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I recently purchased some Avon products from: www.youravon.com/peggyhicks and I find that I am very pleased with them. I met Peggy at The Southern Comfort Conference last year and I found her very understanding about us TG/TS/CD/whatever folks, and she is VERY discrete, respecting our need for secrecy/privacy.
I bought Avon Clinical Thermafirm cream, and a kit of Anew Ultimate. I find that I am experiencing cleaner, smoother and firmer facial skin and I will reorder as I run out of these products, as well as ordering other stuff from her catalog. I HIGHLY recommend her to all of you for your makeup needs.
Hugs 'n stuff,
Cathy
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But... Why?
Privacy? Secrecy? But, you're out! I don't understand.
As for me, I'm only sorta out. I still closet about half of my life: family, neighbors, and classes of strangers I don't implicitly trust. But that out part is powerful. Once I got over the fear of being afraid, my world opened up. I'll purchase almost anything, anywhere, except in my own neighborhood. Never had a problem. Maybe a couple wiseass clerks in a Payless shoe store, but a hairy eyeball and a credit card shoved in their face, and they took care of business.
I've finally got enough makeup. I even started (gasp!) throwing away some of the older stuff, and stuff I don't like. If you've ever hoarded something like it was holy, unattainable treasure, you'll know the feeling. It took me a while to realize it wasn't unattainable anymore. My capacious makeup box overflowing gave me a clue. As did all the discount coupons the drugstore gives me that I carry around in my wallet.
Stop being embarrassed, and people won't embarrass you. But, especially for crossdressers, and most especially for employed ones, I still advise keeping a safety buffer around your front door, so to speak. ENDA now!
The gay community has noticed that, as more of them came out over the years, public attitudes towards acceptance have shifted more positive. Latest poll figures I've seen indicate as many as 80% of Americans may now support ending the "Don't Ask, Don't Tell" military service policy, and changing it to one of open service. A small majority of Americans also now support allowing gay couples to marry. The generational shift is happening.
To some extent, through more exposure to the subject, even the sensationalist crap that passes for daytime television, transsexuals are winning more public acceptance, too.
It's easier for the public to demonize imagined people that they just stereotype. Much harder when faced with the actual people.
Straight male crossdressers like, ummm... me, are so deep in the closet that we'll never find acceptance from the public or dispel their fear of the unknown. It's hard to convince us to come out of the closet, too, because it's so easy for us to live in one and still have a normal life.
Maybe we can't have a national "Out" day, but we could push the boundaries in little ways. Like shopping for makeup for yourself while dressed "en drab." Just don't put it on your company's corporate credit card.
As for you, Cathy. You're out! Now, keep out of that closet, will you? :)
___________________
If a picture is worth 1000 words, this is at least part of my story.
Sadly repealing DADT went down
Sadly repealing DADT went down to ingominious defeat, so remains in force. So did a lot of other more "liberal" agenda items. Can you say, "Mid Term Election Panic"? Idiots!!! On the other hand, if the pundits are correct, then we may be seeing a dangerous turn to the more repressive and devisive agenda of the Religious Righteous, and that would be bad for all of us.
CaroL
CaroL
This blog entry was meant
for those who AREN'T out yet. I remember the anxiety of going into a store and trying to look casual while I perused the various tubes and bottles of magical stuff called "makeup", knowing that if I dared buy some, looking like a guy as I did then, I'd be laughed at, humiliated, and arrested. LOL
I don't have those worries anymore, but a lot are still in that shadow land called closet, and good stuff that you can buy online, from someone who understands and respects one's lifestyle choices, is priceless for them. I know it would have been for me.
Cathy
As a T-woman, I do have a Y chromosome... it's just in cursive, pink script.
You Won't Be Arrested
Here's my advice today to the me of 10 years ago:
There is nothing to fear from shopping for makeup, as long as you don't bump into your neighbors or your coworkers. If the sales girl acts a little too helpful, simply smile like you know what you're doing and decline help. She'll go pester someone else. Unless you want help, and then you've got a judgement call to make. If she's young and not conservative looking (count the piercings and the visible surface area of any tattoos), she might even enjoy helping you. If you look and are dressed like a guy, I do have this advice: don't try the samples on in store. It's the kind of thing that can make other shoppers nervous, and even an accepting sales girl doesn't want that. Other than that, just remember this: none of the other shoppers has any idea who you are, what you do, or who you are shopping for. And mostly, they don't care, either.
It's all about attitude. Don't act shifty, and people won't think you're shifty. One way to not appear fearful and shifty is to pay with your bank or credit card. It proves you have nothing to hide. Just another shopper. If you can buy a box of condoms and a tube of lube, you can certainly buy makeup. Maybe don't buy them at the same time, though. :)
Don't forget the most important advice, which applies in all stores: don't shoplift! That's the one thing that will get you arrested.
Make up? nah; no problem.
Hi Catherine.
I even buy my shoes en-homme but not on my own door step. Mincing around in brantano or new Look or next whilst trying on size 9 (UK) heels doesn't seem to cause anybody to bat an eye.
In the UK attitudes to us trannies are changing. I've tried on skirts and whole outfits in shops and nary an eyebrow raised.
PS. I've been told by some of my friends over the pond that the word 'Tranny' might be deemed offensive. Strangely I'm not offended by it. I suppose it's what you are and where you come from that determines your outlook on words.
We Scouscers, (that is citizens of Liverpool UK) abbreviate everything. Ciggy for cigarrette, Suzzi for suspenders and so on.
'Love t'yall'
Beverly Taff.
PS Catherine.
I've been told by Gwen brown that you skype.
I'll send you my email privately if you want to connect.
Beverly.
Growing old disgracefully.