Hi Hannah, I was wondering if you know of any transgender friendly hair salons that do wig styling in the Minneapolis/Saint Paul area?
Hi! There are several places I would look into. All three of these businesses sell wigs.
Creative Hair Design
Merle Norman
Anyone in the Twin Cities know of anywhere else?
Love, Hannah
Have a question for me? Oh yes you do. Ask me here!
Last night was the monthly event for the MN T-Girls. Because of the pandemic, we haven’t been out to dinner for quite a while so I felt it was time to return to the Wilde Cafe and Spirits in Minneapolis. It’s been a favorite of ours for years so it was fun to go back.
We caught up with each other and planned out our events for the rest of the year while we enjoyed yummy food.
And we all looked beautiful.
Love, Hannah
This past weekend was the Pride Festival for Minneapolis. Since the MN T-Girls didn’t have a booth this year I was able to spend a lot more time wandering around the park. As I wandered, I let my mind do the same thing.
The world is a harsh place. People can be cruel to one another, there are laws in place that hurt our community, and more being written each day. Friendships and families can be forever shattered when we come out. We walk a tightrope on eggshells as we navigate this side of ourselves, regardless of where you are on the transgender spectrum. You might be getting weekly estrogen shots, you might be a boy who wants to do drag. You might be somewhere between. We just want to live our lives but we are held back by the (justified) fear of living our truths, of being ourselves, of being who we want to be. Of being who we ARE.
When we come out we have to face reality. I think about coming out to more people in my life but then I have to face the reality of that. I don’t think it’s likely but there will always be the possibility that coming out to certain friends of mine might end that relationship. Although I have no plans (nor do I feel the need to do so) to live full time, I know were I to do so I risk discrimination (both legal and otherwise) at work and in healthcare.
It’s not fair. It’s exhausting. It’s demeaning. It’s heartbreaking. Because of the reality we face we deny ourselves what we want, who we are, and what we want our lives to be.
However.
If we only watch the news it’s easy to think that the world hates us. That we are alone. It feels like that over the last few years there has been an increase in violence and hate towards the LGBTQ+ community. It feels like every week there’s a new law that attempts to suppress our rights and to make it legal to deny us healthcare. And there is some truth to this thinking. It’s very… ah, popular in certain circles to hate us. It’s very popular to turn us into the scary monster in the ladies room when all we want to do is, well, use the ladies room.
But it’s important (and essential for our mental health) to switch off the television and stop doom scrolling and get out into the real world. It’s important to stop denying who we are, yes, but it’s also important to see for ourselves what the world thinks of us. Of course, it doesn’t matter what the world thinks of us. And we won’t really know what the world thinks of us, but we can get an idea. Last month I finally got to spend some time at my favorite art museum, something I had been wanting to do for over a year. I was dressed in my favorite pair of black patent heels and one of my favorite dresses. My makeup, as the kids say, was LIT. I wandered around the museum for a couple of hours, had a snack in the cafe, and browsed the gift shop. It was, well, it was lovely.
And the best part was that no one cared. I mean, they might have cared and kept their thoughts to themselves, but smiles were returned when I caught someone’s eye, no one pointed or stared. Everyone just paid attention to the art (which is what one does at an art museum). The world seemed a lot less cruel (and a lot more wonderful) than the news headlines suggested.
And Pride was the same thing. Of course, I understand Pride is a celebration for the LGBTQ+ community and it’s the last place in the world where someone would stare at a t-girl, but Pride is also attended by allies. Of course I saw other t-girls, drag queens, gay couples handing hands, and countless others of the LGBTQ+ world. But I also saw people wearing t-shirts with the world ALLY on them. I saw women walking around with signs that said “Free Mom Hugs”. I saw people who loved us. People who wanted us to know that they supported who we are. It’s overwhelming to know we can get a hug from a mom, something we need, especially if we can’t get one from our own.
I can’t say how many people I saw (or saw me) at Pride in the two hours I was there. But like when I went to the museum, I was just another girl enjoying the day. “Vibing”, as the kids say.
Pride really underscores the importance of having friends like ourselves, of being involved (to any extent) in our community. As a t-girl I want to do, well, non-LGBTQ+ things. And I do. I don’t only go to LGBTQ+ cafes and shops. I go to Starbucks and Target, too. But it’s important to stay involved in events like Pride. To be visible, to add to the number of people who attend Pride. To show the world that there are a LOT of us, and that we still stand (and strut) no matter how many people hate us.
