The Jenner "revolution"

[Lydia]

Hi all
Bruce/Caitlin Jenner has really opened the floodgates. At least for me. However I cannot take full advantage - unless I can divest myself of about 30 years.
I have been a closet cross-dresser since chldhood. Happily married for almost 50 years to someone I loved enough to restrict my female side. Since her death, 20years ago, I have aquired a sympathetic and understanding SO.
Only recently have I “come out” to some close friends, and ready to go public. I no longer have to be concerned about a job, and I can pass quite nicely - as an old lady (not my image of myself that I had many years ago). At a ripe age of 93, that is the best I can expect, certainly too old for hormones or surgery.
To all my fellow girls , all I can say is “Take advantage of your youth, and go where your heart takes you”. The world has suddenly become kinder toward us.
Hugs,
Lydia

[DonnaT]

I think the acceptance is relatively the same as it has been, it's just more vocal now.

[Danielle R.]

I think you are right Donna the acceptance is going to be the same for us I don't look like the Caitlin I wish I had the money too look like her. Can't wait to read Vanity Fair and see what she has to say And thank you Lydia for your inspiration I hope I look as good as you at 94 and still dressing

[Carole Hill]

Congratulations on still being able to enjoy presenting yourself as a woman! How fortunate that you have someone with
whom to share.

Yes, many of us "wasted" our younger years because we were afraid, family obligations, circumstances, etc. However, I
do think that it becomes easier to pass or be accepted as an older woman. However, in my case, I can no longer wear
high heels due to balance problems (bummer).

Keep on enjoying!

[Davita]

Time to rally girls! Somebody invent outriggers for our heels so the balance challenged can still enjoy a nice heel!

As for Caitlyn, I'm holding back comment hoping she doesn't turn into a zoo of silliness. In the meantime, I'm understanding her boy boy boy bam! girl..... I'm out at work and I am having to go in drab some days and get my fem days some days and everyone is struggling with pronouns and names. For me what's real important is that they are trying and I think genuinely.

At work and Red Cross, Caitlyn has come up in conversation, including how did I feel about her. Everyone says how pretty she is; not many are talking about how brave she is. I am not sure she's any braver or crazier than I am. And heck, if I had her money I sure as heck wouldn't transition into an ugly old lady either.

[Ralitsa]

Don't know if any of you listen to The Thomas Jefferson Hour (by Clay Jenkins) on the radio, but this subject came up last week.
Interestingly, the opinion of Thomas Jefferson seemed to be that crossdressing and, shall we say gender ambiguity, was rather common then. People just had the discretion and manners to refrain from concerning themselves with the personal details of other people's lives. Obviously medical technology at the time did not enable transitioning, but apparently there were people then who chose to be the other gender to the extent that it was possible.
I guess the question I always have in situations like this is, why does anyone think they are allowed to offer an opinion on the subject? This is entirely her own business, and outside of her close friends and whichever family members she likes, nobody else has anything to do with it. So I categorically refuse to discuss her situation, on that basis.
Now if someone wants to talk about the subject in general, or about myself or about themselves then I think that is a useful conversation. Talking about other people, even if they are famous or a celebrity, seems to me just gossiping and really impolite.

Now on the subject of outriggers for heels, I think you may be on to something there Davita!. I will repair to my secret underground laboratory and get started on that

[Requal Jo]

Bruce/Caitlyn Jenner has been mentioned frequently in the news in Australia. The issue has bought out our first public transgender male to female, Carlotta, to write an article in today's Sunday Telegraph. Carlotta is one of the first recognised to have the operation which only cost her $5.00 for the signing of the consent form. The operation was done for free as an experiment. Carlotta still looks wonderful at age 65. She wonders how she would be today if she had had the resources available to her that Caitlyn has to her.

While the topic of transgender is becoming discussed more frequently, I feel that the acceptance level by society still has some way to go. The transition of high society persons certainly assists with this acceptance.

You look wonderful for your youthful age Lydia. We are only as young as we feel.

[Robyn]

Lydia, you’re an inspiration. I personally know a couple beautiful senescent ladies who present themselves with a refined class and style.

As for Caitlyn; I had an experience yesterday whereas it became apparent that the subject was causing a bit of stereotyping and confusion.

There’s a high-end wig shop nearby that I’ve been wanting to visit. Before going in I gave them a call simply to ensure they wouldn’t be surprised or uncomfortable when a crossdresser (transvestite) came in. I got dolled up in my favorite casual dress and headed out. While there I had one of the absolute best shopping experiences ever. I had so much fun with the ladies as we spent well over an hour chatting, laughing, and trying on all kinds of crazy wigs. However, what was interesting is that they struggled to grasp the concept that I was content as a heterosexual male. From all the media they naturally assumed I was either gay, and/or wanting to become a woman physically. Mind you, when dressed I’m very ladylike and my mannerisms don’t reflect my masculine side whatsoever, thus I could see how that contributed to their confusion. Nonetheless I did my best to educate them on the broad topic of transgender.

Good, bad, or indifferent, the media does influence the pubic.

[Anne Bonny]

Lydia age is no limit to who we are inside. you are an inspiration to us I am feeling past my prime with my feet wading into the lapping waters of the sea of ageing and I am only 58! It does not change who I am I will always be moving in and out of my feminine gender.

I do think We are seeing a change and part of that change is people are having to pay attention to us now, they know we are out here and that we are all over the country even the world. They are beginning to learn about us. We are able to dispel misconceptions about us that our friends, families and people we meet may have and are micro activists and educators. Acceptance is growing. Many will never accept us but as Robyn told me once I am free to be who I am and they are free not to like it that is profound it states that is just how things are so don't worry about it. Many Many more will come to see us properly, lose their fear and will come to accept that what they believe about gender is wrong and some people do not fit the dynamic of male=masculine, Female=feminine but that there are men and women who are born and fall either in between or are born in the wrong body. Once people understand this we are not a threat just normal people who happen to have gender variance of one degree or the other.

I do think Our day is dawning and that acceptance is coming for us at last!

[SarahMicheline]

In the UK cross dressing has been in the consciousness for many years. So many of our comedians have played parts as Pantomime Dames stretching back to the Victorians.

There are currently two high profile and celebrities (I use the term celebrities loosely as they are much more that “celebs”) notably Eddie Izzar a very popular transvestite comedian and also 2003 Turner Prize winneing artis artist and now TV arts commentator/thinker Grayson Perry and his alter-ego Claire (https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Grayson_Perry" onclick="window.open(this.href);return false; ).

[Heather W]

The question here should be "Has Caitlyn Jenner made it better for girls like us?" When I say girls like us I am lumping us all together from the occasional underdresser all the way up (or is down?) the food chain to us who are transitioning or have had GRS. Not sure she has although she has not harmed us or our lifestyle. What she has done is bring us into forefront and opened up more than a few conversations such as the one Robyn had. When I made my decision to transition I had a talk with the HR department at work. After they laid out the rules concerning it we had to have a talk with my supervisor. I was scared to death when we walked into his office. Fortunately the girl from HR did all the talking and explained the situation he looked at me and said "Gee, I just thought you were gay." This all took place a bit after Caitlyn came out so the subject was fresh in people's mind. So at least as far as I am concerned she has made things better for us.