Member-only story
Trans Heat Wave Diary
Dressing for distress
“What do you think? Should I lose the hat?”
I am debating what to wear to a fundraising event for my chorus, the Lesbian/Gay Chorus of San Francisco. For our concerts I would normally wear a long-sleeved black shirt and pants, tie, vest, and my signature black hat. But I am not performing at this event, and we are having a June heat wave, with 80 degree temperatures instead of the usual cool weather that accompanies late spring in San Francisco. We’ve been told to dress up for the occasion, but I don’t want to suffer a heatstroke.
I pull a shimmery white tank top from my drawer, purchased at a thrift store for possible use in an earlier performance, but never worn. It is very revealing, so I wear another tank top underneath to make my nipples less prominent (I refuse to wear a bra). Having visible breasts does not bother me, but I’m always concerned about others’ reactions to my combination of breasts and a beard. Even in queer-friendly San Francisco, I often feel like a freak.
