Pretty T Girls April 2012 the Magazine for the Most Beautiful Girls in the World 2 in This Issue

1 Pretty T Girls April 2012 The Magazine for the most beautiful girls in the world 2 In This Issue

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Editorial 3 8 Clever Makeup Tips 4 How to Respect the Transgendered Person 5 Choosing the Right Moisturizer for Your Skin 8 The Exploits of Barbara Marie 10 Tasi’s Musings 13 How to Clean Makeup Brushes 19 Sweet Mommy Mellissa 20 Humor 22 Angels in the Centerfold 23 TG tips by Mellissa 27 Kathy’s Korner 34 The Adventures of Judy Sometimes 35 How to Find Comfortable Shoes 36 Avoiding Wardrobe Blunders 38 How My Husband Became My Wife 42 Surprising Cleaning Solutions 43 Lucille Sorella 44 Spring 2012 Must Have Nail Colors 47 Mantyhose are a Thing 50 The Gossip Fence 51 Shop Till You Drop 64 Calendar 74

Poof - Where Did She Go? an Editorial by: Barbara Jean

Back in the old days before the internet our social network was pretty small, mostly local people. Those outside our local community we contacted via mail and were probably friends of our family or family members themselves.

But thanks to the internet our social network has greatly expanded. We now have friends throughout the nation and even in other countries. This is especially true for those of us who are transgendered.

But life on this earth is not eternal, sooner or later we all will face the grim reaper, or we may become incapacitated in some way that we can no longer communicate with anyone. Now who would inform us? How would we know?

I remember where a member of our community did pass away. Fortunately for us a family member was able to use her computer and she had her username and password where she could inform us of her passing. But what if the family is not accepting or not knowing? Who then informs us?

The problem becomes more acute for us when the person who passes is a group owner. With- out a co-owner or moderator the group will die. Even there; there can be problems. In the case of our own group Rachel had turned ownership over to another when she no longer had the time to take care of things, but something happened to the new owner. Fortunately we have moderators who have full privileges and can do just about anything that an owner can so the group continues.

In my own case I do have many concerns. I have become pretty much the prime moderator for the group, along with being the sole person doing the magazine. What if something happened to me? Barbara Marie could do everything with the group, but it might take her awhile to figure out how to make the changes to the home page. (it did me) and how long of a lapse would there be between issues of the monthly magazine? Who would inform members of the group that I was no longer?

When the owner of a small business passes away or closes the business, the customers are left having to seek another business that will serve their needs. Yahoo groups, MSN, groups and Google groups are all like a small business in this respect. If you are the owner of a group, do you have a co-owner who can take over everything should something happen to you, or at least moderators that have FULL PRIVELEDGES? Without such, what would happen to the group you started? How would it carry on? And even if you don’t own a group, is there a sister who 4 would know and be able to inform others in our community?

The transgender community is just that a community, and in the groups we are in many senses a family. When the time comes that our Lord calls you to your permanent home, many will miss you and will morn your passing.

8 Clever Makeup Tips You Haven't Heard Before By BellaSugar | Fashion

Makeup artists know all the secrets to looking great - those little tricks that can be picked up only by living in the beauty world 24/7 as they do. Fortunately, they're often as generous as they are knowledgeable. We talked with some of the best makeup artists in the business to get their best out-of-the-ordinary tips. (And no, we're not using the old "white eyeliner makes your eyes look bigger" thing. You've read it a hundred times.) Read on to see some of the best tips you haven't heard before.

Ditch the oil slick To keep shine in check, Revlon Global Artistic Director Gucci Westman always keeps blotting papers on hand. But in a pinch, she has an unusual way to keep oil at bay. "Believe it or not," she says, "I sometimes put deodorant on my finger and dab under my eyes and t-zone to help create a matte look."

Try a colored eyeliner Changing your eyeliner can make eyes look bigger and brighter, says makeup artist Tina Turnbow, who has worked with stars such as Natalie Portman and Julianne Moore. "Try swapping black for plum, olive green or indigo," she suggests. "Black can close up the eye and make it appear smaller, because darker colors make the eye recede. Some colors, even brown, can be softer."

Go for sheer foundation Adding aloe to foundation gives it excellent slip, says makeup artist Brett Freedman, who's helped women like Vanessa Hudgens and Leighton Meester get gorgeous. "Sheer out your favorite base by adding a half a pea size of aloe to your foundation before you apply," he explains. "Also, you can apply aloe to your face and while still dewy, spread on a little foundation. You're ready for summer!"

Style your brows, size up your eyes Doug Howell, NARS makeup artist, has an easy trick for making eyes stand out more. "Use a powder to define the entire brow, but give extra attention to the center arch area of the brow," he says. "Since this is the high- est area of the brow, it tricks people's eyes into thinking your eyes look bigger." Use a brow brush to apply powder eye shadows that correspond with your hair color. He rec- ommends NARS single eye shadows in these shades: Blondie for lighter hair, Bali for medium hair and Coconut Grove for dark hair.

Create a wet look - for your lashes "There's nothing sexier than the way lashes group together when they're wet, like after getting out of a pool," says MAC Senior Art- ist Victor Cembellin. "Here's the secret to the look: Apply MAC Brow Set in Clear to the eyelashes first, and then top with a coat of black mascara." The result: grouped, wet- look, sexy lashes.

Leave your lipstick in place The same product can be used to keep lipstick in check, says MAC Senior Artist Louise Zizzo. "MAC Brow Set in Clear used around the rim of the mouth will help prevent lipstick from bleeding," she explains.

Create a camera-perfect manicure When working with stars like Joy Bryant and Sheryl Crow , Dior celebrity makeup artist Ricky Wilson pays attention to details like fingernails. "One thing that I always do for nails is mix a bit of Dior's Skinflash pen with Dior Creme Abricot to get rid of any nicks at the base of the nail bed," he con- fides. "It also adds a beautiful sheen that I like to call 'red-carpet-ready' hands."

Get Bambi lashes without mascara You don't need mascara to make your eyelashes stand out, says mark celebrity makeup artist Mai Quynh, who has worked with actors including Emma Stone and Ashley Greene. Just add eyeliner, she says: "To get voluminous-looking lashes, apply dark brown or black waterproof eyeliner to the upper rim of your eye - not on top of the lashes, but in between and underneath them. This gives the illusion of thicker, fuller lashes without having a lined eye."

How to Respect a Transgender Person (author unknown)

If you have recently learned of a transgender person in your life, you might not understand their identity and you may be unsure of how to act around them without offending or hurting their feelings. The term "transgender person" in this article means a person who does not fully identify with the gender they were assigned with at birth. There are transgender people all over the world (e.g. US, Mexico,[1] India[2]) and in a wide variety of cultures (e.g. Native American,[3] Thai[4]). For such people, it is not always easy to explain their gender situation in today's society. Here's how to understand and respect someone who challenges your ideas about gender, and who does not easily fall within the category of "male" or "female".

1. Thank them. It is very hard to come out to people as transgender. They trust and/or respect you very much to have come out to you. Thank them for trusting you; it will mean a lot to them, because you mean a lot to them.

2. Respect their gender identity. Think of them as the gender they refer to themselves as and refer to them with their chosen name and gender pronoun (regardless of their physical appearance) from now on. (Unless they are not out, or tell you otherwise. Ask to be sure if or when there are times it is not okay.)

3. Watch your past tense. When talking of the past don't use phrases like "when you were 6 a previous gender" or "born a man/woman," because many transgender people feel they have always been the gender they have come out to you as, but had to hide it for whatever reasons. Ask the transgender person how they would like to be referred to in the past tense. One solution is to avoid referencing gender when talking about the past by using other frames of reference, for instance "Last year", "When you were a child", "When you were in high school", etc. If you must reference the gender transition when talking about the past, say "before you came out as current gender", or "Before you began transitioning" (if applicable).

4. Use language appropriate to the person's gender. Ask what pronouns the transgender person prefers to have used in reference to them and respect that choice. For example, someone who identifies as a woman may prefer feminine words and pronouns like she, her, actress, wait- ress, etc. A person who identifies as a man may prefer masculine terms like he, his, etc. Other transgender people may prefer that you avoid the use of "gendered" language by using gender neutral pronouns such as ze, zir, sie, hir, singular they, etc.[5] Use the name they ask you to use.

Your friend Jack has just come out as a transgender person, and now wishes to be called Mary. From this point on, you do not say "This is my friend Jack, I've known him since grade school." Instead, you say, "This is my friend Mary, I've known her since grade school." Table any awk- wardness you feel for another time when you and Mary can talk privately. Definitely, if you want to remain friends, you will need to respect Mary's wishes and address her as who she is today, not the person you used to know.

5. Don't be afraid to ask. Many transgender people will be happy to answer most questions, and glad you are taking an interest in their life. Don't expect the transgender person to be your sole educator. It is your responsibility to inform yourself. Exception: questions about geni- talia, surgeries, and former names should usually only be asked if you need to know in order to provide medical care, are engaging in a sexual relationship with the transgender person, or need the former name for legal documentation.

6. Respect the transgender person's need for privacy. Do not out them without express permission. Telling people you are transgender is a very difficult decision, not made lightly. "Outing" them without their permission is a betrayal of trust and could possibly cost you your relationship with them. It may also put them at risk, depending on the situation, of losing a lot - or even being harmed. They will tell those they want to, if or when they are ready. This advice is appropriate for those who are living full-time or those who have not transitioned yet. For those living full-time in their proper gender role, very many will not want anyone who did not know them from before they transitioned to know them as any other than their current, i.e. proper, gender.

7. Don't assume what the person's experience is. There are many different ways in which differences in gender identity are expressed. The idea of being "trapped in a man/ woman's body", the belief that trans women are hyperfeminine/trans men are hypermasculine, and the belief that all trans people will seek hormones and surgery are all stereotypes that apply to some people and not to others. Be guided by what the person tells you about their own situation, and listen without preconceived notions. Do not impose theories you may have learned, or assume that the experience of other trans people you may know or have heard of is the same as 7 that of the person in front of you. Don't assume that they are transitioning because of past trauma in their lives, or that they are changing genders as a way to escape from their bodies.

8. Recognize the difference between gender identity and sexuality. Do not assume that their gender correlates with their sexuality - it doesn't. There are straight, gay, lesbian, bisexual, and asexual transgender people. If the person comes out to you about their sexual orientation, use the terms they use.

9. Treat them the same. While they may appreciate your extra attention to them, they don't particularly appreciate you making a big deal of them. After you are well-informed, make sure you're not going overboard. Transgender people have essentially the same personalities as they did before coming out. Treat them as you would anybody else.

This condition is known medically as Gender Identity Disorder, but there is much contention about this issue. Some believe the problem lies in society's refusal to acknowledge the varia- tions of sex and gender present in nature (including human beings).

Asking about peoples' genitals and how they have sex is not appropriate, in the same way that asking people born in the sex they identify as how they have sex is not appropriate. It's rude to ask what their "real" name or birth name was -- they consider the name they have chosen to suit their gender (if they have done so) to be their real name, and they want you to think of them that way. Asking about past names only puts them on the spot, and you don't need to know it. Everyone is different and most transgender people will be glad to answer any questions - but if they are uncomfortable answering, or don't want to, then let it go. If you need to know, use the resources below. The word "transgender" is an adjective, and a descriptive word; not a noun or a verb. Just as you wouldn't call an older person "an old" or say they are "olded", it is inappropriate to refer to a transgender person as "a transgender" without adding "person", "woman", "man", or any other appropriate noun. Some transgender people also consider this objectifying and dehumanizing. Not all transgender people get a complete physical transition (It's a better term than "sex change". Another word for it is SRS, or Sexual Reassignment Surgery or gender confirmation surgery), so don't automatically think that is the plan. Don't assume that it's appropriate to ask about a person's plans for surgery, hormones, and so forth, any more than you would pry into someone else's medical affairs. If you slip up early on and say "she" or "he" when you meant the other, don't apologize too much, just follow the mistake with the right term and continue what you were saying. Some people believe that the only "cure" for being transgender is to correct the physical appearance (with surgery and/or hormones) to match the mental gender identity. These people believe there is a problem with the body, not the mind. Some people believe that it is society's gender expectations and limitations for men and women are the core issue and need to reflect an acceptance of a wider variety of gender expression for males and females. Websites like PlanetOut or MySpace have transgender groups, or other sections for transgender people; go to them to talk to people or learn more. 8 Choosing the Right Moisturizer for Your Skin WebMD Feature By: Wendy C Fries

It seems easy enough when you jot it down on your to-do list: Buy moisturizer. But wander the skin care aisles and you quickly learn that the choices can be confounding. There are face creams, body and facial moisturizers, and lotions or ointments for dry, sensitive, light, or dark skin. Add in antiaging ingredients and sunscreens, and it’s even more confusing. How can you choose the right moisturizer for your skin? To find out, WebMD asked derma- tologists to share their fast, no-nonsense tips. It turns out that choosing a moisturizer is easier than you may think. Skin Moisturizers: Cream, Lotion, or Ointment? No matter what your skin type, you should use a moisturizer. The thickness of the moisturizer you choose depends on your skin type.

