In my part of the world (Western Canada), I think it is fair to say that CDers would be in serious physical danger if read even if they looked convincing and attractive. Sections of Vancouver with a relatively large gay population would be the exception. I wonder about how other people perceive their situations? I suspect that it may be similar in the US (particularly in smaller communities). I think that this is a potentially interesting question considering the multinational nature of our membership. I do realize that danger exists everywhere, but is not danger relative? On a scale of 1-10 (10 being the most dangerous) I would place the danger level here at 9-10. Others?
Chantelle: I can believe that in the rural south that I come from it would be very very dangerous to be found out. I would not even thing about it. Gee.
I should point out that I recognize that perceived fear is not necessarily the same as actual risk. I mean, I might be afraid to walk in a graveyard at night, but I am likely not in any real danger from zombies (never know ).
Thanx for responding so quickly Gelinda! I assume you remain at home then? Sad that society is so rigid.
I wonder if it is rural vs urban that really makes the difference. On the other hand, I think it was Amelie? who said that NYC was scary. I was surprised by that.
I kinda wonder if England is different as it is a smaller country and more urbanized and cosmopolitan? Or, is it just about the ability to pass?
Hi Girls, I live in northern Colorado, Mathew Shepard was murdered in southern Wyoming I would say a 8-9 area Iwould not walk anywhere that's not close to my aprtment. I would drive but not to Wyoming, about 45 miles or so. I think Denver would be a little safer than Greeley. .....kristen
Do want you want to do, be who you want to be. * * Email address not current as of 10-07-2008! Please contact SilverLady(SO) immediately! See http://crossdressers-forum.com/forums/v ... php?t=9237 for further information. Thank You!! * *
Chantelle: I would never live in the big city as NYC or New Orleans. I have been to New Orleans and NYC more in New Orleans. I have been there in New Orleans too many times looking for a cousin and went to areas that openly carried a gun and whould not even think of being alone in those areas. That was in my nornal clothes I can't even think of being there as a CD. Gee.
My own experience of Vancouver is slightly different. Although I've never really been out en femme myself while I was there, I did spot a few CDs out and about in certain parts of town and even around Stanley Park. The city seemed much safer to me than, say, Calgary or Saskatoon.
I did go out while I lived both in Victoria as well as in a small town around Nanaimo. Never had a problem. Ironic, isn't it, that my first (and, so far, only) major bad experience occured right here, in Montreal, a city reputed for its openness and TG-friendliness (in part due to the "zinging" life of the Gay Village)?
I'd rate Van a 6 and Montreal an 8. You people out there are just so much more mellow than us Easterners. Maybe it's the California influence?
Yikes...I never even thought about the gun issue. Guns exist in Canada too of course, but I think that in the US there is a stronger belief that a person is entitled to them (even in public?). I do not want to generalize too much here.
I live in the same area as you. And I have seen cross-dressers out and about, but I have not observed them running into any trouble. Although I believe in any city there are places that would be dangerous. One of the cross-dressers I saw was observed stealing from a store that we were in, and was not bothered.
I would not have a clue how to rate it on a scale of 1 too 10 as I don't go out dressed.
It's my understanding that there are certain businesses in Charlotte that are T-friendly. Up to this point I've only been out shopping in drab, lacking the full kit necessary to go out fully-dressed. I'm usually open about what I'm shopping for and why, and the sales people I've enountered have mostly been polite, even helpful. I've been outside before, though it's been a long time. I'll worry, if need be, when the time comes.
One thing I have always done when shoe-shopping, is to test the shoes in the store. I walk around, dance a little, hop up and down, stuff like that. If part of the store is tiled, I walk across the tiles to see how they sound on hard surfaces. None of that is really unusual, I suppose. Here's the real test. I plant one foot, then execute a kick (what kind depends on the available space). I want to test my balance, and kicks always throw me off. If I recover without falling on my backside, I buy the shoes. I won't go out in shoes that prevent me from defending myself, or from fleeing in an expeditious manner. For that reason I dislike fancy catches and complex strapping. If I need to beat feet, I'd like to know I can kick off my shoes and run barefoot if I have to.
The most common form of despair comes from not being who you are. - Soren Kierkegaard
Hmmm...good point. If and when I go out (and I suspect I will at some point after, I move though), I will not wear straps. I never even thought about that, but it is probably a good precaution.
Even here in a city as big and as open minded as NY, there are one or two spots that I would dare not venture, nor would I recommend anyone go near. Case & point: south Bronx. New York's Gangland.
Yes I have said it can be dangerous in NY, NY is big and like Lorna said the south Bronx is deadly, which is where I lived and grew up. It was deadly whether in drag or not. It is very similar here in Baltimore, while you have some safe areas there are a lot of thugs with guns roaming around. I also lived for a time in Hell,s Kitchen in NYC, it had its share of strange characters, but was safer than the Bronx. I would go to the village at night, which was fairly safe, but you'd sometimes run into packs of suburban thugs, usually skinheads, coming into the city to bash people. I have had more problems with the suburban skinhead thugs than any others. Like Hell's Kitchen, Baltimore has a seediness to it, you somewhat expect to see odd people. John Waters comes from Baltimore, need I say anything more. I would rate Baltimore a 15 on the scale of danger, what I can't, well then I rate it a 9, It's too dangerous for anyone not just us. But for some reason, I liked the Bronx, Hell's Kitchen and now Baltimore, I actually would be terrified if I had to live in suburbia. Too many trees.
There is one thing I would like to make on my last post. Althugh I grew up in the Bronx, I DID NOT dress while living there, I wpuld not be typing this now if I did. Another part, is that when I first moved there, my area wasn,t called the south Bronx, but later it just engulfed and became part of the south Bronx.
Although I never actually lived in NY for a long time I was born in manhatten but I do have family there one who is a cop who worked the night shift in the south bronx area you mentioned. He told me every night before leaving polica station he had to put on full boddy armor to patrol the area with his partner. He eventaly got his transfer to harbor patrol so the family is a little less worried about his new postion than his last one.
Hi Jessie, if you ever talk to your family member who's in the force, ask him what it's like in the 46th Precinct, I lived three blocks from the Ryer ave station.
Sections of Vancouver with a relatively large gay population would be the exception. I wonder about how other people perceive their situations? I suspect that it may be similar in the US (particularly in smaller communities). I think that this is a potentially interesting question considering the multinational nature of our membership. I do realize that danger exists everywhere, but is not danger relative? On a scale of 1-10 (10 being the most dangerous) I would place the danger level here at 9-10. Others?
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