Boycott Barilla

In a move reminiscent of a certain fast food chicken chain in the United States, Guido Barilla, whose firm has almost half the Italian pasta market and a quarter of that in the US, told Italy’s La Zanzara radio show last night: “I would never do an advert with a homosexual family…if the gays don’t like it they can go an eat another brand. “For us the concept of the sacred family remains one of the fundamental values of the company.” He added: “Everyone has the right to do what they want without disturbing those around them”. But then the pasta magnate upped the ante by attacking gay adoption. “I have no respect for adoption by gay families because this concerns a person who is not able to choose," he said.

 It is up to us to make sure "Bigot Barilla" knows we will go eat another brand!

New Transgender Star?

Yes kids, it could be you!:

"The casting company behind hit television series such as "RuPaul's Drag Race," "The A-List," and "Girls Who Like Boys Who Like Boys" is seeking transgender women to participate in a new reality series, tentatively titled "TransAmerica."

 According to a press release sent to the Huffington Post, Doron Ofir Casting is seeking "beautiful," "dynamic" and "fashionable" transgender women to take part in a new reality series that will explore the personal and public lives of modern day women who self-identify as trans. "TransAmerica" hopes to redefine stereotypes by exploring the complex world of dating and careers for transgender women, in an effort to both entertain and educate audiences.

 Casting Director Doron Ofir states in the press release, “I hope to revolutionize the perceptions of gender and sexuality by finding and casting the most spectacularly interesting women with fabulous personalities, who are proudly unapologetic, living a life of beauty in every way.”

 The casting call is open to all individuals identifying as transgender women, regardless of their position within the transitioning spectrum.

Follow the link above for more and when you become famous just remember the "good ol Midwestern trans girl" still pecking away on her blog!

We Got Mail!

If this keeps up you all are going to force me into a new Cyrsti's Condo mailbox investment!

Historian Pat passed along "Your parenthetical that "If I knew I would this long I would have taken better care of myself" was a comment from my (her) boyhood idol, Mickey Mantle."

I of course,  disliked anything in pinstripes such as the suit my Mom made me wear to church and especially the pinstripes worn by the Yankee's! Although the "Mickster" got some redemption in the form of his transgender niece Kelly as seen on the left.
To be fair, the 1961 World Series between my Cincinnati Reds and the Yankee's pretty much sealed my idea of the Bronx Bums.  True story, when I lived very close to NYC for almost two years, I watched plenty of Mets games at Shea Stadium but refused to set foot in Yankee Stadium.  No grudges, right?

Then there was the comment agreeing with my praise of the Ernest Hemingway quote "Write Drunk, edit Sober" from bashashhazbaz.. Thanks also for the comment on my picture! Interestingly Liz had a whole different take on the quote, preferring to looking at it as an opportunity to go back in life and rethink decisions at a more rational time. I never got past the drunk/sober dynamic which shows you where my mind was at!

And finally, from across the pond, Paula commented on the Top Ten Restroom post:

"It seems we area bit more liberal about all this in the UK, I now find when I am out and about in drab and am forced to use the "Gents" they are generally pretty nasty"  They generally are here too Paula in comparison to the women's rooms but I'm always fascinated by those want to attach the "pristine" tag to women's rooms.  I always remind everyone of my managerial 30+ years in the restaurant business.  I had tons of experience with women's rooms before I ever used one as a girl!

You may want to follow this link to Paula's blog and read her post "Under the Wing of the Eagle". She covers more of the potty/pub topic from a transgender woman's viewpoint there.

All of you are great for sending in your comments and as I have always said, I wish this blog platform had a better way to work with them. Then again I would have to be smart enough to use it!

Enjoy!

The Colbert Report
Get More: Colbert Report Full Episodes,Video Archive

Steffani's First Time

Just another "natural" on the Cyrsti's Condo big screen:

Do Something Dammit!

Here's the Email I got in response for standing up in support for transgender homecoming queen Cassidy Campbell:

Cyrsti, Incredible.

" You are among over 2,500 people who have taken action to lift up the transgender homecoming queen, Cassidy Campbell, and stand against bullying. Because of you, we've smashed our goal of sending 2,500 messages of support to Cassidy. Will you forward the email below to five friends who'll stand with us and help reach our new goal of 3,400 messages to Cassidy Campbell?"

 The more of us who stand together now paves the way for more transgender people being voted homecoming queens and kings, student body presidents, and even national elected officials. That's the hope you've given Cassidy and other transgender young people--the hope to dream bigger and be themselves. Here are more messages of hope you've given Cassidy: "You won a great victory. Not only for yourself, but for all of us. You single handedly gave courage to those who needed it (myself included)."

