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It would seem that Caroline Cossey is taking a tentative step back into the limelight.
There is an article on Cosmopolitan.com in which she breaks her silence of many years. Here is the link:
http://www.cosmopolitan.com/sex-love/news/a43715/caroline-co...
I wish her every happiness in this venture.
Love to All
Anne G.
Comments
Nice boobs
I wish her all the best. I see that when she got implants that she did not let them go wild. And, I think that perhaps the best activism is the quiet kind.
Gwen
Nice, Sensitive Article
It's good to read a non-sensationalist article. Cosmo has my respect.
A beautiful lady who broke a few barriers
Caroline struggled hard to become who she is. She didn't struggle to be a lady. She always was one. So many of those in what we call the early years hit that brick wall of bigotry and hatred. They still do but unless they are unlucky, not as often. Still just as cruel though. That will never change. Only God and me know how many times I wanted to lash out when I'm getting an ear full from those who don't understand. Then there are those who really and truly are scared of transgender. They have such a shallow hold on their own sex, those who abandon what is on their birth certificate scares them to death. Thus they fear and usually hate, spewing venom trying to bring "their world" back to their own idea of right.
Because she was at the right time, Caroline's name and her achievements were mentioned often in a lot of my research and posts. So many beautiful ladies who made it against all odds. I wonder how many were saved because we can point to these ladies and say, "They made it. You can too. Don't listen to the bigots. They never really liked you no matter what clothes you wear or what you look like. Your success makes they look like the fools they are."
Transgender are double blessed. Sadly, it is too much for some to handle and too much for many around them to understand. Those outside looking in can guess, research it, study it, try and understand it but they never will ever fully comprehend. Explain Butter Pecan Ice Cream to someone who hasn't tasted it. They might get the idea but the real concept is not there until they take a bite themselves.
Transgender is like that only those outside will never go beyond the explanation stage.
There is no such thing as failure unless one stops trying without having achieved their goal.
Oklahoma born and raised cowgirl
The difference between fame and being well known.
The recent willingness to be publicly know as having a transgendered past both astounds me and gives me hope for those to come. In the late 1970s I lived and worked one year pre-op and one year post-op in the city where I had previously been known as a boy and did not once experience any negative reaction but the decision to move on, to fresh pastures where my transitioned history was not known, allowed me and I felt was necessary for me to mature as an individual.
Most of us I believe want to be well known by at least a few people for the broad scope of our lives from childhood to old age through our many and varied relationships and adventures. Most also I believe do not want to others to think they know us entirely when they in reality they know us for just one thing even if that thing made us rich or famous.
Maybe the day is coming when transitioning will be thought of as having no more significance in a person's life than having had a serious but cured medical condition or having worked for a time in an interesting and educational job. I do hope so as having transitioned is part of who some of us are but it doesn't define us
Rhona McCloud
Yes indeed
Back in 1990 when I went full-time, I could've stayed with a company and transitioned if I thought I would have been treated right. As it is I had no real choice but to move quite a few states away to find a new job.
Goddess knows I made a success of my transition without becoming homeless.
Rabbid Feminists
I have been on a Mormon Feminist blog for a while. Today I revealed my Intersex past. I'm not any more. We have miles to go before we rest.
On Friday evening
I was having dinner with six colleagues, two of whom I know for sure know my history, the other four I don't know. Because I work in a relatively small profession and my transition nearly 30 years ago was 'exposed' by two tabloids over a couple of years, and I stayed put and braved the sniggers, insults and curious looks - this girl wasn't going anywhere so get used to it - after a few years people began to forget. I'm well known within my department, though retiring next week, I'm sure plenty must know but it's hardly ever mentioned - some of the youngsters weren't born then.
So far, I've survived, I've supported my family and paid for two houses while remaining fairly frugal. I'm not world famous, nor beautiful nor especially clever, but I feel contented, or will when I've finished the improvements I want to make to my house. I'm unlikely to be wealthy but I survive. I can't deny my past - it happened - but I see no reason to allow it to dominate my present or future. I will carry on being me, doing the things I enjoy while working a two or three days a week for me. I can't be anyone else, nor wish to be neither do I have to justify any of it.
