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Pretty T GirlsThe Magazine for the most beautiful girls in the world

October 2016

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In This IssuePAGE

Editorial By: Barbara Jean 3Study: Being Transgender Is Not A Mental Disorder 4Bakery Received Backlash over Ken Doll Cake 6How A Transgender Woman Could Get Pregnant 7The Relationship Between Transgender Woman and Makeup 10Tips To Save On Makeup 14The Makeup Trick You Are Doing Wrong Every Day 16Halloween Photos 17Teri Lee Ryan 19The Adventures of Judy Sometimes 21Módhnóirí 22Being An Angel: By Susan Anderson 24Tasi’s Musings 26Humor 35Angels In The Centerfold 36Mellissa’s Tips 38Diane Sikes 43The Secret To Kate Middleton’s Great Legs 46What Women Should No Longer Wear After Age 50 49Tasi’s Fashion News 51Friday Charm School– How To Stand Like A Lady 56How To Save Money On Fashion 57Lucille Sorella 59Ladylike Laws-How To Hold Your Drink 63From The Kitchen (Halloween Recipes) 65Chefs Favorite Cheap Cooking Gadgets 68Estrogen Chart-Effectiveness & Risk 71Let’s Get Together 72The Gossip Fence 77Shop Till You Drop 88Calendar 101

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Are We A Community?An Editorial by: Barbara Jean

Community… Hmmm just what is a community? Well it can be a number of things. It can besomething like the city we live in, or our neighborhood, but it can also be a gathering of peoplewith a common interest.

As I look at the defin i tion o f com m uni ty i t s eems that we are a part o f anum ber of com m uni ties , and we are als o a part o f a com m uni ty that is wi th in acomm uni ty.

Wi th in e ver y com m uni ty there are cer ta in th ings that are o f com m on interes t.In our ci t y and our neighborhood we take a com m on interes t in th ings l iketaxes , publ ic s ervices , appearance and m any other th ings . Perhaps what ism os t im portant in the com m uni ty that we l i ve are the other people in thatcomm uni ty. Are the y friendly, do they care about each other, e tc . Things l ikethes e help to m ake our l i fe m ore com fortab le and enjoyable.

But we are als o a part o f m any other com m uni ties . We m ay wel l be a par t o fa church com m uni ty, and we are us ual ly a part o f s om e profess ionalcomm uni ty. As people who are trans gender we are a part o f the trans gendercomm uni ty and our com m uni ty is a part o f the LGB TQA com m uni ty.

Perhaps one of the bigges t advantages to being a part o f an y com muni ty isthat we de velop friends hips wi th others in that com m uni ty. Neighborhood,church, work, in a l l o f them we m ake new friends .

Man y years ago we bui l t our com m uni ty us ing m agazines or papers that wegot from adul t books tores or via m ai l . In them there were always ads fromother m em bers of our comm uni ty s eeking to m eet. For m e, i t s eems that m os twere com ing from girls e i ther on the wes t coas t or in New York . Seldom didwe find ads for thos e of us in s m all town Am erica, or m iddle Am erica. Bu t s ti l la pen pal fr iends hip was made wi th thes e gi rls and they m ight even int roduceyou to s om e other s is ters that the y knew. I recal l prior to the internet I wouldgo through a book of s tam ps ever y week wri ting to various s is ters .

Today we ha ve the in ternet, and perhaps one of the greates t th ings about thein ternet is how i t can bring people from al l o ver together . In groups l ike ourPrett y T Girls or The TG Wom an we tend to de velop friends hips wi th otherswho m ay be qui te s om e dis tance from us . We e ven m anage to develop

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fr iends hips wi th people who l ive in d i f ferent countries than ours .

It is becaus e of the friends hips that we have developed wi th o thers l ikeours e lves that we have becom e a comm uni ty. Not jus t a local com m uni ty, notjus t a national comm uni ty, but a worldwide comm uni ty. And yes , we are aTRUE com m uni ty.

Being Transgender Is Not a MentalDisorder: StudyKaty Steinmetz

In the last couple of decades, many medical institutions have moved awayfrom the view that being

transgender is the result of mental illness, as they previously did with homosexuality. Still, stigma

persists, and some of the most influential medical bibles, including the WHO’s International

Classification of Diseases (ICD), continue to categorize a transgender diagnosis as a diagnosis of

mental disorder.

Now, a new study published Tuesday in the journal The Lancet Psychiatryadds nuanceto the topic,

finding that the social rejection andviolence that many transgender people experience appearsto

be the primary source of their mental distress, as opposed to the distress being solely the result of

being transgender. That distinction matters because it has implications for how transgender people

are treated in a healthcare setting, as well as how they are viewed in society.

In some places, the study’s authors note, viewing transgender people ashaving a mental illness

might force them to get psychiatric care rather than the physical care they seek, or beused by

governments to deny “decision-making authority to transgender people in mattersranging from

changing legal documents to child custody andreproduction.”

The study, which involved interviewswith 250 transgender people, foundthat the majority ofthem

reported social rejection related to their gender identity, as well as being thevictim ofviolence. And

the researchers conclude that “distressand dysfunction were more strongly predicted by” going

through those experiences compared to “gender incongruence itself.”

“Having grown up as a child and an adult who experienced gender incongruence, I’m personally

very clear it’snot a mental disorder,” says Jamison Green, president of the World Professional

Association for Transgender Health anda transgender man. “There is stress that’s created asa

result of having it reflected back to you that there’s something wrong with y ou.”

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The authors of the study arguethat being transgender might be better classified asa condition

related to sexual health, in the next edition of the WHO’s ICD. They also note that this is the first

field study on the topic, which was led by Mexico’sNational Institute of Psychiatry Ramón de le

Fuente Muñiz, and that it is being replicated in several other countries such as Brazil and India.

UCLA’s Williams Institute estimates that thereare 1.4 million Americans who are transgender,

translating to 0.6% of the overall population. In this study, 80% of participantsweretransgender

women (thosewho had been assigned the male sex at birth but identify as female). The participants

reported becoming awarethey were transgender at a mean age of fiveyears old. Morethan three-

quarters of participants (76%) reported experiencing social rejection related to their feelings about

gender, most commonly by family members. Andnearly two-thirds (63%) said they had been a

victim of violence related to their gender identity.

A separate2012 study found that 57% of transgender youth who did not have supportiveparents

attempted to commit suicide in the past year, while just 4% of transgender youth with “very

supportive” parents did.

“Stigma associatedwith both mental disorder andtransgender identity has contributed to the

precarious legal status, human rightsviolations and barriers to appropriate careamong

transgender people,” author Geoffrey Reed, a professor at National Autonomous University of

Mexico, said in a statement. His fellow authors echoedthat statement, suggesting that transgender

individuals might be better cared for if doctorsusea more“gender-affirmative” approach.

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Northern California bakery receives backlash over transgenderKen doll cake

A Northern California bakery is under fire after making a transgender Ken doll birthday cake.

KTXL-TV reported Tuesday that the Freeport Bakery in Sacramento baked the cake. The Kendoll wore a pink dress made of frosting, a sash, a tiara and some jewelry. Co-owner MarleneGoetzeler said it wasn’t one of the most unusual cakes the bakers have ever made.

"Naively, I guess I just thought this is a really cool cake, and look at how great they did with thebutter cream,” Goetzeler told the station. “What’s wrong with a Ken cake?”

Goetzeler posted the creation on the bakery’s Facebookpage and was immediately hit with negative comments.

"I started getting some negative comments ... Then acouple days later I noticed there was a big dip in unlikes. Iwas kind of surprised,” she added. “I was shocked thatsomebody would be offended.”

The cake sparked a fierce LGBT debate. The bakery lostdozens of Facebook likes and Goetzeler feared it coulddamage her business, all because of the post.

Chad Graham who attended the birthday that the cakewas meant for said the backlash took the group bysurprise.

“Oh, I thought it was fantastic,” Graham told KTXL-TV.

He said that the birthday party for a member of a groupthat meets once a month for a dice game. He said the

recipient of the cake isn’t transgender nor was the cake supposed to be a political statement ofany kind.

"I thought it was a little ridiculous. It was just cake,” Graham said.

The station reported that there have been some people defending the bakery in the midst ofthe cake controversy.

[Freeport Bakery Facebook Post]

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How a Transgender Woman Could Get PregnantThe uncharted territory of uterus transplants is sparking patients’ interest, but surgeons andendocrinologists remain waryBy DinaFine Maron

When Mats Brännström first dreamed ofperforming uterus transplants, he envisionedhelping women who were born without theorgan or had to have hysterectomies. Hewanted to give them a chance at birthing theirown children, especially in countries like hisnative Sweden where surrogacy is illegal.

He auditioned the procedure in femalerodents. Then hemoved on to sheep andbaboons. Two years ago, in a medical first, hemanaged to help a human womb–transplantpatient deliver her own baby boy. In other

patients, four more babies followed.

But his monumental feats have had an unintended effect: igniting hopes among sometranswomen (those whose birth certificates read “male” but who identify as female) that theymight one day carry their own children.

Cecile Unger, a specialist in female pelvic medicine at Cleveland Clinic, says several of theroughly 40 male-to-female transgender patients she saw in the past year have asked herabout uterine transplants. One patient, she says, asked if she shouldwait to have her sexreassignment surgery until she could have a uterine transplant at the same time. (Unger’sadvice was no.) Marci Bowers, a gynecological surgeon in northern California at Mills–Peninsula Medical Center, says that a handful of her male-to-female patients—“fewer than 5percent”— ask about transplants. Boston Medical Center endocrinologist Joshua Safer say she,too, has fielded such requests among a small number of his transgender patients. With eachpatient, the subsequent conversations were an exercise in tamping down expectations.

To date there are no hard answers about whether such a fantastical-sounding procedure couldenable a transwoman to carry a child. The operation has not been explored in animal trials, letalone in humans. Yet with six planned uterine transplant clinical trials among natal femalepatients across the U.S. and Europereproductive researchers arehoping to become morecomfortable with the surgery in the coming years. A string of successes could set a precedentthat—along with patient interest—may crack open the door for other applications, includinghelping transwomen. “A lot of this work [in women] is intended to go down that road but noone is talking about that,” says Mark Sauer, a professor of obstetrics and gynecology atColumbia University.

Such a future is hard to imagine, at least in the near term. The surgery is still veryexperimental, even among natal women. Just over a dozen uterus transplants have beenperformed so far—with mixed results. One day after the first U.S. attempt, for example, the 26-year-old Cleveland Clinic patient had to have the transplanted organ removed due to complica-

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tions. And only the Brännström group’s procedures have led to babies. More efforts areexpected in the United States: Cleveland Clinic, Baylor University Medical Center, Brigham andWomen’s Hospital, and the University of Nebraska Medical Center areall registered to performsmall pilot trials with female patients who are hoping to carry their own children.

A R IS KY P R OS P E CT

The trouble is that uterine transplants are extremely complex and resource-intensive, requiringdozens of health personnel and careful coordination. First a uterus and its accompanying veinsand arteries must be removed from a donor, either a living volunteer or a cadaver. Then theorgan must be quickly implanted and must function correctly—ultimately producingmenstruation in its recipient. If the patient does not have further complications, a year later adoctor may then implant an embry o created via in vitro fertilization. The resulting baby wouldhave to be born through cesarean section—as a safety precaution to limit stress on thetransplanted organ, and because the patient cannot feel labor contractions (nerves are nottransplanted with the uterus). Following the transplant and throughout the pregnancy thepatient has to take powerful antirejection drugs that come with the risk of problematic sideeffects.

The dynamic process of pregnancy also requires much more than simply having a womb to hosta fetus, so the hurdles would be even greater for a transwoman. To support a fetus throughpregnancy a transgender recipient wouldalso need the right hormonal milieu and thevasculature to feed the uterus, along with a vagina. For individuals who are willing to take theseextreme steps, reproductive specialists say such a breakthrough could be theoreticallypossible—just not easy.

Here is how it could work: First, a patient would likely need castration surgery and high dosesof exogenous hormones because high levels of male sex hormones, called androgens, couldthreaten pregnancy. (Although hormone treatments can be powerful, patients would likelyneed to be castrated because the therapy might not be enough to maintain the pregnancyamong patients with testes.) The patient would also need surgery to create a “neovagina” thatwould be connected to the transplant uterus, to shed menses and give doctors access to theuterus for follow-up care.

A small number of surgeons already have experience creating artificial vaginas and connectingthem to uterine transplants. Most of Brännström’s transplant patients have been women with acondition called Rokitansky syndrome, and as a result they lack the upper part of the vaginaand had to have a neovagina surgically made—typically by extending the lower vagina.Separately, surgeons that specialize in working with transwomen also often create neovaginasafter castration, using skin from the penis and the scrotum.

B IO L O G ICA L C ON N ECT IO N

Ev en if the hormonal and anatomical challenges are overcome, for someone who was bornproducing sperm instead of eggs there would be one more hurdle: Before castration thatperson’s sperm must be collected and combined with a donor’s or partner’s egg to make an

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embryo via in vitro fertilization, and that embry owould have to be frozen until the transplantpatient is ready. If the embryo is successfully implanted, the transwoman would then naturallyproduce the placenta required to sustain the pregnancy and begin to lactate in preparation forbreast-feeding, Cleveland Clinic’s Unger says.

Experts disagree about what would be the biggest barrier to pulling off these theoreticaltransplants and pregnancies. Giuliano Testa, a transplant surgeon at Baylor University MedicalCenter who will soon be directing uterine transplant surgeries among natal women, says thehormones would likely prove the biggest obstacle. “It would really be a feat of unknownproportions,” Testa says. “Iwould never do this.” But he concedes the transplants arenot out ofthe question. “At the end of the day it is two arteries and two veins that are connectedwith finesurgical techniques.”

Unger—who is not inv olved in Cleveland Clinic’s uterine transplant team trial—worries about aconsistent and ample blood flow to the fetus. Bowers, who is transgender herself, says she isconcerned about dangers to the fetus from a potentially unstable biological environment andunforeseen risks for the mother-to-be. “I respect reproduction and I don’t think we will ever seethis in my lifetime in a transgender woman,” she says. “That’s what I tell my patients.”

Costs and ethics also pose significant barriers. Many transgender patients have already beensaving for years to pay for male-to-female genital surgery— which can cost around $24,000without insurance coverage—so a uterine transplant could be out of financial reach, Unger say s.And some doctors working on the frontlines with transgender patients have expressed concernsabout the ethics involved in the risks. Sauer, the gynecologist from Columbia, says that withoptions including surrogacy and adoption available in many locations, an experimental surgeryto help patients give birth—not save their lives—seems likea huge risk. Safer, medical directorfor the Center of Transgender Medicine and Surgery at Boston Medical Center, agrees. “If y ouare going to diewithout a transplant, of course y ou take [antirejection] drugs. But this is notthe case here,” he says. “This is not life and death.”

The American Society for Reproductive Medicine’s Ethics Committee is already discussing howuterine transplants could be prioritized, says Sauer, who is a member of that panel. Yet there isno discussion yet about how transgender candidates would be included in the mix.Additionally, it is unclear how demand for a uteruswould be weighed by a hospital or anorganization like the United Network for Organ Sharing.

Yet interest in uterine transplants is growing: Brännström, the Swedish surgeon who led theprior transplant work among women, says his inbox is now inundated with messages from less-traditional patients. “I get e-mails from all over the world on this, sometimes from gay maleswith one partner that would like to carry a child,” he says. Brännström does not plan to performsuch procedures himself—instead hewants to focus on women who were born without a uterusor lost it due to cancer or another illness. The next natural step for those interested in assistingtransgender or male patients, however, would likely be tackling this procedure among womenwith a rare condition called androgen insensitivity syndrome, he says. A person with AISappears largely female, but has no uterus and is genetically male.

Amid these complex discussions there is one bright spot, the relative ease of finding the organs.Already one group has proved rich in willing donors: people who are transitioning from femaleto male and have also decided to havetheir uteruses removed. Unger says among her female-to

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-male patients, “one in three” have asked if they could donate the organs. Because there is noprotocol set up to deal with these offers (Cleveland Clinic’s trial uses cadaver uteruses), they arecurrently turned down. Such potential donors may seem ideal because they are not pursuing ahysterectomy due to disease. But a major catch is the medical risk they face: A standardhysterectomy takes between a half-hour and an hour, but preparing a uterusand its associatedblood v essels for transplant would keep such patients under the knife for as long as 10 or 11hours. Clearly, the ethics of such donations would haveto be studied extensively, Unger say s.Like uterine transplants for transgender patients, this is all uncharted territory.

About The Author

Dina Fine Maron

Dina Fine Maron is an award-winning journalist and the associate editor forhealth and medicine at Scientific American. She is also a contributor to thepublication's podcasts and Instant Egghead video series. She is based inWashington, D.C.

The Complex Relationship Between TransgenderWomen and Makeup

Beth GreenfieldSenior W riter

Ever since her splashy coming-out 10 months ago,Caitlyn Jenner has kept right on making headlines —for her dating prospects, her political leanings, and,most recently, her new partnership with MAC, whichwill launch her limited-edition Finally Free lipstick tobenefit the MAC AIDS Fund Transgender Initiative inApril.

“For me, the beauty side of [m y transition] wasimportant from the beginning: to try to do fashion right,to try to do beauty right,” Jenner, whose secondseason of I Am Cait premiered Sunday,has said regarding the lipstick launch. “I worked on itall my life, but nobody knew it.”

Jenner is not the only high-profile transgender woman to have become a face of beauty. Lastyear, Make Up for Ever announced that transgender model Andreja Pejic (who just gracedher first magazine cover, Marie Claire Spain, since transitioning) would be the newambassador of its brand. “I feel like it’s a pretty groundbreaking thing, and I feel like they’re apretty brave company for stepping up,” Pejic told Harper’s Bazaar at the time. “And from a

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completely business standpoint, I feel like it’s going to open doors for other trans models. Ifeel like it makes this whole thing less gimmicky and hopefully will reduce the gimmickcastings. Because I feel that I’m a woman and I feel like I can do anything that any otherfemale model can do.”

Also just like any other woman, those who are transgendercan have deep and complicated relationships with makeup: Isit what makes them pretty? Feminine? Are they wearing toomuch? Too little? And how do those answers change withage?

Hari Nef — the first trans model to be represented worldwideby ING, and a co-star on Transparent — has found, perhapsironically, that i t’s when she distances herself from gobs of lipcolor and foundation that she feels most organically female. “Ifeel like I don’t look superfeminine when I wear a lot ofmakeup,” she told Vogue. Early on in her transition, sheadds, one of her transgender friends offered her someadvice. “‘Girl , never wear lipstick on a first date,’” she told her.

“‘It freaks them out. You look like a tranny.’ When I don’t wear makeup, it’s not because I’mlazy, but it’s me making this radical bid for the feminization of my body and being confident inthat. I don’t want to say that women who do use makeup or get breast implants or have fakenails are insecure. They’re entitled to that, and they should do that if that’s what they want todo. But for me, there are no answers. It’s just a matter of preference and choice and fetish.”

Yahoo Beauty chatted with a handful of transgender women about their personalrelationships with cosmetics. And all say they’ve recently come to similar conclusions aboutmakeup and their identity and self-esteem: that less, at long last, feels like more.

That feeling goes, at least from time to time, for CapriCulpepper. She’s the South Carolina teen whomade national headlines (when she still identified as“gender nonconforming” Chase) in April 2015, after shefought and prevailed over the DMV’s position that shecould not wear makeup in her driver’s license photobecause it did not “match traditional expectations of anapplicant’s gender,” the agency claimed.

