I'm a ->-bleeped-<- too shy to come out
by Coleen Nolan, Daily Mirror 19/07/2011
http://www.mirror.co.uk/life-style/kids-and-family/coleen_nolan/2011/07/19/i-m-a-->-bleeped-<--too-shy-to-come-out-115875-23280577/ (http://www.mirror.co.uk/life-style/kids-and-family/coleen_nolan/2011/07/19/i-m-a--%3E-bleeped-%3C--too-shy-to-come-out-115875-23280577/)
Dear Coleen,
I'm a 66-year-old and I sadly lost my wife a long time ago. In recent years I've become what I believe is called a cross-dresser. I really like wearing women's clothes – I'm a size 12 – but my problem is, I haven't been brave enough to leave the house dressed as a woman. Would I be breaking the law by doing this? I don't have to become a "registered" cross-dresser, do I?
[...]
Well done for writing in – I think it helps to get your feelings on paper. First of all, it's not illegal to go out dressed as a woman. But you have to be prepared for people looking at you and perhaps making comments. There's no point in me glossing over that.
She gave realistic advice on being a cross-dresser that avoids both scaring him into the closet or shining him on. She gives common-sense advice that doesn't even flirt with cheap sensationalism or sexualization. She regarded him as a growing human being with common concerns, rather than a head case who "must have deeper issues". She avoided assuming a position of authority on trans life.
It's probably the most caring and helpful advice you could give without being "in the life" yourself. From that point of view, I couldn't have asked for a better column.
In other words, yay for progress!
The caption on the picture was my only turn off to this one.
how cute (and depressing) that he thought he would have to be a registered crossdresser.