LariAnn's Transgender Adventures
I provide this feature for those of you who really want to know what kind of adventures LariAnn has had throughout this process of expressing her femininity full time.
2003 - Latest activities we did was to have a birthday party at our place for Slate's 10th birthday. We invited some of Slate's friends and their families, and everyone had a terrific time, with no gender issues. Also this month (April), we all served on a gender panel for a very large class of medical students at the University of Miami Medical School with Dr. Marilyn Volker.
2002 - Most of what we do together has now become routine, although I realize most Tgirls out there are not full time as I am, so each outing is a unique experience. This year, we went to Tampa and Busch Gardens, where we had a fine time and no problems at all. This trip took place in October 2002. Otherwise, we continue working with Dr. Marilyn Volker by serving on gender panels at the local universities. LariAnn also applied to become a houseguest in the TV "reality" show, Big Brother 3, but once again the producers did not have it in them even to select LariAnn for an interview!
June 22-25 2001 - LariAnn, Delia, and Slate return to Marco Island for a mini-vacation. We are widely seen on the beach, around town, and around the resort. The last day, we attend a continental breakfast which actually turns out to be a get-to-know-everyone kind of thing. Each group had a member stand up and tell who everyone in that group was, where from, and etc. LariAnn gets up and everyone finds out there is a transgendered person in their midst! The get-together concludes without mishap; Delia wins a dinner cruise and Slate wins a $10 gift certificate (door prizes), though!
May 11, 2001 - LariAnn submits an application to become a houseguest in the Big Brother 2 TV show. Application required sending pictures as well as a two minute videotape. Needless to say, LariAnn was not selected to be a houseguest. Had to try, though!
May 4, 5 2001 - LariAnn and Delia attend a Caroline Myss workshop, held at the Radisson on Miami Beach. The workshop was entitled "7 Paths to Understanding"; we got to meet Caroline in person (got a picture as well, but at her request, we will not publish it), also met Ron Roth and got a picture with him as well. Although we were featured in the March 2001 story of the month on Caroline's website, only one person recognized us out of over 400!
April 28, 2001 - LariAnn and Delia serve on a GLBT panel as an example of a transgendered family. This panel was part of a class called "Safe School Awareness Training", put on by Robert Loupo, a Trust Counselor with the Miami-Dade County Public School System, and Dr. Marilyn Volker. The attendees were various faculty of the public schools. The entire workshop turned out to be very educational and helpful to all. Many of the faculty had never seen a "real, live" T-person, to their knowledge.
April 23, 2001 - LariAnn and Delia serve on a GLBT panel as part of a class called "Components of Sexual Orientation", providing education for staff of the Big Brothers/Big Sisters organization. The instructional class was facilitated by Maritza Bedoya, Jacqueline Tuchler, and Dr. Marilyn Volker. The class and panel went very well for all; serving on such panels is our pleasure.
March 2001 - The Story of LariAnn and Delia is selected as the
Story of the Month on the website of Caroline Myss, Ph.D.
February 2001 - LariAnn has been full time femmy for over a year now, and the boss confides that, over this year, this has been a "non-event". Such a contrast from the projected fears displayed when I first showed up at work femmy. No one quit because of me, and we lost no clients or vendors either. Unfounded fears, all of them.
Year 2000 - LariAnn and Delia participate in many transgendered panels at local universities (Lynn University, Barry University, St. Thomas University, Florida International University, and The University of Miami); these panels are presided over by Dr. Marilyn Volker, who is a nationally recognized sexologist and who is on the faculty of each of these institutes of higher learning. We feel such a privilege and honor to be able to participate in educating those who will be counselors, therapists, and in the hospitality industry (hotels, restaurants, and the like).
February 9, 2000 - LariAnn goes to the Circuit Court building (Miami-Dade County, Florida) in response to being called for jury duty. First panel called for had LariAnn on it. The judge did a double-take, but recovered nicely. Later on, LariAnn was called in and the judge apologized personally for addressing LariAnn with a masculine name! After that, the State's attorney addressed LariAnn as "LariAnn". However, LariAnn did not end up selected for that jury, and the "day in court" ended without further incident.
January 23, 2000 - LariAnn is elected Treasurer of the Christ Congregational Church in Kendall, Florida. Delia is elected to the Governing Board of the 3C's Preschool. This transgendered couple is a permanent part of the church now!
January 1. 2000 - LariAnn is femmy full time at the office. In fact, LariAnn is full time, all the time now, 24 hours a day, and Delia and LariAnn continue to have a wonderful happy, exciting, thrilling, and adventurous time together. As far as being able to be femmy at the office is concerned, things were touch and go for a while but finally common sense (and the law) prevailed and the directive came to allow me to be femmy full time. My greatest thanks also to Dr. Marilyn Volker, perhaps the most outstanding sexologist and therapist, and the best advocate a TGirl could ever hope to have.