“It was my first experience with someone telling me thatmy appearance wasn’t acceptable enough,” Culpepper,now 18, tells Yahoo Beauty. “It really angered me andhonestly changed my perceptions of myself for a while.” Itwas especially upsetting because, while the DMV tried to

Andreja Pejic.

Hari Nef.

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claim the makeup altered her usual daily appearance, it was in fact something she almostalways had on her face.

“I wore very simple makeup and had since the age ofaround 13 or 14, and I did so because I found it soincredibly fascinating. I started out with foundation forspecial occasions, and then as I got older I triedmascara for the first time and fell in love — I had greatlashes, so I was obsessed!” says Culpepper. “Inretrospect, my love for makeup really stems from thosefirst moments of the expression of my femininity.Makeup, in a way, was a catalyst for the realizationthat I was a woman, as it gave me a way to see thatmy outward appearance could match my soul.” (Hersentiments echo those of women who spokewith Mic.com recently for a story about how socialmedia is providing makeup support for those who havenewly transitioned.)

Culpepper now loves to spend time experimenting withproducts and sometimes posting the results to Instagram. “Makeup, to me, is an art form,”she says (current faves include Anastasia brow products and various liquid lip colors). “It’sthe expression and passion in life expressed in whatever way you want. It’s the power to feelbrand-new every day. Makeup is a powerful and beautiful thing for me, and that’s what it’s mypassion.” Still, Culpepper, like Nef, will often choose to go makeup-free. “My femininity is notdefined by makeup,” she says. “It’s defined by who I am.”

Going makeup-free is also an empowering choice for Torrop Sin-ganipar, a New York City–based makeup artist, originally fromThailand, who works frequently with transgender models and al-ways encourages a clean, natural look. “I used a lot of makeup inthe past, but I wear less makeup today,” Singanipar tells YahooBeauty. “The less makeup there is, the better. I think in our tran-sition we have a lot of insecurities around our looks, and wearinga lot of makeup could bring more confidence. But now I love tofocus on the skin. First, I prepare the skin with toner, then serumand moisturizer.”

Christine Gero Horovitz, the owner of a makeup and skincare boutique in Provincetown, Mass., has had practically a life-long passion for cosmetics — one that helped support her long-suppressed desire to transition. “Makeup transformed me intowhat I felt inside,” says Horovitz, 45. She recalls, at age 10,looking at her face in the bathroom mirror after dabbling in hermom’s blush and lipstick. “It made me so happy,” she says. “Itwas something I did secretly for a very long time.”

Capri Culpepper.

Makeup artist Torrop Singanipar

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She started testing limits and going out with little bits ofmakeup by age 12 and was once mistaken for a girl,which was thrilling. But, she says, “I just thought I wasa freak of nature.” She began to find her way byworking at a hair salon in high school, learning makeupartistry, and eventually doing drag in Miami nightclubs.“It was the only thing I understood,” she says. “I stilldidn’t know what trans was.”

But it was working with makeup — at MAC and then atStila — that kept giving her strength. “I got to go towork and not get criticized, and that gave me courage.It gave me armor — not to hide behind, but to bemyself,” she explains. “Makeup transforms people. Isee how empowering it is for other women, and that’show I got my confidence.” But now, years into hertransition, it has changed a bit for Horovi tz.

“As I got older it was more about skin care. It’s empowering for me to know that I now havebetter skin than I used to,” she says. “So now I think i t’s just being confident in your own skin.I don’t want to hide behind a full face of makeup anymore.”

Christine Gero Horovitz in her shop,Kiss and Makeup.

Schedule of EventsTues. Nov. 15Trans Heart Circle - 8:00am-6:30pmOpening Ceremony— 7:00pm-?

Wed. Nov. 16March—7:00pm-9:30pm(UNLV Outside Amphitheater)

Thur. Nov. 17TDOR Wall & Movie Festival

Fri. Nov 18Social Gathering at a club(Location to be announced)

Saturday Nov. 19Vendor Fair 11:00am-5:00pmGala—6:30pm-10:00pm(location for Gala– The Center,401 Maryland Pkwy)

Sunday Nov. 20TDOR Vigil—3:00pm-5:00pm

All Event except where noted1140 Almond Tree Lane(MCC Church building)

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If you’re a makeup junkie, these tips cansave you big bucksVANESSA SANCHEZ

Cosmetics have been around for centuries. The Egyptians used their natural resources to make

cosmetics they needed. Things like scented oils and ointments were made to mask body odor

or protect their skin from the sun. And since then, cosmetics and makeup have become more of

an obsession than a necessity.

The US cosmetics industry generated $61 billion in revenue in 2015, up from $59 billion in

2014, and that number is expected to rise. (Americans spend less on clothing.) Much of the

growth can be attributed to the proliferation of beauty retailers like Sephora and Ulta. These

stores offer consumers a particular in-store experience that they can’t get in drugstores or even

high-end department stores: they can shop, test out, try out everything from eyeliner and nail

polish to perfume and eye cream.

We don’t suggest you stop buying makeup altogether (if it makes you feel better and have more

confidence,more power to you), but here some tips on how you can save on makeup.

Biggest waste: single-use products

The average consumer owns almost 40 makeup products but only uses and carries five of them

daily. That means the average person owns eight times more makeup than they use. What a

waste. Try to look for multipurpose products to get the most out of your money.

Women spend $1,780 on lipstick and $2,750 on blush in their lifetime. But why not use your

lipstick as your blush? There are two ways to do this: Pick any color lipstick that you like and

gently dab it on to your ring finger. Pat it on to your cheeks and blend in with your fingers but be

sure to set it with a little powder so it doesn’t grease up. Or try the dual-purpose “So tiny lip and

cheek face color” by Chosungah for $14 at Sephora.

Have you ever thought about using your mascara as eyeliner? It’s possible. Sweep an eyeliner

brush along the mascara wand and brush the product on to where you want your liner.

Biggest waste: expensive skincare products

Skincare is a $121 billion global industry. Skincare includes everything from face wash, to

primers to moisturizers. While it’s understandable to want to splurge on skincare – it’s your

face, after all – there are still some ways you can cut costs.

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You may have been skeptical about the the pricey face primer you bought for $30 – will it really

make a difference? The answer is yes, it will. But do you really need that $30 primer to make

the magic happen? No, you do not.

Don’t be fooled by the name but Monistat’s Chafing Powder Gel is a great primer for your face.

It has the same three key ingredients that can be found in any expensive primer. It really works

and you can find it for $7 to $10 depending on where you buy it. The product is originally made

for a sensitive area so it’s safe to use on your face. But, if you’re hesitant to give it a shot, first

test it on the skin behind your ear. This area is also super sensitive so if you do have a reaction

it will be minor and hidden.

Next tip involves what you use to clean your face. Washing your face every night is important,

and exfoliating once or twice a week is also an important step and lots of people use face

scrubs with microbeads. Not only can these products be harsh on your skin but they can also

be damaging to the environment. There’s a way to naturally exfoliate your skin using stuff you

probably already have in your kitchen. All you need are two teaspoons of honey, milk, oatmeal

and half a lemon. Mix it together and use it just as you would your normal face scrub.

Each of the ingredients have a specific purpose and can be very beneficial for your skin.

Biggest waste: expensive nail polish

The average price for a bottle of a brand-name polish like Essie and O.P.I. ranges from $8 to

$15. And out of the high-end nail polish brands, these are actually the most inexpensive.

If you’re loyal to your Essie and O.P.I. brand, try checking local hair salons where other beauty

products are sold. Sometimes they sell brand-name polishes for the wholesale price of around

$4-$6. If you have no luck there, try Amazon where you can buy your favorite brand in bulk and

for a lot less.

Believe it or not, you don’t need to have your own factory to make your own polish. If you have

loose powdered eye shadows that you never use or broken eye shadows that you don’t want to

throw out, just turn them into a nail polish. All you need to do is take any inexpensive brand of

clear nail polish and mix it with your eye shadow. Sally Hansen Insta-Dri is a great choice. You

can find it for $3 to $5 and it has a great formula that will mix well with eye shadow. It can get a

little messy so be careful, but you can customize your colors for half the price of a bottle of

O.P.I.

Last, if you accidentally left your new nail polish bottle slightly opened, chances are it dried up.

Instead of buying a new one, use your nail polish remover to bring it back to life: Put in five to

10 drops and shake well. Your nail polish should be good as new.

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The Makeup Trick You're Doing Wrong Every DayBy Abby Gardner |

For years and years now, anytime you asked amakeup artist for a how-to about highlightingand contouring they’d usually give you thesame old tip about adding highlighter from theouter part of your brow all the way around theoutside of your eye. But the times they are a-

changin’.

Celebrity makeup artist Rebecca Restrepo re-cently clued us in to the updated techniqueshe’s been using on clients, including AliciaKeys at the "The Amazing Spiderman 2" pre-miere. “The new highlighting technique is to

add the highlighter shade to the inside corner of the eye (the area in between the bridge of the nose andthe tear duct) helping to brighten the eye and give a well rested look,” she says. “This is the modern,fresh way to highlight. I like it better because it makes the eye brighter and softens the look of the eyewhile still enhancing definition and pop.” One of her favorite products to use for this is Elizabeth Ar-

den Beautiful Color Define and Highlight Eyeliner Duo.

"It tends to make your eyes appear slightly farther apart, which a lot of people with close set eyes enjoy,"explains YouBeauty Makeup Expert Emily Kate Warren. She says to use a fluffy-but-small blender

brush to dust onto your tear duct area and toward the direction of the middle of your lid.

Warren also thinks there's still an eye-lifting benefit for using light color under the brow bone as long asit's matte—the white shimmer is so bad-90s. She likes the Benefit High Brow pencil and offers this tip:

"Scribble on the back of your hand and then use an eyeshadow brush to feather it under your brow."

And if you haven’t been into highlighting in the past, Restrepo thinks this is the perfect time to start.“Highlighting is important because it brings structure and balance to the face. When done correctly itsculpts the face while giving the skin a luminous look. I created the Elizabeth Arden Summer EscapePure Finish Cool Radiance Highlighter for that purpose. In the summer, we are out more and showingmore skin. A glow is beautiful all year round, but the summer is the perfect time to show off radiant

skin.”

Needless to say, we’re definitely game for any trick this easy that makes us look younger and more radi-

ant.

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Halloween With Pretty T GirlsHalloween the favorite holiday for cross dressers. No need to hide, just go out and have fun. Thecostumes, the parties, the haunted houses… Fun our girls do have.

Our Maid Dawn is at your ServiceNeed your house cleaned?

Senorita Sandra G. is ready for somedinner and dancing. Will you be herSenior?

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No more Miss Nice Girl! Our CatwomanLainey Edwards is coming for you!

Our Vampire Laura Phillipswould like to have a bloodcocktail. She would like to knowhow tasty is yours?

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My Cross-dressing Husband Looks Better Than Meby Terri Lee Ryan

A cross-dressing husband will strain any martial relationship butwhat happens when a cross-dresser looks better than his wife?How does this affect their wives’ self-esteem? Is it really an issuefor married couples who venture out in public together or even inthe privacy of their own home?

For many it is an issue, as a wife not only has to deal with herhusband being a cross-dresser, of which she has most likely hasmade concessions, but when her husband is in his fem mode andmore attractive than her, it can be devastating. His wife neveranticipated this happening.

For most cross-dressers, dressing and appearing as a woman isimportant. They work hard at it. Being passable is desired by mostcross-dressers who are driven by this need to be accepted as awoman when presenting as one. This desire for acceptance moti-vates them to be the best possible woman they can be whichmeans they use many tools to achieve the illusion of a woman.

Wigs, false eyelashes, the proper makeup and body forms become part of their fem routine.Their wives who have lived their lives as a woman may not be as concerned about theirappearance. They have nothing to prove and consequently are not as “prepped” as their cross-dressing husbands. Anyone can look great with the right wigs,make-up and clothing. Mostwomen don’t bother with these things as they take too much work and are not part of their“look.”

So what does a wife do when her cross-dressing husband looks better than his wife?

Here are some tips for a couple dealing with this:

A cross-dressing husband needs to pay attention tohis wife and to respect who she is. She is still theprimary woman in the marriage and should betreated as such. She needs to be complimented. Ifshe has a new haircut or dress, this needs to beacknowledged. She depends on this from herhusband. Don’t look at her dress thinking it may bea good on you, see her in her dress and tell her hownice she looks in it.

When out together with you in your fem persona,don’t ignore your wife as if she isn’t in the room asshe is your mate, your best friend and confidant.Don’t try to upstage her. Let her shine with her ownstyle and be attentive to her.

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When going out with your wife in your fem role make it a “play date.” Gently encourage yourwife to have fun with her appearance, too. Buy her a new wig or a lipstick she hasn’t wornbefore. Help her dress-up if she is into this. Be her husband first then get dressed in yourclothing.

Don’t try to make your wife into someone she is not based on your sexual desires. You marriedher because of who she is, so let her take baby steps in stepping up her beauty routine. Sheneeds to know most importantly that you still think she is desirable.

Being married to a cross-dresser is not easy for a woman no matter how wonderful yourrelationship is. Once the fem side is released, the relationship takes on an entire new set ofrules. It takes time and patience as she needs to adapt to seeing her husband as a woman,even if it is only presenting as such. From the first moment her husband walks out of the roomin pumps and a skirt with a face full ofmake up, her life will never be the same.

What a wife needs to know is that she is still loved, pretty and coveted. It is the first step for herto feel good about herself. Its not about the make-up or the clothes for her, it’s about her stillfeeling good about herself. Beauty truly comes from within and when your wife is happy, she isthe one who glows, so let her shine.

About Terri Lee Ryan

Author, Documentary Producer, Speaker

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

She is the Executive Producer of the documentary, I Married a Cross-dresser, which aired on Sky Living Channel in the U.K. November,2014. She writes a popular blog for the Chicago Tribune ChicagoNowsite. Shades of Gender offers insight on the current state of the cross-

dressing and transgender community and the many faces of this group.

She has been featured and/or written articles for the Chicago Sun-Times, Desert Woman magazine,Entrepreneur magazine, Frock magazine, Repartee magazine, and the Transgender Group (TG) Forum.She has made appearances on ABC-TV, WLS-AM-890, WGN-AM-720 radio and numerous radiostations across the country.

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The Adventures of Judy SometimesBy: Judy Daniels

Feeling Emasculated ... And I Like It

I guess it shouldn't come as any kind of surprise that I've been mistaken for a women threetimes this week while in what I thought was my full blown guy look ( hoodie, jeans and tennisshoes). Earlier in the week I pulled up to an outdoor air hose to fill a low tire and theattendant yelled out, do you need any help maam, a day later I'm at the drive up window at ournew King Leo's burger joint and the server hands me my food and says, have a nice day maamand today, while at our financial adviser's office, an associate that was helping our adviser witha new change in our account addressed my wife and I as ladies.

I don't know how women dress in your part of the world, but up here in the tundra many dressjust as I described my male attire, a hoodie, jeans and tennis shoes. Add in my light blond hairthat's cut in a feminine style, my somewhat feminine face and my French tip manicure, should Ireally be surprised ?

Now, for the million dollar question, when I'm out actually dressed as a women, is that whatpeople are seeing ? I'll be the first to admit, I probably over dress a bit in the colder months, butI just love wearing dresses, skirts, hose, pumps/booties/boots. I think I look pretty typically of awomen who works in an office setting and is out running errands if I'm out during the day or outfor cocktails with the girls after hours. OK, most places I go people know me and are familiarwith what I do, but my wife and I and sometimes a few lady friends will go to one of the nicerbar/restaurants we have here in Fargonia rather than our usual dive bars.

With that being said, I rarely get any second looks initially, but once in a while a catchsomeone starring atme after we've been seated. Are they looking at me because they thinksome things not quite right about her ? Are they looking because I'm pretty cute, but ratherlarge for a female or are they looking because, holy shit, that's a guy in a dress ! I've long sincepassed caring what people think of me and think I at least do a good enough job with my lookand mannerisms and I'm very comfortable I just about every type of setting, so why I'm I evenposting any of this ? I guess if I really have lostmy male identity, I'm OK with that, lol.

Judy Lynn

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Módhnóirí..

AN UNUSUAL WEDDING RECEPTION

BY: BARBARA MARIE DAVIDSON

About three weeks ago, I opened my email and found an unusual invitation to a wedding reception forJune 18th in my hometown of Statesboro, GA.. There were at least 10 couples if not more being honoredat this reception, which was by invitation only. If one remembers back one year ago, the Supreme Courtof the US established the Marriage Equality act, which authorized the marriage of same sex couplesthrough the United States of America! As it turns out, there were 16 married couples celebrating thereception and not just the ten listed on the invitation. The reception was held at the Universal UnitarianChurch in Statesboro with the church rector welcomed every one to this first and unique celebration ofmarriage. Beside the rector and her husband, one of the photographers, the off duty sheriff and yourstruly, every one there were LGBTQ. (As I have mentioned in the past I maybe a M2F TG/TS individual,but that is where it stops.)

As the guest were arriving, I was amazed at the number of folks there who I knew, but did had no clueabout their life style. The funny thing was that many of the folks there I did not know, knew about mychosen Life style and knew who I was.. Comes out that some were friends of my son’s, others I knewfrom my church. It really made for and interesting but fun evening. I even met a couple who both workat Georgia Southern who were in one of the Classes that I gave a presentation to about 4 or 5 years ago.They were one of the couples being honored that night. One is a clinical Psychologist and the other oneworks in one of the businesses offices. Another couple I met, one individual works in a funeral home(knew me because of my dealing with the funeral home when I use to play the bagpipes.) and his part-ner, who is a accountant in Statesboro. Another couple knew me from the American Legion (again, I hadno clue that they were Partners.) another couple whom I did not were a mixed racial couple.

Thee was plenty of finger foods in the way of nuts, cookies and cracker aswell as a mountain of coconut macrons. Later there was baked chicken,,macaroni and corn on the cob. With your choice of libations, however, itwas a BYOB party. The center floral design went from tabletop to theceiling. The veggie tray as well as the fruit tray was something completelydifferent than what I had ever seen before. There were each made of fruitsand vegetables that corresponded to the colors in the rain bow flags andcolor designs. About 2050, the Lady that spearheaded this occasion gotup and made some remarkas about the LGBTQ community and those whohelped with the party. It was one of the Gay couples that Made the groomscake, the rides cake and the fruit trays. as well as the floral design. AfterLaura’s remarks, she invited the Rev. Jane to offer a few comments. Rev.Jane present a slid show of the couples that were being honored thisevening, She had married several of the couples, but others had been

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married else where. She then read the name in alphabetic order ofthose who were being honored at the reception,

When this was done, she invited the“Brides and Grooms” to Cut theircakes, after which there was moredancing and eating. It wasinteresting to not that there seemedtohat be more same sex couples onthe dance floor during a slow dancevice the fast dancing music. (Iguess that cuddling and holdingyour partner during a slow dancehas not gone our of style regardlessof one’s sexual partner.) Thefestive occasion was to last from1900 to 2300. I left about 2215 andit was still going strong. I know

that every one there including yours truly had a great time..

I know that was a joyous occasion for all. There was no bigotry,homophobic remarks, racial/sexual slurs noted. It was just averageAmericans having a great time and celebrating an evening with friendson this special time in their life. So with this I bid everyone a graciousso lond until next time.

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Being an Angel –by Susan Anderson

There are two reasons that I want to be an Angel for Halloween.

