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Tuesday, February 28, 2023

Revenge Politics

 DeSantis Signs Bill giving Him New Power Over Disney


The state takeover of the Reedy Creek Improvement District
amounts to punishment for the entertainment
 giant for speaking out against the DeSantis' agenda


Mon 2/27/2023

My Comments Updated 9:45am 2/28 

CNN:  Appearing at the doorstep of Walt Disney World, Florida Gov. Ron DeSantis signed a bill Monday that gives him new power over Disney, effectively punishing the entertainment giant for speaking out against the [Fascist] Republican’s political agenda.

The new law amounts to a state takeover of the Reedy Creek Improvement District, the government body that has given Disney unique powers in Central Florida for more than half a century. It allows the governor to replace the district’s existing board – mostly people with ties to Disney – with a five-member body that he hand-picks.

“Today, the corporate kingdom finally comes to an end,” DeSantis said Monday at a Reedy Creek fire station in Lake Buena Vista, Florida. “There’s a new sheriff in town and accountability will be the order of the day.”

Read more...


While the move was celebrated by conservative media, several of DeSantis’ would-be GOP rivals have been critical. Former Vice President Mike Pence said the conflict with Disney was “beyond the scope of what I as a conservative, limited government Republican would be prepared to do.” And New Hampshire Gov. Chris Sununu said penalizing businesses for political speech set “the worst precedent in the world.”

DeSantis has shrugged off such criticism. Monday’s bill signing event turned into a lengthy takedown of Disney that extended beyond its foray in Florida’s legislative activity. DeSantis featured speakers who assailed the company’s vaccine and mask policies, its treatment of firefighters and its more recent entertainment offerings.


________________________

MY Note: 

This is basically a fascist takeover of the land in-which Disney owns, but no longer controls. Since 1967 Disney had autonomy and administered their district without any cost to Florida tax payers. 

 The State must now maintain all roads, provide emergency and fire services, environmental services, and take over all property / building inspections. Much infracture liability shift to the state and the tax-payers of the state. 

Update: Florida taxpayers could face a $1 billion Disney debt bomb if its special district status is revoked. It happened yesterday.    

Disney is the largest employer in the state of Florida and Disney World is the l
argest single-site employer in the world. Unrestrained, as in Florida, imagine what DeSantis will do if elected president. 

According to Politico - DeSantis announced five appointees today a new board that oversees much of Disney World’s day-to-day operations.  All are political donors and loyalists one of which is head of a Christian ministry. He is Ron Peri, who founded the ministry “The Gathering,” which regularly spews nonsense about “Christian Nationalism” and the decaying of local schools. 

If nothing else it proves that DeSantis is willing to do anything to propagate his anti-woke agenda and revenge anyone who speak out; even it it cost Floridians 1 Billion dollars in debt. 


Is there no shame!



Monday, February 27, 2023

Success Stories - Raising Transgender Children

 16 PHOTOS

4:00 a.m. EST Dec. 19, 2022


One of the 16 photo essays



Chrissy Honig helps her 15-year-old son, Oliver, pick out a pair of shoes on Dec. 8, 2022, at his home in Westfield, Ind. "I just hope that he's always confident enough to just be who he is," Chrissy said. "And even though he can't wear a sequined prom dress to school every day, that doesn't mean he can't express himself."  JENNA WATSON/INDYSTAR

Sunday, February 26, 2023

Political Week In Review 2-26-2023




USA Today - Three days. 10 mass shootings. More than 50 victims.
US sees worst weekend of 2023.











Friday, February 24, 2023

Banning Drag

 Tennessee is set to become the first US state to ban drag



By Nate DiCamillo Published 2/24/2023


Banned In Public



Tennessee lawmakers passed a bill banning drag shows in public on Thursday, sending the measure to the Republican Governor Bill Lee’s desk.

