World Class Transgender!

Ever heard of a fa'afafine?  The word is Samoan and literally translates into way of a woman or womanly, and applies strictly to male-to-female transgender people.  Back in 2011,American Samoa's Jaiyah Saelua became the first transgender person to play in a FIFA World Cup qualifier. Her appearance on the field made history — but so did her play.   Now there is a documentary film about Jaiyah and the team:

Cyrsti's Condo "Sunday Edition"

Ker Plunk!  It's Sunday here in the Condo and time for a cup o joe and our Sunday edition.

Page 1.- Really Chuck? Recently in a totally unbelievable moment, U.S. Defense Secretary Chuck Hagel and his cronies in the Pentagon got together and hurt their backs as they patted each other for the new diversity and equal opportunity in the U.S. military.  Of course Chuck happened to forget the transgender military members who are banned from serving.  They either serve in fear of discovery which could lead to loss of jobs and careers, or are separated from duty.  For the life of me, I can not understand how this hypocrisy on the highest level is continuing to be supported by congress and especially a so called "liberal" president. How big a hole does OBama have in the White House lawn to bury his head in the dirt and ignore this?

Also on the subject of trans vets, I should get a chance to meet one of the leading transgender military activists, Brynn Tannehill (shown above) at the Trans Ohio Symposium coming up this month in Columbus.

Page 2.- Really Cyrsti?  Like a college student who puts off studying for a long time and ends up running out of time, I find myself in crunch mode for my work shop at the fore mentioned Trans Ohio event.  My basic theme is "MtF Transitioning later in Life."  I presented it  last year, so I know much more on what to expect. The real problem is my book, Stiletto's on Thin Ice" which I pledged to have done by then.  Come hell or high water, I will, but the fact remains I'm a terrible closer.  Always have had a difficult time finishing projects.  To the right is a cover image I'm working on because my budget is non existent.  Certainly, I'm not looking to get rich or win a Pulitzer Prize - I just want to do it-preferably before I die. Which leaves me approximately another four weeks.

Page 3.- "Mo" Mail!  We have had so much mail around here (and I thank you all soooo much :) I am finally getting around to answering it all.  I got to most of Connie's comments yesterday and it's time to get to more today:  Our Prom Daze post struck a cord with many including Mandy Sherman:

The 'male privilege' I was allowed was severely restricted - more like completely hogtied. Rules I had to deal with included, but were not limited to: I couldn't drive her anywhere, for any reason, at any time. We either had to take public transportation and bring a chaperone along (no public transportation available in our rural area), pay for a limousine and bring a chaperone along (the limo driver was not a sufficient chaperone), or have my father (NOT my mother - do you see a touch of discrimination there?) drive us. With the price of a limousine what it was, fortunately good old Dad agreed to being chauffeur and chaperone.

This is a great comment from Mandy and there is much more to it.  As is another comment from Connie on the same subject.  Follow the link above to see them. Perhaps all the feminists who love to bitch about the male privilege bit, just need to understand each gender's grass is never as green as you think it will be. (No cheap shots about smoking it!)

To Pat, about the "The Transvestite Diet" post: I don't don't if she did too much dieting or if was a hoax or if the wife found out, but it seems to have disappeared.  (Liz told me a day later the blog was gone.)  My question was going to be if this person was on HRT or not.  The hormones of course have a dramatic effect on weight gain (and loss).  The male metabolism slows and a few of the meds want to make you eat your wall paper off the wall or maybe even your cat.  But alas, we may never know. Plus normally when I plug someones book here in Cyrsti's Condo I get a response and I got "nuttin honey!"

Page 4.- My Grandson Speaks.  This week I posted a comment from my 10 year old grandson saying I was his hero because I was gay.  My daughter was a little surprised and said that's wonderful but your grandpa is not gay-but transgender:

Pat commented:
Good luck. It is harder to explain T issues than gay issues. I am sure that you will remain or at least regain hero status. At a minimum he will come to recognize the courage that it has taken for you to be true to yourself while still fulfilling your obligations of being his grandparent and the parent of his mother.

Thanks Pat, he is an incredibly diverse kid already.  His fourth grade teacher last year is a very out gay man and one of the top drag performers in the Dayton, Ohio area.  He was just taking the easy route to connecting the dots.  We all know the difference in light years of being gay versus transgender and once he grasps it, all he will have to do is change the wording from "hero" to " heroine" I hope.  One way or another, it will be time for a sit down talk with him and older sister this June when they are out of school.

