Friday April 28, 2017 - First transwoman wins Glamour's College Women of the Year award

ABC Breaking News | Latest News Videos

Friday April 28, 2017 - 1,000 Blog Posts

I did not realize it, but yesterday was my 1,000th post on this blog. So I decided to go back to the first post.

I did not realize that I started this blog 3 years and 20 days ago. I did not start posting everyday until December 18, 2014.

Over this three year plus period I have discussed alot of issues and have tried to share with you in an open and informative way, my personal issues with my gender dysphoria.

I had already lost weight and was having my bread removed, when I started this blog.


I looked at the changes over the past 3 years. My facial appearance has changed from Sept 2014 (left) to April 2017 (right). I seem more relaxed with better makeup and a more confident overall look. The HRT is definitely working.

The left picture below show me shopping as a "femboy" in 2015. I spent about 18 months getting comfortable in public as a feminine looking guy. I had no problems and had many compliments from woman. The right picture below in me in January 2017, going out as Susan King.

I have come along way in a relatively short period of time. I like both the physical changes and mental changes.
This blog is not over as I hope to go until at least until June 10, 2018, which will be my second anniversary on HRT.

Thursday April 27, 2017 - Trans-health for military service personnel has positive effects on mental health

Military service boosts resilience, well-being among transgender veterans

Health and medicine | News releases | Social science Transgender people make up a small percentage of active-duty U.S. military personnel, but their experience in the service may yield long-term, positive effects on their mental health and quality of life.

Wednesday April 26, 2017 - Interesting change this morning.

Last Friday I posted about my rapid breast growth over the past 10 months. I can now tell when I am gong thru a growth spurt. I get this sensitivity from my nipple area down in a straight line to a small circular area at the base of my chest. They become very sore for a day or two.

Well, this morning I woke up and got out of bed to go to the bathroom. As I got up, I felt the weight of my breasts pulling downward. I never felt that before. Sometimes during the sensitive time, I feel movement but never this "heaviness".

While in the bathroom, I understood, while woman with large breasts would have back problems.

I decided to put on a bra before I got back in the bed. Putting on the bra, brought needed relieve from that heaviness. I am back in the bed and feel much better.

I am wondering, if I am going to have to start wearing a bra at night? Is wearing a bra at night good or bad for you.


Below is some research I found on this issue. I am have to find some bras or tops with a bra shelve to wear at night.

Is Sleeping In A Bra Good Or Bad For You?

Unsurprisingly, there is a lot of contention around the notion of sleeping in a bra. While some women instantly recoil at the idea (a very uncomfortable suggestion, according to a few ladies in our office), others claim the extra support will prevent sagging and keep things looking, well, up.

Tuesday April 25, 2017 - Finding your correct bra size

Most woman do not know their correct bra size. You can go to a store and be fitted by a knowledgeable clerk or you can try doing it yourself.

With my growing breasts due to HRT, I have been using a measuring tape in an attempt to find the right bra size. I have followed that up by trying on bras at the store until I found a bra that I felt looked and fit well.

Below is a nice video to help find the correct bra size or at least a good starting point. Below the video is a link to a bra calculator web site that will determine your bra size based on your measurements.

Link to Bra Calculator 

Monday April 24, 2017 - Plus-size Trans model, Loves herself and Landed a major fashion contract

The first ever plus-size trans model to land a major fashion contract is set to be part of a campaign with “full LGBT representation.” Shay Neary.

 The 28-year-old, who lives in New York, is now modelling for plus-size fashion label Yours Clothing’s spring and summer lines. Speaking to Bustle, the model said: “From what [brand executive Rosie Middleton] told me, they most definitely want to use me in the fall for possibly a more diverse collection. “One where they pull out a full LGBT representation.”

 In the meanwhile, Neary is filling a vital gap in the output of Yours Clothing, which caters for sizes 16 to 36.


“They have a very large trans clientele,” she explained, “and they get a lot of questions in their customer service box about how to get the shape and figure of a woman.” She praised the brand for taking on a campaign with a plus-size trans model, saying:“They’re not just doing it for the ticket. “They’re doing it because they genuinely understand their consumer.”

