene that messes up a mosquito's sensory nerves. In
other words, they won't like the way you taste! If you're going to be out awhile, take some
peels with you in a sandwich bag.
@@@@@
I really hope that I'm preaching to the choir with this tip, but just in case: beware buying used
cosmetics! I was at a garage sale recently where a woman was selling off her remaining Avon
materials; she'd just retired from being an Avon representative. Well, her samples were open,
and, worse, not in the shade! This is an instant breeding ground for bacteria that can cause you
serious, grievous harm, ladies. So please, please, PLEASE don't buy makeup like this! You
can do yourself damage that even the doctor can't completely correct.
@@@@@
In the summer months, using an aloe verabased lotion will help you stay much cooler.
Aloe will lower your skin temperature and
penetrates much more effectively. Studies
have shown that using an aloe-based lotion is
actually more cooling that a cold shower!
@@@@@
In the summer months, a cream eyeshadow
works better than powder. They crease less,
which makes your eyes look better. And they
glisten in sunlight, making your eyes sparkle!
@@@@@
I did something last weekend that I haven't
gotten to do in a LONG time. I have a fullon spa pedicure, and it was just amazing! I
was out and about and spotted a new salon
that was advertising walk- ins are welcome.
On a whim, I went in and was in a chair
within seconds. Girls, I can't tell you how
wonderful it was!
Having told you my story I know that there
36
are those of you who can't, for whatever reason, do what I did. Never fear, dears, Mellissa is
going to tell you how to do this for yourself, in your own home! You'll need a few supplies:
- Non-acetone polish remover
- Cotton balls
- Cotton swabs (AKA Q-tips)
- Large enough bowl to put your feet in
- Smooth stones or glass beads (optional, but they feel good to rest your feet on in the bowl!)
- 1/2 gallon whole milk
- Warm water
- Cuticle oil
- Towels
- Foot file
- Emory board or nail file
- Cuticle nippers
- Isopropyl (rubbing) alcohol (if possible, in a spray bottle)
- Wooden (orangewood) sticks
- Moisturizer (look for one with callus-softening ingredients)
- Toe spacers
- Base coat (look for one that says it's ridge- filling if possible)
- Polish in your choice of color
Step one
Remove any polish you had previously been wearing with the remover and cotton balls and
swabs. Get the nail file or emory board and file your nails gently in one direction. You never
want to apply the file back and forth; you can damage the nails. You want to file until the mails
are just shorter than the tips of your toes. Round the edges just a tiny bit.
Step two
If you have them, place the stones or beads in the bowl. Arrange a towel or two nearby for
when you remove your feet from the bowl. Add warm water and milk in equal amounts; you
need enough to cover your ankles. As I stated in an earlier tip in this column, the lactic acid in
the milk will melt away the dead skin cells gently. Liberally apply cuticle oil to your toes, then
soak your feet for about five minutes. Use your toes to grab the stones or beads; this is a wonderful way to relax your foot muscles. I know, it feels heavenly, but don't stay in too long!
Step three
Remove one foot from the bowl. Using your orangewood stick, gently push back the nowloosened cuticles. Spray or wipe down your cuticle clippers and CAREFULLY clip away the
excess cuticle skin that sticks out. Don't pull on the cuticle and beware cutting too much; this
can be an agony later. Place your foot on a clean towel and repeat with the other foot.
Step four
Use your foot file to soften your soles and heels. I use a foot file instead of a pumice stone because pumice stones can hold bacteria, and we all know Mellissa's feelings about that! Scrub
the entire bottom of your foot, then apply moisturizer.
37
Step five
Put the toe spacers in between your toes. Swipe your nails one more time with the polish remover, then apply your base coat. Apply your polish using three strokes: one straight up the
middle and one on each side. For girls with bigger nails you may need to use five strokes to
accomplish this. Let the polish on the first foot sit for about two minutes (perfect time to do the
other foot!) and apply a second coat. Again let dry for two minutes, than apply a clear topcoat.
Let your toes dry for about an hour, if possible; the longer you let them dry, the better they'll set
and look.
This is the basics for a home pedi. I
know, it sounds like a load of work,
but many girls find performing a home
pedicure to be one of the most feminine and fulfilling things they can do.
I look at it as a pampering treat for
myself as opposed to a chore.
You can add lots of touches to make
the experience even better. I like to
have some relaxing music or sounds
playing when I do this. I turn the
lights off elsewhere in the room and
light a few candles; I have a directional desk light so that I can see my
feet without destroying the ambience.
I add some scented essential oil to the
water my feet are soaking in; sometimes I also add some Epsom salt for
the muscles. I have one of those massaging and heating back boards that
you see on sale at the department
stores and such; I use it for my back
while my feet are soaking. Do whatever you enjoy to make your experience relaxing and fun!
@@@@@
Well ladies, that's going to do it for
this month. I hope you all have a wonderful Fourth of July weekend, filled
with feminine beauty and joy. See you
all in August!
38
Kathy’s Korner
The Ninja Crossdresser Ways
By Katy Ann King
Many of us can’t come out of the closet due to personal reasons
such as being afraid of the consequences that may arise from
our friends and family.
I know the feelings and I had to face my wife due to my own
guilt.
Others have their reasons for not coming out.
By me writing this, is certainly not a condemnation of anyone
who decides not to go public.
I am giving you some of the ways I have used to protect Kathy Ann’s identity over the years.
First you have to realize who you are and what lengths you are willing to go to hide your true
self and the consequences if you are caught.
Some of us rent a facility such as a storage unit, small office or even a 1 bedroom apartment.
Personally I don’t have the money and my wife holds my purse strings.
When I couldn’t control my urges anymore I became a professional hider. My camouflage techniques were excellent.
My wife and I share a large walk- in closet, where I store my male clothes especially the male
clothes I don’t wear very often.
In my twisted evil male twins mind I would put my Kathy Ann clothes under my male clothes,
making sure nothing sticks out from a sleeve or pant leg.
My makeup was stored in one of my fishing tackle boxes and my jewelry, heels, bra’s and panties were stored in one of my locked tool boxes. The only problem it takes a lot of time to gather
all the components and then dress.
The down side of the hiding was my clothes were wrinkled and had to be ironed and as I matured as a CD my wardrobe was getting larger, so I started to run out of room.
I used the crawl space in our attic for alternate storage area.
Time is one of the key to success; you only have a short time to get yourself ready, and be the
lady you want to be, then take everything off and put your stuff back in their hiding spots.
What happens when you wife comes home an hour earlier than expected??
This happened to me on more than one occasion.
This is what I did, “The Ninja Way”.
I would prop open the door to my garage so I could hear the garage door open.
I would sprint (in 4” heels) to our small bathroom, where I had my evil twins clothes, take off
my dress or skirt and blouse and remove my wig, breast forms from my bra and put them behind the shower curtain ( to be retrieved later).
Removal of my make- up is the key, you have to be sure you get it all off.
On one occasion I had to jump in the shower clothes and all because my wife had to go bad and
couldn’t make it to the other bathroom.
39
If you like excitement being a closeted CD this is the way to go.
You just have to remember, that someday you will caught, so you better have an explanation or
a lawyer ready.
I got tired of hiding, lying and the deception. The stress of trying to be myself was making me
crazy.
After much research and preparation we had the “Talk”.
There were tears, mostly on my part. There were threats and misunderstanding, on her part and
promises on my part. She doesn’t want to see me dressed and doesn’t understand my compulsion, but she still loves me.
After about 6 months of relative quiet I asked if I could have one of the closets in our spare bedrooms. She replied, as long as I kept my clothes in zippered garment bags, so our grand kids
couldn’t ask questions, out of sight, out of mind.
