I recently reached out to everyone who 'like' the Straight Crossdressers & Friends Facebook page to see if anyone there was willing to be interviewed for the blog. A few people volunteered to. This is the first of the finished interviews.
This interview is with Gia, a beautiful 32 year old crossdresser from NY.
*PP: I'm glad you agreed to
be interviewed for my blog, its been awhile since I've done one. I wanna try to make it a regular feature.
(*PP= Pirate Pebbs aka yours truly)
Gia: aww, you're welcome. I'm glad there are blogs like this and appreciate
you doing this.
PP: Thank you!
PP: Do you find it odd that a Genetic girl, like
myself, is so passionate about wanting to straighten people out?
Gia: Interesting word selection. "straighten"
PP: lol, I'm punny sometimes.
Gia: I don't think it's odd, but I do think it is
rare. It is difficult enough finding genetic women
who are attracted to people like myself who perhaps are more "open"
about expressing their feminine side. To find someone who outwardly supports it to
the point of building your own blog and reader base is something else
altogether. So rare indeed.
PP: I never really thought of it that way...
I see myself as more of a person who doesn't
like to see people put down for how they feel
I want people to be Happy and if people have to
hide part of themselves because others will think they are odd or something so
they keep everything pent up inside...they'll never really be happy.* (*This doesn't apply to people who become happy by abusing others or indulging in highly illegal activities People who have abusive impulses should seek help by a trained professional to help them overcome their abusive thoughts & impulses.)
Gia: Hehe. That's a good philosophy. All I can say is keep it up and perhaps
you might encourage others with similar ideals.
PP: I'll do my best.
Gia: I've made sacrifices for being able to express who I am. Some are fairly
significant. I think Dan Savage said something along the lines of, "the most
powerful thing anyone within the LGBTQ community can do for change is to come
out."
PP: Indeed! Now I'll [finally] get on to the questions.
First, What name shall I call you? Gia or is there more to the name that
you'd like noted?
Gia: It's just Gia. The name is somewhat influenced by the movie and the model. And there is a closeness to my actual name, which I'll leave to
everyone's imagination.
PP: Ah, I know of that Gia, cool!
About when did you become interested in or
start crossdressing?
Gia: When I was just a little cross dresser. I used
to sneak into my sister's closet when no one was home and play dress up in
front of the mirror. Course I was a bit limited at that point, but the fascination grew.
PP: Is she older than you?
Gia: Yes, she's older. Which was good news for me since the clothes was a better fit. I wonder
if I would have tried on her clothes if she was a little sister. That feels
different for some reason.
PP: Have you ever been 'caught' [as a kid]? If so, by who?
Gia: Haha. Once, I think I unconsciously sabotaged myself.
I was getting more daring and I was again
rummaging through my sister's closet. This time it was in our weekend home, and
there was this flowery dress that I used to love to wear. Well, it turned out
that they were getting rid of it. I snuck the dress into my own closet and left
it there.
Of course my mom found it, and gave me this
completely embarrassing guilt trip about how boys shouldn't be wearing dresses.
That was the first
and last time I was ever caught by my family. To this day, they don't have a
clue.
PP: That was my next question, if your family knows
you did, but I know that answer now.
Gia: Well, there was a minor incident when I still had a trace of eyeliner
and my sister saw it, but I made up some story about being dragged out to a
goth night by some girl friends. [so to answer the question] No, and I think I'm going to leave it that
way. I'm sure my dad wouldn't really care. Well not really. But my mom, lovely
woman, is a bit more old fashioned and would never get it.
PP: Have you /do you ever gone out crossdressed in
public?
Gia: Yes, all of the time!
PP: When did you start going out [cross] dressed?
Gia: It took some getting used to. But I started to
get dressed up on my own and going out after I finished college and moved out
to my own apartment.
PP: Do you get someone to do your makeup? Did anyone teach you how to apply makeup? Did you learn trial & error style?
Gia: Of course back [then], I relied on more help to get
ready and didn't really know how to work it without looking like a cheap hooker
with bad make-up. But I eventually developed my own style and with some
coaching from my lovely make-up artist friends, I developed the basics for
painting. I've had a long list of teachers. Thank god for
Craigslist and Myspace.
PP: Are you 'Passing' /is it your goal to be passing?
Gia: It's important to me that... I don't look like
a guy in a bad wig.
Yes, passing is my
goal, but I'm realistic. I'm a tall guy. Big shoulders, and there is only so
much you can do. So, I do what I can to get as close as I can. But I have no expectation
that people aren't going to know I'm a boy in a dress. At least after a 2nd or
3rd look.
