Welcome to Crossdresser Heaven, a safe and welcoming place for everyone in the crossdresser community.
Join Crossdresser Heaven today to participate in the forums.
Love Yourself for Who You Are
Ladies,
Everyone loves a good story so I hope you find this one fulfilling and helpful. I will share a few thoughts on my journey from being a lifelong crossdresser to now accepting that I am a transgender woman (who cannot transition or come out to the world completely right now). Let me state that I was raised a Methodist and always went to church. I converted to Catholicism in 2000 and am active in my parish locally. I pray every day for guidance from God the Father, Jesus the Son and the Holy Spirit to help me with this journey. We cannot do it alone sisters and we must seek God’s will in all that we do. This is challenging for us in our situation. More on that topic for a later post. All I can say is that daily I struggle with having to be a man and all my family responsibilities and wanting to explore my inner woman and “be” woman 24/7. Now to the details!
It would be a shame if I did not post this given that Pride Month is now gone. This is the FIRST year in my 61 years that I have accepted that I am transgender. Seeing all the emails and news stories of Pride takes on a new meaning now. Since last fall, I came to realize that I am transgender, and I am learning how to cope. I now understand myself much better. I have always been transgender; I just did not really understand it or accept it until recently.
I started crossdressing at around 11 or 12, the typical story of experimenting with Mom’s Lingerie. Then it progressed to seeing if I could wear my sister’s clothes. I am the youngest of three siblings. I have two older sisters. My mother was dominating the household while my father, a practicing physician, provided for the family.
Over the years, I tried to control my crossdressing. I would dress up in my room often and the feelings were wonderful, being in silky hose and lacy garments. I used to find a Kotex pad and put it between my legs, wishing I had a vagina. This was the beginning of the confusion. The year was 1973. We did not have the luxury of the internet then, so I had to suppress these feelings for a long time.
My college years were difficult as I had some gender identity issues. I was trying to figure out if I was gay or not, as I attended an all-male college. I could not dress at all. Needless to say, college was rough for me. I had some girlfriends but nothing steady. I truly was trying to figure myself out. Luckily, upon graduating and moving to another city I met my wife. It was love at FIRST sight. I knew she was the one for me. We met at work and started dating almost immediately. She was beautiful and spirited, and she was my size! I enjoyed time at her apartment when she was away at job training for a whole month. I used to try on her clothes and shoes and they fit! I was in Crossdresser heaven!
During our first year of marriage, I came out to her and her parents about being a crossdresser and they were accepting but did not understand it. My wife did not like it. Those years were difficult but rewarding as I explored my femininity. I used to dress every chance I could. I started to acquire my wardrobe and got a PO box so I could have my femme magazines delivered and stuff. It was so hard back then before Amazon.
It was now 2012 and I was relocating to another state. I thought I could “swear off crossdressing completely” so I purged and threw away EVERYTHING. I suppressed my desires for about 9 years. I was responsible for caring for my wife who has Multiple Sclerosis.
It is now the fall of 2020 and I was still working from home. What a wonderful blessing this has been. My desires came back with a vengeance. I acquired a new wardrobe and got a lot of stuff from Amazon. Thank you Amazon! It was the best decision I ever made. I bought breast forms and a wig from Amazon and it was voila! I spent a lot of time on YouTube researching about crossdresser vs transgender. Thank you Dr. Z for your wonderful videos and guidance about wanting to “be” a woman or to just “feel like” a woman. I know for me, crossdressing is not enough. The more time I spend dressed, I want to stay this way 24/7. Also, I found the videos from the Transition Channel to be very helpful on the difference between being a crossdresser or being transgender. I sought out online counseling for a month as well to confirm that I am transgender.
So I shaved my legs and all my body hair. It felt so good to be smooth. I have continued to shave my legs. I do not think I can ever STOP shaving my legs! The biggest bummer was having to take my toenail polish off for the summer!
I told my wife, after doing this research and a month of online counseling that I knew I was transgender and wanted to become a woman. She said you cannot transition, not while she is alive, and the family would be devastated. As of a few weeks ago I am a grandfather of a beautiful little girl. My daughter lives here locally, about 30 minutes away. So I am “stuck” and cannot transition.
However, I have had many opportunities to work from home fully dressed on many days, and I would change outfits several times during the day and give my wife a fashion show. She is supportive of my dressing now because I do it ALL the time. It feels so good to be dressed and be able to practice my makeup and walking. Now I am working on voice feminization.
I have perfected my makeup skills now. I ventured out at night to Walmart, CVS and Target several times. I am almost 6 feet and 230 pounds (but fit) so I have to wear my shapewear and really perfect my walk and shake my hips. I did purchase a nice gaff, hip/butt pads and shapewear from Amazon. I feel like I pass pretty well. It made it a bit easier when we had to wear a mask since you did not have to have your makeup perfect, just your eyes and cheeks!!