December 1999 - LariAnn shows up at the general company party, fully femmy, with clients, vendors, and guests in attendance (a definite first). Everyone had a great time, and no negative incidents took place. Good preparation for the year 2000. (see upcoming adventures for the meaning of this!) Also in December, LariAnn shows up at St. John's Episcopal church for a holiday show (our son was to be singing in it) and is not allowed to enter the sanctuary. The Rector calls the police and, when they arrive, of course they can do nothing as LariAnn has violated no law. However, LariAnn is still not allowed in under threat of arrest for "trespassing". We insist on a police report; some parents on leaving the show expressed their sorrow at the way we were treated. Delia videotapes our son's singing; our son takes the incident very well. This is probably our son's first real lesson about why prejudice and bigotry are so terrible.
April 1, 1999 - LariAnn shows up at the office! The Boss knew in advance (and OK'd it) but no one else knew. The whole experience went remarkably well; LariAnn worked for half the day (doing a whole day's work in that half day; isn't that what women are expected to do??)then went to a nice long lunch at Romano's Macaroni Grill with Delia and another GG, Carol. Us three girls enjoyed the meal tremendously. Afterwards, LariAnn returned to the office to wrap some things up, then later in the evening attended a Maundy Thursday dinner and service at the Christ Congregational Church, all still femmy. What a day! May I nominate April Fools Day as another "official" crossdresser's holiday?
March 1999 - LariAnn and Delia meet some new friends, among them Clairise, Donna and Gloria (a CD couple), and Lynne.
February 1999 - LariAnn finds a church where she is accepted in all her feminine glory. The church is Christ Congregational Church, a United Church of Christ church. LariAnn has found that many UCC churches are open and accepting of transgender people, so if you are transgender and are looking for an accepting church home, check out the UCC churches if there are any in your area. LariAnn even sings in the choir!
December 1998 - LariAnn roams far and wide, showing up several times at The Falls, an upscale mall in the south Miami area. LariAnn goes so many places now and so many times, it's hard to keep up and detail all the outings. Most of the time, LariAnn goes out with Delia because there are hardly any TGirls around here to go out with. Many, many people in this area know about LariAnn and know she is a TGirl, and there are mostly uniform positive reactions. And yes, LariAnn showed up again at the annual supervisors party at work and a terrific time was had by all (even though LariAnn got tipsy enough to require a ride home!!).
August 1998 - LariAnn and Delia go to Marco Island, Florida, where we sit by the pool, go out shopping and just generally have fun as two girls on a weekend vacation. See LariAnn's newest pics page for two poolside pics from this outing!
7/10 LariAnn came out at 3:30 PM at the office and left at 5:30PM. Later in the evening, LariAnn and Delia went to the Wharf Lounge to be with some friends who were celebrating a birthday. At about 10PM, LariAnn came home to await the arrival of Joannie West, a CD from South Florida she met on the Net. After she showed up, LariAnn and Joannie went back to the Lounge to pick up Delia, then returned home for wine, eats, and fun, hanging out together till about 3AM.
7/8 LariAnn came out at the office near the end of the day, then afterwards stopped by Circuit City in Cutler Ridge to purchase a computer. This was interesting in that it involved a good deal of talking. LariAnn was treated like a lady.
7/5 LariAnn and Delia went to the Kendall Town & Country Mall to see "Gone With the Wind" at the movie theater there. No one seemed to notice anything other than two girls going to the movies together.
7/3 LariAnn went to work and was there for the entire day working with the full staff (this was not a day off at our office). No problems except the time went by far too fast. Later in the evening, LariAnn and Delia went to visit a CD couple in Ft. Lauderdale. Fabulous time for all!
6/5, 12, 19, 26 LariAnn came out each of these Fridays to hand out the paychecks. This is now a regular event at the office and everyone expects to see LariAnn now and wonder what is wrong if they don't see her on time.
5/29 LariAnn came out at around 4 PM at work and handed out the paychecks to our staff of over 100 people. Many fun and interesting reactions were observed, but no one responded negatively. A good number of compliments were received! LariAnn was wearing a sleeveless black dress with white trim, a spandex type material, very slinky and sexy. Not the usual office garb! That evening, LariAnn and Delia revisited the Wharf Lounge where a great time was had by all. Two men wanted to dance with LariAnn, and one tried to kiss her, but missed!
