Views from a BrewTown Sista (aka The Chronicles of Kayleah H. Madison)

There was a girl I knew back at Milwaukee Washington High School in 1986 that kinda helped make me who I am today. I doubt she'll read this, so I'll tell you her name-Jayleah D. Caldwell. She was a senior pom pon cheerleader back then, yours truly was a happy-go-lucky sophomore. I had seen her at a bus stop near McD's one Friday afternoon and tried to talk to her, but I didn't know her name. I tried to strike up a brief confrontation as she was waiting for the bus. All she did was smile. I later found out her name from a picture in the Milwaukee Community Journal newspaper. How nice! She was wearing a similar outfit to what she was wearing that day at the bus stop. She had a lovely coiffed puff of brown hair, some decent, yet patchy skin and a nice rack to match!  In the fall semester of this year we both had the same driver's ed course with our instructor, Mr. Wendorf. During my days at the "Wash House", I kept my composure as the days got shorter to

It is Memorial Day 2014. Time to remember those who served our country in our history's most memorable battles. While you guys are doing that, I'll enjoy a bowl of Grape Nuts as I FINALLY can get started on another blog to post for my fans out there...all three of them! Maybe there is more than that, but they don't stay long enough to even send me a nice commentary or something creative. Whatever works for the weary-headed.  Let me tell you folks what's been going on here, besides nothing. Seriously. I got to get in touch with my sister Annette in Minnesota. May 10th was her 52nd birthday, and she and her accountant hubby Jerry just recently celebrated 23 years of marriage this month as well. How quaint, right? Anyhoo, I tried a few times calling her on her birthday to no avail. I left a couple of messages to let her know I called. Where was this broad? She was actually in Virginia, attending my cousin's commencement from Hampton University. Another graduate of

Hello again. It's the beginning of another week living as my new feminine identity. In between doing some grocery shopping, choir rehearsal and to an extent, a few gender slip-ups by Janel, my choir director, being a new gender has given me some new perspective on my life. What I can say is that I have to daily shave any trace of stubble off my face to get that baby-bottom smooth feel on my skin. So much easier said than done. Going full-time has also helped improve how much foundation to apply. Only so much at a time...okay, Sundays only, when I go to church. Yesterday I went shopping with my friend Gary wearing no foundation but only lipstick and eyeliner. I really felt blended into society. Of course, having a nice puff of hair definitely helps! This month I have forgotten to buy my normal hair dye (Dark & Lovely Honey Bronze). My roots are showing, which has given it some reality to it...at the wrong places.  The more I see myself as a woman, I am really liking what I see.

Lord, I ask for patience as I continue my transition into womanhood. You know I will need it for both myself and my travel business!!

As a transitioning woman of color, I know that my story will have a host of journeys to achieve total womanhood. Last night I got to watch a DVD movie I hadn't seen in years.  Or rather, I lost interest in watching it after so many times.  The 2006 documentary, known simply as  Transtasia, featured a host of transwomen from around the world competing in the inaugural World's Most Beautiful Transsexual Pageant in Las Vegas for a spot in an all-TG show on The Strip. There were plenty of backstage scenes of them getting their makeup touched up, putting on or taking off their outfits (depending on the category), plus an occasional appearance of something that will always be a friend to performers everywhere....a roll of DUCT TAPE!! Along side the ever-present show-casing glamour of Sin City, six of those competitors got to do an up-close interview of their lives, each as interesting as the next. Would YOU consider them a role model? How could their comments help today's TG c

"Ooh yeah, well life goes on, long after the thrill of living is gone...."  - Jack and Diane , John Mellencamp So I made a proclamation on facebook last month about beginning my life full-time as Kayleah. Then I got a lot of feedback from my fb friends, as well as those who attend church with me and some fellow transpeople of color. I am thankful that the response was overwhelmingly positive. Even got a message from college and high school colleagues, too. Then I went ahead and posted a picture featuring me with Janet Mock's Redefining Realness book. She did respond thanking me for getting the book. Posted a #redefiningrealness piece on that site, my pic was on a video interview she was doing to help make the everyday public get a better understanding of people like myself. And with all these attacks of transpeople by alleged homophobes, the everyday world will soon notice with a vengeance. Isis King, Janet Mock, Laverne Cox and host of others (male-to female