Skate Day

I'm happy to say I'm finally going to have a chance to write a post not concerning winter.  This afternoon, a group of friends and I are going to see the Cincinnati Roller Girls.  So yes I'm talking roller skating.  In my youth (yes I do remember it) , I remember watching mainly men roller skate on a banked wooden oval basically creating mayhem.  Hey, it beat wrestling! But when I caught a glimpse of the roller girls, I was fascinated!  For the most part they were faster and meaner than the guys.

As I was looking forward to this afternoon, I thought how great it was that several years ago, the sport broke the binary gender lines (along with body parts) by accepting a transgender woman skater.  In the beginning, Kayley Whalen, who signed up for roller derby in May 2008, and had to lie about who she was. Later though,she was required to sign a code of conduct that stated, ‘transsexual women are allowed to join if it has been at least two years since surgery, per International Olympic Committee rules’. At that point, Whalen, who skated under the name Lenore Gore, was drafted onto the DC Rollergirls team Scare Force One.  Kayley was a “jammer,” scoring points while speeding past the other team’s players while blockers with names like Dyke Diggler, Velocity Raptor and Marion Barrycuda toss opponents aside to clear the way. It’s sisterhood through bruising- which gives you an idea of the sport.

So, this afternoon will be fun in that I know one of the participants just could be transgender and the three genetic women I'm would even know-or care.

The Story of my Life

And you thought I was kidding!

This sweatshirt comes from DentzDesigns on Etsy.

When you see me in it, don't expect me to be in my usual cheery state of mind!

Cyrsti"s Condo "Cover Girl of the Day"

The beautiful Courtney Act has certainly graced the pages of Cyrsti's Condo in the past.  In her case though, you can't get enough of a "good act!"

Cyrsti's Condo "Cover Girl of the Day"

Our featured cover today is gorgeous transsexual Domino Presley.  I was going to make a reference to Elvis but I won't!

The Future?

Thanks Bobbie for sharing!

"Drag Babes"

What was in that Beer?

I have told all you Cyrsti's Condo Ites, how bored I get and how cynical my sense of humor is.  I have "sort of/kind of" found a home for some of it on my Pinterest site.  If you are unfamiliar, Pinterest is a photo site where every interest under the sun can be displayed, from vintage collectibles to dumb stuff like this.  I call the board "Drag Babes" and add my own captions.  The pictures don't have any original information I can find, so I add my own. So, if they are of you...you look great!

Come on Guys, Why do I always have to be the girl?

In the "Eyes of the Beholder"

From the time we have our first intoxicating taste of sliding (or squeezing) into feminine clothes, most of us have to see how we look. Of course the only point of reference we have comes from how we have viewed other girls or women. Examples would be pretty Easter dresses or beautiful prom gowns.

Depending how we identify, some of us want to journey into the world to really learn what this "woman stuff" is all about. A big mistake I made when I opened my closet door was presenting to the wrong audience.  I was dressing for men, not women-as they say "a tough crowd". As a side comment, I believe I've read humans decide within two seconds if they are viewing a male or female. Wow! Two very intense seconds indeed, with  tons on the line for a cross dresser or a transgender woman stepping out into the light of day. Here's a look on how my "two seconds" have worked for me over the years:

1.- NO Perception.  Even though genetic women view the world in a more complex light than men, these women are wrapped up in theirs and don't notice me at all.  Cell phones alone have changed this dynamic greatly in recent years.  Women have family, work and spouses to deal with, so why would they bother with me.
2.- I'M Transparent.  I like this look, we briefly make eye contact. She stares right through me and moves on.  My assumption is she see's nothing worth noting in my gender presentation.
3.- Lingering Stare.  She is not certain of what she is seeing and is processing.  I have found it highly useful to return her stare.  Normally she is satisfied and moves on. I'm to the point, I don't really care what she comes up with. The look could simply stem from her thinking my hair is way too long for a woman my age.
4.-The Little Smile. I had to learn to be careful with this one.  Unlike men, women are known to smile at each other as they make their way through the world. The look does not have to have negative undertones. Plus, if it is, I'm finding these days if another woman does read me as transgender, the experience can be far from unpleasant.
5.-The Smirk. I don't see this look so much these days but we all know what it means...I know you are a guy and why are you dressed like that?
6.-Shock and Awe.  The woman looking at you is doing her best impression of a person who is about to scream..."Hey, that's a guy in a dress."  Soon she is scurrying around to point you out to anyone she can. She is the ultimate in bad dreams to all of us and a real ego crusher.  Haven't ran into one of these in years but certainly paid my dues with them in my "formative" years.

So there you  go, I'm sure most of you can expand on this highly simplified list. Plus, on the positive side, the world in my little corner of the world is changing.  The more of us who are out, the easier life becomes!

Why We Will Succeed!

This morning I came across a couple stories which counter balanced the ignorance, hate and even violence we sustain as transgender women and men.

The first comes from a top women's site in Australia called Daily Life called "Transitioning our son to a daughter."

The three on the left, Roland, Maddi and Maddi’s mother Beck were guests on SBS's One's Insight program which looked at the increase of young people presenting as transgender. Insight speaks with children and their families, asking how parents can be sure whether their child is transgender and how they chose to deal with it. As we know, in most cases it is not the other kids who provide problems for their transgender peers, it is the parents who cause the friction.  The more parents who have an understanding of trans kids, the better!

In the UK, a transgender city councilor turned down a spot on the British version of the TV "reality" show Big Brother, for all the right reasons:

From the The Cambridge News:

A Councillor has turned down the chance to appear on reality television show Big Brother – arguing it would not help her campaign for gender equality. Cllr Sarah Brown (left), who represents Petersfield on Cambridge City Council, is the UK’s only ‘out’ transgender politician and was approached by a casting agency to see if she wanted to appear on the Channel 5 game show. But the Liberal Democrat, the council’s executive member community wellbeing, said she didn’t think it would have been good for her, the transgender community or the people of Cambridge. She told the News: “I didn’t think it would be good way to address trans issues. 

And finally, out and out COURAGE: Marsha Bast (below) the Russian transgender attorney who has announced her bid for the Russian presidency in 2018.

Somehow all of this makes the day so much brighter!

Cyrsti's Condo "Cover Girl of the Day"

Our feature cover today is transsexual model Vanessa Lima