Practice, practice, practice....

Anne Bonny · Post by **Anne Bonny** » Thu Sep 15, 2011 9:39 am

Since school started I have had the luxury of dressing from 0700-1300 M-F. Logging hours I am finding are very important for me. I am finding out how comfortable I am in skirts and dresses, learning to put a look together from my modest wardrobe. I am gaining experience with make-up. And I am gaining confidence, the confidence to question the oppression of societies social mores against men who are like me. Why couldn't I tell my sons? I honestly believe there is a very good chance they would accept me - they certainly challenge conventional fashion with long hair, sometimes similar to Rod Stewart in his younger days, eyeliner, and black nail polish, slinder low riding jeans and tight t-shirts and slinder frames, though one son I suspect is more conventionally male - does not wear eyeliner or nail polish or spike his locks with jel. My younger 15y/o is just a rather typical son. I really believe strongly my older sisters would probably be quite opposed to this part of me, as would all of my wife's red necked southern bible belted family - they might push my wife to divorce me. But I suppose we all long for full acceptance of who we are by society - nothing new here - wouldn't we all like to be in our favorite skirt, heels, and full femm selves with our coworkers if they didn't bat an eye - full acceptance of who we are as individual people, or of society in general - since I am retired. I know I would probably have to leave my church or sincerely state in all humility that I have forsaken this part of myself. You know people believe we can just stop - while for us it would be like an amputation, or labotomy - impossible but we would be expected to swallow hard and not go there in public or private all the time! I was watching tv yesterday and an anchor and a psychiatrist were discussing Chaz Bonos upcoming appearance on dancing with the stars - and was outraged by this psychologist's belief that the DSM has been changed by those with a political agenda! Further this Dr believed that children would actually be psychologically harmed if they were to watch episodes featuring Chaz dancing with a female partner. He even stated that he would tell Chaz "You are NOT a man!" Well, I agree that no matter how we change our bodies we are still the sex we were born with - nothing can change that objectively but was glad the female anchor was strongly challenging this Doctor's views as failing to recognize that we were born like this and that nothing can change that, thus we should be allowed to be who we are in so many words, and that Chaz and her partner should be free to participate on national TV. Oh well... that's all for now. Oh, I obtained a copy of Charles Ander's book the Lazy Crossdresser and want to recommend it as a wonderful book, full of insights and advice on all things CD - It's a subversive manifesto! Ha! Wohoo!!!!!

Carolynn · Post by **Carolynn** » Thu Sep 15, 2011 10:13 am

Was the Psych that Dr. Keith Ablow? There have been several rebuttles by other psych types since his stupid rant on Fox News. Just consider the source, I suppose.

Anne Bonny · Post by **Anne Bonny** » Thu Sep 15, 2011 10:25 am

Yes it was, I was glad Megan gave the opposing view. Amazing, and sad that someone who is educated can be so closed minded and rigid in their opposition - I believe he hurt himself with many viewers here, though not all.

Anita · Post by **Anita** » Fri Sep 16, 2011 8:38 am

Charles Anders had written an article in our local San Francisco weekly, that appeared right around the time I was first going out. It was very useful to me. Later I met him as another perfomer at Trannyshack, where I started doing my lip-synch act in 2001. Whatever his stage or femme name might have been, I don't remember hearing it.

Gillian · Post by **Gillian** » Fri Sep 16, 2011 9:49 am

I saw Chaz Bono on Jay Leno a couple of weeks ago, and I thought it was a good interview. The audience seemed to be receptive and enjoyed his comments. I think that most of the world could care less about people that have had a sex change. It is the news media and the nut cases that stir it up. Like the expression goes," I might like Smokey the Bear, but I don't want my sister to marry him". Most don't give many issues a second thought until they move in next door, or want to marry into the family. It is then that ignorance takes on a new life of it's own.

Anne Bonny · Post by **Anne Bonny** » Fri Sep 16, 2011 11:04 am

Charles Anders is a performer? didn't know that but his little book which I was lucky to pick up for under $20 is a wonderful reference that I am sure I will refer to over and over again. Of course I see on Amazon the book going for well over $100. and I don't understand why a book should be so expensive, I wouldn't have bought it at that price, but I a certainly glad to have it. I would also like to place my picture on this site but no success thus far, cannot figure out how to make it 58KB and 100X100 something like that. It would be nice for people to see me when I post - it's a nice touch.

I do believe people like Chaz, and crossdressers have raised the attention of society for consideration as we fight for our rights, like a glacier the mountain of social acceptance is slowly being changed I believe, who knows in a few years we may be all over the place, and talking trash with GG's out there?

April Rose · Post by **April Rose** » Sat Sep 17, 2011 1:18 pm

I have a copy of "The Lazy Cross Dresser". I recommend it. It is both informative and fun. The femme name he uses in the book is Julia.

I understand (S)he is very involved in poetry and performance art as well.

Anne Bonny · Post by **Anne Bonny** » Mon Sep 19, 2011 8:05 am

There is so much information in Julia's book I have to return to it as a reference work - like the information on mosturizing, no wonder when my sisters come, and my wife has so many tubes and bottles of moisturizing lotions of different types, clensers, toners. And He talks about the four basics of make-up and the importance of using it to enhance your natural features not paint a clown face on. Good stuff....

Anthony Simon · Post by **Anthony Simon** » Mon Sep 19, 2011 9:00 am

Inspired by Anne's post I went to amazon.co.uk where they had a copy of the book for £9.99, which I ordered (UK source, so may not have come up on an amazon.com search). There's also a kindle edition available at £8.99 and some second hand ones at £20+ (From US sources).

Anne Bonny · Post by **Anne Bonny** » Wed Sep 21, 2011 10:50 am

Enjoy, there's alot there for the novice, and even advanced gals will pick up some pointers - at least I thought - I am not spamming, I am retired and never worked in publishing or writing.