Love, Hannah
This weekend was the mini-sized Pride Festival in Minneapolis. Due to, well, the whole COVID thing, this year’s Pride’s celebrations were a little smaller than in previous years. Usually the MN T-Girls have a booth but we skipped it this year since the festival was only recently announced and there wasn’t much time to plan.
Although we weren’t there in officially this year our little group had our monthly event at Pride. It was a nice little change from previous years as I normally don’t get a chance to wander around and visit other booths but this year we got to see so much. Like always, the people watching was excellent. 🙂
I am looking forward to next year when we are back with a booth but it was a fun day and we were happy just being there.
Love, Hannah
I believe in the past, the MN T-girls had a booth at the Pride Festival. Will you have one this year?
The MN T-Girls have had booths at previous Pride Festivals. I believe it’s important that if a support group is able to have representation at Pride, then by all means they should do what they can to be there, especially if the group fills a niche. There are a lot of wonderful support groups for girls like us in Minnesota, such as PFLAG and Minnesota Transgender Alliance. One aspect that I think helps the MN T-Girls differentiate itself is that I think of the group as a social group. Each month we do something out in the community. I think this is an important distinction. As a t-girl there were, and will always be, things that I want to do en femme. Go out to dinner, visit the museum, and of course, go shopping. It’s intimidating to do these things for the first time, especially alone. I thought a group that focused on doing everyday things like this would be helpful in terms of easing girls like me into experiencing all the things the world can offer en femme.
But this year Pride kind of snuck up on me. I wasn’t sure if there was going to be a festival this year and when it was announced I realized I didn’t have the time or the mental bandwidth to set up our booth registration and make other arrangements. So, the MN T-Girls will not be there this year, at least not officially. I will be there on the Saturday of the festival so if you see me, say hi!
Unless you’re a creep. Creeps can stay the hell away from me.
Love, Hannah
Have a question for me? Oh yes you do. Ask me here!
Sybil Minnelli is a long time crossdresser, balancing her kink lifestyle with a vanilla family and work life. She’ll teach you her secrets of crossdressing, how she balances dual lives, and how she switches her presentation between casual, passable, and fetish themes. Ms. Sybil will share her advice on makeup, hair, clothes, shoes and how to get the look you desire. However, she does lead an interactive class and will encourage others to share their secrets as well. Attend as dressed up as you like and enjoy a very safe, friendly and comfortable environment. Be prepared for a lot of fun discussion about reaching your femme side!
This class is held at the Bondesque store at 707 West Lake Street Minneapolis, MN 55408
…downtown
When you’ve got worries all the noise and the hurry
Seems to help I know downtown.
Just listen to the music of the traffic in the city
Linger on the sidewalk where the neon signs are pretty
How can you lose?
The lights are much brighter there
You can forget all your troubles, forget all your cares
So go downtown
Things will be great when you’re downtown
No finer place for sure downtown
Everything’s waiting for you
Hi!
I am excited to start sharing pictures from my recent “Because I’m Alive” photo shoot from earlier this month.
This was the first outfit I wore and I think it’s a totally cute dress. What makes the dress even more adorable are the matching heels I paired it with. These pictures were taken at Peace Garden in South Minneapolis.
I hope you like them!
Love, Hannah
Saturday was the monthly MN T-Girls outing and we enjoyed a night at Allure, an upscale lingerie store for a private shopping party.
This was our third event at Allure and like the previous events the girls had an opportunity to get a bra fitting as well as shop for beautiful lingerie in a safe and supportive store.
I heart my new panties and lingerie and I”m sure you’ll find something there that you like, too!
Love, Hannah
Yesterday was the first MN T-Girls meeting since November. We took a pause due to COVID but now that the weather is warmer (for Minnesota in April, anyway) I felt it was safe(r) to resume our monthly adventures This was our second return as we took our first COVID pause last March and returned (for the first time) in May of last year.
This month wasn’t tooooo elaborate, just coffee and girl talk with the girls but it was good to see my friends again.
It was chilly, but at least I looked cute. Well, I thought I looked cute.
Love, Hannah
