Radclyffe Hall

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VOL.2, N0.5 METAMORPHOSIS MEDICAL RESEARCH FOUNDATION OCTOBER 1983

WHATS IN A NAME? MMRF Notes

How and why do transsexuals select INCORPORATION: On August 3, 1983, their'new'names? The answer to this the Ministry of Consumer and Com q u es ti on ls of b ·o ~ h psycho l o g i ca 1 mercial Relations issued a charter a n d et y mq} 0 g i c ax s i 9. n i f i can c e • to the founding directors to cons In my :·oprri1·6n··~ ·"'it· "ca·n be!' broken titute a corporation without share capital under the name "METAMORPHO down into three prim~ry classifica tions: high similarity, moderate-low SIS MEDICAL RESEARCH FOUNDATION" similarity and no similarity. And, (Ontario Corporation Number 528862). these three can then be broken down again into one or more of the fol The first Board meeting of the MMRF lowing secondary categories: surname is scheduled to take place on Oct reversal, modification, initials, ober 16th in Toronto. The four alliteration/assonance, androgyny/ founding directors and the founda unisexuality, symbolization, and, tion accountant will be in attend identification. ance. Once the preliminary design of the The 'high similarity' group wish to MMRF logo has been suitably revised maintain a continuity or unbroken to specification, subsequently ap line with their pre-tansitional self proved by the directors and ulti Their reasoning is that they are mately graphically reproduced, mem still the same person as before sex bership cards and certificates will reassignment, at least psychologic be printed up and then issued to ally, and so, they retain their sur foundation members. name (family name) or else, modi-ry i t somehat, eg. 'Danny O'Connor' be We are pleased to announce the wel comes 'Canary Conn'. Or, as--Dccurred come addition of two more members in one rare case;-the first and last to our Board of Professional Advis names are reversed so as to preserve ors: Neil G.L. Masters, A.B.D.--~ personal identity and maintain psy graduate student at New York Uni chological continuity. Another ex versity currently working on his ample which approximates this rever doctorate in the Human Sexuality sal is the case of 'Richard Raskin' Program there, who is also an A.A. who switched the first name (in mod S.E.C. T .-certified Sex Counselor; ified form} to that of the last, eg. and, Stephen E. Parent, M.A.--the 'Renee Richards'. Director of TRANSCEND Vocational Members of the 'high similarity' And Educational Counseling Service group very often modify their first in Springfield, Massachusetts. names to correspond with their gen der opposites. That is, the names Alise Martinez, R.N., B.A., Direc are either masculinized or feminized tor of TS COUNSELING in San Fran eg. 'Rose' becomes 'Ross', 'Marie' cisco, CA, has suggested: "An af turns into 'Mario', 'Judy' trans filiation between GenderServe, forms into 'Jude', 'Robert' changes METAMORPHOSIS and TS COUNSELING into 'Roberta', 'Michael' emerges affording the opportunity for an as 'Michelle', 'Lyndon' modi fies in exchange of ideas, approaches and to 'Lynda', etc. information regarding the Transsex ual in Canada and the U.S. Also, Those of this group who don't modify to allow those transsexuals associ- (cont'd. on p.10) ( coni' d. on p.7) Sex Change Surgery DEAR RUPERT Changes Income Too Enclosed please find $40 for a Men who underwent a sex-change op couple membership for my wife and eration to become women earned less myself and an additional $5 for money in their work than before the publishing my business ad in your surgery, says Stanford University newsletter. I am also returning the pyschiatrist Dr. Norman Fisk. How completed CRQ and am submitting my ever, women who became men earned listing for publication in the CCD. more money than before, the doctor I am involved in a small, part-time added, who interviewed 175 trans venture--a vocational and education sexuals in a 1980 study. (National al counseling service. It will aid Enquirer, June 24, 1980). in helping TSs in on-job transitions,. Transsexuals can* be * * found working changing school and college records, or studying in a wide cross-section name changes, living and career of vocations. Consider, for exampl~ choices, vocational programs, etc. the following trades and professions. At present I operate out of our (The statistics in parentheses in house on a word-of-mouth basis. dicate the number of transsexuals I personally know to be employed or I am a F-M TS myself and was born studying in those fields): general in 1940. My first inclination of me di c i n e (1 ), op ht ha 1 mol o g y ( 1 ) , s u r - being different came around 4i years of age. I felt it grow as I gery (3), psychiatry (1), nursing got older. I never realized until (3), social work (4), teaching (9), around 7 years ago that what I was law ( 3), law enforcement ( ~), cler experiencing had a name. I remember gy (5), educational and vocational in 1952 Christine Jorgensen hit the counselling (3), sex