Taking Public Transportation

[Sheren Kelly]

I took the subway, Metro Blue Line, while dressed.

I didn't encounter any problems.

Ditto for me. It has been awhile for me, but I never had a problem and I was certain I was read from the time I stepped into the train. Be confident and stay with a well mixed crowd and you should have no problems.

[Rianna Humble]

When I thought cross-dressing would enable me to cope with my gender dysphoria, I used to travel by public transport twice a day between 5 and 7 days a week dressed but without make-up or a wig. On at least one occasion a GG said that she admired me for having the confidence to present in that way.

Now I wouldn't go anywhere without my make-up, but I still travel twice a day by public transport.


Contessa, have you listened to what your wife feels about the idea of you using public transport? Not only what are her reasons, but how does it make her feel?

[Beverley Sims]

"Dress and blend in", in New York City?? I thought NYC was the place where it was mandatory to wear something outrageous

Nooo! You 're thinking of San Francisco.
Just about anything goes.
Washington DC> looks a bit more conservative.
New Orleans here I come.

[KylieA]

Otherwise, I normally drive into the city because I tend to come home after the public system shuts down for the evening.

The shutting down is a pain. Boston's MBTA Subway shuts down a little after midnight. No late night bar visits in Boston without a car. On the other hand NYC's MTA runs 24/7. Maybe that is why more people ride NYC Subway then all others in the US combined. You can relay upon it.

[Vanessa Storrs]

The only cities where I've used mass transit are San Francisco. Both cities are very accepting and their public transit systems are. Also very tolerant of transgendered people. Never a problem with either system.

[CamillaCD]

I've been to London three times. Each time I used the underground (enfemme) to get around. No problems at all.

At SCC this year I took the MARTA downtown on Saturday and visited the aquarium. No problem.

Here in Oslo I haven't used public transportation, mostly due to practical reasons. It takes an hour to get downtown, 20 minutes by car. Shortly after midnight the subway closes, leaving an expensive taxi ride home as the only alternative.

[Andy66]

I see CD or trans ladies on the Vegas buses maybe once every two months on the average. (At least the ones I'm aware of.) I have never seen any problems occur. They are mostly ignored. The most recent lovely CD lady I ran into seemed a bit defensive, as if she was expecting trouble. I think she left pleasantly surprised.

[Claire Cook]

I've taken the DC Metro several times while dressed and never had a problem. It seems most people are too absorbed in their own thoughts (or newspapers, or books, or smart phones) to care much what I wear.

[Stiefelchris]

I think people are busy all the time and do not care much anyway.

[DonnaT]

Washington DC> looks a bit more conservative.

Not really. DC even has gender anti-discrimination laws.

[toriwilliams]

while visiting NYC for four days, i was staying in queens and took the number 7 train back-and-from manhattan each day. no problems.

[Genifer Teal]

I've taken lot's of metro area commuter trains including amtrak. Never a problem. NYC subways can be a crap shoot (good or bad). How your are dressed does not necessarily influence that. My general rule is I may take the subway when going out but not when returning home late at night. I usually just take cabs.

[Cristi]

I've taken the subway into Boston from the suburbs West of the city all the way in. Once there, I got back on a few times to get to different parts of town. All in all including transfers, I think I got on 8 different trains and was out 5+ hours. All while in a skirt suit, pantyhose, heels, etc.

Nobody even gave me a 2nd glance... It was a great day.

[Samantha_Smile]

Possible tangent here but it just occurred to me to share it here, not only is it related to transgenderism on public transport, but it's pretty good insight into why the public at large may view CDing as odd.

I have a friend who moved to Manchester city center a few years ago, he's not a CD but openly admits to trying it under his philosophy of
"Can't knock it till you try it", which Ive always thought was awesome.
He doesnt drive and so all of his transport of anything over a mile or two (work and shopping) is done by bus, train or tram.
One day on his way home from work, head buried in a book (Not unusual to find him like this. I can recall a few occasions where he removed himself from conversation to finish a chapter, only to be shouted at for his behaviour) and about 10 minutes into a 30 minute bus journey, the bus pulls up at a stop.
From the back of the bus he hears teenagers laughing much louder than most people would say was acceptable, he lifts his head ready to turn round to see if it was him they were laughing at, but before turning he see's, at the front of the bus what he described as,
"... the worst transvestite Ive ever seen. Like receding hairline, 10pm shaddow, arm tattoos and muscles, big hairy hands and make up that I reckon I could do better than."

I wish to clarify here, my friend is not against transgendered individuals, he's not really against anyone, he's one of the most tolerant, passive loving people that I know. But he knows when someone could try harder with their appearance, I think we all do.

Before he was seen to be looking at her, and to guise his gawp as a casual glance he returned his eyes to his book and read a few lines before the transvestite staggered past him in heels that she just wasnt managing, and slumped herself in the seat behind my friend on the bus, but also the seat in front of the back row where the teenagers were.
He caught a glimpse of something in his peripheral vision, to find her leaning forward, looking straight forward, not at my mate and she said
"Thats right, go on... Laugh at the tranny" in what he described as a "good Liam Neeson tone",
"Err, I wasn't luv... Im not with them lot...." he tried to reply
"But you wanted to didn't ya, go on, laugh..."
"Thanks but Im not a nob." My friend is great at being sarcastic and nailing his stand-point in one line.

My problem is the behaviour, first of the kids at the back, really out of order. Why is it okay to mock anyone in public like that?
And secondly with the transvestite lady, not only giving a bad name to all of us who try hard to look good (my vanity is showing here) but also accusing an innocent guy (my mate) of being abusive towards her.
Misdirected anger may be a sign of wider problems this poor TV had, but if her best response is "Laugh at the tranny", then she should try a lot harder to pass.


If youre thinking about doin public transport while dressed, my best advice is avoid school run hours.

[Michaella]

I've taken commuter trains and buses many times, without issues.

Michaella