 And she had some advice for others going through what she has struggled with.

“I come from an older generation of trans people, where you were fearful to be spotted for being trans,” she said. “I focused on passability.

Now, what I want to tell trans [people] is just be yourself. Whatever comes along with that, be yourself. “You don’t have to hit either side of the [gender] margin, and your style can represent that. If you want to put on a dress and a blazer, you rock that.” Writing in Yours Clothing’s style guide, she added: “Sometimes finding yourself takes a long time. “

Transitioning teaches us to become ourselves. But we sometimes forget who we were. “There are days where I don’t wear makeup and wear relaxed clothing. I don’t look like my normal fem-bot self. THAT’S OK!” she told customers. “We are constantly changing, so you aren’t meant to always look the same. Get comfortable with the not so pretty, and the confidence will start to blossom. “You’ve got to love yourself beyond the facade of beauty.”

Sunday April 23, 2017 - Another senseless murder

Transgender woman Chay Reed shot and killed in Miami

Miami has lots one member of its transgender community. On Friday, transgender woman Chay Reed, 28, was shot and killed in Miami, Florida, WPLG reported. An earlier report, which misgendered Reed, said that she was shot while running across the street. Her attacker fled the scene.

The list of trans women killed in 2017 thus far.

1. Mesha Caldwell – Mississippi (January 4), 41 years old
2. Jamie Lee Wounded Arrow – Sioux Falls (January 7), 28 years old
3. JoJo Striker – Toledo, Ohio (February 8), 23 years old
4. KeKe Collier – Chicago (February 21), 24 years old
5. Chyna Gibson – New Orleans (February 25), 31 years old
6. Ciara McElveen – New Orleans (February 27), 26 years old
7. Jaquarrius Holland (Brown) – Monroe, Louisiana (February 19), 18 years old
8. Alphonza Watson – Baltimore (March 22), 38 years old
9. Chay Reed – Miami-Dade (April 19), 28 years old

Friday April 21, 2017 - Breast Timeline: 1 mo HRT to 10 mo HRT

Over the past 10 months I have had gone thru many changes, both mental and physical. One of the physical changes that is easiest to document is my breast development.

I am very lucky genetically, that this has happened so quickly and I love it. It is started to impact my male mode because its coming harder to hide.

1 Month - Less than 36A

10 Months - 36C

Thursday April 20, 2017 - Take your dress measurement.

Taking your measurement for female clothes can sometimes be important information to have. Below is an inforgraphic on how to take your measurement. This will be followed by a short video.

Wednesday April 19, 2017 - Tips to help you feel more feminine while in boy mode

Decades before I started this recent HRT journey, I lived full-time as a male. To help with my dysphoria, I began to do thinks that helped me feel more feminine.

Below is a recent Reddit post with some ideas. I followed this post with some comments of my own and some additional tips.

Simple tips to help you look and feel feminine from asktransgender

My comments:

1. I did start wearing woman' deodorant in the 1980's and no one ever said anything.
2. In 1990, after I told my parents that the therapy did not work and I was still a "crossdresser", I started wearing woman's underwear. I have not worn male underwear since 1990. Its very empowering. I added sports bras in 1995.
3. It was only recently, I started getting pedicures but I have not had a professional manicure. I usually do my own nails and keep them clean and use clear polish (without a shine).
4. I never added makeup, but some of his ideas are possible.
5. I tried to watch "girl" TV and movies. I even tried to read female-based books. But I could not get into them until 6+ months on HRT. As I stated in a recent post, my interest in movies has changed. I am going to try books again.
6. In the late 1980's , I began mixing female clothes into my male wardrobe. They had a male look to them but were purchased in the woman's section. I added flat, pants and shirts. No one ever said anything. I was once interviewed in the 1994 on ESPN and ABC network news and I was wearing 100% female clothes that had a male look. I never had a negative comment. I look at the videos today and smiled.
7. In the 1980's I began shaving my legs. In the 1990's, I added my whole body that included underarms and genital areas. I have kept my body hairless since then. I never had an issue with hairless legs, even at the beach or pool.

