TV Dreams

Originally uploaded by .missj.

At first I thought this was a wig, it’s too perfect. But now I think not in view of the other pictures in missj’s photostream.

So glad I didn’t leave a comment to that effect - it would have been sure to offend.

There’s been a recent post by Siobhan over on tranniefesto.co.uk that struck a few chords with me - it’s all to do with other terms for the word transvestite. It’s well worth reading, but read the comments as well.

It has to be said, my thoughts have changed so many times regarding the whole trans terminology “thing” that I’ve been confused as hell about it all. But…

Here goes. I did like the term T-Girl or tgirl, whatever, because I felt it covered the full spectrum. It’s an all encompassing term I assumed wouldn’t offend anyone. Sometime later I decided it shouldn’t be tgirl but tgurl, because we’re not girls/women (sorry for stating the obvious). After that in the last few months I got to thinking just “gurl” would hit the mark because it says we’re not real girls/women, so no need for the “T”.

In the last few days new experiences have been evolving. On Flickr I added a woman, whose comments struck a cord with me, as a new contact. We got into conversation and because she said she was a bit confused about who was who on my flickrstream I decided to be blunt and say I’m a transvestite. I’m sure she probably knew this. Since then we been chatting and it doesn’t seem to have made a blind bit of difference.

Not only that, it seems female contacts of this woman are now adding me to their contacts list. And you know what, if it’s necessary I’ll just say I’m a transvestite. After all it is the most accurate term that I know of to describe who I am in the context of wearing a dress or whatever.

It seems though that as a community we’re none too keen on the term because of perceived negative connotations, but I think I’m finally getting over that one. In short, I think I can safely say I’m getting to be proud of the term. Obviously, I still choose who I’m going to let on to, but that’s down to family and work circumstances.

Going back to Flickr, I’ve decided not to restrict my social intercourse to other transvestites. I mean, let’s face it, some of the rows that have surfaced of late are becoming incredibly tedious.

I know I can be very slow on the uptake at times, but Siobhan’s recent comments about engaging with the rest of society has struck a new chord with me. Just don’t expect me to make a crusade out of it, coz I’m not or try not to be a political animal - I’m far too apathetic and prefer to keep my head below the ramparts.

However, there is another related issue. Whether to use he or she when referring to ourselves or other transvestites/transexuals. I feel it’s obvious all mtf transexuals ought to be referred to as she/her.

And to be honest I do for transvestites as well if only because it feels weird to me to refer to Rachel as he or him. Yes I know I’m male but it still feels strange to refer to a male as he/him when I’m addressing them by the name they use when dressed as a woman… Hi Rachel, he’s wearing a lovely dress. No, it doesn’t seem to fit.

On the other hand, if we’re not deluding ourselves about the fact that we’re transvestites then logically where’s the problem with referring to ourselves as he/him when dressed. And going a stage further why the need to adopt a female name.

Of course, one reason to do this is to disguise our male identity for fear of public humiliation. Particularly where other family members are concerned. A solution might be to change our first names to a unisex one like Kim, Chris or whatever. Then again questions may be asked as to why we chose to do that.

Clearly I’ll have to think on on the issue of names, but just consider this to be an update on where my thinking is right now. :)

Be a happy transvestite or transexual!

Macho trannie

Originally uploaded by Euan

Not what I was looking for… :)

Rasmussen hangs on

Originally uploaded by corremadrid

Having participated in the sport up to National level, nothing makes me sadder, or more angry, than drug-taking to enhance performance.

And it has to be said that cycling must have the worst record for this sort of abuse. And when you look at the trail of wrecked bodies the sport has spewed out something definitely has to be done to stamp it out.

But I do have a theory, about why drug-taking is so rife in cycling. I know just how demanding road racing is. I’ve done a number of sports mostly at county level and none of them compare to cycle road racing in terms of the physical effort and endurance required to meet the task - by a long way. Riders are taking drugs just to survive the event never mind winning.

And with the TDF when you look at the distance and terrain covered I think it’s fair to say it’s like no other sporting event.

None of what I’ve said excuses this sort of cheating, but it’s why I believe cycling suffers from drug-taking more than most sports.

But the media’s calls for the Tour de France to be stopped this year, scrapped, is malicious to say the least. And I would have thought amongst other journalists The Guardian would not have joined in on such a witch hunt, calling for the race to be abandoned. I have to say, this was just one comment in an otherwise fair and accurate article. But I’m still very disappointed.

For worse examples of the media’s excesses have a look at the Tribune Herald article that highlights what some of the french press have been saying.

The Tour de France organisers are not guilty of drug-taking, why attack them. Now I’ve not followed the TDF for a number of years, but I’ve watched the ITV4 highlights every night this year and it’s perfectly obvious that the organisers are coming down hard on any rider and their team if tested positively. So why attack innocent parties. I have to say I don’t know if this media behaviour is as a result of a too lenient attitude of the TDF organisers in years gone by, but this year they seem to have a robust anti drug-taking policy.

All this baying in the press just smacks of the media pack wanting blood to create sensational headlines for more sales and profits - so what’s new?

I just hope you’re not taken in by it.

Let the Tour de France organisers do their job. Coerce other race organisers to adopt an equally harsh regime against offending riders and their teams. Then there’s a more than good chance of flushing out this despicable activity and cleaning up cycle racing’s image for good.

Originally uploaded by .missj.

What more can I say?