counselling papers and I cried. If only the re (7), sex therapy (4), respiratory verse was possible. I found out in therapy (1), physical educational years to come that it was and began therapy (1), recreational therapy hormonal treatment and underwent (1), X-ray technology (2), account surgery. I have not had phalloplasty ing (1), bookkeeping (1), music (2), as yet and don't intend to until fiction writing (5), photography some further kind of perfection is {l), engineering technology {l ), reached. graphic arts/technology (4), land surveying (1), gardening/forest I have been quite happily married service ( 1), clerical { 4), secreta for 2t years. We are in the process rial (1), shipping-receiving (3). of remodelling our recently-bought home. BERDACHE: N• ,'\ • I ND I AN 'DRAG Q UEE N' My main interest area is TSism. How ever, I won't limit myself. My back In anthroplogical terminology, a ground includes some Union work and "berdache" refers to an American Education. At present I am a super Indian male who assumes the gender visor of 30 people in an Accounting role of a woman--including the socio sexual roles of "wife" and "house unit. keeper" in relation to a male sex I am active in the XX Club of Hart partner. The following letter was ford, Conn. and have done radio and submitted by Dr. Reed Erickson, TV appearances as well as an exten President of the Erickson Education sive amount of college lecturing. I al Foundation, to Dr. Walter Willi have tried to keep up a correspond ams, Associate Professor of History ence with F-M TSs nation-wi~e. at the University of California in Thanks for the invitation to join Los Angeles. the MMRF's Board of Professional "Your paper 'American Indian Res- Advisors. I would be very glad to ponses to the Suµpression of the serve. Homosexual Berdache Tradition' is ••• 1--St~ph~n Pa~~nt, Sp~ingti~ld, ~a~~. (cont'd. on p.3) (cont'd. on p.3) 2 BERDACHE {cont'd. from p.2) DEAR RUPERT (cont'd. from p.2) a fine presentation of facts long I'm a Brazilian medical doctor and hidden. One of the facts obscured am now temporarily living in Belgium too long is that stated in the large --where I just recently had trans scale study sponsored by the Insti sexual surgery (mastectomy and hys tute for Sex Research at Indiana terectomy)--' cause in Brazil this · University {Sexual Preference), type of surgery is unavailable. namely, that masculinity or effemin I would like to help other people acy are ingrained characteristics, like myself so I want to study a and that efforts to try to change course in order to learn everything such traits were either unsuccessful about transsexualism. I would very or resulted in psychological distur much like to specialize in plastic bances to the individual whose char acter was being PERVERTED by social surgery and then to practice it in CONFORMITY. This is donfirmed suc Brazil. cinctly by the Mohave berdache: 'To I finished my studies in Medicine thine own self be true'. 'I'm true last year and will return to Brazil to myself and my own nature. I think in December in order to complete my that is all anyone has a right to formation(?) in surgery--working ask of me.'" with one plastic surgeon for some years. But I would like to get some experience in transsexual surgery GATEWAY GENDER ALLIANCE so as to perform same in my country. Publishers of the Phoenix So, I'm writing to ask you to send Monthly-International me information on the surgery and also about your Foundation. I would International support organization like to inquire also whether you for the have courses or contacts to get a female-to-male male-to-femare stage in a hospitable where they transsexual and crossdresser can learn the scope and practice PO Box62283 (408) 734.3773 this kind of plastic surgery? (6 pm to 12 pm Psn Sunnyvale. CA 94088 I'm enclosing $25 for my membership fee as well as the completed CRQ- which I think is most interesting re: the statistics. And I would like to be listed in the CCD. ALISE MARTINEZ, R.N ., 8.A. Yes, I would like to join the MMRF's Director Board of Professional Advisors but License No. V3S2772 I don'y know if I will be able to help much in my present circumstan ces. I will fight meanwhile to work TS COUNSELING and study hard so as to be able, in lSSO California.#6201, San Francisco, 94109, (415) 387-6767 the near future, to help other per sons with this problem. I haven't read THE GENDER TRAP but Medical Psychology Sex Education and Therapy in the bookreview by Susan Huxford Pet·Facilitated Therapy Consultant there was a mis-information about the conversion of penis to vagina. JUDE PATTON, PA-C, M.A. This is possible and there is a Physician Assistant-Certified Brazilian plastic surgeon who has Marriage. Family and Child Counselor · perfected this technique and, until CA Lie. MF-15543 being interrupted by the Brazilian 2006 North Broadway. Ste. 102 laws prohibiting this type of sur Santa Ana. CA 92706 (714) 558-1012 or (714) 836·1803 gery, he had utilized it with suc cess in a lot of· cases.