The first reason is my lovely wife. We have been married for 41 years and I love her dearly. Nearly 26years ago she was diagnosed with Stage 3 cancer in her uterus and cervix. She had a hysterectomyfollowed by radiation. Little did we know what the effects of the radiation would eventually do to herbody. She has been cancer free for 26 years (yay) but the radiation did irreversible damage. It “fried”some of her inner organs including the bladder. She began having problems with incontinence where shedid not have control of her bladder because the sphincter muscle was damaged and would not close. (Iremember the Lee Marvin song in Paint Your Wagon where he sings “Cured of what you’re suffer’nfrom and suffer’n from the cure.” How true.)

It took a few years of prayer and thought but she finally decided to have an operation to bypass thenormal urinary channel. It was called an ileal conduit urinary diversion which is a bowel diversion whereher urine would be directed to a pouch she would wear coming out of her stomach. After a 13 houroperation (where her Gall Bladder was also removed) she came out of surgery. Recovery andrehabilitation was to be 2-4 weeks. Infections set in requiring more surgeries resulting in her recoveryand rehab taking 4 months.

I had to learn how to change her pouch as well as clean and redress her wound. It was huge, I won’t gointo details. I did it without complaining, it is what you do to help your loved one. Because of this shestarted calling me her Angel. I thank the Lord she is still with me.

The second reason is because of the Creature. It was Halloween of 2008, nearing the end of the allottedTrick-Or-Treat time. A person came to the door alone. This person was wearing a long black coat, a hat,and black gloves. There was a covering over his/her face so you could not identify them, either male,female, or age.

This person did not speak. He/she just stood there, looking down and shaking the bag they held. I said Hiand put a couple pieces of candy in the bag. Instead of leaving, as one would expect, he/she just stoodthere and continued to shake the bag.

I said, “Do you want some more?” He/she continued to shake the bag. I put another few pieces of candyin the bag. After a few more moments of bag shaking the person turned and left. I went inside and toldmy wife about the Creature. I was not scared but it kind of freaked me out. Maybe it was not being ableto tell if it was a male, female, student or adult.

About 20 minutes later our neighbor called. She asked if a goofy acting person had come to our house.My wife said yes and that it kind of freaked me out. She said it was Ed, another neighbor!

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It was a relief. Ed is retired and from a foreign country, explaining why he did not speak. It was anexcellent disguise and really made you wonder who was at your front door. I have been planning a getback for him but it has not yet happened.

I liked the idea of being an Angel. I love ball gowns and wedding dresses. I have been a cross dressersince I was very young but there is a problem. My wife does not understand or approve of me putting ona dress so how could I be an Angel? I started my search by looking for a white tuxedo to be a male

Angel.

I found a costume at Factory Card Outlet that I liked but I had somereservations. First, it is a dress so here we go again. I was not havingmuch luck finding a white tux so maybe I would have to be a femaleangel? Second, would it fit me? Third, could it be altered to fit and whatwas the quality of the material? No one could give me an answer so I did

not buy it. Here is a picture of the costume.

I started thinking, why can’t I be a feminine Angel? I am a male everyday of the year and am proud of it. Halloween is a time when you can beanyone you want to be. Also, as I said, I love to put on ball gowns and

wedding dresses.

I started thinking, why can’t I be a feminine Angel? I am a male every day of the year and am proud ofit. Halloween is a time when you can be anyone you want to be. Also, as I said, I love to put on ball

gowns and wedding dresses.

I finally found my costume at a second hand store. My search for a whitetuxedo, to stay aligned with the male image as society requires, was notworking as I could not find one; the cleaners send tuxedos back to a centralstore to mend them or dispose of them as needed. As I went in to the storeone day the girl said she had found me an item that might make a goodcostume. She brought it out and hung it on a hook. I looked at it indisbelief. It was perfect. It was very close to the store costume but bettermade. Yes, it is a wedding dress. It is an Alfred Angelo wedding dress! Foronly $49! I tried it on and it fit. A couple of weeks later I bought it. I evenwent to a seamstress and had a fitting which was wonderful. But now, Ihave a costume that fits; how do I get the chance to wear it? Actually, I justput it on one Halloween and started giving out candy.

I have accessories including a wig, crinoline slip, gloves, shoes, a mask, wings, halo, and a Halloween

pumpkin. The dress is soft, smooth, and is very comfortable. I feel special wearing this gown.

I am able to be the woman I want to be if only for a few hours. My situation does not allow me to dressas often as I would like. My wife has seen me in the gown as I give out Halloween goodies and has notsaid much. As far as she is concerned (hopefully) it is a costume even though we are not addressing theissue that I want to dress more like a woman. I would like to dress more often but if this is my only

chance then so be it.

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This Halloween I want to go to my neighbors dressed in my costume. I want to give them a caramel ap-ple or small box of candy with a note thanking them for their friendship and support for my wife. It will

be signed: Dave the Angel .

Tasi’s Musings, October, 2016

Greetings from Merida

Mexicans love their beer as it is by far the most popular of drinkshere in Merida. Mexico offers a great variety of some of the besttasting beer around. Corona, Pacifico, Montejo, Dos Equis, Tecateand more are household names, yet if you enjoy craft beer, you needto know, Mérida is home to some incredible cervezas. The craft beermovement is taking the globe by storm, and there is no shortage ofquality brews produced in the Yucatán Peninsula. Popular among thelocals are Ceiba and Patito. They can be found just about anywhere inMérida, and are the larger of the craft breweries.

Mexico has long preferred beer to wine, based on consumption and production. Beer hashistory in Mexico, playing a major role in the country’s exportation economy for years.Microbreweries are new on the scene. With a Mexican tradition of enjoying fresh limejuice in a cold cerveza, acquiring the palette for craft is not an easy switch. Assophistication develops in the ability to produce flavor packed brews, we will see moredemand for craft in and around Mérida. Mérida’s young crafts began in 2013. As thedemand for craft beer grows, we will continue to see more craft breweries come alive inthe Yucatán and in Mérida. My personal favorites are the dark (negra) beers Here aresome of my favorite beer houses in Merida offering a wide range of Mexican andimported beers: La Bierhaus (German), Hennessy’s Irish Pub, and Lapa Lapa, and thefood is good too. For a complete list of our fine beers, check here (http://www.theyucatantimes.com/2016/09/stop-wining-craft-beer-is-on-the-rise-in-merida/)

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In the News

Bathroom Wars. An interesting outtake on the Bathroom Warsfrom the Dallas Morning News. Michael Whelan is a non-transgender male and is 5-3 and 105 lbs. He is routinelymisgendered as female. Michael says, “My red curly hair goesdown to the middle of my back. I have long eyelashes (they'renatural, I swear) and I am usually wearing some sassy shirt with asarcastic quip like "In Your Dreams Loser." I'm a size one in gir l'sjeans. My voice is soft. Anyone who meets me, but doesn't actuallyknow me, would never question my gender. They would assume

I'm female. But I'm not. I have a penis.

I'm not transgender, but I don't identify as a man either. To me gender is this limiting andnegative social construct I want nothing to do with. I'm just me. I'm more like a woman insome ways and more like a man in others. But because I don't intend to transition or startthe process to become a woman, I never question which bathroom I use. I use the men's.And this is what happens:

A man comes in and sees me washing my hands. He looks as if he has been slapped. Hebacks up and looks at the door to make sure he's in the right place and then uneasily re-enters the bathroom. (This last part is optional, about 5 percent of guys actually don'tcome back.) I worry about the day a man comes into the restroom and demands to knowwhy I'm there and when you tell him I'm in the correct restroom, he says: "Prove it!"More on this story here. (http://www.dallasnews.com/opinion/latest-columns/20160908-what-it-s-like-for-someone-who-looks-female-to-use-the-men-s-room.ece)

Lesbian mistaken for man, questioned in restroom at L.A. concert venue (http://www.lgbtqnation.com/2016/09/lesbian-mistaken-man-questioned-restroom-l-concert-venue/). A lesbian woman says she was questioned by staff at L.A.’s Staples CenterWednesday after they mistook her for a man in the women’s restroom, PinkNews re-ports.Mary Looper was attending a Carrie Underwood concert with her aunt when afemale security officer stood outside her restroom stall, demanding proof of her gender.Looper, who is tall with close-cropped hair, took to Facebook to call out the venue.

“They literally just tried to escort me out of the women’s restroom at the [StaplesCenter],” she wrote that evening. “Shame on them.” I get mistaken for a man all thetime… It’s no secret. But, for the fact that their woman employee waited outside my stallfor proof that I was a woman, didn’t believe me off my voice… That’s what hurt and hadme shocked,” she wrote in a comment. “I didn’t wanna stir anything up but never everthought I’d be treated like that in a woman’s restroom in LA, in the Staples Center. Just a

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bummer it went that far.”

The Staples Center has not responded to any of the comments about the incident on itsFacebook page.

Is the Transgender Bathroom Law Debate Affecting Busi-nesses? You Bet. (http://www.insidecounsel.com/2016/09/23/is-the-transgender-bathroom-law-debate-affecting-b) The transgenderbathroom debate has been in the news for quite a while, andbusinesses have paid the price for laws passed in states like NorthCarolina. , companies such as Target have decided to makebathrooms accessible to individuals based on gender identity, butnot without backlash on the opposite side. The mandate from theWhite House on bathrooms in federal buildings was met withsimilar resistance—this is a hotly contested issue with passionate views on both sides.Last month, the White House issued an executive order declaring that transgenderindividuals will have the right to use the bathroom that corresponds to their genderidentity in all federal facilities. The directive will apply to over 9000 facilities under GSAcontrol. The directive also explicitly provides that no individual would be required toprovide proof of gender reassignment surgery, and that self-identification willsuffice.

One business executive said, “The best advice I give to my business clients is simple andstraightforward: Do not discriminate against your employees or customers based on anyprotected characteristic; and as to this issue, do not discriminate based on sexualorientation or gender identity. Period.”

Transgender Health Care. Finding the right medical professionals can be difficult fortransgender people. The Genderis website wants to make it easier. After years offrustrating experiences trying to find health care professionals experienced in workingwith the transgender community, Marquis decided to use her background in technology toattack the problem. She got to work on Genderis, a website that, when it launches as soonas December, will make it easier for transgender individuals to find doctors and mentalhealth professionals with expertise in transgender issues.

Genderis will provide users with vetted medical professionals who are transgender-friendly, as well as give users the ability to track doctor visits and costs. Marquis saidthere's a road map with more features that may even include a job board and a globalpresence, one day. There are other sites pursuing similar goals. In July 2015, MyTran-sHealth launched a Kickstarter to build a website that lets people search for health careprofessionals by location and specialty. RAD Remedy is another nonprofit focused on

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connecting transgender individuals with health care providers. More details here (https://www.cnet.com/news/transgender-medical-health-care-genderis-website/)

ACA rule should improve access to healthcare for transgender people (http://thehill.com/blogs/pundits-blog/civil-rights/297568-aca-rule-should-improve-access-to-health-care-for-transgender) Congressional gridlock may be preventing the passageof some of the technical fixes needed to ensure the Affordable Care Act’s lasting health,but other improvements to the law can be made through the regulatory process. One suchchange, approved in May, should dramatically increase access to health care fortransgender people, a population that has long been marginalized in healthcare settings.

200 restrictive bills targeting the LGBT community in terms of access to healthcare andaccess to public spaces such as bathrooms have been filed in 32 states, and have passedand been signed into law in Indiana, Arkansas, Mississippi, Tennessee, and NorthCarolina. Crucially, the new Section 1557 rule supersedes these discriminatory state laws.

We explore what it means to be gender fluid on Sister House. (http://www.sisterhouse.net/library/2016/09/23/are-you-gender-fluid/) Are you a crossdresser, atranssexual, a transgender or something else. Our authors explore some of theramifications.

Where in the Bible does it say you can’t be transgender? Nowhere. (https://www.washingtonpost.com/news/acts-of-faith/wp/2016/08/26/where-in-the-bible-does-it-say-you-cant-be-transgender-nowhere/) Everywhere you look, Christians seem to betaking a stand against transgender people. A funeral director in Michigan recently won acourt fight by claiming his Christian beliefs would not allow him to employ a transgenderperson. When Target said it would allow its customers to use the bathroom that matchestheir gender identity, protesters shouted and walked through some of the retailer’sstores holding up Bibles. When parents published a Washington Post essay about theirhappy transgender 5-year-old recently, a reader wrote, “As a Christian this deeply disturbsme!”

What’s behind this animus toward transgender people in the Christian community? As Isee it, it’s not the Bible. There is not a single verse in scripture that discusses transgenderidentities. Yet these Christians have decided that trans identities are sinful, mostly throughtheir lack of understanding of what being trans means. That verse talks about cross-dressing. It is clear that the funeral director does not understand what it is to betransgender. Being trans is not cross-dressing. It is embodying a gender that does notalign with the one that was given at birth.

To use this verse to condemn transgender identities requires ignorance of transgender

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identities and laziness in interpretation. This erosion of the concept of religious freedomis particularly concerning when individuals claim religious freedom to discriminateagainst LGBT people, while lacking even a strong theological backing. Religiousfreedom must defend true belief – not bias or hatred that’s found nowhere in our holytexts.

Caitlyn Jenner not a figurehead for transgender community, says Jeffrey Tambor(http://www.dailymail.co.uk/wires/pa/article-3784855/Caitlyn-Jenner-not-figurehead-transgender-community-says-Jeffrey-Tambor.html) Transparent star Jeffrey Tambor hasclaimed Caitlyn Jenner should not be held as a "figurehead" for the transgendercommunity. (I certainly agree with that…Tasi) The Emmy-award winning actor, whoplays transgender woman Maura Pfefferman on the Amazon Prime show, said it was a"mistake" to consider Jenner as more than "just a person". He told the PressAssociation: "Not everyone in the transgender community looks like Caitlyn, has asmuch money as Caitlyn, has as much power, obviously don't have TV shows, but withher story, with her knowledge, with her courage, there's a phrase - she floats all boats.Read more about Jeffery Tambour below

Many possible answers for why some are transgender, scientists say. (http://www.nwaonline.com/news/2016/sep/04/many-possible-answers-for-why-some-are-/)Hundreds of thousands of Americans identify as transgender, and experts in biology andpsychology across the country disagree on why. The question has taken on nationalsignif icance amid political and court battles at the local and federal levels over how totreat transgender children and adults in schools, the armed forces and places of business.Read the whole story.

California, restaurant group to partner in na-tion's first largescale transgender jobs program(http://www.scpr.org/programs/take-two/2016/09/12/51879/trans-people-will-staff-restaurants-in-new-jobs-pr/) California is now hometo the nation's first ever large-scale program to helptransgender people find jobs. The goal of the newCalifornia Transgender Workplace Project is to eataway at the unemployment rate for trans people,

which is twice the rate of other Americans. The numbers are even worse for trans peopleof color. The project will place trans job seekers into entry-level positions at restaurantsthroughout the state, in collaboration with the California Restaurant Association

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Books, Movies, Theater, and Television

How Two Producers of ‘Transparent’ MadeTheir Own Trans Lives More Visible (http://www.nytimes.com/2016/09/18/magazine/how-two-producers-of-transparent-are-making-trans-lives-more-visible-starting-with-their-own.html?rref=collection%2Fsectioncollection%

2Fmagzine&action=click&contentCollection=magazine&region=rank&module=package&version=highlights&contentPlacement=6&pgtype=sectionfront&_r=2) We’re allfamiliar with the award winning Amazon series, Transparent, now starting its thirdseason. But now you can also learn about the inspiring love story of its two producers,Zackary Drucker and Rhys Ernst. I found their observations about the show, the peoplethey met, their transitioning experiences and life in general to be highly observant andeven entertaining….a good read

Jeffrey Tambor Wants to Be LastCisgender Man Playing TransWoman (http://www.advocate.com/transgender/2016/9/18/jeffrey-tambor-wants-be-last-cisgender-man-playing-trans-woman) Jeffrey Tambor tookhome his second consecutive Emmy

Sunday night for playing transgender woman Maura Pfefferman in Transparent but hesaid we wouldn't mind being the last cisgender (nontrans) man to be cast as a transwoman. "To you people out there, you producers and network owners, and agents, andyou creative sparks, please give transgender talent a chance," Tambor said in acceptingthe award for best lead actor in a comedy. "Give them auditions. Give them their story.Do that. And also, one more thing: I would not be unhappy were I the last cisgender maleto play a female transgender on television."

Why Won’t Hollywood Cast Trans Actors in Starring Roles? (http://www.thedailybeast.com/articles/2016/09/01/why-won-t-hollywood-cast-trans-actors-in-starring-roles.html) If there’s one lesson that Hollywood should have learned by now, it’sthat bad media representations of minorities age quickly and poorly. It wasn’t long afterthe full-on minstrel show in Irving Berlin’s 1942 classic Holiday Inn that blackface beganto fade from film. Fifty-plus years after Mickey Rooney played Mr. Yunioshi in Breakfastat Tiffany’s, white actors are still playing Asian roles but less frequently and not withoutcriticism. And tainted classics aside, we’ve done our best to erase abominations likeGigli’s lesbian-turned-straight plotline from our cultural memory along with, well, just

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about everything Adam Sandler has touched.

So you’d think that filmmakers would remember these and many other embarrassmentsbefore ruining the “transgender moment.” Unfortunately, they haven’t as this articledemonstrates to us

Pakistan’s Dame Edna (Ali Saleem), a femaleTV show host, is actually a man (https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=1whsROPUZ0Q)and he is widely admired and loved by thepopulace.Male actors in Drag. Check out thisPinterest page.https://www.pinterest.com/cmlcpscms/cross-dressing-movie-star-

sutm_campaign=networkstorydigest&e_t=8e3b6e53264e493ea3417dfa7df428cf&utm_content=460915411803132959&utm_source=31&utm_term=3&utm_medium=2026

Left to right: James Franco, Sean

Bean, Jimmie Fallon

FashionBarcelona pageant celebratestransgender women (https://www.washingtonpost.com/entertainment/ap-photos-barcelona-pageant-celebrates-transgender-women/2016/09/22/

dd701a44-80b8-11e6-9578-558cc125c7ba_story.html) Despite facing violence anddiscrimination in many countries, 28 transgender women found a place to shine. Thewomen competed last weekend to be crowned Miss Trans Star International, Europe’slargest beauty pageant for transgender women and one of a growing number of eventsaimed at celebrating a population more often condemned. Latin America had the mostcontestants in the Barcelona pageant, which has been held five times since 2010. Thecontinent is home to both a robust transgender rights movement and where 79 percent ofthe 269 transgender women killed around the world last year lived, according to theBerlin-based Trans Murder Monitoring project.

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How to wear it now? Runway Inspirationfrom London Fashion Week Spring 2017(https://focusonstyle.com/lfw-spring-2017-how-to-wear-it/?inf_contact_key=050e72a19a06689f0e58e0ad1db0d7c54a3554bc0a2edf72b2e0c61ed04df188)I’m usually not into Fashion Weeks as the stylesare too esoteric for everyday looks. Howeverthat seems to be changing this year. One of my

favorite bloggers, Sharon Haver, has this to say about London Fashion Week, “Like NewYork Fashion Week Spring 2017, London had no specific set of trends or pattern ofseason – it was an anything goes sort of affair. Modern, yes. A little bit outrageous, yes.But, amid all of the noise, there were great ideas on how to dress, on how to lookrelevant. Which is important when it comes to how you present yourself and frankly, a loteasier than you think.” I loved the Hippie, the Maxi, and the Smart Shoe. Check it out

Fashion Article

Why Color is the most Important Factor when Choosing Garments

When you shop, what do you look for first? Color or style? How does each elementimpact on your shopping decisions?Color is the element that makes us look:• vibrant• alivehealthyand it communicates a psychological message (read about psychology of colors here-http://www.fashionlady.in/color-psychology-significance-of-color-in-fashion/5243) tounderstand what the colors you’re wearing communicate.