In summary, there are many ways to add femininity while in male mode. I suggest you slowly try it. I helped me with my dysphoria. 

However,  I had to keep adding things in order to keep the dysphoria at bay. I think this is because eventually the feminine change becomes normal and you have to feed to dysphoria something else.

Tuesday April 18, 2017 - Gender Id and Sexual Orientation are different

From Stanford University

Monday April 17, 2017 - My new normal.

I was cleaning around the house this morning. So, I decided to throw on my orange top and green skinny jeans. I added my spring flats and cleaned.



If I were going out later, I would add jewelry, makeup and hair, then out I would go. I would present female today because I feel like it.

However, I have to teach today, So I will present male, with a jacket, tie and vest.

It does not bother me how I ultimately present today, because in my mind I feel female. When I look in the mirror, I see Susan no matter how I present.

My daily  presentation is now based on my daily activity and how I feel. I am no longer stressed about it.

Sunday April 16, 2017 - I no longer see the movies the same way.

Saturday night, I went to see the new Furious 5 movie. This is the third action movie I have seen, in which  I fell asleep during the movie.

I use to love action movies. But I find them OK, but some times they are boring. I fell asleep during Assassins Creed, XXX and now this one. I now find action movies boring and predictable.

I love movies like the Shack, Fences and La La Land. In the past, I would have never gone to see The Shack and La La Land. I cried during all three of these movies and found them compelling.  I like movies with a message, not mindless action.

I still like Science Fiction. I loved the Star Wars movie and Star Trek is still my favorite. But I will not be seeing the new Aliens. Its too predictable and I will probably find it boring with mindless action.

This is a change and I point it to my HRT.

Saturday April 15, 2017 - How to successfully tuck it away.

After 10 months of HRT, I no longer have this problem. But many in our community still do. I found this very informative site on tucking.

This article offers two ways to tuck. I used both methods depending on what I was wearing.

All The Questions You Had About Tucking, But Were Afraid To Ask

Tucking is a practice, well-known in both trans and drag circles, of putting one's penis between and behind one's legs, so that it's not visible from the front of the body. Some people push their testicles back as well, while others move them upward and rest them on the lower part of their abdomen before securing them in place.

Friday April 14, 2017 - Transman outed in Survivor Show

Thursday April 13, 2017 - Dove’s New Transgender-Inclusive Ad Shows that Love Makes a Mom Not Gender

This new commercial by Dove includes a transwoman and cis-woman couple raising their daughter. This couple is just one of the many Mom's shown in this commercial. Making transwoman normal is so important in the development of our acceptance.

Wednesday April 12, 2017 - 10 month HRT Measurements

Below are my current measurements and the change since last month. The picture is followed by an explanation and then a table showing the monthly changes since I began HR on June 10, 2016.

The above chart shows that last month all of my measurements above my stomach decreased. My stomach and hips remained the same. My thighs decreased (Darn!).

Last month I stated I wanted to get stabilize my weight by returning to a stricter eating regime. It appears to have worked because my measurements decreased or remained the same.

The difference in size between my above breast area and breast line and between the area under my breast line (bra band) and my breast line did not change.

Overall I am happy with my results. As long as I keep my overall size  or  get a little smaller, I an happy. I still need to figure out how to get back into the gym.

AREA	00M	01M	02M	03M	04M	05M	06M	07M	08M	09M	10M	11M	12M
SHOULDER	?	45.0	45.0	43.0	43.0	41.0	41.0	42.0	41.5	42.5	42.0
ABOVE BREAST	37	37.0	37.5	36.0	36.5	36.5	38.0	36.0	36.5	38.0	37.5
BUST LINE	38	39.0	39.5	38.50	39.75	39.00	40.0	39.5	40.0	41.0	40.5
BRA BAND	36	35.0	35.5	34.75	35.0	34.25	34.5	34.0	34.0	34.5	34.0
WAIST@BELLY BUTTON	38	36.0	37.0	36.5	37.0	36.5	35.5	35.0	35.0	36.0	36.0
HIPS	40	40.0	40.0	40.0	39.5	39.5	39.5	39.0	39.0	39.0	39.0
THIGHS	37	37.0	37.0	36.5	36.0	36.0	36.5	36.0	36.0	37.0	36.0
HIPS VS SHOULDERS	--	5.0	5.0	3.0	2.0	1.5	1.5	3.0	2.5	3.5	3.0
BUST LINE VS ABOVE BREAST	1.0	2.0	2.0	2.5	3.25	2.5	2.0	3.5	3.5	3.0	3.0
BUST LINE VS BRA BAND	2.0	4.0	4.0	3.25	4.75	4.75	5.5	5.5	6.0	6.5	6.5

