To costume or not to costume, that is the question.

[suzifrommd]

I participate in a monthly get-together, where I'm not out and don't intend to be for many months. The next one will be in costume to celebrate halloween and happens to fall right before my transgender support group.

So I'm thinking of going there "dressed up" so I can go right to my group, where I typically go dressed as a woman. My friends would (I hope) just see it as a costume.

Have you ever dressed up as your true gender as a costume for people to whom you were not out?

What were your experiences?

[Tristan]

i say do a costume. im dressing as ty as i can with my girlfriends. lol
we are going to be sexy cats. cough....cough....

[Annah]

I can't say that I have.

I did crossdress as a guy with a bowler hat last year...so I guess in my situation I did the opposite...i dressed as a guy for sh**s and giggles.

If you want to dress up as your true gender then go for it...but a lot of transgender people have done this method (dressing up in the other gender hoping others will think it's just for Halloween but it's something more) for so long that if you have transgender people there they will know. But either way...who cares. Just have fun.

I'm not into the ty look at all. Transgender people get enough crap for being associated with a ty behavior, wearing skirts so short people can tell what religion you are, thigh highs with visible stayup bands, and stilettos that are so high people look like an ostrich when trying to walk in them...I would never fuel that stereotype...even in good fun. But to each their own.

[jacqueline_rose]

I'm not into the ty look at all. Transgender people get enough crap for being associated with a ty behavior, wearing skirts so short people can tell what religion you are, thigh highs with visible stayup bands, and stilettos that are so high people look like an ostrich when trying to walk in them...I would never fuel that stereotype...even in good fun. But to each their own.

I agree completly! When I first started dressing up and coming out everyone thought that I wanted to be a drag queen. I just want to look like a woman, and the negative stereotypes that they enjoy so much only hurt me. Im not saying that its wrong to turn a negative into a positive, but its not for everyone, and you could be hurting your own people.

Id like to walk down a street and know that the only reason that im getting looks is because I look good, not because people know what I am (or in the future what i would used to have been).

Now having said that, I believe that a costume is a great way to help you get used to dressing up the way that you want to, and durring haloween its the perfect cover so you might as well live it up!

[Ms. OBrien CVT]

I would rather dress up something or someone that I normally would not.  Like Morticia Addams.

[Beth Andrea]

I can't say that I have.

I did crossdress as a guy with a bowler hat last year...so I guess in my situation I did the opposite...i dressed as a guy for sh**s and giggles.

If you want to dress up as your true gender then go for it...but a lot of transgender people have done this method (dressing up in the other gender hoping others will think it's just for Halloween but it's something more) for so long that if you have transgender people there they will know. But either way...who cares. Just have fun.

I'm not into the ty look at all. Transgender people get enough crap for being associated with a ty behavior, wearing skirts so short people can tell what religion you are, thigh highs with visible stayup bands, and stilettos that are so high people look like an ostrich when trying to walk in them...I would never fuel that stereotype...even in good fun. But to each their own.

It's in the eyes.

[Beth Andrea]

Instead of going ty, go as a mom--the "ultimate sex symbol". Wear sweat pants and top, weighted socks slung over the shoulders and onto the chest (like you've got big breasts, but no bra = easier to breast feed), stitch a baby doll or two to each hip, and put on a frazzled hair/makeup look.

You could probably glue a couple grocery store receipts to the sweatshirt, and maybe fake barf over one shoulder..."had ta' burbp da baby, don'cha kno!"

Maybe have a fake cig hanging out of yer mouf...and your story would be "I'm lookin' for ma suga' daddy!"

(Welcome to the world of women! LOL)

[suzifrommd]

If you want to dress up as your true gender then go for it...but a lot of transgender people have done this method (dressing up in the other gender hoping others will think it's just for Halloween but it's something more) for so long that if you have transgender people there they will know.

Interesting you say that. There's a woman that goes there who I think is Trans (she really doesn't pass very well), but of course I wouldn't ever ask her, and no one else does either. So I haven't come out to her because I didn't want to raise the subject. I wouldn't mind if she knew I was Trans.

[Annah]

Well the first rule to trans discussion in public is: dont ask her if she is trans. I rate it right up there with asking a non pregnant woman " so...how many months until u have your baby?'

Don't bring up the trans issue unless she brings it up first or you tell her you are trans (without making it think u think she's trans).

[tekla]

Transgender people get enough crap for being associated with a ty behavior
You make it sound like a bad thing or something.

Well it's been noted by lots of people that Halloween is like the unofficial CD holiday, so if you can't get away with it at this time of year when can you?  So it seems like a plan.

Don't matter much where I am though, in SF everyday is Halloween.

[Constance]

Well it's been noted by lots of people that Halloween is like the unofficial CD holiday, so if you can't get away with it at this time of year when can you?  So it seems like a plan.

The first time I went out in public en femme was on Halloween. When I posted about that here, I felt guilty at that time using Halloween as an excuse. I was reassured by folks here who told me that "Halloween was the cross-dresser's Christmas." I identified as a CD back then.

Don't matter much where I am though, in SF everyday is Halloween.

"Well I like to let their teeny minds think
that they're dealing with someone who's gone over the brink
and I dress this way just to keep them at bay
cuz Halloween is everyday!"