Not only that, the right colors will create a face focus (the wrong ones a body focus), andas I always say to my clients:

“If you’re looking in my eyes you’re not looking at my thighs”

The style of clothes need to work with our bodies (body shape, proportions, variations)and also our personality (and if we want to stick with rules or break them).But if you choose a garment in a color that really doesn’t flatter your complexion, onethat washes you out, makes you look ill, or just drains you of life, then it doesn’t matterhow great the style is, the color is wearing you and detracting from your ability to shine.

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Yes, sticking to a color palette can make finding clothes harder when shopping, as colortrends come and go quickly and not all colors are available at any one time. But stickingto a palette that suits you will, over time, give you a remarkable wardrobe that flattersyou, that is easy to mix and match and create multiple and varied outfits from fewergarments.

Humor

Womanless Beauty Pageant, Jasper

County, MS (https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=N9L_aByWALA)

Want to be a House Husband. Check out this Pinterest Board (https://

www.pinterest.com/stanastana/men-at-home/)

So until next month,

Hugs……Tasi

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Humor

A senior citizen said to his eighty-year oldbuddy: 'So I hear you're getting married?''Yep!''Do I know her?''Nope!'

'This woman, is she good looking?''Not really.''Is she a good cook?''Naw, she can't cook too well.''Does she have lots of money?''Nope! Poor as a church mouse.'

'Well, then, is she good in bed?''I don't know.''Why in the world do you want to marry her then?''Because she can still drive!'

A nurse was on duty in the Emergency Room when ayoung woman with purple hair backcombed Into a punkrocker Mohawk, sporting a variety of tattoos, and wearingstrangely revealing clothing, and lots of goldearrings , entered .. . .It was quickly determined that the

patient had acute appendicitis, so she was scheduled forimmediate surgery..When she was completely disrobed on the operating Ta-ble, the staff noticed that her pubic hair had been dyedgreen and above it there was a Tattoo that read . . .' Keepoff the grass.'Once the surgery was completed, the surgeon wrote ashort note on the patient's dressing, Which said 'Sorry . . .Had to mow the lawn.'

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Angels In the Centerfold

Alli Taylor

Simone

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Angels In the Centerfold

Laura Phillips

Rhea Campbell

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Mellissalynn’s Tips & Tricks

Holy cow, it's October and my Cubbies are still playing baseball!!! Sorry, ladies, I know the ChicagoCubs really have nothing to do with makeup tips and tricks, but this doesn't happen very often. Let mesavor this feeling a moment before I go on...

Okay, it's good! Welcome to October, girls! The first full month of fall is upon us. More importantly,we're nearing that most important of all holidays, Halloween. Have any of you decided what you'rewearing? I'm torn between Supergirl, my female Link, or putting something new together. If I had twogirls much MUCH smaller than I, we could do the Powerpuff Girls...but I don't.

September was a CRAZY month! My son's car started dropping piecesof itself out of the engine while he was driving it. My other son's cardecided to throw a tire. We had a small electrical fire at my house. Myspouse's illness isn't getting any better, but at least it's not getting worse.In fact, the only time that's gone pretty much smoothly is my new job,and my time as Mellissa.

I had some of that the day I'm typing this, by the way. I found theCUTEST dress at Dress Barn while I was out the weekend before, butthey didn't have it in my size. They were kind enough to order it for me,so, of course,I had to get myself up there to pick it up and try it on whenit arrived. It fits beautifully! I ended up making an evening of it, hitBath & Body Works for some more Pearberry body wash and bodyspray, and went to Denny's for dinner.

Speak to me, girls! Tell me about your sports favorites (even Cardinalsfans will be answered), dish with me about a great shopping trip you'vehad recently, or a great outing en femme in general, or tell me how yourmonth has been, or share other news. You’re ALWAYS welcome toshare tips and tricks, of course!

Write to me at mlatjnadhmelly@gmail.com. You can hit me up on Facebook; my username there isMellissa Lynn. I ALWAYS answer any and all mail I get, so feel free to tell me about anything youwant to chat about, be it a salon visit or transgender news, or whatever you like. I love hearing fromyou!

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Ladies, I started last month's column with a tip to aid with thinning hair, and look at me, I 'm doing itagain! There's a new treatment called bee propolis that stimulate the unique skin cells that create newhair follicles. It does this through two ingredients in the propolis, which is a resin that bees create whenbuilding their hives.

The two ingredients are caffeic acid and kaempferol. As I said, bees create the substance when buildinghives, and ow manufacturers are making a leave-in scalp lotion out of it. It isn't the most inexpensivestuff on the block, but apparently it's effective. I'm going to try to score some and try it out for myself.

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A long-time reader, Jeanne, has sent me a question regarding hormones and acne breakouts. She's begunher hormone therapy for transitioning,and is having breakouts very much like she did in her first puberty.The science has progressed from what it was then, and I found some things to share with her. Actually, Ishared the first part in last month's column, but as it's applicable, here it is again.

Fish oil is being touted as a good remedy for the problem. Researchers are finding that it reduces theskin's oil output and tames the inflammation. The oil is rich in omega-3 fatty acids, which are verypowerful antioxidants.

Another treatment being researched currently is a protein in mild called Lactoferrin According to theresearch, if you take a 200mg tablet of this daily, you'll see noticeably clearer skin in about twelveweeks. The protein slows oil production in the skin.

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Do you use a lot of face powder? I do, because I do a lot of contouring work when I apply my paints,and I don't want to have that be visible. I try to be careful with it, though; it can make things worse! Iused to use a powder that would outline any and every little imperfection in my skin. I've since switchedto a more finely milled translucent powder that isn't so unfriendly. Again, not the cheapest solution, butsometimes you have to pay for what you want.

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And speaking of contouring...many top makeup artists are now saying to skip it as we grow older. Theysay that after 40, the technique can can actually make you look older. This happens because, they say,the contouring accentuates hollows and lines. Their recommendation is to use a warm bronzer instead. Ihave to be honest and tell you all that, as I'm closing in on the big 5-0, I haven't seen signs of this.

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How many times have I said that our makeup needs nowadays are for items to do more than one thingfor us? At least once every other column, I think! Well, here are a couple of quick ways to make thestuff do that!

I recently tried a trick with white liner. The theory is, by applying a line of white liner to the lowerlashline, it can make a girl look younger. Well, my white liner is dead, so I substituted a tiny bit of whitepowder instead. It worked amazingly! My eyes popped enough that the makeup girl a the counter atVon Maur wanted to know my secret.

Another trick is to use your lip stain as a lip liner. You'll want a color that matches your natural lipcolor. Using a fine tip, outline your lips, then fill in carefully. To finish the look, dab just a tiny bit ofgloss on your lower lip, right in the center, just enough to catch the eye without going overboard.

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Quick reminder: when applying blush, SMILE! You want to see those cheekbones when you're coloringthem. Also remember to look at yourself in the best light possible afterward, to ensure you didn't overdoit.

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Let's talk about cowlicks for a moment, girls. This really applies more for the ladies who are rocking thereal hair; wigs don't have cowlicks, normally! Still this tip works in boring boy mode also.

After blow-drying your hair, re-wet the piece that's being stubborn. Point the dryer in the direction you'dlike the hair to fall, and let it hit! The heat from the dryer will make the hair more manageable andeasier to tame. After heating it, hold the section down with your fingers until it cools and sets.

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This is a fast tip for thinning your nail polish without adding anything to it. Polishes thicken over time,after being opened and exposed to the air. I mean, it dries on your fingers; why wouldn't it dry in thebottle as well? One way to thin it a bit is to put the bottle in a bowl of hot water and let it sit for a fewminutes. The heat will thin the polish.

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Here's a trick I learned recently from a esthetician friend. Would you like to have sleeker, a bit moretoned, and just a little more feminine when you're in a T-shirt? Well, try a peppermint-oil massage! Itincreases circulation and lymphatic drainage, and makes your arms appear to be more firm. It alsoleaves a light sheen to your skin, which can make them look even more toned.

As always, mama Mellissa has a DIY recipe! You'll need 3-6 drops of peppermint oil, 1 half-cup of oil(be it almond, olive, jojoba, or grapeseed), and a reusable bottle to mix and store it in. Add the ingredi-ents to the bottle and shake well, then apply using medium pressure and circular strokes to your upperarms. The mixture will be good forever.

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Before I begin this tip, does everyone know what a spooly is? It looks like a mascara wand, only it'sclean. Thus endeth the lesson.

So. This is a quick tip to help you control those wicked flyaways and frizz. Your hair will still feel andbe light, and the flyaways will be tamed. Take a spritz or two of your favorite shine spray, and apply itto te flyaway hair. Don't brush it through your hair!

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Who wants to learn how to make a chevron on their nails? It's absurdly easy to do, once you practice it abit. You'll need to visit a local beauty supply for all the things you don't have. That would include thecolor of the polish you want, as well as nail striping tape.

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Start with a clear base coat. Then, use the striping tape to create atriangle shape at the base of each nail. Leaving this space clear,paint the nail with the matching polish, and carefully remove thetape using a pair of tweezers. Let dry, then apply your top coat.

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So as I said earlier, the summer is starting to run down and turn intofall. Does that mean we can stop worrying about the big ball of firein the sky? NOPE! One thing we still need to look out for is thehair looking flat and dead. A citrus rinse can help with that.

Mix a quarter-cup of lemon juice with a cup each of apple cidervinegar and water. Pour this mixture over your head and into yourhair. Give it about five minutes, then rinse with clean water. Dryand style as usual.

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So let's talk about an area that we never really discuss...the girls.Specifically, the skin above the girls, that area right under the neck that we always leave exposed. Thisis very thin skin! As such, it's susceptible to damage from the sun and everything else.

What to do? Try applying a BB cream, tinted, with an SPF and antioxidating agents, preferable withlight-reflecting particles. The particles will help to cover imperfections by reflecting the light away fromimperfections. They;ll also deliver the afore-mentioned antioxidants and moisture to repair and protectloose skin. You'll want one that dries quickly and doesn't streak from heat.

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I mentioned fine lines in the skin earlier. A good way to cover those fine lines is to use a primer.Primers do exactly as they suggest, they prime the skin and provide a good canvas to begin applyingmakeup to.

The ingredients in a primer fill in fine lines in the skin. Some also have reflecting particles very similarto the BB cream described above, and will help make things less visible. Look for primers with color-correcting properties to help even out skin time. (There's that versatility I was talking about...). ELFmakes a great one!

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Last weekend, I played around with my makeup and did many things I don't usually do. One thing Itried was a shimmer cheek gloss. This looks just like lip gloss, but has a little glitter built into it. I usedit sparingly on the top of my cheek. I was pleasantly surprised! It looked cute, and not at all too youngas I'd feared.

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If you get highlights in your hair, you really should try to make your brows match. How,you ask? Well,here's our friend the spooly, to the rescue!

Actually, you'll need two, one for each color. Apply the darker color bear the arch of your brow and thelighter toward your nose. You'll want to use lighter, feathery strokes to open your eyes up withoutlooking harsh.

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So can older ladies rock false lashes? Of course they can! You just have to be careful not to pick thewrong brand, or the wrong style. Many women are now opting for eye tabbing; that is, havingindividual lashes put on as opposed to the strips. I've had both done; I have to say that tabbing seems towork better. Let the buyer beware, however: the individuals all off easier than the strips.

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Well,my lovelies, we've reached the end of another column! By the time I write my next one, we'lllikely know if my Cubbies have gone all the way to the World Series, or if this is, in the end, just anotheryear of “Next year...”

Remember that Barbara is going to be printing Halloween photos! Whileit's not for a contest or anything, we all love seeing new costumes. So don'tforget to get yours ready to go!

Speaking of contests, I get the privilege of judging the grade school in mytown's contest. I'm excited...

As you all saw, Jeanne's question made it into the column this month. Thatcould be you! Send me your questions, or tips or tricks…I’ll get youpublished!

In fact, if you want, you can write to tell me about your month, or holidayvacation plans, or about your funny vehicle experiences, or give me youropinion on my new middle name (Andromeda), or share pictures or tips ortricks. PLEASE feel free to write me! Sending me mail is the easiest thingin the world to do, ladies, and I love hearing from you all. You can send itto my e-mail at mlatjnadhmelly@gmail.com; as you know, my inbox isalways open! You can also hit me up on Facebook; my name there isMellissa Lynn.

Enjoy a wonderful and fun-filled October, girls! Have some candy, attend acostume contest, and have fun! I’ll talk to you all again next month, with awhole column of tips and tricks. Until then, be safe and be beautiful! Oh,and GO CUBBIES!

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The Psychology of Clothing, Part I

I always smile when someone tells me that clothing issuperficial and unimportant, because what they’re reallysaying is that they’ve never experienced the benefits ofproper dress. If they had, they’d know just how large arole clothing plays in their behavior – and they’dprobably be making a lot more money. Alas, ignorance is

bliss. It’s also VERY expensive.

If our eyes are “the window to our souls,” as Shakespearesaid, then how we dress is like a wide-screen TV to ourself esteem. You can tell a lot about others by how they

dress and present themselves, and a look around any crowd today tells you that most people are NOThappy campers. Depression, anxiety, self-loathing, a need to fit in – it’s all on display, 24/7. Freud would

have a field day; he was always a fastidious dresser.

So was German philosopher Hermann Lotze (1817-1881). He was the first person to link behavior todress in his book Microcosmus: An Essay Concerning Man and His Relation to the World (1856), wherehe said that a person’s bearing and attitude are a direct reflection of the sensations he gets from hisclothing. Men feel more manly wearing suits and women felt more womanly wearing flowing garments,but whether they wear stiff or soft garments, both genders feel as if their bodies take on the garmentproperties.“The Father of Psychology,” William James (1842-1910), built on Lotze’s premise in his own ground-breaking book, The Principles of Psychology (1890). In his “Theory of Self,” James hypothesized thatwe have two selves, one that we show to the world, the other that we keep to ourselves.

One of the parts we show to the world is our materialself, which consists of things we own or are a part of. ForJames, the core of the material self was the body, then

clothes, then immediate family, then home.

Meaning that what shape you’re in, how you dress, whoyou marry, and what type of home you live in are a directreflection of your self-esteem and how you feel about

yourself.

Why did he put clothes before family?

Because, like Lotze, James concluded that what you wear next to your skin determines how you act.

How you act then creates your habits, and your habits shape your life.

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“We are what we repeatedly do,” said Aristotle. “Excellence, then, is not an act, but a habit.”

One hundred twenty five years later, James’ research still holds true.

In a report published in Social Psychological and Personality Science in 2015, scientists from ColumbiaUniversity and California State University conducted a series of five tests to see whether wearing formalclothing (like suits) helped or hindered abstract thinking.

In all five studies, they discovered that it helped.

What’s more, the test subjects who wore formal clothing reported feeling more important and more con-nected to their group – like they were working toward a global good – than those who wore less formal

clothing.

That study isn’t unique.

In The Clothing Makes the Self Via Knowledge Activa-tion published in 2002, researchers asked study partici-pants to come in either formal or casual clothes. Oncethey got there, participants were given a list of adjectivesand asked to check off the ones they felt best describedthem. Those who dressed formally checked off wordslike “cultivated” and “accurate” while those who dressedcasually felt they were “easygoing” and “tolerant.”

A later study, The Impact of Workplace Attire onEmployee Self-Perceptions published in 2007, had similar findings. Researchers asked employees howwearing various styles of clothing affected their self-perceptions. Respondents said they felt mostauthoritative, trustworthy, and competent wearing formal business attire, but friendliest when wearingcasual or business casual attire.

Still other studies revealed that wearing formal clothing is associated with perceptions of moreprofessionalism but less approachability, whereas wearing casual clothing is related to intimacy and

familiarity.

So what does all of this mean?

It means that if you want to feel and be perceived as powerful and competent, wear formal clothes. If

you want to feel and be seen as approachable and friendly, wear casual clothes.

We often talk about the importance of making a good first impression in the image industry, but as youcan see from all the research, dressing to impress others is kind of a backward approach. You shoulddress to feel however you need to feel in any given situation, so that your body language and sense ofself align with the image you’re trying to present. So whether you’re conducting hard business,socializing with friends, or snuggling with your honey, you need to dress accordingly and not wear thesame clothes for every situation.

The problem today is that most people tend to put more emphasis on being comfortable than on anythingelse. They only want soft materials next to their skin, which has made their bodies – and behaviors –

soft. Casual clothes lead to casual habits.

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Sixty years ago, formal clothes and formal behavior werethe norm. We addressed others by their formal titles untilinvited to call them by their first names, and we showedmanners and respect to everyone we met. Profanity and

crude behavior were condemned.

Today, casual clothes and casual behavior are thenorm. We assume familiarity by callingpeople by their first names, and showingmanners and respect are the exception ratherthan the rule. Profanity and crude behavior are

common place.

So if you want to jump start a stalled career, consider adding more formal attire to your wardrobe. If youwant your business to excel, take a good look at how your employees are dressing and amend the dress

code accordingly. You’ll be shocked by the results.

What’s the bottom line?

While dressing to impress others is fine, dressing to create a habit of excellence in yourself is moreimpressive. It’s also a lot more profitable.

So now that you know how much clothing impacts your behavior, in Part 2 we’ll look at how yourclothing impacts others’ behavior toward you. I think you’ll be surprised.

Meanwhile, if you’re ready to take your career to new heights now and learn the styles, colors, andfabrics that will transform you from so-so to fabulous, study and apply this resource and watch yourbottom line explode.

Diana Pemberton-Sikes helps women dress better and make more money. If you’d liketo join her, go to http://http://fashionforrealwomen.com/frustrated/

Be Sociable, Share!

Leave It To Beaver (1957-1963)Formal dress leads to formal behavior. Notice June’sposture and how everyone’s hands are in their laps.

Photo courtesy of CBS

Blue Bloods (2010-present)Casual dress leads to casual behavior. Notice slumped

posture and arms on the table.Photo courtesy of CBS Productions

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I Tried the Secret Behind

Kate Middleton's Flawless LegsBy: Alis on Syrett

When’s the last time you wore nude hosiery?While scrutinizing a feed of Kate Middletonpictures, her legs even-toned in what has beenwell-documented as super sheer (and totallyimperceptible) flesh-colored tights, I findmyself backtracking entire decades to answerthis question. At a junior high band concert?My first homecoming dance? I’ve always filedthat particular item of clothing away assomething I only used before knowing better,an antiquated formality enforced by mymother. Fussy.

But faced with the shiny and resplendent effects of the duchess’s miracle-working nylons, I’mstarting to wonder if I’m the one holding on to dated misconceptions. If the only thing standingbetween me and the same air brushed results is a thin layer of fabric no one can see, why I amI holding back?

“While many American women shy away from nude hosiery,” says lingerie expertand Wolford (which happens to be is one of K.Mid’s go-to sources for hose) consultant JennyAltman tells me over the the phone. “But in European countries women wear it all year roundfor a flawless finish. I think it makes you a lot less self conscious in short skirts. It’s like makeupfor your legs!”

