Workplace Rights

Despite major wins within the LGBTQ community in recent years, many transgender and non-conforming gender individuals feel there’s still a lot more to do in the fight for equality both in and out of the office.

Here is a helpful guide for transgender workers, from new graduates just entering the workforce to seasoned working professionals, as well as employers and hiring managers. Learn more about current transgender workplace rights, how to navigate some of the biggest workplace and job hunting concerns, and see what employers can do to lay the foundation for safe and inclusive work environments.

Transgender and non-conforming gender (TGNC) individuals are protected by policies and laws intended to eliminate harassment and discrimination. While some protections are at the federal level, many states, counties, and cities have their own policies in place. “Protection laws differ from state to state, so it’s important that you check the state in which you work,” notes Dr. Kristie Overstreet, a clinical sexologist and psychotherapist who specializes in transgender identities.

Where I live (Connecticut), we have been protected for some time. My former company had policies in place even before the state and my Human Resources representative was ready and willing to help me to transition into a working woman whenever I was ready. I was also greeted with open arms when I inquired about working as a woman at a local Dress Barn. That's Connecticut and your mileage may vary depending on where you live, so check out the Workplace Guide and see where you stand.

Wearing Ann Taylor (Source: Ann Taylor)

Benjamin Koldyke femulating in television's Work It!

Young and Beautiful

After yesterday's breaking news, I did not bother with the usual Femulatee and Femulator spots. To make up for it, I proffer you nine photos from flickr of an unknown scholastic womanless beauty pageant.

Starla alerted me to the photos. We were both very impressed with the quality of the femulations and suspect that some of the girls may not be civilians.

Without further ado, here are the beauties.

Breaking News: Dupe Bans Trans from Military

On Wednesday, the Russian dupe in our White House tweeted that the United States will not “allow or accept” any transgender person to serve in the military.

The Liar-in-Chief claims that it consulted with “generals and military experts” on the sweeping policy. “Our military must be focused on decisive and overwhelming victory and cannot be burdened with the tremendous medical costs and disruption that transgender in the military would entail. Thank you,” it tweeted.

(Source: Fox News)

Here's "Heels" to Your Health

By Pat Scales, Guest Blogger

Last week Stana posted a blog entry along with a link about a British study that explained how wearing heels was helpful for women, especially older women, to maintain their sense of balance. Because wearing heels reinforces muscle memory and requires a good sense of balance, the practice of wearing heels served to help heel wearers to generally keep a better sense of balance. The end result was a significant decrease in falls.

The premise is that balance requires the brain to process a vast amount of information from various conscious and sub-conscious sources and that wearing heels challenges those internal brain mechanisms that over time helps maintain a better sense of balance. One of the major problems with aging is falling with fractured hips or other untoward consequences. As such, improving balance by wearing heels is consistent with good health and could even save someone for a severe injury or premature death. The study concluded that women's sense of balance deteriorates if they stop wearing heels.

I can also advise of other health advantages of wearing heels. About 30 years ago, I suffered a bad fall when a ladder broke and I dropped about eight feet. I suffered herniated and bulging disks through my entire lower back. At the time, skiing was a favorite sport, but for two years after the fall, I did not ski.

Finally, I decided to risk a day sliding down a snowy mountain. Amazingly, after a day in ski boots, my back felt much better. After a few more outings I realized that the ski boot raised my heel and pressed my knees forward. This position change, identical to that of wearing heels, served to change the architecture of my low back and alleviated the stress on this part of my body.

I found that by wearing heels as often as possible, I was able to control and eliminate much of my lower back pain. Standing flat footed, such as in line or just hanging around with others, resulted in a weak and painful back. My solution is to wear heels to help back pain.

From time to time, I also suffer from heel spurs (plantar fasciitis).  Typical treatment would be a painful shot of cortisone, but this cannot be done too often. My podiatrist said that in addition to doing exercises, I should wear shoes with a heel. He suggested 1.5 to 2 inches.

While most of my guy shoes are still pretty flat, I do wear my 3-inch pumps as often as possible and they have a wonderfully positive effect of my heel spur pain. My heel spurs do not hurt while wearing high heels and for a considerable period  of time after taking off my heels. Being flat footed or wearing flat shoes is bad for my heel spur pain.

Finally, I am happy to report that wearing high heels can help with constipation. After the hideous stunt by Kathy Griffin of holding up a bloody, fake head to simulate the decapitation of President Trump, there was some publicity about her being dropped as the spokeswoman of "Squatty Potty." While I do have to deal with occasional bouts of constipation, I was not aware of the healthful benefits of the Squatty Potty. After the Griffin gaffe, I checked out Squatty Potty, which claims to "...make your bad poops good and your good poops great."