- -D/f.... Con/f...ado, B/f...u..6.61!.l..-O, B~l.gi.um 3 Male Sex Hormooes DEAR RUPERT (cont'd. from p.3) ANDROGEN by injection is usually Re: the comments on the hysterecto required in sufficiently large doses my in last issue's "DEAR RUPERT" to suppress menstruation, to encour column (on page 8), contrary to age some hair growth on face and this author, I did experience a body, to lower the voice, and to ac number of the listed changes after complish a slight shrinkage of the my operation. This is most likely brea~t tissue. These changes can because I cannot take male hormones greatly benefit the emotional state. due to a previous liver condition. The dosage of androgen is subject I did notice a sudden drop in sex to great individual differences, eg. drive and in orgasmic intensity, 200 to 250 mg. DELATESTRYL (Squibb), and also, large mood and energy ie. testosterone enanthate, may be level swings which no one had in necessary in the beginning, but can formed me of beforehand. I am also usually be reduced after menstrua having some problems with osteopor tion has ceased to 100 mg. every osis. If one cannot take the male two weeks. Androgen treatment could hormones, I'd suggest one not have cause temporary acne and edema with this procedure (hysterectomy) or, weight gain. Oral androgen medica get a tubal ligation if contracep tion is mostly unsatisfactory except tion is a problem (which, for us, for maintenance after a total hys it usually isn't). I know several terectomy and mastectomy. Methyl F-Ms, including Steve Dain, are do testosterone is best to be avoided. ing very well in the male role BUCCAL ORETON PROPIONATE 10 mg. is without this operation (hysterectomy). to be preferred, taken twice a day. --cmmon Will-0, 04inda, Calito4nia --P4epa4ed iy Ha44Y Benjamin, ~.D., 1968; 4evi-0ed iy Leo Wolf.man, ~.D., Tell me, have you ever known of a 1969. i• * * F-M male to be a transvestite?* I Generally, side effects are rare, mean he likes to dress in female but periodic re-evaluation of weight, lingerie 'cause it'turns him on' blood pressure and liver function sexually, and the thrill of it all are important. Liver function may is showing it to a man, and knowing be adequately assessed by a battery that that man is 'into' other guys- of blood tests once every 6 to 12 not women--and that you 'turn this months. Any abnormalities should be man on' in the aspect that he knows pursued as indicated. Under medical you're a man beneath the lace and supervision it seems perfectly safe silk and heels. (He can also see for properly trained patients to your mustache and chest hair, your give themselves their regular main short haircut, etc. along with the tenance injections. It is important, lingerie). This is complicated to however, to have regularly-scheduled explain. One hears of male TVs all visits to the physician for appro the time donning female erotic wear priate check-ups. but for a F-M man, it seems like it is more of a phenomenon 'cause he's --cxce4pied t4om ON 7Hc PROPER llSc a man that has fought hard to estab- ·-.. or SEX HOR~ONES AND SILICONE iy lish his masculinity i'ileVery way, Cha4le-0 Ihlenteld, ~.D., 9ENDcR and it'd seem as if by putting on REVIEW, No.2, Sept. 1978. feminine lingerie, he'd be 'undoing' everything, but that's not true at This is my new approach to corres all because oddly enough, at those pondence with you. It's named THE times he is very aware of his mas NOCTURNAL PRESS. If you'd like to culinity!!! Is that odd? Well, I find out more details of its con feel this way. It's something that tents, then write to: Joe Dillon, is so'complicated' that I very P.O. Box 41, Dennison, Ohio 44621 rarely talk about it. --K.J. *Ye~, ·I know ot one othe4.

