Loiza Lamers

We recently ran the news about  the UK's first transgender Top Model contestant  and were remiss in leaving out the first trans woman on America’s Next Top Model, Isis King, who competed on cycle 11 and returned for the 17th ‘All-Stars’ season.

But, Holland’s Next Top Model was the first to be crowned the franchise’s trans winner, Loiza Lamers, in 2015.

Loiza Lamers

Isis King

Spoiled?

I hope I didn't ruin anybody's viewing experience on the "Gender Revolution", Katie Couric's transgender special on the National Geographic channel! Perhaps I should have put a spoiler alert except for Australia:

1. Brenda OliverFebruary 7, 2017 at 3:45 PM

   I found it interesting to find that the documentary was shown in Australia a bit over a week BEFORE it was shown in America.

   
   
2. 
   FABULOUSCONNIEDEEFebruary 7, 2017 at 4:53 PM

   I suppose that no spoiler alert was necessary for most of the trans world, then. I recorded it for viewing tonight, yet I was anticipating the SOS. Still, I watch these things just to see what the average person may have the opportunity to learn. There is a need to counteract the Jerry Springer-type shows, anyway.

   
   
3. Brenda, I have no idea of why the showing times would be that different, unless the shows were different and tailored specifically to Australians which would make sense to me. Maybe Jeni can comment on it (she is from Australia?)
4. Connie, as I mentioned before, this show could have major implications if it went further than "just speaking to the choir."
5. Finally, have you all heard the rumors of Saturday Night Live (45's fave show)  perhaps trying to line up Rosie O'Donnell to impersonate scary right winger Steve Bannon and Dennis Leary to play "alternate fact" guru Kellyanne Conway?  Only in America! (45 is Trumper)
6. I wish I could have used the "alternate fact" line on my parents when I was trying to work my way around the many tough spots I was in growing up!  

Tallulah-Eve Brown

From Gay Star News:

Britain’s Next Top Model has cast its first ever transgender contestant.

Tallulah-Eve Brown, 22, will be starring in the 11th series of the hit UK and Irish version of the Top Model franchise.

Out of the 142 contenders to be on the show, Brown is the first contestant to come out as trans.

Follow the link above for more.

Rating Katie?

Last night National Geographic's presentation of the Gender Revolution aired in this part of the world at least with host Katie Couric.

Dr. Marci Bowers

Some on social media called it boring or at the best a Transgender 101 primer. For those of us who have lived a trans experience, indeed some of the show seemed a little tedious to me. Except for the exchange between trans pioneer Renee Richards, and Hari Nef a self described "gender fluid" 20 something.  I for one have never really liked Richards persona although obviously I don't know her. She is like someone's mean grandmother. The gender fluid girl talked of a time when gender wouldn't matter and Richards huffed "Utopia" before the interview came to a rather uncomfortable end.

Hari Nef

Renee Richards

Other parts of the two hour show contained an interview with famed SRS surgeon Marci Bowers, and later a look at the El Pollo Loco franchise in California owned by a transgender woman. She makes a good habit of hiring other trans women.

The link above should take you to a Global News site which gives a more in depth look at the show, Here is an excerpt:

“It was an effort to educate the public about transgender individuals, and ironically, what people didn’t realize is that it was a taped show, and I could have taken that part out,” said Couric. “But I tried to use it as a teachable moment, and to show people there are appropriate and inappropriate ways to have these conversations. But I think, obviously, I had a lot to learn then, and I still … I’m not the world’s expert on gender issues. I certainly know a lot more having done this documentary.”

A teachable moment indeed if the word on this show which included the rest room battle in North Carolina, a transgender kids summer camp and a senior citizen transitioner and her wife reaches the right people.

Quite a bit of ground to cover in two hours when you consider the first half hour focused on intersex people. I have provided another link to National Geographic itself where you maybe able to catch the show.

News From Around the World

Myanmar transgender model Ma Myo Ko Ko San

7 February 2017

by Shannon Power

  

A transgender model was held with male prisoners after she was arrested on suspicion of defamation in Myanmar.

Ma Myo Ko Ko San, 23, her country at the Miss International Queen 2014 beauty pageant. She was arrested as she arrived back to Myanmar from a trip to Thailand.

She was arrested in January on the allegations of defamation. It was alleged she defamed actress Wut Hmone Shwe Yi, 28, on the country’s most popular celebrity gossip page Cele Cele Small.

For more go here.

R.I.P Gila Goldstein

Gila Goldstein, who some consider the first out transgender in Israel, fought for her life in recent days in intensive care in a Tel Aviv hospital. Though she was under anesthesia and on a respirator, community members kept visiting her on a daily basis, in order to strengthen her and give her love even in her last moments. Goldstein died early Sunday morning, February 5.