My physical goals for Month 10 were:

1. Keep losing weight (did not work due to trying to cure blood sugar levels)
2. Get my waist down to 34" (did not work due to  trying to cure blood sugar levels)
3. Get increase in Bust line. 

My physical goals for Month 11 are:

1. Get calorie count back under control
2. back in gym
3. Try to keep losing weight 
4. Get my waist to 34"

Tuesday April 11, 2017 - Month 10 Mental update

Month 10 was a seesaw month for me. In the beginning of the month, I decided to change my daily medicine regime. I reduced my Spironolactone by 50% (200 mg to 100 mg) and eliminated finasteride (5 mg).

In doing that, I began to feel the rise in maleness coming back. So after talking to my Doctor, I returned back to my original regime and he added a 4th medicine (sildenafil).

The following discussion is tough for me to talk about, but I feel it's important to get it out.

The reason I made this regime change, is that for at least 6 months, I have had no interest is sex. After 40+ years of  having a sex drive, I was wondering if my dysphoria was connected to my sex drive and testosterone. So maybe, if I slightly raised my testosterone level, I could find that middle ground.

However the change in my regime was more about my overall internal feelings and my reaction to the world. I was moving from a mental state I loved, back to a more aggressive reactionary state and I did not like that much. What I did learn in this brief two week trial, is that HRT has changed me more that I though.

The following is so hard for me to describe. I now know why the genders have a hard time understanding each other. Now, when I see someone I am physically interested in, it's totally different than how I felt as man. It's more about closeness and intimacy than physical sex.

As a male, you will do and say anything to get that person to like you and potentially have sex. As a female, it's about that mental connection and closeness.

In the last 6 months, the few times I was intimate, I was surprised how I did jump to "attention". But it did not last long. Also the reaction was different. Pre-HRT, I was physically ready to perform sexually beforehand. Now, it's during that early closeness pre-sex period that activates my body.

As a guy, we are ready to go. But you need to wine and dine with flowers and add conversation to kind of prime her. HRT has moved me from being that guy to that gal that needs to be primed. Now I need a period of  mental closeness to get ready. Maybe a picnic, walk in the park and/or a nice talk.

I have decided to remain being that gal that needs to be primed and the 4th drug, added to my regime, gives me the ability to last much longer. The 4th drug, sildenafil, is the active ingredient in viagra.

So one I am at "attention", I stay there much longer because it restricts the blood from flowing backward and thus losing that erection.

This was tough for me to explain and open up about, but I hope it will help others. Just, remember HRT may affect everyone differently.

Monday April 10, 2017 - More about Transwoman consultant

Being a transgender woman isn't nearly so simple as throwing on a dress and a wig. In fact, one 'femininity coach' explains that there is a lot of work - and emotion - that goes into transitioning from being a man to a woman - and she should know, as she's helped hundreds of clients through the process.

Monica Prata founded her company, Nouveau She, in 2008, and since its inception, she has taught a long list of male-to-female transgender clients to dress, apply make-up, speak, and even behave like women.

'Often by the time my clients come to me, they've suppressed these feelings for 40 plus years,' the New York-based feminine image consultant told Daily Mail Online, explaining that it's become clear to her that being transgender is not a choice. 'It's a great honor to be a part of their process,' she added.

Sunday April 9, 2017 - Transgender consultant

Meet Monica Prate, owner  and founder of Nouveau She. Since 2008, she has been offering image consulting and more to transwoman.

Saturday April 8, 2017 - Your eye color and eye shadow

As I learn about makeup, one area I am struggling with is eye shadow.  I try to match my eye shadow with my outfit. Here is an infographic about eye shadow color and you eye color.