4 RADCLYFFE HALL: LESBIAN OR F-M TS? RADCLYFFE HALL was born in 1883 in Bournemouth, Hampshire, England, and lived her early village life in the last years of Queen Victoria's reign. She was the author of THE WELL OF LONELINESS (Jonathan Cape Ltd., 1928; Avon Books, New York/Scarborough, 19- 81; Virago Press Ltd., London, 1982)- which was banned as obscene in 1928 by the British courts after a notori ous and dramatic trial. Richard Williams and Ed Jackson, in their article, "AN INTOLERABLE OUTRAGE" (THE BODY POLITIC: Gay Liberation Journal, No. 46, Sept. 1978) describe THE WELL OF LONELINESS as "a classic of 1 es bi an 1 i t er at u r·e " whi ch i s " a loosely-disguised autobiographical sexualism' ·was not then known (nor account of a woman's growing aware yet, the medical treatment of 'sex ness of her ' i n v er s i on ' (·the then reassignment surgery' and endocrine current term for homosexuality ••• ). therapy) Radclyffe would naturally It is the story of Stephen Gordon, refer to herself as a sexual 'invert' a male-identified lesbian who has (lesbian). numerous love affairs with women, becomes a successful writer in Lon My contention that Hall could very don and volunteers on the front as likely have been a F-M TS, derives an ambulance driver during the First from the following facts. Although World War." christened 'Marguerite Radclyffe Hall', she called herself 'John' in They go on to say that "Radclyffe adult life. She frequently appeared Hall saw herself as a champion of in public dressed in male attire homosexuals and wrote (her novel of (tailored suits, silk shirts, gold lesbian love) as a passionate plea cufflinks, neckties and scarves, for understanding." They cite Hall's black slouch hats, men's shoes and own declaration at the time, "I have boots, heavy silk masculine under written a long and very serious no wear, men's dressing gowns and py vel entirely upon the subject of sex jamas). She wore her hair very short, ual inversion. I have treated it as cut in a man's style (see photo). a fact of nature--a simple, though at present tragic, fact. I feel very In addition, there is considerable strongly that the subject is more evidence in Hall's own characteriza than worthy of my book." tion of 'Stephen Gordon'--the hero ine of her book--who is, of course, Indeed this near-million-seller (jo a fictionalization of the author kingly known as "the Bible of lesbi herself. anism") has, in the long run, sub stantially advanced "the public Alison Hennegan (who wrote the in struggle for homosexual emancipation troduction to the 1982 Virago Press edition) says that Hall character Well, this is all very fine and good izes 'Stephen Gordon' as "a member except for just one 'little' thing- of the 'third' sex, a person who I believe that that there is a very was born with a male soul and mind strong possibility that Radclyffe trappped in a female body •••• She Hall was, in actual fact, a female (has) broad shoulders and narrow to-male transsexual and not a les hips •••• She (has) large hands and bian as popularly acclaimed. But, feet, small breasts, 'masculine' because the formal concept of l trans- features. She (is) thin-flanked and ( con i' d • on f2 • 6 ) s RADCLYFFE HALL: (cont'd. from p.5) yet self-professed in those actual terms. Readers, what do you think? Was Radclyffe Hall a lesbian (sex muscular, (has) fine ual 'invert') or a female-to-male physical co-ordina transsexual? {Read the book first). ti on and (is) pro ficient in rational In 1907, Radclyffe Hall met Mrs. argument •••• She ••• Mabel Batten, the society hostess, observe ( s) the world under whose influence she became a with a unique dual devout Catholic. She lived with her vision, combining until 'Ladye' Batten's death in 1916 the perceptions of and through her met Una, Lady Trou male and female." bridge who was to become her life Hennegan goes on to say that, "As long companion. Lady Troubridge the male whom her father so passion wrote THE LIFE AND DEATH OF RAD ately desired her to be (naming her CLYFFE HALL. 