1 Pretty T Girls The Magazine for the most beautiful girls in the world

A publication of Pretty T Girls Yahoo group 2 In This Issue

Page Editorial By: Barbara Jean 3 Compromising with Your Spouse. By: Teri Lynn 5 Teri Lee Ryan 8 Biggest Mistakes You Make Shaving Your Legs 11 A No Makeup Makeup Look in 5 Steps 12 How to Fix The Most Regrettable Makeup Mistakes 14 Makeup Mistakes Your Making In Photos and How to Fix Them 15 The Adventures of Judy Sometimes 17 Módhnóirí 18 Tasi’s Musings 21 Fiction Story– Uncorked, Introduction and Chapter 1 26 Ten Transgender Historical Figures Worthy of Film 30 Humor 35 Angels In The Centerfold 36 Mellissa’s Tips 38 Diane Pemberton Sikes 44 10 Colors You Should Wear More Often 47 Tasi’s Fashion 50 Pencil Skirts For Every Shape 53 Lucille Sorella 55 The History Of Breast Implants 58 From The Kitchen 63 How To Cook Almost Anything In Your Crock Pot 66 14 Cooking Hacks Every Cook Should Know 68 A Yelp to Help Trans People Find A Doctor 73 How To Maximize Closet Space 74 Let’s Get Together 77 The Gossip Fence 81 Shop Till You Drop 91 Calendar 104 3 Stop! Police! An Editorial by: Barbara Jean

In Houston the equal rights ordinance failed, opponents calling it a bathroom bill and their rally cry was no men in women’s bathrooms. In California opponents circulated a petition to put a bill on the 2016 ballot that would fine us $4000 for using the bathroom that did not conform to our birthsex. Fortunately they failed to gather enough signatures to put their pill on the ballot. In Indiana a lawmaker theresubmits a bill that would throw us in jail for using the “wrong” bathroom. Public schools throughout our nations are finding themselves faced with the threat of losing title IX funding unless they allow us to use bathrooms locker rooms and showers that align with our gender rather than our birth sex. Presidential candidate Ben Carson proposes that there should be separate bathrooms for the transgender. (a throwback to pre civil right era when there were separate bathrooms for white people and for colored people)

Of course our opponents claim that in allowing us to use the bathroom/locker room or shower that matches our gender will allow some man to dress as a woman, claim to be transgender just so theycan go into a woman’s restroom to either peak under the door ormolest some woman or little girl. Yet where state or local laws do allow us to use the restroom that aligns with our gender there has never been such a thing happen. We of the transgender community have never created such a problem and no non transgender pervert have ever pretended to be transgender for such a purpose.

Our fight to these bills was to have our transgender brothers, the female to Male transgender proceed to use ladies rooms. We especially wanted those that very much looked more like a man than a woman.

Many a times at sporting events, concerts and other events with a large number of people it is somewhat common to see women use the men’s restroom due to long lines to the ladies room. I wonder how many of them would find themselves being arrested or fined for using the “wrong” restroom?

Many universities and some cities have created or changed single occupancy restroom to be gender neutral, and a few even have required all single occupancy restrooms to be made gender neutral. Many of us in the transgender community would actually prefer to use these restrooms. Just as others want privacy and do not wish to display their body to others neither do we. But requiring us to use such restrooms, showers or locker rooms amounts to the same thing as requiring colored people to use different restrooms than white people used.

I often wonder why here in the United States and some other countries we have great problem with being in any form of undress in front of someone of the opposite sex, but not in front of 4 someone of the same sex. Are we all ashamed of our bodies? Many nations in Europe do not have the same hang-ups and nudityis not frowned on like it is here. Parents who object to a transgender MtF using the same shower/locker room as their daughter, how would they react if it was a known lesbianseeing their daughter in thesamestate of undress?

Over the past year the transgender communityhas made great strides in gaining public acceptance and understanding. But as we cansee the battle is not over, we still have a long wayto go to be fullyaccepted and treated with equality.

http://www.sisterhouse.net/style-contest-2016/.

Sister House, in collaboration with Choies, a trendy but moderately priced women’s shop for clothing and accessories, is sponsoring a style contest for ladies in the transgender and crossdressing community. Details are here http://www.sisterhouse.net/style-contest-2016/. Prizes will be awarded for the three winners. Style reflects who you are, both your inner and outer self. I am proud of the many stylish ladies in our community and would like to showcase that woman within us. Please join in. 5 COMPROMISING WITH YOUR SPOUSE

Teri Lynn [email protected]

Ladies, I've been reading thestruggles manyof you have with having to decide whether cross-dressing is more important than your marriage.

As many of you know, I pretty much live as a woman 24/7 --- with exceptions. Years ago, when I told my wife about my cross-dressing, we had to make some difficult decisions. First, my wife consulted with professionals aboutmysituation. She was told that it is not curable,so she had two choices - stay and tolerate/accept it, or leave. And tolerating or accepting is not the same as embracing cross-dressing.

With that information in-hand, there was no question in hermind - she would stay, but it wasn't all roses. We made a commitment to each other - "for better or for worse, in sickness and in health", etc., and she and I intended to honor that commitment because it wasn't a thoughtless act when we entered into it.

I must mention, that just because the professionals toldmywife that my cross-dressing was not curable, and she didn't throw me out, did not mean that she opened her arms and embraced it. Not knowing anything about cross-dressing, other than it was not curable, left her withmanyquestions.

Fortunately, before I told her about my cross-dressing, I was on the Web and found Tri- Ess. Theyhad some good information,which Igotfor mywife to read. In those days,no one else had any information available. Oh yes, I started "dressing" way before Al Gore invented the Internet, but that was insecret, at home and years later, when I got married, I thought that I would be cured of my desires; and for eight years I "dressed" only when my wife would take the kids to visit their grandparents. Sometimes, because of work, I couldn't be gone over the weekends and, if I wasn't called out to work, that allowed me a day on which to "dress", with no one at home.

By the time I told my wife about y cross-dressing, we had children, so my wife had some rules about my cross-dressing. First, she did not want me to cross-dress when the children were present. Secondly, she wanted me to keep my cross-dressing private. We lived in a very small, conservative community, so she did not want the neighbors to know. For many years, I "dressed" only on Fridays when I was off and had to be changed before the kids got home from school. And, because my wife was afraid that if she went out with me, someone might spot us and tell our kids or our friends, my cross-dressing was a solo adventure for many years. 6 During those years, I relied heavily upon the support I received from attending local Tri-Ess meetings. In fact, for many years, Tri-Ess meeting were the onlyoutings I had in public.

Fast forward. - After 15 years of living in our small rural community, we moved back to the city. A few years later, our kids were in college and eventuallyout on their own. Nowmylife changed. I retired. With the kids gone and not having to worry about someone at work confronting me on a Monday morning at work, about having seen me in public, cross-dressed, my world opened up.

Let me interject here, that in Law Enforcement, cross-dressing was an absolute NO NO! (Still is.) Lesbians were accepted because they were viewed as being tough by acting macho. They were considered as "one of the boys". Cross-dressers were viewed as sissies, weaklings, faggots, etc., etc. I caught on quickly to that attitude by overhearing co-workers discussing something they saw on TV, about cross-dressers. Usually, what they saw was cross-dressers on Jerry Springer, or Maury's show and those CD's were seldom a good example of CD's. I certainlywouldn't go on TVand let people seeme inmyboyunderwear and show them how I transform myself into fem-mode, as the CD's on these shows did. Comments I heard in the office, after one of these shows included: "Those sickos ought to be shot." "Someone should cut their b---s off". "Those are the rapists and child-molestors", etc., etc., we have to deal with.

Now in Retirement, I began going out in public during the daytime, but it was a roughstart. I had two Peace Officers and the parents of a local Officer, living on our street. I'll spare you all the details - whichsome ofyou have read over the years - buteven in the city, there are folks who object to cross-dressers.

In the Spring of 2009, one neighbor saw me walking my dog, while dressed en-fem and called the Police,sayingshe was afraid for her young kids, and other kids, as I was walking bytheir house and the park. The Police told her that there was nothing theycould do, because I was not doing anything illegal. Well, because it came to the attention of the Police, I got "outed".

Alocal Officer told his hygenist, who happened to be mynephew's wife, that I was going around the neighborhood, cross-dressed. Naturally, she told her husband, who told his cousin (our son). The shit hit the fan! He called me about it. We had a tough discussion and then he dropped the subject. He has never confronted me about it since. I'm sure that because he is also a Police Officer, he has encountered cross-dressers before. Mostly, I think our son was angry because a fellow Officer now knew about my cross-dressing and maybe that make think that our son is alsoso inclined. That wouldn't be good.

After being "outed" to ourson, I decided that I did not want our daughter to be blindsided, so I told her. Idid notwanther to feel betrayed,byfinding outfrom someone else. Itwas an agonizing situation. She is very much against cross-dressing and we had some tough times. Thankfully, today, our kids still talk tome and our relationship has weathered thestorm, 7 although theystill don't want to see me as "Teri Lynn", and I respect that.

So,after manyyears oftrials,mywife and Iare atthe stage,where we now go outtogether as girlfriends. Oh, shestill doesn't want our familyor close friends to seeme in fem-mode and she still isn't thrilled about my cross-dressing, but she understands that cross-dressing is as much a partofme as ismyblood. Does thatmean thatIcan do anything Iwantto? NO! She still won't let me get myears pierced - although I'm always trying to convince her otherwise; but untilshe agrees, I will not dishonor her request. We have to respect each others desires.

This year was amilestone. In Jan.,we took the RVto the south coast. We stopped to visita long-time friend, who was in our wedding as an Attendant. Mywife always liked John and thought, during the years, that I should not tell him about my cross-dressing, because she didn'twanthim to ridicule me. John is the sensitive type,buthe is also a bitofa teaser. One dayI was talking to John and told him about my"Halloween Adventure". I told him that I sort of liked dressing up and eventually told him that I now "dress" all the time. I asked whether he or his wife would mind if I showed up at their house, on our trip, dressed as "Teri Lynn". He and his wife said it would be OK with them. I told John not to make any wisecracks, but to act as if there was nothing unusual about seeing me in fem-mode. So, on the wayto the beach, we stopped at John's house. The reception I got was very pleasant. John and Ida told me how wonderful Ilooked. John even tookme to a baitshop forsupplies. While we were shopping, Ida toldmywife how feminine and nice I looked and that she could be proud that I didn't look like a cross-dresser, but that I looked even better than some women. Her acceptance of me, as Teri, made my wife more comfortable. The ice was broken. During the week,John & Ida came to the beach to visitand we all wentinto town for dinner,withme in Teri-mode. Seeing that one of my closest friends accepted me as "Teri" made my wife feel alot better. Yes, we have traveled across the country, with me in fem-mode - gone to restaurants, churches, museums, shows, etc., but that was amongst strangers. For my wife, it's different if family or friends were to see me.

Let me brieflyaddress a topic that I frequentlyhear - Transitioning.

No, Caitlyn has not done much, if anything to make life easier for our spouses accepting our CD/TG status. If anything, she has scared out spouses. Caitlyn has gone through her change like a whirlwind. She has lost her wife/familyand is now probablyon the road to getting SRS andmarriage. Well, that's the last thing ourspouses want to hear - that we want to transition. Hey, theymarried aman! Is it fair to now change theman theymarried into a woman? Oh yes, some of you don't feel fulfilled until you transition. If you're single, that's fine. If you're married, not being considerate of your spouse, regardless of how YOU feel, is inconsiderate.

Yes, I have a burning desire to transition, but I know that I could never do that to mywife. What? I'm going to destroyher life to make ME happy. How is that compromise? (I feel so blessed that my wife is OK with my cross-dressing and goes out with me as a girlfriend - even 8 buys me fem clothes, make-up, etc.) So, before destroying your marriage & family, to make YOU happy, think carefullywhether theyalso have a right to be happy! Whatever your decision - hurry SLOWLY!

Teri Lynn

Unexpressed Anger Kills Marriages by Terri Lee Ryan

Many cross-dressers on their journey to getting in touch with their femme side don’t fully acknowledge their need to dress, until many years into their marriage. They were attracted to their mothers or sisters clothing when they were 5 or 6 years old, act out on it at 9 and continue to doso until their teens when they become more interested in dating. As one of my cross-dresser friends says, “I became more interested in getting into my girlfriend’s bra, rather then wearing one!”

While in their teens, they act out in puberty like any other boy looking for sex. The need to cross-dress becomes less important as their lives are filled with finishing high school and college, dating and figuring out what career they are going to take on to support themselves. Some feel that they have outgrown this desire.

Some occasionally dress into their 20’s, still not sure why they feel compelled to do so. Many seek help from a therapist to get answers as to why they dress. A majority of them are told that there is nothing wrong with them that they are just a cross-dresser. “Now what?” They say.

Afraid to reveal this femme side of themselves to their girlfriend, they often purge thinking that they don’t need to dress. They continue working on their career, get married and have children. They provide for their families while keeping their cross- dressing past a secret, vowing never to tell their wife and family about their femme side.

Purging is common with Years go on and one day they are traveling for work. They are cross-dresseers all alone in a city far from their family in a hotel room and the thought of dressing becomes an obsession. Their need to let the she out in them arises and they buy woman’s clothing to take with them on their business trips. They look forward to this time alone in a safe environment, where they can not get caught. Many times they even venture out to a bar dressed as their femme self, enjoying every second of it.

The more theydo it, the more theyhave to do it. Waiting for the next business trip or when 9 their familyis out of town is not enough for them. The obsession to dress begins to wear on them as their woman’s wardrobe expands. Theyare living a secret life, a lonelyexistence, since no one they love is with them to share with.

Perhaps, their children are grown and awayat college. Theyare emptynesters with onlytheir wife at home. Theyfinallydecide to tell their wife or let their wife find out which is more common than actually coming out to tell her that they are a cross-dresser and their femme name is Samantha. Often, the way they introduce their wife to their cross-dressing is shocking for their wives, who never anticipated that the man they married 20 years ago is a cross- dresser with an alter-ego woman named Samantha!

The wife is in shock and doesn’t know how to deal with their husband’s cross-dressing. She doesn’t have experience to draw from even to acknowledge it. She is fearful, saddened and angryall at the same time. Her husband just wants to be accepted bythe person he loves the most, his wife. His wife just wants to run out of the house and pretend this never happened, hoping it will go away.

This is the scenario for many cross-dressers who have come out to their wife after many years of marriage. It is more common for most of them to reveal their femme side later in their marriage, rather than prior to the union because of the initial fear of rejection and the lack of understanding on their part of how important their femmeside is to them and the need to let her out.

Just imagine how you as a cross-dresser would feel if the tables were turned and your wife one day showed up with a butch haircut, wearing construction boots and a bra to minimize her breasts. You would be in shock and wonder just who you were married to! Perhaps, men are more logical and can be more accepting of this sudden change, but most women are not.

Wives are the keeper of the familyunit. They are usuallythe ones who hold the familytogether, often making sacrifices. When a wife sees her husband dressed as a woman and acting like one, she is frightened. This fear leads to anger. Initially, shemayaccept her changed husband (to her it’s change, to you it’s who you are) but over time, she becomes resentful of the dynamics of hermarriage being altered, so late in the game.

You maymake a deal with her of when your dressing is appropriate for both of you, yet as time goes on,shemaynot be able to fullyembrace you, both of you. It’s like dating, again, for her with a new person,someone else has to getto know and mayor maynotlike.But,she is already in a marriage with you and doesn’t want to end the marriage, yet she is very angry.

Many cross-dressers I know are going through this scenario with their wives. They are strug- gling in theirmarriage now that theyhave introduced their wives to their femmeside. Both parties are both caught up in their emotions and offer little support to one another which makes 10 their lives unhappy. Some wives just try to ignore the cross- dressing by practicing the “out of sight, out of mind approach”, yet at constantly afraid that the children, friends or other fam- ily members will find out about it. Embarrassed by their cross- dressing husband, theyoffer little or no support to them, causing more angst for their husband who just wants to be accepted for who they are.

I recommend a good counselor to help both parties work Out-of-sight, out-of-mind through this change in their marriage. It is a necessary first- step to help flush out the anger from a wife,soshe can begin to understand who her husband is and determine if they can work out their marriage. Understanding and knowledge is essential for both parties. Clear the anger awayand you may not stay married, but may remain friends with your spouse and a new respect for who you are as a cross-dresser. After all, you are just being who you were intended to be, of which for many is worth the reveal.

About Terri Lee Ryan Author, Documentary Producer, Speaker

Terri Lee Ryan’s journey with cross-dressing began with her ex-husband who was a frequent dresser. Needing to understand and know more about what cross-dressing is and the profound effect it has in a relationship led her on the path to her own self-discovery.

She is the Executive Producer of the documentary, I Married a Cross- dresser, which aired on Sky Living Channel in the U.K. November, 2014. She writes a popular blog for the Chicago Tribune ChicagoNow site. Shades of Gender offers insight on the current state of the cross- dressing and transgender community and the many faces of this group.

She has been featured and/or written articles for the Chicago Sun-Times, Desert Woman magazine, Entrepreneur magazine, Frock magazine, Repartee magazine, and the Transgender Group (TG) Forum. She has made appearances on ABC-TV, WLS-AM-890, WGN-AM-720 radio and numerous radio stations across the country. Pages 11 The Biggest Mistakes You Make Shaving Your Legs • By Natalie Gontcharovay Good Housekeeping

1. Shaving your legs as soon as you hop into the shower. Understandably, you want to get your morning routine underway, but experts advise hanging out in the shower or bath for about 15 minutes before you start shaving -- this will soften the hair and open up follicles. Any longer, though, and your skin will wrinkle and swell, making it harder to score a close shave.

2. Doing it first thing in the morning. Shaving at night will leave your legs smoother. As you sleep, your legs swell slightly, which can make hair retreat back into its follicles.

3. Not using anything to lather up (or worse, using bar soap). No matter how in a hurry you may be, skip the temptation to shave "dry." Lather up your legs with a moisturizing shaving cream to make sure the razor glides easily over your skin, and you'll avoid nicks and cuts. In a pinch, hair conditioner will do just as good a job. But skip the bar soap: "It doesn't create enough lubrication for a razor to slide easily against your skin, which can up the odds of cuts," dermatologist Ellen Gendler, M.D., told Good Housekeeping.

4. Using those single-blade disposable razors. This is fine once in awhile, like if you're staying in a hotel, but for every-day use it's best to invest in a four- or five-blade razor. They provide the smoothest results, letting you navigate tricky areas like your knees and ankles. "Single-blade disposables are likelier to drag against the skin," says cosmetic dermatologist Neal Schultz, M.D.

