Night before Christmas?

Today was a little anti climatic as my stylist called in sick and cancelled my hair appointment. Fortunately I was able to reschedule my first ever highlight color treatment tomorrow (Friday) and then go to get my ears pierced and go to the Trans-Ohio mixer at night.

I feel like a kid on Christmas Eve!

Transgender Gossip

Late Wednesday afternoon I received a surprise e mail from a marketing person from the VH-1 show "The Gossip Game".  It turns out she linked to Cyrsti's Condo and my email from Matt Kailey's well respected Tranifesto blog.

Coming up Monday the Gossip Game show will include a reasonably intense segment concerning one of the shows mother's transgender son. OK, really intense in spots.

I have to tell you I have scanned the show in the past a couple times and while it is true I just may happen to participate in some gossip from time to time- BUT - I do try to steer clear of extra drama in my life. Which is what this show obviously is built on!  The women on this estrogen charged show come in with their nails pre sharpened for the cat fight.

OK, I know what you are thinking...come on Cyrsti, get with the program out there in middle America. Ratings are everything and why not throw in a transgender son? I get all that but here is why I liked the way this was handled:

First of all the problem was set up basically with a gay slur hurled at one woman about her gay daughter. The first thing her son Kayden said emphatically I'm not gay I'm a transitioning straight male. I'm transgender.

Kayden and Vivian (right) Photo VH-1

From there Mom and son went down a few very predictable paths on his lifestyle. What wasn't so predictable about this show was I didn't see the nice "trans fluff"I have seen recently. You know the show. Family accepts trans kid. Trans kid does well at school and Dr. Marcy Bowers awaits in the future with the magic SRS surgery to seal the gender deal. An over simplification to be sure and I'm not saying the transgender culture does not desperately need all the good public relations we can get. Gossip Game though,  took the time to look at the behind the scenes anguish and tears most of us have experienced in this world.

Finally, for this post-the flat out acceptance of her child by Mom should be a model for all mothers. Certainly Mom didn't understand or even agree with her son's decisions but hell would be paid by anyone else who slammed her son.

VH-1 is sending me some images to pass along to you and as soon as they do I will post them.

Pavel Arambula

Mexican female impersonator Pavel Arambula on the Cyrsti's Condo big screen:

Fun in "C-Bus"!

"C-bus" is an abbreviation used for "Columbus, Ohio" the site of the 5th annual Trans Ohio Symposium. As you probably know by now, I'm presenting a workshop on the subject of transitioning later in life.

After I saw the lineup of other presenters, not only was I humbled to be added-I was just a little scared. I've always thought though I was better in what ever I tried if I did have a touch of fear of the unknown pushing me. We will certainly find out Saturday afternoon!

Whatever I'm able to add or not add to this transgender education effort , the chance to have some fun is definitively in the mix!

Tomorrow (Thursday) is my appointment to add highlights to my hair at the salon and Friday I'm getting my ears pierced for the first time. That's all wonderful but Friday night I'm really looking forward to the Symposium's "Meet and Greet". It's in a place called "Club Diversity" downtown which is in an old Victorian house and not in a big faceless room in the hotel where the event is. BUT  I'm normally pretty shy at interacting with a group of strangers like this.  It will be interesting to see if any of the trans "big timers" attend.  Yes, I could easily be a groupie!!!! Ironically, it's my girlfriend who really wants to meet several of these peeps!

Then there is Saturday night.  My girlfriend identifies as a femme lesbian and I have very little interest in men so we are really interested in going to this:

"Fabulously Fluid!, Ohio’s only genderbent performance showcase, brings a diverse show about the fluidity of gender, with performances ranging from trans* performance, drag, burlesque, performance art, music, and dance. The show will be hosted by the fantastic drag king extraordinaire, Cool Ethan, and Midwest GenderQueer!" This doesn't seem like one of those normal you have seen it all before drag shows.

I have to admit, I don't consider as much as I should the rapidly expanding influence of the trans male in our community. I have a lot of tunnel vision as far as the content goes here in Cyrsti's Condo but I have one trans man friend in particular who has opened my eyes to his transition.