As a note, I told her that all my stuff will not be locked up, so if she wanted to see what I have,
“Go right ahead”. My wife’s reply was that I had more clothes and shoes than she did.
Now I dress when she goes out to work and she will call if she is coming home early.
All this has not stopped the “The Ninja Ways”.
What happens when you are out and about, trying on dresses at Macys and you get an emergency phone call on your cell phone, to come to work ASAP?
The “The Ninja Ways” kick in.
In the trunk of my car I have my evil twins emergency wardrobe kit.
In a canvass tote bag I have the following:
Package of eye makeup remover
Package of makeup remover
Hand Mirror
Comb
Loose fitting sweat shirt, jeans and socks and work shoes
The sequence of events that follows an emergency call is that I go to my car and get my canvass
bag and go to the ladies room and change out of my dress and into my jeans and sweat shirt.
Then go back to my car and go to an out of the way place to remove my jewelry, makeup,
breast forms, wig and shoes. Use the hand mirror to check to make sure all the makeup is gone
and comb my hair.
I leave on my empty bra, panty hose and panties, god help me if I have to go the emergency
room.
One thing I must mention is that when I am out I don’t wear perfume. Perfume is difficult to
remove due to the oils in the perfume base.
So after all of this deception, Kathy Ann can be herself but at what cost?
In my own opinion, what ever the cost and frustration it’s worth it to be me.
Kathy Ann
40
TG History: June
June 5 1983
Harvey Fierstein’s play Torch Song Trilogy won the Tony Award for Best Play of the 1982-83
season.
June 6 1886
Annie Ryan married Annie Hindle, who gave her name as Charles Hindle, in Grand Rapids
Michigan. Gilbert Sarony, a female impersonator, was one of the witnesses.
June 9 1989
The ashes of pioneer transsexual Christine Jorgensen were scattered off Dana Point by her two
nieces and two of her closest friends.
1998 – Pat Robertson warned the city of Orlando Florida that God would punish the city with
natural disasters for allowing the display of rainbow flags during GLBT Pride Month.
June 11 1998
Nineteen-year-old Brendan McGarity was arrested for vandalizing rainbow flags which had
been displayed in Orlando Florida for GLBT Pride Month. He said he did it because of Rev Pat
Robertson’s warnings that God would punish the city with natural disasters for allowing the display of the flags.
June 12 1995
The Employment Non-Discrimination Act was re- introduced in Congress. HRC demanded that
transsexuals not be included in the legislation.
June 14
1961 – Boy George, musician was born
June 20 1923
Fred G Thompson of Chicago was arrested on suspicion of murder. Until the arrest Thompson
had passed as Mrs. Francis Carrick, wife of Frank Carrick. He was found not guilty.
June 23 1882
Dr. William Hammond delivered a paper to the American Neurological Association on a
"disease" which makes males believe themselves to be females. As an example he spoke of Native Americans who lived as the opposite sex.
June 24 1989
The US Postal Service issued a Pride postmark to commemorate the 20th anniversary of the
Stonewall riots
June 27 1969
Police raided the Stonewall, a bar in Greenwich Village, shortly after midnight for selling liquor
41
without a license. When police began loading GLBT patrons into paddywagons and – according
to many sources – Sylvia Rivera, transgender activist and later co- founder of S.T.A.R. (Street
Transvestites Action Revolutionaries, ca. 1970) began to fight back which began the riot. Police
were forced to take shelter inside the bar. The next evening people gathered outside the bar and
police, who showed up to prevent a second night of rioting, started a riot.
June 28 1970
Rev. Troy Perry, founder of the Universal Fellowship of Metropolitan Community Churches,
was arrested for blocking the sidewalk following a demonstration in Los Angeles. While in jail
a MTF pre-operative transsexual was brutally beaten after being placed in the same cell with
male heterosexual prisoners. Perry arranged for her
release and went on a hunger strike to convince authorities not to put transsexuals in cells with
male heterosexuals.
The Secret Feminizing Power of Perfume
By Lucille Sorella
Your feminine image is about more than the way you look. The
real power is in sending subconscious signals that you are a
REAL woman. One of the best ways to do this is by wearing the
right perfume. Scent is strongly linked to emotions and has a
huge impact on the way people perceive you. The secret is in
choosing a perfume that creates the impact you are looking for.
Here are the basic perfume categories and what they say about
you …
Floral
Floral perfumes are light and flowery. They include scents like lavender, rose, gardenia and geranium. Florals are great for TG girls
since they are the most feminine fragrance. Wear them when you
want to appear especially girly or romantic.
Examples of floral perfumes include: Dior J’Adore, Stella by Stella McCartney, Kenzo
Flower by Kenzo, Anais Anais, Beautiful by Estée Lauder, Eternity by Calvin Klein, and
L‘Air du Temps by Nina Ricci.
Fruity
Fruity perfumes are usually based on citrus scents like lemon or grapefruit, but can
also include strawberry, peach, kiwi, etc. Fruity perfumes are fresh and youthful, so
they are great for gals over 40. They are also a good choice for when you want to feel
confident and energetic.
42
Examples of fruity perfumes include: Fresh Sugar, L.A.M.B. by Gwen Stefani, Cartier
Eau de Cartier, Nina by Nina Ricci, Sun Flowers by Elizabeth Arden, Beautiful Sheer
by Estée Lauder, DKNY by Donna Karan, and Emporio White by Giorgio Armani.
Fresh
Fresh perfumes (also called green scents) are light and airy. They are based on scents
of grass, green leaves and the ocean. Fresh perfumes are energetic and rejuvenating.
They are a great choice when you are out “en femme” since they boost your mood and
put other people at ease.
Examples of fresh perfumes include: J.Lo Glow by Jennifer Lopez, Covet by Sarah
Jessica Parker, Fifth Avenue by Elizabeth Arden, Diorissimo, Dune by Christian Dior,
Bond No. 9, and Safari by Ralph Lauren.
Oriental
Oriental perfumes are rich and dramatic and smell of spices, musk, vanilla and heavy
flowers. Oriental perfumes tell the world that you are sexy and sophisticated. Just be
sure to choose a light scent since oriental perfumes can lean toward the masculine
side.
Examples of oriental perfumes include: Dior Addict, Lancome Attraction, True Star by
Hilfiger, Opium by Yves Saint Laurent, Samsara by Guerlain, Lalique Perfume by Lalique, Sun Moon & Stars by Karl Lagerfeld, Jean Paul Gaultier Perfume,
Woody
Woody perfumes are heavy and dramatic and are based on scents like sandalwood,
patchouli, and cedar. Woody perfumes are sensual and exotic, but they are the most
masculine of all scents. Most woody perfumes should be avoided by TG girls.
Examples of woody perfumes include: Passion by Elizabeth Taylor, Escada by Escada, Lovely by Sarah Jessica Parker, Cashmere Mist by Donna Karan, Habanita by
Molinard, Givenchy Organza.
Keep in mind that some perfumes cross categories. For example, Lovely by Sarah
Jessica Parker is a floral woody scent. Your main criteria for selecting perfume should
be how pretty and feminine it makes you feel!
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 .
43
Tammy
Chapter 5
The Move
After Nancy had told Mary about Will getting the job at the plant in Wautoma, and the decision
was made for them all to move to Spring Hill, They both made contact with some realtors about
selling their houses. They also made contact with a moving company that would move them
both to Spring Hill. Mary then called her mother to let her know. Her mother then informed
Mary that the other house would need a lot of work before anyone could move in. A decision
was made for them all to come up early and get the old hand house ready for the Netley’s to
move into.