If you've got itchy or dry skin, you'll probably want to lock in moisture with a thick ointment. Creams are thinner, help hydrate, and are good for normal skin. Lotions are the lightest (water is their main ingredient) and are a good match for oily skin.

You should also base the thickness of the moisturizer on when and where you use it on your body. "Choose a light moisturizer for day and a heavier one for nighttime," says Florida dermatologist Andrea Cambio, MD. Or choose a thicker cream for your body and a lightweight moisturizing lotion for your face. You'll also want to stick with lighter, hydrating moisturizers in the summer months.

Choosing a Moisturizer: What to Look For Use these guidelines to pick the right type of moisturizer for your skin. · Sun protection. No matter what skin type you have, just about every dermatologist rec- ommends getting a moisturizer with a sunscreen of at least SPF 15. If you’re getting it for your face, Cambio suggests looking for one that is oil- and fragrance-free and has an SPF of 30. · Antioxidants. Moisturizers with antioxidants such as green tea, chamomile, pomegran- ate, or licorice root extract may help keep any skin type looking fresh and healthy. Anti- oxidants help neutralize free radicals -- molecules that break down skin cells. · For oily or acne-prone skin. "I like alpha-hydroxy acids, which are also antiaging," says Chicago dermatologist Carolyn Jacob, MD. If you're prone to acne, you'll also want to look for a non-comedogenic facial moisturizer, which won't clog pours. · For dry skin. Aim for a heavier moisturizer and look for ingredients like hyaluronic acid and dimethicone, which help keep skin hydrated. Glycerin, propylene glycol, pro- teins, and urea also help attract water to your skin, while lanolin, mineral oil, and petrolatum lock in moisture. · For sensitive skin. Use a hypoallergenic and fragrance-free moisturizer. “In general, choose one that contains less than 10 ingredients," suggests California dermatologist Sonia Badreshia-Bansal, MD. Fewer ingredients mean fewer potential interactions with 9 fragile skin. · For itchy skin. If a hypoallergenic moisturizing cream doesn’t relieve itching, try a 1% hydrocortisone steroid skin cream for one week, but no longer. If this doesn’t resolve the itch, talk to your doctor. You may have a more serious skin problem. · If you have eczema. Use a thick moisturizing ointment containing petrolatum, or simply use petroleum jelly. Either of these will help sooth cracks and keep skin supple.

Choosing a Moisturizer: What to Avoid More ingredients does not make a better moisturizer. Here are some to avoid. · Colorings and perfumes. Whether you want to moisturize dry skin, sensitive skin, or something in between, most experts suggest avoiding unnecessary and potentially irritat- ing ingredients, like added colors and perfumes. Antibacterial agents can also be unnec- essarily harsh, stripping skin of essential oils. · To prevent facial acne. Cambio suggests avoiding facial moisturizers with lanolin, mineral oil, waxes, or shea butter. These “can clog pores and cause acne on the face, and are more appropriate for the body,” she tells WebMD. · For dry or sensitive skin. Avoid alpha-hydroxy acids, glycolic acid, retinoic acid, and salicylic acid. These ingredients may penetrate the skin too deeply and trouble delicate skin. Stay away from products with alcohols as well. · For itchy skin. Limit your use of steroid creams or ointment to one or two weeks only, unless recommended by your doctor. Overusing steroid creams can make skin very thin and lead to other skin problems. · If you have eczema or cracked skin. Stay away from moisturizers that contain urea or lactic acids. Though these ingredients are good for very dry skin, they can aggravate skin irritation.

3 Tips to Get the Most Out of Your Skin Moisturizer To get the best results from whichever body or facial moisturizer you choose, try these tips: · Use more than one moisturizer if you need to. Nobody needs a cabinet full of moisturizing products, but a thin lotion for your face and a thick cream for your body may be just right for your all-over skin care. · Apply your moisturizer while your skin is damp. Smooth on your favorite moisturizer a few minutes after a bath or shower. Pat your skin dry. · Make your moisturizer do double-duty. Be sure your moisturizer contains a sun protection factor (SPF) of 15 or higher. Want an antiaging boost? The pros recommend vi- tamin A or alpha-hydroxy acid. Want to even out your skin tone, too? Look for a tinted moisturizer suitable for your complexion.

10 The Exploits of Barbara Marie BARBARA’S DIARY FOR FBRUARY/MARCH 2012 BY BARBARA MARIE

It is now Friday evening and I am safely tucked away in the lodge at Little Okmulgee state park in McCrae, Ga. I left home this morning, after packing the car, wearing jeans and a white ladies polo shirt with a lion embalm on it and tennis shoes.. I was probably one of the first to check in. After unloading the car, I set up the district Governor’s things in the meeting room. Shortly after I got settled in my room, I was back in the lobby helping to organize the registration table and working it for about 90 minutes. Not sure if the gentle- men I was working with knew I was a guy, but if he did, he never let on. A number of the folks registering knew who I really was and it did not faze them in the least. “We were fellow LIONS”. About 6:30, we all headed for one of the “club houses’ for a low country boil. Although there were about 75 lions (90 had registered) there for the dinner, there was enough food for at least another 50 people. After socializing with a number of the folks around me, I was back in my room by 9 pm taking a good hot shower and unwind- ing from the day’s activities.

Saturday morning, I left my room for the day’s activities wearing gray slacks, a light gray, white and blue V-neck sweater and low black heels. After a quick breakfast, I was back at the registration table for about an hour as the district governor told me he needed some help as those folks who were to be there had not showed up yet. About noon, we were re- lieved and I joined several ladies and their spouses for lunch. After a leisurely lunch, we went to the meeting room for the district meeting, which started at 2 pm, and was over by 4 pm. Since I was the only member from my club, I was an automatic delegate and voted for the new officers for next year. The next item for the evening is the banquet which starts at 7 pm. I will be wearing a gray stripped skirt with a light purple sweater and black heels. It was a buffet dinner, which was then followed by introductions, awards and a short but informative talk by the international Director, James Cavallaro. I sat with several couples from different Lions club. I was not sure if they knew my true gender, but I was treated like one of the ladies there. It was over about 915 (2115) but I did not get to my room until 10 pm as I had the flags, bell and other things to put away as part of my job as the Lion Tamer. Sunday, a number of the lions were going to breakfast and asked me if I wanted to go with them. It was interesting that over half of them knew I was a guy, but it did not phase then in the least. Thus, I joined the group for breakfast. I was wearing jeans and a red polo shirt with the lion’s logo on it. I spent the afternoon at the Salon when I got home.

Monday I got prepared for my “date with the Judge” on Tuesday, February 21st at 0900. I had my nails done as well as my hair. Tuesday morning I was out of bed by 0530 as I 11 could not sleep any longer. After spending extra time with my makeup, I was wearing a gray plaid Pendleton skirt with a white blouse and a gray Pendleton blazer when I left the house. The court room was opened about 0910 and at 0925, my name was called. It took all of about 30 seconds as the judge asked me if I wanted to change my name to Barbara Marie Davidson. I replied yes, and he signed my petition and I left. It was 0930 when I walked out of the court house. I went back about 1230 and picked up certified copies of my name change. By 1430, I had my new drivers license and a request in to get a new social security card with my new name on it.. Wednesday, I took care of changing my bank accounts, Insurance policies, as well as my records at my dentist and doctors offices. I decided to go to Savannah on Friday rather than wait until next week to get my military ID card Changed.

Friday morning I left the house wearing a tan skort, brown, tan and white top and Black sandals. At the deers/ID office at Hunter Army Airfield in Savannah, I had the same lady that helped me a year ago with my ID card. It took almost an hour because it was a change of the whole name and not just the last name. She was on the telephone for over 20 minutes talking with folks in California, to make sure everything would be ok when she made the change. Now it says Barbara Marie Davidson, LCDR USN RET. And has a good photo on it. I then left there and went to SAMS, where I changed my ID and Bio information. Then it was back to the Boro. Saturday, I spent the day at the nail shop. There was another surprise waiting on me in the mail when I got home. The fellow at the social security office told me it would take a week to 10 days to get my new card, yet there it was, with my new name and my original number. My Medicare card should be in the mail in the next few days. Do I feel any different? I can say yes, yet I can also say no. I am the same person, but with a new name and things are coming together to make me more of a “whole” person again. Since I have “transitioned”, my self- esteem, my senses of worthi- ness as well as other things have gotten so much better. Sunday was a more normal day as from church I spent the afternoon at the salon. Monday afternoon I went to Savannah for a dinner meeting of the Chatham Artillery. I was there early so I set of the registration table and greeted the members as they came in for the meeting. They were just as polite as could be with their yes mam’s. It felt good as there were no second glances or double takes. I was taking with one of the officer of the society later in the evening that I have known for about 35 years. He has accepted me as I am but only had one question about my trip to Vietnam in 2010. He wanted to know if I had the Surgery while I was there. I informed him that I was still a whole person as nothing changed while I was there. Noth- ing else was said.

Wednesday, about 11 am, Phoebe Reece and Heather Anne Thomas arrived at my house from Atlanta. The three of us them went to Ruby Tuesdays for Lunch and then to Georgia Southern where we gave a class to a group of Psychology students about being transgendered and heterosexual cross dressers. There were 10 grad students and about 35 under- grad students as well as 2 professors in the class. Normally we have about 1 ½ hours, but this time we only had a hour. Thus we each only took about 5 minutes to tell a little something about ourselves then opened the floor to questions, no holds barred. There were more questions than we had time for. We have already been invited back in July or Au- gust for another class, only this one will last the usual 1 ½ hours. Members of Sigma Epsi- 12 lon have in the past gone to Georgia State in Atlanta and given these classes to Psychology students. This was my 6th class at Georgia Southern, Phoebe’s 3rd or 4th and Heather’s 1st. After class, they left for Atlanta and I went to the Nail Shop for the rest of the afternoon. Later in the afternoon, I sat up a pedicure for a customer and she kept looking at me with a puzzled look on her face. Finally she called me over and point blanked said “are you LaGail’s husband”? Of course I said yes, but you know that she passed away in 2006. It comes to find out that my wife was her husband’s bridge partner for a number of years before she died. Polly and I had a very nice conversation and she was quite supportive of my current life style and gave me a big feminine hug when she left.

Friday afternoon, we were quite busy at the nail salon. It turns out that one of the customers there was a student in the class that we gave on Wednesday at GSU. She said that it was a “awesome” class and gave them a better insight in to the TG community. She ech- oed the comments from many of the students that were in the class as they were asked to write a synopsis of the presentation. Sunday evening after closing the salon, 10 of us headed to Savannah for dinner at a Chinese super Buffet. The way some of them ate one would think they had not eaten is days. However, a good time was had and no one left hungry. We took my car thus some else wanted to drive, so I let them. I sat in the back flanked by the two Vietnamese ladies who are my favorites. One is married but her husband lives in Vietnam. The other one was my lady friend. It was bliss as each fell asleep with their head on my shoulders. Monday, I went to Soperton, GA to get my taxes done, I told the lady that there would be a name change for next year’s filing. I expected some sort of reaction from her, but got nothing as she is not married and Soperton is a very small town (my wife was from there). Yet, there I sat in jeans, flats and a multicolored top. I got good news as Uncle Sammie actually owes me some money this year. Usually, it is the other way around. The rest of the week was fairly routine. I did do my “guy” thing Saturday as I cut my grass and sprayed some roundup. I was wearing jeans and a v-neck top at the time. However, Sunday was different.

After setting the clocks forward an hour, it was midnight (DST) when I went to bed, My alarm went off at 6 am, but my body said it is only 5 am. By the time I got up and dressed it was 8 am (DST) when I left the house. I was wearing My Navy tartan “Bubba Skirt” – kilt, a kaki military style shirt with all of the items that go with it as I was headed to Je- sup, GA for a Kirking of the Tartans. History time – Kirk in Gallic means Church. Kirk- ing of the tartans means the presentation of Scottish tartans in church to be blessed by the minister. In 1746 The English government forbade the tartans thus for the next 36 year, folks would wear a piece of their tartan under their cloths to church where at some point in the service the minister would “bless the tartans”. The Kirking was brought back in 1947 by Dr. Peter Marshall who the current Chaplin to the US senate. It was his way of encouraging those with Scottish heritage, to rise up against the enemy of their homeland (USA). It was done in the Presbyterian church in Washing, D.C. Now it is done in churches all over the world (mostly Presbyterian) at different times of the year. It is the churches choice but they bring in the tartan banners following a piper or several pipers into the church where they are blessed that piped out of the church. The ceremony is usually followed by a church dinner for the entire congregation present for the service. After the delicious luncheon was finished, I drove the 70 miles back to Statesboro. I traded my 13 Bubba Skirt for a pair of black slacks and a white sweater top and spent the rest of the afternoon at the Salon. When we closed, I picked up my friend Lua and we went to Long Horns restaurant as it was her birthday. The she wanted to go shopping so we spent the next 1 ½ hours between Wal-Marts and Harvey’s before going home.

