Maybe there should be a forum dedicated to all those people in public life who have the courage to be open about their TG selves. It wouldn't have too many members. In fact, apart from Grayson Perry and Eddie Izzard, I can't think of anyone.

So this thread is to celebrate Grayson's contribution to a new photography exhibition - see http://arts.guardian.co.u[...]00.html in today's Guardian. The only photograph of Grayson himself (herself?) shows Grayson's alter ego Claire sitting on a couch surrounded by a bunch of male and female (but not obviously TG) vicars. It's a weird picture which perhaps reflects Grayson's own rather strange outlook on the world. And it's nice that at least part of the Church of England has decided to give Grayson its blessing.

I don't think I've had the pleasure of meeting Richard (O'Brien?). Is he another public figure who is out? Sometimes I wish I was out. Transylvania or not.

That's the Alternative Miss World, I believe, but I may be wrong. As for the Church of England giving its blessing to cross dressing, I think not. They can't even come to terms with gays amongst their own clergy, let alone congregation. But who gives a damn. My lot are even worse. They can all rot in the Hell they created. If I've offended anyone then please forgive me, isn't that what you do. " Do I disappoint you or leave a bad taste in your mouth." It's ok I'm gilded with honey, no matter what they say. Crikey . . . oops!

Well done Catherine!

It was Grayson Perry and Eddie Izzard that inspired me to get out in public.

For Greyson to turn up at an award event dressed as a little girl, and for Eddy Izzard to risk his career by coming out, took a huge amount of courage from them both.

They have truly inspired me tbh

How famous do you have to be? I play in a band, in public, do I count?
Here’s a few off the top of my head:
Nadia - winner of Big Brother
April Ashley - model
Mianne Bagger - golfer
Dana International (don’t know her real name, think it’s something like Sharon!) - Eurovision winner
Um, yes it is difficult to think of many isn’t it.
I believe that anyone who is out and about will encourage others who might otherwise feel they have to hide in the shadows all their lives. Although I don’t think it had a direct influence on me, I was pleasantly shocked to hear Eddie Izzard talking so candidly about his own crossdressing, maybe it helped me just a little bit. The night Nadia won Big Brother was the night I came out to the first of my friends. We watched the final together and I took the opportunity to explain, “I’m like Nadia…”
Having someone there on the screen helped me to get the words out (I’d planned to do it anyway, without realising it was the BB final), and perhaps helped my friend to accept that people could be TS and still be popular. The documentary that got a mention in these forums called “Lucy, teen transsexual” featured a girl who’d been inspired by Nadia not just to come out, but to actually realise what it meant to be TS; she saw Nadia on telly, and everything clicked into place.
Certainly, in this country, TG exposure in the media is a good thing, and gone are the days of shock, horror headlines. Public TG figures inspire and encourage others, and help the masses come to accept us.
xx

Have we already forgotten Steve Stanton of Largo, Florida?

http://www.associatedcont[...]ne.html

I agree 100% Wendy. Steve Stanton's story literally saved my marriage and allowed my wife to fully accept me being TS. If it wasn't for all the comments made to the MSNBC.com story, only God knows where I would be now. So in my own personal way I will always be indebted to him.

Whoops! My bad, Marsha, it is now Susan Stanton and "her", officially.

I'm thinking along the same lines as Lucy here. Let's also not forget all the 'ordinary' TG girls who have had the courage to come out and be who they want to be, without being able to hide behind their celebrity status as protection from the real world. These are the girls I take my inspiration from.

Nikki