Cheerleading

[Jaye]

I would like to say first off that I do not think of myself as a stereotypical crossdresser. I don't have too many fantasies, and I don't have a closet full of costumes. That said, I've been asked to be a cheerleader.

Well, not me personally. One of the waitresses at Hartigan's, the bar where KB have their dinner meetings, is a player for the Carolina Queens, the local franchise of the Women's Professional Football League. She's asked the KB membership if anyone was interested.

I've never done anything like this before, but suddenly I'm interested. Part of me is afraid that TG cheerleaders will add a sideshow aspect to things, but there are plenty of people who already have that idea about women playing football, so I say f*** 'em.

[Virginia]

jaye,
Honey need I say it --- We only go around once on this "veil of tears!"
Just think about Jaye 5 years or 10 years from now sitting there reflecting on ----- well just reflecting and saying to herself - "Damn I wish I had......... (whatever!)" That is sad. I have some what the same delimna on a much smaller scale. Roanioke is having its annual "pride in the Park" this coming Sunday and I am actually having second thoughts about going - why?? I don't know, but with your post and this thread, I am now about 90% going and 10% thinking about it!
You go girl, who knows if you will get another opportunity like this and you will serve us well as our ambassador!!
Love you,
Virginia

[DonnaT]

Jaye, don't forget the Washington "Skins" have the Hogettes cheering them on. One example of men dressing up to cheer their team.

[KristenS]

I've done a number of NFL halftime shows and was in the closing ceremonies for the 1996 Olympics. At all of those, my look was a soft neutral. Being a cheerleader would be great, I would love to given the chance, go for it!!!!

[Kendra Lynn]

Hello all: Jaye-- have a great time and let us know how it turns out. Will you be putting the cheer squad together or is someone else handling that?
Actually I have some experience in this area...
My first time "out" was Halloween 1996 and I was dressed as a cheerleader! The irony here is that in high school I was a hippie sympathizer, so all I could do with the cheerleaders then was look at them at the "pep assemblies" we all had to attend. Cheerleaders and hippies did not mix in those days. (at least, not in my high school in the late 1960's).
But now...
I have continued to explore the cheerleader thing and came up with the idea of combining hippie/alternative/"green" politics with cheerleading. Some of you may have read about "radical cheerleaders," these are generally groups of college age folks who perform at anti-war, women's rights protests, and similar events. They generally make their own outfits and their politics can be quite radical. Their cheers often include notorious four letter words.
My concept was similar, but not quite so edgy. I do buy the outfits (and they're not cheap, but I want to look as much like the "real thing" as possible) and I would not use those four letter words in the cheers. Imagine, if you will, the character of Sandy Olson (version seen for most of the film-- cute & sweet) from GREASE fused with the ideology of the "GREEN PARTY"-- that's where I want to go.
I have appeared at a number of protests in full cheer drag. What I'd like to do is form a cheerleader group like "CHEERLEADERS FOR PEACE" or "CHEERLEADERS FOR THE ENVIRONMENT" or "CHEERLEADERS FOR IMPEACHMENT."
I do not support the conventional sports industry, but there is a women's football team in the D.C. area and I met some of the team members a few years ago at a Mardi Gras parade in Arlington, Virginia. I was, of course, in full cheer drag at the time.
There does seem to be an interest in cheerleading from a small (but significant) part of the T community.
Jaye:So... Good luck with your "cheer career" and if you have any questions, feel free to send me a private message.
Peace'n'Luv to everyone-- Kendra Lynn.

[Gaven McLaren]

I have been drawn to cheerleaders from the 5th grade when I was attracted to a girl in my class who was a cheerleader for the school. I did not know it then but it was not just her but the outfit I was attracted to. If it were not so expensive I would buy a full cheerleader outfit. Eastbay has a great selection of them for a good price but it is over $100 dollars to get the whole outfit.

[Kendra Lynn]

Good "cheer" to all!
The most fun I have as a CD is "doing it in public," not just at designated T-safe events and locations.
Today the Kennedy Center hosted a number of Louisiana/Gulf Coast acts including a tribe of New Orleans "Mardi Gras Indians" (THE WILD MAGNOLIAS) as part of their annual OPEN HOUSE festival!
I figured New Orleans folks could deal with a CD cheerleader (in a bright red & gold outfit!) and was not disappointed! I got a photo with one of the "Indians." If you've never seen a Mardi Gras Indian-- they wear very elaborate and colorful costumes including headdresses.
What was also interesting is that I interacted with many people while in the cheerleader ensemble. Nobody flinched. I even had a mini reunion with an English musician who turned up playing keyboards with Nanci Griffith's band.
Of course there were er... interesting reactions from young teenagers.
I've attended a few music events recently which have made wonder if cheerleader routines were (and/or could be) influenced by folk/ethnic dance moves.
It's been a long day...
Peace'n'Luv-- Kendra Lynn.