Today I had the distinct honor of participating in a baby shower for a very dear sister who in due to deliver her first child, a girl, on the 1st of December.  She asked those of us who attended the shower to hand write a message to her daughter to be… Read full post »

I learned to take risks at a young age. I was a climber, an explorer, never the kid that sat quietly alone if there was any alternative. I was "into everything" as my mother would often say. Once I was playing mountain climber on the stairs that went to the basement.… Read full post »

“I know I’m not a man…and I’ve come to the conclusion that I’m probably not a woman, either…The trouble is, we are living in a world that insists we be one or the other.”

These words were written by author Kate Bornstein at the beginning of her landmark… Read full post »

Tomorrow I will go to the office and will be asked several times, "So, how was your weekend?" I typically respond, "Too short." But I know how disappointing that answer is for those who genuinely care about me, as well as those who are super curious about what a transwoman does… Read full post »

What a great day for transgender people, and for our country!

I'm getting used to writing "male to female lesbian-identified post-op transsexual." How's that for a gender? When they put those little boxes on the forms, one says "male" and the other says "female," for years I checked "male." Now I always check "female." The first time I was ever out in… Read full post »

I have my own breasts now, and I attended a "Booby Party" last Saturday to help raise money for cancer research. Once the party ended, I had to come home and hear this song again. It has been viewed a million and a half times, and even if you have seen… Read full post »

Just a few hours ago I was in tremendous inner turmoil over a decision I made. I was trembling and on the verge of tears, but I was at work, and I was going home in about thirty minutes, so I put on my brave face. I can do this, I… Read full post »

I received this letter today. I thought you all might be interested. I was never contacted by Page West. I was contacted by the Perioperative Manager, Judalynn Keifner, who was very apologetic and promised to do a "full investigation," which I now understand to mean "you cannot argue with us about… Read full post »

I have been trying for weeks to contact the family of a transgender woman (Ariana) that was murdered here in my town about three years ago. I have a contact at the local newspaper who has been very helpful in getting me the brief paragraph that reported her beating, and another… Read full post »

Today I was the recipient of unconditional love from six of the most wonderful women I have ever met. I am still "high" from the experience, and have had my joy returned to me even more fully than I ever knew it. Today I was given back the freedom that was… Read full post »

I love Rachel Maddow. Soooooooooo much!

I don't know about you, but this should settle the "Gay Marriage Question" once and for all.

Let me begin by saying clearly that I am not looking for sympathy or notes of condolences. I'm not even looking for support, although I know the OS family is by nature very supportive. Let me also say that only a small handful of people know what I am about to… Read full post »

I have always been the trusting little patient, believing that doctors have had the best education and training, so when they tell you something, it is more dependable than the Bible (which isn't saying much, I know). But they are the guardians of our lives in this life, aren't they? Who… Read full post »

The easy part was over five hours ago when I was wheeled into Recovery. The last of my birth defects had been corrected surgically. Now I am at home reflecting on what exactly that means to me.

The day started for me at 5:00 am when I woke up and… Read full post »

In my very first blog on OS, I wrote of the road ahead for me as a transsexual woman. I spoke of the possibility of losses, my hope for new awarenesses, and of the three surgeries most commonly undertaken by male-to-female (MTF) transwomen when they determine that they must physically transition.… Read full post »

From Monday's Denver Post:

When she was first found — seen through the cracked opening of a Trinidad motel room door — she was lying on the floor naked, bleeding and bound at the hands and feet with telephone cords.

She had been sexually assaulted with a coat hanger. Inside… Read full post »

Tonight was America's Night Out, and our apartment management got a permit to close off our street and have a street party. But I sat alone in my apartment the whole evening, afraid to go out and mingle with my neighbors. It is all over now, and the Fire Department has… Read full post »

I had the great pleasure of meeting my first OS blogger this weekend. She lives in San Francisco and is known on this site as Sirenita Lake (yes, I have her permission to use her name here). She has been an online friend on OS for nearly as long as I… Read full post »

I posted a song on a previous post that was my Most Read post ever. The post was titled "Getting a Second Chance," and no one commented on the song. I wondered if anyone actually listened to it.

This is my song. It resonates with me on a deep level.… Read full post »

1. Who was your FIRST prom date? Joyce. She was pregnant with our first child and we were both Juniors. I had already dropped out of school and was working, but I had hired the band, so I had to be there, and we had a wonderful time.… Read full post »

The ocean breeze had become a cold night wind, the air filled with droplets of humidity that felt like a cold shower as I made my way along Market Street in San Francisco this last weekend. I only had to walk one block from the BART train station to the bus… Read full post »

I just found out about a show that is on ABC network tomorrow night, Tuesday, July 21. The name of the show is "Primetime: Family Secrets" and it is on at 10:00 pm PT. I don't know how well it is done, but ABC followed this family for a year… Read full post »

This last week has been bad, marked with moments of exquisite joy, and moments of utter and complete sadness. I have been smoking and drinking far more than ever and today I even caught myself searching transsexual suicide prevention websites. I cannot remember a single thing from any of those sites… Read full post »