Stuff 138: Local Support

By JJ Atwell

I Need…

Do you ever wonder how welcoming certain establishments are to crossdressers? Perhaps you need makeup but aren’t sure where to shop. Maybe you’re looking for lingerie or thinking about buying a wig.

You could certainly order many of these things online. That’s an easy solution if you aren’t comfortable being out in public as your girl self. But what if you want to visit a local store en femme and get personalized help finding exactly the right item? Some purchases benefit from a personal touch—or the chance to try something on and see how it looks.

How do you find stores that have experience serving crossdressers and would welcome the chance to help you find the outfit of your dreams?

Sharing

If you belong to a local CD group, start by asking other members about their experiences with retailers. With luck, someone can point you in the right direction.

In addition to sharing recommendations by word of mouth, our group maintains a resources section in our monthly newsletter. It lists businesses and service providers our members have used, with categories for wigs, restaurants and personal services such as counseling and makeup application. All recommendations are based on members’ actual experiences.

We also list upcoming events, both local and national, for anyone looking for more opportunities to get out of the house.

Where to Go

If you don’t have access to that kind of resource, you’ll need to do a little searching. Fortunately, the Internet makes that fairly easy.

Looking for a restaurant to visit as your girl self? Start with establishments that advertise as LGBTQ-friendly. LGBTQ publications and newsletters can also be useful sources of information. If you keep a separate femme email address, you can use it to subscribe.

I’ve found Watermark Out News helpful for keeping up with local and national happenings. I receive its electronic newsletter each week. You can find it at watermarkoutnews.com.

Once you’ve narrowed your choices, consider calling ahead. You can ask whether the staff has experience assisting crossdressers without giving your name or other identifying details. If you’ll need personalized help, ask whether there’s a quieter time when someone can give you more attention.

A little research can go a long way toward making your outing more comfortable—and more enjoyable.

I’ll Be Back

I’ll be back with more Stuff in the next installment. Comments are welcome here on the blog or by email to Jenn6nov at-sign gmail dot com. JJ is always looking for more Stuff, so let me know what you’d like to read about.

Bill Kaulitz