And, as with any good makeup, matching the right shade to your skin is key. Altman sends meover two colors to choose between (I am suited to the lighter hue.But give me two months!) for what I’ve decided will be a full fivedays—one work week—of fully embracing pantyhose. Here’swhat I learned:

DAY ONE

On my way home from the gym, I have a unwelcome realization:Hose may physically cover my legs, but I still have to shave.(Smushed up hair under see-through fabric does not sound cute.)One Skintimate run and 45 minutes later, I slip into a mod shiftthat I love for its Sally Draper vibes, and immediately start toworry that such a midcentury silhouette will seem like athrowback with sheer stockings. To make the outfit less '50sschoolgirl prim, I tie a denim jacket around my waist and put onbig statement earrings—now I’m ready to…uh, sit down atmykitchen table and write? Because it feels really weird hangingaround my apartment in such a head-to-toe look, I pack up and

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head to a coffee shop to work. On my way down the street, I catch the eyes of passerby,convinced they’ve noticed the light netting over my lower limbs. The rest of the afternoon Ispend a lot of time self consciously straightening my knee forward for examination, smoothingmy calf, and furtively glancing around to see if anyone's watching. As I get a tea to sip on myhome, I want to explain to the barista that I’m only dressed like this for work—never mind thatthe bottom half of my body's covered by the counter.

THE TAKE-AWAY: The hardest part of getting used to sheer hosiery again is completelymental! For a good part of my trial run, I was convinced strangers were judging me—whenactually, no one could notice the difference at all. (More on that soon!) Comfort-wise, I foundthe fit preferable to black tights; thanks to the extra-light material, it felt like I was wearingnothing at all.

DAY TWO

I have an interview with model Jourdan Dunn, a.k.a. one ofthe most beautiful people on the planet, today, so I’mdetermined to make these bad boys look good. Because it’sgray and drizzly out, I decide on a pleated wool mini skirt,slouchy sweater, and ankle boots and, surprisingly, findmyself grateful for the extra leg coverage when I stepoutside—just that tiny barrier between my naked skin and theelements really makes a difference! While I wait for Dunn onset, I tell a couple of other editors aboutmy hosieryxperiment, and they can barely believe I’ve got a pair on. Astwo girls touch my calf for confirmation, I’m called in. Jourdandoesn’t notice anything out of the ordinary about my outfitexcept we are basically wearing the same exact shoes. It wasa good day.

THE TAKE-AWAY: Although I’m still not sure how I feelabout pantyhose in the dead of summer (so hot!), it’s reallyproved to be an awesome transitional weather piece. I lovehow it let me “fake” bare legs throughout the temperamental

early spring weather.

DAY THREE

Running late for a work meeting, I shimmy into my stockings, grabthe first dress I find in my closet, throw on sneakers, and add bigearrings and lipstick to make the whole ensemble feel fancier thanit actually is. Later, I realize this is a good sign: I’m comfortableenough with hosiery now that I can tap into the usual initiation Iuse to get dressed without overthinking my undergarments. Andwhile I still find myself wanting to talk about this strange newaccessory on my body with anyone who will listen, it’s now withmore pride than shame. As I share the experience with anothergroup of colleagues later in the day they, too, ask if it’s okay to feelthe fabric. When everyone start exclaiming and calling otherpeople over, I think of that scene in The Sweetest Thing whenChristina Applegate lets total strangers touch her perfect fake

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boobs in the club bathroom. Lesson learned: If it's working for you, ain't no reason to beashamed.

THE TAKE-AWAY: Smooth, perfect legs create confidence, and confidence is the crux ofgreat style. Once I tapped into that, nude hosiery became infinitely more appealing.

DAY FOUR

I’m really starting to enjoy the double takes I get when I tell peopleaboutmy new undergarment routine. “Wait, you’ve got them onnow?!,” exclaims yet another friend during lunch today, before shepeers down to examine my shins closer. “Your legs look reallynice, but I would have never guessed they were covered.” Theonly caveat? Because I don’t want to the toe gusset to show, I’vebeen limited to closed-toed footwear all week. When I relay thisconcern to Altman later, she reveals that most hosiery brands offera footless options. Clearly the world of nylons has progressed inmy absence.

THE TAKE-AWAY: The best kind of flesh-colored tights are thekind you can’t see! That might mean paying a extra for goodquality (the Wolfords I tried all week retail for $33), but theinvestment’s no different than a seamless thong or extrasupportive bra: by working behind-the-scenes to create a smooth

foundation, it betters the rest of your look.

DAY FIVE

As I still haven’t unpacked my spring clothes (I know, I know),I’m starting to run low on seasonally appropriate skirts anddresses. Fortunately, a silky wrap maxi I recently ordered fromReformation arrives before I have to shower and head out for afew meetings. To make the length daytime-appropriate, I pair itwith lace-up ballet flats despite my misgivings that the criss-rossties might cause awkward bunching underneath. I’m pleasantlysurprised, though, to note that everything stays right where itshould, earning me multiple compliments on both my dress andshoes—a double win, I think, because it means that hosierywent unnoticed.

THE TAKE-AWAY: Unlike black tights, which let you get awaywith going up a size, exact fit is super important to pulling offsomething skin-toned—anything too loose runs the risk ofsagginess. You should also keep in mind that the style willinevitably stretch a bit with a few wears (mine definitely did), soit should wear a bit tight straight from the package.

From this side of my pantyhose test drive, my appreciation for the look is far deeper than I everthought possible—Kate, I totally get it! That said, I don't know if I'm a total convert quite yet;there's still something deliciously freeing about that first day of a season you can finally do barelegs. But warm weather has only just arrived, and I've still got months of potential razor burn tonavigate. It feels good to have a backup plan.

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What Women Should No Longer Wear AfterAge 50Andrea Pflaumer

There’s a lot of ink these days in the blogosphere about how older women should beable to “wear whatever the f—- they want.” Well, of course, I applaud the sentimentand the theory. But in practice, for me at least, there are some things in my closetthat have outlived their usefulness. I have thereby made the conscious decision tobe a bit more moderate in my dress than I was in my 40s. That doesn’t mean Iintend to go gently into that good night. On the contrary, I intend to continue toannoy people by being more visible every year. But I also refuse to go as a palerversion of my younger self.

So — out go the above-the-knee miniskirts. I will wear a shorter tunic but only withtights or leggings or skinny pants. Out with the crop tops (does anyone NEED to seemy scars?) and four-inch platforms. Yes, I know platforms are back, but thespectacle of me toppling over and breaking an osteoporotic hip isn’t worth a fewmore inches of height, in spite of the fact I’m shrinking as I write this. There areplenty of wedge-soled shoes and slightly platformed sandals and sneakers that giveme a little height but that share a closer relationship with the ground. And speakingof relating to the ground, as gravity has contributed to the spread of my metatarsalsI’ll be damned if I’m going to cram my pre-bunioned toes into pointy shoes. I’d ratherbuild an entire outfit around a pair of very comfortable and expensive flats thansacrifice a fancier outfit for a constant grimace.

I’ve also let go of a lot of the cute hair ornaments I wore when my hair was longer,straighter and sexier because, face it, my hair isn’t ever going to look like that again.And my face doesn’t want it to. I need all the uplift I can get. (Refer to previously-mentioned shrinkage.) So the curly, pert cut that looks like the perm my motherfoisted on me when I was a kid is as close a nod as I will give to “trying” to lookyouthful. Frankly I have no choice; my straight hair caught my reflection in the mirrorone day and sprung up into coils. It’s just who I am now.

The one thing I am having trouble letting go of are the handbags: my first Coachbackpack — the most expensive purchase I made when I sold my duplex; a CarlosFalchi studded satchel that weighs four pounds empty (I refuse to schlep that muchweight on one shoulder any longer); the elegant basket woven Cole Hahn tote withbraided handles that my sis gave me for my 50th birthday; the dark green quiltedsuede bag with the chain strap that I bought at I. Magnin’s going-out-of-businesssale; a silk tropical printed tote with bamboo handles from my first trip to Cabo San

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Lucas. I haven’t been using any of these in great rotation, but you may have to prythem from my cold, dead hands.

I’ve also revisited my jewelry drawer, which over the years has been crammed withimpulse-bought costume jewelry like my brass and multi-colored skinny Indianbangles, boho dangly earrings, statement pins — not Madeline Albright-likestatements, but little tin ones with messages like “Are We Having Fun Yet?” and toerings. (I never was much of a bohemian; the toe rings always hurt my adjacent toes.)There are a few classic sentimental pieces in there like the pearl necklace my auntEthel gave me, antique pins from England from my dear friend’s British mum, asilver gecko pin I bought in an antique store in the Czech Republic shortly after thefall of the Soviet Union. I’m earmarking them as inheritances for my nieces and theirdaughters, who will no doubt reject them as being bourgeois and who likely think theSoviet Union is actually kind of cool.

But as far as my new jewelry goes, I’m thinking “minimalism.” And this minimalismcomes with a price. I’m following the advice of one of my readers who said,“Whenever it’s time for me to get rid of something that’s worn out or dated I replaceit with something similar but of better quality.” So for me, now, quality is king. I re-cently bought a gorgeous necklace at the DeYoung museum in San Francisco —linked gold little square paillettes that shine and sparkle and elevate everything Iwear it with. I also have a pair of gold Tiffany starfish earrings that I kept saving forsome “special” day, which I am now wearing to the supermarket. And my gemstonerings are every day adornments, originally purchased because an astrologer told methey’d bring me luck. I guess they have. I’m lucky to be alive, to see what doesn’twork, and savvy enough to keep what does. And I may ask to be buried in theseitems. I don’t want some ungrateful heir rejecting them as bourgeois.

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There’s No Joy In Mudville

By: Tasi Zuriack

This ending line from the famous baseball poem, Casey at the Bat, somewhat describes mydisillusionment with fashion in America today. There is no fashion in Middle America. I’vetalked before about the state of dress but it was never so obvious as during a recent trip toIndiana on family business. Wherever I went, sloppiness was everywhere. Pity to the poor girlthat goes to the mall to learn fashion by watching other ladies and how they dress.

An interesting comparison would be the patrons ofIHOP in Muncie (IN) and the IHOP here in Merida.What did I see in Muncie? Fat butts in too-tightleggings, torn jeans (whoever thought that wasstyle), baggy and unkempt, ill-f itt ing clothes andfootwear that consisted largely of sneakers and flipflops, and not the $500 flip flops that you can buyat Nordstrom. The upgrade to flip flops weresandals with almost neon plastic straps. The saleof steam irons must be at an all-time low becauseI don’t remember any clothes with creases inthem.

Compare that to IHOP at our local mall here in Merida. Women in lovely printed dresses withflats and 1-3 inch wedges, fitted jeans (no holes) and lovely embroidered blouses. The clotheswere cared for and fitted well and they took pride in appearing feminine. On any given day atthe mall, probably 30-40% of the women are in dresses compared to maybe 5% at anAmerican mall or big box store.

But it ’s not just Middle America. New York isconsidered America’s fashion capital and one ofthe world’s most stylish cities. Carolina Herrerais a NY fashion designer and she hasn’t beenimpressed with the fashion she’s seen lately. ‘Ifyou look at the people walking around thestreets of New York at this moment, it ishorrendous!’ she said. ‘I have never seenpeople so badly dressed in my life! It’s amazingthe way they look! I don’t know why…I don’tknow what’s going on…but it ’s really, really bad,’ she says.

“I was sitting in traffic this morning looking at the people on the street, and I thought …‘What’s going on here?’ Everybody is wearing the wrong clothes. Proportion is very important.Wear clothes that are flattering to your figure and appropriate for your personality. It’s aboutfinding the style for the right figure or the right age. Sometimes you see women that don’trealize that age is changing your style, and they don’t change. What you wore when you were15 doesn’t look that well when you’re 30 and certainly looks terrible when you’re older. So, you

IHOP Merida

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have to change with the times. It’s the same thing with a fuller figure or a very thin one.”

It’s interesting to look at vintage photosof any decade of the 20th centurythrough the 1980s, and compare it toyour average shopping mall photo oftoday. I’d say it was around the late1990s that people gradually startedslacking off more and more in thewardrobe department, perhaps due tothe widespread adoption of casualFridays in the workplace (which eventu-ally became casual Monday throughFriday). Clinton Kelly, from the TVshow, What Not To Wear, confirms that

American fashion disappeared in the ’90s. The rise of the dotcom industry, with its laid backcompany culture (which allowed people to ride scooters inside the office; I worked for one ofthese places myself.) It was a privilege to wear jeans on Fridays, but now it seems we’ve goneto the other extreme, and in many offices the dress code is too lax, or nonexistent.

The massive decline in dressing nicely and appropriately in ourcountry has gotten so bad that Bill Maher addressed our worldof “slob culture” on Real Time in October 2013 (when Crocswere introduced in the late ’90s, Maher quipped thatpeople won’t be happy until they can go shopping in adiaper…but wait, they are) and I’ve read numerous blogposts attesting to how our European counterparts dress com-pared to us (hint: we’ve really let ourselves go.) I read Lady ofStyle, a German fashion blogger in her 40s, and she is anexemplary example of how to dress well while still beingcasual. My favorite bloggers are mostly Australian with ImogenLamport of Insideoutstyle blog being my favorite.

Oh! it gets better. There’s the case of the woman who ditchedher clothes for body paint and no one even noticed. Julievolunteered herself to become living, breathing art at the

hands of Pusher House, a professional body painter. To do so, she stripped down tojust pasties and a pair of nude underwear. Then, House outlined a design with a basecoat followed by adding more details including buttons, zippers, rips, and holes, as well asshading and highlights. Lastly, sealant was sprayed all over Julie’s body to set the white T-shirtand ripped jeans.

Julie spent some time in Japan and had this to say on her return to the U.S. “Most peoplecannot even put together a decent presentable outfit, much less have their own personal styleand dress themselves right. The difference between here and Tokyo really is a huge hurdle

You guessed it, “Walmart”

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and it makes me feel quite disappointed. Why is it that the general American populous isunable to dress themselves and why are the Japanese so far ahead of us in terms of clothingand fashion?”

Are you starting to get the picture?Now compare this group of shoppers on the left to our crossdressing shoppers on the right.

L – mall shoppers R – Donna Kelli (CD) and friend

And we wonder why wearing a dress or a nice blouse and skirt outfit will get you noticed! 2011in El Paso. I was wearing a midi length printed skirt, turquoise top and matching sweater and aturquoise statement necklace while shopping at the local Albertsons grocery store. A ladystopped me as I was leaving and said, “I’ve been following you around and you look like youjust stepped out of a fashion magazine.” Now I’m no beauty but the compliment was graciousand earned even though I just considered the outfit normal female attire for a middle-classwoman. It doesn’t take much to stand out.

We dress more casually because we can,” according to cultural historian Deirdre Clementefrom the University of Nevada at Las Vegas, who was interviewed by The Washington Post.Americans gravitate toward casual without even realizing it. Clothing doesn’t obviously signalwealth or social status as it used to do, but it instead proves that Americans can freely expresstheir individuality.

It wasn’t always this way. For much of the 20th century, Americans didn’t dress casually all thetime. There were dress codes and customs. Men wore suits and hats; women wore dresses.Jeans and T-shirts were for laborers, not professionals. “Casual is the sweet spot betweenlooking like every middle-class American and being an individual in the massive wash ofoptions,” Clemente told The Post.

As it turns out, historians can point to two major periods in the 20th century that changed theway we dress today: The 1920s, when women started breaking away from dresses and fewer

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men attending college wore full su its, and World War II, when women cared more about theirwork in the factories and the victory gardens than what they were wearing on the particularday. Since those times, the long slide to where we are today was inevitable. The 1960s and’70s hastened things along and as I mentioned earlier, the 1990s saw the final decline to medi-ocrity.

So, are there any lessons in this rant. Yes.

First, be the best that you can be.

There’s lots of help on Sister House. Check out our Stylish Crossdressers in the Dressing Roomand the many fine accompanying articles. And don’t forget the “All About” section in the Li-brary. Our authors in the “Putting It Together” section should be particularly helpful and don’tforget “Femme d’Certain Age” if you are a more mature woman.

Sister House Stylish Crossdressers

Next, create you own image Lookbook of styles that appeal to you.

A good way to start is have your Pinterestpage and if you need ideas, check out themany fashion boards on the Sister HousePinterest page. I’m always finding pictures ofoutfits that show me how to pair the clothes inmy wardrobe.

Lastly, ask for help

Do you have either a female or trans friend that you particularly admire for her style ofdressing or makeup skills. Ask her for help. They are usually more than willing to shop with

55

you or help with the makeup. And don’t forget our list of image consultants in the Library. Wewill be adding our own special service in this area soon.

If you enjoyed this article, please visit us at Sister House or on Tasi’s blog or of course click myname in the header of this article for my many other fine article on TG Forum.

About Tasi Zuriack: Tasi is transgendered, married, and a lifelong

crossdresser. She’s the founder of the Ladies of the Blue Ridge

transgender group in Roanoke VA, a prolific writer, commentator

and blogger including fashion articles for Tri-Ess, TG Reporter,

Repartee, and Pretty T-Girls magazine. Tasi currently resides in

Merida, (Yucatan) Mexico. Her new website, Sister House and her

blog, the Fashionable TG Woman are dedicated to fashion and style

for the transgendered woman. Please visit her. Tasi’s new book,

"Top Ten Fashion Mistakes By Crossdressers and How To Fix Them"

is availab le on Amazon or on her site free to subscribers.

Golden Girl: Bea Arthur’s shelter for homeless LGBT youth willopen in 2017ByBil Browning

When actress Bea Arthur died, she bequeathed $300,000

to New York City ‘s Ali Forney Center for h omeless LGBT y outh.

The Golden Girls and Maude star, a long-time supporter of

the LGBT community, will continue to be a friend when a new

18 bed shelter opens in February of 2017.

“These kids at the Ali Forney Center are literally dumped by

their families because of the fact that they are lesbian, gay

or transgender,” Arthur said before she died. “This organization really is sav ing liv es.”

While the project was originally slated to open thisy ear, construction wasdelay ed due to the many code

v iolation sracked up against the derelict building. Renovations hav e started mov ing rapidly now and the

building is about 40% complete.

When finished, the facility will also offer on -site counseling and ca se management serv ices. The pr oject

hasalso been funded by the city for $3.3 million.

According tothe Williams Institute, 40% of homelessy outh are LGBT.

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Friday Charm School - How to Stand Like a Lady

Welcome to Friday Charm School! Today's lesson is about

simply standing like a lady. Even the way you stand when not in

motion should be planned to make you look graceful and

elegant.

Here are the basics for a proper stance:

- Stand tall with your best posture.

- Place your feet about 2 inches apart.

Place the toe of the right foot even with

the left arch.

- Restmost of the body weight on the

front (left) foot.

- Raise the heel of the right foot so that

only the ball of the foot is on the floor. Bend the right knee slightly.

- Rotate the right heel in toward the left foot until it is at a 45° angle. The

heel of your left foot is now almost touching your right instep.

- Shift your weight comfortably back onto your right foot so that both feet support you. Your

weight should be evenly distributed on both hips.

- Check to see that your hips are turned slightly in the direction that your right foot is pointing.

Keep your shoulders and head facing forward.

If you prefer, reverse the above steps so that your right foot is in front. One side

will feel more comfortable than the other, but practice both so you can change

your stance from time to time when standing for long periods.

What do you do with your hands while standing? Always keep your elbows in

close to your sides. Press the forearm of one arm lightly against your waist with

palm up and fingers relaxed. Allow your other arm to hang freely at your side.

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Or extend both forearms gracefully across the waist, resting the thumb

of one hand in the palm of the other. Curve your fingers into a relaxed

position.

Thirdly, you can allow both arms to hang easily at your sides with your

wrists just brushing the body.

If you are fidgety, put your hands behind your back clasping one hand

in the other.

At first, these positions may feel contrived and unnatural, even

uncomfortable. But with practice, they will become easy and you'll be on your way to a more

graceful appearance!