I think I am going to try to incorporate this idea into my eye shadow color.


My eye color has a brown tint, link my Mother.

Friday April 7, 2017 - India embraces its Trans Community.

How India Embraces The 'Third Gender': Laxmi Narayan Tripathi at 'Women in The World'

In Western cultures, the idea that gender is fluid rather than binary has come with labels like "transgender," referring to people who don't identify as the gender they were given at birth.

Thursday April 6, 2017 - First Transgender romance on TV

Callie & Aaron's Romance on 'The Fosters' is The First Transgender Romance on Freeform

are breaking barriers once again by featuring a new transgender romance on the small screen. Last night, we saw Callie (Maia Mitchell ) and Aaron (Elliot Fletcher ), a transgender man, share a kiss after Callie stood up for him during a family dinner.

Wednesday April 5, 2017 - True heartwarming story

This short Indian film (3+mins) sponsored by P&G, is a true heartwarming story of a young girl raised by a Transwoman.

Over 5.7 million views in 1 week.

Tuesday April 4, 2017 - I keep Coming Out

Even though I am presenting mostly as a male. I have been telling friends about my gender issue. Last Wednesday, I had a former Professor of mine (took his course in 1978) come and speak to my class.

He has become a very successful Entrepreneur and we have remained friends since 1978.

After the class, he, a female associate of his and myself had lunch. During our conversation, we talked about his study of Chinese medicine and mental energy, I decided to bring up my gender issue.

I told them how good I was feeling and that the main reason was that after 50 years I was coming to terms with my gender and how it fits into my life.

They were both very supportive and he related Chinese thoughts on gender and how every culture defines gender but its more complex that what many Cultural norms dictate.

For the first time, I did not feel that discussing my gender issue was going to be a problem. It just came up and I added it to the conversation. There was no negative reaction, just a happiness on their part that I was dealing with it in a constructive way.

I am going to continue to do this in an attempt to help our community by letting people know, we exist and that they know someone who is part of our community.

Below is a short coming out Intagram video from Gia Gunn, a formed Rupaul contestant.

This is me 💕💙🌈 #transvisibilityday #girlslikeus #transgender

A post shared by Gia Gunn Official Account (@gia_gunn) on Mar 31, 2017 at 2:48pm PDT

Monday April 3, 2017 - Saturday, I did go shopping.

Saturday, I went our shopping for some nice tops. I decided to reduce but upgrade my female wardrobe in case I want to present as a woman. I have been updating my male wardrobe, adding spring shirts and pants.

One of my problems is that my eating to control my diabetes is causing a slight weight gain. I can feel it in my clothes. At the Doctor's office last Thursday, it does not show much gain, but I can still feel it.

The eating is working, but I am going to have to get back in the gym.With my new body, I do not think my old female gym clothes will work. I was a little smaller then and they were already tight.

I did not find and female tops, but I did find a bra, I liked. It was on sale, so I bought it. I loved the color and the lace.

Most of my 36C bras are red or have red in them. I want to add a white, black and other color bras. But only when I find good deals.

I did buy 3 new male spring tops. I threw away my old male tops because they did not hide my breasts. These new ones have two front pockets and are slightly bigger. They did not have a"noisy" print.

I want to go to the beach, this spring. So I am trying to figure out what I can wear while in boy mode. I use to always wear a T-shirt. But now that does not give me enough coverage.

I might need a FTM binder that I can wear under a T-shirt.

Sunday April 2, 2017 - Atlanta Bridge Collapse affects even me

If you had not read or seen this, there was a major fire under Interstate 85, last Thursday. Its in North Atlanta and I live in South Atlanta. Yet it is affecting traffic everywhere. Sunday I had to travel into the North Atlanta mountains.  I-85 is the main highway from our meeting point.

We planned on leaving around 10 am but has to change our schedule to 6 am due to traffic and rerouting.

This caused me to not get my post up on Sunday. I had it easy, I have friends who had their normal 30-45 minute commute turn into 3/4hours.

Saturday April 1, 2017 - Transgender Teacher