It’s that time of year

By Starla Renee Trimm

Ahhh… autumn in the Deep South.

In a few weeks, the oppressive heat and humidity will begin to wane, the mountainsides will come alive with spectacular colors, the SEC will begin to once again dominate college football and the kids will return to school. And where gays, atheists and Muslims are still soundly reviled, where they would rather let trans students pee in their pants than use the appropriate bathroom, where city council and school board meetings still begin with prayers “in Jesus’ name,” where your “right” to buy an AR-15 without the guv’mint intefering is soundly defended, where schools, streets and parks are named not after Washington, Jefferson and Lincoln, but for Lee, Jackson and Davis... yes, where grits are considered a vegetable and animal flesh is thoroughly deep fried to make sure the critter’s dead before it’s eaten... in the land of hypocrisy writ large, Gun ownin’, Bible totin’ real men and genteel women will gleefully and enthusiastically put their ‘tween and teen boys in full, beautiful feminine drag and parade them down a makeshift catwalk in a gymnasium for their school’s womanless beauty pageant with nary a trace of irony, lavishing as much time, prepartion and mascara on them as they do when their sisters run for Rattlesnake Roundup Queen or vie to be crowned Miss Mule Days. (Um, no kidding, those really are things.)

Sarcasm aside, it’s that time of year and what follows are links to galleries of some of the best school womanless events currently available online. Some schools pretty reliably hold a pageant every year like clockwork; others more sporadically so and some are “one-hit wonders” that inexplicably pulled out all the stops for an elaborate pageant one year, while never doing it again.

These are full galleries (and a few videos), some posted by schools, others by parents, teachers or other sources. It is not by any means exhaustive and there are many equally good pageants to which only a single photo or two or three scattered around the Web bear witness or for which the original source galleries have vanished over the years.

Many of the photos in these galleries have been spread around and you may well have seen most of them. But this is a chance for you to see them in context as originally posted with whatever comments were appended to give you a taste of some of the “Best of the Best” school womanless pageants in Dixie.

Will the more consistent schools grace us with another excellent event this year? Will some of the “one and done” schools revive the idea? Or will some school rise out of obscurity to begin a new pageant tradition? We shall see. Meanwhile, be inspired, amused, appalled or whatever by these shining examples of the schizoid Southern culture!

Alexander City Middle School (AL)
2015 pageant (personal gallery)

Beaver Elementary Schoolgurls

Beaver Elementary School (Wildersville, TN)
2014 pageant (personal gallery, manually click/swipe to scan through)

Central Elementary/Middle School (Dubberly, LA)
2016 pageant (personal video of opening number)
2016 pageant (personal video of introductions)
2016 pageant (personal gallery, largely focusing on the poster’s own son):
2017 pageant (personal video of opening number)

Kudos to this school. The womanless pageant is one of its many annual projects to benefit St. Jude and they raise more money than almost any other group in the state. The year I saw documented, they raised $31,000 which is pretty damn good for a not terribly large school in a mostly rural area! Yes, I make fun of Southerners, but give credit where credit’s due.

E.O. Coffman Middle School (Lawrenceburg, TN)
2015 pageant (school gallery)

Ernest Ward Middle School (Walnut Hill, FL)

Ernest Ward Middle Schoolgurls

2010 pageant (newspaper gallery)
2013 pageant (newspaper gallery)
2014 pageant (newspaper gallery)
2018 pageant (newspaper gallery)
2018 pageant (personal gallery)

Gordo High School (AL)
2013 pageant (personal gallery)
2015 pageant (personal gallery)
2018 pageant (personal gallery)

Haralson County Middle School (Tallapoosa, GA)
2017 pageant (personal gallery)
2018 pageant (school gallery)
2018 pageant (personal gallery)

May be an up-and-coming “sleeper” that will get better in time. Right now mostly “so-so” femulations and way too much of the huge, unrealistic balloon boobs sort of thing, but they’re getting an impressive number of boys participating, who seem enthusiastic (which can’t be said for the audience which seems bored out of its gourd at times).

Honaker Elementary/Middle Schoolgurl

Honaker Elementary/Middle School (VA)
2013 pageant (personal gallery)

Potts Camp Middle School (MS)
2018 pageant (teacher’s personal gallery)

Rehobeth Middle School (AL)
2017 and 2018 pageants (school club gallery; manually click/swipe to scan through)
2018 pageant (personal gallery; manually click/swipe to scan through)

Thomasville Middle School (AL)
2013 pageant (winners only)
2014 pageant (school gallery)
2015 pageant (school gallery)
2015 pageant (personal gallery)
2016 pageant (school gallery)

Wilson Hall Middle Schoolgurl

Wilson Hall Middle School (AL)
2015 pageant (professional photographer gallery, 400+ photos!)

