[Marian]

Hi Emma
Although Di only appears for a relatively short period in the programmes narrative, I, like June, was impressed with the support given by Di’s partner. This takes a special kind of woman and definitely a ‘keeper’. This said, if my recollection of the programme is correct, Di was upfront and honest with her prospective partner before their relationship developed. It would not be easy for a wife or partner to come to terms with the revelation that her “significant other” has a predilection to dressing in her gender. I know a lot of members face that challenge and have to deal with a somewhat begrudged acceptance for the sake of the relationship. But even this level of acceptance speaks volumes for the accomodations that women do make at times.
Hope you enjoy the story if not the presenter.
Hugs
Marian

[Marian]

Good point Caroline. It was and remains a classic. Regards Marian

[Marian]

Hi Ladies. I note no one has made mention of the “Rocky Horror Picture Show” as yet. This is a film that still has audiences dress up for annual screening events and in many respects provided the opportunity for some of us to come out of the closet. So I started to wonder how influential that film was and or how it was perceived within the CD/Trans community at the time…..or still is for that matter. Anyhow a recent trawl through the net took me to this anonymously written post that sought to answer that (Appended below) . I am not saying that I either agree or disagree with it but it provides one perspective that I struggled to articulate. And it reminds us that we all have different but no less relevant responses (at least to us as individuals) to movies and tv shows that incorporate a Trans theme. Whatever yanks our chain I guess.

Hugs Marian

Q. What’s the perception of the Rocky Horror Picture Show within the Trans community?

“That’s completely open to interpretation. At the time, it was considered a challenge to social norms. The writers were LGBTQ+, some of the cast was LGBTQ+, the characters broke free of standard gender and sexuality, etc. etc.

Of course, when we look back on it now, with current societal standards, and the development of the LGBTQ+ community since then, it’s easy to say, “This is wrong,” or, “This is offensive,” but at the time, it was awesome. Like, it was incredible for this to even exist, much less receive the hype that it did.

It’s kind of a love-or-hate film, honestly. I love it, but a lot of trans followers hate it (this has come up before). It’s okay to love it, and it’s okay to hate it. Films give different individuals different feelings and ideas, and there’s nothing wrong with that.”

[Marian]

Hi Glenda. Good topic. Although it was a complete fabrication for the benefit of movie goers I thought that actor Chris Williams portrayal of Tina the transvestite in the Worlds Fastest Indian hit the spot for me. Great actor and a very sensitively portrayed scene in the movie. Roger Donaldson the Australian born New Zealand film director said that he included the transgender scene because he wanted to show the full range of the great Burt Munro’s character which included his unique quality of being both colour and gender blind in his relationships with people.
Regards Marian

[Marian]

Hi Josephine
Having liberated myself from the mental and physical abuse of the Catholic Christian Brothers and Lay teachers of the late 1950’s and through the 1960’s in Ireland I have a natural aversion to matters of Christian Faith whilst acknowledging the great work that is done under its auspices and agencies. That said, it is refreshing and indeed comforting to hear from someone like yourself, of a later generation and from a more pragmatic and progressive faith. That you have embraced your calling in a manner that gives expression and endorsement to your own disposition, and by implication, of others in the Trans community is truly inspirational. Having gone through your website in the small hours, the evidence of your unique approach and effort is apparent. I can well imagine the journey you have been on, the challenges you would have faced, and your clear persistence with defining yourself and others like you within a Christian context. Thanks for the share and the great website. Regards Marian

[Marian]

Great series of posts. Time I put my skirt and heels back on and ventured out too. Nothing as liberating. Although I know it’s off topic a tad, and apologies in advance for this, but I have been concerned of late that the Same Sex Marriage debate seems to have dragged up some anti Trans sentiment at times and one that had been slowly eroding over time to the extent that there was clearly greater acceptance of us. As a new Australian of many decades I was surprised that my home country Ireland fully embraced it and moved on to more important matters. Anyhow I just say all of this within the context of wanting to go out more but aware that our country has been polarised by debate around SS unions but that at times the gender debate has been dragged into the melee. Thanks again for the posts on getting out more. Cannot wait for next year’s TF but better get some practice in before then. Hugs to all of you out there. Marian

[Marian]

Thanks for your great post Josephine. You are an inspiration.
Regards Marian

[Marian]

I fully agree with Adrian and her eloquent and appropriate rebuttal of Rev Smiths flawed concept of gender. I too preface this response with an apology to anyone if I offend their core religious beliefs: there being no such intent or inclination to do so.

That said, I would have thought that the Christian faith has one or two more pressing issues to pontificate about than trying to explain away our particular predilection in such a simple yet no less distorted narrative.