Send the email below to five of your friends to help our effort generate 3,400 supporters. This challenge is minor compared to what Cassidy has faced and if we work together, we can help end bullying in our schools and communities."

Sincerely, Mara Keisling Executive Director National Center for Transgender Equality


http://www.transequality.org/take_action/standwithcassidy.html.

Personally, I can't believe how incredibly tough Cassidy's life has been. Deciding first to run for queen and then perhaps being a little naive of how bad the ignorant bigots tirades would be. NOW is the time to silence the haters!

Back when I was in high school (before electricity) I wonder if I would even have had the guts to enter a womanless beauty pageant?  (didn't have one)
AND 
This is you closeted peeps chance to make a statement!

Does the Dress Really Make the Person?

Received yet another thought provoking comment on the Cyrsti's Condo "Pass the Make Up" post:

"As my guy self everyone I deal with has come to accept me for all components that they see. I am generally friendly, involved, caring and willing to give my honest opinion on any subject. When I do get out and about while dressed I pretty much am the same person. I do not try to fool anyone.

If I am perceived as a large older man in a dress I hope that most people think that I did not do a bad job getting dolled up and that I look decent, friendly, pleasant, involved, friendly and willing to give an honest opinion on any subject. I am the same me. I suppose as I guy I am not distasteful in appearance or presentation. I expect no less of myself when dressed. Pat"

I thought Wow! this was a major discussion point with my wife and I "back in the day".  She was certain I was different as a woman and not necessarily in a flattering way.  Of course, since then a lot of make up has gone under the bridge and I am drastically a different feminine person than I was then. I can tell you now there is only one other person in the world who could speak to how much of me carries into both genders.

Similar to Pat, my inner self has carried through, standards, spirituality etc. On the other hand, the more completely I cross the gender line, it's natural my feminine self does change. You all know how much I push the idea of socialization before surgery here in Cyrsti's Condo. As I pursued in earnest what a life as a woman was really life, I also learned quickly I wasn't out to fool anyone either.  To hell with the old male/female gender binaries.

I'm fairly sure Pat would agree the only big difference we have is experience. But, when it all comes down to it, you can throw out the cross dresser and transgender labels and go with who you are. Good is good...male, female or trans. Gender does not dictate personality. If you were a bastard before SRS, your chances of being a bitch afterwards are good.

So if the dress does make the person, it's because we are all just mirrors anyhow.  It's what behind the mirror that really counts.

Is It Too Late Not Too?

Awww right, I'm almost 64. If you are close to my age, surely you remember these lyrics from the Beatles classic:

When I get older losing my hair, Many years from now, Will you still be sending me a valentine Birthday greetings bottle of wine?

 If I'd been out till quarter to three Would you lock the door, Will you still need me, will you still feed me, When I'm sixty-four?

I can almost guarantee you that when I heard the song the first time, I had serious doubts about living until I was 64! Now that I'm almost to 64, I decided to celebrate the upcoming occasion here in the Cyrsti's Condo for once.  Mainly because of these reasons:  One, I don't care if someone knows my age.  Two, I'm still standing unlike many others I used to know ( if I knew I was going to live this long, I would have taken better care of myself) and Three, I perhaps could provide some insight into the process for those who may be considering it.

Feedback has been amazing.  Everything from I was called "just another old guy on hormones" to "like you, I considered transitioning but I'm too old" and there was Shelle.

Although we have never met, Shelle and I have become transgender sisters of sort. It turns out we share several powerful life experiences with this gender trip we are on.

Recently Shelle wrote a great post on her blog called "Why"?  In the post she answers a few of the questions of why she transitioned when she did:

"I am repeatedly ask by people why did you wait so long to transition,I have ask myself the same question a thousand times,I can only guess that like most people like me I thought that if I practiced “immersion therapy” I could cure what seemed to be wrong in my life.I like most trans women of my age group thought that by immersing myself in in the hyper-masculine world I would be somehow magically cured that it would rub off on my psyche and cure the fact that in reality I was a woman,But with little support and few coping skills the whole shared only proved to be a complete failure and things just continually got worse all my life not better or less confusing but more and more the focus of my everyday thoughts.

It wasn't until around 17 years ago when I met my last wife and shared from the beginning who I was with her and she in turn was not only supportive but with her love and everyday help I began to feel emboldened and the fog I lived under began to clear I saw a more clear path to the person I needed to become to finally have some sense of peace in my life and really begin to grow again."

Visit Shelle's blog here and if you haven't guessed, she may remember the song too!

Cyrsti's Condo "Quote of "da" Day"

No off the wall writer (like me) who penned this quote!

"Write Drunk, Edit Sober"  Ernest Hemingway.

Hmmmnn, very profound, that "Ernie" guy!