The law would make Tennessee the first state to ban public drag, which could also affect LGBTQ+ pride celebrations and transgender people who are in shows of any kind. There are currently 20 bills in 15 US states aimed at drag queen performances. [The Tennessee bill is the most far reaching so far]

It’s well-documented in economic literature that discrimination against LGBTQ+ people damages their economic, physical, and mental well-being. Additionally, discriminatory bills like the one in Tennessee can lower a nation’s GDP.

In past years, bills in other states that targeted transgender people prompted strong negative reaction from business leaders, out of concern that discriminatory legislation would make it more difficult to woo clients, talent and corporate relocations.

Several of the US’ largest corporations have decried the recent legislation as an attempt to erase protections for transgender people. (It’s unclear if any companies have donated money to stop the bills).

In Tennessee’s bill, a first offense would be treated as a misdemeanor, but a second offense would be treated as a felony.

Erin Reed, a queer legislative researcher and transgender rights activist said:

The language of the bill is very broad and doesn’t differentiate between trans people and drag performers. The bill says “male and female impersonators” cannot “provide entertainment that appeals to prurient interest.”

________________


How does this impact us?  We know this will not be the only state set to do this. 

If pulled over for a routine traffic stop or late night sobriety check, what will we  say; "I am not a drag queen".  Is the officer trained to distinguish the difference. If we are issued a citation, what do we say to the judge or magistrate?  Note that the second offence is a "felony".  A question you have to answer on job applications and a fact the shows up on routine background checks. 

Enough - What is it going to take for us to have the "Stonewall" moment!

     


Freedom of Speech Under Attack in Florida.

FL GOP bill would 'allow government officials to harass and bankrupt' opposers with defamation lawsuits


Story by Maya Boddie 2/22/2023



Florida GOP State Rep. Alex Andrade proposed a bill that would simplify the process for fellow Republican officials, like Florida Governor Ron DeSantis, to file defamation lawsuits against media and other "critics," Truthout reports.

Florida Governor Ron DeSantis

First Amendment lawyer and Director of Advocacy for Freedom of the Press Foundation (FPF), Seth Stern said," DeSantis continues to make clear his disdain for freedom of speech and the press and to prioritize censoring dissent over governing."

If Governor DeSantis, a Harvard Law graduate, thinks the statute is constitutional, he's forgotten what he was taught", said First Amendment attorney, Floyd Abrams. "If he's looking for a way to offer the Supreme Court a case in which it might reconsider settled law, who knows. But what's clear is that it is today and tomorrow facially at odds with the First Amendment."

Stern noted the bill would "would do nothing for ordinary Floridians but would allow government officials and celebrities to harass and even bankrupt their critics with expensive litigation," which media attorney Matthew Schafer describes as "a gift to the ruling class."

Tampa Bay Times reports that if the bill becomes law, Florida residents could "sue publishers over alleged defamatory content in any county where they accessed the material."

Stern offered further insight into why the legislation would hinder First Amendment rights, calling on the state legislature to "reject this political stunt," as residents "should not tolerate their governor's experiments in authoritarianism in their name and at their expense."


The Washington Post’s Erik Wemple during his roundtable event earlier this month:

DeSantis, an ace practitioner of GOP media-bashing rhetoric, showed why some critics view him as a more dangerous embodiment of Trump’s two-bit authoritarianism.”


________________________

Could I and other bloggers be at risk for a defamation lawsuits (frivolous) for speaking out against Ron DeSantis?



Thursday, February 23, 2023

Musical Interlude (with discussion) - Cabaret (1972)

 


This is a bit of a followup of yesterday's post, Transgender Experiences in Weimar and Nazi Germany.  

BY: Rhonda Williams

The musical Cabaret is based on John Van Druten's 1951 play which was adapted from "Goodbye to Berlin" (1939). A semi-autobiographical novel by Anglo-American writer Christopher Isherwood: It drew upon his experiences in the poverty-stricken Weimar Republic and his intimate friendship with a nineteen-year-old cabaret singer, Jean Ross.

