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| My annual Hamvention "booth babe" photo |
And on the heels of all the recent media attention on transgender issues, I was more concerned this year. Whereas, in the past, most civilians were not attuned to transpeople, so I could slip by and be taken for a big, old ugly woman. Now that the civilians are more aware transgender-wise, I might be more closely scrutinized and exposed as a big, old ugly guy wearing a dress.
I had two choices:
1) Take no chances and go to Hamvention as a guy, or
2) Throw caution to the wind and go to Hamvention as the woman I am
I selected the option number 2 and as it turned out, I had nothing to fear. I knocked it out of the ballpark.
I heard nothing but female pronouns throughout the weekend that were expressed without hesitation.
Whenever I walked through the Hamvention throngs, the mostly male crowd parted the way to let the me through.
Whenever I approached a Hamvention booth to more closely view a gizmo, the booth staff dropped everything to do my bidding.
Women (strangers and friends alike) complimented me on how I looked.
Women included me in the club on a couple of occasions during the long weekend.
Men checked me out. Some had the nerve to hit on me. One guy even gave me his phone number! I am used to men checking me out. Usually, they are my peers age-wise, but at Hamvention this year, I even noticed younger men checking me out.
I attribute my success to some subtle changes.
When I met my fellow board members for dinner Thursday night, the wife of one of the board members remarked, "She looks different."
And I did look different.
I lost 5 pounds.
My makeup was spot-on mainly due to finally getting the correct foundation color thanks to Sephora's Color IQ.
My new Kris Jenner hairdo is so stylish and a perfect fit for me, not to mention it is the first large-sized wig I ever owned and fits my head like a glove!
I knew had my act together and was completely confident as a woman.
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| Wearing Marc New York |
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| Bride and bridesmaid femulations |
Sounds like you had a great time, now I must get back on that diet!
ReplyDeleteYou look marvelous. Everything...I mean everything...works.
ReplyDeleteI am glad that things worked out so well for you during the week. There is really no reason to fear the less liberal areas of the country. People are people and when dealing with conservatives you may find that if you do not try to tell them how to live their lives that they are ofter libertarian enough to not try to tell you how to live yours.
Pat
I guess your glass is half full, while mine is half empty!
DeleteBeing from Ohio-like any other state of the union there certainly are "less than liberal" areas. But in all fairness Stana, where you are in Dayton has REALLY embraced the LGBT community - as has Cincinnati (everyone said they couldn't because of Kentucky across the river) Now they (Cinci) has a gay councilman and of course there is Columbus!!! I can't speak for the Northern part of the state or the big agricultural areas.
ReplyDeleteSince I have seen you in person Stana, I firmly believe if you travel with the same basic concerns any single woman would-you would be fine.
Oh-by the way-the cities of Dayton/Cincinnati came out strongly against the stupid Indiana discrimination moves and Ohio has a legalizing marijuana vote coming up!
Enough already of my pro Ohio rant and congrats on your diet!!!!
If you need ideas on accepting places to go in Dayton let me know!
Dayton and Cincinnati may have embraced the LGBT community, but most of the people attending Hamvention are not from Dayton and Cincinnati, so I was very concerned that my mileage may vary.
DeleteCongratulations on a successful journey into the midwest! Once again, even though I'm out and about I don't think I'd be able to demonstrate the same level of confidence you do, particularly travelling that distance and femulating in such a male dominate environment. Nice to hear that Cincy has embraced us, I was surprised to learn that. And If 5 pounds made that kind of a difference then I'm setting a goal of 10 pounds for my Fall debut. :-)
ReplyDeleteThank you, Jeanine. My goal is to lose another 5 pounds, then another and another!
DeleteWell, I thought you looked great, and I enjoyed talking to you, as always --- you are a great ambassador for our "tribe."
ReplyDeleteI noticed more gender-variant people at Hamvention than in years past, and I've been attending for 15 years or so ... I'm encouraged that it seems to be "no big deal," even among a group as hide-bound as hams can be!
73 de Trish
I notice a few more trans people in attendance every year, so we ARE making progress.
DeleteStana, Love the look and congrats on the trip- I'm looking forward to you answering the questions on femulating. Some of us haven't femulate in public due to a number of different reasons and we look forward to your answers to help us do so in the future. Thanks- Ms. Stacey Anne..
ReplyDeleteHi Stacey Anne --- I will begin answering questions after the dust settles from my trip to Dayton.
DeleteGo girl!!
ReplyDeleteGlad it went well. You look great and I love the new hair!!
Thank you, Natalie. When the new hairdo arrived, I tried it on without any makeup and I was not sure that I would like it, but with makeup, it is a keeper.
DeleteWhen I see your entries, I certainly don't see any indication of "a man in a dress." What I see is a beautiful woman... And any double-takes are only because you are attractive. No other reason.
ReplyDeleteYou go, girl!
Mandy
Thank you, Mandy!
DeleteYou're being ridiculous. You can never pass as a "big, old ugly woman."
ReplyDeleteYou're stunning.
Thank-you, Meg. Self-depreation is not one of my better traits!
DeleteI am so glad you chose #2 (Red pill). You look great.
ReplyDeleteThank you, Susan!
DeleteSelf critiquing is a mantle we cds accept as part of our due.we
ReplyDeletedidn't actually earn this propensity it was trying to fit-round peg sq.o. I'm perceptive
in nature, and felt the good heart
gushing in your breast(s) at once...jist sayin hon. All my life
68 3/4 yrs I've only felt close with women, terrific buddies yes
alldead now sadly.But you, sweetness ARE a woman..The packaging ain't U→contents♡
U R loved ya know, quit plying
them femmy wiles fer complements.Yuh got a righteous mission to attend to.
get ta steppin gal...snugg (mr.n)
New these h'yar parts.. W. T. FLAMIN' F. be thas dad burned
ReplyDelete"Hamvention," enny ways? Y'all hens git ta squawkin like gabbering gueese at times! Give
fella a head bangin' Sheesh!- missy unnatchral...zzz
Another home run to add to tour total. But not only that. By sharing it here, as with all you do for us on "Femulate", you earned another untold number of R.B.I.s!
ReplyDeleteThank you, Rachel!
DeleteWOW I am so proud of you. As a HAM myself, hamvention would be last place I'd consider travel to dressed pretty. For some reason I always thought the ham crowd is full of god fearing far right lunatics. Apologies to other hams....
ReplyDelete73 de VA3xx (See, I am a coward.....)
I have never been hassled by my fellow hams.
DeleteCongratulations on your trip to Ham-Vention in Dayton! You look amazing, Stana!
ReplyDeleteThank you, Billie.
DeleteLove your hairdo wear did you get it?
ReplyDeleteThank you, Barbara. It is "Shari" by Envy. wigs.com and other online wig sellers have it.
Delete