The theory is that squatting to poop (as is the practice in many parts of the world which do not use elevated toilet seats) "reduces strain by relaxing the the puborectalis muscle and unkinking your colon. The Squatty Potty puts you into a natural squatting position for better elimination."

When I looked at the photo of the Squatty Potty in use, I realized that all it really did was raise the foot 4 to 6 inches and I determined I could achieve the same result with a pair of high heels. The solution was obvious. I could send $25 to $30 to Squatty Potty or I could use the money to buy another pair of heels. I thought this was an ingenious justification for the purchase of another pair of heels.

Many of us have wives who love us, but fear and worry about our dressing habits. Perhaps educating them about the health benefits of wearing high heels would help them see the benefits of having a crossdressing husband.

As noted above ,I do suffer from back pain from time to time. The doctor and the chiropractor have both provided me with back braces. For the most part they stay in the closet since I prefer girdles, corsets and shapewear. I find that I get more relief and certainly more enjoyment wearing my feminine shaping garments than the orthopedic braces. I also find that wearing a corset or girdle helps me cut down on my food consumption.

I suspect that there are other health benefits of dressing as a woman, but these are ones that work for me both for the physical benefits noted above and for helping my wife accept and have a more positive outlook towards my preferred style of attire.

Wearing Veronica Beard (Source: Veronica Beard)

Du Jiang femulates in the 2016 Chinese film Mr. High Heels.

Etched Lace Men's Bra

Alison alerted me to this "Etched Lace Men's Bra."

The description for this men's brassiere reads, "We love the clean lines of this crisp monochromatic crop-top for men. Made from a medium-weight stretch fabric embossed with an etched lace design, this bra features a curved inset of lace at the bust for contouring. With a shaped athletic-styled back and pop-over styling for easy access. Etched Lace Men's Bra."

So, who is selling this item of lingerie for lads?

You would probably guess it was an online exotic lingerie store, but you would be wrong. It's Walmart!

Walmart also sells panties for men.

What is this world coming to? 😉

Wearing Boston Proper (Source: Boston Proper)

Daniel Furlong, male womenswear model

Shopping at Fantasia Fair

I just received an email from a reader who plans to attend Fantasia Fair for the first time. She is excited about being able to shop for clothing while en femme in Provincetown.

Well, I hate to rain on her parade, but clothes shopping in Provincetown during Fantasia Fair is usually disappointing.

Since it is "off-season" or the "end-of-the-season," depending on whom you ask, some of the stores are closed for the year, while the stores that are still open are open on a limited schedule (reduced hours and/or reduced days like Thursday through Sunday or less).

While there may be end-of-the-season sales at the stores that are still open, it is so end-of-the-season that everything is picked over. All that is left is stuff that nobody else wants and not necessarily in sizes for girls like us.

So be forewarned.

Wearing Kendra Scott earrings (Source: WhoWhatWear)

A 1965 womanless wedding in the UK.

Got Balance?

According to a story in the Daily Mail, "When it comes to high heels, surprisingly, experts believe that wearing them into our 70s may actually help protect us from falls, by maintaining our sense of balance.

"'Most high heels have a very small surface area to walk on, so you need a good sense of balance and proprioception [a sense of how various parts of the body move relative to each other] to be able to walk in them,' explains Christopher Walker, a consultant in trauma and orthopaedic surgery at the Royal Liverpool University Hospital.

"'This means that because of wearing high heels, women have a very good sense of balance.'

"Balance involves the brain processing vast amounts of information from different areas, including the eyes, muscles and balance mechanisms in the ear.

"Heels challenge your sense of balance which, over years, hones these mechanisms.

"If women stop wearing heels, their sense of balance can actually deteriorate, adds Mr Walker, who also works at the Bone and Joint Centre, Spire Liverpool Hospital."

Read the rest the Daily Mail story here.

Wearing Boston Proper (Source: Boston Proper)

Manly females admiring femulating male.

My Fashion Sense

I have fashion sense.

I can put outfits together and accessorize them. I can also do my makeup and style my hair (wigs). I'm no expert, but I think that for a natural born guy, I do well doing those girly things.

I read and practice a lot to improve my girly skills, but I think there is more to it than that. I think that I took after my Mom.

Mom was a fashion plate. We were not rich by any means; we were lower middle class at best, but Mom always dressed very nicely wearing outfits she sewed herself.

Mom was also beautiful and did not have to wear a lot of makeup. Lipstick, powder, and rouge were the only ingredients in her makeup bag. She also had great legs!

Overall, Mom's look was very classy.