The Weimar Republic was the official name for the German government during the historical period 1918 to 1933. During the Weimar period it was a constitutional federal republic. (Wikipedia) 

Book Cover
Goodbye to Berlin

*In 1933 Adolf Hitler implemented the Enabling Act which cemented his dictatorship. Isherwood fled Germany and returned to England on April 5, 1933. Afterwards, most of Berlin's cabarets were shuttered by the Nazis, and many of Isherwood's cabaret acquaintances would later flee abroad or perish in concentration camps. 

These factual events served as the genesis for Isherwood's Berlin tales. His 1939 novel "Goodbye to Berlin" was later adapted by playwright John Van Druten into the 1951 Broadway play "I Am A Camera " and, ultimately the 1966 Cabaret musical.

I have seen Cabaret several times. Although the music of enchanting the story is dark.  It shows how fanaticism centered in a dictator can change everything, very quickly.  

Be forewarned! Banning or labeling drag shows /  pride events, book banning, and the limiting of medical help for trans teens is just a beginning. Sorry to be so dark.    



Alan Cumming: Cabaret Ending


*Hitler submitted a proposal to the Reichstag that when passed would immediately grant all legislative powers to the cabinet and by extension Hitler. This would in effect allow Hitler's government to act without concern to the constitution.

Wednesday, February 22, 2023

Transgender Experiences in Weimar and Nazi Germany

 Before 1933, Germany was a center of LGBT+ community and culture, with several renowned organizations serving and supporting trans and gender non-conforming people. 


My Question: Are we seeing history being repeated?  You judge?


By: Museum of Jewish Heritage — A Living Memorial to the Holocaust  Friday, June 3, 2022 


Quotes from the video:

Liddy Barcroft

Hitler’s Nazi government, however, brutally targeted the trans community, deporting many trans people to concentration camps and wiping out vibrant community structures. As transgender people are now increasingly targets of discriminatory legislation and hate, join the Museum for a program exploring these stories and experiences prior to and during the Holocaust.


... trans history if we continue applying it, I think, can help us a lot about the mechanics and the mentality and the judgment and the rules of the end for society of Holocaust victims. 


A Police issued identity documentation which
 declares one as known to be wearing
cross gender clothing.


 I feel like that's something that you know that that history does pop up every year that that it was the Institute for sexual listen shaft the Magnus hirschfeld Institute for sexual knowledge that. Rabbi Marisa Elana James: That library was one of the first to be destroyed [during] the book burnings.






Historical Facts:

Lesbian and gay life in Germany began to thrive at the beginning of the 20th century during the Weimar period (1918 - 1933).  Berlin in particular was one of the most liberal cities in Europe with a number of lesbian and gay organisations, cafés, bars, publications and cultural events taking place.

This all changed under the Nazi regime

Transvestite and transgender patrons at the popular
Berlin gay bar Marienkasino in the 1920s.



By the end of the year 1933,  gay bars and clubs were closed, queer magazines and newspapers were forced to fold, and police were ordered to supply the Gestapo with lists of all men engaged in homosexual activities. Between 1933 and 1945, some 100,000 German people from these lists were arrested.

The police established lists of homosexually active persons. Significant numbers of gay men were arrested, of whom an estimated 50,000 received severe jail sentences in brutal conditions. Most homosexuals were sent to police prisons, rather than concentration camps, where they were exposed to inhumane treatment. There they could be subjected to hard labour and torture, or they were experimented upon or executed.

An estimated 10-15,000 men who were accused of homosexuality were deported to concentration camps. Most died in the camps, often from exhaustion. Many were castrated and some subjected to gruesome medical experiments. Collective murder actions were undertaken against gay detainees, exterminating hundreds at a time.







Tuesday, February 21, 2023

When To Tuck and Not Tuck

Your Shirt Plus How – Your Guide to Front Tuck, Full Tuck, & Tie


By Amy Ann Arnold - Straight-A-Style
April 2018

My Note: I now "Tuck" does have another meaning for us, However, today's post is about the options that a feminine differential gives us for wearing a top.  I will leave the other tuck for how-to Youtube videos. 

