Many of our clients will ask us where they can go out dressed en femme where they will be safe and accepted. For a lot of crossdressers, dressing up at home is enough. But there are many CD’s and transgender girls who wish to go out into public places and feel the excitement and freedom of being open and interacting with like-minded people. The most obvious places to go are where other crossdressers, transgender girls and other members of the LGBTQ+ community frequent. We have compiled our Top 5 CD-friendly places to attend with tips on how to find the closest one’s near to you.
Transgender Conferences
There are no other places like the TG conferences where you can spend up to an entire week as your authentic female self 24/7. There are conferences taking place throughout the year, all over the country in the U.S.A. and attendees travel from all over the world to take part, knowing they will be safe and supported.
Conferences are part reunion, part social event and part learning event. For most attendees they are total immersion events for the time spent there i.e. you present for the entire stay in your chosen gender. For many first-timers, attending one of the TG conferences is the first time they present in public as their authentic female self. But the confidence gained by attending and making long-time friends is usually a transformational experience for many who go on to fully embrace their femme side.
Where we are in the North East we have the 3 largest conferences and can personally recommend you attend any of them:
- Keystone Transgender Conference, PA, March/April
- First Event, MA, January
- Fantasia Fair, MA, October
There are also many other smaller one’s around the country that are modeled on the 3 big one’s. All of the conferences aim to educate, entertain and inspire attendees in a safe and supportive environment. Just ‘google’ the phrase ‘transgender conference’ and see what comes up close to you.
Support Groups and Crossdresser Events
Many support groups exist throughout the United States. They will often meet on a monthly basis and prospective members have to apply online and you are usually screened before you can attend. Transgender and crossdresser support groups aim to provide a safe, supportive social setting for non-binary individuals which includes transgender persons, crossdressers and anyone not identifying as their assigned gender at birth.
There are also a multitude of monthly and pop-up party events for crossdressers and transgender girls in many states that usually take place on Friday or Saturday nights in bars and clubs. These tend to be purely social events where crossdressers meet to socialize and dance the night away. You can often attend the first time in your ‘male’ attire if you are nervous and want to make sure the group is a good fit for you. You will find a wide range of ages at most of these events so fitting in should be easy.
To find support groups and events in your state ‘google’ phrases like: ‘transgender support group nj’ for example if looking for New Jersey events.
Pride Events
There are literally thousands of Pride Events taking place each year around June time to commemorate the NYC Stonewall Riots of 1969. They are normally large outdoor events and celebrate LGBTQ+ social, self-acceptance and legal rights achievements. They seek to honor the historical achievements of those who came before and to create a feeling of community. But it is not just about solidarity of the community but also allies.
A Pride event is another example of time and space where you are encouraged to gather with others as your true, authentic self. All attendees are encouraged to express themselves through the opportunities offered at these gatherings without fear of judgment. Often there will be a march or parade as part of a Pride Event where you will see over the top, glamorous outfits on all and sundry. If you can’t feel at ease at a Pride Event then maybe dressing in public is not for you!
Cosplay Events
Cosplay events in North America are primarily fan conventions of science fiction films and TV series, anime, manga cartoons and comic books. The fans will dress as their favorite characters and portray them through role-play. The conventions have celebrity appearances and contests for the cosplay attendees. The biggest events are New York Comic Con and San Diego Comic Con.
Crossdressers love to attend such events where ‘crossplay’ is actively encouraged. This is the practice of cosplay where a person dresses up as a character of the opposite gender. Male to female crossplayers are very popular in America. The origins of crossplay come from anime, a certain style of cartoon originating in Japan. Immersed at such events a crossdresser feels totally anonymous and comfortable since there are so many like-minded and accepting people surrounding you.
Crossdresser Specialty Stores
There are still a handful of specialty stores that cater to crossdressers and transgender girls where you can visit fully dressed en femme and browse to your hearts content. Services usually include shopping for specialist garments and sometimes makeover services are on hand. Whilst there are only a few such locations remaining they are a crossdressers oasis.
Such stores are usually run exclusively for the crossdresser and transgender community with crossdressers on staff. This means you are in a totally accepting environment and that the people you are dealing with understand your needs. Not only does this help with issues like sizing but also with regards to privacy and discretion.
Also, don’t be afraid to visit high street stores such as Torrid, Ave or Macys who have positive trans policies in place. It’s a big step for many but just know it’s not as scary as it used to be.
Check-out our article on ‘Crossdresser-friendly Stores’ and then ‘google’ the one’s listed to find the closest to your location – and don’t forget to visit our crossdressing store in New Jersey.