Best. Deal. Ever.How to Save Money on Fashion

By Cynthia NellisWomen's Fashion Expert

I once bought a Marc Jacobs bag for $40.

It was tossed in a haphazard stack of leather bags at an upscale outlet store. And even though I reallydidn’t like the color (a washed-out teal) and it looked a little faded around the edges, I bought it anyway.This fabulous steal actually wasn’t much of a buy at all since I never actually used the bag. In fact, it wasa complete waste of $40. But it does make a really good story.

Have you ever noticed that women love to tell each other about their incredible shopping finds? I used tohave a neighbor who liked shopping as much as I did and instead of gabbing about whose husband wascheating or which neighbor had weeds in the lawn, we swapped stories filled with the likes of RalphLauren and Donna Karan.

When online, members-only sales sites started a while back, like Gilt.com, I happily forwarded the infoon to my mailing lists.

I’ve clipped coupons, shopped sample sales, trolled outlet malls and picked through clearance racks allin the name of an extraordinary bargain.

Because as much as I love fashion, I love a great deal.

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As a middle-age woman, it’s probably a good thing I like bargains. A report by the Employee BenefitResearch Institute shows that up to one-half of us baby boomers will outlive our retirement savings.

I try not to over-worry about things like retirement right now since I plan to work, well, forever. But I dolike to try and live well without spending a fortune.

I’m glad that technology has finally caught up to my bargain-hunting fever. Here are some apps that youcan use to find the best prices:

Smoopa: Crowd-sourced price comparison. Real-time prices from shoppers are entered to let you knowif you are getting the best deal.

Coupons.com I hate carrying paper coupons, so this handy app for stores like Macy's and Nordstromworks really well. Find in-store deals, coupon codes -- even grocer coupons to save you money.

Level Money I hate budgeting almost as much as I hate carrying coupons, but this amazing app links up

to your account to let you know how much money you have on hand to spend. Very nifty!

Pricegrabber Thousands of merchants, oodles of product, and you pick the best bargain: it's a shopper's

dream resource.

In addition to using tech to save money, I believe you need to have a strategy to buy smarter. Here aremy favorite tips for creating your dream wardrobe:

Pick a color story. Mine's black and white. It doesn't mean that everything I own is black or white -- Ihave some prints and color -- it just mean that all of my basics like tees, pants, skirts -- are black orwhite. You may choose a bold color -- maybe red is your thing -- or neutrals like navy blue. Or maybeyou want to build everything around denim.

Whatever you buy needs to go with something you own. A few years ago I bought a smashing pair ofwine-colored suede pumps dirt cheap. They sat in my closet for years before I finally found something togo with them. Moral of the story: it's not a bargain if you never use it.

Buy in multiples. My favorite work pants are skinny black pants from White House Black Market. Theyfit perfectly, hold up to lots of wear and are seasonless. They are also the first time I didn't follow myown advice of buying perfect basics in multiples (I do that all the time with jeans and tees) and I regret itall the time.

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The Feminizing Power of Color (MTF Transgender / Crossdressing Tips)

By Luc ille Sorella

ABOUT THE AUTHOR: Lucille Sorella is a GG (genetic girl) whoteaches crossdressers, transsexuals, and transgender females howto look, act, and feel like real women. Her goal is to help T-womenexpress their inner and outer femininity and increase their confidenceas women. She has a professional background in fashion, beauty,dance, and natural healing and has been working with thetransgender community for the past 12 years. Her website is loadedwith useful information and is located at http://www.flat2fem.com/index1.html .

Did you know that the colors you wear have a huge impact on the way peopleperceive you – particularly when you are en femme?Colors send subconscious messages and can definitely influence how feminine ormasculine you are seen to be.Do you know what you’re projecting with your outfit and accessories?This is a detail you don’t want to overlook!Here are the meanings of 12 different colors – and what they say about yourfemme self:

White

White is associated with purity and innocence,which is why it’s traditionally worn by brides.Wear white if you want to look pure, pristine,and impeccable.

Blue

Light blue sends messages of peace, trust, andunderstanding. Dark blue is associated withauthority and masculinity (think policeuniforms), so use this color sparingly. The bestblues for crossdressers and transgenderwomen are light blue and baby blue.

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Red

Red is the most intense color of all and isassociated with passion, desire, love, andsexuality. Wear red if you want to benoticed!

Pink

Pink is the color of love and romance. Nosurprisingly, it’s also the most femininecolor, so you’ll want to incorporate plentyof pink into your wardrobe.

Black

Black is associated with power, elegance,and formality. Wear black when you wantto look sophisticated and mysterious.

Purple

Purple communicates mystery, magic,and creativity. This is a great color towear if you want to add a touch offantasy to your look.

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Green

Light green symbolizes freshness andyouthfulness, while dark green isassociated with money andambition. Wear a soft shade of green toadd a fresh, feminine vibe to your look.

Yellow

Yellow is the color of joy and energy.Wear yellow to show off your fun, playfulside. Avoid yellow when you want to betaken seriously.

Orange

Like yellow, orange is associated with joy,enthusiasm, and attraction. This is a greatcolor to wear when you want to liventhings up.

Brown

Brown is a stable, wholesome, and down-to-earth color. Wear brown for mellowoccasions or if you want to appearreliable and genuine.

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Gray

Gray is great color to wear when you needto come across as professional andtrustworthy. Too much gray can get boringthough, so be sure to punch it up withsome fun colors.

Beige

Beige is a simple, conservative colorthat’s friendly, approachable and non-threatening. It’s perfect for times whenyou want people to open up to you.

What’s your favorite color to wear en femme?

As always, I’d love to hear your thoughts. What’s your favorite color to wear enfemme? Does this color project the message you want to be sending?Take my poll and leave me your comments below!Love,Lucille

P.S. Color is a HUGE topic that doesn’t just relate toclothes. Hair and makeup are equally important! To learn more about choosing andapplying the most flattering makeup colors, check out Makeup Magic: The UltimateMale to Female Makeup Program.

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Ladylike Laws: How to Hold Your Drinksby Lauren Conrad

Sometimes I find that I just have to treat myself to a much-deserved

glass of wine after a long day of work, or sip a flute of bubbly to

celebrate a special occasion. But you would be surprised to learnthat there are very specific rules when it comes to the way you hold

your drink. Clutching your cocktail correctly might be a custom thatwe often overlook, but I’ve found that it is just as important as basic

table manners. Whether you’re a guest at a summer dinner party or

the happy hour host, these essential-yet-simple tips will remind youto grasp your glass the properway the next time you wine and dine.

Without further ado, here are my rules for holding drinks:

• White wine & champagne. Always hold your glass or flute bythe stem. Holding it by the “bowl” warms your drink, and bothwhite wine and sparkling wine taste best when chilled. Instead ofholding the bowl, pinch the stem between your index finger andthumb. Otherwise, you might get called a “bowl grabber.” No thankyou!

Red wine. First of all, a bottle of red should always be uncorked or poured into a decanter for a whilebefore serving so it has time to breathe. This improves the taste enormously! Like white wine and cham-pagne, red wine should be held by the stem (contrary to popular belief). Not only does it keep your mer-lot or cabernet the right temperature (a little cooler than room temp), it also prevents your fingers fromleaving smudgy prints on the glass too.

Now that you know how to hold your glass correctly, you might find these tips helpful too:

• Proper placement. When setting your glass down on a dinner table, place it to the right of yourwater glass.

Eye contact. You may remember from my post on Cheers & Toasts that it is polite to hold eye contactwhen clinking someone’s glass. Otherwise, you risk seven years bad luck, according to the Frenchsuperstition.

• Keep glasses full. If you’re the host, make sure your guests’ drinks are never empty.

• Direct your gaze. While sipping your drink, you should direct your stare into your glass. It isimpolite to look at another person while drinking if you are in conversation.

Chill champagne flutes. When serving champagne place the flutes in the refrigerator beforehand tochill them. Like I said before, champagne tastes best chilled!

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• Filling facts. Know the appropriate measurements when pouring drinks. Red wine glasses should be1/3 full, white wine should be ½, and sparkling wine or champagne should be ¾. A glass that is tooheavy might result in an unladylike spill.• The “twist pour.”To prevent dripping, when filling your glass, twist the bottle at the end of pouring. Italso looks pretty fancy!

So there you have it. You now know how to hold, serve and

drink wine and champagne like a true lady. Class dismissed!

Now go ahead and celebrate with a glass or two (and for those of

you who don’t drink, treat yourself to something sweet for

reading this anyway)!

If anything, just remember: Always hold by the stem.

XO Lauren

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FROM

THE

KITCHEN

Ghost Busted Cocktail

IngredientsServes: 1Rimming Sugar:1/4 cup sugar1/4 teaspoon McCormick® Pure Vanilla Extract10 drops McCormick® Black Food Color

Marshmallow Eyeballs:1 large marshmallow2 drops McCormick® Black Food ColorCocktail:1/2 cup heavy cream2 tablespoons simple syrup1 ounce vodka1 teaspoon McCormick® Pure Vanilla Extract1/4 cup cold club soda

Directions

10 minsPrep timeFor the Rimming Sugar, mix sugar and vanilla on asmall plate. Add food color; mix until sugar is evenlytinted. Wet rim of beverage glass with water. Dip rim ofglass into black sugar to lightly coat.For the Marshmallow Eyeballs, cut marshmallowcrosswise in half. Place 1 drop food color in center ofcut-side of each marshmallow half.Fill cocktail shaker two-thirds full with ice. Add cream,

simple syrup, vodka and vanilla; shake until well mixedand chilled. Strain into rimmed beverage glass. Topwith club soda. Garnish with Marshmallow Eyeballs.Serve immediately.

Cooking tip

Simple Syrup: Microwave 1/2 cup each sugar andwater in microwavable measuring cup 1 minute. Stir todissolve sugar. Cool before using. Makes enoughsyrup to prepare 6 cocktails.

Orange Hocus Pocus Fizz

Orange Hocus Pocus Fizz: Rim this tantalizing cocktailof rum, coconut and pineapple with black sugar for asweetly spooky beverage that’ll be the hit of the land.Leave out the rum for a virgin “mocktail” all your littleghouls and goblins can enjoy.

Ingredients

1 cup pineapple juice1/2 cup rum1/4 teaspoon Coconut Flavor3 drops Red Food Color2 drops Yellow Food Color1 bottle (750 ml) sparkling white wine

Directions5 minsPrep time

Mix pineapple juice, rum, coconut flavor and foodcolors in measuring cup.For each cocktail, pour 2 ounces pineapple juicemixture into beverage glass. Top with 4 ounces

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sparkling white wine.

Cooking tip

How to Rim Glass with Black-Tinted Sugar: Place 2tablespoons sugar in small resealable plastic bag. Add10 drops McCormick® Black Food Color. Seal bag.Knead sugar until the color is evenly distributed. Pourout onto shallow plate. Dip rim of beverage glass inwater, then into black-tinted sugar to lightly coat.

Test Kitchen Tips:• Beverage may also be prepared in a pitcher. Mixpineapple juice, rum, coconut flavor and food colors in2-quart pitcher. Add sparkling wine just before serving.

• For a nonalcoholic version, omit rum, increase pine-apple juice to 1 1/2 cups and use 1 bottle (750 ml)sparkling white grape juice in place of the sparklingwhite wine.

Easy Witch Hat Cookies

Whip u p some kitchen fun with the kids! Bakeu pthese wacky Halloween treats!

Ingre dients

1 box Betty Crocker™ Su perMoist™ devil 's food cakemix½ cu p vegetable oil2 eggs1 cup Betty Crocker™ Rich & Creamy vanilla frosting

Betty Crocker™neon gel food colors (orange,pu rpleand green)Assorted candy sprinkles, if desired

48 Hershey 's™ Kisses™ Brand milk chocolates, un-wrapped

Directions

1 Heat oven to 350°F (325°Ffor dark or nonstickpans). In large bowl, mix cakemix, oil and eggs untilsoft dough forms.2 Shape dough into 1-inch balls. Place balls 2 inchesapart on ungreased cookie sheets.

3 Bake 8 to 10 minutes or until set. Cool 5 minutes;

remove from cookiesheets to cooling rack. Cool com-pletely, abou t 30minutes.4 Dividefrosting into 3 small bowls. Tint frosting asdesired with food colors. Place frosting in small reseal -able food-storage plastic bags or disposable decoratingbags. Cu t off tip of each bag to make 1/4-inch opening.5 Pipe1-inch circle of frosting on top center of eachcookie. Sprinkle frosting with candy sprinkles. Press 1milk chocolate candy into frosting on each cookie.Store cookies tightly covered.

For easy cleanup, before placing cookie dough balls oncookie sheets, line sheets with cooking parchmentpaper.For more wacky fun, host a Halloween party, and letguests decorate their own cookies. Bake the cookiesahead, then put out the cookies, sprinkles, candy andcolored frosting, and let your guests create!

Pumpkin Pie Martini

Perfect for entertaining through the fall, this martinitastes just like pumpkin pie.Photo credit: SydneyKramer fro m Crepes of Wrath.

IngredientsServes: 24 ounces light cream1/4 cup canned pumpkin3 ounces white chocolate liqueur1 tablespoon packed brown sugar1/2 teaspoon McCormick® Pumpkin Pie Spice

Directions5 minsPrep timeFill cocktail shaker two-thirds full with ice. Add lightcream, pumpkin, white chocolate liqueur, brown sugarand pumpkin pie spice; shake vigorously 15 to 20 sec-onds or until well mixed and chilled.Strain into 2 martini glasse s. Serve immediately.

Cooking tipServing Suggestion: For an extra helping of holidaycheer, top martini with a dollop of Vanilla WhippedCream.

Expe rt Tips

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Red Velvet Vampire Cupcakes

Red Velvet Vampire Cupcakes: For the fans of the

popular vampire books, these cupcakes will be irre-

sistible. While not blood red, these cupcakes have a

reddish hue from the red velvet cake mix.

Ingredients

1 package (2-l ayer size) red velvet cake mix2 teaspoons Pure Vanilla Extract1 container (16 ounces) cream cheese frostingBlack Food ColorBlack jelly beans for eyesRed gummy candies for fangs

Directions

30 minsPrep time20 minsCook timePrepare cake mix as directed on package, addingvanilla to batter.Bake as directed on package for cupcakes. Coolcupcakes on wire rack.Divide frosting in half. Use half of the frosting tospread a thin layer on cupcakes. Tint remainingfrosting black with 1/2 teaspoon black food color.Spoon frosting into small resealable plastic bag. Snipa small corner from bag. Pipe frosting in the shape ofa widow’s peak for the vampire’s head. Pipe a line offrosting for the mouth. Use jelly beans for the eyes andgummy candies, cut into triangles, for the fangs.

Cooking tip

Test Kitchen Tip: For easier measurement, 1/4 tsp.Food Color = 20 to 25 drops

Halloween Dripping Drink Rim

Halloween Dripping Drink Rim: Serve your Halloweenbeverages in glasse s with drips of orange tinted lightcorn syrup around the rim. See Tip for more color and

flavor variations

Ingredients2 tablespoons light corn syrup1/4 teaspoon Pure Orange Extract10 drops Yellow Food Color5 drops Red Food Color

Directions

5 minsPrep timeMix corn syrup, orange extract and food colors onsmall plate.Dip rims of beverage glasse s in corn syrup mixture tocoat. Turn right side up; let stand 15 seconds to allowmixture to drip down glasse s before filling with desiredbeverage.

Cooking tipVariations:Dripping Red Rim: Mix corn syrup with 1/4 teaspoonMcCormick® Raspberry Extract and 5 drops McCor-mick® Red Food Color.Dripping Black Rim: Mix corn syrup with 1/4 tea-spoon McCormick® Pure Vanilla Extract and 15 dropsMcCormick® Black Food Color.

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Cooking tip

Test Kitchen Tip: For easier measurement, 1/4 tsp.Food Color = 20 to 25 drops

Chefs' Favorite Cheap KitchenGadgetsCheap Kitchen Gadgets

BY MATTDUCKOR, EPICURIOUS

Ready to score a chef-caliber collection ofkitchen gear without selling a kidney? Thenit’s time to take a field trip.

Picture one fluorescent-lit aisle after another,lined with shiny, stainless-steel pots andpans as far as the eye can see. No, this isn’tsome sort of deranged mirage of a day-dreaming cook. It’s a magical place that mostpeople in America can visit at any time: therestaurant supply store.

You’ve probably never felt the need to stepfoot in one of these places. After all, they’reusually tucked away in a remote strip mall ordesolate side street, and the vibe is industrialand not particularly welcoming. But seekthem out, and you’ll have access to the samegear the pros do—all at prices that makeshopping a whole lot more satisfying.

Of course, that all depends on whether youknow what to buy when you start wanderingthose aisles. To get some ideas, we askedthe people who know these stores best—chefs. We sent Wylie Dufresne (Alder, NYC),Joshua McFadden (Ava Gene’s, Portland),Paul Qui (Qui, Austin), Mindy Segal (Mindy’s

Black Cat Cookies

Beware the black cat crossing your path – unless it’s arich chocolate-frosted cookie decorated as a frightfulfeline.

IngredientsServes: Makes 3 dozen or 36 (1 cookie) servings.3 1/2 cups flour1 1/2 teaspoons baking powder1/2 teaspoon salt1 1/2 cups sugar1 cup (2 sticks) butter, softened2 eggs2 teaspoons McCormick® Pure Vanilla Extract4 ounces unsweetened baking chocolate, melted1 container (16 ounces) chocolate frostingMcCormick® Black Food ColorAssorted decorations, such as black string licorice,black jelly beans, chocolate wafer cookies, miniaturecandy-coated chocolate pieces and gum drops

Directions30 minsPrep time12 minsCook time

Preheat oven to 350°F. Mix flour, baking powder andsalt in large bowl. Set aside. Beat sugar and butter inlarge bowl with electric mixer on medium speed untillight and fluffy. Add eggs and vanilla; mix well. Gradu-ally beat in flour mixture on low speed until well mixed.Add chocolate; mix well.Roll out dough on lightly floured surface to 1/8-inchthickness. Cut out rounds with 2 1/2-inch round cookiecutter. Place 2 inches apart on ungreased bakingsheets.Bake 10 to 12 minutes or until cookies are set. Cool onbaking sheets 1 minute. Remove to wire racks; coolcompletely.Tint frosting black with 1/2 teaspoon black food color.Spread onto cooled cookies. To decorate cookies toresemble cat faces, use miniature candy-coatedchocolate pieces for the eyes, jelly beans for the nose,gum drops for the mouth, string licorice for the whisk-ers and cut-up chocolate wafers for the ears.

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Hot Chocolate, Chicago), and Ari Taymor (Alma, LA) to their local restaurant-supply stores andgave them $50 to spend on whatever they wanted. Think of it as Supermarket Sweep: ProEdition.