By Amy Ann Arnold

I recently asked for post topic suggestions on my Instagram story and got some great responses. One was about when to tuck your shirt in as opposed to leaving it out, when to only front tuck, how to front tuck, what about tying it on the side, etc? I thought this was such a good question, so today I am here to answer! Have you ever wondered when to tuck and not tuck your shirt plus how? This post is your guide to the front tuck, full tuck, tie, and leaving untucked with easy dos and don’ts on each option! Plus photos of each so you can visually see. If you have any questions feel free to leave me a comment! I will say, some of this is personal preference, so don’t be afraid to do what you like best!

The Front Tuck

The front tuck or half tuck is probably the most popular and easy option when it comes to tucking in your shirt. The main reason you want to do this is to visually create a waist. Front tucking your shirt draws the eye up to your waist rather that leaving your body visually one long line. To do this, simply grab the front middle of your top and tuck it fully in where there isn’t extra fabric on top. From there tuck a little on each side. Loosen a little as necessary. The goal is to not have a super tight tuck but also not too much fabric out.

Do front tuck when you have a thinner top that is not too long paired with mid to high rise pants or a skirt. Front tucks are most typically done casually with jeans though not out of the question with other items.

Don’t front tuck with a thick top that will create a pouch effect in the front because it doesn’t tuck nicely. The only caveat to this is if you have a cropped sweater that will easily tuck. Remember, the whole goal is visually showing your waist not creating a bunch of fabric. Don’t front tuck a long tunic type top that will have too much fabric to tuck in front adding a lot of fabric below your pants.


The Full Tuck

In practice, I fully tuck in my shirt less than I do a half tuck/front tuck. When considering when to tuck and not tuck your shirt, I typically reserve this for dressier occasions. This might be when I want to look more tailored for work, when I am layering and want my bottom layer tucked in for less bulk, or when I am wearing a high waisted pant and want a streamlined look. Another reason to always tuck is if the waist of the garment is made to be shown off like the currently trendy paper bag waist. Doing anything other than a full tuck on it wouldn’t work.


Don’t Tuck – Leave Your Shirt Untucked

Sometimes the best thing to do is nothing! Don’t tuck your shirt at all leaving it untucked and loose. The reasons for this would be if the shirt has a specific hem like a peplum, a band at the bottom (like my striped sweater below), or something else. Another reason not to tuck would be a long tunic made to be worn out or a peasant style blouse (like my red top below). Alternatively you might just have a pair of pants and top that go best together left alone. In my example below with the red pants, they are a lower rise and the blouse is looser. Together, I wouldn’t ever tuck them. The pants hit more on my hips and wouldn’t be flattering with either a full or half tuck.


The Tie

The tie is a fun fourth option if you are feeling bored or brave. There really is no reason to do this over the others unless you just want to. It’s easy to do with a thinner t-shirt that has a little length or a tie front top to mix things up a little. One of my favorite ways and reasons to do this is actually casually with leggings when I am layering. If I have a t-shirt on and a cardigan or something else that covers my bum, things can get bulky. If I do a quick knot on my t-shirt it just cleans things up a little.


Read more - "Do's and Don'ts"...

Monday, February 20, 2023

Stand For Freedom - Florida

Florida University Students Plan Mass Walkout to Protest DeSantis "Destroying Our Schools"


Ron DeSantis requested the information of trans students who sought care at Florida's public universities. Now students are planning a statewide walkout.





  • Ron DeSantis told all public universities in Florida to hand over medical data on trans students. 

  • Insider has confirmed six of the 12 universities have complied with the request.

  • Now, college students across the state are planning a walkout to protest the governor's request.


Students across Florida are planning a statewide walkout after Gov. Ron DeSantis requested all public universities comply in delivering data from student health services on transgender students who sought gender-affirming care at the institutions.