Back Page.- WHEW! We had a lot to cover this week.  I hope the delivery person didn't heave this issue through your window!  As always....you all are the best and my special positive thoughts go out to all of those of you in or near where the tornadoes hit!  Sort of a constant reminder of how small we really are.

Cyrsti's Condo "What If?"

No one told me the bra goes under my shirt?

Cyrsti's Condo Quote of the Day

"You are never going to amount to anything but a BOOB!"

Our Mail Box Runneth Over!

I suppose the title to this Cyrsti's Condo post isn't the most appropriate but if you consider who this first comment is from, it doesn't really matter.  It comes from the "Fabulous Connie Dee" and concerns the Rest Room "Quote of the Day":

I have not had occasion to use the mens room for well over a year. I've always thought that it would be far riskier to do so, and, besides, I don't see myself as belonging in there at all. I've never been yelled at for using the ladies room, however. The mens room, though - well, I JUST WON'T STAND FOR IT!

I hesitate to get into any battle of the "wits" (half, dumb, dim) with Connie because I always lose. But I will say Connie is the one who urged me to start this blog back in the day and you noticed she didn't say she had used a women's room either in the last year.  Such is life in Seattle?

In Connie's next comment about one of my Mom's quotes, you will understand more of why I feel the way I do about her!  My Mom always said "life was like a roll of toilet paper, the closer you got to the end-the faster it goes."  Here is what Connie said:

"Cyrsti, I imagine that you have more paper on that roll, now that you are using much less of it to stuff those c cups. :)"

Thankfully Connie, that is true!!!!

I will have more of your comments tomorrow in our Cyrsti's Condo "Sunday Edition"!  Thanks to all of you-even Connie!

Cyrsti's Condo "What If"

Ha-ha!  The joke is going to be on the guys tonight when they come over to play cards-and I walk out with their beers!

Cyrsti's Condo "Fashion Break"

What girl doesn't love her shoes, genetic, cross dresser or transgender?

I thought you may be interested in a store who recently reached out to me with a follow on my Twitter account:
It's called  Le Dame Footwear and here is what they are all about: (from their site)

We are committed to bringing our customers fashionable, feminine-styled footwear in a large shoe size. Our high-quality, affordable footwear is designed to specifically to meet the needs of customers who wear a women’s size 10 ½ to 17 (wide) or a men’s size 9 to 15 (medium) in the latest styles. With reinforced heels for added stability and cushioned insoles for added comfort, Le Dame Footwear is crafted to accommodate the length and width of the larger foot. Our unique designs allow our customers to purchase a true large size that is both fashionable and sturdy, eliminating the need to choose between style and fit and giving you a product that you’re proud to wear. Le Dame Footwear is headquartered near Madison Wisconsin.

Plus they have a few stores around the U.S. and the world.  Check out their on line site here.

Cyrsti's Condo "What If?"

Surprise guys! You said our evenings were getting to be a drag!

The Yin and the Yang?

Two stories on the web this morning caught my eye offering up the differing directions the transgender community is going-both with positive results.

The first comes from Barnard College:

Barnard today announced that celebrated writer and activist Jennifer Finney Boylan (left) will join the College’s English faculty as the inaugural Anna Quindlen Writer-in-Residence. In this newly created position honoring one of Barnard’s most esteemed and dedicated alumnae, Boylan will teach two creative writing courses each year, while also engaging with Barnard students and faculty in various capacities that will support and enhance the College’s legacy of cultivating talented young writers. 

 “Jenny’s writing addresses some of the most pressing issues of our time, and working with her will be an extraordinary opportunity for our students and faculty,” said Barnard President Debora Spar. “Welcoming her to Barnard, while simultaneously honoring Anna Quindlen’s invaluable contributions to the craft of writing, marks a truly exciting moment for the College.”

The other is from New Zealand as Transgender modelling hopeful Amy Brosnahan will compete in the national final of the Battle of the Babes in Auckland. The 18-year-old made it into the final after competing in a heat last month. Organisers at one stage told her she couldn’t take part because she was transgender, but quickly changed their minds after some thought. They said they hadn’t known how to handle the situation, but Brosnahan says ultimately everyone was welcoming at her heat. If she wins, the next stop will be competitions in Hong Kong.