The last time I ventured out was in the day. I had been dressed most of the day in my girl shorts and cream blouse and wedge sandals. My toenails were painted. I knew I had to go to Walmart and buy a lot of food and stuff, including makeup and press on nails. It was about 4 PM in the afternoon. I decided what the hell. I was dressed and only had on a little blush and lipstick during the day working from home. So once I made the decision that I was going to Walmart during the day, I quickly rushed into the bathroom, took off my lipstick, washed my face, moisturized and then put my face on. I looked really good. It was 530 PM so most of the after-work moms had already been shopping and were home cooking dinner.
I just confidently walked into Walmart, purse on my shoulder, grabbed a cart and started shopping. This was the first time I had been out during the day in a LONG time so I had to be confident.
I spent about 40 minutes in Walmart. At one point, I was walking and my right clip-on ear-ring fell off. Damn! I had to calmly bend down like a sexy woman, pick it up, and put it back on and continue shopping. Luckily, nobody leered at me. Staying calm and walking slowly and moving your hips and being confident in the woman you are ensures that you can pass. There are a LOT of ugly women out there and we “girls” are a lot prettier than they are.
This year is a year of opportunity for us all to embrace each other, ourselves, learn to love more and be accepting of others and who WE are. I am not ashamed of myself at all anymore. I am learning to cope with a congruent personality – no longer do I feel like I am two people: a man and my female persona. Rather, I am Miss Hope who happens to be (male name) most of the time. Every day I have the desire to be a woman so I know this is not a phase!
Thank you girls for taking the time to read my article!
Now take a few more minutes of time to either send me a response to either my article or to one or more of the questions I’ve posed to you below:
- Have you taken the time to start loving yourself for who you are and embrace your “true self”?
- What is your “inner girl” telling you as to where your next progression with your cross dressing or trans move will take you?
- Do you currently feel any shame or guilt associated with your thrill of cross dressing or your desire to transition?
Thanks again girls, Sincerely, Hope
Hi Hope Thank you so much I loved reading this story The answers to your questions you have posted
- Yes I have taken the time to love that part of me I hated so much. It took many years and many therapy sessions. I just got tired of hating my self and just gave in to my desires to present a female image. I am starting from the inside out. I feel very much like a woman now that I stopped suppressing her existence. Getting the outside to corporate will take a little work.
- Yes I can no longer deny who I am as a person If I am transgender then so be it I want to dress full time all the time.
- NO I know longer feel shame or guilt for who i am as a person. That took a long time Denial was huge for me. I could not believe that I was woman in a male body Some times I wish some one would come up with a medicine that would help my brain understand I have a male body .
I did take exception to one thing your wrote about there is a lot of ugly woman out there and we look prettier than they do It is not about outward beauty, that can be worked on. If you stopped and chatted with some of those you find ugly it has been my experience these woman are just has lovely as any one that you have seen in the movies or fashion magazines. They are just busy take care of children and running a house hold trying the best to be wife to a very needy man. They are a blessing from God to man kind No one is ugly. unless they prove to be ugly even then they just need a little help. When our inner beauty is right our outward beauty can be seen by those who matter. We are all children of GOD.and God does not have ugly children. Have a lovely day you are headed in the right direction.
Luv Stephanie
Hi Hope
I have come to the same conclusion this year. And I am also in a position where I have to be my old male self a lot of the time. For me it is to keep my teenage kids from potential bullying or hardship if it got out their dad likes to look and dress, and act feminine.
I have been out many times en femme on my own with a wig and make up which you can either call my disguise or my true self. My most recent outing a City break on my own 100% Bianca. The hotel staff were soooo lovely, welcoming, and complimentary. It felt so natural for me, and each time I do it the more I am convinced it is the true me.
I have been a single parent for about 7 years now, my cross dressing only started after the divorce when I felt finally able to explore this part of me more thoroughly.
At the start of this year it hit me like a thunderbolt what was still holding me back. I work full time, no extended family nearby and a single parent so no real time for a relationship, but Subconsciously I always hoped I would find another girlfriend (girls still do it for me, call me heterosexual or a lesbian, I don’t care!)partner, lover. But I have realised it is a fact that women (99.9%) don’t find a feminine man attractive. Letting go of this hope of ever finding that 0.1% or having to bury Bianca has allowed me to flourish. Feel like I can be me a lot more fully, and am much much happier. Hey I androgynyse my male look, maybe look a bit gay but I don’t care. If women pass me by thinking I’m gay I don’t care anymore. I am me, I am happy, and if you don’t like it, walk on bye.
So taken myself off the market to finally realise my full feminine potential. I look better and feel better, so who can tell me it is wrong!
❤️Bianca
Hi Hope. Thanks for your wonderful story. I am also stuck in the same situation. I would love to be a 24 -7 woman. I think about it all the time but because of family I never will get there. I came out to my wife about a year ago. She has been very accepting. We go out together once in a while while I am dressed. The rest of the family would never understand so I have to just enjoy the moments that I have. I am going birthday shopping for my wife today. She gave me a list of clothes that she wants, knowing that she was sending me to a candy store and that I would purchase something for myself. Susan.
Thank you for the article! My wife knows about it but wants nothing at all to do with it. She knows i am gay though I haven't told her straight out but she married me anyway. (I do love her and don't want to hurt her) we have been together for 16 years now. I too have had a duality within me and only feel whole when dressed even if it is just some panties. I am glad you were able to find yourself! Enjoy the time we are given!