Being transgender is a curse or disadvantage, being ordinary is so much easier, but having accepted the challenge it's just one more to go with a bad back, various injured joints and so on. In the West, life is about doing what you can and being who you are and living your own truth. We're very fortunate, some in other cultures and locations are not so and while various celebrities are banging drums, to largely good effect though differently to how I'd have done it, there are many of our sisters elsewhere who don't have our privileges or protection, please spare a thought for them.
Angharad
Forgotten AND never mentioned
I've noticed among those who do know of my past it is never mentioned while I am present and even my late mother and sister have passed comments which indicate that at the moment of talking they have forgotten my transition rather like Stella forgets Cathy's on occasion in Bike. History and facts are much more flexible in reality than seems possible when young and looking to the future.
For some of us being born transgender has not proved a curse or disadvantage as the act of transitioning can give an impetus to our life that is missing in those whose lives are closer to the the expected. The people who suffer most seem to those who come from backgrounds of religious fundamentalism or who, because of their situation, cannot earn a living in a socially acceptable way. They definitely deserve better than the world at present offers.
Rhona McCloud
Take another look
Being is neither a curse nor a disadvantage unless one lets it be. Far from me to question how others look at their gift. But let's run some truth shall we? And if you ask me to bring back to life a couple dozen hard drives and all my research to prove what I remember, this is going to take a really really long time. Bear with me.
Most TG have a mental IQ in the MENSA range. Most of them fail a lot of questions on purpose to blend in as normal
Most TG have deeper emotions than male or female. Both sides of their brain are running full tilt not just left brain or right brain like normal people.
Most TG are over achievers. It is why many of the large corporations made it a priority to hire TG "BUT" those corporations didn't advertise their hire policies. Damned if you do, damned if you don't. They wanted TG but feared the public backlash.
It's a heck of a gift (blessing) for those who realize it and a curse for those carrying it as an anchor. I have NEVER EVER NOT EVEN ONCE in (all) my years heard one single TG wish their life on another. No one wants God's gift but most accept it.
If I could I would punch Harry Benjamin in the nose for classifying TG as a mental disorder and setting up the rules one must go through to receive support and elective surgery. No other class of people must go through so much before they receive medical help to achieve their life goal. I blame none of them for self medicating for the medical profession bleeds them financially dry before they ever start.
Many I have met believe the roar of the masses calling them freaks, mentally ill, abominations and their problem will go away if they renounce it, embrace God, and get a life. Sadly many get brainwashed into what everyone is telling them and their misery factor goes off the charts because it isn't a thought or idea or mis training as a child.
Research finally caught up with TG and it is a physical part of their brain development.
Male and Female brains develop differently and function differently
Male to Female TG have a female brain
Female to Male TG have a male brain
Gays have a male brain
Lesbians have a female brain
Heterosexuals have the brain their body signifies
The lab that sliced and diced all those brains was slammed by the medical profession as screwed research. Several other labs followed up and came up with the same results. But nothing changes. Too much money involved to let TG just announce who they are and receive medical. And NO I do NOT want to know where those labs were getting all their brains for research.
Elrod did his research. He mentioned the American Indians thought those who were TG were gifted and two spirit. They honored them and their status was usually medicine man-woman or in the same hierarchy in the tribe. His research was spot on.
No one can live another person's life. We never know what that other person felt, thought, accepted or rejected as they tried to cope with the boy-girl gender blender. I'm proud of every single one who manged to cope no matter how they did it. They can call it a curse or a blessing but if they survive, the whole world is better for them being here. Believe, don't believe, they are special in God's eyes too or He wouldn't have blessed them with such a powerful gift. Most carry that gift hidden in stealth, they want one thing, to be accepted in mind, body, and as a normal person. I proud of those who tell their story whether anonymously or open about who they are. For they made the path better for those following, struggling with their own lives.
I wish everyone happiness most of all for the rest will fall in place. Understand happiness is a state of mind not a physical thing.
Oklahoma born and raised cowgirl