That week Mary also received a call from Dr. Thompson. He had talked to his college in
Madison and her name was Dr. Marsha Malone. Dr. Malone was very anxious to meet with
Mary and Tammy and also informed Dr. Thompson that they did have a medical doctor who
could treat Tammy. Dr. Thompson gave Mary the phone number for Dr. Malone and Mary
would call her the next day. That night Mary got a call from her Sister Karen who had
informed her that both her and Alice had gotten jobs on the assembly line at the plant and that
they would be moving to Spring Hill in a couple of weeks. Mary told Karen about how Will
Netley had got a job there and was going to be moving into the old hand house up there, and
how they were going to go up there early to fix it up and get it ready for them to move into.
Karen was sort of excited to meet with the Netley’s and was really happy to hear that Tammy
would not have to leave her only friends.
When Nelly heard that they were going to move to a farm she was very excited. She wanted to
know what kind of animals they had on the farm and how big it was? Would she have to milk
cows or feed pigs or anything like that. Mary had to tell Nelly that her father had quit farming
years ago and that they did not have any more farm animals there. Nelly was a bit disappointed
on hearing this as she really thought it would be fun to live on a farm. Mary told her about
what it was like when she was small and how farming was really a lot of hard work. Nelly was
still very excited about moving to a farm and asked her father if she could get a horse. Will
laughed and then told her no, but that he would let her join the 4H club where she could learn
about farming and maybe even help at one of the other kids farm.
For Tammy it was another story. She was quite apprehensive about the move. Would she be
able to go to a regular school, would she find more friends, how would other kids treat her,
what will the people say if they knew her secret? Tammy wondered about all this.
The following week, Mary, Nancy and the kids all got into Mary’s car while Will packed everything into his pick up truck and then they all drove up to Spring Hill. For a few weeks while
they got the old hand house ready, Mary would be in her old bedroom, while Will and Nancy
slept in Roberts bedroom and the kids slept in Karen’s old room. After they got themselves settled in with Mary’s mother and had a bit of a dinner, they went into the old farmhand house to
44
look it over. It would take a good week to clean it, and then it all needed to be repainted. Will
found the main electrical switch and turned it on and found that other than some burned out
bulbs everything there worked, but when they went to turn on the water it came out brown.
Rusty pipes. Well they let the water run for awhile and it seemed that the rust came out of the
pipes and the water started to run clear. Will called the propane company and had himself set
up for propane to run the heater, stove and hot water.
Once they had an idea of what they would need, will went to some of the stores in Wautoma
and got cleaning supplies, and paint and then everyone went to work cleaning the old house.
The following week Karen and Alice arrived and so the main house was going to be really
crowded. They were going to be here for the week right now just to see what they would have
to move down to Spring Hill from Rhinelander. They would go back to Rhinelander for a few
days to sort things out for the move. They decided that rather than hire a moving company they
would rent a U-Haul Truck and drive it down. A couple of friends in Rhinelander would help
them with loading the truck.
They got the two bedrooms in the farmhand house painted and then the Netley’s at least were
able to move into it even though it still needed quite a bit of work. For one thing the floors
were in pretty bad shape. New carpeting was needed for the living room, and some new floor
tile was needed in the bathroom. Nancy and Will drove into town to look over some floor tile
for the bathroom and some new carpeting for the living room.
It was going to be a few more weeks before the plant in Wautoma would be open and they
would have to start work at the plant. This gave them all time to get the old farm hand house
fixed to be a real home for the Netley’s. Nancy, Karen and Alice all worked for a solid week
cleaning and painting the kitchen and the bathroom. Will was busy first with painting the living
room, then laying down the carpet in the living room, and finally he went to work laying down
new floor tile in the bathroom. While the carpet in the bedrooms was still OK, they were in
need of a good cleaning and so they rented a carpet shampooer to clean them. Once the carpets
were cleaned they will do until there was a little more money available for new carpeting for
those rooms. Will had a lot of minor fixing to do in the house, and Mary was going to make
some new curtains for it once she got her sewing room set up.
Mary took a space in what was John’s office and set up her sewing machine and other stuff so
she could get back to doing some sewing work.
That week Mary got a call from Dr. Malone telling her that she wanted her to make an appointment to see Mary and Tammy. They set up an appointment for the following week. When they
went to see Dr. Malone she introduced Mary and Tammy to Dr. Muxford who was a gynecologist and was already briefed by Dr. Malone on Tammy’s case. Dr. Muxford then took Tammy
to his office and gave her a physical exam. He looked over her medical records and then prescribed some pills for Tammy that would delay puberty thus preventing things like a voice
changing or other male characteristics. He told Mary that when Tammy was 18 he would be
able to prescribe estrogen and an androgen blocker for Tammy.
45
Mary told Dr. Muxford of how she would like to get Tammy into a regular school, but that she
was concerned especially about things like gym class. Dr. Muxford gave Mary a letter that
would get Tammy excused from any physical activity like gym where she would have to get
undressed and shower with other girls. There was also the problem that all of Tammy’s school
records and her birth certificate said that she was male. Dr. Muxford said that he would talk
with Dr. Malone and that the two of them would see what they could do so that it would not be
a problem. However, they could make no guarantee though.
Monday morning came and Mary went to the school in Wautoma to talk to the principal about
getting Tammy enrolled there. Nancy went with her to enroll her girls in the school also. Mary
talked to the principal about Tammy’s unique situation and she rather understood. She said that
she could keep everything about Tammy quiet so there would not be any problems. The principal sent off to Racine for the records of Nelly and Sally and had Mary give him all the records
she had of Tammy’s home schooling. The girls would start school the next week. A bus would
pick them up at about 7:00am in the morning and they would be coming home at 3:00pm in the
afternoon. It would normally be about an hour ride on the bus for the girls so they should get
home around 4:00 in the afternoon.
Tammy of course was quite excited about getting to go to a regular school for a change. After
they got the girls enrolled in the school, they went to a department store where they got Tammy
some new clothes for school. Tammy got herself a yellow dress, a red dress, a plaid skirt, and a
white blouse that had a Peter Pan collar with some lace around it. Since it was winter she got
some leggings and she also got her some new shoes, white tennis shoes, a pair of black mary
janes, and a pair of red shoes with a low heel to them. Tammy also got her a new purse.
While they were in the department store Mary went over to the notions department and looked
over the catalogs of sewing patterns. She picked out a few patterns for some outfits that she
would like to make sometime. After they finished at the department store Mary went to the local paper office and posted a classified ad saying that she was doing sewing work.
The principal at the school got the paperwork on Nelly and Sally and after looking over the information Mary had given her on Tammy decided that Tammy would need a little tutoring to
bring her up to speed with the rest of the kids in her class. She called Mary and informed her of
this.
Tammy would start school in the third grade which was normal for an eight year old girl.
Tammy was a rather smart girl and so it did not take much tutoring to bring her up to speed
with the rest of the third graders at her school.
The following week school started for Tammy and the girls. They got up at six in the morning
to get ready and were ready for the bus when it got there just shortly after seven. It was an hour
ride to the school. The school was not a big school and only had about two hundred kids in all
eight of the grades. Tammy met her teacher, a Mrs. Blackwell. The principal had informed
Mrs. Blackwell about Tammy and Mrs. Blackwell agreed that it was information that needed to
be kept quiet from everyone else. Only the principal and Mrs. Blackwell would be informed
about Tammy being transgendered.
46
The first day of school Mrs. Blackwell introduced Tammy to the class and had her tell the kids
a little about her life in Racine, and then began teaching the days lessons. While everything
was new to Tammy, she did not seem to have any problems with the lessons and surprised Mrs.
Blackwell with her math ability and her history knowledge. That first week Tammy started
making friends with a few other girls in her class.
Tammy was getting settled in the school, and was starting to make friends with a lot of the girls
there. Most of the girls in her class were not interested in boys yet, and the boys stayed to
themselves, playing with a basketball at recess while the girls played hopscotch, or jump rope,
and a few would even play with a hula hoop. Tammy was even invited to attend the birthday
party for Donna one of the girls in her class. Tammy was really getting excited about things.