Rest in Peace!

How Exhausting Is It? Part II

I'm always happy when Connie writes part of my blog for me, which makes it less exhausting!

"Your title reminds me of the in-unison question Johnny Carson's audience would ask to help him set up a series of one-liners. Being a transgender woman is so exhausting..."How exhausting is it?"...It's so exhausting that, by the time I've gotten ready to go out, I'm ready to go back to bed...It's so exhausting that I can hardly climb high enough to get into my heels...It's so exhausting that my neck is worn out from constantly looking over my shoulder...

One of the demarcation points leading to my own transition was when I realized it was more exhausting to put up a male facade than it was to be myself - the woman. The days of closeted cross dressing were all about the "transformation", relishing each step: the makeup, the wig, the undergarments, and the clothing. There wasn't much to do when all of that was completed but to admire myself in the mirror, so I exhausted nothing but time.

 Later, going out as my transformed self was exhilarating, but more exhausting than I would be realizing in the moment. Although I still can spend too much time getting ready some mornings, it has now become so routine that the thrill of it is, for the most part, gone. The one thing I would say is exhausting, if not just plain tedious, is shaving my face. A very close shave, one that will last the whole day, cannot be rushed. 

Now that I have to take blood thinners, I must be that much more careful, as any little nick may take an hour or more for the bleeding to stop. I can only marvel at my wife, who can roll out of bed at 6:40 AM, shower, get herself ready, and be at the bus stop at 7:00 AM. I spend that much time just for the shower and shave! Speaking of my wife, my transition can be as exhausting for her as it is for me. 

So, how exhausting is it? Who cares?!?! As long as one is tired FROM living her life to the limits, rather than tired OF living, it's a sign of time and energy well spent."

There is only one thing I want to know...who is Johnny Carson? :)

Seriously, well written!

How Exhausting is It?

First of all, a big congratulations to Stana at Femulate  on her 10th anniversary as a blogger...as Paula recently commented (thanks!) it is a huge task attempting to write a daily blog and stay relevant at all! By comparison I have been at it about five years and I sometimes can't imagine going ten! Way to go Stana!!!!!

Speaking of exhausting, I scanned a post recently about how exhausting it is being transgender. Well, it is for a number of reasons. First, your exterior appearance alone takes up quite a bit more time. All of the sudden the routine daily drag (no pun intended) of what you are presenting to the world takes a totally different spin. Unless you have the will power and finances, like me...I take a half hour to face the world.

An example was yesterday when we woke to a flat tire on one of the cars and I had to call my auto club for a free repair. He got here around nine and I was up much earlier to just get ready to face him in boots jeans and sweater.

Oddly enough, I used my trans privilege and received a nice coupon to take the car to the shop for a tire repair. The driver couldn't have been nicer.

Years ago, I was asked the question what kind of woman would I become? You regulars know I'm very casual externally but internally I think I am much like my Mom, who was for the most part hell on wheels. And, for that reason, I honored her by taking her name as my middle name.

Yes, it's been a long road from my initial scary steps as a girl so many years ago, but as exhausting as the trip had been at times (I wish I had the energy I wasted back) the exhilaration has been nearly as exciting.

Plus the trip isn't over yet. In many ways I still believe it is just beginning.

TGIF

Indeed, another Friday is here in the Cyrsti's Condo and since I have exhausted my life story experiences (mostly), material is sketchy.

This post goes way back to a simpler day in the early 1960's before LGBT and transgender were part of my and most others thought patterns. As you may or may not remember, transvestites were considered to be mentally ill. For me at least, these days even predated Virginia Prince.

I did have a few more responses to being "home alone" and the precious times we all remember. I was fortunate in that both of my parents worked but I had a two year younger super inquisitive brother who seemingly was always hanging around being a pest. So being totally alone and having free roam of the house and yard (since we didn't have any neighbors) was rare.

Dad built his own house and little did he know the long straight hallway he built in was a cross dresser's dream up to and including the full length mirror at the end.

Our mailbox was about 50 yards from the house down a winding driveway to the road which back in those days was very untraveled. Most of the time I could walk down the driveway feeling the delicious air on my nylon covered legs without ever seeing a car. Which was probably a good thing.

Unlike some of you (Connie) I never was able to spend the night by myself as a girl, so the nightgown experience was mostly out.

Of course the fear of discovery was always there, which truthfully added a little spice to the whole experience. But, as good experiences always go, the time alone went all too soon.