Tuesday I was invited to make a “round robin” trip to Atlanta but could not as I have a meeting in Savannah, GA in preparation for this coming St Patrick’s Day weekend. Thus, I feel that this is a good place to end this article. I hope that all of my “brothers and sisters” out there are IRISH for the day. Just remember not to eat too much Corned Beef or Cabbage, or green grits. Most of all, don’t over consume too much of the green beer and have a safe and enjoyable St. Patrick’s Day weekend where ever you are.

Erin Go Baugh Barbara Marie Davidson

Tasi’s Musings, April 2012

Hi from Merida. The adventure continues, although perhaps not as quickly as I would wish. Most of my time has been spent researching and working on my website and doing some writing as well.

TGForum (www.tgforum.com) has graciously invited me to become an author to write about fashion. Ahem! My favorite subject. I do hope you will visit and read my article on Oh! What- ever Shall I Wear And I would encourage you to read the ac- companying article by Dee Levy on A Crossdresser’s Wife Speaks out I’ve also been reading Head Over Heels, an anthol- ogy of stories about crossdresser wives. I’ll report on this book at a later time. Also see Books and Movies below.

Merida is called the “White City”, but it probably should be called the “Dancing City” or the “Musical City’ too. My wife and I attended a concert of the local symphony orchestra last week and they were marvelous. And the concert hall is a beautiful old building, both outside and inside, in the old centro district. But what is even more marvelous is the dancing. Would you believe every day in one plaza or another there is 14 dancing, but Sundays are special. I hope you enjoy this video. http://www.dancebloggers.com/2012/03/merida/ About one minute into the video is a lady center stage wearing the typical Yucatean or Mayan dress. One of these days I hope to model one of these rather unique dresses for you. Now for the news. It’s been a busy month.

In the News

Slut Walk. Talking about dancing in the streets, There was quite a furor in Toronto when a representative of the Toronto police made a remark that “women should avoid dressing like sluts in order not to be victimized” Well, this set off the women of Toronto and they organized a “slut Walk” which you can see here: http://feastoffun.com/ videos/2011/04/05/torontos-first-slut-walk/. I’m told the movement may spread.

If any of you have watched or read the furor surrounding the controversial comments of Russ Limbaugh about birth control as directed towards a young college student testi- fying before Congress, you can begin to realize that women power can be pretty sub- stantial. I fully support all these efforts that battle the marginalization of women. Sign the petitions, ladies.

Change in VA Policy on Gender Markers. Transgender veterans will now be able to change the gender marker on their medical records by simply providing a physician’s letter confirming gender reassignment. See full story here: http://www.advocate.com/ News/Daily_News/2012/03/05/ Policy_Clarified_for_Vets_Changing_Gender_Markers/

New TSA Policy on the Trangendered. TSA has an official policy now with re- gards to transgendered travelers. http://www.tsa.gov/travelers/airtravel/assistant/ transgender.shtm. There appears be few problems . if any, from girls that have traveled recently.

Crossdressing Icon Dies. A cross-dressing, often homeless man who became something of a local icon in Austin has died. Valerie Romness says her friend Leslie Cochran died shortly after midnight Thursday of complications from a brain injury. Cochran was 60. Cochran was known to cruise around downtown for years in tiaras, dresses and women's underwear. He became the butt of politicians' jokes and the man posing next to countless tourists in photos. http://www.mysanantonio.com/news/article/Austin-s- cross-dressing-often-homeless-icon-dies-3391945.php

15 A Mall Only For Transgenders: India’s first entertainment center-cum-club, exclu- sively for transgenders, is now open in East Delhi. Ridiculed for long, the city’s transgenders and eunuchs finally have a place of their own to let their hair down Named Zeenat club, the center, launched by an NGO, has a gamut of entertainment and recrea- tional services provided by and for the community under one roof. Sample this: Apart from a restaurant, there’s a fancy boutique selling designer garments, footwear, and jewelry, a beauty parlor, and a fitness center with expert dieticians and weight-trainers. (Now who will build one for us in America J ) Story here: http://www.hindustantimes.com/Entertainment/Tabloid/Now-a-mall- only-for-transgenders/Article1-822941.aspx

Latin American Gays Reach High Office. Across the Americas more and more men and women in the LGBT community are becoming visible in government. Mex- ico, for example, has one gay national lawmaker, Congresswoman Enoe Margarita Uranga Munoz, who ended up high on the list of candidates for seats that Mexican law allots to parties by their share of the vote. Here in the Yucatan, women hold state gov- ernorships and city mayor posts. And the gay community has a strong presence in the business and social life of the city. Read more here: http://www.miamiherald.com/2012/03/10/2686769/latam-gays-reach-high-govt- offices.html#storylink=cpy

Holding Anti-LGBT Pundits Accountable. The Gay and Lesbian Alliance Against Defamation has launched an initiative to hold dozens of anti-LGBT pundits accountable for their statements this morning, aimed at “educating the media about the ex- treme rhetoric” they espouse. The Commentator Accountability Project will target on figures such as Brian Brown and Maggie Gallagher of the National Organization for marriage, Family Research Council president Tony Perkins, and Pastor Ken Hutcher- son.

“These activists have the right to recite their anti-LGBT talking points, but it is important to expose the questionable and often hostile rhetoric that passes as punditry when so-called ‘experts’ speak out against the lives of LGBT people on the air or in print,” GLAAD spokesman Herndon Graddick said in a Monday press release. The project urges individuals to notify GLAAD when any of these antigay figureheads is quoted in local or national media at this webpage http://www.glaad.org/cap .

Yahoo Censoring Profiles. Creating a new Yahoo profile? Be sure to keep any description of your sexuality in the closet. Yahoo is blocking profiles containing the word “sexual” and labeling them spam. This includes the words pansexual, transsexual and bisexual. More here: http://www.xtra.ca/public/National/Yahoo_censors_profiles_containing_sex- 11675.aspx. I’m told that other media sites are doing something similar.

Books and Movies

I’m not much of a TV watcher (except for football of course), but one of my all time favorite shows is Harry’s Law starring Kathy Bates and quite a cast of sidekicks. I’ve missed the show since moving, but this episode addressing a transgender lady should not be missed, titled “The girl who had to say goodbye” I still don’t believe the writers outed her as she walked into Harry;s law office, because the woman is beautiful. 16 http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Z_JEbxwvSoI&feature=uploademail..

Have you seen the new ABC realty show “What Would You Do?” This is one unlisted episode that you don’t want to miss concerning a teenager who comes out as transgender to an unsympathetic mother in a restaurant as fellow diners react to her saying, "If you were meant to be a girl, you'd have been born a girl." The ending sequence with Ron and Betsy, members of PFLAG, is very moving. Watch here: http://youtu.be/-R4vDcM65UI

I'm Not Les: A Transgender Story. For almost 70 years, Sherri hid herself from the world. Everyone knew her as Les, a welder, a husband and a father. She was a biological male, but her physical gender didn’t match the way she felt about who she was. Like many people in this country living with Gender Identity disorder, she was ostracized, harassed, and abused throughout her life. In fact, ninety percent of people expressing a transgendered identity report being harassed and discrimi- nated against at school and at work. The unemployment rate for transgendered people is double that of the general population. More than 40 percent of transgendered people attempt suicide at least once.

“I’m not Les” is the deeply personal account of one woman’s journey to create an identity and find her place in the world. Follow Sherri, from childhood to womanhood, as she struggles to fit in, to find love, and to accept herself. http://kcts9.org/im-not-les.

Fashion and Beauty

We all struggle with acceptance in trying to pass or even just blend in and probably wonder how women are so confident, but are they?? In a recent Beauty Confidence Quiz, 93% of women who took the quiz said they struggle with self- acceptance. Some of us have natural beauty, but most of us have to work at it; realllly HARD, and then keep trying more.

As I follow events in the world of fashion, mostly looking at plus-size women, because most of us are a size 14 or greater which the standard for plus-size women. Some interesting changes are starting to take place in how designers are beginning to look at plus- size clothing , and how they define clothes to meet our shape. Heaven knows, we need all the help we can get. I have a friend that works in women’s fashions at Macy’s, She says, “ I see so many women take 30 or more garments into the fitting room…and just abandon them. I don’t know what they are thinking after reaching some stage of middle age and not being certain as to what works.” The article below talks to one of these new concepts. Enjoy. 17 Top plus-size model hails grandmother for introducing fashion industry to family

Top model Angelica Gray hailed her grandmother for blazing her family’s trail into the fashion industry. An- gelica appears in the new Evans catalogue and in-store posters, advertising their new Shop-By-Shape collection. Evans felt it was important to ask British women what they wanted and, after extensive research, distin- guished the four body shapes that are most representative of their curves.

The body metrics survey of nearly 5500 women was conducted in-store and online. From the 4000 customers spoken to in-store, 48 per cent fitted into the “apple” category, 28 per cent were “hourglass”, 16 per cent were “pear” and eight per cent “busty”.

Now the whole range will be labeled by body shape rather than just dress size

http://www.dailyrecord.co.uk/news/scottish-news/2012/03/18/top-plus-size-model-hails- grandmother-for-introducing-fashion-industry -to-family -86908-23792866/

Wow, maybe some of those clothes will begin to fit my “apple-shape”, now that I’m in the majority. I’m guessing it will also be by height because a dress made for a 5-4 ft women sure isn’t going to fit my 5-10 ft frame

I know some of you, like me, enjoy reading the fashion magazines. I used to enjoy Lucky, then Marie Claire, and even Redbook, but can you make any sense out of them? They talk of trends but there are so many that it really seems to be a potpouri of ideas. Fashion Trends – Yea!

I’m a hugh fan of Jane Lidlow, an Australian Image Consultant at Style Makeover Hq (http://www.style-makeover-hq.com). After reading her recent column on fashion trends, I had a bit of a rant about what these trends really were. She posted my comments saying she expected some interesting responses. Read my comments here, and be sure to look over the rest of Jane’s site: http://www.style-makeover-hq.com/trends- really.html. So what are your thoughts on trends? I’d be interested in your thoughts as well. Feel free to send any comments to [email protected]

And here is good news for us more mature ladies 18 Middle-Aged Models Embody Rising Trend in Fashion

Boomer women spend almost $31 billion a year on fashion, and manufacturers have figured out that a lot of those women don't want to buy the clothes and makeup they see on teenagers and twenty somethings. So demand for models in their 30s, 40s and beyond is growing. Some legendary modeling agencies have added 40-plus divisions that showcase models with laugh lines and flowing silver hair. Here are some top models working today

And now, a little on beauty

There are many beautiful women in this world but this lady, in my opinion, is at the top of the heap and she’s plus-size too. This article in Stylelist shows us to recreate Adele’s look.

HOW TO GET ADELE'S SIGNATURE MAKEUP LOOK

We love Adele for many a reason: her plus-size figure is beyond refreshing, her songs somehow ring true with every aspect of our lives, and maybe, just maybe, she's made us weep on a subway ride home or two. But second only to her music, we're transfixed by her bold, signature beauty look: she's claimed stake on a modern-retro style that is somehow all her own. The winged-out liner, the highlighted brow bones, the contoured cheeks, the nude lips. All of it -- we can't get enough. http://www.stylelist.com/2012/03/05/adele-makeup-how-to_n_1321808.html? utm_campaign=030612&utm_medium=email&utm_source=Alert-stylelist&utm_content=Photo 19 Humor. Crossdressing desk cleaners, Just when you thought you’d seen it all. If getting your desk cleaned by two guys who dress up as girls about once a year around carnival, happens to be on your bucket list, I seriously advice you to apply for a job at These Days! http://vimeo.com/38134808 So until next month, Hugs to everyone …….Tasi

How To Clean Makeup Brushes Tips from Real Simple

Good makeup brushes make a real difference, but they can be expensive. Protect your invest- ment by keeping them clean,

What You Need Makeup brushes, brush cleaner spray, clean cloth, bowl filled with warm water, gentle shampoo or mild liquid soap

Follow This Advice

1Spray with brush cleaner weekly

Once a week, spritz the bristles of your makeup brush, making sure to dampen both sides if the brush is flat. Wipe a clean cloth with the moistened brush until the brush comes clean.

