Wearing Self Portrait |
Fran Heuser |
Most of my life, I knew I was trans-something. In fact, I was trans-something even before I knew all the trans terminology (transvestite, transgender, transsexual, etc.). In fact, I was trans-something before the word “transgender” was created (yes, I am old).
And for a long time, I professed that I was a “plain-vanilla crossdresser,” that is, someone who crossdressed for the joy the of wearing women’s fashions... not someone who crossdressed because they identified as a woman.
Heaven forbid! That wasn't me. I wasn't one of those people!
Despite a lot of evidence to the contrary, I was afraid to make the great leap that I was a woman. That would be a big leap and would rock the foundation of my existence.
In retrospect, I would have probably felt pretty pretty good if I had made that leap way back then, but I worried about what they would think! I always worried about what they would think and I led my life to please them, not me. So I denied all the evidence and stuck to my “plain-vanilla crossdresser” story.
About 15 years ago, after months of counseling, a life coach finally helped me to make that leap. Instead of denying all the evidence, I embraced it and accepted the fact that I was a woman.
Afterall, it all made sense. The feminine speech and mannerisms. The preference for girl things rather than boy things. The gynecomastia caused by an over-abundance of female hormones and/or lack of male hormones. An over-abundance of female hormones.
And I was proud to be a woman, not ashamed of it. I began coming out to my friends and colleagues and I began living authentically whenever the opportunity presented itself.
And it didn't hurt a bit!
Wearing Ann Taylor |
Angela, out and about again |
As a kid, Monica couldn’t hide the fact that “he” was a girl. Eventually, her mother took her to the bus station and sent her on her way, telling her, “I can no longer be your mother.” We learn this, as it isn’t shown. It’s good we never hear her dead name.
Monica gets a call as the film starts. It’s from her sister-in-law telling her that her mother is dying from a brain tumor and asking her to come home from California. Monica decides to return home (we aren’t told where she’s going). This will be the first time her mother or brother has seen Monica.
Monica is very low-key about introducing herself to her mother, who wonders who she is. In addition to her family, the mother has a Latina caregiver. It’s clear early on that Monica has considerable love for her mother. She’s very attentive and caring with plenty of touching.
So, will she tell her mother? Will her mother figure it out? I'll give you a bit of a spoiler -- Monica’s brother, after getting over the initial shock of seeing his sister, sees the loving care and warms up to Monica. Will Monica fit/be welcomed into the family? Do we think she'll eventually move back to California?
Trace Lysette does a wonderful job and as always, Patricia Clarkson knocks it out of the park. Everyone in the post-film discussion had positive things to say about the film except for the “Too slow’ comments.
I highly recommend the film.
(You can view the film’s trailer by clicking here.)
Wearing Boston Proper |
Tony Bill femulating in the 1963 film Soldier in the Rain. |
My father was a Marine. He fought in three battles in the Pacific during World War II and brought home two Purple Hearts and shrapnel in his arm.
He was a great father and was proud of his kids. Although I was far from being the “All-American Boy,” he never had a problem with me even when I started to dress en femme whenever I was invited out for Halloween.
Except for those Halloween forays, I was closeted, but in retrospect, I know that my parents knew something was amiss with their son, but they never commented in a negative way. And I am sure they would have been supportive if I ever came out.
I’ll never forget one Halloween as I was getting ready to go out en femme, my father warned me to watch out for boys!
Thank you for everything you did, Pop!
Wearing Cinq à Sept |
Today’s post is late because instead of writing this post last night, I watched the Celtics-Heat playoff game.
This morning’s mail included a flickr update pointing to some new cartoons from jerseygirlangie. I laughed out loud when I viewed this one:
Zach Woods femulates Lady GaGa for Halloween in the “Costume Contest” episode of The Office. |
First they came for the drag queens, and I did not speak out—
Because I was not a drag queen.
Then they came for the transgenders, and I did not speak out—
Because I was not a transgender.
Then they came for gay marriages, and I did not speak out—
Because I was not in a gay marriage.
Then they came for me—and there was no one left to speak for me.
I received some pushback over Friday’s post, You, Me and Bullies.
Some of the pushback was knee-jerk anti-George Soros reaction (just mention Soros in a positive light and some peoples’ heads explode).
The majority of the pushback was related to actor Charlize Theron’s unfettered support of drag queens.
Theron is the parent of a trans-child and my guess is like any mother, she is standing up for and protecting her kid. Thus, she is supporting drag queens because after they come for drag queens, they may come for trans-kids (although, in some ways, they are already coming after trans-kids).
I have written here in the past that I am not a big fan of drag, but they have my full support. If you don’t care if they go after drag queens, please be aware that some of the anti-drag laws do not call out "drag queens" per se, but use terms like “female impersonators” instead. That means you and me, Bucko.
Wearing Ann Taylor |