Ready to upgrade your kitchen on the cheap?Here’s the best of the gear they scored:

1. PASTRY BAG TIPS ($4.99)

“Any person interested in baking at home shouldhave a set of pastry bag tips. I found a set thatwere on sale and jumped on them.”—MindySegal

2. HEAVY SPRING-LOADED TONGS ($5.25)

"I hate when the weight of tongs are so light they feel flimsy. As a cook, it doesn’t feel secure—I’m always moving grill grates and hot plates with these things. Always go for heavy tongs."—Paul Qui

3. MICROPLANE ($8.95)

“A microplane is a pretty indispensable tool in the kitchen—we use it for everything fromzesting citrus to grating nuts into a snow-like powder. I always buy the ones without a handle,though—that’s the first thing that breaks.”—Wylie Dufresne

4. STEEL Y-PEELER ($2.50)

"These peelers are almost entirely made from one piece ofmetal, so they’re sturdy and easy tokeep clean. The plastic ones are made to break." —Ari Taymor

5. TEFLON POT ($12.95)

“I don’t walk into a restaurant-supply store expecting to see something I’ve never seen be-fore—but I gotta say, I’ve never seen a Teflon pan in this shape. A lot of chefs will say that Tef-lon is cheating for scrambling or frying eggs. Not me. Look up any video of [world-renownedFrench chef] Jacques Pépin making an omelet, and he’s always using Teflon.”—Wylie Du-fresne

6. PLASTIC SPRAY BOTTLE ($1.91)

“We’ll fill these with water and use them for a variety of things. We spray fresh vegetables andherbs to keep them fresh throughout service. When we make ravioli, we’ll spray an entire sheetof pasta with a fine mist rather than using a brush to apply the water that adheres the twosheets together after you cut. And it’s genius for taming flareups when you’re grilling. ”—Joshua McFadden

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7. STAINLESS STEEL SCRAPER($3.95)

"We’re doing a dish right now at the res-taurant where we grill crispy pig’s faceon the plancha, so we use one of theseto roll the whole sheet of pork cheeksoff the plancha. But they’re also greatfor scraping crispy bits of anything offcast-iron skillets at home."—Paul Qui

8. SMALL, HIGH-HEAT RUBBERSPATULA ($1.05)

"I absolutely cherish these smaller spatulas. I make sure every cook in the restaurant has atleast one. They’re amazing for getting anything out of a blender—all of the stuff that hides in itstiny little crevices."—Ari Taymor

9. BEER-BOTTLE OPENER ($2.95)

“You’re going to want a drink at some point while cooking a meal. This is one of the sturdiest,best-made things in the entire store.”—Wylie Dufresne

10. CUBE GRATER ($13.95)

"I’ve never seen one of these before. It’s basically the box grater version of a microplane, withdifferent-sized grating holes on each side. We’re doing everything from grating garlic to mi-croplaning dehydrated sea urchin with these things."—Paul Qui

11. STEEL DOUGH ROLLER ($12.95)

“These are typically used for rolling fondant. But I love using them after I roll out dough with aregular rolling pin to make sure the dough’s really even. You have more control than you dowith a rolling pin.”—Mindy Segal

12. QUARTER SHEET TRAY ($5.75)

"This size is my favorite for home use, when you’re more likely to be roasting smaller amountsof fish, vegetables, or meat. Otherwise, you end up putting a tiny amount of food on a hugetray. These also solve the issue of not being able to fit multiple trays in the oven."—Ari Taymor

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Estrogen Chart Effectiveness and RiskThis chart shows the various forms of estrogen prescribed the coverage/effectiveness and risk associatedwith each delivery methode

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The Gossip FenceTransgender In the News

Americans Are Embracing Transgender Rights

Change in America isa funny thing. It took two centuries for the country to agree that a black woman could marry awhite man. On the other hand, same-sexmarriage bans collapsed just a decade after the first state awarded recognitionto gay couples. And there’s new evidence that national views are swinging even more quickly when it comes trans-gender Americans.

A poll released today by the Public Religion Research Institute found 72 percent of Americans now favor passing laws toprotect lesbian, gay and transgender people from discrimination, including three-quarters of Democrats and two-thirdsofRepublicans. A majority of Americans also oppose so-called “bathroom bills,” which require transgender people to usethe restrooms that correspond to their sex at birth.

The poll found Americans are so supportive of federal non-discrimination legislation thatmost thinkit already exists. Justover 80 percent of Americans believe the federal government already bars employers from firing gay or transgenderemployees because of their orientation or gender identity. (It doesn’t.) “People in their head just logically think, if mar-riage is legal, then workplace protectionsmust also be in place,” said Robert P. Jones, PRRI’s CEO. Support for thoseprotectionshasn’t actually grown all that much in the past year—just one percentage point, up to 72 percent. In 2015, aHuman Rights Campaign survey found 17 percent of Americans knew a transgender person. This year, that figurejumped to 35 percent. Trans rights seem to be following the path of marriage equality—aspeople came to know the gaypeople in their own lives, support for same-sex marriages went up.

But—and not to be a party-pooper—hasn’t it also been a bit of a bad year? March saw the passage of North Carolina’sinfamous HB 2, which banned local non-discrimination laws and required transpeople to use the bathroom matchingtheir birth gender. (The legislation, in a bit of conservative kitchen-sink-throwing, also barred local communities frompassing a higherminimum wage or adopting stricter child labor rules.) Last year, Houston voters struck down the city’snon-discrimination ordinance, ending protections for gay residents amid a flurry of “No Men in Women’s Bathrooms”signs. And just this week, Scottsdale, Arizona, kil led its own non-discrimination proposal after a city councilor demandeda small-business provision that would exempt three-quartersof the city’s establishments.

PerhapsAmericans are eager to support gay rights in theory, but more reticent when an actual proposal landsin theircommunity. But Jonesdoesn’t think so. Respondentsare usually more willing to cop to an unpopular opinion in anonline poll versus a live-caller survey, but PRRIdidn’t see any disparity between the two methods on questions aboutgay issues. Support is probably genuine, he concluded; it’s the Republican elites who haven’t caught up with the elector-ate, starting battles thatmany voters don’t want to fight.

“For elected officials, there iseverything to gain and nothing to lose by supporting employee discrimination protections,”said Brandon Lorenz, a spokesman for the Human Rights Campaign. “In a political climate where so much is polarized,the issue of LGBT equality is one issue where both sides are coming together.”

To be clear, GOP leaders do have something to gain by opposing gay causes—the support of the religious right. Buteven that may be changing. For a long time, an individual’s opinion on gay rights was closely linked to their party andtheir religion. Party identification is stil l a strong dividing line to this day. Religion is less so. Among every demographic,fewer people see a conflict with their faith and acceptance of gay couplesnow than they did in 2003. Thatmight not

translate into votes yet. But it’smore evidence that change is coming, and ever more rapidly.

Anti-gay pastorwho said Pulse shootingwas ‘deserved’ arrested for child molestation

After the massacre of 49 people inside Pulse nightclub in June, Ken Adkins took to Twitter and wrote: ‘I don’t see noneof them as victims. I see them asgetting what they deserve.’

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Now the controversial pastor is getting what law enforcement officials in Georgia say he deserves.

Adkins, 56, has been arrested in Georgia on two counts of child molestation after allegationsmade by a male from oneof his churches wasinvestigated by the Georgia Bureau of Investigation’sKingsland office and the BrunswickPoliceDepartment. The crimesare alleged to have occurred in 2010, according to Jacksonville.com.

Adkinsis being held at Glynn County jail since turning himself in earlier today.

Hate Group Unveils Anti-LGBT Agenda for First 100 Days of a Trump Administration

An off icial with the anti-LGBT hate group Family Research Council (FRC) gave Christian conservatives a look at the first 100days of a Trump administration, and it doesn't look good for LGBT or reproductiv e rights.

On FRC's chopping block is the Department of Housing and Urban Dev elopment's guidance assuring that federally f undedemergency shelters house transgender people according to the sex with which they identify. Also in danger is PresidentObama's executive order banning federal contractors from engaging in anti-LGBT discrimination.

Ancalle also said that FRC would push the Trump administration to reinstate a rule instituted by President George W. Bushthat provided broad "conscience protections"f or health care workers refusing to participate in care for religious reasons. Those"protections" could be usedf or health care prof essionals to deny birth control or caringf or gay men with HIV. Ancalle notedthat the FRC wants to make sure that new regulations allow physicians not to care for transgender patients by prov iding hor-mone therapy and other treatment.

The role of FRC's anti-LGBT inf luence in Republican policy -making can't be under-estimated. In July, FRC's executive directorTony Perkins served on the GOP platf orm committee at the party's convention in Clev eland. The platf orm approved at thatconv ention, which adv ocates for gay conv ersion therapy has been roundly criticized as the most anti-LGBT platf orm in theparty 's history.Clinton in North Carolina Slams HB2 and McCrory's 'Bigoted Policies' – McCrory Hits Back

Speaking in Charlotte, Hillary Clinton slammed Republican North Carolina Gov ernor Pat McCrory over HB2, hisunconstitutional anti-LGBT law that among other acts bans transgender peoplef rom using restrooms that correspond with theirgender identity. “HB2 is another example of trying to discriminate against people that doesn’t hav e any place in our modernsociety,” Clinton said, after attacking North Carolina Republicans for passing an anti-v oting law af ederal appeals court struckdown in July.

“You see this f irst-hand in North Carolina. Discrimination is not only wrong, it’s badf or business. The NBA, y ou know, canceledthe game," Clinton said, referring to the All-Star Game. "Pay Pal canceled 400 jobs. Others are not coming to this beautifulstate. Because they don’t want to be associated with the discriminatory, bigoted policies of your governor and legislature. Andwhat y ou have to do about it is changey our gov ernor and change one of y our senators. We're going to need reinforcements

up in Washington."

Gov ernor Pat McCrory, losing in the polls to his Democratic opponent, Attorney General Roy Cooper, in characteristic fashionimmediately issued an angry press release, slamming "the dangerous Clinton-Cooper politically correct and extreme agenda."

"Now she is using Roy Cooper’s lies to distort the truth about North Carolina’s growing economy, rising teacher pay andcommon sense values shared by millions of Americans. The Clinton-Cooper extreme agenda is not only wrong for NorthCarolina and America, it’s dangerous."

One day earlier McCrory had also suggested transgender children were dangerous.

Majority of Americans Oppose Laws Requiring Transgender Individuals to Use Bathrooms Corresponding toSex at Birth Rather than Gender Identity

WASHINGTON—As a federal judge in Texas blocks the Obama administration’s guidelineson expanding bathroom usein public schools for transgender students, a major new national survey released today finds that a majority (53 percent)of Americansoppose laws that require transgender individuals to use bathrooms that correspond to their sex at birthrather than their current gender identity, compared to 35 percent who favor such laws. Nearly two-thirds (64 percent) ofDemocrats oppose laws that would require transgender individuals to use bathrooms that correspond to their assignedsex at birth, while Republicansare evenly divided: 44 percent favor, 44 percent oppose.

The nonpartisan PRRI conducted the LGBT Issues and the 2016 Election Survey among 2,014 Americans betweenAugust 10-16, 2016. Just 11 weeks ahead of the election, the survey examines attitudes on a number of gay, lesbian,

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bisexual, and transgender issues and the 2016 presidential race.

“The survey also reveals stark partisan divideson perceptionsof discrimination against minority groups that are awindowinto contrasting world views,” noted PRRI CEO Robert P. Jones. “While majoritiesof Democrats andindependents believe minority groups continue to face significant discrimination in the country today, fewer than half ofRepublicansagree.”

The survey also finds Republican candidate Donald Trump trailing Democratic candidate Hillary Clinton by 13percentage points: 35 percent vs. 48 percent. The surveydemonstrates that Trump’s appeal hasbeen strongestamong white Protestant voters. A majority of white evangelical Protestant voters (62 percentTrump vs. 23 percentClinton) and a pluralityof white mainline Protestant voters (47 percent Trump vs. 37 percent Clinton) support Trump

over Clinton.

Michigan eases sex-change rules for driver's licenses

After months of feuding in the courts with transgender-rights advocates, the state of Michigan now allows individuals tochange their sex on a driver's license without having to get an operation or an amended birth certificate:They can do itnow with just a passport.

Before, the only way to change your gender on a driver's license in Michigan was to produce an amended birthcertificate, which requires proof of an operation. But in 2015, six transgender individuals filed a lawsuit challenging thepolicy on constitutional grounds. Months later, a new policy emerged.

Under the new policy, a transgender individual can change their gender designation on a Michigan driver's license bysubmitting one of the following documents:

• A U.S. passport or passport card. This isparticularly important to the transgender community because the U.S.Department of State only requires a doctor'snote that a person has had appropriate clinical treatment for gender transi-tion. An actual sex-change surgery is not necessary.• A certified birth certificate• A court order changing the sex of an individual

Trans Actress Alexis Arquette Dead at 47

Outspoken trans actress Alexis Arquette died Sunday morning in Los Angeles. She was 47.

Arquette passed away surrounded by her f amily, who played Dav id Bowie's "Starman" in her f inal moments, as per her re-quest. The cause of death is not conf irmed, but TMZ reported that she was battling an illness.

Richmond Arquette, another sibling of Alexis's, posted a heartfelt message on Facebook:

"I am f eeling immense gratitude to have been afforded the luxury of sharing lif e with him/her, for learningf rom Alexis, for beinggiv en the gift of being able to love her/him and to be lov ed by him/her. He was af orce. He died as he liv ed, on his own terms. Iam immensely gratef ul that it was f ast and painless. It was an incredible moving experience and I am humbled and grateful tohav e been able to hav e been with him as he began his journey onward. Thank y ou, Alexis, I love you and will alway s lov e

y ou."

Defense Department Releases New Tricare Transgender Policy

The U.S. Defense Department on Tuesday released a new Tricare policy for expanding transgender treatments f or militaryf amily members and retirees.

The cov erage change had been in the works and was f irst reported by Military.com. The mov e giv es the health care system'sregional contractors the go-ahead to cover some transgender care starting Oct. 6.

The policy cov ers mental health counseling and hormone therapy for "gender dysphoria," the clinical term for those whoidentify as a gender different f rom the one they were assigned at birth. It prohibits hormone therapy coverage for childrenunder 16.

"Because a diagnosis of gender dysphoria in a prepubertal child may resolve [a majority of childhood cases do not persist intoadolescence], endocrine treatment of prepubertal children ... is not authorized," the policy states.

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Prior to the release, some transgender Tricare treatment has been cov ered through waiv ers prov ided by Navy Vice Adm.Raquel Bono, head of the Def ense Health Agency.

By Oct. 1, officials will issue a handbook for commanders and all those affected by the new policy, as well as medical guidancef or prov iding transition care to transgender troops.

As part of the new policy, military medical facilities will prov ide hormone treatment, counseling and sex-change surgery whendeemed "medically necessary." Sex-change surgery is explicitly prohibited in Tricare's new policy, unless it is treating"ambiguous genitalia which is documented to hav e been present at birth," the policy states.

Tricare is prohibited by law from covering the procedure, according to a Defense Department spokesman.

Amid Heightened Interest, Transgender Studies Weighs Newfound Influence

Susan Stryker, an associate professor of gender and women’s studies at the Univ ersity of Arizona, has been asked about thesignif icance of her "new" f ield of study f or about 25 y ears.

"It’s not as new as some people think," she says. "The question for me is why is it suddenly something people are payingattention to in new ways, rather than it being new. There is a strong connection between theoretical and research-orientedinterest in transgender phenomena."

Now she will be presenting at the Univ ersity of Arizona’s Trans*Studies Conference, which bills itself as thef irst such event tof ocus on transgender studies independent of lesbian, gay, bisexual, and transgender issues more broadly. It is hosted by theUA Institute f or LGBT Studies.

At the conference scholars are presenting research on topics such as the medical science of transgender individuals and arthistory in the transgender community, says Eric Plemons, an assistant prof essor of anthropology and a member of theuniv ersity’s Transgender Studies Initiative.

Her area of research, visual and art history, hasn’t been as prominent as other parts of the transgender-studies discipline, shesay s. There’s increased attention, though. For instance, MTV approached Ms. Vaccaro and her colleagues when the cablechannel was interested in covering the Trans Day of Remembrance, which memorializes people killed as a result oftransphobia.

Ms. Stryker has a similar concern. As a historian, she says she’s more interested in how and why people are paying closerattention to transgender studies, ev en though it’s often ref erred to as an emerging field.

For example, she says, federal anti-discrimination policy under the Obama administration uses the term "sex" to def inewhether someone is a man or a woman. Thanks partly to the rise of transgender studies, more people understand the word"sex" as encompassing gender and gender identity, even though there is a difference between the two.

Historians like Ms. Stryker are now study ing the unintended consequences of the policy ’s languagef or the transgendercommunity, with hopes of setting the tonef or f uture legislation, she says.

For Claudia Sofía Garriga López, a doctoral candidate in American studies at New York Univ ersity, the inf luence her researchmay have onf uture policy making is a new reality scholars in thef ield hav e tof ace, she says. Ms. Garriga López is studyingtransgender feminism in Ecuador and how identifying as transgender is becoming a political identity around the world, shesay s.

Ty pically transgender studies will be cov eredf rom one day to a week in an LGBT-studies or gender class, but Ms. Vaccarosay s that doesn’t suffice anymore. "Students are extremely hungry and excitedf or trans studies," she says.

This conf erence will not only heighten the demand for more transgender-studies courses, majors, and minors, Ms. Strykersay s, but help people understand that the field isn’t just about serv ing a particular type of student or indiv idual.

"It’s not just a service-oriented field," she says. "It raises questions about embodiment and difference and knowledge."

MN State Fair-goers overwhelmingly voted ‘no’ on anti-transgender poll

In a poll conducted at the Minnesota State Fair by the Minnesota House Public Information Services, 59 percent of State Fairattendees said ‘no’ to the question: “Should schools and businesses be able to require individuals to use restroom and lockerroom f acilities based on biological sex, as def ined at birth?”

Thirty-one percent said bathroom should be restricted by based on “biological sex.” Ten percent were undecided or didn’t have

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an opinion. The question was inspired by a bill offered by anti-LGBTQ Republican Rep. Glenn Gruenhagen.

Here are the vote totals and counts:

Yes 30.6% (1,962)No 59.2% (3,796)Undecided/No Opinion 10.2% (655)

The Catholic Church and the Minnesota Family Council, both of which oppose equity f or transgender and gendernonconf orming Minnesotans, urged their supporters to vote ‘y es’ in the poll.

The poll is a tradition at the fair going back decades and has, in the past, included questions about same-sex marriage. Otherquestions on the poll included whether to increase taxes f or transit, to enact background checks on private gun sales, aquestion on expanding sick leav e, and a question about the right f or terminally and chronically ill people to die on their own

terms.

NCAA to North Carolina: No championship games until you repeal the anti-LGBT law

North Carolina has faced incredible f allout for HB2, the anti-LGBT law that, among other things, specifically prohibitstransgender peoplef rom using bathrooms that match their gender identity. The NCAA just piled on ev en more.

Monday evening, the NCAA announced that all sev en of the national championship games that had been scheduled in North

Carolina f or this academic year will bemov ed to other states:

Based on the NCAA’s commit ment to fairness and inclusion, the Association will relocate all seven previously awardedchampionship events from North Carolina during the 2016–17 academic year. The NCAA Board of Governors made thisdecision because of the cumulative actions taken by the state concerning civil rights protections.

This mov e will impact the D1 Women’s Soccer College Cup, D3 Men’s and Women’s Soccer Championships, D1 Men’sBasketball Championship (f irst and second rounds), D1 Women’s Golf Championships, D3 Men’s and Women’s TennisChampionships, D1 Women’s Lacrosse Championship, and D2 Baseball Championship.

The NBA similarly announced in July that it would be moving its All-Star game out of Charlotte f or the same reason, and plentyof other businesses and entertainers hav e abandoned plans to create jobs or otherwise contribute to the state’s rev enue.

The mov e follows a lasting NCAA precedent of not allowing championships in states that fly the Confederate battle flag or atschools that use “hostile and abusiv e Nativ e American imagery.”

FDA’s Blood Donation Rules Out Trans People

Logan Casey gave blood because hef elt it was the right thing to do. A 29-year-old student at the Univ ersity of Michigan, Caseyhas been a regular blood donor his entire adult life, donating once ev ery 60 days.

