CROSSDRESSER BUTTON

I’m not referring to something you wear but rather the one we joked about when I first met other crossdressers years ago. Chats were done face to face back then so conversations could change direction quickly as others joined in. At some point as newer members became more comfortable the crossdresser button topic came up prompting laughter among the more seasoned members in attendance. At first the person who said it was taken back but eventually joined in once they were let in on the joke.

The humor was based on the fact that everyone regardless of age had experienced the same fantasy growing up. All of us imagined a button somewhere on our body that when pushed miraculously changed us into a beautiful female. In our youth it was first a girl then as we matured so did the she so eventually the beautiful woman emerged. Naturally she was flawless which differed depending on the age of the crossdressser which, in our group varied considerably. When I first joined CHIC there were members born in the 1920’s thru 1950’s so fantasies varied accordingly. I recall one elderly member I met at one of my first meetings who flew a B 24 bomber in combat during WW2.

Despite our age differences the common bond was our crossdressing and it seems the crossdressing button fantasy. In our day it was akin to Dorothy in the Wizard of Ozz clicking the heels of her ruby slippers although I changed mine to spike heeled stilettos but that’s just me.

I think today younger folks have probably updated the crossdresser button to a wireless remote like your car key fob. One click to change to her and two clicks to go back to him but newer isn’t necessarily better. We used our belly button as a reference which was attached and in most cases recessed so less likely to be accidentally pushed. Things could get real interesting real fast if you’re not ready to switch back or, the battery goes out or, you lose the remote.

Eventually we all had to come back to reality and accept that none of that was going to happen so we had to work with what we have. Enjoying our crossdressing is what was important and the feelings we experienced doing it. Being a member of a social club was very rewarding for me because the input from others was very helpful. The crossdressing button wasn’t possible and neither was passing as a woman in public for the majority of us. In the beginning of my CHIC experience we met at homes of members and a couple of meeting rooms in the back of restaurants. Over time (1990’s) those opportunities faded so out of necessity we became more public venturing out into mainstream establishments.

It turned out that it was possible to enjoy presenting as female in public without that magic crossdresser button although I still wish I had one, the shopping opportunities would be epic! There is a tremendous freedom once you stop worrying about passing and focus on the enjoyment of being dressed. I believe using my regular male voice when out in public dressed gives me a different perspective than those trying to pass. People I meet know right off that I am not trying to deceive them setting the tone for an honest interaction. I am not trying to fool anyone, breaking any laws, causing any disturbance, or intruding on anyone’s private space so there shouldn’t be any problems. There aren’t!

A couple of years ago I was meeting some other CHIC members prior to attending a concert in Las Vegas and had the assignment to chose a restaurant within walking distance of the concert. I selected the STK Steakhouse in the Cosmopolitan hotel just across the bridge from the concert. I was ready early for a change so went into the lounge for a drink after checking in with the hostess. I was a half hour early and the bar was full of nicely dressed 40 somethings which, I later found out were there for a convention. I wasn’t the best dressed at the bar but I did sit next to her because it was the only available seat.

My plan was to just sit there and enjoy my Cosmo until the others arrived. Nobody was particularly interested in me even when the bartender went through the usual performance shaking and pouring the Cosmo in front or me. However, that best dressed woman I sat next to approached me asking what my drink was which led to a nice conversation between myself her date and her. None of it involved my gender, pronouns, or the way I was dressed because everything was obvious from the start. Just a relaxed conversation about the restaurant, Las Vegas, the crowd around us and the concert I was going to. Unfortunately my friends arrived early and out table was ready so the conversation ended as I said goodbye and followed the hostess to our table.

I very much enjoyed that conversation because it was normal, natural and genuine without any deception. I didn’t need the crossdresser button to enjoy my outing dressed en fem with that wonderful couple but if someday somebody invents one I’ll buy it anyway just for fun.