Tip: You can purchase brush-cleaner spray at a drugstore or department store.

2Deep clean monthly

Run the tips of the bristles under warm water. Pour a little baby shampoo into the palm of one hand. Holding the brush in the other hand, swirl the bristles around in the baby shampoo. Rinse the brush by swirling in a bowl of clean warm water. Use a cloth to wipe the brush clean; then lay it flat on a cloth to dry.

Tip: When dipping your brush into water, make sure not to submerge it all the way to the base of the bristles. Doing so can loosen the glue that binds the bristles together.

20 Sweet Mommy Mellissa!

Hi, PTG readers! Mellissalynn, your friendly neighborhood tips & tricks girl, was recently whisked away to an alternate universe and met her other self…who is on the verge of giving birth! Here are some pictures of the soon-to-be mother:

She sure is ready to pop, huh? And apparently, this isn’t her first time, either! She shared some pictures from her earlier preg- nancy as well:

Sadly, the visit had to end, but what a wonderful glimpse at what could have been! Keep watching for more visits to this magnificent alternate universe… 22 Humor

“I think it’s time we had a little talk Son” 23 Angels in the Centerfold

Elaine Margane

Cheryl Ann Teaks

Ginger 24

Denise DeMann

Kathy Ann King

Sandy Crane 25

Suzane Olivia

Lenora James

Terri Sterling 26

Victoria Goldscale Veronica Lynn Sever

Steff King

Mary Ann Ginger 27

Mellissalynn’s Tips & Tricks

Hello, girls, and welcome to the first full month of spring! All the dreary heavy winter clothing can be put away and our fun, light, airy pretty clothes can come out now. I’ve already gotten a jump on that, as you can see in my pictures. With temperatures in the eighty-degree ranges here in the Midwest, it was really easy to slip into a cute sundress and backless open-toed sandals for a day of pampering and shopping. I went all-out this time, too! Airbrush makeup, hair, and a mani-pedi…every girl should get to feel so spoiled!

If you had a great girly experience last month, I’d love to hear about it! As always, my e-mail address is [email protected] ; feel free to load up my inbox. It’s always a treat to hear from you all! 28

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Ladies, how do you store your nicer clothing? If you leave things in dry cleaning bags, they can become damaged over time. This is a better method and is safer for your garments: cut a hole in an old pillowcase and use it as a cover for your finery.

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Girls, the fruity colors are very popular this spring! Try wearing styles in fuchsia, margarita, mango, or tangerine to really stand out.

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Here's a makeup artist's tip to hiding under-eye puffiness. Apply your concealer, using a small, pointed brush, under the puffiness instead of on it. the concealer then creates an illusion of smoothness and causes the puffiness to look smaller or even to vanish.

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And now, we bring you Mellissa's monthly germ alert. This month, let's talk about your hair dryer. Did you know that over time, your dryer's vent can get clogged up from the detritus that floats in your restroom? It's truth: dust and debris can get into your dryer and clog it. When you use your dryer, the nasty stuff comes flying out and lands on your skin; as we all know, that can cause blemishes and damage. Alternately, if the debris doesn't come out, it can clog your dryer, making it less effective and therefore causing your hair to take longer to dry.

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This is a tip I tried myself recently to great effect. To have great-looking eye shadow, try layering similar shades. Look for lighter and darker shades of the same color. Apply the lighter color to your eyelid and browbone. Layer the deeper color over the lash line, then take a brush and buff the darker color up and out. Voila! Instant wonderful-looking eyes!

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According to many beauty pros, cleanly shaped and full-looking brows make a woman look younger and lift the eyes. This is a great method of defining your brows:

- Pluck any stray hairs that grow between your brows or below brow line. - Using a brow brush, brush your brows at an upward angle. - Fill in your brows with a small or micro brow pencil - Gently re-brush your brows to shape and smooth them.

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If you use bobby pins in your air, here's a great trick to try. Spritz the bobby pins with a touch of dry shampoo. This will give the bobby pin a bit extra grip.

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Do you want the doe-eyed look? Here's how to use your mascara to its best effect in creating that look. After applying a few coats, turn the wand vertically and lightly brush the upper lashes on the outer corners of your eyes. The vertical position lets you get the outer lashes more easily.

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It's a good idea to have a few quick hair fixes in mind for days when you don't have time to fully clean and dry your mane. One of the best products on the market for this is dry shampoo. It comes in a powder or as a spray product. The sprays are less messy. To use, simply shake or spritz a little bit on the roots of your hair to soak up excess oil. Afterward, style as usual.

Fast makeup tips and tricks are vital to know for when you're in a rush. While you might usually take fifteen minutes to apply your makeup, you can get a great look in five minutes or less by skipping a few steps. One great timesaver is to use a foundation with a built in moisturizer; by doing so, you're automatically saving time by skipping moisturizing without compromising your facial health. After applying, sweep on a little blush, a little eyeshadow, black mascara and lip gloss or lipstick, and you're ready to go.

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Is there anything more bothersome than sitting around with a list of chores to do, except you can't do them because you need to wait for your darn nail polish to dry? Nail polish needs a minimum of 45 minutes to dry, and that's after you've spent several minutes cutting, filing, and prepping your fingernails for the nail polish to begin with. Is there any way you can speed up the drying process? Well, here are a few things you can do to try and cut down on the drying time for your nails.

1. Apply Thin, Even Coats

You might think that applying one giant blob of nail color to your nails is going to help it dry faster, but that couldn't be further from the truth. Applying thin, even coats of nail polish to your finger nails is the best way for it to dry as quickly as possible. To really speed up the nail polish drying process, wait at least a minute between each coat before applying another one. The drier the lower coat, the faster your nails will dry.

2. Use Cold Water

One of the best tricks to speeding up the drying process as well as helping the nail polish keep from chipping is submersing your fingernails in cold water. Once your nail polish has been applied and allowed to dry for a while, place your fingertips in cold water and hold them there for at least a minute or two. You'll notice that your nail polish will harden far more quickly than by simply air drying.

3. Use Quick-Dry Products

You can either choose nail polish shades that promise to be quick drying, or you can buy separate products that can be applied on top of your nail polish color. Usually, the separate products work better than the nail polish quick dry products.

4. Buff your Nails Instead Of Polishing

If you really loathe sitting around waiting for your nail polish to dry, or you're in a real hurry, the alternative to wearing nail polish is to buff your nails to a beautiful shine. Not only does buffing look great, but it can last up to two whole weeks on your fingers and up to one month on your toes! There's no way anyone's nail polish has ever lasted that long.

As a side note, many women use fans to help dry their nail polish. This hasn't proven to be any better than simply allowing nails to air dry on their own; in fact, using a fan can actually cause bubbling under your freshly painted fingernails, or cause the polish to lift away from the nail so the polish doesn't adhere properly. This means your nail polish will be more prone to chipping and peeling.

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Lemon juice and egg white can be used to create a natural skin lightening cream at home. Start by taking equal amounts of egg white and lemon juice. Mix these two and heat them on a small frying pan. Wait until the mixture turns semi-solid. Remove the paste from the pan and keep it inside a jar. Let the jar cool down in a refrigerator. Apply the paste on your skin and wait 15 minutes before rinsing. You should see results within a week!

Another method of lightening skin is to wash with licorice extract. Most health stores carry this. Be careful at first, however; some people are allergic. Test a small amount for a reaction before full use. When you do use it, wash your face and apply a thin layer of this extract in the morning and evening, before moisturizing.

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This is a tip for the plus-sized girls among us. When applying your makeup, try using two different shades of foundation. Choose one that blends with your skin tone and one that's just slightly darker. The lighter foundation should be applied to your nose, chin, forehead area and under your eyes. Apply the darker foundation to the full areas of your temples and jaw line. Be sure you blend well, so there aren't obvious lines and your neck doesn't look as if it's lighter than the darker contouring shade of foundation.

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I want to take a moment to talk about toothpastes, the whitening ones in particular. A woman's smile is just as important a beauty feature as her hair or bust or legs, ladies, and this is one area where the care and treatment must be done every day.

Many toothpastes claim to whiten the teeth, but upon close examination of the label, you'll find that the only active ingredient is fluoride. Fluoride is an amazing cavity fighter, but does nothing to whiten teeth. Other over-the-counter whitening product is baking soda. Baking soda works via friction; it polishes stains from teeth. The danger in this is that, if your tooth enamel is thins, baking soda will erode it further, exposing the dentin layer beneath the enamel. When that happens, you wind up with a brown spot or pit in the tooth. These spots often appear along the gum line, where enamel tends to be weak and wear away naturally. this eventually results in a trip to the dentist.

Peroxide is the classic at-home tooth whitening ingredient. Many whitening toothpastes contain peroxide in a dosage that, over a period of weeks or months, has a bleaching affect on teeth by six shades or more. Depending on your teeth's sensitivity, you may prefer slower-working toothpastes to quick-acting whitening kits. Bleach can make teeth sensitive, so if you try a tooth-whitener, go slow at first, and perhaps pair it with a sensitivity-reducing paste.

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Well, girls, it's springtime, and that means our feet are on display again. I personally have spent a lot of time this winter trying to prettify my toes; when I went out in March in my pretty sundress and open-toed sandals, it showed. For the first time, I looked at my feet as something other than the curse of my femininity! I received a lot of compliments from other women on how good my feet looked.

It isn't hard to tend to your feet. At an absolute, bare minimum, your feet should be clean. Daily scrubbing with soap and a nail brush is a good start, but it's only a start, if you want good- looking feet. When it comes to toenails, there is no middle ground. Clean, healthy, well- groomed toenails are sexy; grubby, long, unhealthy toenails aren't. Toenails should be well- brushed with soapy water, clipped short and neat with clippers, and treated with anti-fungal medicine if nails are discolored, thick or peeling.

Once your feet are clean and healthy, it gets easy. Keep your feet and heels smooth by using a pumice stone a couple of times a week and rub them with lotion to keep them soft. No one talks about it, but women grow hair on their toes. Remove it!

The next (and most fun) step is the pedicure. If you're brave enough to venture out en femme, there is no more pampered feeling than a professional pedi. One thing to remember: don't let the pedicurist cut your cuticles; they keep your feet safe from infections.

The last step is to find the right shoe! This can be an amazing shopping experience or sheer hell, depending on your feet. If you're under a size ten (you lucky thing!), you can shop any- where and find great shoes. If you're one of us blessed with an overabundance of foot, don't lose hope. There are plenty of online places to shop, and some brick-and-mortar stores as well.

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Here's a rather creative (and tasty) solution for an emergency lipstick repair. Look for red hard candies or red a lollipop. Lick the candy and rub it back and forth across your pout like lipstick. It'll leave a nice stain for hours. If you don't want to use candy, hit a vending machine for cran- berry juice or fruit punch and dab a few drops on your lips. Follow up with lip balm, if you have it, for a glossy finish.

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When applying translucent powder, do this to avoid the caked-on look. After dipping your brush in the powder, brush it on the back of your hand. The excess stays on your hand and will apply a light, even, natural looking amount of powder.

Well, this extra-long column has reached its end, I fear. Don’t despair, though, ladies, I’ll be back in May with more tip and tricks, I promise!

I hope you all have a great Easter, and that you get the chance to wear a beautiful Easter gown. If you have an Easter story to share, or a great tip, I’d love to hear it. The address hasn’t changed, so send anything you’d like to share to [email protected].

Have a great month, girls! 34

Masks

By: Kathy Ann King

All my life I have been fascinated with masks. There are so many types and styles, through out history, from the earliest cave man to our present civilizations have a history of wearing masks.

The basic purpose of these masks are to hide your identity, give you strength, frighten others or just to have fun.

In our present day society masks have been trivialized to the point of Halloween reflec- tions that our children and grandchildren wear.

I was looking at some masks made by the Northwestern Indian tribes in the last century and I found a couple of masks that were a mask with in a mask.

The best way to describe the carved wooden mask is that one mask sits on top of another and the wearer would unfold the front mask and reveal the mask underneath. For what ever reason my 68 year old brain could not let this idea go. I put this idea of a double mask into my life as a TG person. What mask or masks do I use in my day to day life? What is my true face and what is the mask? Is the face with powder, eye shadow and a wig the real me or just a mask?

You must think I am nuts, but these are the things you think about when you are over 60. After thinking about this for the last couple of weeks the only thing I can come up with is that my female face is not the mask my male drab face is the mask.

I have showed my male mask for so long that I forgot who was under the mask. Now I can take off the male mask and be the female that is inside when I want.