Tammy started to wonder though; would she be interested in boys? What would she do if she
did not get interested in boys? What would she do if she did get interested in boys?
The plant in Wautoma would be starting operations in two weeks. Everybody who was hired
would have to start work next week though as they would spend a week on training, orientation,
and filling out forms. Will, Karen and Alice would all be leaving about seven in the morning
and would not get back until six at night.
There was still a lot of work that needed to be done on the old farm hand house, mostly on the
outside and that would have to wait until the weather was a little warmer. In the mean time
when they were not working they were doing little things inside the old house. Some new
kitchen cabinet doors, fixing some other doors, and Will got some new faucets for the bathroom
and kitchen sinks. He also replaced some of the old lights in the house.
Inside it was really starting to look like a home for them. While the old barn served as a place
to park all the vehicles including the tractor they would need for things like plowing the driveway and cutting the grass, Will was able to locate an area in the barn where he could set up a
workshop.
There was a school dance coming up the next week and a boy by the name of Nick who was in
Tammy class asked her to go to the dance with him. Tammy of course told him that she would
have to ask her mother if she could go. The dance was going to be after school, so those who
took the bus would miss their normal bus, but a couple of the drivers volunteered to run a special bus run after the dance so there would be no problem with getting the kids home, and the
dance was going to be supervised by a few of the teachers.
Mary of course told Tammy that she could go and that there would be no harm in dancing with
the boys. Will then decided to teach all the girls how to dance some and the next thing right
there in the house they were all having a time dancing.
That night after the kids went to bed Mary talked to Karen about the problem of Tammy and
her questions about being interested in boys. Karen recalled how she had been teased and made
fun of because she did not take interest in boys when she was in school. Karen knew she was
gay and even though she tried to hide it, all the kids at school would accuse her of being gay.
Most of the girls did not want anything to do with her and everyone was talking about her.
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Karen told Mary of how she would have to pretend to be interested in boys even though she
was not. Karen told Mary that she would talk to Tammy and help her.
Mary also realized something else. Many of the girls Tammy’s age were starting to have their
monthly periods and that was something that Tammy would not have. Tammy was going to
have to fake it here also. Mary brought Tammy a few tampons and told her to put them in her
purse. Sometimes a girl might need one and not have any and she might be asked if she had
any. Tammy could now oblige. Also Mary and Karen began to instruct Tammy about what
periods were like and what to talk to other girls about concerning their periods.
The day of the dance came and Mary drove Tammy to the school. Nick was there waiting for
her and Mary looked at Tammy and Nick and simply smiled. She thought back to the days
when she was a young girl and the first time a boy asked her to a school dance, of how wonderful it felt being asked out to something by a boy.
Nick and Tammy danced with each other for quite a few of the dances. Nick also took Tammy
to the punch line and got the two of them some punch. The school dance lasted about two
hours and then it was time for the parents and busses to come and pick up the kids. Just before
Tammy got on her bus, Nick gave her a light kiss on the cheek and told her thank you. He then
told her he would see her in class Monday.
Suddenly Tammy felt strange inside. She had just been kissed by a boy. She was not accustomed to it, and yet it felt good. Nick was a nice boy and she really liked him. And then
Tammy started to worry too. Nick was a boy, and even though Tammy felt like a girl, she
knew that she had a boy’s body. Why did it feel good to have a boy ask her out, to kiss her?
She did not understand this. And then too what if Nick found out the truth about Tammy, what
would he do then? What would all the kids at school do if they found out the truth about her?
Things were starting to become a home for everybody and Susan was rather happy to have all
her kids back with her even though she did miss her son Robert. Will did a great job of filling
in on the work that her husband John used to do and Nancy was often there helping her in the
kitchen and around her house.
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More families than ever have pre-registered for our three day August conference, and we are
solidifying our programs and events in preparation. Families with transgender or gender variant
children have some complex situations to consider and this conference is designed to address
them. Our Sessions examine the unique dynamics that can exist within families, some of which
include:
• Toddlers to Teens: Comprehensive Health Care for Your Child
• A Dad's Place: Double Sessions for Fathers of Trans Kids
• Legal Advocacy for Trans/Gender Non-Conforming Children and Youth in Schools
• Minimizing the Top Ten Fears of Raising a Transgender Child
• Disclosure and Privacy: Who, When, Where, Why and How?
• Stories from the Front: Trans Teens & Young Adults Share Their Stories
• It Takes a Village: Creating and Finding Family Support
• Challenges of Families with Trans Children in South Africa
• Differing Parenting Styles
• Don't Box Me In: Children with Gender Fluidity
• Walking Through the Fire: Reconciling Core Values
• ...and many more sessions related to topics such as legal issues, sibling concerns, and
raising teens
Legal Clinic for Families
We are pleased to announce a new legal clinic (Aug 7th) where families can consult with attorneys with a variety of specialties including educational learning plans, family law, and health
insurance. Parents will have an opportunity to sign up for an individualized consultation to explore their own unique situation.
Teen Programming
Our dedicated teen programming team has been working to shape a fantastic line up for teens.
Beginning Friday evening, August 5th and extending through the weekend, teens can plug into
workshops, projects, performance art, and pizza parties. Workshops for transgender and gender
fluid teens will look at topics such as schools, friends, dating, disclosure, bodies and more.
Gender Odyssey Kids Camp
Gender Odyssey is for the whole family and our Kids Camp is chock full of activities for kids
ages 2-12. The schedule includes theatre, story-telling, dance, art, music and scavenger hunts!
Parents can enjoy workshops while their children engage in a variety of activities developed for
different age groups. Camp coordinators are CPR-certified, have completed an extensive background check, and will be present at all times.
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Fashion News by Tasi
Mad About Maxis - Tips for Wearing a Maxi Dress
This sophisticated, but casual dress is long on style. The maxi skirt is huge
news for 2011, but before you get all "I'm too short/curvy/timid or too old (you’re not)
or weren’t sure what to go for", we've got a few great tips for rocking the soon-to-be staple with style. Here’s an easy Do and Don't photo guide for how to wear maxi dresses.
Define that waist! There's
one surefire way to look like
a shapeless sack in a maxi
skirt--by hiding your gorgeous figure under too much
fabric. Adding a belt, like
Olivia Palermo did with her
motorcycle jacket/ printed
skirt combo, or as seen on a
model from J. Crew's spring
2011 presentation, will give
you a distinct silhouette and
help emphasize the slimmest
part of your body.
Show a little skin We're not saying you need to get all
T&A extravaganza on us, but a little flash of flesh will
keep your maxi skirt far from grandma territory. Opt for
a deep-plunging v-neck, like on this model at MaxMara,
or wear a sleeveless turtleneck to remind people that
you've got a hot young bod under that super-long skirt.
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Mind your proportions This one is especially helpful if
you're not a supermodel--don't go big on the top and big on the
bottom, because too much volume can give the appearance that
you're bigger than you really are. If you've got some curves,
flaunt 'em in a tucked-in fitted top; if you're keen on keeping
your bum covered, go for a boyfriend blazer and cinch it around
the middle.
Do Wear Flats with a Maxi Dress
for a Casual Look
Give you maxi dress a casual vibe
by adding flat shoes – especially
cute sandals – with it. For the
neatest look, make sure your dress
doesn’t drag the floor (looks
sloppy) but merely skims your heel.
Even if you think your feet won’t show under a maxi,
remember that when you sit or walk, the shoes will
definitely show. Embellished sandals add a fun, summery vibe to the look. If you need the height of a
heel, try a wedge sandal. It is substantial enough to
keep the look more casual (where a stiletto is too
dressy), but it gives your height a boost.