5. Not replacing your razor blade often enough. You may have bought yourself a nice razor, but it won't do you any good if you don't change your blade at the first sign of dullness (usually, about five to 10 shaves). Old blades are not only ineffective, but more likely to cause bumps and redness and trap bacteria, which can potentially cause infections.

6. Shaving up the leg before you shave down the leg. On your first pass, only shave in the direction your hair grows (down the leg), and if you have very sensitive skin, don't shave upward at all. While going "against the grain" may get you a closer shave, it also increases the possibility of irritation, nicks, and cuts. Once your hairs are already very short, and the skin is warm and lubricated, going against the direction of hair growth is much safer. "If you'd still like a closer shave, reapply the gel and shave again -- against the direction of the hair growth," says Dr. Schultz.

7. Not preventing or treating razor burn. Close shaving can result in ingrown hairs, and untreated razor burn can turn into long-term scars. To help prevent those annoying red bumps in the first place, use an exfoliating body scrub twice a week to shed the skin that's trapping hairs. To treat bumps, put a warm compress on the affected area -- the heat 12 will relax the hair. After showering, apply lotion to soften the hair, leaving your skin less prone to infections. 8. Shaving with your guy's razor. A lot of women think using a men's razor is more effective, so we tested the market leaders. The three- blade Gillette Mach3 disposable finished in last place, while the refillable three-blade Gillette Mach3 Turbo did just as well as the top women's razors.

A Beautiful No Makeup Makeup Look in 5 Easy Steps WebMD Feature By Ayren Jackson-Cannady Reviewed By Debra Jaliman, MD

Some days you want your makeup to look natural and not too “done” – at a low-key work lunch, during morning carpool, or when you’re wearing a really fancy outfit, for example. But going bare-faced is probably not what you had in mind! With the right products and techniques, you can make the most of your natural beauty without wearing a ton of makeup. STEP 1: Prep the Palette Great makeup always starts with fresh skin. To fool them into thinking your luminous skin is nature’s gift, start by washing, toning, and moisturizing your face. “Also, drink lots of water to plump the skin from the inside,” says Pittsburgh-based makeup artist Patty Bell. Skin cells are made of mostly water, and if you're dehydrated, your skin will look and feel dry, too. Bonus tip: Don’t skimp on sunscreen just because you’re going for lighter makeup. The best choice is a lightweight, oil-free sunscreen with at least SPF 30. STEP 2: Step Off Base Skip the heavy foundation and even out your skin with a healthy dose of sheer color from a tinted moisturizer or BB cream. “Applying your makeup with your fingers or makeup sponges instead of brushes will also create a more natural look,” says Mary Schook, a New York esthetician and makeup artist. Use freshly washed finger- tips! Next, finish by applying translucent powder -- but only where you need it, mostly around the forehead, nose, and chin. Bonus tip: Use a light-reflecting concealer pen on dark or red areas -- around your nose, under your eyes, on your chin. Light-reflecting concealers hide small-to-moderate imperfections without caking up. STEP 3: Fake a Natural Flush Work with the tones in your skin. Find a creamy blush that matches your skin’s natural flush, like after you exercise. Or you can use your lip tone as a guide. In general, powder pinks work for fair skin tones, peachy pinks work for medium skin, and brownish pinks work for darker skin. 13 “Blend a dot of the blush into areas where the sun would fall on your face -- apples of your cheeks, chin, forehead, and bridge of nose,” Schook says. Bonus tip: For the most natural-looking flush, avoid makeup with a lot of shimmer or sparkle, which comes off as overdone. Pat the blush onto your cheeks and other areas, and then blend outward. You could also use the same cream blush on your lips.

STEP 4: Open Your Eyes Give lashes a subtle boost by curling them and then swiping them with one coat of brown or dark brown lengthening mascara. This is a good time to give your regular black mascara a break -- you just want to add a little contrast, not drama, to your eyes. For your lids, “you can still use a shadow and look natural,” Schook says. “Just use cream shadows in skin-tone-friendly shades instead of powders that can sit on the skin and make it look like you are wearing makeup.” Bonus tip: If you have sparse brows or gaps to fill in, use a stiff brush to apply brow powder for a natural and subtle arch. And if you can’t leave home without eyeliner, smudge a little into the outer corners of your eye. STEP 5: Pucker Up Polish off your no-makeup look with a swipe of lip gloss in a color that’s just one shade brighter than your natural lip color. Even better? New York makeup artist Denise Del Russo recommends using a color-adjusting gloss. The shade changes to suit your individual skin tone when you apply it. Bonus tip: Mist your skin with a weightless makeup-setting spray after you finish applying. Use the spray throughout the day to help your makeup stay fresh. 14 The Most Regrettable Makeup Mistakes…And How to Fix Them By Allure Daily Beauty Reporter by Cara Brook

Whenever some new drastic trend comes along, I have to wonder, are we going to regret this one later? Are we going to cringe when we see our ombre hair in photos? Are we going to be wishing be didn't go so bold with our lip colors? But in the end, I can't see the future, so I don't know which ones we will regret later on because I think they all look great now!

The problem is...I'm pretty sure everyone thought these were great at the time as well:

• Unblended brown lip liner (as shown) When I see photos of this, I just want to reach into 1991 and blend!!!! I think I know where they were going with it, a little lip contouring perhaps? Which can be done well, as long as you use a fleshy tone lip liner and blend until the line disappears. That's the way to do it so it looks natural, and I don't think natural can go out of style.

• Contouring with bright pink blush If you remember the 1980s, you know what I'm talking about. I know our hearts were in the right place and everything, but contouring is supposed to be about creating a shadow, and shadows are generally not fuchsia. Now we know that you should be contouring with something a little more neu- tral, like a gray-brown bronzer or a contouring cream.

• Black, Taylor Momsen-style smoky eyes Some types of makeup can look sort of pretty in a perfectly posed photo but don't translate into real life. This is one of those. It just ends up looking like you are rebelling against overbearing parents. You can get drama in your smoky eyes by covering a wide area around your eye, but do it with something a little softer, like a bronze-y brown or a smoke gray. It's so much more flattering!

When confronted with something as amazing as bronzer for the first time, it's understandable you might go a little crazy. But now that we've had time to get used to the concept, I think we all agree that less is more! A little bit on the cheeks and forehead is plenty to get a sun-kissed glow. 15 Makeup Mistakes You’re Making in Photos—and How to Fix Them BY VICTORIA MOORHOUSE

Along time ago, getting your photo taken was a formal, unfrequented event. Now, literallyeverysituation calls for a picture (a trip to the gym, a run to the grocery store), and we want our makeup to flatter us beautifullyin everysingle one of them. But not everylook translates well on film, as manycelebs have learned in red carpet pics gone bad. We’re all for the impromtu photoshoot, so we caught up with celebrity makeup artist Jamie Greenberg (who works with stars like Kaley Cuoco and Rashida Jones) and learned exactly how to create a picture-perfect beauty look.

Watch Your SPF Application By no means are we saying to skip the SPF, but if you’re going somewhere and you know you’re getting your pic taken, bemindful of howmuch you slather on your skin. Greenberg says that common sunscreen ingredients like zinc can make your face appear lighter than the rest of your body.

Keep Powders in Mind, Too. Suncreen isn’t the only culprit. Greenberg explains that powders can cause your face to look lighter than your bodyand products that hold luminosity. “This will bounce off the flash and give the floating head effect,” she proclaims.

The Downside of Heavy Makeup “Sometimes if lighting is blown-out, your heavy makeup will look amazing on camera but really thick in person,” Greenberg tells us. And since we’re not always walking around in red carpet- qualitylighting 24/7, tone it down—you need makeup that looks fantastic in real life, too!

Be Wary of Extreme Lip Colors And that we mean very, very light beiges and super-dark vampy berries. Greenberg says that these types of colors tend to look extreme in photos, so if you’re worried about how they’ll translate, lighten or warm them up. And if that seems like too much work, you can always keep it natural—Jamie says that the best makeup for photos is a natural look, intensified around two notches. 16

Think Through Eye Makeup There’s a three main rules you’ll need to keep in mind when it comes to eye makeup. First, stay away from shimmer because Greenberg says it can react poorly with a flash. Second, take blending very seriously. “The flash can really capture the eye, so if it’s not blended well, you’ll be able to tell,” she says. Lastly, keep finely-milled powder awayfrom your eyes. That’s what Greenberg explains will give you an unfortunate “raccoon look.”

Read more: http://dailymakeover.com/makeup-mistakes-in-photos/#ixzz3oYLhcWJM 17 The Adventures of Judy Sometimes By: Judy Danials

Nice Day

My wife and I had a couple errands to run and decided to stop in at one of Fargo's newest adult establishments before heading to the Holidaygathering with friends at the Hotel Donaldson. The Proof Artisan Distilleryis a locallyowned business that produces and sells its own brands of gin and vodka. Its located in downtown Fargo in one of themanyhistorical buildings that have been preserved to add to the vibe that's been attracting people from all corners of the world since the early 90's. We kind of have ties to this place as my sister in law's father is one ofthe major investors.Itkind ofhas more ofa Speak Easyfeel than a bar and some say the food is the best the downtown area has to offer.

Around 6 we headed over to the Hodo andmade our wayup to our friends room thathas a spectacular view of Broadway and 1st Ave, the hub of downtown. It ended up being a small gathering of just of 8 people, but none the less it was a wonderful time ... until "Julie"showed up. Some of you may recall that I've talked of Julie before. She's the crossdresser that dresses like a $2 whore, you've seen the type, bad platinum blond wig, super tight micromini and 5" stilettos thatshe teeters on at best. Don't get me wrong, she's very nice, but when you're in your 60's and portly you have no business trying to look and act like a 16 year old girl.

By 10 the crowd had thinned to 5 and we were looking for a change of atmosphere so we headed down to the hotel's bar, the Hodo. Present were, GG's, Brittney and Sarah, myself, Erica (host and crossdresser) and Julie. The place was pretty crowded, but we managed to get a low top table smack dab in the center of the room, just where you want to sit when you have a $2 hooker at your table, lol. We ordered drinks and the chatter continued for about 30 minutes until Julie excused herself to use the ladies room. As you can imagine the conversation turned to Julie's chosen presentation for the evening, (which by the way, is how she ALWAYS dresses) whileshe was absent. It was decided that we needed to somehow tell her that dressing like this, especially in a venue like we were, in is highly inappropriate. The question was, how do you do that delicatelywithout hurting her feelings ?. Well, she served up the opening we needed tostart the conversation when shesat back down at the table. She proudlyannounced how amazed she was that NOBODYin the place was even giving her a second look. I nearlyspit upmyentire drink whenshe said this and everybodyat the table had a similar reaction. I said, you have got to be kiddingme, you have no idea what's going on behind you do you ? She then said, why, are people starring ? I said, Honey, people's necks are breaking their heads are turning around so far. I said, I really hate to be a hypocrite, but do you reallythink nobodynotices you prancing through the bar constantlypulling down your dress so your junk isn'thanging out? Everytime you sitdown we geta shotofyour pink panties. Don't get me wrong, you have great legs, but there's better ways ofshowing what 18 you got then dressing the way you do.

Needless to saythis got the ball rolling and everybody put their 2 cents in on the situation over the nexthour or so and Imustsayshe took itprettywell.Ithink the comments from the GG's probablyhit home the hardest as theydealt withmore of her look kind of mocking women and being very offensive if she thought that how womenshould dress. In the end she agreed that next time she comes outshe would tryand tone things down a bit. I'm not holdingmybreath in things looking anybetter, but we will wait andsee.

Judy Lynn Módhnóirí PAMPERING YOUR SELF

BY

BARBARA MARIE DAVIDSON

Well, ladies, Thought I would mention several ways that you can “pamper your self” and really enjoy it. Pampering your self could be any thing from a makeover, to some time in a beauty salon for a facial or a new hair do, to some time in a nail salon having a pedicure and/or a manicure, to getting a body massage. Believe me when I say I have done it all. Guess the best place to start with your color coding/ makeover.

In October of 2008, I approached a gg (generic girl) that I knew who worked at the Clinique counter at Belk’s in my hometown about a make over or at least a color-coding. That afternoon, I was color coded so I would know what may/might look good on me. Since I was in my guy mode, there was not a true traditional type of makeover. How ever, she gave me a lot of pointers on what to do. When I left there that evening, I was about $250.00 poorer but I was armed with a “basic” make up kit to work with. At that time I was experimenting with Cover Girl makeup but soon realized that cover girl does not always cover “guys”. I wrote an article about ”My Non Traditional Makeover”. Later, I went as Barbara and had a real “makeover”. I was comfortable with my colors and still use most of the same ones today. Since I have been a “clinique Girl” for over 8 years now, I know what I like and don’t like. However, I just let sales lady “do her thing” and sat there and enjoyed it. Of course the downside is that they always want you to buy some of the products they used to make you “beautiful”. This is one type of pampering your self.

Another one would be some time in a beauty salon. If you have been lucky enough to “let your hair down” i.e. let it get long, there is nothing better than having some one to wash your hair and “massage your scalp at the same time. Having some one else do it once in a while giving you a different style and at the same time having your hair looking great and smelling good at the same time is almost to die for. I basically have only had two hairstylists since I transitioned. The first one I used for about seven or eight years both as bill and later as Barbara. The second one I have been using for about four years now and I had a good relationship with both of them. As you know women pay out a lot for their trips to the beauty 19 salons. For me when I was getting a “cut and color” as bill, I was paying about a half of what woman would pay. Now as Barbara, I still pay less for my cut and color with high lights (foil) than the female customers. Having your own cosmetologist has its perks.

Moving on to a nail salon where I have “working /spending my time” since I retired in 2008 also has its perks. Having your nails and feet done is still another way to pamper your self. In your guy mode a manicure would make your nails look and feel better than if you did the “bubba” thing with your pocket/ pen knife. If you work in a bank or in an establishment where your hands are always visible to the public, well-manicured nails will go along way in your relationship with the customer. In your feminine mode, Having your nails done with either a French tip, which will go with most outfits you would want to wear to the special colors for that special occasion would be the way to go. However there are several ways to get your nails done. One is just a regular manicure with polish of choice. Gel polishes or shellac (which last up to two or more weeks as it normally does not chip) with or with our manicure is another way to go. Then there is the solar nails (or pink and white) which are very nice looking and will last 2 – 3 weeks as they do not chip – one basically has to break the nail. From these one can get either a full set of acrylic or gel nails, which you can maintain, with a fill in every two weeks.

Moving on to your feet, and a pedicure. First let me say, as there is a lot of controversy about pedicures and fungus/infections, know your salon. The up to date standard of practice in a salon today should include plastic disposable liner for the pedicure (spa) chair which contains the water in the basin as it does not circulate through tubes or a pump. The actual “pump” is a magnetic device that attaches to the back of the basin and is powered by a magnet behind the basin wall. The nail file, pumice stone, and buffer should also be disposable. The technician should wash their instruments in warm/hot soapy water and dip in alcohol before repackaging them in a single use peel pack. Some technicians will spray their instruments before use with alcohol as they take them out of the package in front of you. A good technician will have at least one or more sets of pedicure instruments that are located in an ultraviolet sterilizer/disinfectant machine and will rotate them between customers. Just for your information there are some gel polishes on the market that have matching regular polish for your toes or you can get gel on both your fingers and toes. (Although my license is still in nursing and not cosmetology, I have spent my days in a nail salon since November of 2008 and have seen the changes in the salon business)

Now for the last – Pampering yourself with a body massage. I have to admit that I have paid for only three but in actually have hade at least a dozen. Most of the nail technicians I have worked with have very good hands when doing a massage. The first one I had was about 4 years ago when one of the ladies offered to give me a body massage, no strings attached. I can only say I was very relaxed and did not want her to stop. She even finished up with an “oatmeal facial”, which was a facial mask made with oatmeal followed by a facial massage. In 2013, I went to Little Saigon in Westminster CA where I had a one-hour body massage by a very good-looking Vietnamese lady. It was $10.00 an hour but I tipped her $20.00. It was very relaxing with subdued lightings, soft music. She massaged my neck, back, waist, and back of legs. Then she had me turn over and she started with my face moving to my arms then my stomach and ended with my legs. After it was all over and I was dressed, I was given a cup of hot tea and some crackers before I left. While I was Vietnam this past summer, I went with some friends to a “massage parlor” in Can Tho where we three got a body massage. It was very similar to the one I got in Little Saigon except the young lady actually walked barefooted across my back. The atmosphere was the same and the cost was about the same. The past week, I had a body massage at a local spa and it was $65.00 for one hour. It was nothing like the ones I have had from the Vietnamese folks. However, it was somewhat relaxing and when he was done I was offered some lemon or citrus flavored water. The main 20 thing with all of them was I felt relaxed when they were done although I would prefer a Vietnamese therapist any time.

So ladies as you begin the New Year (2016) think about the different ways that you can pamper your self but also that special woman (gg) in your life. With this, I hope that every one had a Merry Christmas and that Santa was good to all of you. I also hope all had a safe New Year as you ushered in 2016.

Barbara Marie Davidson

The legendary award winning actor, singer, and impressionist David de Alba worked for many years at San Francisco's world famous Finocchio Club, and who has been written about inseven books because of his LIVE stage presentations, will bring a special tribute to some of the performers he worked with and who graced that stage via video flashbacks, backstage stories, still photos, and of course, Mr. de Alba's own International singing act 'Boy-Chic'. He will perform from the popular repertoire he sang at Finocchio's in both Spanish and English. To close the show Mr. de Alba will present his livelyimpersonation of Liza Minnelli which he also performed often at Finocchio's.

Anyone who has been at Finocchio's, or at least heard about it, should notmiss this show!

"David de Alba as Boy-Chic . . . Frozen in Time . . . An Evening at Finocchio's".

Sunday, April 24th at 3pm. At Model Factory LV (Suite# 164) 3680 S. Maryland Parkway (inside The Boulevard Mall) Las Vegas, NV. 89169 Phone: 702-628-1129 Ticket prices: $20.00 for VIP seating 'first two rows.' $18.00 General seating Ages:21 & up. 21 Tasi’s Musings, Jan-Feb, 2016

Greetings from Merida

On the Paseo de Montejo. Mérida is a romantic, Bohemian city that proudly displays its splendid past. Regardless of the reason for your stay, don’t miss a leisurely stroll along Paseo de Montejo, Mérida’s main avenue named after Francisco de Montejo y León (el Mozo), conqueror of Yucatán and founder of the city. It contains a tourist section, beginning at Calle 49, and a commercial section, Prolongación Paseo de Montejo, from Monumento a la Patria northward.

The best way to explore the tourist section is on foot. During your walk you will be able to feel the similarities to elegant French boulevards, enjoy the huge trees which provide the street with the “lungs” of the city center, and admire the emblematic buildings and monuments, as well as the mansions that today house boutique hotels, shops, museums, and bars. It truly is the Paris of the Caribbeanan. Click the link above to read about the Paseo street by street.