Not many schools can afford to engage a professional photographer to document their womanless pageants, however, in this case, the photographer is also the mother of one of the contestants – the gurl in the red dress and headband – so I assume they got these for cost or maybe even for nothin’!

Finally, not a beauty pageant and not in the Deep South by any means, but I have to mention the YouTube videos from the annual talent shows held at Rachel Carson Elementary School in Gaithersburg, Maryland. For several years running, it seemed to be a tradition that some of the graduating 5th grade boys would put on a dance number dressed as girls. However, I can’t document any such act in the last 5 or 6 years, nor prior to 2009. My guess is that it was a specific group of parents that spearheaded and organized these things and when their kids aged out and moved on, the annual drag numbers ceased. But you never know – one of these years, someone associated with the school may see these videos and think, “Hey, what a fun idea!” and revive the tradition. In any case, here are three of the annual events.

Rachel Carson Elementary School (Gaithersburg, Maryland)
2009 (“All the Single Ladies," includes some fun “behind the scenes” footage)
2010 (“Life’s About to Get Good”)
2011 (“Pretty Girls Rock”)

Wearing Jovani

Bill Kaulitz

What I'm Reading Now

Believe Me: A Memoir of Love, Death, and Jazz Chickens by Eddie Izzard is now only $1.99 in Kindle e-book format from Amazon.

The book is Izzard's autobiography and it is an entertaining read so far.

It is refreshing to read a biography of a famous person who went through a lot of the same stuff that I (and probably you) went through growing up as a trans person.

Wearing Redemption top, Derek Lam 10 Crosby shorts and Alexander McQueen bag (Source: Intermix)

The femulating Alice Cos Group

Someday Funnies

Wearing Madeleine (Source: Madeleine)

Classy femulator (Source: Pinterest)

Weekends are for femulating!

Can You Hear Me Now Dept.

"Voice training for transgender women is about more than adjusting pitch: 'We’re changing how they express themselves'" is the long title of an interesting article from The Lily News about trans voice training in this day and age.

Bottom line is, as one trans woman put it, "Passing is a safety thing for transgender people, and the voice is part of that. It's not just for me to be comfortable, but to protect me."

Can You Read My Dress Dept.

Received an online advertisement from Eileen Fischer for their The Future Is Female Morse Code Collection. The clothing in the collection has a pattern of dits and dahs that spell "the future is female."

The ad mentions that, "Because we believe in the potential of the next generation, we're donating 10% of sales from this collection to Girls Who Code, a nonprofit that's helping young women build a future in tech."

As a ham radio operator, the Morse Code pattern caught my eye and I considered buying an item for my wardrobe until I saw the price tags. Most inexpensive item was a tee shirt for $88.

Wearing Intermix dress, Jimmy Choo pumps and Ulla Johnson bag (Source: Intermix)

Vesna Prague, a Czech Republic femulator

Why Bother?

I do not look as good as Veit Alex, a male womenswear model — far from it, but occasionally, I receive similar inquiries. 

If I had to do it all over again knowing what I know now, I would never had married and put my wife through the trials and tribulations of being married to a crossdresser. And not being married, I would have began living full-time as a woman. 

So why bother living as a man?

I love my wife and I am committed to my marriage. She has accepted Stana and although I would be happier living as Stana 24/7, I am happy to occasionally live as Stana.

Or is that just a cop out?

We only go around once and we should live our lives to the fullest. Am I living my life to the fullest part time as a woman and most of the time as a "man"?   

Wearing Madeleine (Source: Madeleine)

Veit Alex, male womenswear model

Trump's War on LGBTs Marches On

Trump administration invokes “religious freedom” in defense of African countries that criminalize homosexuality.

By Michael Stone

In yet another move advancing Christian bigotry and hatred, the Trump administration is signalling they will no longer punish or denounce African countries that punish LGBT citizens for their sexual orientation, punishment that often leads to imprisonment and/or death.

Speaking at the State Department’s Ministerial to Advance Religious Freedom held in Washington, DC. earlier this week, Mick Mulvaney, a former Republican lawmaker and current Director of the Office of Management and Budget, announced that the Trump administration will no longer press countries to abolish their draconian anti-LGBT laws.

Mulvaney defended the practice of criminalizing homosexuality as an issue of “religious freedom,” claiming that such discrimination and abuse represented “Christian values.”

In his remarks Mulvaney attacked the Obama administration for using taxpayer dollars to promote women’s rights and LGBT rights in Africa.

Read the rest of the story at Patheos.com.

Best Foot Forward

After the varicose veins were removed from my leg last Monday, I had to wear a compression stocking for five days (or more if I felt like it).

The stocking is opaque and hides the blacks and blues, scabs and hairs on my healing leg. But being opaque, it gives me a good idea how my leg will look after it is healed and shaved.

I was anxious to see how my leg will look in girl mode, so Sunday I applied minimal makeup, slipped on my wig and undies and took some selfies while posing in a few outfits. The best selfie of the photoshoot appears in the "About Stana" slot in the right hand column of this blog.