I can’t throw away my male mask because of my family so I use it to hide my identity and have some fun.

Thank you for reading the thoughts of a 67 year old CD. Love, Kathy Ann P.S. What masks do you wear? 35 The Adventures of Judy Sometimes

First off I hate the term "pass", but for the purpose of this post I'll use it.

My wife had returned to the big city after being at our cabin for several days and suggested we have drinks and appetizers with friends on Wednesday night. Several outfits went through my head while at my shop that day and I had decided I would wear a stretchy tank top and a skirt, topped off with a jean jacket and a pair of wedge slides. We decided to meet a couple women friends at the Empire (a place I am well known as both genders and have been visiting as my male self since the early 80's). I've been going to this placed dressed for about 3 years now and still get a variety of reactions from varies patrons, but for the most part all are positive. Wednesday evening it seems I had attracted the attention of two males sitting at the bar, one sitting with a group, the other by himself. Throughout our time there I caught both starring at me sevral different times, you know, the quick jerk of the head when you make eye contact. Now, I know I'm a dazzling beauty, but even I become a little uncomfortable with too much attention, lol.

Around 8:00 we decided to move on and upon exiting we passed a group of young men who had been doing shots at the bar. When they figured I was out of ear shot I heard one of them say, did I see what I think I just saw, which I assumed to mean, I just saw a guy in a dress. Ap- parently my observations were correct as my friend Brittany made the comment that I seemed to have attracted the attention of all the weirdos tonight once we were outside.

Fast forward to the next day, I had finished cutting the grass at my shop and went to dump the clippings at a disposal site when I spotted a garage sale. I figured I'd stop by on my way back to my shop to see if they had anything interesting. My attire for the day was a sweatshirt, cargo shorts and runners, all covered with paint I might add. As I browsed that items in the garage I noticed they had a bunch a sweatshirts priced at .50 & $1 and decided to grab a few. Oddly enough my wife had just pleaded with me that morning to find some new work stuff as most of mine is well worn and covered with paint.

The two ladies operating the sale seemed to be mother and daughter probably in their 80's and late 50's respectively. As they fumbled removing the price tags I heard the daughter tell the mother two be sure to put the items in two different bags for HER, meaning me. It wasn't until I spoke that she realized her mistake on my gender and said thanks for stopping by...SIR. Now to be fair, my hair was still curled from the night before and whether she noticed or not I do have acrylic nails and shaved legs so I guess it would be easy to confuse my gender at first glance, but I figured the clothes would be a dead give away to as my gender.

My point in all this is, if you have a somewhat androgonous appearance, you don't have to be dressed to the 9's to look feminine, in fact, sometimes it may even work against you.

Judy (I enjoy being both genders) sometimes 36 How to Find Comfortable Shoes Relief at last! Foolproof tips on picking comfortable pumps, flats, and sandals. by Ashley Tate

Tips for Finding a Comfortable Pump

Hold the shoe at the heel and toe areas. The sole should be flexible and bend at the front of the arch but have a stiff bottom through the arch. Choose a pump with a high heel that is directly underneath the center of your heel. If it is too far forward or at the back of the shoe, you'll have balance problems. Look for false fronts. "A pointy-toe shoe with an area that is much longer than your toes has a false front. It keeps your toes from being squished," says Suzanne Levine, a podiatric surgeon in New York City. Make sure the toe area is wide enough through the ball of your foot. Note that a wedge shoe distributes your weight more evenly and offers support all the way through the foot. Be aware, however, that the limited sole flexibility of a wedge increases the risk of rolling your ankle over the side. Test a shoe for cushioning by pressing a finger into the ball area. It should have a little give or a slightly padded feel. Avoid synthetics. Wear shoes with leather, suede, or fabric uppers. These materials breathe, which lessens the chance of blistering.

Tips for Finding a Comfortable Flat

Look for sturdy construction. "Try to push in the area around the heel," says Meghan Cleary, author of The Perfect Fit: What Your Shoes Say About You (Chronicle Books, $13, amazon.com). "If the heel collapses enough to touch the insole, the shoe is not supportive." Hold each end of a shoe and try to twist it. If the shoe bends too much, it won't be supportive. Look for flats with a little bit of a heel if you have high arches. Heels provide relief from foot pain. Buy shoes with leather or rubber soles for optimum shock absorption. 37

Wear only shoes that have leather or suede insoles. Breathable and pliable, they help prevent chafing and blistering, and they mold to the feet. Search for round-toe flats. They follow the shape of the foot and allow the toes to move. Avoid slippage and cuts on your heel by finding a shoe with a back that fits snugly and holds your foot securely.

Tips for Finding a Blister-Proof Sandal

Avoid wobbly shoes. Examine a shoe's quality by looking at how it sits on a table. A well-built shoe will be balanced and look stable when standing on its own. Find stack heels that have a broad heel tap (base), which allows for better shock absorption. You will also be steadier on your feet. "Stay away from backless shoes, such as thongs and slides, because they cause pain in the balls of the feet," says Suzanne Levine. Instead, look for a sandal with straps that hit just below the ankle (not encircling it). These will help stabilize the foot and hold it securely. Wear only sandals that have leather or suede-lined straps to prevent chafing. Make sure the toe-box area is wide enough for the broadest part of your foot. Look for platform shoes that give the illusion of a higher heel without the feel of it. Examine the insides of straps for seams and other construction details that might dig into feet.

38 Avoiding Wardrobe Blunders By Ashley Tate Nine common (and commonly ignored) dressing oversights?and easy ways to fix them.

Problem: Incorrectly Hemmed Jeans Solution: A Good Tailor

Don't cut off the extra length and at the same time lose the nice crisp hemline (marked by the recogniz- able yellow thread). "A good tailor should be able to preserve the original hem," says Guillermo Molina, owner of Guillermo Couture, in New York City. With very long pants, your tailor may have to cut off a bit of fabric above the hemline and reattach the original hems (with barely noticeable blue thread that matches the denim), but the task can usually be achieved by folding a hem up accordion-style and sewing it in place, so the original finished seam is in plain view

Problem: Peds in Plain View Solution: Partial Peds Your secret weapon against blistered toes is a pair of Peds. But make sure they're truly a secret weapon. "Visible Peds are a classicfaux pas," says Leah Feldon, author of Does This Make Me Look Fat?: The De- finitive Rules for Dressing Thin for Every Height, Size, and Shape (Villard, $15, amazon.com). To avoid peekaboo nylons, skip the skimpy stockings all together or try Hue Toe Covers ($15 for three pairs, barenecessities.com), which cover only the front half of the foot. A bit of padding on the bottom provides a cush- ion and keeps the cover from sliding and scrunching into the toe of your shoe. . 39 Problem: Unopened Vent Solution: Scissors Jackets, blazers, and skirts often come with vents that are tacked together with thread. "Don't forget to snip the string once you bring your item home from the store," says JoAnna Nicholson, author of Dressing Smart for Women: 101 Mistakes You Can't Afford to Make...and How to Avoid Them (Impact Publications, $17, amazon.com). Be- sides being a potential source of embarrassment, a tacked-together vent may also increase your chances of ripping your garment when you take a large step or reach for something on the top pantry shelf.

Problem: A Gaping Blouse Solution: Velcro Your favorite shirt was dried once too often, and now it's a bit snug, with buttons that appear to be hanging on for dear life. "You don't want your coworkers staring at your chest, waiting for a button to pop off onto the conference table," says Clinton Kelly, cohost of TLC's What Not to Wear. To avoid this scenario, sew a small piece of Velcro between the buttons or use a piece of double-stick tape. That way your shirt will stay flush against your skin, buttons will remain attached, and your assets will be tucked away from Bob in Accounting's sight. 40 Problem: Cropped Pants with Boots Solution: Taller Boots Once considered a summer-only staple, Capri pants are now available in thicker, fall-friendly fabrics, such as wool and tweed. But don't wear them with your lowest pair of boots. "Low ankle boots paired with cropped pants look dowdy, because they break up your silhouette," says Stacy London, cohost of TLC's What Not to Wear. "Wearing high boots that completely cover the calves and a few inches of skin underneath the pants has a more elongating effect," she says.

Problem: Peekaboo Lingerie Solution: A Nude Bra White underwear may seem demure and understated next to that rack of red lace skivvies in the department store, but it screams "Look at me!" when worn under white clothing. If you want your unmentionables to be unnoticeable underneath a favorite white T-shirt or blouse, wear a bra that is close to your skin tone (this holds true for all underwear).

Problem: Visible Tag Solution: Seam Ripper Your Sealy Posturepedic mattress may have come with a DO NOT REMOVE label, but your brand-new scarf didn't. So throw needless caution to the wind and snip the tags on scarves, sheer blouses, and any other wardrobe piece with an unsightly label. Use a seam ripper in lieu of scissors to easily remove stitches holding the tag in place, but beware of tags sewn directly into a seam, says Audrey Smaltz, founder of the Ground Crew, a backstage-management company for fashion shows. For these use a small pair of scissors to cut the tag just below the seam (so the tiny bit of tag is barely noticeable). 41 Problem: A Bare Midriff Solution: Layering Pant rises have gotten lower (and lower), but shirts, sweaters, and blouses have stayed the same. The result? An exposed midsection that leaves you looking like a teen pop sensation. Rather than banishing your favorite?and most flattering? pair of pants to the back of the closet, layer a lacy tank top underneath a sweater. A hint of added color and texture keeps your tummy hidden and creates a more interesting, modern look. Another benefit: Um, how about warmth?

Problem: Visible Panty Line Solution: Smooth Briefs You want all the attention on you, not your tush. A visible panty line draws attention to your backside (making it look larger), but don't assume a lifetime of wearing thongs is your only option. "Panties are more demure and chic, and they are also a lot more comfortable," says Simon Doonan, creative director of Barneys New York. Jockey No Panty Line Promise briefs ($9.50, jockey.com) have flat seams that are only 1/8 inch wide, preventing them from cutting into your skin. These full- coverage briefs end below the curvature of your bottom, completely covering (not bisecting) the area where pants tend to be most snug. Bonus: The spandex briefs are as soft as your most lived- in T-shirt. 42 HOW MY HUSBAND BECAME MY WIFE' PLUS, 'THE LATEST THEORY ON WHY MEN CHEAT'

What would you do if your spouse told you he or she would undergo gender reassignment surgery?

Ted and Renee were happily married for eight years and lived a conventional life with their two children, until a severe bee sting reaction revealed that Ted had a rare genetic condition, ultimately leading him to have gender reassignment surgery. Now living as Chloe, this couple must redefine what it means to be a family. Anderson explores how this has affected the couple's intimacy, and the impact it has had on their sons.

Then, Anderson is joined by a panel of women for a heated conversation on why men cheat. Bethany St. James, a legal prostitute and blogger for The Huffington Post, joins the conversation. St. James recently wrote a story that garnered attention for blaming the lack of intimacy in relationships for pushing men to cheat. Also included in the conversation, a former mistress turned infidelity expert, Sarah Symonds, and co-host of "Loveline" Simone Bienne, plus two women who've had relationships destroyed because of infidelity.

Start the conversation early: Why do think people cheat on their spouses? Also, what would you do if your spouse told you he or she wanted gender reassignment surgery?

Read more: http://www.andersoncooper.com/episodes/how-my-husband-became-my-wife-plus- the-latest-theory-on-why-men-cheat/#ixzz1lfmeRQom 43 Surprising New Cleaning Solutions From Yahoo Shine

Use everyday items to dust, polish, and conceal flaws.

Baby Oil as Chrome Polish

Forget keeping skin soft, baby oil also polishes chrome. Apply a dab to a cotton cloth and use it to shine everything from faucets to hubcaps. You'll end up with shiny, happy surfaces from a medicine-cabinet staple. (Who actually owns chrome cleaner, anyway?)

Broom as Long Distance Duster

To dust crown moldings, place a microfiber rag over the broom's bristles and secure with a rubber band. Then use the long handle to dust areas that your arms can't reach. No more circus acts (starring you, on a rickety, wobbly stool).

Rice as Coffee Grinder Cleaner

Mill a handful of grains in your grinder and the fine particles will absorb stale odors and clean out residual grounds and oil. Discard the rice and wipe clean.

Toothpaste as CD Cleaner

To restore a damaged CD, apply a dot of non-gel formulat toothpaste to a cotton cloth and rub in a straight line from the center of the CD outward, covering any scratches. Rinse off the toothpaste with water.

44 Masking Tape as Scuff Preventor

Keep baseboards free of skid marks when you vacuum. Cover the edges of the vacuum head with masking tape so they won't leave dark smudges when you inevitably bump into the walls. There will be no more black marks on your cleaning record.