5/25 I was asked to work on Memorial Day, so I said that it was fine as long as I worked as LariAnn for the whole day! The OK was given and LariAnn was at work all day as LariAnn; it was so wonderful I almost couldn't stand it (just kidding)! LariAnn was dressed in a purple silk short sleeve blouse, jean shorts, and sandals, very casual. Everyone responded very positively to LariAnn's presence in the office for the whole day.
5/8 This evening, LariAnn and Delia decided to visit a local straight bar with a good band playing old Rock and Roll. Delia called in advance to alert the manager that a CD was coming, and even took pictures over to the bar for the manager to peruse! With such preparation, LariAnn and Delia made their appearance at about 9:45 PM on Friday. Everything went well; LariAnn & Delia danced and seemed to be the focus of most every eye in the place! Later in the evening, a fellow bought LariAnn a rose, and another fellow asked LariAnn out on the floor for a dance! Very flattering, and very enjoyable! (The second fellow knew LariAnn was not a GG, but wanted to be with her anyway!) The manager seemed to be very accepting and supportive. Watch for future adventures happening at this bar (The Wharf Lounge, Florida City, Florida)!
4/9 LariAnn came out again at work (4:30 PM) and found out she had forgotten her bra, so went through the office flat- chested! After a quick stop at home to pick up a bra and some film, LariAnn went to her appointment at Classy Nails in Homestead to have her nails done. Then LariAnn went to pick up Chinese takeout and also stopped at a Chevron station for a cold beer to go.
4/4 LariAnn and Delia go to visit Ronnie again in Boca Raton, dress up, take pictures, talk girly talk, spend the nite and just have a wonderful time together!
4/1 "April Fools" - LariAnn came out just after the end of a staff meeting (4:30PM) and hung around with the staff until the end of the work day (about 5:30 PM). Pretty routine and almost boring (Boring? NOT!).
3/20 LariAnn came out at work AGAIN; this time about 4:45 PM; she went online there at work and sent an email to a friend, chatted with the President and VP, then left for home. LariAnn and Delia then went up to Boca Raton to see Ronnie, a new CD friend and to take her to the Serenity support group meeting in Ft. Lauderdale. We were very late to the meeting, but a lot of ladies were still there. Afterwards, we went to the Whale and Porpoise and had a terrific time dancing and enjoying being out. We left the Whale and Porpoise and went to a club called Omni, which was around 1 or 1:30 AM, and were there until it closed at 2 AM. We then went back to Boca and spent the night. It was our CD friends' first nite out. We were honored to have been able to support her during this very important event!
3/13 LariAnn came out again at about 5 PM at work and hung around with the President, VP, Office Mgr, and a couple of Supervisors for about an hour and a half over some Rum and Coke. Everyone was respectful of LariAnn and everyone seemed to have a good time. Next day (3/14) LariAnn and Delia traveled to Boca Raton to visit our new TG girlfriend there and we had much fun trying on outfits, taking pictures, talking girl talk, and just enjoying each other's company. We spent the night there and came home the afternoon of 3/15.
3/7 LariAnn and Delia (in Orlando, FL for the weekend) attend the Tri-Ess meeting (Phi Epsilon Mu chapter). Just prior to leaving for the meeting, LariAnn shows herself to a salesperson for the Hilton Grand Vacations Resort, and is received very well. Next day, LariAnn and Delia show up at the Preview Center, still at the Hilton, and enjoy a continental breakfast with everyone looking on. Later in the day, LariAnn and Delia visit with a wonderful CD living in the Boca Raton area.
2/27 LariAnn showed up again at the end of the day at work, and this time, sat down and hung around with the President and upper management for over an hour over Rum and Coke. LariAnn savored every second! Everyone was very nice and accepting, like nothing unusual was going on. (Say, you go, girl!)
2/22 LariAnn and Delia had a Mary Kay Rep over to help us with makeovers, then LariAnn, Delia, and our boy went to "Critter Fest", a party which had absolutely nothing to do with the transgender community. No overt commotion was caused; however, several people were discovered talking about men dressing up as women! LariAnn was slightly overdressed for this outdoor party and was "hit on" by two teenagers.
2/20 LariAnn attended the Serenity support group meeting in Ft. Lauderdale, Florida. A nice group of ladies was present; afterwards, LariAnn went to the Whale and Porpoise nightclub where she drew the attention of some gay women and where she met and enjoyed the company of Linda, another CD at the club.
2/12 LariAnn went to have her nails done professionally, and to get ready, dressed at the end of the day at work and walked through the office in front of the President, the Vice President, and other management level employees at the company. Great Fun! (Boss is very supportive.) After the nails were finished, LariAnn went by the local Blockbuster to rent some videos.
