andgrogenous airport agent

[helenr]

Recently we flew on Southwest. On the outbound flight the gate attendant caught my attention as 'she' looked a bit 'different'. Long blonde hair held up in a bun, a face that was hairless, slight breast development, a voice that was passable-but something looked different. The larger hands and a bit of a belly sort of seemed out of place, but some post menopausal women do accumulate fat in that region, alas.
anyway, encounted same gate attendant on the return flight, asked a question about bag size, sort of checking 'her' out. My wife remarked that 'she' was a man. Probably.
I am truly impressed that someone who clearly has had some body modifications-breasts, beard removal--has the courage for such a high profile job. Can you picture a more 'public' situation than a gate person at a busy airport?
She (and I want to be compassionate and give proper pronoun to one of us) wore Bermuda shorts-Southwest flight attendants(male and female I guess) wear shorts as one of their outfits-so it must be OK for the gate person. I don't know if they would permit a dress and hose for a person who may still legally be male. It is an interesting world. helenr

[Teri Jean]

If she truely is transgender female my hat goes off to her.

Teri

[AllieSF]

Actually, it doesn't surprise me at all. If she is a TS, then she is only living her life as the woman that she is. Yes, it takes courage for some to be out in public whether a TS, TG, TV or a CD. However, if someone is a TS and wants to live their life to the fullest as a normal human being, working in the front or back office so to speak should not make a difference. I also congratulate her and all the others out there that we never really see or maybe notice is a better word. Thanks for sharing your experience.

[helenr]

I agree that it shows courage not to stay closetted. Impresses me that Southwest (our favorite airlines) is accepting, apparently. I doubt in my lifetime (now 62) I will see full intergration, acceptance of our community. too many silly skits with men and coconut shells bras and grass skirts and horrible Jerry Springer shows with the worst of humanity. will have to freed from sexual angle also to get acceptance mainstream. One dilemma for those of us who would cheerfully wear dresses daily, women don't even any more! blending in is the stated goal of most TGs and that would limit one's wardrobe. hugs, helen

[stacie]

Being another transgender female who has transitioned. We transition so we can be happy and align our bodies with our mind. Like any other female or person alive we need jobs also. Its not about being brave and trying to go out somewere to snap a few picutures of ourselves in girls clothing. Its about going to work, paying bills and putting food on the table. Our lives don't revolve around pantyhose or trying to get the courage up to go into a store and to buy female clothing or trying to do female things. I hope I don't sound to nasty or mean, I just want people to understand what we are about, we are not CD,s TV,s or drag queens. We are females trying to live our life like any normal person so we can be happy. About myself, I work and go to college and have no fears other then the same things girls worry about. Only a few people know about my past at my job and that is human resources. I also attend college and other then a few good friends who I have told that I am transgender, Know one else knows. I don't understand why it is such a big deal about seeing someone in public who my or my not be transgender.

[joanlynn28]

:iagree:Actually I feel a bit offended about the starter of this thread. She's not an androgenist airline employee, she's a woman just trying to make a living like any other woman in this country. Leave it at that. To say anything that contradicts this is just plan inapropiate and wrong.:2c:

[sherri52]

Good for her. Most of us couldn't do that in our business. I believe I would loose all of my business if I did it, and I'm always wearing a few femme items.

[TerryTerri]

I've come across several TS gals in different work situations. Although I would really love to have a good conversation and even possibly share in friendship with these T-girls. I think it most appropriate to respect their privacy and leave them alone, so to speak. If I ran into them at our local T friendly watering hole or some other such place, perhaps. But, when she's the checkout girl at the grocery store, I just say thank you ma'am (I'm originally from Texas and Ma'am and Sir are ingrained into me) and I go about my day.

[noeleena]

Hi...
Some of us are out there . & i for one dont pass . yet i meet 1000s of people . i do camara work so its all on . I am involoved with womens group s . air ports are no different . if you saw me youd think what a weired bird . yet being a andro . i get on with people . who i have never seen before . both in n z & austraila.
Now as people get to know me not just those who know me . i wear a head scarve or head wear . as i dont have hair . . so i stand out . now more than i did before . no probs . some of our women had thier hair shaved off for cancer week . a few weeks ago . so i was asked if i was doing it for that time . & as it is , i v had some nice comments so if you see some of us who are a bit different . well we are . being accepted & being different is pretty good. if you accept your self ,
...noeleena...

[stacie]

"Although I would really love to have a good conversation and even possibly share in friendship with these T-girls".

Transgender females don't like the term or even being called "T-girls". If you every talk with someone transgender and you call her a T-girl, She will probably get up and walk away or get pist off.