I inherited my fashion sense from Mom. Over the years, I honed my girly skills, but to start, my basic girly skills came from Mom. When I was a little girly boy, I was fascinated watching her do her hair and makeup and sew pretty clothes to wear with beautiful hats and always, with high heels.

I am a high heel maven just like my Mom. In fact, a lot of girls my age have an affinity for high heels because our mothers came from a generation in which high heels were the standard footwear for going out. Similarly, girls my age favor dresses because that is what our mothers wore most of the time.

It is not only me; many of us get our fashion sense from our Moms. Luckily, my Mom had a great fashion sense and a little of that rubbed off on me.

Wearing Tibi (Source: Tibi)

Femulator in the 1969 Japanese film Funeral Parade of Roses.

If you can’t stand the heat, then put on a sundress!

It has been hot and humid in Downtown Femulation City lately. High temperatures and worse, high humidity makes life in a wig uncomfortable!

Thank Goddess for air conditioning!

It was so hot one day that the missus suggested that I put on a sundress. She must have been joking because she knows darn well that I do not own a sundress.

On the other hand, with the air-conditioner cranking away at full blast, I could have dressed to the nines and lounged around the house the rest of the day.

Maybe next time.

Wearing Boston Proper (Source: Boston Proper)

Kuba Molęda femulating on the Polish version of television's Your Face Sounds Familiar.

All in the Family

Wearing Carla Ruiz (Source: Carla Ruiz)

Alexander Khanin, male womenswear model

Women's Dresses

Some of you girls sent me this eBay link where a photo of Chris Lemmon is available for sale.

The actor (Jack Lemmon's son) is dressed as a Vegas showgirl for two episodes of a 1989 television comedy Open House. I had been looking for a photo of this femulation for years and I thank you readers who sent me the link.

The photo does not do Lemmon's femulation justice – he looks like a man in showgirl drag.

I saw those episodes when they were originally televised and in my opinion, he looked a lot better than the photo's depiction. In fact, he looked so hot that his TV wife got very excited about his appearance, started making out with him/her and suggested that he dress as a woman more often!

👠👠👠

I dunno about you, but whenever I see an ad like the one Macy's emailed me today that reads "Women's Dresses," I always wonder why are they being so specific? Do they also sell men's dresses?

Wearing Ann Taylor (Source: Ann Taylor)

André Claude, professional femulator, circa 1960

Hot As Sun

In honor of the hottest day of the year in Downtown Femulation City, I am passing along some movie trivia from IMDB and elsewhere about the hottest femulation film of its time, Some Like It Hot.

Tony Curtis's voice as Josephine was dubbed by Paul Frees (according to co-writer I.A.L. Diamond). Curtis confirmed it by stating the voice you hear as Josephine is a combination of his voice and Frees'. Curtis says he had trouble maintaining a high-pitched voice for an entire take.

Supposedly when Orry-Kelly was measuring all three stars for dresses, he half-jokingly told Marilyn Monroe, "Tony Curtis has a nicer butt than you," at which point Monroe pulled open her blouse and said, "Yeah, but he doesn't have t*ts like these!"

Upon its original release, Kansas banned the film from being shown in the state, explaining that crossdressing was "too disturbing for Kansans."

A cabaret dancer (a man who played women on stage) tried to teach Tony Curtis and Jack Lemmon to walk in heels. After about a week, Lemmon declined his help, saying he didn't want to walk like a woman, but a man trying to walk like a woman.

When Tony Curtis and Jack Lemmon first put on the female makeup and costumes, they walked around the Goldwyn Studios lot to see if they could "pass" as women. Then they tried using mirrors in public ladies' rooms to fix their makeup, and when none of the women using it complained, they knew they could be convincing as women. There is a scene on the train recreating this moment.

In 2008, a Californian man who found a little black dress in his closet was stunned when appraisers for U.S. TV series Antiques Roadshow determined it once belonged to Marilyn Monroe. The frock - which Monroe was sewn into for Some Like It Hot, was estimated to be worth $250,000.

One of the few American movies ever given a "Condemned" rating by the Roman Catholic Legion of Decency.

I remember the first time the film appeared on television in the early 1960s. As a budding young femulator, my eyes were glued to the television set while simultaneously trying to feign disinterest so that no one would suspect my affinity for feminine finery.

Jack Lemmon’s son Chris Lemmon appeared in Vegas showgirl drag in an episode of a 1989-1990 television series titled Open House. His femulation was very good, but I have never been able to track down a photo of that femulation.

Be cool, Honey Bunnies!

Wearing Net-A-Porter (Source: The Zoe Report)

Gender swap on Croatian television's Hrvatski's Top Model.