So I'm fairly certain I will live through my presentation and do the best I can but the two "events' which are in downtown C-bus should make the whole weekend worthwhile.

RuPaulogize

Far be it for me to pass along anything which makes fun of "Rude Paul" but I really needed to turn the sound up on the Cyrsti's Condo big screen for this YouTube video by William Belli

Transgender Transition with a capital "T"!

The only comment I can add to this trans woman's transition video is WOW  Then again is this too good? One of the comments suggested a possible brother/sister team on this? I have seen quite a few amazing transition videos but many of them mention Facial Feminization Surgery (FFS).  I don't think it was brought up here. At any rate take a look:

More Alphabet Soup for Dinner

Certainly I'm not one to go overboard on a topic (yeah right!) But my excuse on this one is I got involved in a discussion on another site and figured I would bring it back to Cyrsti's Condo for all of you. Nothing earth shattering and very much my "norm" on the subject:

"I would like to "jump" back in here and throw out my ideas of why the "T" is silent in the gay community.

 First and foremost we have allowed it to be and I don't believe the reasons why are all negative. For so many years we so polarized in our community we were frozen in time. We did not benefit from visible celebrity people coming out trans. We didn't and really still don't have all the "Ellen's" and "Anderson's" etc. It's barely a surprise when a celeb comes out these days. On the other hand, an overwhelming number of people in our culture went from one closet before they transitioned to another when they went stealth. We had no role models until trans leaders began to appear through the magic of the internet and social media. 

 Nearly as important is we don't have near the financial impact the gay and lesbian culture has. In fact it's the opposite. We are truly the poor brothers and sisters under the so called rainbow. In fact, I can see why some of the G's and L's probably think we are riding their coattails because normally all we could bring to the table were very vague silent numbers...so they tossed us in to their group only when it was convenient for them. Recently though I am encouraged. We are seeing more and more of our folks demanding a seat at the table. The more of us who do so in any small way will certainly open those doors we have been knocking on. Let me reinforce again how impressed I am with the young trans women and men today. Sooner more than later their efforts will enable the T to be an equal and functioning full partner in the LGBT movement.

  I'm also impressed with the cooperative feel I've gotten from my visits across the web and other places. The trans "sisters of the cloth" are to a person a HUGE improvement over the old hierarchy of transsexual  girls looking down on the transgender girls who look down on the cross dressers. Doesn't take a genius to figure out we are stronger as a group. Certainly the G's and L's aren't totally all the same but they seem to make it work. I really think our trans future is as bright as any of us have ever seen it."

They are Everywhere!

Well at least bunches of guys shaving their beards, using all sort of tags such as cross dresser and transgender in the same sentence (like I just did) and coming up with quite a few dramatic male to female transitions like this one are.  Check it out!

Horror Scope

The clouds have parted kids and it's time for star gazing in Cyrsti's Condo. Yes it's time for another "Horrorscope":

Libra (September 23-October 22): You will need to make a choice between two people you love, as one will need priority over the other. Sacrifice sucks, but it is do or die time and where you place your energy now will matter. However, that doesn’t mean you have to give up anyone; just think of it as prioritizing. But don’t be shortsighted, as fate will pay out accordingly from here.

WELL!  Let me see if I can sort through this and if I do, I will get back with you!!!  OK I'm back.

First of all, love is a word I don't toss around easily. Basically there are only three people I love and one is me! Just kidding but you do have to like yourself to like others. The other two are personal non competing personages in my life. So I'm just going to abstain on this "scope" and wait till next week! Yes procrastination is fun!

Please remember "Horrorscope" is my term and you can go to theFrisky for yours!

While you are there, I'm going to give you another link you may want to take a quick look at.
I read so many notes here and there from transgender women who are waiting for that wonderful guy to show up and sweep them away  You probably know a big portion of the female population is in the same boat as you and they think it is the Titantic! This however is a fun look at the dating dance  and is written in a delicious cynical prose!
from a young genetic woman's viewpoint  Believe me,  it's not boring
It's called The Slut Shamer