Friday, October 16, 2015

TGIF... not!

April Ashley
Ever notice how "TGIF" loses its luster when you are on vacation?

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Here is something from Media Matters to file away for future use when the next yahoo gets up on his or her soapbox about the bathroom issue: Texas experts debunk the transgender "Bathroom Predator" myth Ahead Of HERO Referendum.

Have gender identity/transgender public accommodations protections resulted in increased sexual assault or rape in women's restrooms? The answer is a resounding "No."

Read all about here.

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One of my first transgender heroines was April Ashley. Her first 15 minutes of fame occurred about the time I was trying to sort things out. Her story taught me that I was not gay, but rather that I was probably transsexual (a fact that I denied most of my life).

Anyway, on her recent 80th birthday, Ms. Ashley was given the Icon Award for her services to the LBGT community. A Liverpool Echo article about the award also mentions that Ms. Ashley had previously received an MBE from Prince Charles... something I did not know (yes, you do learn something new every day!)






Source: Ann Taylor
Wearing Ann Taylor.


Source: Rihanna
Rihanna's Liza Minelli 2013 Halloween costume

Two years ago, I was Liza. That was really fun. I deliver meals on wheels and we were encouraged to wear costumes, so I did. I had delivered to a particular older gent before, and he hadn't always made too much sense. He came to the door, looked at me, and said, "Well, you must be John Wayne!" I said in my best lady voice, "Yes, yes I am." He took his meal, I wished him a good day, and left.

I had scheduled things a little tight that day, with a doctor appointment in the early afternoon, so off I went. I can't describe how much fun I had with his nurses and office staff. It made my day, even a little better than winning the costume contest at the party that night.

1 comment:

  1. Stana:

    Your link to the Media Matters piece from Texas is great --- and timely. Here's an unfortunate and untimely news piece from a local DC station about --- you guessed it --- a man in a dress in a local mall, in a restroom, using a mirror to look under bathroom stall partitions. See: http://www.fox5dc.com/news/local-news/33211968-story. This and the VERY FEW other stories like it will be thrown in our faces whenever we try to have the reasonable and reasoned discussion about the "bathroom issue".

    Those who demonize us get traction from every isolated incident that isn't about us, but about someone who looks like us.

    Sadly,
    Rhonda

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