Cross Phobia on CBS

Billie commented on our Cyrsti's Condo "Transphobic Make Over" post:

"We cross dressers have always been the butt of jokes .. and sometimes more! It's sad that society still does not take us seriously save for the one thing we can (and most of us) do! I ask, are we to blame in there somewhere?"

Indeed you are right Billie, cross dressers, transgender women and more have been the subject of jokes.

I think several factors are in play.  First of all, comedic drag characters have always been popular as are womanless beauty pageants.  Ha, ha, look at the funny guy in a dress.  The whole concept is just a chance for an easy gag for the writers who are too incompetent to be better.

Another factor is over the years we have created our own cross dressing charactertures. I did it myself "back in the day" going to stores and malls in short skirts and high heels.

Finally Billie, it's time to put the blame where it belongs and put a halt to all of this. No matter what I did years ago at the mall should influence creative comedic writers today. Destructive jokes and comments which damage our standing in the world have to stop, no matter who was to blame in the past.  All of us have ignored this trash too long.

Surprisingly though, this is one area each of us can be a "force of one" to effect change and  stay in the closet to do it. I hate to quote "Tricky Dick Nixon" but the greatest potential force in the crossdresser/ transgender community is the closeted  silent majority.  Think about it,  no one needs to know our motives when all of the sudden we decide "not to buy" Barilla Pasta, why we refuse to watch Mike and Molly or we quietly just don't buy the show's sponsor's products. Remember, the most effective protests are often financial.

Look at it this way too. If we don't follow the lead of the Gay and Lesbian communities and exact change from these bigots, we should be blamed!

"Gobble Time" in Cyrsti's Condo

For those of you who live in the United States it's Thanksgiving, a time to pause a bit, eat wonderful food with your family and watch football....if you are fortunate.

I am one of the fortunate ones. Later today I will be making a long ten mile round trip to my brothers for a hearty traditional Thanksgiving dinner with the family.

Ironically, my family is going through a transition too. My brother's and I's three kids have produced nine grandkids and several years ago I became the "patriarch" of the clan...yes me. I hear you thinking, "How's that working for ya' Cyrsti?"  Well it is kind of strange.  My daughter, son in law and two out of three grand kids are fully aware of what a transgender person is and I identify as one...just not today.  I'm fairly sure the rest of the family (except for the kids) at least knows I have always had a preference for women's clothes.

To the family, I'm sure I'm stuck in time. The hair I can pawn off as being an old hippie (except it's highlighted) but the effects of HRT are much harder to gloss over. Of course my skin texture has changed and as one friend of mine told me she couldn't believe is was 64.  Then said,  those "magic elixirs" I was on seemed to be working wonders. The rest of the family doesn't see me much, so I'm sure they will notice I haven't aged.

The rest is easy, loose clothes over my body, hair up under my ball hat, talk sports or politics with my nephews and ruin my diet. The person I most want to talk to about her breast job is my niece in law but I can't.

You know, I used to feel a bit guilty (or at the least a hypocrite) about not coming out in total to what's left of my family. This year though, I don't.  "Momma Karma" knows I have paid tons of dues during my transgender journey.  Coming up with a "pseudo macho" excuse to show up as a woman to prove my "trans-ness" this year just won't be an option.  Enjoying my time won't be one either!

On the other hand, I know so many of you won't be able enjoy a Thanksgiving due to any number of reasons.  It's not much but I will be sending my positive thoughts to you today! It's a tough time of the year for all too many. That is all too sad.

Cyrsti's Condo "Cover Girl of the Day"

A few humans naturally grow into genuine androgynous gender chameleons. Seemingly with with a minimum of help. A great example is male model Alexander Bekker.