Fork as Carpet Fluffer

Use the tines to gently fluff plush carpet fibers back to their original height, removing dents left by heavy furniture. Now, that's a real fork lift.

How to Walk Like a Woman By Lucille Sorella

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 use- ful information and is located at http://www.flat2fem.com/index1.html

Your walk is a critical aspect of your feminine image. The two biggest mistakes I see crossdressers and transgender women make are: · Walking like men · Over-exaggerating their movements In this article, I’m going to reveal how to achieve a natural, feminine walk. But first, let’s look at the 3 biggest differences between male and female walks: 1. Men tend to walk with a “shoulder swagger”, while women sway their hips when they walk. 2. Men have sharper movements, while women usually have more fluid movements. 45 3. Men walk with longer strides than women do. Here are my top three tips for walking like a woman:

1. Do the Hip Matrix Most advice for TG women focuses on the mechanics of how to walk like a woman. But this advice ignores the fact that males carry more tension in their bodies and therefore have stiffer movements. Until you learn how to “loosen up”, your feminine walk will always look stiff and unnatural.

My friend Rob Brinded is a movement specialist and one of the foremost experts in male/female movement reprogramming. His “Matrix” exercises are designed to release tension and free up your body movements so you can walk like a woman.

2. Wear high heels Women have a lower center of gravity than men due to their larger hips. This creates that sexy hip sway that’s characteristic of a feminine walk.

Forcing your hips to sway usually looks unnatural. Instead, practice walking in high heels. High heels change your center of gravity and exaggerate the forward curve of your spine. This helps release the hips, which naturally feminizes your movements. You can enhance this effect by keeping your shoulders still when you walk. This forces you to use your hips for balance.

Once you’ve mastered hip walking in heels, you can practice the same movements in flat shoes. (Though why anybody would want to wear flats instead of heels is beyond me!)

3. Shorten your stride Shortening your stride is another easy and effective way to feminize your walk. The average woman’s step length (the distance from the toe of one foot to the toe of the opposite foot) is 26”. So if you want to be scientific about it, get out a ruler and measure your steps! Keep in mind that the higher your heels are, the shorter your steps should be.

There are other subtle elements that define a feminine walk, but these tips are a great place to start.

(Note from Mellissalynn: the Hip Matrix video can alsobe found in the orginal posting of this article at http://feminizationsecrets.com/category/feminine-deportment/

47 Spring 2012's must-have nail colors By Ray Siegel, Lucky Mag

It's almost time for a nail polish change! You won't even believe how cool some of these new spring polish colors are. (Some are already available, others you'll have to wait a bit.) Bright, shimmery, pearly, glittery, matte —the gang's all here.

We’ve never seen such a glorious display of pearlized purple.

Nars Diamond Life Nail Polish, $17, Narscosmetics.com

This soft, creamy neutral has a yellowish tint to it. RGB Nail Polish in Vellum, $16, Rbgcosmetics.com

The perfect not-stark white. RGB Nail Polish in Fade, $16, Rbgcosmetics.com

The palest possible shade of dewy green. RBG Nail Polish in Dew, $16, Rgbcosmetics.com

This explosion of pink glitter looks like it should be sprinkled all over a cake. Deborah Lippmann Candy Shop, $18, DeborahLippmann.com

Now it's a party. Deborah Lippmann Forget You, $18, DeborahLippmann.com

Paging Elle Woods! Essie Nail Polish in Tour De Finance , $8, Essie.com

Essie never fails at a light pinkish hue. Essie Nail Polish in To Buy Or Not To Buy, $8, Essie.com

Orange you glad...that this shade of orange exists? Essie Nail Polish in Orange Its Obvious, $8, Essie.com

A creamsicle dreamsicle for your nails. Essie Nail Polish in A Crewed Interest, Essie.com

So fresh. Essie Nail Polish in Navigate Her, $8, Essie.com

If a nail polish could be called spicy.... Essie Nail Polish in Ole Caliente , $8, Essie.com

From the OPI Kardashian Kolor Kollection—these are the glammest shades inspired by America's favorite reality TV sisters. Nicole by OPI Kardashian Kolor nail polish in Smile for the Glam-era, $5.99, cvs.com

This greyish purple is REAL. Nicole by OPI Kardashian Kolor nail polish in Back to Reality...TV, $5.99, cvs.com

This hue will have us all stuck in the limelight. Nicole by OPI Kardashian Kolor nail polish in Ladies in the Limelight, $5.99, cvs.com

We can see all three sisters fighting over this one. Nicole by OPI Kardashian Kolor nail polish in One Big Happy Fame-ily, $5.99, cvs.com

Dare to go purple when you're bored with pink. Nicole by OPI nail polish in Purple Yourself Together, $7.04, target.com

From Nicole X Target—the brand's signature red. Nicole by OPI nail polish in That’s Totally Red-ical!, $7.04, target.com

Grey nail polish is unstoppable this year. Grey nail polish is unstoppable this year. Nicole by OPI nail polish in Look at Me Look at Me, $7.04, target.com

t's a very pretty pinky, coraly color—aka the perfect spring pedicure. Nicole by OPI nail polish in Great Minds Pink Alike , $7.04, target.com

Now you really can have sunshine—even in the month of May.

Chanel Le Vernis in May, $26, chanel.com 50

"Mantyhose" Are a Thing By Tracey Lomrantz, Glamour magazine

Next time your favorite tights go missing, you might check out your guy's drawer, because if a new report is to be believed, "mantyhose"--yes, hosiery for dudes--is totally a thing right now. The look hasn't exactly gone mainstream yet, but apparently enough men are interested in svelte- ifying and staying warm that demand has increased, and hosiery specialist Emilio Cavallini tells WWD that his recently-launched just for dudes line is doing pretty well. "A growing number of men have been buying tights at emiliocavallini.com since a unisex collection was introduced in June 2009, said Cavallini. Purchases by men account for 2 to 3 percent of the company's annual produc- tion of one million tights," reports the paper.

So just how did "mantyhose" come to be a Cavallini specialty? "When we started our online shop we noticed that a lot of tights sized medium-large were being purchased by men.…So I did a search on the Internet and discovered there is a cult following for mantyhose...we came up with the concept of creating tights that both men and women could wear." Basic black is their best seller, and he says most men wear them under pants for warmth, or with shorts to make a fashion statement. And of course, there are some wild patterns available for the more adventurous (check out the his-and-hers pairs from his site above).

We've already seen Spanx for dudes...and a real-life "bro"...and undershirts that second as shapewear...so are mantyhose just the next logical step? Or is this just a road you don't think men should go down? Would your guy ever wear a pair of tights? Don't you just love the name "mantyhose"? Discuss!

The Gossip Fence

Maryland gay marriage bill signed into law

Maryland Gov. Martin O'Malley signed the state's gay marriage bill into law, capping off a month of big state-level wins for the gay rights movement around the country. In February, legislators in Maryland, Washington and New Jersey voted to allow gay couples to marry, though Gov. Chris Christie vetoed the New Jersey bill. The wins follow June's New York same-sex marriage law, the first such bill to pass a Republican- controlled chamber.

But, gay marriage opponents have a plan to counter these victories, which may put the movement back on the defensive. Efforts are already underway to reverse the same- sex marriage laws in Maryland and Washington through a November ballot referen- dum. In Minnesota and North Carolina, the Human Rights Campaign and other groups are busy fending off gay marriage ballot bans, set for November and May, respectively.

Baby is born following sex change for both parents

In what is understood to be a world-first, a mother and father both changed sex before the birth of their first child. In the confusing case, the boy’s mother Joyce was seven months pregnant before realising she was expecting, because she had been taking testosterone to try to become a man.

Her husband Jason had a sex change to assume a female appearance after undergoing surgery in Thailand – six months before the baby was born.

The Pennsylvanian couple, who met online, claim to be the world’s first transgender parents to have a child without undergoing fertility treatment. Joyce said she now goes by the name of “Cai”, and Jason wants to be known as “Emily”.

Joyce said: “From the moment I realised we were having a baby there was no question about our roles – Emily (Jason) was the mother and I was his father. “It made no difference who was actually giving birth. “And I always called myself Daddy – even if I 52 was talking to him in my tummy I’d refer to myself as Dad. That’s what I am.”

Conservatives plot to roll back LGBT protections

Under the radar and with clever wording, social conservatives in several states are trying to make it illegal for local communities to protect their LGBT citizens from discrimination in housing and employment. And they hope that by not explicitly mentioning “sexual orientation” in the legislation, judges may let the proposed laws stand where they otherwise would be unconstitutional.

Currently, 21 states and the District of Columbia have laws that ban discrimination in housing and employment with respect to either sexual orientation or gender identity or both. The Human Rights Campaign estimates that more than 160 communities have enacted comprehensive anti-discrimination laws.

But under proposals by Republicans in several states, such ordinances in Lawrence, Kans., Missoula, Mont., and Kalamazoo, Mich., would be illegal. Bills in Oklahoma, Kansas, Nebraska, and Michigan would bar local governments from enacting laws that prevent discrimination against any group not already covered by that state’s own nondiscrimination laws. Montana’s House passed a similar bill last year, but it died in the Senate. The bills are crafted in the likeness of one passed in Tennessee last year.

Tennessee

The bill was carefully crafted to differ from a 1992 ballot initiative in Colorado that explicitly banned LGBT rights laws in the state. The U.S. Supreme Court in Romer v. Ev- ans ruled that law was unconstitutional on grounds that it violated the equal protection clause of the 14th Amendment to the U.S. Constitution.

Unlike the Colorado initiative, the Tennessee law says that nondiscrimination laws can only apply to the “extent recognized by the state,” so if the state doesn’t have protections for LGBT people, neither can local communities. It doesn’t explicitly ban LGBT rights ordinances, but that is the practical effect.

Canadian scouting groups welcome trans youth

Canadian scouting groups say they have taken steps to be more inclusive following a recent US case in which parents accused a Girl Scouts troop of losing its way because it welcomed a trans child.

The issue has led to a discussion around trans rights in the Girl Guides of Canada (GGC) extra curricular program. While GGC does not yet have a trans policy, a spokesperson for the group says it welcomes trans children.

Lewis says GGC is pursuing a deeper understanding of the circumstances of trans children. She notes that GGC evaluates inquiries about trans children on a case-by- 53 case basis. Gazaleh says unlike the US Scouts clubs, Canadian groups are more accepting of queer youth because they are not so deeply rooted in religious beliefs.

Early intervention key in gender identity disorder

The opening of a US gender clinic has led to a four-fold increase in the number of people diagnosed with gender identity disorder (GID) in the area, pointing to a “pent-up demand for medical intervention” and, according to an Australian expert, highlighting the debate around early intervention.

Reported in the first study to characterise a group of US children with GID, the results show those who do not receive treatment may be at high risk of behavioural and emo- tional problems, including psychiatric disorders. Of 97 GID patients under 21 years old, 44% had a history of psychiatric symptoms, 37% were taking psychotropic medica- tions, 22% had a history of self-mutilation and nine percent had attempted suicide, researchers reported in the Pediatrics.

Following the gender clinic opening, the researchers found the GID population increased four-fold, with 58% receiving treatment after consultations. The increase in the number of GID patients reflected a “pent-up demand for medical intervention,” they said.

Veterans Administration Makes Important Clarification on Records Policy

Building on the June 2011 Directive on the treatment of transgender veterans, the Veterans Health Administration (VHA) has announced a clarification to its records policy that will make significant difference in the lives of trans veterans. Since the Directive has gone into effect, we have received positive reports from trans veterans about receiving more respectful health care. However, one area that the Directive left somewhat unclear was the documentation that was required for veterans to change the gender marker on their health records.

The Directive was very clear that medical records will now reflect an individual’s self- identified gender. However, the policy also indicated that the individual must provide official documentation as per Veterans Health Administration policies in order to change the gender marker. This was initially interpreted incorrectly by some staff and facilities to require proof of sex reassignment surgery.

The VA has now clarified that this policy is intended to mirror the State Department passport policy . Effective immediately, to change the gender on VHA medical records, a vet must simply provide a letter from a physician certifying that the vet has changed genders and has had appropriate clinical treatment for gender transition. To be clear, the physician’s letter does not need to certify that some specific surgery or any particular medical procedure has been completed—only appropriate clinical care for the individual veteran as deter- 54 mined by the physician.

VHA Directive: http://transequality.org/PDFs/VHA_Trans_Health.pdf Passport gender change policy: http://transequality.org/Resources/passports_2012.pdf

Transsexual Runs for Office in Mexico

MEXICO CITY – Diana Sanchez Barrios, the first transsexual women to seek a seat in Mexico City’s municipal assembly, says she is confident of winning.

