Transgender Lessons

I have written recently about trying to compile like minded experiences on my one week old "Trannsnation.com" web site.
As I said in a previous post, I have waded in and made it to Sept 2010-close to four months of content.
As I burned the mid night oil, one big constant was apparent.
The time I wrote about seemed to be an intense period of finding my way in the public eye. Every time I went out was an adventure of learning. I'm interested to discover if future posts are as intense.
If you are beginning to explore your transgender self or are new to the "Condo", you may want to check out this link and this one. At the least you will think "she did what?".
The biggest change I have discovered is how I have changed in regards to my place in the world. I'm much more secure in who I am and I just don't notice if others notice me.  I used to care much more where I fit. Now I know I just do. 
I'm sure the next six months of posts will be interesting!

The UK's First Transgendered Community Magazine Is Out!

"Out" that is to the electronic shelves. The magazine is called "Meta" and is the creation of it's Editor-In-Chief Paris Lees. Pictured on the right.
In the recent past, Lees has made her name as an activist for transgender rights – a member of Trans Media Watch and a freelance journalist for DIVA magazine.

For more on "Meta" :
• META is a unique magazine designed for a wide community of gender variant people. It is written by trans people and their friends for trans people and their friends
• Through in-depth features, community discourse, arts coverage, celebrity interviews, comprehensive event listings, and charitable causes, META is a celebration of diversity
• META is connected to the UK’s exciting trans activism movement and is committed to challenging bigotry
• It is dedicated to promoting positive self esteem and connectivity among trans people, generating creativity, motivation and aspiration through inspiring imagery and positive ethos
In the historic first issue, Vivian Bond, of Kiki and Herb fame, chats about changing personas.

Burning the Midnight Oil

Finally beginning to make a small dent in my new quest to categorize different themes from Cyrsti's Condo and establish them in my new website "Trannsnation.com".
I have been able to publish three solid beginning posts and have three more started which I haven't published as of yet.
To let you know how far I've progressed, I haven't even made it to October of 2010. (The blog went on line the end of May that year)
As I've always tried to say "It's better to look ahead than behind" (Unless you are checking how your jeans fit!)

Got Transgendered MilK?

Perhaps you have heard of transsexual women or even a few men breast feeding babies.
Truthfully, I never gave the whole topic more than a passing interest until my recent preoccupation with "the girls".
I do think the whole process would be an incredible experience for any trans woman. A true pinnacle of the feminine experience. (other than birthing).
For more on the process follow this link!
Since I was feeling all so romantic about this process, I added a Transgendered Bride Video to the "Home Entertainment Center".

Latina Transwoman "Endry Cardeno" Makes the Cover!

First of all I must give credit to a link I have on the blog to a site called "A Gender Variance Who's Who" by "Zagria"  I'm a history fanatic and Zagria's documentation of historical transgendered and transsexual women and men is nothing short of amazing! Check it out if you haven't.
Equally amazing is the Latina beauty "Endry Cardeno" who she featured in her latest post.

 I normally don't like to repeat content from blogs I follow unless I really am impressed by content or appearance.
Guess which I'm impressed with here?

Actually I'm impressed with more, read on:

Endry Cardeño, who underwent a sex change when she was 17 years old, shot to fame as a popular star of the soap opera "Los Reyes" ("The Kings") and has since acted in several films.
The transsexual actress is from Cucuta, Colombia and is an icon for LBGT (lesbian, bisexual, gay, transgender) rights.
She initially faced criticism from conservative sectors of society upon first assuming her role in the soap opera but now enjoys a large following!

A Day In A Transgender Life

One day-24 hrs ago, I sat here and wrote how my life had reached a certain plateau.
I wasn't discouraged by any means by my physical development but then again I have never been a patient person. A waiting game was never my strength.
When I woke up this morning though, I noticed (for the first time) a definite soreness in "the girls".  Obviously something was happening.
I'm light years from developing hips  but as I happened to check my faint waist line,  I can imagine what my body could become.
All of this was great, but I'm actually saving the best for last.
It has been a very windy February day and my hair was all over the place. In a act of frustration in my back yard I pulled it back to see if I could finally form a pony tail. The answer was YES I could.  The process was  relatively easily although I have never done it.  By no means is my hair flowing down my back but I can now wear a two inch "tail"! I will say I need a lot of practice of even tying off my pony tail but it is a labor of love!
Here's the best part. The rubber band I used today was actually off the first estrogen prescription bottle I received. No bottle before or after has ever had a rubber band. I saved this rubber band as a sign of good karma and the future.
Today, I put it to good use!