Don't Wear Clunky Boots with a Maxi Dress
Some brave fashionistas attempt to carry the maxi
year-round with boots for chilly weather. While
we're all for maxing out a wardrobe's potential,
we're not a fan of clunky boots with a maxi dress;
sandals or wedges are a much better footwear option for a long dress.
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Do Wear a Print Maxi Dress
Not sure where to start
with maxi dresses? Try
a pretty floral print in a
lightweight fabric for a
fresh breezy look. Pair
with soft hair and sandals and you're set.
Don't Forget to Watch
the Fit of the Bust on a
Maxi Dress
Because of the long, flowing silhouette of the maxi
dress, often the only fitted areas are the bust or
waist. For that reason, you need to pay especially
close attention to the top portion of the dress and
demand perfect fit.
Unless you have spectacular breasts, opt for some
support from a bra or it will drag down the entire
look.
Do Choose a Sleek Maxi After 40
Over-40 women can still wear a maxi, but the look
should be sleek and chic. Halter necks are especially
flattering on older women because they draw the attention up to the face. Skip flounces, funky boots or
anything too youthful for the best maxi dress look
over 40.
52
Don't Wear Frou-Frou on Your Maxi Dress
Ruffles, bows, hi -low hems, bell sleeves: all good
fashion additions, but not for a maxi dress. The maxi
dress gets its drama from a long silhouette, and -- on
some maxis -- a pretty print. That's really all a maxi
dress needs to be successful so anything more is
overkill and looks tacky.
Don't Wear Retro
Accessories with the
Maxi Dress
One sure-fire way to ruin your maxi look is to accessorize with other retro looks like a fedora,
scruffy fur or funky hippie beads. The effect you
should be going for with your maxi dress or skirt
should be a modern take on the maxi; opt for
sleeker modern accessories for the most updated
look.
Real-Life Example
It’s not always so easy to follow the guidelines.
Here’s Tasi, a (much) over 40 lady, wearing a lovely
black and white abstract print. This maxi is not what
I call sleek and chic, but then neither am I and it is a
nice print. And although the bust is defined, it’s hard
to tell from the photography as it was a bit windy in
El Paso the day this picture was taken. I have noticed
that maxis are commonly worn here in the southwest, and they usually are sleek, and very fashionable when worn with low-heeled sandals.
It can be fun to go in search of just the right dress
but the options can be almost too plentiful. Style options include halter styles, empire waists, straight
columns, and elongated A-lines; all with a hugh variety of comfortable fabrics, an even larger choice of
prints and bright solids, and details such as draping,
asymmetrical necklines and fancy hems.
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Maxis are the new “Patio Chic” as they are both lengthening and flattering
and, of course, we women love that.
And a couple of maxis in the closet won’t break the bank because there are
bargains galore from department stores sales to EBay and consignment
shops. I paid less than $10 for this lovely dress and will enjoy wearing it all
summer long.
The other issue here for a crossdresser or transgender lady are the heavyset arms. In this instance the maxi can be worn with a shrug to cover the
upper arms and present a more feminine appearance. Maxis are great because they can be worn everywhere and dressed up or down depending on
the occasion.
I also find that You Tube can be an inspiration for how we wear our clothes
and this short clip demonstrates the versatility of the Maxi dress. Enjoy!
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=MDr7YiCojyM&feature=related
Credits to Cynthia Nellis, About.com Guide
Beauty Tips by: Audrey Hepburn
Below is a wonderful poem Audrey Hepburn wrote
when asked to share her "beauty tips."
It was read at her funeral years later.
For attractive lips, speak words of kindness.
For lovely eyes, seek out the good in people.
For a slim figure, share your food with the hungry.
For beautiful hair, let a child run his/her fingers through it once a day.
For poise, walk with the knowledge that you never walk alone.
People, even more than things, have to be restored, renewed, revived, reclaimed, and redeemed;
never throw out anyone.
Remember, if you ever need a helping hand, you will find one at the end of each of
your arms.
As you grow older, you will discover that you have two hands; one for helping yourself, and the
other for helping others.
If you share this with another woman, . . . you will boost another
woman's self esteem, and she will know that you care about her.
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The Gossip Fence
Transgendered in the News
Federal Government Announces New Transgender Worker Guidance
The director of the Office of Personnel Management, John Berry, issued a brief memorandum
to all executive department and agency heads, announcing new guidance for treatment of transgender employees of the federal government -- guidance that notes that it is "the policy of the
Federal Government to treat all of its employees with dignity and respect and to provide a
workplace that is free from discrimination," including based on gender identity.
The guidance details several important issues, first addressing "core concepts" -- defining gender identity, transgender and transition -- and then providing guidance for employers regarding
individuals who "transition while employed" in the federal government. The guidance notes
that its purpose "is not to address legal rights and remedies, but instead to provide guidance to
address some of the common questions that agencies have raised with OPM regarding the employment of transgender individuals in the federal workplace." Among the topics addressed in
the guidance are "confidentiality and privacy," "dress and appearance," "names and pronouns,"
"sanitary and related facilities," "recordkeeping" and "insurance benefits." As to the recordkeeping provision, OPM has provided detailed guidance on "How to Reconstruct a Personnel
Folder" for when an "employee has begun working full-time in the gender role consistent with
the employee's gender identity."
Additionally, OPM issued a "carrier letter," which Keisling says "is a letter to all the insurance
companies [who participate in the Federal Employee Health Benefits Plan]. The letter says that
if an employee has changed their gender from male to female, you should reflect that in their
health insurance policy."
California Bill Could Protect Cross-Dressing in the Work Force
A California bill working its way through the state legislature providing more protection for
transgender individuals in the workplace could allow for cross-dressing employees to wear
whatever they want to work, despite workplace dress codes.
AB 887, which passed through the state's Assembly on May 16, is causing a stir among critics
who feel it's raising the identity of a transgender individual to the same level as one's ethnicity
or gender.
"If you talk to the average human resorces manager and ask if there would be any disturbances
if a man came dressed as a woman one week and then as a man the next, I think the (HR) rep
55
would say 'yeah, this would be disruptive to the workplace,' " said Brad Daucus, a California
attorney and president of the Pacific Justice Institute. “It will inherently cause customers to be
uncomfortable and not want to do Business.
Sponsored by Assemblywoman Toni Atkins (D-San Diego) and co-authored by Equality California and the Transgender Law Center, the bill would strengthen civil rights protections in the
areas of employment and housing for individuals based not only on the gender of the person's
assigned sex at birth, but also by a person's "gender expression."
Home Depot Doesn’t Cave to AFA
Despite threats of a boycott, Home Depot chairman Frank Blake has refused to bow down to the
American Family Association’s demand that the retail giant stop sponsoring gay events. The
AFA's executive vice president, Buddy Smith, attended a Home Deport board meeting Thursday to present Blake with a petition bearing almost half a million signatures of those who say
they’ll stop shopping at the home improvement store until the company opts to "remain neutral
in the culture war."
Smith told Bryan Fischer that Blake responded by reiterating Home Depot’s commitment to
promoting diversity and vowing to “continue down the very track they’re going.”
Mass. Lawmakers Debate Trans Equality Bill; Conn. Gov. Set to Sign
Similar Measure
Lawmakers in two New England states are pondering bills that would help ensure equality for
transgender people.
In Massachusetts, both chambers of the state government deliberated over a bill that would do
away with discrimination against trans people in the areas of housing, public accommodations,
and the workplace, among others. Meantime, lawmakers in Connecticut have already approved
a similar bill. Gov. Dan Malloy has promised to sign the bill into law.
