Had a great time at this year’s Transgender San Francisco Cotillion, which was held at the Regency Ballroom this year. Much nice than last year’s location at a theater. You could get up mid-show to get a drink, use the ladies room, or check out the silent auction. Black velvet formal dress Did I mention this year’s Cotillion was the best attended in five years, with several hundred people in attendence? This year’s Guys and Debutants Walk was great to see as well (with more transguys than I remember from last year), since for many of the MTFs, the Cotillion is their first foray out of the house. What was especially cool is to see the T folks get together with the GLB folks. This year the Sisters of Perpetual Indulgence were helping put on the event and evidently have been working with TGSF to help them improve their fundraising and organizational skills. (I’ve always been fond of the Sisters, who in addition to their charitable work, do a drag on drag that’s great fun.)

Since I didn’t have time to look for another dress I—gasp—wore the same dress as last year. But I did up the bling this year with my drag princess-in-training rhinestones. Afterwards, I headed over to Marlena’s for the Faux Girls show, which I haven’t had a chance to go to in weeks, so it was nice to get caught up with friends (as well as hanging out with folks I’d met at the Cotillion.

Getting ready for the Cotillion Saturday was another matter… I’d gotten a nice bling-y necklace the weekend before, but I realized it and the rhinestone bracelet I’d gotten were silver-toned, not gold-toned. So the gold purse I had wouldn’t work. I thought I had a black clutch purse, but I couldn’t find the it. So off to Macy’s. Fortunately, I found a silver metalic purse right off the bat (and got compliments about it later). I’d also decided that the black shoes were a little blah and Avenue had some really cute rhinestone slides. Calling around, I found their store in Fremont still had it in my size. So I shlepped over there at the last minute to pick them up. (Had fun with the sales clerk—“It’s for her,” I said, taking out a photo of me in the dress. She didn’t even recognize that it was me until I told her.) I didn’t bother to try the shoes on, because I’ve bought plenty of shoes from Avenue, so I know their sizes. But this time…you guessed it…was the exception. They were too big and there was no time left to exchanged. Grrr…. As it was, I ended up getting there late and missing the pre-show reception, so I only had limited time during the breaks to say hi to everyone. Yeah, I know… tranny time.