The transgender identity has evolved greatly over the past 10 years. As evidence for this, I present Charles Anders’s book, The Lazy Cross Dresser. In common with earlier cross dressing manuals, Lazy CD has tips on where to find clothing and accessories, how to put on makeup and dress, and how find the confidence to leave the closet and enter the world. Lazy CD differs in its vision of what the final result can be.
Earlier titles focused on achieving a “passable female image”, particularly for the outside world. Instead, Charles/Julia both embodies and recommends a program of individual self expression whereby one can either conform or not conform to the gender stereotypes of society as one chooses. She calls this “The Lazy CD Revolution” and much of her advice flows from this stance.
The Lazy CD is a typical Greenery Press paperback book, which is to say it is about 180 pages long, with a single column of text on each page with graphics sprinkled about the wide margins. The last 30 pages are a resource guide listing TG groups and businesses in the US.
Like most cross-dressing manuals, Lazy CD is a collection of hints, tricks, and rules of thumb interwoven with advice and encouragement for the new girl. As I read them, I feel the presence of a kindred spirit. as I have always been a believer in saving money and time by developing and sharing techniques. In this way, Lazy CD resembles Joann Robert’s classic “Art and Illusion” books.
Also like earlier efforts, Lazy CD has advice for coming out. While she covers the classic route of the TG support group and social scene, Julia encourages gender-blending and participation in mainstream society.
Like it or not, sexuality has always been part of the transgender experience, and unlike earlier books, Julia goes into detail about how to explore this aspect. Included is advice for how to manage your significant other, how to find one if you need to, how to explore bisexuality & other alternatives, and how to handle tranny chasers.
Julia is a well-known personality in the local transgender and bisexual communities, and actively lives-out her philosophy within the accepting confines of the San Francisco Bay Area. As one doing the same, I found myself agreeing with most of her points. Still, I fear that Julia’s book is a bit ahead of its time, as most of the world is not as safe or affirming as is the vicinity Julia and I share.
The Lazy Cross Dresser is a lot of fun. and has many good tips for saving time, money, and trouble. Julia has augmented the book with an Internet community mailing list, details of which can be found at: www.lazycrossdresser.com