I've said it before but i only ever get stick for being a goth not for being a girl which in my book means i've passed. Also people seem to look at my boots before they look at me. I have no idea why.

I go out in the public fully dressed as a woman. Sometimes even with my wonderful wife. When I came out of the closet back in 2005, a CD friend of mine told me four (4) thing to do that allow you to pass.

1. Dress to blend in. This way most people don't take notice of you.
2. Act like you belong where you are at.
3. Act like you have done this everyday of your life.
4. Smile at anyone that looks at you.

Do all four steps and you will pass most of the time. Just remember

1. If you go out and nothing happens - YOU PASSED
2. If you go out and someone reads you but does not do or say anything - YOU PASSED
3. if you go out and someone reads you, either winks at you or smiles at you and otherwise treats you as the gender you are presenting - YOU PASSED

Hi thansk for the post. For me I spent a lot of time sittingin the shopping malll watching genetic girls and I do the same.
1. I don't look around to see who is looking at me
2. I dress to blend in
3. I act like I am doing what I am suppose to be doing or belong,

This seams to work for me, if I am read, I don't know it! so to me that means I have passed.......

Hugs Brenda

As for smiles. I have had someone look at me, I will smile at them. They usually smile back and then go back to what they were doing.

hi my name is phylisanne and i live in brooklyn new york.i have been going out dressed for about seven years now and when i go out i travel in the new york subway system.this means that i have to be in a car filled with people and i just go in and find a seat and enjoy the ride .then when i get into manhattan i have to walk about five blocke to get to meet my girl friends.this means that i am in view all the time.and when i dress i always dress conservatively and i also walk like i belong in my space .this happens every wed and the feeling is always wonderfull as i walk down the street in my high heels. love phylisanne

phylisanne - Sounds like you have a good time getting out and about. Having grown up in the BayRidge section of Brooklyn I know New Yorkers are quite sophisticated - most of the time - and are very accepting too.
Riding the subway has its adventures - different languages - different people.
hugs
Gracie

hi phylisanne

just read your post on going out in manhattan, i live on the west side but am scared to death to go out dressed by myself.
thanks for the encouragement. you are very brave.
patriciaann

Hi all,

I'm new to Trannyweb, and new as a woman - just over 18 months now. I am replying in particular to JoAnn Donaldson's post of July 14, 2008. I feel that
JoAnn hit it right on the head. I have been going out in public as a woman ever since I made the decision to be one. I have found that her suggestions are
so right! The only thing I could even think to change in her four rules would be to put #1 last. Although definitely important, I feel that should be so obvious
as to be almost unnecessary, but some girls do tend to dress to draw attention to themselves, which increases the chances of being read. The other
three rules are great, and so true - in the order they are listed. I did those three (wearing the only outfit I owned) the first time I went out in public. To my
great surprise and pleasure, the three things to remember (below the four rules) were exactly what happened to me - nothing! By those three criteria, I
passed, even though I was scared to death, and did not expect to get very far before someone started shouting at or about me! For you girls who have
not been out in public, let alone in broad daylight in a mall, let me tell you what a thrill it is to have absolutely nothing negative happen! I went into that mall
with exactly those three things foremost in my mind, repeating them to myself as I walked. I am totally convinced that if I had not had that attitude firmly in
mind, I would have run out of there in tears! People see what they expect to see - and apparently, that's what they saw - just another busy, friendly-looking, smiling woman out clothes shopping. Any sign of nervousness, or looking around to see if anyone is looking at you, will result in your being instantly read!
On the other hand, acting like you belong there, and do it every day, makes you invisible.

Also, for you girls who are afraid to go somewhere and buy clothes for yourself - ask yourself if anyone in the store will know who you are. If not, or if it
doesn't matter.....just go do it!! I have had so much fun doing this that once in a while I will go shopping for womens clothing in male mode just for the fun
of it! I love to watch the looks on the faces of the women at the changing room counter when I saunter up there with four or five dresses and ask to try
them on! I have never had a problem. Don't forget what a friend once told me...TG-friendly stores all have a sign advertising that fact in their window. It
says, Visa - Mastercard - Discover! It is perfectly legal to wear womens clothing if you're not a genetic woman! Just do it!

Love,

Brenda

I tend to get smiles from women, and even a hello or similar brief greeting. If I do get read, it is typically from a sniffly nose meaning some of my makeup has wiped off... although, if a car full of young idiots simply feels the need to slow down, point, stare, and laugh, I take it as a sign of their immaturity and keep walking. Since this only happens about 1% of the time, I PASS - and my courage and self-confidence keep going up!

Before my most recent period of denial, I used to go out dressed at times. The best time was when I was walking down a street in Bristol with a guy I had just met - nothing like that, honest - he was just escorting me back to my car. We passed two other guys going the other way that did not even bat an eyelid despite the fact that they had been looking at us as they approached - I knew I'd passed then and the feeling was fantastic.

Maybe add another one to the list, walk along with a man?

xxxx

Excellent advice all of it, and it all comes down to self confidence.

And let's not forget, even when someone is looking at you, it doesn't mean you have been read. They could be looking at an attractive woman remember. It's easy to think the looks we get are all negative, but very often that isn't the case.

Nikki

I have been out fully dressed, and in a lesbian bar to boot. AND used the women's restroom. Just go about your businees, act as you always do, and enjoy.

I'll never forget a few years ago when I called Karen Brad when she was in the hospital. I didn't use my female voice while speaking to the nurses. They went up to her and said "Do you know a man named Meredith?" Whoops. But I am not a man.