In the News 2015 Trans Year in Review -- The Upside. 2015 was the most momentous year in trans history. From scattered events in trans prehistory - Lili Elbe (The Danish Girl) , Christine Jorgensen, Sylvia Rivera, and Renee Richards - the community finally entered the historical mainstream in 2015 with the splashy "outcoming" of Caitlyn Jenner. She changed the cultural landscape, for better and worse, and gave us all a platform we never had. We're not quite to the status of "just another American minority group," but we're on our way. Read all that Dana Beyer has to say. http://www.huffingtonpost.com/dana-beyer/2015-trans-year-in-review_b_8884358.html

5 Trans Pioneers Who Took Us Past the Tipping Point in 2015. Last year, Time magazine featured Laverne Cox, the statuesque Orange Is the New Black actress on its cover, identifying the increased visibility of gender-variant people to be the “transgender tipping point.” This year, even as attacks against trans Americans rose to epidemic proportions, notable trans and gender-nonconforming youth and adults established themselves as brilliant advocates, educators, artists, policy analysts, entertainers, models, and technologists. These are some of the people that made 2015 the year when trans people pushed cultural understanding beyond the tipping point. http://www.advocate.com/ transgender/2015/12/31/25-trans-pioneers-who-took-us-past-tipping-point-2015 22 Vancouver's transgender barbershop all the buzz Big Bro's Barbershop offers more than just haircuts. It's also a safe space and resource centre for Vancouver's ransgender community. The 25-year-old, who is a transgender man, was still a teenager and just starting to transition when he asked a hairstylist to cut his then-long hair into a Winona Ryder- inspired pixie cut. “The stylist said, ‘Oh, you actually have the completely wrong hair type for this cut,’ Reactions like that prompted Anderson to start Big Bro’s Barbershop, Click the link to read more about this amazing man http://www.metronews.ca/features/vancouver/ vancouvering/2016/01/21/vancouver-transgender-barbershop-all- the-buzz.html)

About time! Education department will out every religious college that discriminates against LGBT people. The U.S. Department of Education announced Wednesday it will publish detailed information about religious schools that receive federal permission to discriminate based on sex, gender identity and sexual orientation, despite receiving federal funds. That information is likely to put some religious schools in the hot seat for policies that aren't flattering in today's social climate -- including colleges in or near you. http://www.oregonlive.com/faith/2016/01/title_ix_waivers.html

25 Legal Advocates Fighting for Trans Rights. Legal advocates stand on the front lines of the fight for transgender equality. Whether they are transgender or cisgender, LGB or straight, these professionals represent clients, crunch statistical data, lead organizations, analyze issues, direct policy, and build coalitions that produce social change for the truly disadvantaged. Many donate their time for the public interest outside of lucrative posts in corporate law. Others work within corporate law as forces for good. Here are 25 out of hundreds of legal advocates fighting for trans justice today. http://www.advocate.com/transgender/2016/1/04/25-advocates-fighting-trans-rights

How a Court Decision Might Make Pending LGBT Legislation Obsolete. On December 15, U.S. Federal Judge Dean Pregerson ruled that the line between gender and sexual orientation discrimination "does not exist." The ruling, addressing discrimination against a pair of lesbian basketball players at Pepperdine University, has the potential to put sexual orientation under the umbrella of established civil rights laws. Such a move might render stalled legislation on non-discrimination moot and provide a firmer legal basis for the advancement of both legal rights and social acceptance.. Get all the details here. http://www.huffingtonpost.com/travis-knoll/solution-to-conservative-_b_7674610.html

University of Victoria announces world's first chair in trans- gender studies. University of Victoria Prof. Aaron Devor, an internationally recognized sex- and-gender expert, will work with researchers, community activists and students to advance study into a broad range of topics that affect the lives of transgender individuals."Transgender people are among the most disadvantaged in society today. There's a huge amount of stigma, poverty is rampant, health care is not what it should be," he said. "In order to improve the circumstances of transgender people, we need to have solid research that will give us good data and good foundation for changing policies, for changing practices and for changing hearts and minds. 23 http://www.lfpress.com/2016/01/15/university-of-victoria-announces-worlds-first-chair-in-transgender- studies

These damn bathroom bills. A Trans Woman Enters the Restroom. For me, it is already a new year of old fears. 2016 has scarcely begun, and there is already yet another bill, from the end of December, being proposed to criminalize transgender persons—like myself—for using the restroom that corresponds with our gender identity. Read Gabrielle Bellot’s story. http://www.slate.com/blogs/ outward/2016/01/20/how_the_trans_bathroom_myth_makes_life_difficult_for_trans_women.html

Is the Brain Gendered? A Q&A with Harvard's Catherine Dulac A biologist remarks on the extraordinary similarity of male and female brains despite the persistence of binary behavioral styles. A lingering question asked by neuroscientists has to do with what, if anything, makes the male and female brains distinctive, whether in mice or (wo)men. There is still no concise answer. The best evidence from the most recent research suggests that both males and females share the same neural circuitry, but use it differently. Catherine Dulac, a professor of molecular and cellular biology at Harvard, and investigator at the Howard Hughes medical Institute, is a pioneer in exploring these questions. I talked to her briefly about her research, which also extends far beyond just the neurobiology of gender. Details here. http:// blogs.scientificamerican.com/talking-back/is-the-brain-gendereda-q-a-with-harvard-s-catherine-dulac/

As transgender youth make news, doctors say it is not a fad but a previously hidden issue. While it may seem that transgenderism among young children is suddenly on the rise, it is far more likely that its prevalence is unchanged, just no longer hidden, according to two Madison physicians who treat transgender patients.. More of the story here. http://host.madison.com/wsj/news/local/education/ local_schools/as-transgender-youth-make-news-doctors-say-it-is-not/article_ea8799d0-9267-5c63- 9cf2-6b94711eb077.html

Books, Movies and Television

Her Story web series debuts. An online seriesaiming to show the dating lives of transgender and queer women is set to launch. Her Story,(http:// www.herstoryshow.com) which will debut January 19, stars transgender activist Jen Richards, who appears in the Caitlyn Jenner reality show I am Cait. The web series revolves around two trans women living in Los Angeles "who have given up on love, when suddenly chance encounters give them hope," The show can be viewed on its website or at https://www.youtube.com/channel/ UCw2Mg0PoxZkAHAzDiabWr9A. More details here. http://www.ebar.com/news/ article.php?sec=news&article=71206 24 Fashion and Art

59-Year-Old Woman Is Revolutionizing the Modeling Industry. Yasmina Rossi is revolutionizing the modeling industry while simultaneously empowering women everywhere. The 59-year- old began her job as a model when she was in her late 20s—a time when most professionals are seen as too old and are forced to retire. When she turned 45 years old, that's when her career really took off as she worked for big companies like MasterCard, AT&T, and Macy's. Not only did she book big brands at an age that most in the industry would regard as “past her prime”, she also managed to secure these modeling gigs while allowing her wrinkles to stand out in her work, profoundly accentuating her natural beauty. “I like the way I look now than how I looked 20 years ago,” she told The Sunday Times. “My body is nicer and I feel happier than when I was 20.” Learn her secrets here. http://www.mymodernmet.com/profiles/ blogs/yasmina-rossi-empowering-model

How to Wear a Tulle Skirt (Without Looking Like a Ballerina) A tulle skirt can be really cute or really tacky, depending on how you wear it. To give this childhood dress-up favorite a more grown up vibe, you’ll need to pair it up with really chic and sophisticated clothes. If you’re looking for ways to tweak this piece and make it work for your street style looks, check out these tips on how to wear a tulle skirt without looking like a ballerina. http://aelida.com/23905/how-to- wear-a-tulle-skirt-without-looking-like-a- ballerina/

16 more fabulous tutu skirts. http:// fashionsy.com/16-fabulous-tutu-skirts/ 25 Humor Adventures in Crossdressing https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=-Auel17atno&feature=youtu.be A competitive musical foursome https://www.youtube.com/embed/BKezUd_xw20? rel=0&utm_source=exact&utm_medium=email&utm_content=1342688&utm_campaign =Saturday&modapt=

So until next month,

Hugs……Tasi 26 UNCORKED A Transgender Fiction Story by: Barbara Jean Jasen

Girls starting with this issue I am going to publish a fiction story that I currently have in works. Since it is still a story in the works I will print a new chapter each month. So far I have 6 chapters, howmanymore to the storyI don’t know. Eventuallywhen finished I will also post it on Amazon Kindle, perhaps with manyrefinements.

Below is the introduction and chapter 1 of the story. Preface

Allen Gorman started crossdressing around age nine and things progressed. One day another employee of the company he worked for outed him to his boss and Allen was fired from his job. He found another job in California, but there was a condition, he had to live and work full time as a woman or never be seen crossdressing. Allen began living his life as Alicia.

An auto accidentputAlicia in a coma andshe has a dream ofbeing born and raised as a girl. Little did she know that her dream was about to solve a forty-four year old crime and change her life forever.

Chapter 1

Alicia Gorman was 42 years old. Oh Alicia was not how she was born, Born in May of 1971 she was born Allen Gorman. Alicia was the son of Mary and Andrew Gorman. At the time Allen was born his Father Andrew was a Captain with the Air Force stationed at the base just south of Omaha and his mother worked for the CountyClerk’s office in Omaha.

The beach was Alicia’s favorite place. She would go there, sit in the sand and watch the ocean waves gentlypounding the beach, or sometimes she would walk along the beach picking up things and looking atthem. Butshe loved being there atthe beach. Itwas a place thatshe could think, reflect on things. It was her sort of personal quiet times.

Alicia would often time reflect back on her life, often wondering why she was transgender, often wondering whyshe was notsimplyborn a girl. Life sure did notstartoutas a girl for Alicia. For the firstnine or ten years ofher lifeshe was prettymuch a normal boy. She did nothave any brothers or sister, and all her friends were neighborhood boys. She liked trucks and trains andshe liked to playthings like baseball or football with other boys in her neighborhood. Just like the other boys in her neighborhood she did not even like girls.

Oh there were a couple of time when she had to dress as a girl for something. A Picture, a cub scout skit, but just as soon as she could that dress and lipstick came off. Allen was a boy not a 27 girl.

But it was sometime around age nine or ten that things started to change. No sudden change, buta little ata time type ofthing. Like all kids Allen had chores to do to earn his allowance. One of them was taking out the garbage. One daywhen he was doing that hespotted a tube of lipstick that his mother had discarded. There was still some left in the tube and so he put thatin his pocket. Thatnightin the bathroom he putiton and then looked athimselfin the mirror. He spent perhaps five or ten minutes just looking at his painted lips and then wiped the lipstick off. He kept that tube of lipstick hidden and everyso often would put it on there in the bathroom and admire himself in the mirror for awhile and then take the lipstick off.

Then there was the time when his mother had gone over to the neighbors house for a couple of hours and Allen was home byhimself. He found a pair of his mothers high heelshoes and tried them on. Oh theywere too small for him,butstill he liked having them on his feet. The reallybig thing happened when he was about twelve. He found a bag of old clothes that his parents were going to give to the local Goodwillstore. He saw one of his mothers old dresses and a bra that she was discarding. She had lost some weight and so they were now too big for her, but even though a bit big on Allen theywould fit he thought andso took them outand hid them. There in his room atnighthe would putthem on. Acouple ofpairs ofsocks filled the bra and he would stand there and admire himself in that mirror.

Allen started losing interest in a lot of the things boys took interest in. Sports was the biggest thing that he lost interest in. Oh he still tried to takesome interest in things likesomemodel trains and cars, but he also started to take interest in things like painting and some other art. He also wantedmore to help his mother in the kitchen with the cooking. At school or when he went to church or to the movies he would admire the girls with their beautiful dresses often asking why he could never wear something so pretty. A Sears catalog and he would look at the outfits for the girls. The ones for the little girls were so very prettyand he wishedmore and more thathe had been born a girl. He wondered whywas he born a boyrather than a girl? Whydid he prefer to be a girl rather than a boy? He would often go to the librarylooking at books, but never could he find anything that would help him. Was he the onlyboythat wished he was a girl? Whatwas wrong with him? His desire to be a girl was all asecretthathe kept from everyone and for some reason no one really suspected his little secret.

One daywhile atthe libraryhe found a book abouta man who had changed his sex. It was about some person named Christine Jorgensen. A former GI who had some surgery that turned him from being a man into a woman. So there was hope, Allen could become a girl. Despite his desire to be a girl Allen knew it was not normal andso he would fight this desire. At eighteen years ofage he joined the Army,he was sentto Iraq to fightin the GulfWar. Allen thought that in joining the Armyit would somehow cure him of this desire to be a girl. Yet strange to him itfailed. He still feltmore like he was a girl than a boy.

When Allen got out of the Armyhe started to attend college to become an accountant. Allen got him a smallstudio apartment and as a part time job while attending college Allen got him a job at a local adult bookstore. As he was putting the books and video tapes up he seensome books about men dressing as women. Now Allen realized that he was not alone, there were others like him, men who liked to dress as women, and even men who were making changes to become women. Crossdresser, transsexual, Allen wondered for awhile which of these he 28 was. He started getting brave and buying some clothes for himself and would get dressed there at his apartment while he did his studying. He met a couple of drag queens while working at the adult bookstore and theyinvited him to come andsee theirshow at a local gay bar. Allen went a couple of times as himself and saw not just the drag queens, but other men dressed as women. They were part of a local social group for crossdressers and transsexuals. Allen even started going to the shows dressed as Alicia. Alicia joined that social group and some of the girls there helped her with things like makeup and told her places that were good to shop at. The owner ofthe bookstore found outabouthis desire to dress as a woman and even told him he could come to work as Alicia.

Allen finished college and got his bachelors degree in accounting. He found him a job with a local accounting firm, but somehow it did not last verylong. One of the people there saw Allen dressed as Alicia at a local restaurant along with some other members of the social group and told her boss about it. Her boss was a rather religious person and decided that he did not need some faggot working for him and so Allen was dismissed.

Allen decided to move to California. Los Angeles, San Francisco, San Diego all seemed to have good size groups of girls who were crossdressers and transsexuals, but unfortunately the rent in those areas was so high that Allen could not afford to live in those area. At the local library she would check the classified sections of papers from those cities to see if there was any jobs available for her out there. She did see an ad for an accountant from a small credit union in a townsouth ofLos Angeles. Allen did send in his resume and was called to come for an interview. He caught a plane to California and then rented a car and drove to the see the manager of the Credit Union. The manager was a man by the name of Richard Parks and of course one ofthe question the had for Allen was whyhe was letgo from his lastjob. Allen had to tell him about his crossdressing and how he was seen dressed at a restaurant. Mr. Parks asked Allen ifhe planned to have a sexchange. Allen said he was notsure. He told him it was something he had given a lot of thought about. Mr. Parks then asked Allen a rather strange question, did he have a photo of him as Alicia. Allen told him that he did not have one with him. Mr. Parks then asked Allen if he brought any of his feminine clothes with him and Allen said he did. Mr Parks then asked Allen ifhe could come in again the nextdayand interview with him as Alicia. Allen agreed.

Going back to the hotel Allen thought about this request that Mr. Parks hadmade and how strange it was. He wondered why Mr. Parks wanted to see him as Alicia. Allen just could not figure any reason for it. But at least Mr. Parks did not give him a flat out no. He wondered did Mr. Parks want him to work as Alicia? Allen thought that would be a dream to live and work as Alicia.

Allen got dressed as Alicia and decided to go out and getsomething to eat. Surprise to him at the small restaurant he went to he was treated very much like a lady, and called Miss or Mamm.

Allen got up earlythe next morning and looked at the outfits for Alicia that he had brought. He selected a black pencil skirt and a pink blouse along with some rather conservative jewelry to wear. A pair of pantyhose and some black pumps completed her outfit. Alicia checked her nails to insure her manicure and polish were good and then checked her wig in the mirror. She was satisfied with the way she looked and so at nine-thirty she left to drive to the credit union 29 for her ten O’clock appointment with Mr. Parks.

Mr. Parks brought Alicia a cup of coffee and then told her that she could have the job, but there would be one condition. Eithershe had to live and work as Alicia orshe would have to keep her feminineside a deep secret something that no one else in the area would know about. Living and working as Alicia was a dream for her, and the idea of being trapped were she could never be seen as Aliciasomehow was somethingshe did not thinkshe could do. She agreed to come to work as Alicia and to be nothing but Alicia. Mr. Parks told her to come in again the next day at one in the afternoon and he would have her some things, employment information. The following day Alicia got dressed again, this time with a flowered dress along withsome nude pumps and drove over to the credit union to meet with Mr. Parks. He gave her some information about the Credit Union and he also handed her a check for five hundred dollars for her travel expenses for coming. He asked about what kind of apartmentshe would be in need of. Alicia told Mr. Parks that she lived alone and really did not need much. She did not have any furniture so a furnished place would be best for her. Mr. Parks picked up the phone and called a ladybythe name of Sarah Miller and asked her if she still had that apartment available. She did and so Mr. Parks gave the information to Alicia including directions on how to get to the apartment. Alicia drove over to the place that Mr. Parks had directed her to and met with Sarah Miller. Sarah introduced Alicia to another girl by the name of Karen Dover who Sarah said was her partner. Sarah and Karen got a key and led Alicia to the empty apartment. It did have a little furniture in it and Karensaid that she could get more of what Alicia would need in the line of furniture. It was a small one bedroom and Sarah told Alicia that the rent was sixhundred and fifty dollar permonth plus she had to payher utilities. Normallyshe did get a deposit of one months rent for the place, but since Alicia was referred to her by Richard she would forgo the deposit. Alicia told hershe would take the place and wouldmove in the following week. Sarah then asked Alicia to come down to her place where she would give her a lease tosign.

While Alicia was down there in Sarah and Karen’s kitchen Karen poured Alicia a cup of coffee. Karen asked Alicia if she had ever been to California before and Alicia told hershe had not. Karen then told Alicia that California was a nice state for those who were LGBT and that once she moved in her and Sarah would show her around to some of the places they thought she would like to go. Karen then poured some more coffee for her and Sarah and as Sarah walked in she gave Karen a small kiss and asked her to reach in a drawer there in the kitchen for a pen. Alicia and Sarah both signed the lease and then Alicia returned to her motel room. There she laid in her bed and thoughtaboutthe events ofthe day. One thing she knew is thatsinceshe was now going to be living and working as Aliciashe would needmore clothes, especially clothes suitable for a girl working in an office setting. She wondered what was life going to be like now living and working as Alicia. Strange yet to her was that Mr. Parks seemed to actually want her to live and work as Alicia.