'Stephen' in his desperate desire Radclyffe Hall published seven no for a son) ••• she would have made a vels and also a volume of short fitting successor to her father, stories. Sir Philip •••• As the man she almost is, ••• her virtues (are) exemplary: In 1930, she received the Gold Me her physcial courage; her strongly dal of the Eichelbergher Humane muscled body; her fine brain; her Award. chivalrous regard for women. But to Between 1930 and 1939, she lived in a society based on rigid gender dis Rye, Sussex, England but she spent tinctions, Stephen i.s an abomination." much of her time in Italy and France Moreover, 'Stephen' herself {who is in pursuit of a lover, Evguenia clearly a mouthpiece for the author) Souline. declares, in the novel, "Yes, of Radclyffe Hall died of cancer in course I'm a boy •••• I must be a boy, Dolphin Square, London, in 1943. 'cause I feel exactly like one •••• " And again, "I'm just a poor ••• freak (Photog~aph

6 QUESTION Of THE MONTH DEAR RUPERT (cont'd. from p.4) WHAT IS YOUR MESSAGE RE: TRANSSEX Just thought I'd drop you a line UALISM AND SEX REASSIGNMENT FOR a) to let you know how much I appreci OTHER TRANSSEXUALS? ate METAMORPHOSIS. I particularly enjoy your"QUESTION OF THE MONTH" "9lve c~o~~-llvlng a good long i~l section. Thank you for caring en al. Pa~ilcula~ly cont~oni the no ough to commit so much of your per tion that you can 'ca~~Y on a-0 u~u sonal time for the benefit of all al', le., keep the p~lvllege-0 -0pe us F-M TSs everywhere. citlc io you~ go~n gende~ while ad --John Daniel, Nova Scotia ding on iho-0e ot you~ new gende~ ~ole. Ii i~n'i going to wo~k that way." MMRF NOTES (cont'd. from p.l) "7he~e AR£ t.em.ale-0-io-male~ who a~e ated with our organizations, that 9Alj men!" might be travelling between the "~ake -Ou~e you'~e -Ou~e, then go to~ Toronto-Hamilton and San Francisco ii!,, Bay areas, a reference point for "Ii'~ not ea-Oy gut ii'~ wo~ih ii!" contact. So doing, so that we can better counsel our Transsexual cli "Don't give up--ihe~e i-0 alway-0 a ents." way." The submission of any information "~ake -0u~e ii'-0 what you want- on: passing, hormones, surgery (in check all ~e-0ou~ce-0 and ge p~epa~ed cluding phalloplasty), penile pros io go ii alone. 9aihe~ you~ -0i~engih" theses, urinary assi~t devices, "Keep ai ii!" breast bind~rs, legal aspects, names of publications, gender cli "ljou mu-0i pe~-0i-0i!" nics, physicians and surgeons, TS "Reality i-0 not a d~eam come i~ue." peer-support groups, etc.--for pub lication in the forthcoming booklet "Patience i-0 ihe one thing you'll A MANUAL FOR FEMALES-TO-MALES--is need an agundance ot." requested. "Build you~ -0ett-conti..dence." M•F TS Autobiographies "Stop !eing -00 anti-gay!" A FINER SPECIMEN '·OF 'WOMANHOOD by "Neve~ give up on you~ -0iiuaiion." Sharon Davis, 1983. A.F.s.o.w., P.O. "~e~-Oage I quietly .em.ulaie--conieni, Box 892, Edgewood, Md. 21040 ($14). quiet, -0i~engih in ~ealizlng the pe~-0on I am. No -0exualiiy need-0 io SECOND SERVE by Dr. Renee Richards, !e to~cetully p~ojecied. No need to Stein and Day, 1983. 