DeSantis asked to see anonymized information of any student who has experienced gender dysphoria in the past five years. In addition, he wants their ages and the dates they received gender-affirming care. The deadline to submit those records was February 10. 

Insider has confirmed that University of Florida, Florida State University, University of Central Florida, Florida A&M University, Florida International University, and the University of North Florida have complied with the request, but has yet to hear back from the rest. 

Students at these universities are now planning rallies for next week along with the statewide walkout on February 23. Ben Braver, a junior at the University of South Florida and the outreach officer for the school's College Democrats chapter, is leading the initiative, known as the Stand for Freedom Florida Walkout


"Hate is spread when it's innocuous, when it seems silly, and when it seems like taking a stand is an overreaction. We, just like any generation, need to stand for the civil rights that have already been fought for, the ones that have been won, and those which are at stake right now." 



See: Diana’s Little Corner in the Nutmeg State as this being a clear HIPPA Violation.

Sunday, February 19, 2023

Political Week In Review 2-19-2023




"Beam Her Up Scotty"

Huffpost: U.S. General Doesn't Rule Out Aliens After Military Shoots Down Unidentfied Objects - At least one high-ranking official won’t rule out the possibility that they could be extraterrestrial in origin.




 













Friday, February 17, 2023

Feminin Differential - The White Blazer

 30 Stylish White Blazer Outfits For Women






OK, not just for the prom.  And, I did wear one that year; likely rented. I caught a Pinterest gal wearing something similar to the one in my fashion layout above and fell in love. Perfect for jeans or skirt. With the sleeves rolled 3/4, there is a nice feminine look. Especially when the sides are tailored in to provided shape.  


________________


Here is a fashion blog that provides many great variations for the white blazer. 

  

A good blazer makes you look better especially when you wear it for your office. Many offices going ladies, wear blazers and there are various types of blazers available in terms of design, color, pattern and a lot more. White blazers are very much popular and are highly in demand. So here, we are giving you a list of Stylish white blazer outfits for women from which you can choose.


Here is the above white blazer from Amazon - Womens 3/4 Sleeve Lightweight Office Work Suit Jacket Boyfriend Blazer.  The sleeves are described to be 3/4 and also show a simple cuff that will provide another turn up the arm.  Also a similar jacket is available from Macy's - Knit-Crepe Ruched-Sleeve Blazer, Created for Macy's fro $29.70.  This one is described as "open in front (no buttons), shawl collar and 3/4 sleeves. Both Macy's and Amazon have easy returns so I will keep one if it works out.   

It is never to early to think spring or have a jacket for cool nights at the outdoor cafe. 


A Dressy Professional Look


Thursday, February 16, 2023

Civilian Events

 

I have neglected posting on my civilian events.  There is no greater "Escape" than being yourself in this context. "Passing" is nebulous and can vary by the moment; yet acceptance is being comfortable, without pretense.  

A Holiday Party
I do my best to inform for the purpose of encouraging activism. Now is not the time to be complacent as to our plight. The progressive acceptance we have enjoyed is under attack. 

It is wonderful to see success stories and read about those working on our behalf, including other bloggers. Our best defense against ignorance and bigotry is visibility. The world needs to see transgender individuals as fathers, mothers, engineers, doctors, pilots, entrepreneurs, lawyers, retail associates....  We are not defined by the negativity spread by the power-hungry, bully politicians.  

Hiding and shrinking at this perilous time only validates their stereotype.       

I will do better as to posting "Civilian Events" that I am a part. Below are photos from my Car Club; a wine tasting / tribute performer (not bad) and our annual member "Car Showcase".  Three events in the last months. The car showcase / lunch was close enough to Valentine's day so that all of us ladies went home with a rose. Three recent civilian events.  More to come.   



Stay tuned...

Wednesday, February 15, 2023

When I Stopped Shopping by Gender...