Sanchez Barrios, who at 16 began a hormone treatment to modify her body and then for several years prepared herself for sex-change surgery, said that she spent more than 10 years developing her activism in defense of human rights and sexual identity.

The activist has been a local councilor in the leftist PRD and is now seeking the party’s nomination for a spot in the municipal assembly. In her opinion, there’s still a long way to go before transsexuals enjoy their full rights in Mexico, since little has yet been done about such issues as adapting documents and obtaining the relevant health care.

“You live undocumented in your own country. How are you going to apply for a job or be treated by doctors if your name doesn’t match the way you look?” she asked.

“I’m beginning to open the way not only for the transsexual community but for all kinds of vulnerable groups that are sometimes afraid to go out and do things,” she said. Sanchez Barrios said she will not just legislate for transsexuals but for all citizens, with the priority going to the most vulnerable groups.

“My personal situation made me more mature, it made me understand a lot of things and fight – it got me where I am right now,” she said.

HUD secretary announces new equal access to housing rule for LGBT individuals, couples

DETROIT — A new rule took effect this week barring those who own or operate U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development-funded housing from asking about an applicant’s sexual orientation or gender identity, an Obama Administration official announced Friday.

HUD Secretary Shaun Donovan said the new equal access to housing rule “says clearly and unequivocally that LGBT individuals and couples have the right to live where they choose.” The new rule, Donovan said, represents “a real demonstration of how important this issue is to me, to the president to the entire administration.” “If you’re denying HUD housing to people on the basis of sexual orientation or gender identity — actual or perceived — you’re discriminating,” he said. “You are breaking the law, and you will be held accountable.”

A letter on the new rule was sent out to HUD grantees, said Raphael Bostic, assistant secretary for policy development and research at HUD.

“This is serious and something people need to pay attention to,” Bostic said.

Diversity gets push as FedEx adds to same-sex benefits

FedEx rolled out more benefits for same-sex domestic partners, drawing praise from advocates of gay and lesbian rights.

The company extended bereavement, relocation and discount shipping policies to include domestic and civil-union partners and same-sex spouses. It also added gender identity and gender expression to an anti-harassment policy that already included sexual orientation. The change extends the policy to transgender workers. " FedEx spokeswoman Sally Davenport said the company approved the policy changes last year.

"This is just the roll-out of the availability of benefits for domestic partners and other groups. I believe the purpose of the communication is to make sure people are aware of the benefits that are available to them." Davenport added, "It's important, if you have employees of all types, they must feel that the company cares for them and about them."

The benefit changes apply to common-law spouses as well, if they are legally recognized in the states in which the spousal relationship was established, Davenport said. Also affected is a company policy on sending flowers or gifts when an employee experiences a major life event such as loss of a loved one.

Verizon Creates Transgender Employment Protections

Verizon is the latest company to announce it is expanding its employment nondiscrimination policy to include “gender identity or expression,” which will protect transgender workers in addition to those who are already protected based on sexual orientation.

The change is a victory for the Unitarian Universalist Association (UUA), which owns stock in Verizon and has filed shareholder resolutions in favor of the protections for the past five years. The UUA has successfully worked with several other companies to make their policies trans-inclusive, including Walmart, The Home Depot, Travelers In- surance, Procter & Gamble, Family Dollar, Lowe’s, and Dr Pepper Snapple Group.

HRC Offers New Resource to Make Workplaces More Equitable for Transgender Employees

HRC Workplace Project released their latest resource in the effort to make workplaces more fair and equal for America’s transgender workers. Transgender-Inclusive Health 56

Care Coverage and the Corporate Equality Index is a white paper full of information on transgender-inclusive health care coverage, including relevant concepts and vocabulary as well as specific guidance on meeting the CEI criteria. The white paper is an educational tool for employers engaged in the Cor- porate Equality Index (CEI), a national benchmarking survey on policies and benefits for lesbian, gay, bisexual and transgender (LGBT) employees.

Speak for your self

New voice modification program helps transgender individuals move confidently through society

Will Shishmanian is looking to find his voice, and he is not alone. Last spring, Shish- manian caught a glimpse of himself in a home video. The image was that of a little girl running around shirtless, asking to be called Brett. At that moment, Shishmanian said, everything clicked. An old familiar concept surfaced, and Shishmanian finally began to heavily question his true identity.

Over the next summer, he came to the realization that his female history did not match who he is.

Transgender people do not want to stand out in society and attract negative attention because their voices do not match their appearances, Shishmanian said. “I want to make sure strangers, not just people who are supportive of me, will be like, ‘Oh yeah, that’s obviously a guy,’” Shishmanian said.

The program, a collaborative project between the Sir Alexander Ewing Speech and Hearing Clinic at the college, the Lesbian, Gay, Bisexual and Transgender Outreach and Services, and Planned Parenthood, aims to help that transition happen.

The first session included information about how to maintain the health of the organs involved in speech, Shishmanian said. The participants learned how to achieve the best results in voice modification. One recommendation was to drink about 64 ounces of water per day and another to avoid caffeinated beverages. He said there was also stress-relieving meditation in order to relax the body as well as the vocal chords.

This program is one of the few of its kind because it incorporates speech pathology students and transgender individuals. The program is mainly funded by donations, but non-student participants also pay a nominal fee for each session.

LGBT March in Mississippi Shut Down by Police

JACKSON, MS — Gay Mississippians tried to rally in Jackson this morning to draw attention to the need for equality under the law for lesbian, gay, bisexual, and transgender (LGBT) residents of the state, but were turned away by the police. Despite hav- 57 ing applied for a permit for a march in the city to highlight LGBT discrimination, organizers were informed shortly before the event that their permit had been denied and they had no right to rally in the city.

The primary organizer of the march, Bob Gilchrist, had organized the event on Face- book, and was expecting a large crowd for the march. The permit was denied even though event organizers were finalizing details to secure required liability insurance. When informed by police that the permit had been denied, those assembled for the march quickly changed plans under the threat of arrest if they were to proceed.

“Mississippi is notorious for basic human rights violations,” said Bob Gilchrist, the event organizer. ”It’s a shame that, in 2012, the state is still maintaining that reputation.”

Yahoo censors profiles containing 'sex'

Creating a new Yahoo profile? Be sure to keep any description of your sexuality in the closet. Yahoo is blocking profiles containing the word “sexual,” and labeling them spam. This includes the words pansexual, transsexual and bisexual.

Xtra first learned about this from a blog post. “I just made a new Yahoo account and I was filling out my profile information. I finished, hit save, and was told I had infringed upon the terms of use and my information couldn’t be saved. The only explanation given was simply the word ‘spam.’ Then I removed the word ‘bisexual’ and it saved properly.”

Like MSN and Gmail, Yahoo profiles allow users to include a brief description of themselves. Profiles are used to “connect to friends, post information about yourself, and manage updates,” Yahoo states. When Xtra created a profile with words containing the suffix “sexual," the profile was also blocked and flagged as “spam.”

Shane Thomas, director of Yahoo Pride, says the company is working on trying to fix the problem. “It was not an intentional move on behalf of Yahoo to censor,” he says. “Based on our initial examination of this, it appears to be a glitch in the system. We are trying to sort out how to fix that glitch. We are actively seeking out a solution.”

Thomas says he received a call from the Gay and Lesbian Alliance Against Defama- tion (GLAAD) last week about the issue. “GLAAD also found that when you write bisexual, transsexual and transgender, profiles are being categorized as spam,” Thomas says. “It is going to be fixed.”

Thomas says he does not know if the problem is new or has just gone undetected until now. He does not know when it will be amended.

Transgender studies class to be offered for Maymester

This spring, students may have the opportunity to learn about transgender studies from 58 someone who can speak about the subject firsthand. The course —WMNST 297A: Transgender Studies — will last four weeks and will run during the Maymester period as part of summer 2012.

The course will provide a historical, theoretical and cultural introduction to the field of transgender studies and will be taught by Cameron O’Mara, according to the course website. [2]

“The course is less about proving whether one can be transgender, or who gets to count as transgender, and more about the experiences of people who identify that way,” O’Mara wrote.

“Both the number and visibility of transgender people has increased greatly in recent years, prompting all kinds of reactions from all kinds of constituencies,” Reed wrote in an email. “So the topic is both interesting and timely.”

The three-credit transgender studies course will begin May 7 and run until June 5. The class will count toward the sexual and gender studies minor, Reed added. However, the course is contingent upon satisfactory enrollment. Reed noted that the university is requiring a minimum of 15 students to register for the class to run.

“It will open their eyes to the world of gender and bring them to the realization that it isn’t binary,” Motah (junior-food science) said.

Voter ID Laws Adversely Impacting Transgender Americans

The National Center for Transgender Equality (NCTE) is working to address how voter identification laws that may be adversely impacting transgender people at the polls.

According to NCTE, nearly 20 states have passed restrictive measures that make it difficult for transgender people to meet identification requirements – essentially disen- franchising them.

MU Psychology Clinic forming a transgender therapy group

HUNTINGTON -- The Marshall University Psychology Clinic will offer a support group for transgendered individuals starting in March. This group will meet from 6:30 to 8 p.m. Monday evenings for 10 weeks with group facilitators Claire Carpenter Phillips and Hend Alsulaiman.

The group is being formed and available slots in the group are limited, said Keith Beard, professor of psychology and director of the Psychology Clinic. The group is available to Marshall students and staff, as well as members of the community who identify as transgendered. It will focus on specific issues that transgendered people deal with regularly.

"There is a need for support for these people in our area and my hope is that this group provides a safe, supportive environment for them to discuss, process and gain guidance on important issues related to being transgendered," Phillips said. Beard said that those in this group often get lumped together with the gay and lesbian population, though they often deal with different issues.

Those interested in the group can contact Phillips by phone at 304-696-2772, option 2, ext. 22773, or via email at [email protected]; Alsulaiman by email at [email protected]; or the Marshall University Psychology Clinic by phone at 304- 696-2772.

Baltimore County Adds Protections for Transgender Individuals

Equality Maryland applauds the Baltimore City Council for passing Bill 3-12 that adds gender identity and expression to county law prohibiting discrimination in housing, employment, public accommodations, financing and education.

“This common-sense law will allow transgender people residing and visiting Baltimore County to live their lives with more security and peace.”

DC police chief says independent assessment of handling of bias crimes will be done

WASHINGTON — District of Columbia Police Chief Cathy Lanier says she’s seeking an independent assessment of the department’s handling of bias crimes.

Lanier appeared Wednesday at a D.C. Council oversight hearing, where she said she had reached out to the Anti-Defamation League to bring together a panel of experts for an independent review of policies and procedures.

She rejected criticism that the department was not responsive to reports of violence against transgender people. The hearing covered various topics, including pedestrian safety, staffing levels, the homicide closure rate and the use of technology in policing.

Council Approves LGBT Ordinance

OMAHA, Neb. -- Omaha's City Council on Tuesday voted to approve an ordinance that would add protection for gay and transgender residents from discrimination in the workplace.

The final measure was approved by a vote of 4-3.

Council members first voted to adopt an amendment which would clarify exemptions in the ordinance for religious organizations.

Mayor Jim Suttle issued a statement praising the City Council following the vote. "I ap- 60 plaud the City Council for their actions today and I look forward to signing this ordinance into law," Suttle said. "Omaha is a city that welcomes diversity, embraces fresh ideas and is open for business to everyone."

Trans Youth Face Higher Risk Of Abuse, Mental Health Problems If Not Affirmed

Two new studies on transgender and gender nonconforming youth have been pub- lished in last month’s volume of Pediatrics that provide further evidence that young people need to be accepted and affirmed for their identities. Not only do they face severe mental health consequences from stigma, but they are at higher risk for family abuse as well.

The first study) found that young people who experience gender dysphoria but cannot access treatment face higher rates of psychiatric problems. Many of the kids in this study (21.6 percent) already had a history of self-mutilation or attempted suicide before seeking treatment, but helping them achieve congruence between mind and body alle- viated the mental health burden. The study recommended that doctors and counselors work with families to affirm gender variation so that it does not become a source of in- ternal conflict for the transgender child.

The pediatrician or family medicine doctor should be on the lookout for the child who is gender nonconforming… The pediatrician who observes gender nonconformity should address the issue straightforwardly and look for a number of associated psychosocial problems including abuse, PTSD, dif?culty in school, depression, or increased anxiety. Referral to and working with the mental health professional provides a good safety net for the child as he/she struggles with exploration of gender orientation, gender, and gender role as well as the related conditions. If indicated, adolescent patients might be referred to a pediatric endocrinologist for help in getting a better long-term physical outcome.

Though conservatives consistently object to any discussion of LGBT issues with young people, it seems it is young people and their families who need those conversations most.