PP: From the photos I've seen you look great! Passing or not!
Gia: Aww, why thank you.
I'm a cross dresser, but I like to refer to myself sometimes as a female
illusionist. It's about creating a perception / image of being a woman. But I don't
necessarily feel like a woman, or want to be one. It's also a bit like creating
an alter ego where I can act a certain way that I wouldn't otherwise.
PP: Indeed!
Do you Tuck &[/or] Shave when you crossdress?
Gia: Tucking is a general term. I wear briefs and 2 pairs of tights, and
usually that's enough. I don't usually pick out outfits where it would be too
tight in the wrong spots.
As for shaving, I do to varying degrees. Of
course I shave my face. I usually shave my chest too, but the legs I usually
hold off on unless there is a really good reason.
And I leave my arms
and hands alone. Those are just too tough to explain. It's all about the long gloves.
PP: I hear ya!
What makes you want to crossdress? How does it
make you feel?
Gia: Haha. Good question. I think it's changed/evolved over the years.
I didn't know what to make of it at first. Yes, like a lot of cross
dressers, it's a bit of a turn on, and I think that's primarily how it started. It was exciting to see how sexy I can get. I'd look at myself in the mirror and get
turned on by what I saw, and I wanted to do more. It was the primary driver to
buying new clothes and shoes and make up.
PP: Does [being] Gia make you feel more empowered? Less
shy? Anything like that?
Gia: Well, yes. And that goes to the other reasons for my dressing.
It evolved to the point where it wasn't about
turning myself on. I've reached the point where I realized that it was more of
a release. A chance to escape from the same old and be someone else for awhile.
While at the same point be able to more freely express my inner feminine side -
which is much easier to get to when you're in a dress.
Needless to say, there were some ups and downs
along the way.
PP: [Unfortunately], life is full of those.
Gia: I've heard other stories about people essentially taking these deep
introspective looks at themselves and basically trying to numb the need or
desire to cross dress.
Twice in my evolution, I've tossed out full
wardrobes in street corner trash cans, far away from my apartment. Out of
disgust.
"This is not who I am. I'm a boy, I like girls, I'm confused, stop
doing this to yourself."
But it always comes back. And it's really
about accepting it to whatever level that you're comfortable. Whether that's
wearing the occasional panty in bed, or in my case, full ensemble head-to-toe
going out to bars and dancing. Or the occasional photo shoot.
PP: Ideally what percentage of your time would you
prefer to be 'dressed'? like half the time, every once in awhile, every weekend
etc?
Gia: It depends. Usually I'd go out 3-4 times per
month in drag. It depends if there
is a reason, and I don't typically dress up to just hang out in my apartment alone. That's boring. If I'm going to spend 2 - 2 1/2
hours getting ready - I want to be seen darn it!
PP: I hear ya!
Have you ever been caught by a girlfriend? If
not, have you admitted to crossdressing to a girlfriend? What was the result?
Gia: No, never caught. And with my last significant
relationship I was pretty upfront about it right away. It wasn't easy. But important. And we got
through it, at least at the beginning.
I wish I could say that it was a positive in
our relationship, but it wasn't. And although I don't think it was the only reason for why we eventually
broke up, it was a big factor.
PP: I still think being honest up front is the
best way to start a relationship
thats what I generally tell to all my CD friends
& on my blog.
Gia: Exactly. So now, I've been very focused on trying to date girls who know
about Gia right up front so there are no surprises down the line. Gia even has
her own [dating website] profile.
PP: Is there an inspiration for your look?
Gia: I can't point to anything specific. But I like to be edgy. Bit more rock
and roll versus country. Nothing against country. But my roots are in
punk and maybe a little glam. It's funny to put names to it, but it's like a
weird combo of David Bowie, Lady Gaga, Angelina Jolie and Sid Vicious.
PP: Cool!
Do you have a story or idea to share that you haven't previously shared here?
Gia: I want to express that if it wasn't for Gia, I
would not have met some of the most interesting and special people in my life.
She's opened up new experiences that I would never have had before, and
frankly, makes life more interesting to live.
It's not easy being a straight cross dresser.
But usually it's worth it.
PP: I feel like i've met a lot of cool interesting
people through my blogging etc as well. I'm glad I was encouraged to start it.
Thank you for letting me interview you for my blog today. Would you like
for me to put a link to your online profile or email, in case some lovely ladies are
interested in getting to get to know you better?
Gia: Yep, anyone should feel free to reach me at callmegia@mail.com. But I can't guarantee I'll be able to reply to everyone.