I Fell in Love With Fashion Again



BY CHRISTIAN ALLAIRE  August 13, 2021


I’ve always been fascinated with women’s clothing. As a child, my tomboy sister refused to wear her frilly, pink princess gowns and toddler heels, but I coveted them. I found comfort in playing with Barbie dolls and dressing like the Spice Girls, but whenever I would try to wear something that I inherently liked—like a tiara—I was told it was wrong. “Boys don’t wear that.”

I eventually grew out of this fashion phase and began wearing the clothes deemed appropriate for boys to wear. The soccer jerseys, grungy band tees, and oversized suits never felt quite like me, but I went along with it. Even now, as an adult man in his late 20s, I still find myself shopping with this same narrow point of view.

 Even though the women’s section always seems way bigger, with more colorful and fun pieces, I’ll dutifully head to the men’s.

But lately I’ve been rethinking my approach to shopping entirely, as has a growing faction of the industry. I’ve been in a rut since the world began opening up again. Ever get that feeling where you wake up and think, I have nothing to wear? That’s been me, only every single day. Seeing stars like Lil Nas X, Kid Cudi, and Harry Styles push the boundaries of gendered style on the red carpet has inspired me to take an introspective look at my own style and how I’m perhaps limiting myself for no good reason. I decided a few months ago that I would finally have my hot girl summer—as in, I’m finally ready to shop in the women’s section. In the process, I’ve fallen in love with fashion all over again.






Tuesday, February 14, 2023

Guns and Bigotry


Are the Real Threats to America’s Kids. Drag Shows Are Not.



BY Danielle Moodie Published Feb. 13, 2023 3:58AM ET 



MY Note: Today is the fifth anniversary of he Parkland Florida school massacre that claimed 17 lives.  What has changed (and what hasn’t)


It’s time for Democrats to fight against the white evangelical GOP agenda that claims to be “for the children,” but which endangers their mental health and physical safety.



In no other community has this happened with such speed in modern times than within the LGBTQ+ community—a community which intersects with every other group under the sun.




But white evangelicals, masquerading as adults who are merely concerned about the welfare of children, rain rage and fury onto the LGBTQ+ community by slandering queer teachers as pedophiles or groomers. These false accusations are as old as time, but were used in the mid-20th century to pass legislation outlawing queer people from adopting, teaching, and connecting with youth. All of this was orchestrated under the guise of “protecting the children.”

LQBTQ+ individuals around the country started broadly winning more basic civil rights by the late 1980s—such as legal protections against housing and employment discrimination. But after three decades of progress, this country is backsliding into bigotry. And, once again, it’s predicated on fear and lies.

Legislation is now making its way across red states—banning queer history, forcing gay teachers to deny their own identities, and targeting transgender youth. At least nine GOP-led states have authored legislation to criminalize parents, bars, and other establishments that allow drag shows to have children in attendance.

All of this is to prevent the “indoctrination” of children to believe that love is love, gender is a construct, and that children have the power to command being treated with dignity and respect regardless of what they look like, who they love, and whether they fall into the binary or outside of it.

The authenticity of “other” Americans scares the hell out of white evangelicals that have made their lives about conformity and self-oppression. “I have suppressed my desires and authentic self so why can’t you?” is essentially their argument. The difference, however, between this time and last century—when Black and queer Americans were fighting for liberation—is that there wasn’t an actual assault happening every few months on children.

Why?

Perhaps forcing them to army crawl before they learn their ABCs—or living in terror that their school will be the next one with a body count in the headlines—has a little something to do with it?

What the children don’t need to fear are harmless drag performers creating a world of imagination, Black history AP classes or the centering of other people’s American stories and experience.

It's the proliferation of guns—and the supposed adults in the room creating a problem where one doesn’t exist, rather than supporting sensible gun regulation—that are major sources of children’s anxieties.


It’s past time for Democrats to fight back the way the Black and queer liberators did 50+ years ago. It’s time for a course correction that shows what is actually harming our kids. And it’s time to place the blame where it belongs: on a Republican white evangelical ideology that forces our nation’s children to learn how to play dead in the event of an active shooter, and which bullies queer children back into a closet from which they already should have been liberated.