UK Equalities Minister says church does not own marriage

The Liberal Democrat Equalities Minister Lynne Featherstone has said gay marriage will go ahead and the church does not own the institution. As the British government prepares to begin consultation on full same-sex marriage an opposition group called the Coalition for Marriage has emerged to oppose equality.

It’s fronted by former Archbishop of Canterbury George Carey and includes homopho- bic religious extremists like the Christian Institute and Christian Action Research and Education. Lord Carey has argued that the government does not have the right to change marriage.

‘[Marriage] is owned by neither the state nor the church, as the former Archbishop Lord Carey rightly said. So it is owned by the people.’ Full marriage equality for gay and lesbian couples is now supported by a clear majority of people in Britain and has support from Conservative Prime Minister David Cameron, Liberal Democrat Deputy PM Nick Clegg and Labour leader David Miliband. Despite some right-wing Conservative MPs backing Carey’s anti-gay group, the move enjoys support from the majority in the House of Commons.

Carey’s response indicates the opponents to gay marriage may be struggling to find practical arguments against it. He said: ‘Lynne’s logic implies the will of the people is sovereign.

So let’s suppose that in 10 years’ time it is proposed that, as people are living in multi- ples of four, we may call that marriage also.’

Airline’s transgender hostesses come under the spotlight

A Thai airline has become the first to recruit transwomen as air hostesses following a recruitment drive in which over 100 transgender women applied for positions.

The highly publicised move by PC Air, a charter airline which launched last year, received swift praise and criticism in its attempt to boost Thailand’s acceptance of the country’s “third sex”. Criticism of the move has come from the Transfemale Associa- tion of Thailand who claim the airline is cashing in on the ‘bizarre side of transsexuals’.

"This emphasizes the way that society has regarded these people as if they were strange, special, bizarre. Come see them, these are stewardesses,” said the association’s president Yollada Krerkkong Suanyot. Transwomen, locally known as ladyboys or katoeys, receive a greater level of acceptance in Thai society but are not legally recognized as female.

The lack of legal recognition of their gender, particularly on passports, means PC Air must call the country of destination in advance to allow for smooth entry into the country.

Victims No More: A Chicago Trans Group Fight Back

In 2008, 18 year old Angie Zapata had just begun living. Having transitioned only 2 years prior with the support of her loving family, the trans Latina teen was finally happy — able to live out her life as the young woman she knew she was. However, this hap- piness was short lived. In July of 2008, Angie met 31 year old Allen Andrade via a social networking site. The two eventually met in person and spend three days together in Angie’s apartment. Somewhere during their time together, Andrade discovers that Angie is trans. He subsequently begins to beat her, first with his firsts and then with a fire extinguisher.

In light of all the violent acts they face, the trans community is often painted as help- less victims. One Chicago group, however, wants to change that. Taking place at the John Baran Senior Center of the Center on Halsted , SEED (Self Education Empowerment and Defense) is a free self-defense program designed for people of all abilities, particularly geared for trans, queer, and/or female- identified people, since those at the intersection of these identities often face higher rates of physical harassment and violence.

“Trans* individuals are constantly aware of their surroundings and safety in public spaces,” says Binfa. “That state of heightened awareness and caution can only be understood from the perspective of someone with that lived experience. Seeing others within the community carry themselves with confidence and strength is the ultimate message of resilience and hope.”

According to Binfa, this type of programming is gravely needed in the trans community. It is only recently that trans and gender-variant specific self-defense workshops have been made available.

Recently, the University of Illinois at Chicago hosted a series of safety and wellness workshops for the trans community. Additionally, there are several self-defense programs throughout Chicago, however the cost of attending these programs is often pro- hibitive for many trans people, who despite having employment protections in Illinois still struggle to maintain a job due to anti-trans discrimination.

Through this program and through his work with SQS, Van hopes to change the domi- nant narrative of violence that often mars the trans experience. “We aim to decrease the high rates of violence and maintain our community’s strength and resilience through empowerment.”

TSA Posts Info for Trans Travelers

The Transportation Security Administration (TSA) recently unveiled a webpage featuring information and advice for transgender travelers going through airport security. TSA’s advice, while not comprehensive, covers a few important points:

* Travelers should make sure that the gender provided when they book their flight matches the gender designation on the government-issued ID they bring to the airport. TSA Travel Document Checkers will check to ensure that information on your ID matches your boarding pass, however it does not matter whether your current gender presentation matches the gender marker on your ID or your presentation in your ID photo, and TSA officers should not comment on this.

* In the event that a pat-down is required, it will only be conducted by an officer of the same gender as the traveler, based on the traveler’s gender presentation. This means that transgender women should be searched by female officers, and transgender men 63 should be searched by male officers.

* Transgender people should never be required to lift, remove or raise an article clothing to reveal a prosthetic item and should not be asked to remove it. This applies to items such as breast forms and packers.

* Transgender people who experience discriminatory or unprofessional conduct should request a supervisor and report it to TSA and to the DHS Office for Civil Rights and Civil Liberties.

We will soon release updated resources to educate transgender people about what they should expect at airport security, and how to deal with problems at the airport. http://transgenderequality.wordpress.com/2012/03/16/tsa-posts-info-for-trans-travelers/

Nev.'s Scott Could Be Nation's First Transgender State Legislator

The executive director of Equality Nevada is running for the Nevada assembly and if she wins, she'll make history.

Lauren Scott — running as a Republican but previously a Democrat — is hoping to represent assembly district 30 in Carson City. Scott not only runs the state's LGBT organization, she "works as a consultant to government and private industry, focusing on business development and renewable energy issues," according to Nevada’s mynews4.com. She previously served in the Air Force for seven years.

If elected, Scott would be the nation's first openly transgender state legislator.

Study: Majority of Americans Support Equal Rights for Transgender People

A recent study from the Public Religion Research Institute shows an overwhelming majority of Americans supporting equal rights and legal protections for transgender people.

According to the study, 89 percent of Americans agree that transgender people de- serve the same rights and protections as other Americans. Support held firm across religious and political party lines. At 93 percent, support was especially high amongst Catholics, a group that has also shown strong support for the legal recognition of same-sex marriage.

The PRRI study showed broad-based public support for Congress to expand employment protections and hate crime legislation to include protection based on gender identity and expression.

64 Shop Till You Drop Advertisements and Opportunities

Want to advertise your TG-friendly store, service, club, group, or your own personal items here? There is NO charge for this … just email the editor [email protected]

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EnFemme Boutique is a VERY CD and GLBT friendly Ebay store. Nan is the wife of a Transgendered person, and understands how difficult it can be for some to purchase items. She started this store for CD, TV, TS and TG’s that do not go shopping in public, need help with sizing, or finding certain items. It is a place where you can find items at reasonable prices and ask questions without worry. All listing are PRIVATE listings, so no one will see what you have purchased. Most are NEW With Tags and are 70 –90% OFF Retail Prices. This is Nan’s way of supporting her spouse Amy and the T-Community. http://stores.ebay.com/enfemme-boutique?refid=store

Just You (formerly Glamor Boutique 2) Welcome to Just You, We're a transgender (GLBT, TG) friendly, male to female transformation and crossdressing service. Our boutique is located in Las Vegas, NV, USA where Amy and her staff provide products and personalized services to help you become "The Person You Always Wanted To Be". The Just You Family have years of experience transforming men into beautiful women. Visit our crossdressing service for your http://crossdresslasvegas.com very own Transformation Makeover, one of our special Fantasy Transformations, or perhaps even a Tour of Las Vegas En Femme! Inside our boutique you'll find something for all your crossdressing needs; breast forms, shapewear, corsets, lingerie, shoes, dresses, wigs, makeup and so much more.

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The Glamour Boutique isis aa terrificterrific TGTG store.store. YouYou cancan alsoalso orderorder online.online. Can’tCan’t saysay enoughenough about this lovely store! A discount is available to Pretty TGirls members and to visitors of my personal website!

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Crazy 4 Clipons isis aa terrificterrific onlineonline placeplace toto discreetlydiscreetly buybuy clipclip onon earringsearrings atat aa veryvery reasonablereasonable price. They have a large variety to choose from and love to have TG customers! A discount is available to Pretty TGirls members and to visitors of my personal website!

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Why Teazled?... because it’s new. Teazled is a company whose motivation is to pioneer traditional greeting cards for the non-traditional family so that they might also be able to celebrate those meaningful moments, express their innermost thoughts and communicate with those they cherish. We are two nurses, Dina and Dina (Dom), who have seen all http://www.teazled.com sides of life and the wonderment it holds. We know the most powerful gift is that of communication as we have seen the hardships caused when we don’t have the words to express our deepest emotions. Don’t let another moment go by. Tell them... with cards by Teazled.

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Austin’s Angels … by Jamie Austin I can’t say enough really terrific things about Jamie. Simply put, he works wonders. Careful though, he has done such a wonderful job that several girls have seen how wonderfully beautiful they can be that they have become full time girls! Jamie offers several different makeover packages … well worth every penny girls !

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This is a fabulous place for GG’s and TGirls alike. Countessa is a GG, former model, and a terrific supporter of the Transgendered Community ! There is an online store and a physical locationlocation inin StudioStudio City,City, California.California. MoreMore toto followfollow aboutabout thisthis greatgreat LadyLady andand herher offerings.offerings.

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Books by Carollyn Faith Olson

"Crowning Glory" is now on sale. I believe it is my best book ever. Read how Aaron and his business partners attempt to win a national advertising account in a very unconventional way. The cost of the book is $12 including shipping. To order, contact me at: [email protected], or contact my pub- lisher Mags Inc. (www.magsinc.com) and click on the Reluctant Press tab. "Crowning Glory" can also be bundled with "Breaking Point" for an additional $6, but only through me. To purchase a signed copy, please send cash, check or money order to: Carollyn Olson, PO Box 1241, Loomis, CA 95650.

"Tricks of the Trade -- A Beginners Guide to Cross Dressing." Earlier this year she released a novel "Breaking Point," which is also available. Tricks of the Trade is the fourth book penned by Carollyn, a married, straight, conservative, 50 year old cross dresser from California.

Ms. Olson has been an ambi-gendered cross dresser for over 30 years and is very active in the community. She's a proud member and the Post Mistress of the Vanity Club and the co-founder of the Mature Woman "My desire is to create an illusion which is a compliment to all women," said Ms. Olson. "Cross dressing is not meant to demean women, but to uphold their presence and beauty. I try to accomplish that goal every chance I get."

"Reaching your goal as a woman is the reason I wrote this book. I hope I have given you the information you need in the following pages to help you gain insight and confidence in every aspect of your feminine life." Whether you cross dress full-time, frequently, rarely, or even just in your thoughts, Carollyn Olson will get you on your way with this new guide full of practical tips and advice.

The book is $12, including shipping, and can be purchased by contacting Carollyn (PO Box 1241, Loo- mis, CA 95650 or [email protected]) or Mark (800-359-2116) at MagsInc ([email protected])

71 Request for Transgender Identification Card ALL information is required. Please print clearly. *Starred fields must match with the legal document.

Date of request: ____/_____/______Email Contact:______

*Legal name: (Last, First, Initial [opt.]) ______

En Femme name: (Last, First)______

*Driver’s License state: ______*DL Number:______

*Height: ______Weight: ______lbs.

Tri-Ess Member No. ______Chapter (Opt)______

Be sure to include: ð Head and shoulders picture en homme (preferrably .jpg file) ð Head and shoulders picture en femme (preferrably .jpg file) ð SASE with sufficient postage to return pictures or disc and ID card ð Check, cash, or money order (US funds) for $15.00 payable to “G Cirak”

I hereby certify the above information to be correct and accurate. I understand that incomplete application/ attachments will be returned. I provide the above information, and attached pictures, willingly and author- ize them to be used in the creation of a Transgender ID Card. The information supplied is not to be used for any other purpose, but may be retained for use in providing additional cards to the requester. Tasi Zuriack and sub-suppliers are released from all damages that might arise from the use of the information provided or the use of said Transgender ID Card.

Signed: Date:

Please mail this completed document, your CD or floppy picture files (or pictures to be scanned and returned,) along with your payment to:

Tasi Zuriack 1521 Luz de Sol Dr El Paso TX 79912

Thank you for your order!

Questions can be e-mailed to: mailto:[email protected] .

72 Stress or Desire? $10.00 - by Terri Lynn Richards.

It has been several years since Teri transitioned at work. Her transition was initiated by her spouse, Jill, because she recognized that "Terry" would never be completely happy until he became Teri. Jill was aware of the constant stress in Terry's life and remembered that when they were dating, Terry had mentioned that at one point in his life, while he was single, he had attended a Halloween dress-up party, going as the office secretary.

Stress or Desire is available from Mag Books http://www.magsinc.com

Miss April Sandi Sea

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