There is an interesting fight brewing in Silverton, Oregon. The people of Silverton received national attention with the election of Stu Rasmussen, the nation’s first openly transgender mayor. Now, however, a complaint has been filed against Rasmussen who showed up in a swim top and miniskirt to meet with local kids. A parent has charged that Rasmussen showed “too much skin” while Rasmussen insists that it was too “hot and sticky” to wear anything else.
Brenda Sturdevant filed the complaint alleging the city dress code was violated when Rasmussen wore “high heels, a very short skirt and some sort of halter top revealing much of his bosom, shoulders and back.” She notes that the city dress code lists mini skirts and midrift tank tops as “inappropriate” attire for council activities. A nice summer dress or pants suit is always appropriate on such occasions. Perhaps a tasteful kilt? Yet, a Utah school recently declared a kilt to be crossdressing.
Dress codes have often been the subject of contention in court and government buildings. Such codes enforce majoritarian views of proper style. Usually the standards are quite low — eliminating saddles, shorts etc. Tank tops are also routinely referenced. The Sturdevant complaint takes a broad view of what constitutes “council activities.” Clearly, any mayor would be unwise to appear in such an outfit — regardless of gender. Given his pioneering and commendable accomplishment in securing this office, Rasmussen could have shown more judgment in such displays. The question is whether this is poor style sense as opposed to a disciplinary offense.
In his campaign literature, Rasmussen offers the following:
If you just stumbled on this site you may be asking yourself “Is this guy for real?” or “Is that really a guy?”
I’m Stu Rasmussen. I own and operate several small businesses in Silverton, Oregon. I have also served 20 years as an elected official in local government, as City Councilor, Mayor and member of the Silver Falls Library board. I am currently completing my third 4-year term on the Silverton City Council.
Now I’m running for Mayor of Silverton (population 9,588). It’s a position I have already been elected to twice before – in 1988 and 1990.
I just happen to be transgendered – something I didn’t even know the word for until I discovered it on the Internet. I’ve been a crossdresser or transvestite my whole life, only ‘coming out’ recently and thereby discovering that life goes on very nicely.
There is a report that he is now set for his own reality show, here.
For the full story, click here.
Ok, so firstly I agree that what she’s wearing is just to inappropriate. I’m a male to female transsexual and though I’m not an example of fashion per-say I wouldn’t be caught dead showing off like that and I’m much younger. But this seems like an example of cisgender bias against transsexuals. We discover ourselves over time and it’s not as though we are aware of how to fit in perfectly right away. It would have been better to kindly express how inappropriate they thought it was. But you know it really bothers me to read through this article when they refer to HER as ‘him’. If you know anything about transgender issues then you are aware that she is suffer for being in the wrong body. But having said all that, I would advise her that airing on the conservative side of dress is always better for anyone. Fashionable, elegant, yet simple and age conscious is the way but learning that can take time. Still it’s very nice to see that you can be successful and be trans at the same time. We have a long way to go before we have true equality for everyone but remember that there was once a time when african americans were segregated, gays were accused of being crazy and arrested, and transsexuals and other minorities were treated with disgust. This country is the greatest in the world yet sometimes it can be very behind in equal human rights.
I hope EVERY child knows what a transgender person is.
I plan to force it apon as many people as I can before I die or get killed doing it. Bring it the fuck on!
Syndirella Heart
TransRockStar Drummer
MzLibertee writes: ‘Swim tops’ are for swimming pools. ‘High-heels and mini-skirts’ are for ‘da club, the ‘red carpet’ or the Real Housewives of Atlanta. (As a former resident of Oregon I can assure you, not in Silverton, OR).
me: silverton OR? you mean the used t-shirt capital of the world? you mean that this community is to be accepted as the arbiter of acceptable fashion? what a laff riot.
Mz: Prescribing a ‘dress code’ for City Council-related activities is not an invasion of privacy.
me: invasion or privacy? you have your rights mixed up. freedom of choice is more like it and a dress code for council related activities is restriction of choice. especially for outdoor events. so Rasmusses wore something distasteful. so what? why not just take him aside after the event and quietly handle this. most people are reasonable when treated like adults instead of criminals.
Mz: A genetic female who appeared at a children’s event scantily attired would rightfully warrant the same criticism. Between the internet and the ‘Era of Jennifer Lopez,’ in which we are living, everyone suddenly thinks they are “bootylicious” AND that everyone else wants to know/hear/see about it.
me: your puritanism is showing. and you are way out of date. jennifer lopez is so over and has been for quite some time.