The next morning Allen checked out of the motel room and drove to the airport in Los Angeles. He returned the rental car and then went to the terminal to catch his flight back to Nebraska. 30 Ten Amazing Transgender Historical Figures Worthy Of Film

Lili Elbe, the real-life trans woman depicted in The Danish Girl, was one of the first media- savvy trans people. Below are some other trailblazing trans people from history, many of whom lived (or are currently living) lives deserving of the big screen as well. 1. Jack Bee Garland (1869 –1936) In the time before medical transition was possible, Jack Bee Garland lived a complex and colorful life. Raised as a girl by a Mexican military diplomat based in San Francisco, Garland escaped from a convent at age16 by marrying a family friend. The newlyweds quickly separated, and Garland took on a series of male names and identities. As Babe Bean, he worked as a mute journalist in Stockton, California. As Beebe Beam, he servedas a cabin boy on a ship bound for the Philippine War, and after spending a year with U.S. troops, returned home to write a memoir claiming tohave been a soldier. During World War I, Beam was arrested for suspicion of being a German spy. Following these adventures, he took the name Jack Bee Garland and worked for social charities. The definitive biography is by Lou Sullivan, an important figure in trans history himself.

2. Charley Parkhurst (1812 – 1879) Raised as a girl, mainly in an orphanage, Parkhurst ran away around age 12 and took the name Charley. After working in stables and learning the teamster trade on the east coast, he headed west during the California Gold Rush of 1849. Some acquaintances from the east coast had started a stagecoach service, and Parkhurst became one of their best drivers at a time when stage coach driving was extremely dangerous. Around this time, Parkhurst lost an eyeafter being kicked by a horse, earning the nickname One-Eyed Charley. As railroads began toreplace stage coaches in California, Parkhurst lived out therest of his days as a farmer in Santa Cruz County. When Parkhurst died of tongue cancer in 1879, the coroner discovered that Parkhurst’s physiology did not align with his male identity, causing quite a stir among those whohadknown Parkhurst for decades. 31

3. Lucy Hicks Anderson (1886 – 1954) Lucy Hicks Anderson was assigned malewhen born in Waddy, Kentucky, but she had already taken the name Lucy when she started school. She left school at 15 and became a domestic worker, later setting in Pecos, Texas, and working at a hotel. At age 34 she married Clarence Hicks in New Mexico. After the couple moved to Oxnard, California, she saved her earnings from domestic work and operated a brothel from a property she’d purchased. She and Hicks divorced in 1929. Fifteen years later, she married soldier Reuben Anderson. In 1954 her trans status became known, and she was prosecuted for perjury in Ventura County because she allegedly lied on her marriage license. Because Anderson had received government checks from the U.S. Army as the wife of a soldier, both she and her husband were convicted of fraud and sent to prison. She lived in Los Angeles upon her release.

4. Wilmer “Little Axe” M. Broadnax (1916 –1992) Possessing a crystal-clear tenor v oice, Houston native Little Axe performed in gospel quartets with his brother Big Axe. They moved to Los Angeles in the late 1930s, but Little Axe eventually formed his own gospel group called The Golden Echoes. That group toured throughout the 1940s, when Little Axe joined gospel quartet The Spirit of Memphis. In the 1950s hewas part of The Fairfield Four, andin the1960swas part of The Five Blind Boys of Mississippi. Broadnax was dating Lavina Richardson, whowas 30 years younger than Broadnax. The couple got in an argument when Broadnax spotted her in a car with another man. During the ensuing argument, Richardson stabbed Broadnax to death. At her sentencing, the judge ordered Richardson to“stay away from older men. Stay away from men — period.” 32

5. Canary Conn (born 1949) Canary Conn was raised as a male, and married with a child by age 18. About a year later, Conn wonSuper Teen, a national talent show that landed her a recording contract with Capitol Records. After completing the contract and making at least one suicide attempt, she began her transition, taking thename Canary Conn. When new recording and performing opportunities didn’t materialize, she published a memoir in 1974 titled Canary: The Story of a Transsexual. Thisledtoa number of talk show appearances for the remainder of the 1970s, inspiring a generation of trans women whorarely saw people like them on television.

6. Karen Ulane (1941 –1989) Karen Ulanewas an aviator who flew more than 100 combat missions for the United States Army during theVietnam War. Following her service, she became a commercial airline pilot, working at Eastern Airlines starting in 1968. Following her gender transition, Eastern dismissed her in 1981, prompting a lawsuit that claimed her dismissal violated Title VII of the Civil Rights Act of 1964. She won the trial, but the federal Seventh Circuit reversed the earlier decision in Ulane’s favor. That decision became the federal legal precedent for transgender employment discrimination cases. It was not fully resolved until April 20, 2012, when the landmark Equal Employment Opportunity Commission decision in Macyv. Holder wasannounced. Ulane didnot liveto seethat day.She died diedwhiletest piloting a DC-3 in 1989. 7. Gwen Smith (born 1967) Many of us observed the annual Transgender Day of Remembrance in November, but its founder Gwen Smith was involved in the fight for trans rights since the early days of the internet. AOL may be associated with y our grandmother at this point, but there was a time when it was the best option around for non-techie folks whowanted to connect online. The only problem was that if you identified as transgender in your profile or tried to set upa chat room containing theword transgender, you could be kicked off for violating AOL’s terms of service. Gwen was one of the people whochanged that, ev entually taking a leading role in what became the Transgender Community Forum, among the largest online meeting places for transgender folks in the 1990s. That online community allowed us to share our collected wisdom and connect in 33 real life to create political change. Below Gwen reads a letter she received from President Obama last month, simultaneously showing us how far we’ve come and how much more there is to do. 8. Susanna Valenti (fl. 1949 –1979) As with many transgender people, Susanna Valenti’s early and later life or not well- documented. But from the late 1940s to the late 1970s, she was an important figure in the nascent transgender movement. Valenti came to the United States from Latin America, and her second wife ran a successful boutique that catered to crossdressers. They used the profits to purchase a second home in upstate New York, where they hosted crossdressers as well as non-crossdressing guests. She wrote one of the first transgender advice columns, called Susanna Says, and later began living full-time as a woman. A guest named Andrea Susan became theunofficial photographer, documenting numerous visits in the 1960s. Andrea Susan gave Valenti the negatives, but she threw them out. Someone fished them out of the garbage, and they eventually ended up in a flea market. The treasure trove was rediscovered by Robert Swope, who published them in a book co-authoredwith Michael Hurst. Casa Susanna was the inspiration for Harvey Fierstein’s 2014 play Casa Valentina. 9. Diego Sanchez (born 1957) Sanchez is a global citizen. Born in Frankfurt, Germany, he grew up in the Panama Canal Zone and Georgia. Before settling in Washington, he lived in New York City, Atlanta, Boston, and Milan, Italy. He came out tohis parentsastransat age5, and they helped socialize him as both male and female, just to keep his options open. Sanchez made a name for himself as a power player in the corporateworld, specializing in communications and PR in the hospitality industry. Since his foray into LGBT politics and policy, he’s racked up an impressive collection of firsts, including the first openly transgender person appointed tothe Democratic National Committee’s (DNC) Platform Committee and the first openly transgender person to work as a senior legislative staffmember on Capitol Hill. He is a founding board member of the National Center for Transgender Equality and currently serves as policy director at PFLAG. 34

10. Sandy Stone (born 1936) Sandy Stone started out as a recording engineer after graduating from St. John’s College inMaryland. She was on hand for sessions with many counterculture notables, including Jimi Hendrix. She began publishing science fiction as Sandy Fisher, and soon took the name Sandy as part of her transition. She remained on the west coast after transition and joined legendary women’s music label Olivia Records collectiveas their engineer. In 1979, she became the target of anti-transgender feminists, most notably Janice Raymond, whoattempted to get Stone fired from Olivia. Olivia Records was aware of Stone’s transition and supported her, but Stone left following a boycott threat by Raymond and her allies. In response to attacks on Stone in Raymond’s book The Transsexual Empire, Stone penned The Empire Strikes Back: A post-Transsexual Manifesto, described by historian Susan Stryker as “the protean text from which contemporary transgender studies emerged.” Stone then moved into the academic study of media, founding the ACTLab at UT Austin. Sinceretiring, she continues to tour the country. 35 Humor

An elderlycouple were at home watching TV. Phil had the remote and was switching back and forth between a fishing channel and the porn channel.

Sally became more and more annoyed and finally said, "For God's sake, Phil... leav e it on the porn channel... you know how to fish!"

Baby's First Doctor Visit

A woman and a baby were in the doctor's examining room, waiting for the doctor to come in for the baby's first exam. The doctor arrived, and examined the baby, checked his weight, and being a little concerned, asked if the baby was breast-fed or bottle-fed. 'Breast-fed,' she replied.. 'Well, strip down to your waist,' the doctor ordered. She did He pinched her nipples, pressed, kneaded, and rubbed both breasts for a while in a very professional and detailed examination. Motioning to her to get dressed, the doctor said, 'No wonder this baby is underweight. You don't have any milk.' I know,' she said, 'I'm his Grandma, But I'm glad I came. Sex Research (could be handy)

If sex with 3 people is called a threesome and sex with 2 people is a twosome, now I understand why they call you handsome! 36 Angels In The Centerfold

Louise

Ginger 37

Suzane Oliva Tammy Trueheart

Tonya Christensen 38 Mellissalynn’s Tips & Tricks

Wow. It’s February, girls. The month of Valentines and presidents! Not to mention that we’re almost two-thirds of the way through winter. Spring will be on us before you know it!

I hope that all of my readers in the Eastern US are safe and sound after the mammoth amount of snow you received. The scenes on the news have been just miserable! My thoughts are with you all.

Well, I went to the anime conventionin Peoria last month, and had a gret time! I did a lot of hair and makeup work on others while I was there, and made a tidy little sum of money for it. Have I mentioned that I love my job? I cut and styled several wigs, and turned one young man into a pretty convincing Wolverine. This is him in the picture.

We did a similar event with my school just last weekend. We teamed up with a board game store at our mall and did a bunch of face painting on kids and stuff. It was a total blast.

So tell me all about your month, ladies! Share your horror stories about the blizzard. Tell me about any vacation plans you may have. Feel free to tell me how great Wolverine looks!

And of course, any questions, tips or tricks you have are always welcome. Write to me at [email protected]. I ALWAYS answer any and all mail I get, so feel free to tell me about anything you want to chat about, be it a salon visit or transgender news, or whatever you like. I love hearing from you!

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As you all know, one of my resolutions is to lose some weight, and it is slowly happening. In the meantime I’m using all the tricks in my arsenal to give the appearance of being slimmer. Here’s on I wanted to share.

I was playing with my lipstick recently, practicing a new look, and realized just how much plumper I’d made them appear with the technique I was using. It startled me to see how much slimmer the rest of my face looked! Here’s what I was doing.

I started with a lip primer, basically a nude base. You can also use a lip liner for this. Then I applied the color I wanted, in this case a soft pink just a few shades brighter than my natural lips. I took some 39 shimmer powder and placed it in the center of my lower lip, and followed up with a touch of gloss. My lips looked amazing! I’ll be doing this again the next time I go out.

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I wear a ponytail often in boring boy mode. It’s one of the few hairstyles I can pull off that lets me have longer hair. I’ve been experimenting with it, trying new things to see if I can make it a little less boring. Here’s one trick I found.

After putting my hair up in the pony, I dug out two bobby pins. I stuck them underneath the elastic band toward my scalp. This had the effect of pushing my ponytail up near the base, and made it look much fuller.

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I want to share a bit of news regarding nail files and your nails. Not all nails benefit from the same file, girl! For brittle nails, you should be using a smoother metal file that’s gentler on the nail. Soft nails will do better with a crystal or glass file. If your nails are in great shape, then go with the normal emery board for some quick shaping.

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Are there any of my readers who wouldn’t want to look like Marilyn Monroe? I’d sure love to! This next tip will put us all one step closer to looking like Marilyn; it’s a trick she used herself.

Her eyes were always incredible. Her secret? She lined her lower lids with a white kohl pencil. This would open her eyes and give them a doe-eyed appearance. You’ll need a creamy white kohl liner. Apply this inside the lower lids and in the inner eye corners, remembering to stay near the waterline. Do your upper lids in black liner and mascara and you’re ready to go!

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Are you growing your hair out? Are you frustrated by how long that can take? Well, try doing a couple of yoga-inspired moves. Bend at the waist and touch your toes, or sit and put your head between your knees, for about four minutes every day. This will increase the blood flow to the scalp, which increases hair growth. You may even find an increase in thickness! You should see results within a few weeks of starting this action.

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While I’m on the subject of movie stars, let’s share a trick from Ms. Grace Kelly. Her tricks worked so well that she became a princes! She’s known for her marvelous cheekbones. This is how she did it.

You’ll need two shades of blush. Apply the lighter color near the ears and work down to the outer cor- ner of each eye. The next step sounds funny: suck your cheeks in to create a hollow, and apply the darker color along the top and just underneath each hollow. Blend the colors well! 40 @@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@

Are you one of those who want to be blasted with hot water as soon as you wake up? As nice as a hot shower may feel first thing in the morning on a winter day, don't make it too hot. This makes it more difficult for your skin to retain moisture. Watch the temperature, and cool the water off a bit right before you get out. Your skin will lock in more moisture, and you'll avoid that nasty cold shock when you get out of the shower!

Let me add a small side note to this regarding your moisturizer. Of course, you’re all using moisturizer, right…RIGHT? Well, if you don't use extra-moisturizing cream already, switch to it for winter. For extra hydration, apply it while your skin is still wet.

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This trick is one I found in an older beauty book. The tip reads "Once you're done applying eyeliner, brush a little powder shadow in a matching shade over the liner." I tried this trick and it worked all right, but I really didn't notice any major improvement. Still it did look pretty, as I used a shimmery shadow for this.

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I want to talk for a moment about concealers…again. I had a lady come into the salon recently with a red and puffy nose. She’s sadly been hit by a nasty head cold, and her nose is caught in the crossfire. She asked what she could do about it, and of course we talked about the normal cold remedies for a moment. I then said that I thought I could conceal it for her so it wouldn’t be as noticeable. She agreed to let me do my work.

This is what I did. I remembered that on my color wheel, that red and green are complementary colors. I used a touch of green concealer and dabbed it onto her nose, blending it well. Afterward, I went with a just-slightly lighter shade of foundation than she normally wears. The result was that she looked much more clear-headed and less sick. She called me a miracle worker and tipped me handsomely. I love my job!

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Ladies, I keep saying spring is coming. I really believe it, even though the piles of snow may convince some of you differently. Just hang in there, you’ll see it soon! The reason I bring it up is that I want to discuss the most feminine of colors, pink. We tend to wear pink a lot in the spring. How do we tell what’s the best shade for us? 41 As always, it’s based on your skin tones. For those with fair or yellow undertones, you’re going to do best with more delicate colors such as rose beige or petal pink. Cooler undertones with hints of blue will benefit from colors like fuchsia or magenta. For those of you who kept her tan up over the winter, try corals or peachy pink hues. And for the darker-skinned ladies, hot pinks or a ruby rose will be your friends!

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I mentioned tanning a moment ago. I hope, ladies, that none of you are using tanning beds for your glow. They can be quite dangerous! Remember, that’s the same UV that the sun throws off; be careful that you don’t end up with a melanoma.

For those who use the self-tanners, they can be tricky! If you don’t apply just right, you’re going to look streaky, and that’s not a great look. Make sure that you exfoliate well before you apply your tanner. This will help take care of spots that might later not be there and destroy your tan. Also, use a natural sea sponge when applying. This will also help ensure a good application.

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I keep coming back to the subject of moisturizer. We had a conversation about this at school recently. It turns out that almost none of the younger women are doing this! If you moisturize when you're younger, your skin will thank you when you're older. Remember, though, when applying moisturizer as part of your daily routine, make sure not to use it directly around your eyes. This skin is more likely to retain fluid, and moisturizer will make the under-eye area appear puffier. But do remember to use some on your neck and throat, as skin can become dry there, too.

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An online friend wrote me recently asking me how she can cover up a double chin. I told her that she really didn't have one, but that I know a great method for this. To hide a double chin, get some brownish -rose blush and brush it along your jawline from just below your ears to your chin. Use a very small amount of white powder on the tip of your chin to complete the slimming effect. As always, blend well!

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On the subject of sleep, I want to talk about my new pillowcase. I was having a lot of trouble with waking up with a rat’s nest of hair. I mean, yes, I have detangler and know how to use it, but isn’t life so much simpler when that isn’t necessary? It is!

Well, I went to Walmart and found myself a satin pillowcase. Now, my hair is in much better shape each day! The satin allows my hair to slip to where it wants to go without creating any tangles. And it feels good too!

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If you’re prone to blemishes, you may notice they get worse in the winter. This is because your skin gets dry when exposed to cold air, and produces more oil to compensate. Pretty soon, the whole system is out 42 of whack!

Here’s what you can do to fix this. After washing your face and applying any medication or astringent you might use, put on some extra lotion to keep your skin moisturized. This keeps the oil glands in your skin from having to work overtime.

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I keep mentioning that spring is coming! This is so we can all be preparing ourselves fro that beautiful day when it’s time to venture forth in sundresses and cute sandals once again.

One of the places that you really need to pay attention to now is your feet. To keep your feet from getting rough, massage them with your favorite oil or lotion before you go to bed, and wear socks overnight. This makes the lotion much more effective, and you'll notice the difference in the morning.

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I want to share with you all a few uses for coconut oil. It’s very inexpensive and can do a lot of work for you. Here are a few examples.

Lips! Coconut oil is a great friend to your lips. All you need to do is dab a little on each day. It makes a great natural lip balm!

Your cuticles will enjoy the coconut oil love as well. It works amazingly well on cuticles. Rub someone and let sit for five minutes, then use your orangewood stick to gently push back and off the dead skin.

Beat the frizz with coconut oil! You’ll need the oil and an old toothbrush. Lightly dip the toothbrush into the oil, and brush it at the crown and the sides. No more frizz!

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We’ve reached the end of another column, ladies! I hope you all have found something of value in here. Maybe something you’ll put to use in your own routines, or just something to experiment with. Tell us about and show us your results! I’d love to start showcasing some of my readers’ looks in this column.

As I type this, we’re getting ready for Super Bowl Sunday in two weeks. I’m going to some friends’ house for it this year, and I’m really excited. The hard part is, I like both teams this year, so it’s going to be hard to root for anyone!

Next month is March and the actual start of spring. Have I said it enough yet? I’m heartily sick of winter, so now you all know why I want spring to get here so bad. I hope you’re all as excited for it as I am!