A Big Transgendered Leap In India

From "India Today" this is Nikkiey Chawla is a transgender model who has walked the ramp for some leading jewelry brands.     


She is yet another trans woman who has forsaken the "stealth" tag to make lives better for other transgendered women and men in India.
Now:
"Last week Channel V's chat show, My Big Decision, left viewers with food for thought about an issue that wouldn't have been aired at another time, that of sex reassignment surgery. The show featured young transsexuals and transgenders from middle class families who were quite vocal about their issues and open about their identities. In fact, the faces of transsexuals and transgenders appear regularly on reality TV: While Bobby Darling and Lakshmi stunned the audiences in the last two seasons of Bigg Boss, Sylvie has made her mark in recent Survivor India.
While some call it nothing but a TRP stunt, experts say this reflects a subtle change that's bringing the gender debate from closed-door film festivals to living rooms of ordinary Indians. "It's a welcome change," says Anjali Gopalan, executive director and founder, Naz Foundation (India) Trust. "Unlike earlier when transgenders were mostly portrayed as caricatures to be ridiculed at, the media is now presenting them as 'normal' human beings with intelligence, mannerisms and thinking ability," says Gopalan who has worked with sexual minorities for many years.
"For years we have been mocked at as uneducated fools doing either commercial sex work or dancing at weddings. Thankfully reality shows are breaking such stereotypes now," points out 25-year-old transsexual, Namrata. "This image is changing since members of our community have begun modelling, doing social work and writing books and blogs ," she adds."

Read more at: http://indiatoday.intoday.in/story/transsexual-transgenders-media-nikkiey-chawla-maria-mehra/1/174906.html

Just When You Thought There Was No News

Just when I thought things were getting boring in the transgendered press along comes the UK and the "Daily Mail Online"
According to their story:

"These are the two faces of a transgender fraudster who made thousands of pounds in scams by posing as both male and female friends to take out loans and credit cards.
Con artist Frances Harris, 71, of Brighton, Sussex, was born as Frederick but now lives as a woman.
She admitted three counts of deception over a three-year period, but was only handed a suspended 15-month sentence after her lawyer said she would not be safe in a male prison because she has had breast augmentation."

OK, I can't resist.
Way to go UK! Long live the queen!
Come on now-where's your sense of humor!

A Day in a Transgendered Life.

It's days like today when I sit here and say hmmmm wasssup girl?
Well I said to self, not much actually.  Ordered another month's supply of hormones today which means unbelievably I will have completed three months when this supply runs out.
I did get my order together for girl scout cookies which I consider a real neccessity this year because of all the idiotic right wing attacks on the scouts for their transgender and birth control stances. I am going to pass along the "Femulate" link to "Stana's" post about the scouts and a petition you can sign.
 Also, I have a friend who is researching bits and pieces of the "Two or Dual Spirit" beliefs of a few of the Native American Indian Tribes.
Here are a couple very interesting excerpts from what Don has sent me:

'The first step on the path to a two-spirit life was taken during

childhood. The Papago ritual is representative of this early

integration: If parents noticed that a son was disinterested in

boyish play or manly work they would set up a ceremony to determine

which way the boy would be brought up. They would make an enclosure

of brush, and place in the center both a man’s bow and a woman’s

basket. The boy was told to go inside the circle of brush and to

bring something out, and as he entered the brush would be set on

fire. “They watched what he took with him as he ran out, and if it

was the basketry materials they reconciled [sic] themselves to his

being a berdache or female in male's body.

 

 

The Mohave ritual, usually carried out when the child is between

the ages of nine and twelve, has a different form, but keeps the

central element of allowing the child’s nature to manifest itself:

A singing circle is prepared, unbeknownst to the boy, involving the

whole community as well as distant friends and relatives. On the

day of the ceremony everyone gathers round and the boy is led into

the middle of the circle. If he remains there, the singer, hidden

in the crowd, begins to sing the ritual songs and the boy, if he is

destined to follow the two-spirit road, starts to dance in the

fashion of a woman. “He cannot help it,” say the Mohave. After the

fourth song the boy is declared to be a two-spirit person and is

raised from then on in the appropriate manner."

 

I will be passing along more from his research later!

So I guess the bottom line is today was an example of the more things change, the more they stay the same.

As my body slowly starts to feminize itself, society begins to view me different of course. All in all though, I still view society as the same and probably always have.

My I guess I would have picked up the baskets from the burning circle!