In both states, opponents sought to reduce the complex issue into a single, highly charged point
of contention, claiming that under the provisions of such a law sexual predators would infiltrate
women’s restrooms and locker rooms in order to spy upon, and possibly assault, women and
girls.
But Conn. Gov. Malloy refused to be sidetracked by lurid rhetoric.
Trans residents of Massachusetts found allies in a group of leaders from the faith community
who renewed pressure on state lawmakers in April to pass a bill that would include trans people
under anti-discrimination laws.
The bill would cover transgender victims of bias crimes and ban discrimination based on gender
identity in the areas of housing, education, and public accommodation, among others. The
Globe noted that thirteen states have put similar laws on their books.
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Gov. Signs Transgender Anti-Discrimination Bill
CARSON CITY, Nev. (AP) -- Gov. Brian Sandoval has signed into law a bill barring job discrimination against transgender people. The signing is the first of three bills expanding protections for transgender people that made their way through the Legislature after unsuccessful attempts in past sessions. The bill adds gender identity or expression to a list of attributes employers cannot discriminate against. Already on the list are attributes such as race, religion and
sexual orientation. Nevada Gov. Brian Sandoval also signed into law two bills that extend discrimination protections for transgender people.
The two bills codify prohibitions against discrimination in public accommodations and housing
respectively. SB331 protects against discrimination in public accommodations on the basis of
gender identity or expression, and SB368 adds sexual orientation and gender identity or expression to Nevada’s housing anti-discrimination law.
Nevada becomes the 14th U.S. state, along with the District of Columbia, to provide protections
based on gender identity or expression.
Toronto parents raise ‘genderless’ baby
A Toronto couple have revealed that they are raising their third child as ‘genderless’ in order to
allow the baby to decide on its own gender. Kathy Witterick and David Stocker, who already
have two sons aged five and two, say four- month-old Storm should be allowed to decide his/her
gender when he/she grows up.
Only the couple, their sons, a family friend and two midwives present at Storm’s birth know
whether the baby is a boy or a girl, the Toronto Star reports. There is no ambiguity over the
baby’s genitals. Their sons, Jazz, five, and Kio, two, are encouraged to make their own decisions. The boys, who like to have long hair and wear dresses, are often mistaken for girls. They
are “unschooled” – a movement of homeschooling which allows children to plan their own days
without tests or homework. The couple decided to bring up Storm without a gender after Jazz
suffered an “intense” time over people’s reaction to his appearance.
UCSF Creates Primary Care Guidelines for Transgender Patients
A new, comprehensive primary care protocol for treating members of the transgender community has been released by the UCSF Center of Excellence for Transgender Health.
The web-based guidelines provide peer-reviewed medical guidance for providers and patients
and are the first of their kind in the nation. “This protocol addresses real issues faced by the
transgender community,” said E. Michael Reyes, MD, MPH, the principal investigator of the
center. “When half of transgender patients report having to teach their medical providers about
transgender care, you know there are tremendous opportunities for education.”
The guidelines were developed by the UCSF Center of Excellence for Transgender Health with
57
the support of eight physicians with extensive experience treating transsexual patients and include topics ranging from mental health to fertility and aging.
Special considerations are necessary, for example, when advising transgender patients on diet
and lifestyle as they may be intentionally adding or restricting calories in an effort to more
closely match their preferred gender. Additionally, individuals taking hormones should be
screened for osteoporosis and many types of cancers for which hormones may increase risk.
sponsored by a medical school in the U.S.
The protocol is available free of cost through the UCSF Center of Excellence for Transgender
Health website <"http://transhealth.ucsf.edu/trans?page=protocol"> .
Araguz vows to take fight to the Supreme Court
HOUSTON — Transgender widow Nikki Araguz this week announced a new legal team and
vowed to appeal a judge’s ruling denying her death benefits all the way to the U.S. Supreme
Court if necessary.
Araguz said the Houston firm of Katine & Nechman, which served as local counsel in the landmark Lawrence v. Texas case that led to a Supreme Court ruling overturning Texas’ sodomy
law, will represent her on appeal.
In late May, State District Judge Randy Clapp of Wharton County issued a two-page ruling saying Araguz isn’t entitled to death benefits from her husband Thomas Araguz III, a volunteer
firefighter who was killed in the line of duty last year.
Araguz said she chose to switch law firms because the high-profile case could have broad implications for transgender equality, possibly addressing fundamental legal questions about how
gender is determined. Ken Upton, a Dallas-based senior staff attorney for the national LGBT
civil rights group Lambda Legal, agreed that Araguz’s case could be an important one for the
transgender community.
In their motion for summary judgment, Thomas Araguz’s family cited a San Antonio appellate
court’s 1999 ruling in Littleton v. Prange, which found that sex is determined at birth and cannot be changed. Araguz’s attorneys, meanwhile, argued that the Littleton decision is unconstitutional and isn’t binding on courts in other parts of Texas. They also noted that in 2009 the
Legislature added a court order of sex change to the list of documents that can be used to obtain
marriage licenses in Texas — effectively overturning the Littleton decision.
House rejects bill shielding groups from transgender access complaints
AUGUSTA, Maine — House lawmakers voted late Tuesday night to reject a bill inspired by
the high-profile case of a transgender elementary school from Orono who was denied access to
the girls bathroom.
The controversial bill would have shielded public institutions — including schools — and busi-
58
nesses from discrimination complaints filed by transgender individuals upset with policies restricting their access to bathrooms, showers or locker rooms. But the bill failed on a 61-81 vote
Tuesday night after emotional debate that touched upon the topics of gender identification,
sexuality, bullying and personal privacy.
There have only been two transgender cases that have come before the Maine Human Rights
Commission during the past five years, a fact Priest says proves conflicts over access to bathrooms and other facilities are uncommon. As proof of the social intimidation experienced by
some transgender individuals, Cain said the family of the former Orono student had to move to
a different town and that the young girl now lives in “stealth.”
City Council approves sex-change surgery coverage for workers
PORTLAND, Ore. -- An ordinance before the Portland City Council that would add transinclusive health care benefits, including sexual reassignment surgery, to one of the plans offered
to city of Portland employees has passed with a unanimous vote.
The city of Portland currently offers two health care plans to city employees: an insured plan
through Kaiser and a self- insured plan. Portland's self- insured CityCore plan, which covers 66
percent of employees, will now cover sexual reassignment surgery. Hormone therapy and counseling are already covered by the plan.
Mayor Sam Adams, with the co-sponsorship of every member of Portland City Council,
brought forward and unanimously passed transgender-inclusive healthcare for City of Portland
employees The City of Portland values diversity, and strives to be an equitable and diverse employer. Adding transgender inclusive benefits truly recognizes the importance of all employees
covered under the City's health plan. The Mayor believes this action is about keeping and attracting the best and the brightest, in addition to being about basic fairness.
The American Medical Association (AMA) has identified transgender health care as being
medically necessary. In 2008, the AMA passed a resolution supporting public and private health
insurance coverage for treatment of gender identity disorder and opposing the “exclusions of
coverage for treatment of gender identity disorder when prescribed by a physician.”
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place at Texas A&M this summer, but organizers now say, "In the interest of safety for the participants" it will be moved to the University of Houston.
A conservative group on campus has been making much noise recently over gay-related activities. "The climate at A&M for GLBT people has taken a big hit, and right now anything can
fuel those fires," the group said in its announcement.
"The University of Houston has held the summit on campus before without any problems, so
we anticipate the environment will again be appropriate to everyone regardless of their gender
59
expression or sexual orientation," said Maria C. Gonzalez, a member of the Summit board. The
meeting is scheduled to take place in August.