Thanks Hope!
you’re the first person I’ve heard mention the pad experimentation. I had nearly forgotten about it but I did the same thing even though I had no idea what it was for at my young age (8-10). I just knew it was something women did and I wanted to be one. My mom must have wondered what was happening to her supplies.
Good luck on your journey!
— Abbie
Hi Hope! You are so precious and beautiful! Thank you for telling your story I enjoyed it and it lifted my spirits We have a lot in common, I'm 62, your exact size and I have 36D or 38C girls ! And I love them When I wear a WYOB shaper and a bra, ( I have very many and I love them all I almost died again in February and I've been told my time is short So after 3 1/2 weeks in the hospital I was recuperating at home and I just decided that I would dress up as much as I feel well enough I told my three sisters and a favorite nice what I had decided To dress every day, do my face and hair as much as possible I have been a heterosexual all my life I love women but now I want to be one I would love to have been born a female I think every day and night how I wish I were a beautiful woman! I can't pass because of my facial structure I am very masculine looking Oh well, I'll get dolled up as much as I can and watch my makeup tutorials and old rock videos and concerts on youtube And thanks to you Vanessa, look at CDH and comment and message my girlfriends Peace and love sweetie , Lucia
I don't feel any shame or guilt from crossdressing. I do keep it private, and am just starting to venture outside of our home. It just feels so GOOD to feel pretty! And it feels good to go out and BE SEEN!
Your story is so moving. That’s what I look love about many stories here. No two seem to be alike because everyone is authentically who they are, which makes everyone of you your own precious living ongoing work of art. And to accomplish this is, as Otto Rank described 100 years ago, our very highest calling. And rarely achieved for so many stupid reasons. But here, my God, it’s like a living tribute and affirmation of what a human can be. So many of you are unique precious works of art, not because we say so, but because you say so. And it’s blowing me away. And it’s real. I’ve never experienced anything like this. What a gift you are to me.
I won’t belabor the similarities…only note that I felt there was something different about me from my earliest recollections. Over decades my level of self awareness and self acceptance has been a rollercoaster ride.
During periods of high self acceptance, I have come out to a few family members, colleagues and friends. During low periods, I reframe my self-assessment as suffering from some sort of behavioral issue, such as an addiction or OCD. Cycling between these hills and valleys has been emotionally exhausting.
I suppose I could be both transgender and to some degree addicted…the two are not mutually exclusive. If so, I’m not sure where that leaves me. I’m not sure if managing the addictive or obsessive will take away the desire to be a woman, or if there is some less turbulent state where that desire can be expressed without aggravating any underlying pathology.,
What a lovely article, thank you.
I feel so much the same way, and as I have posted in the past, I, too realize that I am transgender, not just a crossdresser(and Im sorry for the "just", girls)
It is such a conflicting but comforting thing to admit to ourselves let alone the wider world. Be proud of yourself, girl
Hugs, Regi
Hi Hope. I loved reading your story and your questions are sure to help us all to affirm or reaffirm our choices. I am close in age and recently came out to my family. I want to share just one experience that someday might help . I too have 2 grandchildren and when I told my daughter, she was more concerned that I had to suffer all those years and not once did she worry about how this change would affect her. The next week I was able to FaceTime with her 2 boys as Sarah. I am now Nana to them and Not Papa anymore. To help prepare them, she let them paint their nails like she did and did her best to let them know I will always love them even though I was changing. They are 3 and 5 and have been a Godsend to my transition. I was really lucky that my ex and I raised 4 wonderful children. Love will always find a way.
Sarah
Emily dear,
Thank you for your sweet reply. I am glad the article spoke to you. I worked on it for a while and questioned whether I should post it and am glad that I did. Yes, this site is wonderful. I just wish I had more time to explore it and reach out to the wonderful gals out here. It truly is a blessing to be accepted for who we are and you gals "understand." Although my wife is accepting of me now she does not fully understand. Only WE can!!
Hope
Kim,
I admire you for having the courage to come out to family members and a few colleagues. I am not there yet. I know what you mean about a roller coaster ride. All I can say is to take it one day at a time. This desire to "be woman" cannot be subdued. It is part of who we are. I long to understand the why but for now am just learning to embrace it and go with it. I am happiest when dressed and able to express my feminine side. I wish I could dress all the time and come out as a woman to everyone. Maybe one day!
Please do not beat yourself up over this. It sounds like you have had counseling. I did a while back and it was beneficial and helped me acknowledge that I am transgender. I think once we accept that and understand that there are all levels of TG, it makes more sense. Everyone of us is different and have something to contribute to the world as our femme selves!
Take care,
Hope
Awesome article Hope, i agree we girls need to be filled with the love and joy and confident boldness of God the father whom old testament laws no longer apply to this day and age of Jesus's love and acceptance according to Romans 12:8 or so that states it is not the law that saves, it is the love of the holy spirit of Jesus in us which reaches out to others lost in shame and saves their souls joyfully!!