(no subject)

[seekingerin.livejournal.com]

(I've posted a similar post in my own journal. The wording is different, but the ideas are the same, so this will be redundant for some of you.)

I've discovered something interesting about passing: I seem to pass better as a woman when I'm wearing at least one item of clothing that is overtly female. I pass noticeably better, for example, in a sweater and a skirt than I do in a sweater and jeans. I'm not sure why, though I have a guess: perhaps I look androgynous enough that I could pass as a man or a woman when I'm trying to pass as a woman. If I wear something obviously meant for a woman, people will accept me as a woman, but if I wear something more androgynous, people don't know what I'm supposed to be, and that makes people uncomfortable. Probably makes them study me too closely, too.

Ideally I'd like to have a somewhat androgynous style, with the occasional long skirt thrown in. Dresses don't interest me much at all. At this point, though, it seems I'm stuck being a skirts-and-dresses sort of woman. Maybe that will change once I've started actual transition; for the moment, I can only present as female very sporadically, and I haven't managed to take any permanent steps toward a female appearance.

It's not difficult to find overtly feminine clothing to wear in the summer, but I live in a part of the United States that gets very cold in the winter. Freezing temperatures, and often well below freezing. Last winter I just wore long skirts. It's not uncommon here to see women wearing skirts in the winter for religious reasons, so my skirts don't attract much notice. It's not the most comfortable option, though. Most women here wear very androgynous clothing in the winter, but I can't do that and still pass.

So, for those of you who've had more experience with creating a female presentation... any suggestions? Anything I can do with my clothing this winter to make it clear that I'm wearing women's clothing without freezing myself?

ch ch ch ch changes - crossposted

[stacis-leak.livejournal.com]

Tomorrow is my last day here.

I'm still not sure if I'm going to fess up as I leave to un-complicate the process of getting references after I go fulltime.

I'm sort of scared that if I'm too proactive, I'll get female promouns in references for jobs I apply for in boymode, which is going to confuse the crap out of employers.

In a weeks time however I'll be faced with a further decision: What am I going to do while my parents are on holiday?

For those who haven't been keeping up, the last time my parents went on holiday I had my ears peirced before they came back. My theory is that these small but theoretically permanent and obvious changes gently force the fact that I'm serious without going overboard and freaking them out.

I had planned to start laser while they were on holiday but I got fed up of waiting for them to go somewhere.

Other possible ideas include:

1) Girly haircut, with highlights and layers. Expensive and will only last a finite time but can be updated when neccessary and will be very obvious. This will however lead to other questions such as professional or get a friend to do it? and the infinitely arguable "what style"?

2) Voice therapy cram session, as Emma pointed out when I femme up my voice I sound very different and I could start using this voice all the time, but I tend to do it involuntarily when I'm in girl mode and have no idea how to make it happen. With a little training however thiscould change. The only problem is I'm not sure how much this will cost or how short notice I can get the training on. Plus this won't come accross as a physical change, just something I'm doing differently.

3) Name change, legal and everything. Theoretically possible however it may cause problems up until I go fulltime, with having to use it in official places in guy mode too.

4) Start HRT. Okay I can't actually do this one as even going private it'd take about 4 months to get prescribed them and I am not about to self med. But it raises an interesting possibility for the NEXT holiday.

5) Pimp my room. In all the talk of noticable things I still have a fairly androgenous look to my living space, which doesn't bother me particularly s I spent 5 years of university living in fairly nondescript generic rooms. It'd make a point about my attitude however. Perhaps for my folks to treat me as a daughter I have to be a little more vocal about the fact that I am one.

These are my ideas. I'd love to hear people's input.

Posted on behalf of ariusjuarez

[ftmichael.livejournal.com]

Hey guys, I'm posting on behalf of a guy who just joined LJ and isn't getting his confirmation e-mail (it won't let you post to communities until you verify your e-mail address). He posted to his personal journal; if folks could have a look and respond, it'd be very much appreciated! He's really isolated and feeling desperate for contacts and support.

http://ariusjuarez.livejournal.com/556.html

Outside In

[rachelkj.livejournal.com]

For anyone that has been/is utilizing the trans clinic program at Outside In in Portland, OR:

I just called to check in and see if there was anything else I needed to have in order before the next clinic to get a prescription for HRT. According to the new phone message, because of resource issues the trans clinic is now by appointment only. So if you have plans to show up there, make sure you call their office first!

So, Miss Belsky

[shelleybear.livejournal.com]

When did you first realize you were a girl?
1964-65 World's Fair.
I wanted to go here but they wouldn't let me in.

Shelley