Just wondering, "What type of questions would some of you ask a person who is transgender"? Personally and speaking just for me, "I wouldn't want someone coming up to me and being ask questions about being transgender". I sure as :censor:hell wouldn't want to be ask tips on how be a crossdresser and pass as a female in public.

[Stephenie S]

Dear All,

I rarely post here in public anymore but this one I just had to comment on.

I have no more courage than any other woman out there. I need no aplause for wanting to live my life. I don't need or want your "compassion". We who actually DO transition just want to be left alone to live our lives as the women we have always been in side.

Making these assumptions about who might be "a man" is actually quite offensive. There are plenty of masculine looking women out there who might get really upset at your assumption of their gender. The fact is that you can't really tell. I work with a woman who displays ALL the markers you used to identify this airline employee as "a man". She is tall, with big hands and feet, no hips or butt, wide shoulders, and a low voice. She also has a facial hair problem. The kicker? She's a mother. She is married with two children. Please give transwomen the respect that you are requesting for yourself.

You want to be left alone to be who you want to be? Then leave us alone. If the automatic assumptions that others make concerning YOUR gender offends you, then please examine your automatic assumptions about another's gender. When I go to work, go to the post office, date, go out to dinner, or fly to NY, I go as the woman I have always been. If you think I was once a man, keep it to yourself. You might be wrong. And please, ask yourself why it matters so much. It don't, really.

OK, I will climb down off my soapbox, and go make myself a nice cup of tea. Some of you "got it", but some didn't. This is an important concept. It deserves your attention.

Lovies,
Auntie Stephenie

[helenr]

many good points. I never felt judgemental towards this person. I admire 'her' courage to work in such a public position, since this is far from a super tolerant world. Yes, she may have been GG so I certainly didn't pose any questions-any more than one does when a female appears in her third trimester and someone asks a related question---the response, do I look that fat? so we learn not to ask. I think it is a bit unrealistic, however, to act as this makes no difference in the world today. Clearly many have had their feelings hurt by impolite remarks. I think most transgendered individuals prefer a less public job for this reason. One bit of trivia, 'she' wore her name badge intentionally upside down-don't know why -as it would be better to address 'her' by the first name rather than a hesitant Miss or Mr. my thoughts.

[Starling]

Be we CD, TS, TG, MtF, FtM or butter pecan, in our quest for human acceptance we can sometimes grasp at unwilling straws. Of course we have no business concerning ourselves with the "true" sex or gender of anyone but ourselves. But it can feel so lonely out there--and even shy people like me feel "out there"--that we become hypervigilant for signs of presumably sympathetic life. It can be tempting to make contact.

On my last few flights, I have deliberately studied the glorious range of female presentation, and I must say that women, born or made, are only people--just like men. It's amazing, but true! GGs may enjoy the convenience of carrying gender-apt ID, but aside from that they are really just normal members of homo sapiens who put their skorts on one leg at a time and wonder how their visuals are holding up under the rigors of modern air travel. That is, if they even concern themselves with the opinions of people they'll never see again.

The corollary is true for men. Most of them just want to get their trip completed without unwelcome attention from total strangers.

This mundane freedom cannot be taken for granted, and must be nurtured by restraint. True gender-blindness belongs to the highest stage of consciousness, even for the gender-gifted, and we shouldn't expect to achieve it overnight. But until we get there, let's be sensitive to one another and remember the Golden Rule.

With love for my brothers and sisters,

Lallie

http://www.crossdressers.com/forums/picture.php?albumid=2405&pictureid=23294

[pamela_a]

I can't agree more with Stephanie and Stacy. I'm not trying to make any statements or go out of my way to push an agenda. I'm just trying to live and work as the person I am. I'm a woman.

-Pam-

[Jenny Chen]

"Although I would really love to have a good conversation and even possibly share in friendship with these T-girls".

Transgender females don't like the term or even being called "T-girls". If you every talk with someone transgender and you call her a T-girl, She will probably get up and walk away or get pist off.

Just wondering, "What type of questions would some of you ask a person who is transgender"? Personally and speaking just for me, "I wouldn't want someone coming up to me and being ask questions about being transgender". I sure as :censor:hell wouldn't want to be ask tips on how be a crossdresser and pass as a female in public.

I personally can not agreed with that and i find it silly!

Label with all there is to it are just labels. It's the ever on going need for us, human kind to go out label and classified everything, but from a biological stand point it's how are brain works so who are we to change it.

The matter of the fact is, let it be women, T-girl, TG whatever they are just labels, and to show that you are offended by these would only show insecurity, which only serves to further open you up to be hurt by others.

The way i look at it is words are just words, and by that words only carry with it as much power and meaning as your are willing to give it. Without one's acceptance and acknowledgment, any word bear with it no meaning and by default is not a word.