If you want to tell me about your springtime plans, or about your Super Bowl pick, or share pictures or tips or tricks, feel free to write me! Sending me mail is the easiest thing in the world to do, ladies, and I love hearing from you all. You can send it to my e-mail at [email protected]; as you know, my inbox is always open! You can also hit me up on Facebook; my name there is Mellissa Lynn. 43 May your February be peaceful and uneventful, and without more snow! I’ll talk to you all again next month, with al-new tips and tricks. Until then, be safe and be beautiful! 44 The Importance of Balance in Dress

What happens if you put a big kid on one end of a seesaw and a little kid on the other end? Bam! The big kid hits the ground and the little kid pops up in the air…and stays there. Game over. No ride for them. Because a seesaw works best if the riders are of equal size. They balance each other out.

It’s the same way with dress.

The eye seeks balance unconsciously. So if elements of an outfit balance each other out, our eyes move over the ensemble easily. But if they don’t, if there’s too much of one thing and not enough of another, the mind stumbles, trying to find balance. If we can’t find it, it becomes unsettling. Chaotic. We look away.

Which can be a very big problem if you’re trying to lead. If you want people to listen to you and sway them to your way of thinking, you need – among other things – to give them balance in your clothes. Otherwise, they’ll look away.

The ancient Greeks solved this problem mathematically. As noted in the article about proportion, everything boiled down to math for them, including art, dress, and the human body. So if it was divisible, it could be balanced. If not, it couldn’t.

For example: One Half The body is divided in half, offering equal balance.

One Third, Two Thirds The body is divided in thirds, offering one third of one thing, and two thirds of another. 45 One Sixth The body is divided in sixths, with one sixth offering drama and impact and the remaining five sixths creating a backdrop for the attention-grabber.

See how this works? If you think in terms of dividing your body mathematically, whether in half, in thirds, in sixths, etc., it makes creating balance so much easier.

So what are some examples of imbalance?

There is no clear mathematical division here. You see a lot of material, and then your eyes shift from the necklace to the sandals as both compete for attention. It’s kind of chaotic, and you don’t know where to look first.

The tall, long-legged blonde is certainly beautiful, but the clunky boots keep the dress from visually dividing her in half. If she’d worn skin-toned sandals or pumps, it would look more balanced. It’s not horrible, but you definitely get a, “What’s wrong with this picture?” vibe here, and what’s wrong is that it doesn’t add up. Aside from the fact that the delicate crocheted dress and the clunky boots are two completely different moods, this ensemble also misses the mark mathematically. The . dress is two thirds, but the boots throw off the remaining one third balance. They also draw attention directly to the feet – which is a real shame, given how pretty she is

See why these didn’t work? There’s no clear mathematical division. When you think in terms of that, it makes putting together ensembles much easier.

Now let’s go back to the seesaw example. Two kids of the same size balance it out. One big kid and one little kid throws it off. But two little kids and one big kid balances it out again. It’s the same with dress. 46 There are two types of balance in dress: • Formal Informal

Formal balance is symmetrical. If you cut a garment down the middle, each half would be a mirror image of the other. Same collar, same pockets, same color, etc.

Formal balance gives a sense of equilibrium, and makes the wearer seem more stately and dignified. That’s why it’s the first choice for leaders in business, government, and the military.

Informal balance is where one element is offset by another somewhere else on the garment – like the two little kids vs one big kid on the seesaw scenario. The balance is there, but it’s not a mirror image.

There’s a lot going on here. The print is bold and would be too much if it was a dress instead of a top. The black skirt balances it out. Moreover, the asymmetrical skirt with the hem in the same colors as the top anchors the skirt and draws attention down. You don’t get stuck staring at the top; you look at this outfit from head to foot, yet there is no sense of chaos. Very, very clever.

Here are some other examples of informal balance: 47 Because of its artistic approach, informal balance is typically not worn for business. Save it for casual, cocktail, and evening wear. Moreover, since it requires a certain level of sophistication to pull off, it’s best suited for women over 30.

See how important balance is in dress? So strive for balance when putting together your ensembles, especially if you’re in a leadership position. Give people visual appeal, not chaos. Balance helps you hit that mark.

Diana Pemberton-Sikes is an image consultant and author of Signature Style Blue- print. Ready to find the clothing styles that suit you best and build a wardrobe of your best looks? Signature Style Blueprint can show you how.

10 Colors You Should Wear More Often By Cynthia Nellis Women's Fashion Expert

Pink Why We Love Pink:Pink is the ultimate fountain of youth: it adds a fresh glow to any woman who wears it.

Best Way to Wear It: Wear pink head-to-toe if you love a feminine vibe or in small doses (tie a pink scarf close to your face) for a less girly look. Pink mixes great with neutrals and denim; it even translates perfectly to cocktail dressing.

Violet Why We Love Violet:A little bit of purple, a touch of blue: this flattering hue is soft enough to work on any complexion but vivid enough to brighten features.

Best Way to Wear It: Violet looks great in cozy knits like sweaters and scarves, and as a bright alternative for cocktail dresses. Violet works perfectly with dark neutrals, so it's ideal as a color pop under a black, gray or navy jacket. 48 Bright Blue Why We Love Bright Blue:Sure, it's bright and bold, but blue is such a wearable color for most skintones that it works (unlike other brights like lime green).

Best Way to Wear It: Bright blue makes a great after-five color, especially when it's done up in shiny fabrics. But it also works for everything from basic tees to wool coats. Bright blue is also the perfect accent color for accessories.

Deep Purple

Why We Love Purple:A rich jewel tone, deep purple flatters everyone from dark skin tones to fairer skin.

Best Way to Wear It: Don't save deep purple just for colder months (although it looks rich in the fall and winter). A darker shade of purple adds a jolt of sophistication to work wear (pair a purple blouse with a pencil skirt) and casual wear (purple goes great with denim.)

Teal

Why We Love Teal:Redheads, blondes and brunettes: all look fantastic in this yummy shade of blue-green.

Best Way to Wear It: On it's own teal makes a delicious rich color, but it's even better as a print (especially paisley.) Pair teal with neutrals like chocolate brown or camel for a polished mix.

Burgundy

Why We Love Burgundy:Perfect for drama, this deep red shade of wine (also called maroon) is a show stopper for evening wear.

Best Way to Wear It: Mix burgundy pieces with luxe prints (brocades, paisleys, silk stripes) for a regal look. Opt for career separates using burgundy as a neutral (mixes with colors like charcoal gray and olive). 49 Magenta

Why We Love Magenta:Magenta is easier to wear than neon pink or ultra- bright fuchsia, but still has plenty of pop.

Best Way to Wear It: Almost anything in the pink family of colors looks beautiful close to your face, but magenta also works as an accent color for accessories.

Blush

Why We Love Blush:A pinkish skintone like blush is sexy on for either delicate or strong skin and hair colors.

Best Way to Wear It: Blush colors translate beautifully to sheer or silky fabrics, so they work great for dressier occasions. Because skintone colors can look bare, you're best to skip them for the office.

Bronze

Why We Love Bronze:Silver and gold may steal most of the metallic spotlight, but bronze looks better on most women because of its warm undertones.

Best Way to Wear It: A bit of bronze goes a long way, so save it for accent pieces (a cami or a skirt) or wear it close to your face as a scarf.

Coral

Why We Love Coral:Easier to pull off than bright orange, a soft coral looks pretty with both tan or deep skin tones and fairer skin.

Best Way to Wear It: Coral is luscious for warm weather and mixes perfectly with other mid-tone brights like turquoise. 50 Fashion for the Maturing Woman by Tasi Zuriack Iwas reading a fashion blog for the 40 plus woman and the blogger was talking about Brenda Blethyn who stars in a British detective series, Vera. DCI Vera Stanhope is a solitary, obsessed, caustic, brilliant investigator, and a bit disheveled; think female Columbo. The blogger went on to discuss the brilliant wayin which the studio displayed this disheveled woman in a fashionable wayand it got me to thinking about the challenges we have in remaining fashionable as we grow older. Not always an easy task for those of us that crossdress as the sags of the male bodydon’t exactly match those of our female companions.

Middle aged women don’t need to look frumpyand our looks don’t have to scream “middle aged,” either. Women of any age can look pulled together, sexy, and professional. Fashion for women over 40 has come a long way. It’s all about incorporating select trends into a wardrobe that you’ve carefullycreated with items that fit you so well theyseem to have beenmade with your bodyin mind.

With that in mind, here aresome tips to help you achieve the look of a chic andstylish older lady. And believe itor not,it’s far easier to blend in as amature woman than trying to be a hot chick. Stay Age Appropriate Women of all ages like to feel prettyand feminine, so there’s no need to drasticallylimit your style because of your age. Most women beyond their 20s should probably skip the tiny miniskirts and cropped tops, but you don’t have to wear unflattering skirt lengths orshapeless shirts simply because you think you’re “too old” to wear certain styles. No muumuus for you. Staying age appropriate when it comes to fashion for middle aged womenmeans wearing clothing that fits, flatters, and reflects your This Not This uniquesense of style. And yes, you can wear revealing clothing if it’s done in the right proportion. And you can wear current trends too by learning to pair them with more timeless pieces. For example, the fringe look which you can read about here. 51 Go for the Minimalist look

Less is more when it comes to fashion for women over 40. Choose pieces that have fewer embellishments and cleaner lines, you’ll be able to get more wear out of them, pair them with more (trendy) things, and accessorize with your favorite jewelry pieces. They’ll also make your look more polished than some of the busier pieces out there.

Choose Timeless Classics

There’s a way to incorporate trends into fashion for middle aged women, but it takes havingsome staple, well-tailored classic pieces in your wardrobe. Keeping your trendy picks grounded in a sea of simple styles will keep you from falling into the trap of looking as if you’re trying to dress younger than you are.

Figure Flattering Tips

Become amaster of disguise bylearning how to camouflage those problems areas such as sagging, wrinkling skin (especially on the arms and neck) or protruding abdomens. Some tips to create figure flatturing looks include:

• Two-piece outfits with jackets that fall just below the hip line work wonders at concealing that area, and tops worn out instead of tucked inmaybe more flattering than those with fitted waists or belts.

• The best overall colors for middle aged women are the tried and tested fashionstaples: black, white or navy. Grays or neutrals maycause you to look pale or drawn. But don’t be put off by color. Consider the many beautiful jewel tones that complement your skin color.

• Accessories such as shawls, stoles or shrugs work double duty by providing a little extra warmth while concealing the arms, while scarves, turtlenecks or mock turtlenecks are just the trick for covering up that jowl and neckline area.

Check out themanypossible looks on our Sister House Pinterest boards.

Fashion Sense Transcends Age

You can create a wardrobe and style to accommodate fashions for middle aged women that are still fun, exciting, andsexywithout looking too young or out of step with the current trends. It all boils down to finding simple, figure-flattering pieces that balance out the trendystyles 52 you’re dying to try. Here’sanother Pinterest board that demonstrates this point. More tips?

1. Pairing tops and bottoms in the same color is a quick, fool-proof formula for style. A monochromatic look is one of the easiest ways to createstyle and opens up asimple piece for day or night wear by changing the accessories.

2. One slim belt is all you need to refresh structured dresses, to feminize tailored jackets and suits or to give flat-knit sweaters worn over skirts or pants a hint of shape. Read All About Belts in the Sister House Library

3. If you absolutely crave color, buy classic red. It always looks in style and brightens mature skin like a dash of blush. Readmy latest piece on the Iconic Red Dress

4. Update your eye glasses, whether they are prescription or just reading glasses. Changing thestyle and or color of your eye glass frames can instantlyupdate your look and give you some added flare.

5. Update your make up. As our skin changes, so does our need to change the way we do our makeup. I recently changed my lipstick colors and it made a world of difference in achieving a more youthful look.

6. Get your eyebrows shaped. Learning to how toshape, changing theshape or dusting a small amount of colored powder on your eyebrows can completely change your face. See my article here on Eyebrows Do Make a Difference.

And as you age, remember age is just a number. Many of the most beautiful women in the world are over 50.

And while we’re all just hoping we live a life of longevity, one supermodel is giving everyone a run for their money. Carmen Dell’Orefice, 82, is featured in New You magazine’s spring issue, transforming simple glam with an all-black look, killer cheekbones and a fabulous wave of grey hair. I should look so good at that age 53 Pencil Skirts for Every Shape Yolanda Wikiel

Any body type can pull of the sleek cut of a pencil skirt with a few helpful pointers.

If You Have an Hourglass Figure

Choose a slim, but not tight, fit that follows the contours of the body. Opt for a style that hits at or below the navel.“High-waisted skirtstendto exaggerate the bust and shorten the torso,” says Bridgette Raes, a style expert based in New York City and the author of Style Rx ($11, amazon.com).

To try: The pronounced waistband of the James Coviello silk-blend skirt highlights a small waist, while darting ensures an accurate fit through the hips.

Wear it with: A close-fitting top, a nipped-in jacket, or a tucked-in blouse to show off your slim waistline.

If You Have Full Hips and Thighs

Make sure the skirt tapers, but just a bit. “If it goes straight down from the hips, y ou’ll resemble a square. Too peggedand y ou’ll look like a lightbulb,” says Raes. Pick a dark solid in a substantial cotton or lightweight wool that has some stretch. (Av oid bulky wool, brocade, or tweed.)

To try: This wool skirt by Brooks Brothers has a roomy fit through the hips but gently tapers at the hem. An acetate lining prevents clinging.

Wear it with: A tucked-in button-down or a belted cardigan will emphasize the narrowest part of the body. Aimee Wolpin-Evans, thewomen’s design director for Brooks Brothers, likes toadd opaque tights in the same color as the skirt to create a long, lean line. 54 If You Have a Straight Figure

Try a fitted, tapered cut in a pattern or a thick fabric tomake the bottom half look more curvy. “Create the illusion of an hourglass figure with embellishments like a high waistband, pleats at the hips, or a belt,” says Ricci DeMartino, a celebrity stylist based in Los Angeles.

To try: The nubby tweed and the front patch pockets of the formfitting Nine West wool skirt “help build up the hip area,” says Raes.

Wear it with: A body -hugging turtleneck or a peplumed jacket will help define the waist, says DeMartino

If You Have a Tummy Select a style with a wide waistband to hold in the stomach. Keep themidsection free of eye-catching details, even belt loops and pockets, says Wolpin- Evans.

To try: The wide waistband of this skirt by Eileen Fisher streamlines the midsection. The stretchy viscose blend provides just enough give through the middle.

Wear it with: A hip-length flowy top. “Just make sure towear a fitted jacket over it. Otherwise you’ll look bigger than you are,” warns Raes. 55 How to Dress for Your Age (MTF Transgender / Cross- dressing Tips) ABOUT THE AUTHOR: Lucille Sorella is a GG (genetic girl) who teaches crossdressers, transsexuals, and transgender females how to look, act, and feel like real women. Her goal is to help T-women express their inner and outer femininity and increase their confidence as women. She has a professional background in fashion, beauty, dance, and natural healing and has been working with the transgender community for the past 12 years. Her website is loaded with useful information and is located at http://www.flat2fem.com/index1.html .

You are never too young or too old to express your feminine self. But that doesn’t mean you should ignore your age!

Dressing inappropriately for your age is a sure way to draw unwanted attention to yourself.

The good news is that you can look feminine and beautiful at ANY age. Here are some tips – specifically for crossdressers and transgender women – on how to dress age-appropriately, no matter where you are in life. Your 20s 20s: Style Inspiration

20s: Style Tips

Your 20s are a time to play with trends and be adventurous. You’re still discovering your style, so take risks and have fun!

You’re not a teenager anymore. Stay away from adolescent clothing like midriff-baring tops, loud colors, sequins, rhinestones, and skimpy outfits. Jenna Talackova Taylor Swift Blake Lively

You can get away with short skirts and body-baring styles, but be careful not to cross the line from sexy to slutty. Good taste is a fashion DO at any age. 56 Your 30s 30s: Style Inspiration 30s: Style Tips

Your 30s are the time to start letting go of your wild past. You can still have fun, but now’s the time to add a touch of sophistication to your look.

Dress less casually than you did in your 20s and stop shopping in the junior’s department.

This is the perfect time to start building a wardrobe of classics Laverne Cox Janet Mock Jessica Alba while continuing to play with trendy items. Your 40s 40s: Style Inspiration 40s: Style Tips

40 is the new 30! However, that doesn’t mean you should dress exactly like someone 10 years younger than you.

This is the age to start thinking about dressing in more tailored styles. Consider classic, clean shapes in bold colors or prints for added impact. Candis Cayne Jennifer Aniston Victoria Beckham Go for simplicity rather than complicated details. From now on, your look should be clean, classy and sophisticated.

There’s no reason to turn down your sex appealonce you hit 40. But instead of baring it all, show off one part of your body and keep the rest covered. 57 Your 50s 50s: Style Inspiration 50s: Style Tips

Now’s the time to start highlighting your face instead of your body.

Classic styles and modest cuts are your best friends.

It’s especially important to wear clothes that fit well. Choose tailored styles that skim your body instead of clinging.

Kim Cattrall Sharon Stone Michelle Pfeiffer As you get older, your clothes should get simpler. But simple doesn’t have to mean boring! Accessorize with bold jewelry, gorgeous bags, and great shoes. Your 60s and Beyond 60s and Beyond: Style Inspiration 60s and Beyond: Style Tips

By now you know yourself well and are past trying to look like a 30-year- old.

Much like a woman in her 50s, it’s best to stick to the classics, with lots of interesting jewelry and other Caitlyn Jenner Diane Von Susan Furstenberg Sarandon accessories to liven up your face and wardrobe. NOW is the Perfect Time to Be Your Best Femme Self! Invest in good quality shoes, handbags, and jewelry so you can The most important thing to know is that enjoy them through this decade and you can look sexy, beautiful, and feminine beyond. at any age. NOW is the perfect time to be your best femme self, so let’s celebrate No matter how far past 60 you are, your journey! you NEVER have to dress in frumpy old lady clothes! Love, Lucille 58 The History Of Breast Implants & Enlargement, From Cobra Venom To Silicone Gel

JRTHORPE

Bolt-ons, boosters, boob jobs inflatables: whatever you call breast implants, they're not exactly seen as a medical miracle, or even a particularly dangerous procedure. At least 300,000 women are estimated to have had a breast implant procedure in 2014, and today's surgeons emphasize a "natural"look that doesn't look out of place on the body. You can have them inserted under the armpits to reduce scarring, and you can choose from round or "teardrop"shapes to suit your ribs and body. Today's unhappy breast owners have the most surgical choices they've ever had — but their new bosoms have had a very long and peculiar history.