Group to sue over repeal of gay nondiscrimination law
The state is facing a legal challenge stemming from the passage of a bill that repealed Nashville's nondiscrimination ordinance protecting gay and transgender employees of government
contractors. A group of local officials, organizations and residents are filing a lawsuit on Monday against the state, which passed a bill, the Equal Access to Intrastate Commerce Act.
Metro Council passed the ordinance shortly after a lesbian soccer coach left Belmont University
— which has a contract with the city — under murky circumstances. Soccer players said she
was forced out after revealing her partner was pregnant.
Florida Transgendered Teen Crowned Prom Queen
Transgender teen Andrew Viveros was crowned prom queen in Fort Lauderdale.
Viveros [17], a graduating senior at McFatter Technical High School in Davie, said he wasn't
sure he would win. "Then they called my name and I was in complete shock," said Viveros,
who also goes by Andii.
Viveros is a Davie resident and president of the school's Gay-Straight Alliance. Viveros said
some students campaigned against him but others praised him for his courage. "It's a big stepping stone," Viveros said.
More Than 2,000 Attend Philadelphia Trans Health Conference
More than 2,000 people from across the country attended the 10th annual Philadelphia Trans
Health Conference at the Pennsylvania Convention Center from Thursday, June 2, through Saturday, June 4. The conference, which focuses on the issues and needs of those who identify as
trans, began as what its Web site described as a "one-day gathering of transgender activists, allies and service providers" in 2002. 1,400 people attended last year’s conference. And it has become the world’s largest trans-specific gathering.
Therapist suspended for attempting to turn gays straight
A psychotherapist who tried to turn a gay person straight has been suspended from the professional body for “professional malpractice”.
Lesley Pilkington, 60, was found guilty by a hearing at the British Association for Counselling
and Psychotherapy (BACP) of allowing her personal views to come before her professional
judgement when she tried to ‘treat’ Patrick Strudwick, an openly gay undercover journalist, for
his homosexuality. The report found that Strudwick “deliberately misled” Pilkington but concluded that the therapist “had allowed her personal preconceived views about gay lifestyle and
sexual orientation to affect her
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professional relationship in a way that was prejudicial.” The board added Pilkington’s methods
were “reckless”, “disrespectful”, “dogmatic” and “unprofessional”.
Pilkington - whose controversial method of therapeutically treating gays is known as reparative
therapy - will have to undergo a period of training and faces being struck off if she does not
provide a report within six to 12 months.
Vermont: No Surgery Needed to Change Birth Certificate
Vermont is now the first state to pass legislation clearly allowing people to change the sex on
their birth certificates without necessarily having surgery, the National Gay and Lesbian Task
Force announced on its blog.
“Although some other states allow gender changes without proof of surgery in their policies,
Vermont becomes the very first to have clear language in its statute that makes clear surgery is
not necessary to update one’s birth certificate,” NGLTF wrote.
Senate bill, signed by Governor Peter Shumlin on May 18 and effective immediately, states that
“surgical, hormonal, or other treatment appropriate for that individual for the purpose of gender
transition shall constitute sufficient evidence for the court to issue an order that sexual reassignment has been completed.”
The trend against requiring surgery for identity documents is growing, with many states abandoning old- fashioned surgery requirements. The Department of State modernized its policy on
passports in 2009. And, the policy for “Consular Reports of Birth Abroad,” which are federal
birth certificates for U.S. citizens born outside of the U.S., also no longer requires proof of surgery.
Transgender Woman Attacked Outside 7-Eleven in Fredericksburg
FREDERICKSBURG, Va. - A 32-year-old Fredericksburg, Va., transgender woman is recovering from a beating outside a 7-Eleven on Fall Hill Avenue.
The assault follows the beating of a Maryland trans woman in a McDonald’s restaurant, which
was filmed by a member of staff. The 32-year-old victim was kicked, punched and beaten with
a metal broom handle by at least four attackers. The attack ended when the victim’s neighbour
laid on top of her to protect her. Witnesses caught the number plate of a fleeing car and two
youths were arrested. Police are seeking two more suspects.
Police have arrested and charged 18-year-old Fredericksburg resident Laqueta Webb with
malicious wounding by mob and detectives believe other arrests are coming.
Virginia's hate crime legislation makes no special protections for sexual orientation or identity,
only classifying as hate crimes those which are motivated by the victim's race, religious conviction, color or national origin.
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VA tells hospitals transgender veterans are eligible for hormones, care and counseling
SAN FRANCISCO — The Veterans Health Administration has informed its hospitals and clinics that transgender veterans are eligible for hormones, care before and after gender change surgery, and mental health counseling as part of their regular benefits.
In a directive issued Thursday, the VA reiterated that its facilities are not permitted to perform
genital or breast surgeries on veterans in the process of changing genders. But the agency confirmed that transgender patients are entitled to routine health care that takes their special needs
into account and to transgender-specific treatments such as hormone therapy and “non-surgical,
supportive care for complications of sex-reassignment surgery.”
In accordance with what it termed “the respectful delivery of health care,” the VA also instructed medical personnel at its 950 health care centers to refer to transgender veterans in conversation and on medical records by the gender pronoun they prefer, regardless of whether they
have undergone surgery. The policy also applies to veterans who appear to be one gender but
whose sex chromosomes indicate they are another, a condition referred to as intersex.
Transgender activists have been pressuring the VA for years to make such a statement. They
maintain care of transgender veterans varies too much from facility to facility, with some easily
accessing the full range of care and others being denied all services. “It doesn’t create anything
new. It just says to treat these veterans like you treat all veterans, but for trans vets that’s really
huge,” National Center for Transgender Equality executive director Mara Keisling said.
The VA quietly posted the directive on a section of its website reserved for new directives, but
has not commented on it. A telephone call and email to the Department of Veterans Affairs,
which oversees the VA, were not returned Friday.
Online: "http://www.va.gov/vhapublications/ViewPublication.asp?pub_ID=2416"
With All Eyes on NY Gay Marriage, GENDA Passes in Assembly
New York’s marriage equality bill is not the only monumental piece of LGBT legislation that
could pass in the final days of this year’s legislative session.
A bipartisan group of state assembly members passed the Gender Expression Nondiscrimination Act. (GENDA). Sponsored by Assemblyman Richard Gottfried, the legislation would
make it illegal to discriminate on the basis of gender identity and expression in health care, employment, housing and other areas.
While the marriage equality bill has captured significant media attention and galvanized state
LGBT activists, transgender rights advocates have long argued that GENDA is just as important.
Without legal protection from discrimination, transgender individuals face significant barriers
to acquiring jobs; renting or buying homes; and receiving fair treatment in medical settings. As
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a result, transgender individuals are, on average, significantly poorer than the general population.
New York State lags behind other states and municipalities in providing protection for transgender individuals. Fifteen states, Washington, D.C. and at least 90 localities have already
passed transgender- inclusive civil rights legislation. GENDA has passed four times in the New
York State Assembly, but never in the Senate.
Transsexual takes seat in Madrid Assembly
Actress Carla Antonelli took her seat in the Madrid Assembly June 7, becoming the highestranking openly trans elected official in Spanish history.
"It’s very exciting to be here, to see the room and be seated on the bench," Antonelli said.
Spain’s State Federation of Lesbians, Gays, Transsexuals and Bisexuals said, "[We] hope that
this appointment will serve as an example and is supported by companies so they get used to
transsexual reality and permit transsexual people to compete for jobs on equal terms with everyone else, without their gender identity being a factor."
Antonelli ran as a party- list candidate for the Madrid Socialist Party-Spanish Socialist Workers’
Party.
NY Legislature legalizes gay marriage
ALBANY, N.Y. – New York lawmakers narrowly voted to legalize same-sex marriage Friday,
handing activists a breakthrough victory in the state where the gay rights movement was born.
New York will become the sixth state where gay couples can wed and the biggest by far.