Doctor says it will take about a month to heal and when that occurs, I plan to slip on a pair of sheer hose, dress to nines and go out to celebrate.

Wearing Intermix (Source: Intermix)

Brothers (circa 1910)

The Someday Funnies

A few weeks ago, Amazon suggested some books for me to purchase including one titled The Someday Funnies.

The Someday Funnies is the long-awaited collection of comic strips created in the early 1970s by world-famous artists and writers such as C. C. Beck, René Goscinny, Harvey Kurtzman, Jack Kirby, Moebius, Art Spiegelman, and Gahan Wilson. What started out as a special insert for Rolling Stone took on a life—and mythology—of its own as writer/editor Michel Choquette traveled the world, commissioning this visual chronicle of the 1960s, only to find himself without a publishing partner or the financial support to continue. Forty years later, readers finally get to experience this legendary anthology as Choquette celebrates the birth, death, and resurrection of The Someday Funnies—129 previously unpublished strips by 169 writers and artists.

I was surprised! When I came up with the title for my weekly attempts at humor, I thought my "Someday Funnies" was original. Despite owning hundreds of books about comic strips and comic books, I was not aware of the book The Someday Funnies. And I do not recall seeing The Someday Funnies insert in Rolling Stone despite religiously reading that newspaper during the 1960s and 1970s. So that title was not imbedded in my subconscious only to turn up when I was trying name my blog's weekly amusements. But you never know.

Anyway, I ordered the book. It is a bargain: a hardcover book for $10.59 and it is huge. I had no idea how huge until the mail lady delivered a big flat package on Saturday — the dimensions of the 216-page book are 12 x 16 x 1 inches!

I only had time to browse through the book, but I did notice one strip (by Harry Buckinx) that was transgender-oriented and I also noticed contributions from two transgender comic artists, Vaughn Bodē and Jefferey Catherine Jones.

By the way, buyer beware because some of the contents of the book is adult-oriented, if you know what I mean.

Wearing Bebe (Source: Bebe)

Charles Demetri, womenswear model

Someday Funnies

Wearing Boston Proper (Source: Boston Proper)

Diedrich Bader femulates in the 1993 film The Beverly Hillbillies.

What I'm Reading Now

Cathy's Comeback Dress

I read a lot!

At any time, I am typically working my way through three or four books simultaneously. Lately, it has been three books: a radio history book and two trans-related books.

The Airwaves of New York: Illustrated Histories of 156 AM Stations in the Metropolitan Area, 1921-1996 by Bill Jaker, Frank Sulek and Peter Kanze.

"This heavily illustrated history traces the development of AM radio in the New York metropolitan area. While technical information and program schedules are fully covered, the work also provides unique insight into radio's influence on the development of the city. The photographs reinforce the sense of change brought about by the medium."

Transgender History: The Roots of Today's Revolution, Second Edition by Susan Stryker

"Covering American transgender history from the mid-twentieth century to today, Transgender History takes a chronological approach to the subject of transgender history, with each chapter covering major movements, writings, and events. Chapters cover the transsexual and transvestite communities in the years following World War II; trans radicalism and social change, which spanned from 1966 with the publication of The Transsexual Phenomenon, and lasted through the early 1970s; the mid-'70s to 1990-the era of identity politics and the changes witnessed in trans circles through these years; and the gender issues witnessed through the '90s and '00s.

"Transgender History includes informative sidebars highlighting quotes from major texts and speeches in transgender history and brief biographies of key players, plus excerpts from transgender memoirs and discussion of treatments of transgenderism in popular culture."

Trans Like Me: Conversations for All of Us by CN Lester

"A personal and culture-driven exploration of the most pressing questions facing the transgender community today, from a leading activist, musician, and academic

"In Trans Like Me, CN Lester takes readers on a measured, thoughtful, intelligent yet approachable tour through the most important and high-profile narratives around the trans community, turning them inside out and examining where we really are in terms of progress. From the impact of the media's wording in covering trans people and issues, to the way parenting gender variant children is portrayed, Lester brings their charged personal narrative to every topic and expertly lays out the work left to be done.

"Trans Like Me explores the ways that we are all defined by ideas of gender--whether we live as he, she, or they--and how we can strive for authenticity in a world that forces limiting labels."

On the blog front, two recent blog posts got my attention.

Faith DaBrooke of Adventures of a Gender Rebel fame, hopped on the wayback machine and presented an interesting gallery of annotated herstoric photos in her recent Some Old Favorites post.

Peter Lappin of Male Pattern Boldness fame, also hopped on the wayback machine and came up with a vintage pattern to sew a dress for his cousin Cathy's comeback. The circa 1959 dress is to-die-for and reminds me of something my mother might have sewn for herself or me.

Wearing Bebe (Source: Bebe)

Peter Lappin's cousin Cathy Lane