Breast implants these days are seen as a surgical commonplace, and usually only make the news when there's something extraordinary about them — like the resourceful woman in 2011 who attempted to smuggle cocaine in hers. But if the weirdest story you've heard about breast implants concerns dramatic popping incidents, or perhaps the "inflatable"onesthat you can adjust using a hiddenvalve, sit tight: the history of these babies is rife with invention, drama, and some very peculiar materials. This is not for the queasy — but if you'd like to appreciate that your options for breast enlargement do not include paraffin injections or implants made of ox cartilage, this history of breast implants is for you. 59 1895: The First Breast Implant Surgery

Breast implants may be older than you think. The first implant surgery was done all the way back in 1895 at the University of Heidelberg in Germany, but it wasn't really for cosmetic purposes. The doctor, Vincent Czerny, took fat from a female patient's hip and implanted it into her breast, which needed reconstruction after the removal of an adenoma, or massive benign tumor.

So essentially the first "implant"wasn't for uniform enlargement at all, but to reconstruct a breast after devastating surgery. In his published account of the surgery, which was successful, Czerny said it was to "avoid asymmetry"— but the simple quest to make a woman feel more balanced after surgery created a revolution.

1890s: Paraffin Injections

The first real foreign substance injected into breasts to make them bigger was probably, horrifyingly enough, paraffin, which comes in both warm and soft versions and is largely made up of petroleum jelly. Its use for boosting the size of bodily objects was discovered by an Austrian surgeon, Robert Gesurny, who first used it on a soldier's testicle to make it a healthier size. Inspired, he then went on to use it for breast enlargement injections.

The problem? Paraffin has horrible affects on the body. Gesurny's "formula"(one part vaseline, three parts olive oil) and variations on it would look fine for several years, but then everything would go catastrophically wrong. The paraffin could do everything from forming a large, impenetrable lump tocreating an enormous ulcer or causing totalblind- ness, and the patients would often need a total breast amputation to save their lives. Interestingly, paraffinoma has had a bit of a resurgence in Turkey and India recently ... in penises. People have been, unwisely, injecting it at home as a method of penile enlarge- ment, understandably horrifying their doctors. Word to the wise: don't do this. 60 1915-1943: Everything From Ivory To Ox Cartilage

According to Walter Peters and Victor Fornasier, in their history of breast augmen- tation for The Journal of Plastic Surgery in 2009, the period from the First to the Second World Wars was rife with some very weird experiments in breast implant surgery — and the materials used will make your skin creep. They recount that people used "ivory balls, glass balls, vegetable oils, mineral oil, lanolin, beeswax, shellac, silk fabric, epoxy resin, ground rubber, ox cartilage, sponges, sacs, rubber, goat’s milk, Teflon, soybean and peanut oil, and glazier’s putty."Y ep. It was an age of innovation, but unsurprisingly none of these methods caught on, and there was a serious rate of infection post-surgery.

1940-1950: Liquid Silicon Injections With Cobra Venom

There's evidence that Japanese prostitutes after World War II attempted to cater to the tastes of American soldiers by injecting their breasts with various substances, including liquid silicon. Silicon at that time wasn't produced cleanly, and with other additives in the process designed to "contain"the silicon inside the breasts — cobra venom or olive oil, for instance — the results were, unsurprisingly, seriously horrible years later.

The serious worry with silicon in liquid form was that it broke apart, forming granulomas that could then migrate basically anywhere in the body they chose. Liquid silicone is still used — very rarely, in microscopic amounts, and only using medical- grade silicone that's completely sterile — but it's seriously controversial and can have pretty serious complications, so feel a lot of sympathy for the women who had a bulk of it swimming around their bodies. 61 1958: Ivalon Sponges & Polyethylene Tape Are Invented

The late '50s were a golden age for breast implants — well, sort of. Inspired by the pointy-breasted aesethic of the decade, new ideas and inventions for implant materials popped up rapidly, as things discovered during World War II became available for civilian use. One was the Ivalon sponge, made of polyvinyl; another was polyethylene tape wound into a ball and encased in fabric or more polyethylene. (Polyethylene only started being produced commercially in 1951.) But while they were noticeably better than paraffin, in that they didn't gradually kill you, they also weren't great for your breast appearance. After a year of cheerful buoyancy, they went hard as rocks, and shrank your boobs — often by up to 25 percent. Turns out their sponginess straight-up collapsed inside the breast. Ouch.

1962: First Silicon Breast Enlargement Surgery Tested — On A Dog

Breast implantsas we know them these days — siliconas acohesive mass inside a kind of "bag"— had their debut in the 1960s, developed by Doctor Thomas Cronin and his colleague Frank Gerow (who reportedly got the idea after a plastic bag of blood felt weirdly breast-like).

The breast implants were, unbelievably, first tested on a dog. Yep, the first owner of silicon breasts was a dog named Esmerelda, who kindly test-ran them. She would have kept them for longer, had she not started chewing the stitches after a few weeks. Poor Esmerelda was otherwise unaffected by the procedure, apparently (I have my doubts). The first person to have silicon breast implants was Texan Timmie Jean Lindsey, who had approached a charity hospital to have some breast tattoos removed but instead consented to becoming a world medical first. Lindsey, who's now 83, still hasthe implants today. 62 1964: First Saline Implants Saline implants — where saline solution was the chosen filler for the "bag"instead of silicone — had their debut in 1964, when a French company produced them, as a hard silicone bag that could be injected with saline. The big difference with saline implants wasthat you had achoice:you could have them pre-filled before they were implanted, or the surgeoncould "fill"themonce the bagshad been putin,like they were pumping air into a tire.

The real time for the saline implants to shine came in 1992, when the FDA issued a massive moratorium on all silicone-filled breast implants, worried about their possible health risks, and eventually stopped companies from selling them altogether. Saline implants picked up the slack, and 95 percent of all post-moratorium implants were saline.

2006: Silicon Gel-Filled Implants Given Approval by FDA After over a decade out inthe cold, siliconwas allowed back into breast implants in 2006 — but in a new form. The FDA, after years of study and experiments, finally allowed silicone gel- filled implants onto the U.S. market. They and saline are now your two choices for modern breast implant surgery.

Today's silicone gel is designed to feel a bit like human fat: it's very thick, very sticky, and classified as "semi-solid". It's actually the fifth generation of silicon implant — the first was the one developed by Cronin and Gerow, and there were various innovations, including more secure coatings, thicker gels and more natural shapes, along the way. So what's next? We seem to be returning to the days of the "boob injection,"as people look for surgery-free methods of upping their cup size. An injection of the filler Macrolane is meant to take a few hours, but the results only last 12 to 18 months.

There's been a bit of controversy about it, though:radiologists don't know how to treat Macrolane-injected boobs if they need chemo.

It looks like, for the moment, implants are here to stay — but stay tuned for what they'll invent next to boost breasts to stratospheric sizes. 63 From The Kitchen!

Turkish Chicken Thighs Active time: 10 minutes | Total: 1 hour 40 minutes (including 1 hour of marinating)

The acidity of the yogurt helps tenderize the chicken and keep it moist. If you can’t find hot paprika, substitute 2 teaspoons sweet paprika and 1/4 teaspoon cayenne.

8 bone-in chicken thighs (about 3 1/2 pounds total), skin removed, trimmed 1 tablespoon lemon juice 1 cup low-fat plain yogurt 2 cloves garlic, minced 1 tablespoon minced fresh ginger 2 teaspoons hot paprika 1 1/2 teaspoons dried mint 1/2 teaspoon salt

1. Place chicken in a large bowl. Add lemon juice and toss to coat. Whisk yogurt, garlic, ginger, paprika, mint and salt in a separate bowl. Pour the yogurt mixture over the chicken and stir to coat. Cover with plastic wrap and refrigerate for at least 1 hour or up to 24 hours. 2. Position rack in upper third of oven; preheat broiler. Remove the chicken from the marinade (discard marinade). Place the chicken on a broiler rack and broil until browned on top, about 15 minutes. Reduce oven temperature to 400°F and bake until the chicken is juicy and just cooked through, about 15 minutes longer. (Thigh meat will appear dark pink, even when cooked through.) Serve immediately.

Makes 4 servings. Per serving: 138 calories; 4 g fat (1 g sat, 1 g mono); 82 mg cholesterol; 3 g carbohydrate; 21 g protein; 0 g fiber; 251 mg sodium; 312 mg potassium. Nutrition Bonus: Selenium (20% daily value).

Note: Chicken thighs are higher in fat than other cuts, but have the benefit of full-flavored, juicy meat. To minimize the fat, be sure to remove the skin and trim thighs thoroughly. For quick cooking, choose boneless, skinless thighs. When slow-cooking, such as braising, bone-in thighs work best because they will retain their moisture better. Two 2- to 3-ounce boneless thighs yield a 3-ounce cooked portion. 64 Tandoori Grilled Chicken Ingredients: 2 cups plain yogurt 3 tablespoons garam masala 2 pounds boneless, skinless chicken breasts 6 pita breads

Directions 1 Preheat grill for medium heat. 2 In a large bowl, mix yogurt and tandoori spice. Reserve 1/2 cup for basting. Add chicken to remaining sauce, and marinate in the refrigerator for 1 hour. 3 Brush oil over grate to prevent sticking, and place chicken on the grill. Cook chicken for 5 to 6 minutes per side, basting with reserved yogurt marinade frequently. Serve hot. Salsa Chicken

Seasoning chicken strips with McCormick® Taco Seasoning Mix is a great way to spice up dinner. Sweet and spicy Salsa Chicken is delicious served with rice and Directions

Ingredients 5 minsPrep time15 minsCook time Place Seasoning Mix on plate or in plastic bag. Add chicken tenders; toss to coat. Serves: Makes 4 servings. Heat oil in large skillet on medium heat. Add chicken; cook 1 package McCormick®Taco Seasoning Mix and stir 5 minutes or until chicken islightly browned. 1 pound chicken tenders Stir in tomatoes and preserves. Reduce heat to low; cover 2 tablespoons oil and simmer 10 minutes. Serve over rice,if desired. 1 can (14 1/2 ounces) no saltadded diced tomatoes 1/3 cup apricot preserves Cooking tip

Taste for Health Tip: Using McCormick® 30% Less Sodium Taco Seasoning Mix saves 211mg sodium per serving. 65 Garlic Herb Seasoned Tilapia

Tilapia gets a coating of seasoned lemon butter before broiling for a quick, easy and healthy dinner. Directions

5 minsPrep time12 minsCook time

Mix butter, lemon juice, Seasoning, onion powder and pepper in small bowl until well blended. Place fish on broiler pan. Brush butter mixture over fish. Ingredients Broil 10 to 12 minutes or until fish flakes easily with a fork. Serves: Makes 4 servings. 2 tablespoons butter,melted Cooking tip 1 1/2 tablespoons fresh lemon juice Test Kitchen Tip: Substitute red snapper, striped bass, 1 1/2 teaspoonsMcCormick® Perfect Pinch® flounder or sole for the tilapia. Salt Free Garlic & Herb Seasoning 1 teaspoon McCormick® Onion Powder 1/4 teaspoon McCormick® Black Pepper, Ground 1 pound tilapia fillets

Crockpot Pork Roast }only 5 ingredients Author: Leigh Anne Prep time 15 mins Wilkes Cook time Recipe type: Main Dish 7 hours Serves: 8 servings Total time 7 hours 15 mins

Ingredients Instructions 2 large sweet onions, sliced Grease a 6 qt. slow cooker with cooki ng spr ay. 1 5-6 l b. pork should r oast Place onions in bottom of cooker. 2 Tbsp McCormick Grill Mates Backyard Brick Oven Rub pork with seasoning bl end and salt. Seasoning (garlic, oregano, red pepper blend) Place on top of oni ons. Pour br oth over r oast. 1 tsp salt Cover and cook on high for 6-7 hours or l ow for 9-10 or until meat pulls apart 2 C of c hicken broth easily with a fork. Remove fr om crockpot and shred meat. Remove any large pieces of fat. Save some of the juice to spoon over pork when serving. 66 How to Cook Basically Anything in Your Crock Pot

Food52 on Yahoo

Picture this: You throw everything into a pot. Then it’s off togorun errands or even goto work for the day. Hours later, y ou unlock the door, andreturn to a perfectly cooked dish. This can happen for most traditional recipes— because they can be adapted for a slow cooker. Don’t believeus? Read on to thisrefreshed post to see. Selecting a recipe. Look for buzz words like braised or slow- roasted or soups or stews. Most recipes that require finishing in the oven or any sort of baking make for great slow cooker candidates. That being said, y ou really can make anything in a slow cooker: y ogurt,pulled pork, chicken broth, and chili. Get creative and experiment with y our fav orite recipes, while following a few simple guidelines. Survey your slow cooker. What size is it? Slow cookers come in a range of sizes, ranging anywhere from 1 to7 quarts. Take note of the pot size when selecting quantities of ingredients and to avoid pot overflow.

Does it have hot spots? In many slow cookers, the back side tends to be hotter. If this is the case, line the back with an aluminum foil collar for an added layer of protection. Prep your ingredients. As always, make sure to chop all y our ingredients uniformly, so that they cook ev enly. Meat: You can use any type or cut of meat; however, tougher, cheaper cuts of meat work best. Werecommend browning meat and draining away excess fat prior to adding to to slow cooker.

Chicken: Be wary of the cut of meat you are using; for instance, boneless chicken breasts take2 to3 hoursand bone-in chicken breasts take 3 to4 hours. The best cuts of chicken touse are chicken thighs, bone-in breasts, or drumsticks, andwings, as opposed to boneless cuts.

Vegetables: Fresh will turn out better than frozen. 67 Rice: Look for precooked or parboiled rice. In their cookbook solely dedicated to slow cooker recipes, America’s Test Kitchen recommends buying precooked rice. Aromatics: Sauteing onions and garlic prior toadding will help bring out the flav or.

Strategically place your ingredients in the pot. For soups and stews, put vegetables on the bottom and sides of the slow cooker and place meat on top.

Add your liquid. Any liquidrequired for a recipe should be halved; for most (non-soup or stew) recipes, 1 cup of liquid is enough (andmake sureto season in proportion with your reduced liquid). Alternatively, if a recipe does not call for any liquid, addat least ½a cup ofwater or broth. If y ou’ve accidentally added too much liquid, simply leave the top of the slow cooker off and let it evaporate.

Regardless of the sequence in the original recipe,addtheseingredientsin the final 30 minutes of cooking: Herbs and spices: reduce the amount of seasoning or use whole herbs Dairy: be careful, as dairy can separate Quick cooking vegetables like peas, corn or greens Rice and pasta Seafood Cooking Time If y our recipe requires a certain amount of time in the oven, it will require a longer cooking time in the crock pot.Asa generalrule,1 hour of cooking at 350 ° F equals6 to8 hours on a low setting or 4 to 6 hours on high. Hereis a chart to helpyour conversions: Stove/Oven Cook Time A)15to30minutes B)35to45minutes C) 50minutesto3 hours Slow Cooker (Low) A)4 to6 hours 68

B)6 to10hours C) 8to12 hours Slow Cooker (High) A)1.5to2.5hours B)3 to4 hours C)4 to6hours Practice safe slow cooking! Bacteria grows over time and likes lower temperature environments. Cooks Illustratedsays the key is to get thetemperatureupto and past 140° F (the temperature in which bacteria cannot grow) as quickly as possible. Be sure touse a thermometer when applicable.

14 KITCHEN HACKS EVERYONE WHO COOKS SHOULDKNOW

Knowing your way around a kitchen doesn't have to take years of practice. These simple hacks can make life in the kitchen easier and more enjoyable for anyone from a professional chef to a first time cook.

CUTTING TOMATOES QUICKLY Place the tomatoes between two plates. Press down on the top plate to keep the tomatoes in place and then slice across. 69 FREEZINGFRESHHERBS Herbs can easily be stored for later use by placing them with olive oil in ice cube trays and freezing. You can chop the herbs first or add them in larger sprigs.

Hard herbs like rosemary, thyme and oregano work best. When you're ready to cook, just pop the cubes out and melt the oil in your pan. FOODSTUCKONPANS An easy fix to remove stubborn burnt-on foods is to dribble a bit of dishwashing liquid into the pan, add hot waterand then bring to a boil on the stovetop.

This also works great with cast iron pots and pans but just make sure to leave out the dishwashing liquid for these and use plain water instead.

QUICKLY RIP EN BANANAS You can ripen a banana faster by placing it in a brown paper bag, but if you simply can't wait pop the bananas in a 300 degree oven and bake for 30-40 minutes.

T RIM T HE FAT To remove the layer of fat that rises to the top in stews and sauces wrap an ice cube in a paper towel and skim it along the top. The fat will solidify from the ice making it easier to scoop out with a spoon. 70 TOO MUCH SALT To fix soup that's oversalted, place a couple of slices of potato for the last 10 minutes of cook time. The potato will absorb any excess salt. Discard the potatoes after cooking.

KEEPCUTAPPLES FROMTURNING BROWN Apples begin to brown once the fleshy insides are exposed to air. To prevent this from happening drop the fruit into a bowl of acidic liquid such as lemon or vinegar.

STUBBORN TOMATO PEELS Core the tomatoes then pop them into boiling water for 30 seconds. Remove and plunge them into cold water. The peel will slide right off. 71 TESTINGEGGSFOR FRESHNESS Place the whole egg in a shallow glass of water. Fresh eggs will sink to the bottom and lie flat. An egg that’s about a week old will bob slightly in the water.

A three week old egg will stand on its end and a rotten egg will float right at the top.

JUICYLEMONSAND LIMES To get the most juice out of lemons and limes, keep them at room temperature. Or you can pop them in the microwave for 10 to 20 seconds before juicing. A warm fruit will release more juice.

QUICKSOAKYOUR BEANS Unsoaked beans are not easy for our bodies to digest but soaking overnight can be a pain. For a quick soak, place beans in boiling water. Boil for two minutes and then turn the heat off and let them sit for an hour to get the same results as overnight soaking. 72 NO BROWN AVOCADOS To prevent that browning that occurs with avocados, brush the exposed flesh with olive or lemon juice. You can also chop a red onion and place in a container with the avocado, peel side down on top of the onion to store.

KEEPINGBROWN SUGARSOFT To prevent brown sugar from hardening into an unusable lump, place a ribbon of orange peel in with the sugar and seal in a plastic bag. A wedge of apple or slice of bread will soften up sugar that’s already hardened.

REUSECOFFEE GROUNDS Don't throw away your coffee grounds after using if you have houseplants. Plants like roses, tomato, strawberry and blueberry love the nutrients found in coffee and will thank you for the extra boost. 73 There’s Now A Yelp To Help Trans People Find A Doctor

A new Yelp-inspired database of trans health care resources may help break challenging barriers that trans patients regularly face in the doctor’s office. The Referral Aggregator Database (RAD) Remedy, launched in June, now has nearly 2,000 resources submitted by providers, community organizations and patients across the country.