The New York bill cleared the Republican-controlled state Senate on a 33-29 vote. The Democrat- led Assembly, which passed a different version last week, is expected to pass the new version with stronger religious exemptions and Democratic Gov. Andrew Cuomo, who campaigned on the issue last year, has promised to sign it. Same-sex couples can begin marrying
begin 30 days after that.
The passage of New York's legislation was made possible by two Republican senators who had
been undecided.
New York, the nation's third most populous state, will join Connecticut, Iowa, Massachusetts,
New Hampshire, Vermont and Washington, D.C., in allowing same-sex couples to wed.
Port Orchard boy wears dress, heels to school; gets suspended
PORT ORCHARD, Wash. – A 15- year-old boy has been suspended from school
after wearing high heels and a dress to school as a part of a challenge laid down by his mother.
Sam Saurs, a ninth grader at Sedgwick Junior High School in Port Orchard, said he told his
mother that wearing high heels wouldn't be that hard. Saurs' mother challenged him to try it and
63
he accepted. To take it even further, he decided to wear a dress, too.
After Saurs showed up at school Wednesday in the dress and heels, the school suspended him
for the remainder of the year. That suspension was later reduced to three days. But, Saurs won't
be allowed to go to the ninth grade dance or the class party at Wild Waves.
Saurs said he was disappointed it got him kicked out of school. "If anything, it makes me want
to be more out there and more spontaneous and crazy," he said.
Poll: 76 Percent of Mass. Voters Support Transgender Rights Bill
After eight long hours of testimony on June 8, advocates for a transgender rights bill are anxiously awaiting a decision from House Speaker Robert DeLeo and Senate President Therese
Murray on whether they will bring the measure to the floor. The bill, which would gender identity and expression to Massachusetts’ non-discrimination statute, has become one of the year’s
hottest topics on Beacon Hill. "We had approximately 45 people testify in support of the legislation on our side," said Gunner Scott, executive director of the Massachusetts Transgender Political Coalition.
When asked whether he has heard anything about whether the bill will go to the floor, Scott
said no. He reiterated, however, that this "is not unusual." "The hearings are for [legislators] to
learn about the issue, and so they don’t general provide any kind of response," added Gunner.
Hawaii and Nevada lawmakers passed trans- inclusive non-discrimination acts earlier this year,
while Connecticut legislators approved a similar measure earlier this month. Massachusetts’
trans activists hope the commonwealth will be the next state to enact this type of legislation.
The MTPC in collaboration with Lake Research Partners has released data that shows 76 percent of all Massachusetts voters support the trans rights bill. While only 53 percent of Republican respondents felt positively about the law, almost three-quarters of Independents indicated
their support. Ninety percent of Democrats said trans people deserve legal protections.
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Shop Till You Drop!
Advertisements and Opportunities
Want to advertise your TG-friendly store, service, club, group,
or your own personal items here? There is NO charge for this
… just email the editor [email protected]
EnFemme Boutique is a VERY CD and GLBT friendly Ebay store. Nan is the
wife of a Transgendered person, and understands how difficult it can be for some
to purchase items. She started this store for CD, TV, TS and TG’s that do not go
shopping in public, need help with sizing, or finding certain items. It is a place
where you can find items at reasonable prices and ask questions without worry.
All listing are PRIVATE listings, so no one will see what you have purchased.
Most are NEW With Tags and are 70 –90% OFF Retail Prices. This is Nan’s
way of supporting her spouse Amy and the T-Community.
http://stores.ebay.com/enfemme-boutique?refid=store
http://www.clcrv.com/
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Request for Transgender Identification Card
ALL information is required. Please print clearly.
*Starred fields must match with the legal document.
Date of request: ____/_____/______Email Contact:_____________________________
*Legal name: (Last, First, Initial [opt.]) ________________________________________
En Femme name: (Last, First)______________________________________________
*Driver’s License state: ___________________ *DL Number:_____________________
*Height: _______ Weight: _______lbs.
Tri-Ess Member No. _________________Chapter (Opt)_________________________
Be sure to include:
Head and shoulders picture en homme (preferrably .jpg file)
Head and shoulders picture en femme (preferrably .jpg file)
SASE with sufficient postage to return pictures or disc and ID card
Check, cash, or money order (US funds) for $15.00 payable to “G Cirak”
I hereby certify the above information to be correct and accurate. I understand that incomplete application/
attachments will be returned. I provide the above information, and attached pictures, willingly and authorize them to be used in the creation of a Transgender ID Card. The information supplied is not to be used for
any other purpose, but may be retained for use in providing additional cards to the requester. Tasi Zuriack
and sub-suppliers are released from all damages that might arise from the use of the information provided
or the use of said Transgender ID Card.
Signed:
Date:
Please mail this completed document, your CD or floppy picture files (or pictures to be scanned and returned,)
along with your payment to:
Tasi Zuriack
1521 Luz de Sol Dr
El Paso TX 79912
Thank you for your order!
Questions can be e-mailed to: mailto:[email protected] .
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http://www.spellcosmetics.com/Home_Page.html
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http://Glamourboutique.com
The Glamour Boutique is a terrific TG store. The original retail location is in Auburn, MA
and now has a Las Vegas retail locations! You can also order online. Can’t say enough about
this lovely store! A discount is available to Pretty TGirls members and to visitors of my
personal website!
http://Crazy4clipons.com
Crazy 4 Clipons is a terrific online place to discreetly buy clip on earrings at a very reasonable
price. They have a large variety to choose from and love to have TG customers! A discount is
available to Pretty TGirls members and to visitors of my personal website!
http://www.FemmeFever.com
FemmeFever : Karen has developed a wonderful site and TG resource! Along with coordinating many TG events in the lower NY area, she has a store full of shopping opportunities
online.
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http://www.crazydaizys.com/servlet/StoreFront
Welcome to crazydaizys
I carry a large selection of Sexy Shoes & Boots, Costume Footwear, Lingerie, Hosiery,
Leather for Men & Women, & more!
Your 1 stop shop for all your Favorite things!!
I have Storewide FREE! combined Shipping!
Save @ Crazy Daizys!
Dont see what you are looking for? Contact me!
I am still in the process of stocking my store.
Thank you for your patience!
http://dspace.dial.pipex.com/hide.sleek/hs_menu.htm
is a wonderful online shop with 2 physical store locations in Scotland as well.
Owned and run by Loraine (a gg) and also sponsors the Miss TV Scotland pageant every year.
Hide and Sleek
Endless.com women’s Shoes, Men’s Shoes,
Kid’s shoes, Athletic & Outdoor Bags & Accessories
http://www.endless.com
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Austin’s Angels … by Jamie Austin
http://www.austinsangels.com
I can’t say enough really terrific things about Jamie. Simply put, he works wonders. Careful
though, he has done such a wonderful job that several girls have seen how wonderfully beautiful they can be that they have become full time girls! Jamie offers several different makeover
packages … well worth every penny girls !
http://www. countessascloset.com
This is a fabulous place for GG’s and TGirls alike. Countessa is a GG, former model, and a
terrific supporter of the Transgendered Community ! There is an online store and a physical
location in Studio City, California. More to follow about this great Lady and her offerings.
Shoe Clips ~ Bridal ~ Vintage ~
Formal ~ Casual
"Fashion For Your Feet"
Take a New Look at the Colorful Past
Shoe Clips are an economical way to transform and
revive your favorite footwear, embellish for a Special
Occasion or bring a little fun to Everyday Wear.
Simply clip on Rhinestones, Flowers, Feathers, or
Bows for a lasting, fashionable look that's all your
own!
"Shoe Clips Dot Biz" features over 300 Styles
including a huge Vintage selection and many Bridal
clips.
http://www.shoeclips.biz
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