Mz: I am a male-to-femal
me: okay then so you get to find it inappropriate.
Mz: Sexual liberty for any sexual minority doesn’t mean the sexual minority is released from observing the dictates of decency.
Me: I’ve been to silverton. decency in this case is the least of the community’s problems.
MZ: From a fashion perspective, (I’m a former student of Fashion Institute of Design & Merchandising, Los Angeles), they say you should never wear a fashion trend that you are old enough to have worn the first time it came out (i.e., platform shoes, padded shoulders, cat-eyeliner, black fingernail polish, etc, ad nauseam). Let’s see, mini-skirts were popular first in the late 1960’s. So, yes, La Rasmussen does qualify for under that maxim. Besides showing too much skin in the daytime, modesty would require that one leaves that sort of attire to those younger ladies who are experiencing the trend for the first time, not for those resurrecting it 40+ years later.
me: you a fashion maven? now there is a laugh.
Mz:
I’m calling this ‘The Summer of Cleavage!’
me: call it anything you like. then take a pill and chill.
‘Swim tops’ are for swimming pools. ‘High-heels and mini-skirts’ are for ‘da club, the ‘red carpet’ or the Real Housewives of Atlanta. (As a former resident of Oregon I can assure you, not in Silverton, OR).
Prescribing a ‘dress code’ for City Council-related activities is not an invasion of privacy. A genetic female who appeared at a children’s event scantily attired would rightfully warrant the same criticism. Between the internet and the ‘Era of Jennifer Lopez,’ in which we are living, everyone suddenly thinks they are “bootylicious” AND that everyone else wants to know/hear/see about it.
I am a male-to-female transsexual lawyer and I find the Mayor’s attire totally inappropriate. The idea that granting civil liberties for transgender people means that transgender people can never violate the customs and norms of civility is an over-reaction to the long-standing oppresion that’s been imposed on people of alternative sexuality and/or sexual orientation. Sexual liberty for any sexual minority doesn’t mean the sexual minority is released from observing the dictates of decency. With freedom comes responsibilities. Many transgender people don’t understand that. Many people of all kinds don’t understand that, for that matter.
The Mayor is kind of like a barely pubescent teenage girl, just discovering her body, that [lacking adult superviion and let to her own devices] wears way too much makeup and too skimpy clothing, until [hopefully] she grows up enough to learn that it’s always better to “leave a little to mystery”….and sometimes a lot should be left to mystery.
Adult transsexual women can rarely afford that learning curve. As a political appointee to a public advisory board in New York City myself I understand perfectly why a dress code for Council business would be appropriate. Offensively dressed people passing on the street is a momentary blight, but having to look at someone sitting on a dais in clothing that reveals everything that ‘God gave ’em’ … (and what their surgeon gave them too, in this case) amounts to several hours of misery from which one cannot divert ones’ eyes. Just as I don’t want to see a man in a tank top and flip-flops conducting city business, I don’t want to see a transgender person – or a female – displaying her goods for all to see, including those who do not wish to see. Moderation in all things is still good advice.
From a fashion perspective, (I’m a former student of Fashion Institute of Design & Merchandising, Los Angeles), they say you should never wear a fashion trend that you are old enough to have worn the first time it came out (i.e., platform shoes, padded shoulders, cat-eyeliner, black fingernail polish, etc, ad nauseam). Let’s see, mini-skirts were popular first in the late 1960’s. So, yes, La Rasmussen does qualify for under that maxim. Besides showing too much skin in the daytime, modesty would require that one leaves that sort of attire to those younger ladies who are experiencing the trend for the first time, not for those resurrecting it 40+ years later.
I’m calling this ‘The Summer of Cleavage!’ I’ve never seen so much mammary in my life as I have this summer! Nobody wants to see all those artificially perky or very well-worn boobs that get floated around these days. Apparently, the Mayor of Silverton is not alone. Ladies! Carry a pashmina shawl, chiffon scarf or something to throw over your shoulders so you can cover that stuff! You can discreetly flash it to those who consent to the view and spare the rest of us from the visual assault. And, as for Madame Mayor, she might have saved some of the money she spent on the ‘boob job’ and spent it on her face; the part of her body people which see the most. (I’m just sayin’!)
a city dress code? does this mean that women who wear stretch pants in public can be arrested? men with plaid pants and striped shirts?
swarthmore writes that she looks happy in her new body and wouldn’t anyone who went through what she did to get a body that matches who she is on the inside, at last.
It looks like he is pleased with his “body work” and wants to show it off.
OK, I’ll admit he looks better than I in a dress.
Humm, Chicks with ______. LOL