Like Yelp, users can add reviews to doctors or clinics based on their visits. Unlike Yelp, however, this service doesn’t just act as a handy consumer resource. It’s one of the few comprehensive care guides for a population in dire need of informed health care providers.

For now, RAD is focusing on rural areas that lack diverse trans health options that are more available in urban settings.

“We have resources in each state to make sure everyone is reached,” said Bre Kidman, a member of RAD Remedy’s board of directors. “And volunteers are always adding new information.”

On RAD Remedy’s site, which is currently in beta testing, users can search for specific care geared toward their age, gender identity, sexuality, or defining experience (“undocumented” or “survivors of abuse,” for example) — and filter by specific payment or insurance options. \

And it’s not just a source for basic health services, users can find yoga classes, housing options, massage studios and other extra services that are both welcome and specifically geared toward the trans community. The organization is fundraising to grow its database and improve functionality, and has a long-term goal of providing on-site training for providers across the country. 74 How to Maximize Your Closet Space Ten easyways to make more room for your wardrobe. By Sarah Yang

If y ou’re discouraged by a small closet, take heart: There are plenty of ways tomake your space more streamlined and organized—and even make it seem bigger. With the right organizing products, a few decorating tricks, anda little patience, y ou might find that tiny closet is actually just right. (Major bonus: these ideas won’t cost a fortune.) Here, three experts open the doors.

1. Throw Out Clothes That Don’t Fit

After tossing the pieces you no longer wear or haven’t used in a year—and the ones that long agowent out of style—zero in on the clothes that are too tight. “People think hanging on to smaller sizes will inspire them tolose weight, but you can only wear the size that fits you right now—y ou never change a size overnight,” says Julie Morgenstern, a professional organizer and author ofOrganizing from the Inside Out. If y ou have diet plans, storey our tighter clothes elsewhere and put them back after y ou reach your goals—the act of swapping out larger sizes for smaller ones might even make you feel more accomplished.

2. Remove the Clutter…

…which sometimes means more than clothes, shoes, and accessories. “Remove those plastic coverings that come with y our dry cleaning,” says Lisa Zaslow, an organization and productivity expert and owner of Gotham Organizers. “They actually don’t protect y our clothes because they trap the dry cleaning chemicals. It’s also shocking how much space they take up.” Since you want tomaximize every last bit of space, opt for thinner hangers and remove excessive amounts of empty ones, while leaving just a handful in one spot so they're easy to find and use. You might betemptedtotry stacking or “cascading” hangers, but they can be hard tomaintain. Before you invest in this type of product, make sure you can easily grab clothes from them.

3. Remember the Floor Space

“If y ou have lots of long-hanging clothes, thewhole bottom of the closet can become a noman’s land,” says Morgenstern. “Group your short-hanging pieces at one end of the closet and your longer -hanging clothes at the other—that will open up lots of floor space, where y ou can place a little dresser or a stacking shoe rack.” 75 4. Add Lighting

If looking intoyour closet is like staring intothe abyss, illuminate it. “Just having more light in the closet will make it seem bigger,” says Zaslow. Swap out y our normal rod for anLED closet rod, which is motion activated and battery -operated.

5. Make Use of the Upper Shelf

Sure, y ou can stack storage bins on the upper shelf, but consider a shelf divider, which turns the space intolittle cubbies so clothes and accessories are easy to see and grab. “You can use them to separate stacks of folded clothing, sothat they don’t topple into each other and create a big mess,” Morgenstern says. “Or, they can keep your handbags upright and accessible.”

6. Hang a Mirror or Two

“Mirrors are a great way to create the illusion of a bigger closet, whether they’re attached tothe door or inside,” says Lisa Adams, owner of LA Closet Design. “They make the closet feel like it extends beyondthe walls.”

7. Paint It a Lighter Color

A fresh coat of paint is an inexpensive way to add the illusion of space. “I’d get a durable paint, such as one with a satin or gloss finish, because the walls will get some wear and tear from clothes and shoes,” says Zaslow. “A light color—like white, light yellow, or pale pink—can make everything seem cleaner and brighter.” Brighter hues can alsomake a tiny spot seem more open and airy.

8. Don’t Count Out Corners

“Corners are, too often, awkward and wasted,” says Adams. “By adding corner shelves or hanging rods y ou can really maximize that space.” 76 9. Use the Doors

“Hang hooks to store handbags, loungewear, pajamas, scarves or belts on the inside of y our closet door,” says Morgenstern. “Or, line the door with corkboard tohang your jewelry on.” If y ouhave sliding doors, it can be hard to find things because a door is always blocking a portion of the space. Try some DIY projects tomake your closet more accessible: “If y ou own your place, you can replace them with two doors that pull out or bifold doors," says Zaslow.

10. Maintain the Space

“If y ou’ve maximized y our space and are at capacity, you should probably let something go whenever you bring something new in,” says Zaslow. “If y ou’ve left a little room to grow, do some seasonal reorganization and put away clothes that y ou’re not going to be wearing during those months.” 77 78 79 80 81 The Gossip Fence Transgender In The News

US states to see more anti-LGBT 'religious freedom' bills in 2016, rights group warns

Anti-LGBT billslikely to be considered in atleast 27 statesin the United States this year, the Human Rights Campaign says in a new report previewing state and local legislative battles for the year ahead. It noted in the report that many of the more than 115 anti-LGBT bills introduced in atleast 31 stateslast year are still pending while new anti-equality bills may be introduced in other states.

‘2016 will prove a critical year for the fight for LGBT equality in states across the country,’ said HRC President Chad Griffin.

In 2016, HRCexpectsmore than two dozen state legislatures to consider anti-equality measures. These include legislatures in Alabama, Arizona, Arkansas, Colorado, Florida, Georgia, Idaho, Indiana, Kansas, Kentucky, Louisiana, Michigan,Mississippi,Missouri, Nebraska, New Mexico, North Carolina, Ohio, Oklahoma, South Carolina, South Dakota,Tennessee, Utah, Virginia, West Virginia, Wisconsin, and Wyoming.

The Preview 2016 report says the largest number of anti-LGBT billsintroduced in 2015 were aimed to authorize individuals, businesses, and taxpayer-funded agencies to cite religion as a reason to refuse goods or services to LGBT people.

Alabama, the Carolinas and Texas saw proposals thatincluded legislative attacks that sought to allow individuals, businesses, and government employees to refuse goods and services related to same-sex marriages. In Florida, Michigan,Mississippi and elsewhere, lawmakers proposed allowing adoption and foster care agencies to discriminate against LGBT prospective parents.

Other anti-LGBT billslast year sought to restrict transgender people from accessing bathrooms, to eliminate the ability of local governments to protect LGBT residentsand visitors, and even to promote the dangerous and discredited practice of so-called ‘conversion therapy.’

On the positive side, efforts to pass pro-equalitylegislation at the state level are expected to continue in 2016. There are campaigns in many states including Arizona, Florida, Idaho, Indiana, Michigan, Nebraska, Ohio and Pennsylvania to amend existing state anti-discrimination laws to protect against discrimination on the basis of sexual orientation and gender identity. Lawmakers in Massachusetts will continue trying to pass a bill to add gender identityprotections to existing state laws thatalready include protections against discrimination on the basis of sexual orientation in public accommodations.

In states where there are pro-equality legislative majorities and existing state-level protectionsagainst anti-LGBT discrimination, the HRC says it expects to see increased focuson bills to address bullying in schools, protect youth from so-called ‘conversion therapy,’ simplify name and gender marker changes on identity documents, and require LGBT cultural competency training for medical and social service providers.

(UK) Attacks increase on gay and transgender people

Attacks on gay and transgender people in the West Midlands have rocketed to more than one assault everyday. Data released under a Freedom of Information request showsa 20 per cent spike in anti-gay and transphobic hate crimes last year to an average ofmore than 30 attacks per month.

“Homophobic, biphobic and transphobic hate crimes are some of the most under-reported crimes in the UK and we would alwaysurge victims to report attacks to the police.” 82

In one particularly bad month, June last year, there were a shocking 43 homophobic attacks. There were eight attacks on victimsunder the age of 16, with one victim as young as 10 suffering from anti-gay abuse. The data also records a 71-year-old victim reporting homophobic abuse to the police.

A West MidlandsPolice spokesman said: “Hate crimes cause a great deal of fear among victims and damage communities. “While we are committed to reducing hate crime, it is vital we close the gap of under-reporting.

“It is for this reason that we urge victimsand witnesses to use the True Vision website and to continue to come forward so we can bring the perpetrators to justice.”

After a historic year for LGBT rights in US, 2016 may see backlash and complacency

To call 2015 a historic year for LGBT rightsin the US would be, to many, an understatement.

It was the year that transgender people were finally allowed to serve openly in the military. It was the year Caitlyn Jenner became the face of public transgender acceptance. And it was the year that the supreme court made marriage a right for all sexual orientations under the US constitution. But advocates caution that these victories were the beginning of a very long and fraught path to LGBT equality, not the end.

“Without question,2015 was a banner year for LGBT Americans,” said Sarah Kate Ellis, CEO and president of the LGBT media watchdog group GLAAD. “But marriage equalityis a benchmark, itis not a finish line.”

In the coming year, LGBT advocates expect to face even greater backlash to these victories, paired with a dangerous sense of complacency.

Already in 2015, the backlash was evident. Kim Davis, the clerkin Kentucky who refused to issue marriage licenses was nominated for Time magazine’sperson of the year. In Houston,Texas, sweeping legislation that would have barred all types of discrimination was rejected when it was rebranded as a bill to allow transgender people in bathrooms. Since then, Tennessee has proposed a “bathroom bill” to explicitly bar transgender bathroom use.

“[Next year] the fear-mongering will continue,” Ellis said. “And we must redouble our efforts to thwart their fear tactics and move acceptance forward.”

“Soon, GLAAD will release a new study that reveals startling rates of complacency in this country,” Ellis said, “showing thatmany Americans think that we’ve already crossed the finishline for LGBT equality and acceptance.”

This report is expected in mid-January of next year, and organizations plan to useit to invigorate the country to continue the fight for full equality.

While 2015 may have been a “banner year” for some, for othersit was a year of historic mourning with at least 22 transgender and gender non-conforming people murdered.

The congressional LGBT equality caucus in part acknowledged the issue by holding the first-ever congressional hearing on transgender violence. The caucus alsocame out against the recent one-year abstinence policy the Food and Drug Administration implemented after ending its lifelong ban of gay and bisexual blood donors. And members of Congress introduced a bill in 2015 that would update the Civil Rights Act of 1964 to fully protect people based on gender and sexual orientation under a new Equality Act.

“2016 is going to be all about moving the ball forward to achieve full legal and societal equality for LGBT people,” the executive director of the US congressional LGBT equality caucus, Roddy Flynn, told the Guardian. “With all of our successes in 2016, we were also constantly reminded of how much there is left to do.”

Anti-trans measure won’t qualify for Calif. 2016 ballot

A social conservative group seeking to place an anti-transgender initiative on the 2016 California ballot announced Monday it failed to collect enough signatures by the deadline to makeit happen.

The initiative, dubbed the “Personal Privacy Protection Act,” sought to prohibit transgender people from using restrooms in government buildings consistent with their gender identity and would have allowed businesses to do the same. 83 The anti-trans coalition, known asPrivacy for All, needed to submit 365,880 signatures byMonday to qualify the measure for the ballot. No where in the organization’s statement doesit say how many signatures it did collect. The coalition is supported by the Sacramento-based Pacific Justice Institute and other groups in California that passed Proposition 8 to ban same-sex marriage in the state.

“This initiative was a poorly veiled attackon transgender people that sought to undermine that freedom and single out for harassment anyone who doesn’tmeet stereotypes of what itlooks like to be male or female,” Hayashi said. “Today Californians have made clear these typesof discriminatory attacks on transgender people and our families, communi- ties, and neighborhoodshave no place in our state.”

Had enough signatures been submitted for the 2016 deadline, transgender advocates feared another battle at the statewide level in California similar to the recent fight in Houston over an LGBT-inclusive non-discrimination ordinance that failed at the ballot. During the campaign in Houston, anti-trans forces ran ads stoking fears about transgender people using the public restroom consistent with their gender identity.

To improve transgender awareness and understanding in preparation for future attacks, Equality California and the Transgender Law Center are leading a separate statewide public education campaign to combat widespread public misunderstanding about transgender and gender nonconforming people.

Illinois takes steps with new laws to protect transgender community

Regardless of the lack ofa budget in Illinois, those elected to represent the people of the State have not been sitting on their hands. With bipartisan majorities, including support from Republican leaders in both the Illinois House and Senate, January 1st, 2016 will bring three new laws to the State that mark a significantmove forward in protections for the Transgender community.

The first law, HB 0217/PA 99-0411 titled the Youth Mental Health Protection Act, prohibits gay conversation therapy and referring to homosexuality asan illness when advertising conversion therapy services. Illinois statesin the act that it “hasa compelling interest in protecting the physical and psychological well-being ofminors, including lesbian, gay, bisexual and transgender youth.”

The Youth Mental Health Protection Act states that a mental health provider that attempts to use conversation therapy on a person under the age of 18 may be subject to disciplinary action by the licensing entity which could resultin the suspension or loss of the providers license due to the unprofessional conduct.

On July 20th, Illinois Governor Bruce Rauner signed into law PublicAct 99-0077, an enhanced Hate Crimes statute. For the first time, gender identity is expressly protected. The passage amends the Criminal Code of 2012 and the Unified Code of Correctionsby moving away from the meaning of “sexual orientation” referring to only heterosexuality, homosexuality or bisexuality and now ascribes to the language used in the Illinois Humans RightsAct, which includes gender identity. The Act also includesprovisions to increase the penalty for persons who knowing and willfully commit vandalism against organizations and institutions who serve the LGBT community.

The third law that takes affect at the first of the year isone that many people don't think aboutbut corrects something that worries many transgender individuals. “What will happen to me after I die?” is a question that hauntsmanyin the community due to no immediate family or fractured family relations. Many transgender men and woman across the country and globe have had their true identity striped away from them after their death.

The sudden death of Jennifer Gablesin 2014 isjust one of countless examples of the lack of dignity that is shown to transgender people.Though Jennifer had legally changed her name and gone through transition-related medical care, Jennifer's friends were shocked to discover that her family, who she was estranged from for some time, cuther hair, dressed her in a man's suit and buried her under her birth name. No mention of the life Jennifer had after transition was ever mentioned in her obituary or funeral service.

On January 1st, transgender individualsin the State of Illinois will now be protected from this sort of indignity. House Bill 3552 wasintroduced to amend the Disposition of Remains Act so that a person'slast instructions regarding their gender identity must be respect by funeral directors. Rep. Will Guzzardi (D-39th District – Chicago) and Sen. William Delgado (D - 2nd District - Chicago) were the chief sponsors of the bill that went on to pass unanimouslyin the Senate. The bill passed the House with 79 to 34 bi-partisan approval. 84 More Than Two-Thirds of Residents in Every State Support Transgender-Inclusive Employment Protections

LOS ANGELES — A majorityof people in every state supportsprotecting transgender people from employment discrimination even though not every state has such laws, according to a new study by researchers at the Williams Institute at UCLA School of Law published in Research and Politics.

The study, titled “Transgender Inclusion in State Non-Discrimination Policies: The Democratic Deficit and Political Powerlessness,” examines whether state laws reflect public support for laws that protect transgender people from employment discrimination. The researchers found that states are slow to pass such lawsdespite a clear consensus. Previous studies find that transgender people face disproportionate amounts of workplace discrimination. Passing statewide non-discrimination lawsmay be one way to reduce these rates.

Key findings from the reportinclude:

• More than two-thirdsof residentsin every state support transgender-inclusive employment non-discrimination laws. Percentages range from 68 percent in Oklahoma to 87 percentin Maryland. Nationally, more than three-fourths of Americans currently support such laws.

• Even with thishigh level of support, most states have not passed transgender-inclusive non-discrimination laws.On average, 81 percentof residentsneed to support such a law before it is likely to be passed, the studypredicts.

• However, three statesare at or above that level of support and do not have transgender-inclusive laws (New York, Pennsylvania and New Hampshire).

• Ten statesare within 5 percentage points (Arizona, Florida, Georgia,Michigan, Minnesota, Montana, North Carolina, Ohio, Virginia and Wisconsin).

• Such lawsare more likely to pass when Democrats are the majority in state legislatures.

“The attitudes people hold about minoritiesgreatly affect the policy discussions relating to minority rights,” said Andrew R. Flores, Public Opinion and Policy Fellow at the Williams Institute. “But a disconnect between public opinion and policy may suggest that some minoritiesare politically disadvantaged in the lawmaking process.

All New York City single occupancy bathrooms now required to be gender neutral

New York City Mayor Bill de Blasio’s administration issued a report last week explaining how they will interpret a 2002 civil rightslaw to accomodate transgender people.The New York Commission on Human Rightsdocument explains the way the city will enforce the law.

One of the biggest changes listed is the requirement that all single occupancy bathroomsbe clearlymarked as gender neutral. Several other cities have similar bans on sex segregated restroomsunless they are meant for multiple people at a time.

The law explicitly states that itis illegal to deny a transgender person access to bathrooms, locker rooms, and other single-sex facilities. It also requires police, employers, and landlords to use a person’s pronoun and name of choice regardless of the name and gender marker on their identification.

“The [New York Civil Rights Law] requires that individualsbe permitted to use single-sex facilities, such as bathrooms or locker rooms, and participate in single-sex programs, consistent with their gender, regardless of their sex assigned at birth, anatomy,medical history, appearance, or the sex indicated on their identification,” the document reads. “The law does not require entities to make existing bathroomsall-gender or construct additional restrooms. Covered entities [such as landlords, city agencies, and employees] that have single-occupancy restrooms should make clear that they can be used by people of all genders.”

New York City unveils new rules on gender discrimination

NEW YORK — NewYork City’shuman rights commission is rolling out new enforcement guidelines that could lead to fines for business owners, landlords and employers who discriminate against people based on their perceived gender identity.

The new guidelines, to be released by New York City’s Commission on Human Rights on Monday afternoon, are aimed 85 at making it clear that the city’s gender discrimination law also applies to discrimination against people who identify as transgender and those who consider themselvesgender non-conforming. The guidelines were provided to The Associated Press ahead of the official release.

Those caught violating the city’s human rights law could be fined up to $250,000 if officials can prove the violations were based on willful or malicious conduct. Under the city’s human rights law,it isillegal to treat someone “less well than others” because of their gender. It also is unlawful for an employer to refuse to hire or promote people who identify as transgender and illegal to fire or give different work assignmentor benefits to someone because of their gender.

