Someday Funnies: A Solution in Skirts

Wearing StyleWe

Miss Britney Smith

What Took So Long?

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

Someday Funnies: “Man” Redefined

Wearing Bebe

Daniel Furlong

Monica: A Film Review

By Mikki

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.

Memorial Day

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

Someday Funnies: Just Do It!

Wearing Elisabetta Franchi

Richard Simmons

Better Late Than En Homme

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:

Click here to view jerseygirlangie’s other cartoons (I love her sense of humor).

In light of my recent “You, Me and Bullies” posts, LGBTQ Nation published a related article yesterday titled “First they came for the LGBTQ+ books: How the Nazis started burning books 90 years ago this month.” Click here to view this informative article written by Greg Owen.

Since I am already late, I am going to keep this post short.

And so it goes.

Wearing Bebe

Zach Woods femulates Lady GaGa for Halloween in the “Costume Contest” episode of The Office.

Someday Funnies: A Different Perspective

Wearing Boston Proper

A mature modern couple

You, Me and Bullies Revisited

 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

Gaurav Gera femulating on Indian television

Staying Home

Booth Babe, 2015

I am OK now, but last week was difficult as I missed going to Hamvention.

Hamvention is the biggest ham radio convention this side of the North Pole and I have lost count how many times I have attended along with 30,000 other hams. 

I usually drive (about 750 miles one way to Dayton, Ohio). Going, the drive is not bad because I am looking forward to the event, but driving home is a drag and I swear that I will fly next year. But by the time Hamvention rolls along, I convince myself that driving is not so bad, so forget flying.

In the past, Saturday night in Dayton was en femme night. I’d return to my hotel after the day’s event, dress pretty and go to a nightclub solo or with local transgirls I met online. 

Starting in 2010, Hamvention became a real life experience (RLE). I spent the whole Hamvention weekend en femme – even traveling pretty to and from Ohio.

In case you don’t know, I was well-known in the ham radio community writing magazine columns and books for the national ham radio organization. I also am a director, secretary and newsletter editor for another ham radio organization. So attending Hamvention for the first time en femme was a real trip. 

I had forewarned my editors and fellow directors and officers beforehand, so they were not surprised. I also did not surprise many civilians unless they recognized my name and/or callsign displayed on the admissions ticket clipped to my clothing because I figure most assumed I was a middle-aged female ham or the significant other of some male ham.   

I repeated RLE every year until Hamvention was cancelled in 2020 due to COVID19. Same thing happened in 2021. And although Hamvention did take place in 2022, I was COVID19-leery and stayed home.

I intended to go this year until my doctor advised me to have total knee replacement surgery. Surgery occurred January 30. Would I be sufficiently recovered from surgery by mid-May to attend Hamvention?

The literature on the subject said six months was about the minimum time for recovery and 12 months was more likely. So I decided to forget about attending Hamvention.

As luck would have it, I recovered quickly and maybe attending Hamvention was in the cards after all. The only question was how my knee would hold up driving 750 miles from here to there and back. 

The knee in question was my left knee – on the leg I use for the the clutch of my standard transmission Subaru. My knee has been OK driving half hours or so locally, but how would it hold up for 11 hours or so? I decided not to take a chance and stayed home suffering from Hamvention withdrawal syndrome all weekend long!

On a positive note, I didn't have to drive home from Dayton!  

Wearing The Frankie Shop

Petra, a German reader