Children weren’t being held hostage by unrelenting gun violence and school shootings, which have become so normalized in America that there’s now a thriving market for bulletproof backpacks.

So, where are all those “caring adults'' when the children actually need them?

They’re banning books and protesting drag shows, while daring sensible politicians to “come and take” their precious guns.

There is, in fact, a real crisis in our country. More children are on antidepressants and anti-anxiety medications than ever before. More children are attempting suicide.

Why?

Perhaps forcing them to army crawl before they learn their ABCs—or living in terror that their school will be the next one with a body count in the headlines—has a little something to do with it?

What the children don’t need to fear are harmless drag performers creating a world of imagination, Black history AP classes or the centering of other people’s American stories and experience.

It's the proliferation of guns—and the supposed adults in the room creating a problem where one doesn’t exist, rather than supporting sensible gun regulation—that are major sources of children’s anxieties.

It’s past time for Democrats to fight back the way the Black and queer liberators did 50+ years ago. It’s time for a course correction that shows what is actually harming our kids. 

And it’s time to place the blame where it belongs: on a Republican white evangelical ideology that forces our nation’s children to learn how to play dead in the event of an active shooter, and which bullies queer children back into a closet from which they already should have been liberated.


Monday, February 13, 2023

I Love A Success Story - Amelia Maltepe

Transgender glamour model, 23, born into strict Muslim family hopes to become next Miss World

     
By BIANCA LONDON FOR MAILONLINE 

I am a beautiful woman and people should respect me for that': 


A glamour model has her hopes set on winning the coveted Miss World title - even though she was born male.

Amelia Maltepe, originally from a strict Muslim family in Bangladesh, spent £8,000 on breast implants in 2012 to give her a 34D chest.

Now the 23-year-old business accounting student, who lives with personal trainer boyfriend Charles Dubuc, 27, has her eyes set on the world's most famous beauty pageant.

Amelia, raised as Adesh, said: 'To be become a Miss World is one of my biggest dreams.

'Growing up I always felt that I was trapped in the wrong body and the idea of changing gender was never an option.

Now I feel like if I believe in God and myself I can achieve anything I put my mind to.'

After moving to Toronto in 2009 to study, Amelia says her eyes were opened to the possibility of transformation. 

She said: 'It was the first time I realised you could use surgery and medicine to change your birth gender.

'It was an amazing moment and I felt like I could finally be the person I always was.'

After beginning a course of hormones to alter her body, Amelia opted for breast implants two months later.

And since spending £6,000 on her breasts and £2,000 on laser hair removal, Amelia has appeared in glamour shoots in the hope of making it in the modelling world.

This year she plans to enter beauty competitions like her inspiration, Canadian transgender model Jenna Talackova, who last year won a legal battle to be allowed to enter Miss Universe Canada.

Read more:

'When I was back home I always tried my mum's clothes on and put her make-up on when she was out.

'I always liked it but I never had the courage to be out because my parents are very religious so I thought they would never ever accept it.

'I was bullied at school for being feminine - I cried many nights wishing I could be different.'

Friday, February 10, 2023

Dame Edna Everage Interview 2004

 



I saw Dame Edna live in Palm Beach about 2005. 


Never have I seen an entertainer so comfortable on stage and have interaction with the audenance in such a non threatening funny way.

Before the intermission she choose a young couple in the audience and had them order dinner from a nearby restaurant. This within itself was so funny as she recited the menu and they choose. Dinner was delivered early in the second act and after a lively discussion with the delivery kid, Dame Edna set up a table with three chairs and she had dinner with them on stage. They ate and she talked. Very soon she had couple comfortable and a great funny interaction began. They were not plants and the risk of this falling flat was a sure danger. However, not only did it work but it showcased her impromptu ability to entertain and total confort with herself and talent.    

Something we could all learn.  Never before or after have I seen someone that entertained with such ease. A evening I still remember vividly.