So really in the end the question is.

"Do you accept, understand and love your self?"

If yes you got nothing to worry about, words can not hurt you, nor should you let it. It is you who should decide who or what you are, other are just obstetrical in the way. So push them aside and walk proud down the path you have chose for your self. And NEVER doubt your self for the steps you have taken is for not for the feint of hearts, and to even have the courage to take such steps shows you have true strength in character!

If no, well you need to take some time out and figure out who you really are, this may take a few day or even years. In my case it took 18 years.

Anyways the point is, if you are comfortable with who you are don't let other tell you what you can and can not do! Decide for "YOU" what u can and can't do, after all it's your life and your the one living it, so others have no right in anyway tell you otherwise. (and I have no right to even say this by that logic :D)

Oh and I totally agreed Stephenie!

[TerryTerri]

"Although I would really love to have a good conversation and even possibly share in friendship with these T-girls".

Transgender females don't like the term or even being called "T-girls". If you every talk with someone transgender and you call her a T-girl, She will probably get up and walk away or get pist off.

Just wondering, "What type of questions would some of you ask a person who is transgender"? Personally and speaking just for me, "I wouldn't want someone coming up to me and being ask questions about being transgender". I sure as :censor:hell wouldn't want to be ask tips on how be a crossdresser and pass as a female in public.

Humm,
I guess it is different for different people. But, I don't find the term T-girl offensive. The only transgender term I don't really care for is Transexual. I don't care for that term because for me this is not about sex. So, even though it is considered more general, I like the term Transgendered, or, in my specific case, a T-girl.
I do apologise to any who might be offended by the term. None was intended, it is how I refer to myself.

Back to the original topic,,,, what Stephanie said!!!!!:thumbsup:

[Senneca]

Humm,
I guess it is different for different people. But, I don't find the term T-girl offensive. The only transgender term I don't really care for is Transexual. I don't care for that term because for me this is not about sex. So, even though it is considered more general, I like the term Transgendered, or, in my specific case, a T-girl.
I do apologise to any who might be offended by the term. None was intended, it is how I refer to myself.

Back to the original topic,,,, what Stephanie said!!!!!:thumbsup:

Isn't it all just words, that only mean whatever you want them to mean? Granted, words can cut quicker and deeper then a double edged sword; but in the really big scheme of things, we are all just human beings, trying to find our way, no matter what anyone wants to call us or whatever we choose to call ourselves.

[kellycan27]

Dear All,

I rarely post here in public anymore but this one I just had to comment on.

I have no more courage than any other woman out there. I need no aplause for wanting to live my life. I don't need or want your "compassion". We who actually DO transition just want to be left alone to live our lives as the women we have always been in side.

Making these assumptions about who might be "a man" is actually quite offensive. There are plenty of masculine looking women out there who might get really upset at your assumption of their gender. The fact is that you can't really tell. I work with a woman who displays ALL the markers you used to identify this airline employee as "a man". She is tall, with big hands and feet, no hips or butt, wide shoulders, and a low voice. She also has a facial hair problem. The kicker? She's a mother. She is married with two children. Please give transwomen the respect that you are requesting for yourself.

You want to be left alone to be who you want to be? Then leave us alone. If the automatic assumptions that others make concerning YOUR gender offends you, then please examine your automatic assumptions about another's gender. When I go to work, go to the post office, date, go out to dinner, or fly to NY, I go as the woman I have always been. If you think I was once a man, keep it to yourself. You might be wrong. And please, ask yourself why it matters so much. It don't, really.

OK, I will climb down off my soapbox, and go make myself a nice cup of tea. Some of you "got it", but some didn't. This is an important concept. It deserves your attention.

Lovies,
Auntie Stephenie

Little touchy aren't you? I don't see anything offensive about this post,so please speak for yourself, because when you say "we" you include "me". I am a transsexual, and I am proud of my accomplishments as a transsexual. I am not or can ever be a real woman..... but I can give em a run for their money!:heehee:
Kelly

[GypsyKaren]

When you see someone and make an assumption about them, well, you know what they say when you assume something.

GK

[Michelle_Sullivan]

"Although I would really love to have a good conversation and even possibly share in friendship with these T-girls".

Transgender females don't like the term or even being called "T-girls". If you every talk with someone transgender and you call her a T-girl, She will probably get up and walk away or get pist off.


As someone who is a T-Girl (24x7) I am one who doesn't mind talking to people, in fact I am quite open about my gender and transition, so much so I have a full page article going into the Courier Mail (Brisbane based Newspaper) about me and transgenderism. I try and get the message out there that we're not all freaks, and that we are real people, of course some will never understand, and some people will go out of their way to be a "freak".