The guidelines also warn thatbusinesses cannot enforce rulesabout dress codes, uniformsor grooming standards that are different because of sex or gender. For example, officials said it isillegal to require employees of one gender to wear a uniform or to require men to wear ties in order to dine at a restaurant.

(UK) Adults to get the legal right to choose if they are a man or a woman as new law will end tortuous process to change gender

Transgender men and women are to be given the right to choose their legal gender under proposals that would streamline the gender reassignmentprocess. The proposals, based on a report carried out bya committee of MPs, would allow people to change gender by filling out an application form.

It would be a vast change to the current procedure which makes those who want to change gender have to endure years of psychiatric evaluations and undergo a hearing before a judge.

At present, transgender people are required to prove that they have body dysphoria and have lived in their gender for two years before they opt to swap,The SundayTimes, reports.

Britain and the majority of countries in Europe require transgender people to undergo surgery and sterilisation, be diagnosed with a mental disorder and get divorced ifmarried in order to have their desired gender legally recognised. Last year, Denmark became the first European country to allow transgender people to self-determine their legal gender, from the age of 18.

If a new law is putin place,it would follow Ireland'slead which already tookbold steps to change its law on gender.

Statue to pay tribute to transgender victims of violence

A life-size statue dedicated to victimsof violence against transgender people has been commissioned for the Transgender Day of Remembrance in Palm Springs. The Transgender Community Coalition has hired Heath Satow,a LosAngeles-based artist, to create the tribute for the annual vigil remembering communitymembers killed across the country every year.

Thomi Clinton, activist and coalition director, said the statue is intended to raise awareness around violence and discrimination the community encounters. “Transpeople have a history of being oppressed and hurt,” Clinton said. “The statue represents the struggles, the hardships, and the victimization the trans community faces.”

The original iteration of the transgender sculpture illustrates a life-size figure,made of steel butterflies, lying on its side. Where exactly the statue will find a permanent home in Palm Springs is still to be determined.

Researchers say anti-trans laws promote abuse

WASHINGTON — A policy brief released this week by the Fenway Institute and the Center for American Progress examines controversial state and local legislation that would prevent transgender people from using gendered public facilities, such as restrooms or locker rooms, that align with their gender identity.

The brief debunks myths about safety concerns regarding the use of these spacesby people who are transgender and describes negative outcomes that these bills could cause. It also calls on states to pass laws that protect the rights ofall Americans to access public accommodations regardless of gender identity.

”A Texas bill would makeit a felony for transgender people to use public restrooms consistent with their gender identity and would place responsibility for enforcement with those who operate the public restroom,” said Tim Wang, LGBT Health Policy Analyst at the Fenway Institute and lead author of the brief. “Preventing people who are transgender from accessing public restrooms consistent with their gender identity could promote abuse and discrimination.” 86

In 2015, the state legislatures ofTexas, Kentucky, Florida, Minnesota and Missouri all considered bills restricting access of transgender people to public bathrooms and locker rooms. More recently, Houston repealed an equal rights ordinance that banned discrimination on the basis of gender identity, among other protected categories. This new wave of anti-transgenderlegislation followshistorical precedents of using legislation to pre-empt or invalidate laws or ordi- nances that provide equal rights and protection from discrimination to LGB people.

Proponents of the anti-transgender bathroom bills argue that they are common-sensepolicy measures to prevent transgender people from sexually harassing other people in public bathrooms. However, there are no data showing that allowing people who are transgender to use public restrooms that align with their gender identity will lead to an increase in sexual harassment or abuse of the other people using the facilities, the Fenway press release said.

Singular ‘they’ voted as Word of the Year

‘They’ was voted the Word of the Year 2015, by over 300 linguists, lexicographers and grammarianson Friday.

Having been used for hundredsof years to describe someone of unknown gender. Its usage to include people who do not identify as one of the binary genders, or those who do not wish to be identified as so, hasincreased recently.

“There has been a lot of discussion lately about pronounsand people taking on their own pronouns, making that a matter of choice,” said Ben Zimmer, chair of the American Dialect Society’s new words committee, in a new interview with the Business Insider. Zimmer notes thatmedia outlets have adopted the use of they to denote those who are not identifiable using ‘he’ or ‘she’.

The gender neutral title, Mx was among the latest list to enter into the Oxford English Dictionary last year. The free online dictionary – created by the publishers of the esteemed Oxford English Dictionary – added the words during itsquarterly update today (August 27). Mx isdefined in the dictionaryas “n: a title used before a person’s surname by those who wish to avoid specifying their gender.”

In new trend, courts see anti-gay bias as gender discrimination

LGBT people lackexplicit protectionsin federal law against discrimination,but a growing number of courts are determining anti-gay discrimination constitutes gender discrimination under current law.

U.S. District Judge Dean Pregerson, a Clinton appointee, found in a 22-page ruling discrimination on the basis of sexual orientation and discrimination on the basisof gender are one and the same.

“After further briefing and argument, the Court concludes that the distinction is illusory and artificial, and that sexual orientation discrimination is not a category distinct from sex or gender discrimination,” Pregerson writes. “Thus, claimsof discrimination based on sexual orientation are covered by Title VII and IX, but not asa category of independent claims separate from sex and gender stereotype. Rather, claims of sexual orientation discrimination are gender stereotype or sex discrimination claims.”

Texas issuing new birth certificates for trans people

Texas began giving trans people the option of sealing their old birth certificates and issuing new ones, according to Dallasattorney Katie Sprinkle.

Previously, Texas issued amended certificatesand those were only issued with a surgeon’sletter. Now, Texasis sealing old records and issuing newbirth certificates with a court order. That makes getting accurate documents earlier in the transition process possible.

The change is part of the Texasmarriage equality ruling. U.S. District Judge Orlando Garcia ordered Attorney General Ken Paxton and the Texas Bureau of Vital Statistics to issue corrected death certificates for same-sex couples acknowledging their relationship as “spouse” rather than significant other.” That affected inheritance.

As part of that motion filed by a Conroe, Texas gay man, Garcia asked the attorney if Texas was treating LGBT people differently than straight people on other documents. The attorney said birth certificates needed to be addressed. As part of its update of birth certificates reflecting both adoptive parents or parents who used a surrogate,Texas updated its policy on reissuing birth certificates to transmen and women. 87

Since a court order can be used to prove a couple are both the parents of a child and should both be on a birth certificate, a court order will suffice for a trans person to use to get a new birth certificate reissued. And since the origi- nal birth certificate in an adoption is sealed, the original birth certificate for a trans person will also be sealed. To get the original birth certificate unsealed will take another court order, Sprinkle said.

She said trans parents need to update their children’s birth certificates to get the parents’ names correct. Since Texas updated its rules, parents can be listed asmother and father or parent 1 and parent 2.

Sprinkle said she’s seen vital statistics take four to six weeks to issue new birth certificates, but because of demand, that time maybe even longer.

Report: Anti-LGBT groups use old claims for new tricks

Social conservative activists are recycling old rhetoric used against the gay community to argue their opposition to transgender rights, according to a new report from Media Matters.

These groups use the arguments that trans rightsare a “slippery slope” that infringes on “religious freedom” and are a “treat to kids,” the same “myths and fearmongering tactics” used against gay rights for over a decade, the publication says.

Similarly, Citizens for Community Values, a social conservative group tied with the Family Research Council and American Family Association, has called transgender rights a slippery slope that will lead to a refusal to “recognize gender under the law.”

What Media Matters calls “baseless concerns about religiousliberty”include the Liberty Counsel’s threat to sue a Wisconsin school if they scheduled a reading of the transgender-themed book “I Am Jazz.”

Perhapsmost damning, these tactics have also used concernsabout the safety of children. In the same way that anti- gay activists accused gaymen of being more likely to engage in pedophilia, opponents of trans rights have successfully tied trans rights to arguments thatmen will sexually assault young girlsin restrooms.

But these myths aren’tnew — and journalists should recognize that the talking pointsbeing used to attack transgender equality are the same bogus, recycled attacks that anti-LGBT groups have been peddling against gay people for years.

HHS New Tool Makes It Easier for Transgender Patients to Find ACA Coverage They Need

The Department of Health and Human Services (HHS) added a new page to HealthCare.gov directly addressing issues facing transgender people accessing health care coverage under the Affordable Care Act (ACA).

This page provides consumers with guidance regarding successful application for marketplace coverage, as well as information describing important new rights of transgender patients under the ACA. Under the ACA market place, health plansmust provide preventative care including routine shotsand screenings. As this new page makes clear, the ACA also requiresplans to provide all sex-specificpreventative servicesavailable that are medically appropriate. This means that under the ACA a plan can'tlimit a preventative service like a pap smear, mammogram,or prostate exam, based on an individual's sex assigned at birth, gender identity, or their recorded gender.This page also providesimportant information for transgender consumers regarding plan exclusions. In addition to encouraging consumers to investigate a plan's coverage prior to enrolling, HHS also urges consumers to report incidents ofdiscrimination by carriers to the Office of Civil Rights.

HRC applauds HHS for providing this new tool. Educating and informing transgender consumers about their rights under the law is critical to fully implementing these protections, and moves us one step closer to ending discrimination in healthcare.

Welcoming the all-gender restroom “revolution”

TIME Magazine just declared that “The Gender-Neutral Bathroom Revolution is Growing.” This week, San Francisco joins Washington D.C., Philadelphia, Austin, Seattle, Santa Fe, and New York City in requiring all businesses and city buildings to designate single-stall restroomsas all-gender. While transgender and gender nonconforming people have the legal right to use restrooms that correspond to their gender, this kind oflegislation is still a relief for people with disabilities, trans and gender nonconforming people, and families with small children — not to mention women simply 88 tired of waiting on line for the women’s restroom while the single-stall men’s bathroom stands empty.

The new legislation introduced by San Francisco Supervisor David Camposand crafted with the support ofTransgender Law Center will be the most comprehensive of its kind in the country, with robust enforcementmechanisms and a requirement for new buildings to include an all-gender option.

People seem to feel justified in policing gendered spaces and they do so based on their assumptions of a person’s gender. No one should fear being assaulted or harassed for using something asbasic and necessary asa restroom. It is my hope this ordinance will increase restroom access for everyone and reduce the anxiety and fear people likeme often experience when forced to choose between sex-segregated facilities that may not be consistent with how others perceive us.”

Policy brief: “Bathroom bills” threaten trans people's health, opportunities

Washington, D.C. — A policy brief released todayby The Fenway Institute and the Center for American Progress examines controversial state and local legislation that would prevent transgender people from using gendered public facilities, such as restrooms or locker rooms, that align with their gender identity. The brief debunks mythsabout safety concerns regarding the use of these spacesby people who are transgender and describes the many negative outcomes that these discriminatory bills could cause. Lastly, it calls on states to pass laws that protect the rights of all Americans to access public accommodations regardless of gender identity.

In 2015, the state legislatures ofTexas, Kentucky, Florida, Minnesota, and Missouri all considered bills restricting access of transgender people to public bathroomsand locker rooms. More recently, Houston repealed an equal rights ordinance that banned discrimination on the basis of gender identity, among other protected categories. This new wave of anti-transgenderlegislation followshistorical precedents of using legislation to pre-empt or invalidate laws or ordinances that provide equal rightsand protection from discrimination to gay, lesbian, and bisexual people.

Proponents of the anti-transgender bathroom bills argue that they are common-sensepolicy measures to prevent transgender people from sexually harassing other people in public bathrooms. However, there are no data showing that allowing people who are transgender to use public restrooms that align with their gender identity will lead to an increase in sexual harassment or abuse of the other people using the facilities. In fact, research has shown that transgender people are often the ones who experience discrimination and harassment in public accommodations, and this discrimination isassociated with a variety of negative physical and mental health outcomes. Discrimination in public restroomsand other public spaces also has a negative impact on transgender people's access to equal opportunities for employment, education, and socialization.

"Denying transgender people access to facilities that are necessary for all of us to go about our dailylives, such as restrooms, contributes to minority stress and can exacerbate negative health outcomesalready affecting transgender people," said Laura E. Durso, Director of the LGBT Research and Communications Project at CAP. "These efforts significantly limit the ability of transgender people to fullyand equally participate in civic and public life."

FreeState Legal, Equality Maryland to merge

FreeState Legal and EqualityMaryland on Wednesday announced theyplan to become one organization. A press release the two organizations released says they “will merge to form a comprehensive, statewide direct legal services and policy advocacyorganization that addresses the needsof lesbian, gay, bisexual, transgender and queer (LGBTQ) Marylanders.” The new group will also continue to “focus on the needs oflow-income LGBTQ Marylanders.”

Wednesday’s announcement comes roughly five months after Equality Maryland curtailed operationsamid a growing budget shortfall. The organization said funding decreased after votersin 2012 upheld Maryland’s same-sex marriage law and the state’s transgender rights law tookeffect in 2014.

“The new organization will be well positioned to address the political and legal needs of the LGBTQ community of 89

Maryland moving forward,” the Montgomery County Democrat told the Blade. “This new organization puts the Maryland community in a far stronger position than other states like New York, where the state organization just closed.

Transgenderveterans have significantly greater prevalence of many psychiatric and medical conditions

The first large, controlled study of health disparitiesbetween clinically diagnosed transgender and non-transgender patients-based on the medical records ofmore than 5,000 patients treated in the Veterans Health Administration- showed that transgender veterans had a significantly greater prevalence of numerous psychiatric and medical conditions. The specific disordersexamined and the implications of the study findings are discussed in detail in an article published in LGBT Health, a peer-reviewed journal from Mary Ann Liebert, Inc., publishers (http:// www.liebertpub.com/). The article isavailable free to download on the LGBT Health (http://online.liebertpub.com/doi/ full/10.1089/lgbt.2015.0058) website until February 6, 2016.

In the current study, transgender veterans were significantly more likely to suffer from all ten of the mental health conditions examined, including depression, suicide thoughtsor intentions, seriousmental illness, and post-traumatic stress disorder. They also had a much higher prevalence of 16 of17 medical diagnoses studied, with HIV infection accounting for the largest disparity.

"Employing more robust methods, this study confirms previous reports of transgender health disparities but finds that these disparities are more global than previously appreciated," saysLGBT Health Editor-in-Chief William Byne, MD, PhD, Icahn School of Medicine at MountSinai, New York, NY. "The global disparities compared to matched non- transgender veterans have important policy and practice implications that extend beyond the Veterans Health Administration."

NY Daily News Identifies The Extreme Legal Group Behind Discriminatory "Bathroom Bills"

The NY Daily News correctly identified the anti-LGBT legal organization behind the nationwide effort to deny transgender studentsequal access to school facilities, noting the group's historyof defending laws that would criminalize homosexuality. In a January 12 article laying out the debate over transgender student rights, NY Daily News reporter Sarah Goodyear identified Alliance Defending Freedom (ADF) as the anti-LGBT legal organiza- tion behind the national movement to pass "bathroom bills" - policies that would deny transgender students access to facilities that align with their gender identity.

Palatine, Gloucester and other districts around the country, thoseopposed to the policy ofpersonal choice in accommodations for transgender kidshave received their talking points from a deep-pocketed organization called the Alliance Defending Freedom, which describesitself as "an alliance-building legal organization thatadvocates for the right of people to freelylive out their faith."

In December 2014, ADF sent an email to districts around the country arguing that there wasno legal basis for the OCR guidelines and advising that they should feel free not to comply. The group has offered itslegal services pro bono to any school district that wants to fight the guidelines, and has followed up with specific communications to districts that are considering transgender accommodationspolicies or have adopted them, such as the Le Roy Central School District near Rochester, N.Y.The ADF's lettersinclude the warning that "Granting Students Access to Opposite-Sex Changing Areas Could Subject Schools to Tort Liability" for violating students' and parents' rights.

Philanthropist donates $US2 million for transgender studies

Chicago: American billionaire philanthropist Jennifer Pritzker has donated $US2 million ($2.9 million) to a Canadian university to establish a chair of transgender studies, believed to be the only such research position in global academia. Aaron Devor, a sociology professor who has studied transgender issues for three decades, was named inaugural chair.

"Far too many trans and gender-nonconforming people still live in poverty and fear," Dr Devor said in a statement. "As the inaugural chair, I will act as a resource locally and internationally for those needing information for their own research or for policy development, as well as building linkages between community-based and academic scholars working in transgender studies."

The Tawani Foundation, a supporter of military personnel and history, is led by Ms Pritzker, who is transgender and a retired Army lieutenant colonel. 90 Much transgender research throughout North America has been supported through philanthropy. Some of the first pushes for exploring transgender issues came through funding and support from the Erickson Educational Foundation, according to Dr Devor.

"I am proud of our campus community's commitment to diversity, as well as grateful to Dr Devor, Lieutenant Colonel Pritzker, the Tawani Foundation and all those who help us continually learn and grow in a welcoming environment that promotes the rights and affirms the dignity of all persons."

The Pritzkers are a Jewish family from Chicago, best known for the development of the Hyatt hotel chain and other companies in the Marmon Group.

Breaking News - Statewide Prohibition On Transgender Discrimination Now In Effect

Today marks a historic victory for transgender and gender nonconforming New Yorkers. This morning, Governor Andrew M. Cuomo announced that the New YorkState Division of Human Rights hasadopted new regulations that ban discrimination and harassment against transgender people.

The Empire State Pride Agenda applaudsGovernor Cuomo'sbold leadership in the creation of these regulations, which protect transgender people statewide against discrimination and harassment by public and private employers, businesses, housing providers and creditors.

Governor Cuomo first announced these regulationsat our Fall Dinner in October. The impact of these regulationsis substantial: transgender and gender nonconforming New Yorkers are now protected under New York's Human Rights Law. If you feel like you are being discriminated against or harassed in violation of the law, you can file a complaint with the New York Division of Human Rights: .

Washington Quietly Adopts New Transgender Bathroom, Locker Room Policies

Washington state adoptsa new set of policies regarding sex-specific facilities such as bathrooms, showers, and locker rooms. (Photo: Peter Thoshinsky/ZUMA Press/Newscom)

One day after Christmas, Washington state quietly adopted a set ofnew policies regarding transgender individuals using sex-specific facilities. The rules, adopted by the state Human Rights Commission,makeit illegal for business owners to limit sex-specific facilities such as bathrooms, showers, and locker rooms to persons with the anatomical parts ofone sex.

The rules, which a state legislator told The Daily Signal tookeffect on Dec. 26, apply to businesses with eight or more employees. They also dictate that schools should “allow students to use the restroom that is consistent with their gender identity” and in most cases, give transgender students “access to the locker room that corresponds to their gender identity.”

The Washington State Human Rights Commission has not yet posted the final rules online.The commission also could not be reached for comment. 91 92 93 94 95 96 97 98 99 100 101 102 103 104 Happy Valentines Day From Miss February Andrea Nicole Baker

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