That changed last October, when a Red Cross staffer asked if he had ever donated under another name. Casey, who istransgender, explained that he had donated under his birth name prior to his transition. After learning Casey was trans, stafferstold him that he would be listed as f emale in his f ile f rom that point f orward. It was policy, they said.

The center subsequently f orced Casey to redo his screening paperwork, asking him tof ill in a new f orm with “distressing”questions about his presumed female anatomy. One question inquired whether he was currently pregnant. “The staff memberwas try ing her best but clearly didn't hav e the language to talk about it,” Casey told The Daily Beast. “That was really f rustrat-ing.”

Casey f iled a complaint with the Red Cross’s customer service team in November, and the organization quickly replied. Hesaid it was clear, howev er, that the Red Cross has “no idea what’s going on with trans people.”

Casey later spoke over the phone with a Red Cross staffer. “[It’s an] FDA-directed policy, and the Red Cross has to followthat,” said the representative, as Casey recalls. The email thus stood.

Those policies are reportedly about to change. In December, the FDA updated its official recommendation to stipulate thattransgender donors should self -identify their gender on all documentation. Later this year, the Red Cross will release aguidance document that will reportedly state that transgender donors may answer gender-related questions based on thegender with which they identify.

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The FDA revisions will be released at a crucial moment f or the organization, which is not known f or LGBT inclusion.

In bringing government policy up to date with current medical understanding about queer and transgender liv es, Casey saidthe potential benefit is huge. In 2014, UCLA’s Williams Institute estimated that allowing MSMs to donate would save 1.8 millionpeople. Making it easy, saf e, and comf ortable for trans people to also give blood would only increase that number.

During the meantime, many blood donation centers across the U.S. are ailing—unable to get the donations they need. “I’vebeen getting an email from the local Red Cross two to three times a week say ing that there’s a shortage of blood in our area

and they need donors now,” Casey said. “In the big picture, liv es are being lost.”

Cher Calls Out Trans-Exclusionary Group Of So-Called ‘Feminists’

One ofour favorite Twitter users, Cher, utilized her platform Sunday to call out one of the most odious groupsof peoplewho try to lay claim to the word “feminist,”TERFs. TERF stands for “trans-exclusionary radical feminism,” a group ofindividuals who identify as feminists but are both critical and exclusionary of transgender people.

The legendary singer tweeted the following to take aim at the group:

Trans-exclusionary radical feminism - RationalWiki

ISNT LIFE ROUGH ENOUGH WTF ARE THESE WOMEN IM ASHAMED OFTHEM

There are numerous problematic belief systems that fall under the categoryTERF, according toTransAdvocate. However, at the end of the day, TERFsdon’t believe that trans women are “real women” or trans menare “real men.”

And while we’re not in the business of policing who can identifyas feminist, it’s important to remember that feminism isintersectional and inclusive of all kinds of identity groups ― including transgender people.

Cher haslong been an outspoken supporter of the transgender community, and is the mother to Chaz Bono, atransgenderman.

Thank you for bringing visibil ity to this important issue, Cher!

Religious liberty, efficiency top concerns at nondiscrimination hearing

Whether to include a religious exemption in a proposed bill to prohibit LGBT discrimination in employment dominatedtheconversation in a four-hour public hearing Aug. 30 in Harrisburg. The state Senate Labor and Industry Committeeinvited 19 people – including religious leaders, human-relations officials, labor leaders and lobbyists – to offer input.More than 700 Pennsylvaniansalso submitted written comments to the committee.

Religious concerns

Katherine Franke,a professor of religiouslaw at Columbia Law School, said the bill, SB 1306, “strikes the right balancebetween equality and religious liberty.”

She said four layers ofprotection for religiousliberty already exist without adding language to the employment-nondiscrimination bill.Those are the First Amendment, Article 1 Section 3 of the Pennsylvania Constitution, the 2002Religious Freedom Protection Act in Pennsylvania and a religious exemption contained in the Pennsylvania HumanRelations Act.

Tim Schultz, director of the 1st Amendment Partnership in Washington, D.C., said religious institutions are looking forprotection from “ruinouslitigation.” “There’s a possibility you will lose and shut down,” he said, noting religious charities,shelters, hospitals and adoption agenciesare cornerstones in their communities.

Dr. Robert J. O’Hara Jr., executive director of the Pennsylvania Catholic Conference, argued for an exemption thatwould allow religious institutions to have discretion in every employment decision, from a ministry position to thejanitor. “The janitor could have a closer relationship to a student than a teacher sometimes,” O’Hara said. “Parentssend their children to our schools to live and learn our religion. If [employees] model behavior that could be detrimental

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to the children, that could be a concern.”

He also wished there could be a policy distinction between a person’s orientation and behavior. He said the churchwould not refuse to hire a gay person “living a chaste life.”

Sen. Daylin Leach, a Montgomery County Democrat, called that proposition “v ery unreasonable and ev en cruel,” before askingthe religious adv ocates if they would support the bill if it only applied to secular institutions and completely exempted religiousones. After a pause, Philip J. Murren, an attorney f or the Pennsylv ania Catholic Conference, said further discussion would beusef ul. “My answer is a qualif iedy es,” Schultz said.

The State Government Committee will hold a public hearing Sept. 26 to get comments on a public-accommodations nondis-crimination bill. It will also discuss the Pennsylv ania Fairness Act, which would extend LGBT-protections in employment, hous-ing and public accommodations. A housing-nondiscrimination bill made it out of the Housing and Urban Affairs Committee inJune.

State court system includes gender identity in nondiscrimination policy

The Pennsylvania Supreme Courthas revised its nondiscrimination policy to include protections for gender identityandexpression. The update tookeffect in July, one month after the Pennsylvania Youth Congress initiated the conversationwith a common pleas judge from Western Pennsylvania.Last week, a memo was distributed to all state judiciaryemployees detailing the new policy.

The nondiscrimination policy — which wasoriginally issued in 2008 and included sexual orientation at the outset —applies to all courtsunder the Supreme Court’s jurisdiction from the Superior and Commonwealth courts to CommonPleas and Magisterial courts. Court employees, justicesand judges, as well asdistrict attorneysand private lawyersengaging with the court must follow the new policy.

Landau Goodman said transgender people have reported coming before judges who onlyuse their birth names; don’tuse correct pronouns; or force them to change clothing, hair or accessories.

“Those are the kinds of things that have happened across the state that will no longer be tolerated,” he said.

For those who experience discrimination, they can report it through the website of the Unified Judicial System.The up-

dated nondiscrimination policy is also availableonline.

DOJ issues transgender training for police

The Department of Justice (DOJ) is training police officers on how to treat transgender people with respect.Police officers will learn techniques for interacting with transgender people during routine encounters in a training video,the agency said Thursday. They will also be discouraged from stereotyping and advised to “keep their questionsrelevant."

"In one of the examples, the video demonstratesan officer laughing [at] a transgender individual who appears to be thevictim of a crime, and the officer’s partner pulls him aside to correct his behavior,” according to the DOJ.

"Afterwards, the offending officer apologizes for his prior conduct and approaches the rest of the interview with thenecessary respect and professionalism,” the agency said.

"This illustration notonly highlightshow officers should act with membersof the transgender community, but also ad-dresses the need for officers to say something to their peers when they see problematic behavior."

The training video also educates police on the difference between the assigned sex given to someone at birth and theirgender identity.

In another example, a police officer pulls over a transgender woman who wasdriving and asks: "Do you prefer if I callyou ma’am or sir?”

“Individuals who feel disrespected are less likely to have faith in or cooperate with law enforcement,” the DOJ said.

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Media Should Note Common Denominator In Recent Wave Of Anti-LGBT Court Battles

In the last week, two courts have decided against the rights of LGBT people and their familiesin major equality battles,and Texas’ attorney general has filed a third lawsuit regarding LGBT Americans. As the media cover these cases, theyshould connect the dots that lead back to one nefarious organization: the Alliance Defending Freedom (ADF), an ex-tremist group leading the national fight against LGBT equality.

Alliance Defending Freedom isa right-wing legal powerhouse that’s linked to nearly every recent legal attack on LGBTequality in the United States -- as well as attacks on women’s reproductive health. ADF is behind the national push forboth anti-LGBT “religious freedom” legislation that seeks to legalize discrimination against LGBT people and so-called bathroom billsthat aim to prohibit transgender people, including public school students, from using facilities thatalign with their gender identity. ADF also works internationally to attackLGBT equality, including byhelping defend laws

in Belize and Jamaica that would put people in prison for engaging in gay sex.

‘Safer Sex for Trans Bodies’ guide released

WASHINGTON —The Human Rights Campaign and Whitman-Walker Health have teamed up for a comprehensivesexual health guide for transgender and gender-nonconforming people called “Safer Sex for TransBodies,” HRCannounced in a press release.

This first-of-its kind resource was drafted by HRC and Whitman-Walker Health in consultation with Casa Ruby,TransUnited Fund, and TransLatin@ Coalition. It wasmade possible with support from the Elton John AIDS Foundation.

The guide is written by and for membersof the transgender community and offers them a resource on potentially life-saving and affirming practices, from respectful terminologyand definitions to helpful practices for sexual health followingtransition-related care. It will be available online and at Whitman-Walker Health’s locationsin Washington. A Spanish-

language version will be released in the coming months.

Virginia School District Asks Supreme Court To Hear Transgender Bathroom Policy Case

The Gloucester County School Board asked the high court to take the case and reverse an appeals court decision thatsided with a transgender student and the Obama administration.

Earlier thismonth, the Supreme Court issued an order allowing the school to keep itspolicy in place while the justicesdecide whether to hear the appeal. If the justicesagree to hear the appeal, per the earlier order, the court’s orderallowing the policy to stayin place will remain in effectuntil the justices reach a decision in the case.

The 4th Circuit Court of Appeals held that the administration’s interpretation wasa permissible interpretation, leading thedistrict court in Grimm’s case to issue an injunction against Gloucester schools. The Supreme Court’sorder, however,stayed that injunction for the time being — meaning Grimm, and any other transgender student, could not use therestroom that accords with their genderidentity.

The current composition of the Supreme Court —it has operated with only eight justices since Antonin Scalia’s death inFebruary — could become a key factorin what happensnext with the case.

It takes four justices to grant the certiorari petition and hear an appeal. It takes five votes, however, to reach a majorityopinion. If the court accepted the case, and split down ideological grounds 4–4, the lower court’s decision in favor of

Grimm and the administration would be left in place — but no national precedent would be set by the case.

Dems to VA: Change transgender surgery rule 'swiftly'

A group of six Democratic lawmakers isurging the Department of Veterans Affairs to quickly lift its ban on coveringtransition-related surgeries for transgender veterans.

"We write to you today asmembers of the Congressional LGBT Equality Caucus Transgender Equality Task Force tourge the Department of VeteransAffairs (VA) to move swiftly to ensure access to medically necessary surgical care fortransgender veterans," the lawmakers wrote in a letter to VA Secretary RobertMcDonald. “We urge you to moveforward with publishing a proposed rule to remove the arbitrary and outdated restriction that prohibitsVA from providingmedical services to treat gender dysphoria."

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The letter wasled by Rep. Mike Quigley (D-Il l.) and also signed by Democratic Reps. Mike Honda (Calif.), Jackie Speier(Calif.), Raúl Grijalva (Ariz.), Bonnie Watson Coleman (N.J.), and Del. Eleanor Holmes Norton (D.C.).

In June, news emerged of a VAproposal that would allow coverage of surgeries deemed medically necessary on a case-by-case basis. At the time, VA officials said the change had been in the works since 2014. The VA already coverstransition-related care for transgender vets, including hormone replacement therapy and pre- and post-surgical care.But it's been barred from covering any actual surgery since 1999.

In their letter, the lawmakers said the ban runs counter to steps being taken elsewhere in the Obama administration,including at the Pentagon, to eliminate blanket prohibitions on covering surgical care for transgender people. “Thisexclusion denies transgender veterans critically important medical care currently available to VA employees, Medicare

beneficiariesand, most recently, active duty military service members,” the lawmakers wrote.

Federal Judge Smacks Down Right-WingMedia's Anti-LGBT "Bathroom Predator" Myth

A recent ruling by a federal judge shut down right-wing media’santi-LGBT “bathroom predator” myth, writing that thereis “no indication” that a sexual predator could “claim transgender status” as a “defense against prosecution” for sneakinginto a women’s restroom to commit a crime.

On August 26, U.S. District Judge Thomas Schroeder issued a preliminary ruling barring the University of North Carolinafrom enforcing a portion of North Carolina’s discriminatory "bathroom bill" against three transgender people who suedthe state after the bill ’s passage this spring.

In the limited preliminary ruling, Schroeder dismissed the claim, often peddled by right-wing media outlets, that nondis-crimination protections for transgender people would allow male predators to sneakinto women’s bathroomsand com-mit sexual assaultby pretending to be transgender. As Schroeder wrote, the “bathroom predator” myth hasbeen repeatedly debunkedbyexperts, and there isno evidence that allowing transgender people to use restrooms thatmatch their gender identity leads to an increase in crime (emphasis added):

North Carolina’s peeping and indecent exposure statutes continue to protect the privacy of citizens regardless of Part I,and there is no indication that a sexual predator could successfully claim transgenderstatus as a defenseagainst prosecution under these statutes.

As for safety, Defendants argue that separating facility users by biological sex serves prophylactically to avoid the op-portunity for sexual predators to prey on personsin vulnerable places. However, the individual transgender Plaintiffshave used facilities corresponding with their gender identity for over a year without posing a safety threat to anyone.Moreover, on the current record, there is no evidence that transgender individuals overall are any more likely toengage in predatory behaviors than other segments of the population. In light of this, there is little reason to be-lieve that allowing the individual transgender Plaintiffs to use partitioned, multiple occupancybathrooms correspondingwith their gender identities, as well as UNC to seek to accommodate use of similar showers and changing facilities, willpose any threat to public safety, which will continue to be protected by the sustained validity ofpeeping, indecent expo-sure, and trespass laws. And although Defendantsargue that a preliminaryinjunction will thwart enforcement of suchsafety laws by allowing non-transgender predators to exploit the opportunity to cross-dress and prey on others the unre-futed evidence in the current record suggests that jurisdictions that have adoptedaccommodating bathroomaccess policies have not observed subsequent increases in crime.

Trans in the South: A Guide to Resources & ServicesWe're living in a dynamicmoment across the South. Trans and Gender Non-Conforming folks are stepping up and

speaking out in incredible waysin the Southern equality movement. At the same time, we're seeing a new wave of legis-lation, litigation and rhetoric that targets transgender individuals for simply being for who they are and living authentic

lives.

New data from the Williams Institute shows thatmore than 500,000 trans folks call the South home. Too often, they face

a lack of resources and support. We often hear stories of people going without medical care or traveling hours to reacha doctor who will treat them with respect.That's got to change.

To respond to this need, the Campaign for Southern Equality is releasing Trans in the South: A Guide to Resources and

Services.

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In the pagesof thisedition of Trans in the South you’ll find lists of trans-friendly service providers– from doctors to attor-

neys to counselors – across the South as well as resources to assist with funding medical transition.This information

hasbeen collected and vetted by Ivy Gibson-Hill, our LGBT RightsToolkit Coordinator. We hope this resource guidehelps people access the services they need to survive and to thrive.

You can download a PDF of Trans in the South: A Guide to Resources by clicking here. I also ask you to share this

guide with your networks.

Moving forward we’ll be updating Trans in the South with new resources yearly. If you know of additional resources, or

have questions or feedback, please email them to Ivy@southernequality.org.

Jasmine Beach-FerrraExecutive Director, Campaign for Southern Equality

https://twitter.com/cselivehttps://www.facebook.com/southernequality

http://www.southernequality.org/

Ourmailing address is:

Campaign for Southern Equality

P.O. Box 364Asheville, North Carolina 28802

Consumer Financial Protection Bureau: Sex Discrimination Includes LGBT Discrimination, Too

Following in the footsteps of numerous other federal agencies, the Consumer Financial Protection Bureau (CFPB)issued a letter last week clarifying that discriminating against LGBT people in the realm of credit falls under the categoryof "sex discrimination." The CFPB stated that under the Equal Credit Opportunity Act of 1974, it is illegal to refuse toissue loans, credit cards, mortgages, and other forms of credit because of someone's sexual orientation or gen-deridentity.

If you have experienced credit discrimination, please seeklegal help and/or file a complaint with the CFPB.

HUD makes rule final barring anti-trans bias in homeless shelters

The Department of Housing & Urban Developmentmade final on Tuesdaya rule requiring equal access for transgenderpeople in federally funded homeless shelters. HUDSecretary Julián Castro said in statement the new rule is “anotherimportant step to ensure full acceptance of transgender and gender non-conforming individuals in the programs HUDsupports.”

“This new rule will ensure equal access to the very programs thathelp to prevent homelessness for persons who areroutinely forced to choose between being placed in facil itiesagainst their gender identity or living on our streets,” Castrosaid.

As explained in the 73-page rule, the change requires federally funded providersoperating single-sex projects to providetransgenderindividuals with access consistent with their genderidentity to programs, benefits, servicesandaccommodations withoutasking them to provide documentation or subjecting them to intrusive questioning about theiranatomy. The change goes into effect 30 days from its scheduled publication in the Federal Register on Wednesday.

“This new rule ensures that no transgender person will be denied shelter simply because of who theyare and thattransgender women, in particular, will no longer be forced to choose between being housed with men or going withoutshelter,” Gonen said. “This isa huge step forward for the transgender communityand will empower transgender

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individuals who need shelter to stand up for their rights.”

Earlier this year, the Center for American Progress published the resultsof a study consisting of telephone tests on 100homeless sheltersacross four states intended to determine the degree to which transgender woman can accessfacilities in accordance with their gender identity. The study found only 30 percent of shelters were willing to house testcallers with women, although states with LGBT protections were twice as likely to be willing to provide test callers withshelter in accordance with their gender identity. According to HUD’s final rule, 27 percent of these shelters receivedHUD funding at some point.

Laura Durso, senior director for the Center for American Progress LGBT Research and Communications Project, said ina statement the new HUD rule reflects the Obama administration’s commitment to LGBT rights.

Rep. MarkTakano (D-Calif.), one of seven openly LGBmembers of Congress, also praised HUDin a statement formaking the change. “Transgender Americans, particularly transgender women of color, can face multifaceteddiscrimination in many areasof life,” Takano said. “Access to emergency housing is a vital part of our shared safety net:A place that any person can go when they are facing a dangerous situation at home or on hard economic times. The

HUD rule will literally save lives.”

Lesbian mistaken for man, questioned in restroom at L.A. concertvenue

A lesbian woman says she was questioned by staff at L.A.’s Staples Center Wednesday after they mistookher for aman in the women’s restroom, PinkNews reports. Mary Looper was attending a Carrie Underwood concert with her auntwhen a female security officer stood outside her restroom stall, demanding proof of her gender. Looper, who is tall withclose-cropped hair, took to Facebook to call out the venue. “They literally just tried to escort me out of the women’srestroom at the [Staples Center],” she wrote that evening. “Shame on them.”

Looper said it’s not the first time someone has thought she was a man, but it’snever become such an issue before.“I getmistaken for a man all the time… It’s no secret. But, for the fact that their woman employee waited outside my stallfor proof that I was a woman,didn’t believe me offmy voice… That’s what hurt and had me shocked,” she wrote in acomment. “I didn’t wanna stir anything up but never ever thought I’d be treated like that in a woman’s restroom in LA, inthe Staples Center. Just a bummer it went that far.”

The Staples Center has not responded to any of the commentsabout the incident on its Facebook page.

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