Then again the good Reverend has form when it comes to defending what is a rigid interpretation of his theist beliefs. Fundamentally he attempts to explain away our essential attributes within the context that some of us can be naturally cured of our affliction as we emerge from adolescence or beyond that with suitable psychiatric intervention. A couple of years ago he wrote an article for the “Gospel Coalition”, a journal for students of theological and religious studies wherein he betrayed the same kind of arrogance when addressing what he considered was the “Amorality of Atheism”. In this he professed a similar binary view despite his not so subtle attempt at impartiality. When you write an article with chapter headings such as “Atheist Delusions”, and “The Folly of Atheism” and sums up his discourse by proposing that there can be only two views that students have to consider wherein he states that: “every attempt to maintain both morality and atheism is simply an exercise in intellectual incoherence”. So there is the choice: “maintain atheism and embrace amorality or maintain morality and embrace theism” quote. The Reverend Smith is a fundamentalist to the core and his challenge is not how his faith can embrace and or intellectualise the diversity challenge it faces: his challenge is how to cure us!

Like Emma (whose response I equally enjoyed) I was brought up in a strict and traditional Catholic household and community. Whilst the various Christian Faiths have, at times, sought to be more accommodating of our natural inclinations, the bottom line is we represent an increasing problem for them: amongst the many others they have.

Apologies if I drifted off topic a tad but I enjoyed Adrian’s unique way of analysing and dissecting the Rev Smith’s poorly veiled attempts to profess an insightful understanding of the issues we face whilst prescribing various remedies we need. Lastly, and on the subject of the suicide rate amongst the transgender population. This matter was raised in a news media broadcast a couple of days ago when a right wing US politician challenged a former serving officer in the Marine Corps who did two tours of duty in Iraq before coming out as trans. The former marine was, needless to say, defending the right of trans folk to join and or stay in the military. The politician raised the issue of their higher suicide rate as a prime example of why transgenders in the military were a liability. The former marine acknowledged the statistics but appropriately raised the issue of suicides amongst the transgender population as a consequence of not being accepted for who they are and what they want to be, its attendant stresses: and often tragic outcomes. We have a long way to go in our pursuit of a gender blind society.

Regards to All.

Marian

[Marian]

Thanks for your advice Jane. I agree with you that it is the only practical way to ensure correct fit and save time and money. And I admire your courage as obviously you go to the store dressed as the lady you are and as your profile pictures clearly attest to. If you do go to a specialty store in male mode you would have to be taking your forms with you in any event to ensure they evenly and effectively fill out the cups. Same amount of courage required: at least from my perspective. In the current absence of said courage the bra fitting demonstration planned for Transformal is a must attend; and in the interim I applaud girls like you who just go out and do it and get on with the life of the Woman you have chosen to be. Thanks again for your post and response to me. Hugs Marian

[Marian]

Caty
Thanks for another of your interesting and imagination teasing posts. Always a must read. You raise a subject of immediate relevance to me in respect to bra / breastforms sizes. I decided to drop a breastform size to a number 6 which I assume approximated a C Cup. I purchased a Fayreform 16C bra and the combination fits very well; and with the more modest projection of the size 6 forms achieving the desired result. The exception to this was that the 16C band width was too tight for comfort requiring a bra extender. So when I ordered new bras recently I ordered an 18C assuming that the cup size would be the same. Wrong! I need to fill these bras with a size 7 breastform or even larger. The mysteries of cup size vs band width continue for me. Clearly I need to avail myself of the bra fitting lecture that Adrian talked about recently. As a keen observer however not as a model. I would leave that experience for our younger and more courageous members.
Regards
Marian

[Marian]

They carry off the voices pretty well I thought. Thanks for the interesting share.

[Marian]

Forgot to attach the links. Apologies girls
Regards
Marian
https://m.youtube.com/watch?v=QVkU025_9HM

[Marian]

Great post Emma. Food for thought. Your observations will be relevant to many: and certainly to me. Thanks for sharing.
Regards
Marian

[Marian]

Good post Josephine and the attached article with it well worth the read. Gives confidence to those of us, perhaps like me, who worry about getting older and wonder how we will deal with our need to be who we really are and dress the way we prefer as we age. Shows you that it is never too late. I read through a collection of the comments arising from this well written article and noted the level of support from a cross section of the respondents. As one would expect there were the usual redneck views expressed but on the whole they were very positive. Thank you for sharing this welcome and timely post. Regards Marian

[Marian]

Thanks for the photos Martina. It was wonderful to meet you at this amazing fun filled and liberating event. Had a great time.
Regards
Marian