'ove~klll' io get the me-O~age ac~o-0-0" Motto Of Valour b) TREATING}RESEARCHING PROFESSION- ALS? 7o valiant hea~i~ nothing i-0 impo-0- "Be mo~e 'aiiai..na!le'!" -0i!le. Neve~ !e at~aid ot lite. 7he !uttei-0 ot adve~-0iiy a~e no mo~e "lea~n mo~e, li~ien io u-0 7S-0." than ie-0i-0 ot ou~ -0pl~ii. Don't "Show mo~e conce~n to~ the human-0 d~ead the tuiu~e !ui look to~wa~d you i~eai." to what l-0 ahead ot you with contl dence that you -0hall alway-0 !e the "We a~e people, not -0iail-0iic-0 o~ 'guinea pig-0'." ma-0ie~ ot ci~cum~iance-0 and neve~ thei..~ -Oe~vani. "9ei ott mg !ack and put you~-0elt in my -0hoe-0 in~iead." --Jacque-0 Coeu~, 7H£ ~ONEY~AN (to King Cha~le-0 VII ot r~ance} !y "llnde~-0ianding,. ,, -0ucce-0-0tul tech- 7homa-O B. Co-0taln. n~que-0. (cont'd. on p.8) * * * * * * * * * 7 QUESTION OF THE MONTH (cont'd.) OF IMPORTANCE TO US ALL (Is It Any Wonder?) "fYlo/l.e. humanity." "Impo-0.e. l.e.-0-0 /lul.e.-0, ti.m.e. limit-0." Is it any wonder, that in this world, what makes him a boy and her a girl "B.e. a h.umani.ta/lian--t.e..e.l!!" are things that are big and yet so "P/lovid.e. mo/l.e. into/lmati.on." small- things of importance to us all? " 7 a lk to m.e ! " "It you a/l.e. going to wo/lk with. If I am what is in my mind, t/lan-0g.e.nd.e./l pati..e.nt-6, -0tudy to bar-bells and sports cars you may find, mak.e. you/l-0.e.lt awa/l.e. ot th..e. p.e./l-Oon things they say are "of a man" ality /motivati.onal ditt.e./l.e.nc.e.-0 g.e. no matter what his chosen land. tw.e..e.n th..e. T-fYI and th..e. g.e.tt.e./l-known fYl-T ph..e.nom.e.na. 700 many p/lot.e.-0-0ion If I am what is in my heart al-6 whom I'v.e. .e.ncount.e./l.e.d "analo then one would not know where to start giz.e.' t/lom th..e.i./l /l.e.adi.ng agout fYl-T because it reigns so far and wide, pat i .e.nt..o wh..e.n th..e.y a/l.e. t i../l-Ot d.e.a e from city to the country-side-- i n g with. T -fYl-0. " From years ago when I was three c) THE LAY PUBLIC? to now, when I'm who I want to be- from tears shed over skirts I loathed, "7Si-0m i~ a m.e.di.cal condition-p/lo gagly g.e.n.e.tic in O/li.gin. It i...o a ribbons and all those girlish clothes! ph.y..oi.cal /lath..e./l th.an a mo/lal p/log To tuxedos and plain blue jeans l.e.m. " "You and I, w.e. a/l.e. goth. p.e.opl.e.. and whatever being a man means- 7h.at'-0 wh.at'-0 impo/ltant." to at last being recognized as not a girl, but 'one of the guys'. "Knowl.e.dg.e. and acc.e.ptanc.e.." "Don't judg.e. a gook gy i.t-0 cov.e./l." Is it any wonder, I withstand what I must, to be a man? "l.e.a/ln mo/l.e., li...ot.e.n to u-0 7S-0." "7h..e.y hav.e. to g.e. mo/l.e. into/lm.e.d." --Khalil )o/ldach.e. "Ju-0t acc.e.pt and t/ly to l.e.a/ln mo/l.e. g.e. op.e.n-mind.e.d." THE TRANSSEXUAL VOICE "B.e. i.nto/lm.e.d, tny to und.e./l..otand." Written By And About Transsexuals "bJ.e. 1 /l.e. p.e.opl.e. ju..ot li.k.e. you, only ditt.e./l.e.nt i.n .e.xt.e./li.O/l mak.e.-up." (Contains Ads) $2 per copy; $12 per year. Payable to: PHOEBE SMITH, "bJ .e' /l.e. OKAY. " 764 North Ave., Hapeville, Georgia, "bJ.e.'/l.e. ju..ot lik.e. .e.v.e./lygody .e.l-0.e. i.n U.S.A. 30354. .e.v.e./ly oth.e./l way and a/l.e. ju-0t a..o dumgtound.e.d gy thi-0 attliction a..o anyon.e. -0inc.e. w.e. can't h.e.lp th.e. way------, w.e. t.e..e.f, and it w.e. t/ly to 'mak.e. TRANSCEND VOCATIONAL AND EDUCATIONAL th.e. gook match th.e. cov.e./l', i.t i..o COUNSELING SERVICE h.e.ll-li.k.e. t/lyi.ng to ha/lmoni.z.e. op 500 Newbury St., Springfield, Mass. po-01.t.e.-6--i.mpo..1.>..1.>igl.e.!" (413-737-5032) Sliding Scale Fees* No Collect Calls d) YOUR FAMILY? Help with record, name, vocation, "7h.e.y a/l.e. -0uppo/ltiv.e. and I lov.e. employment changes and resumes. th.em th.e. mo/l.e. to/l i.t." .resting and Psychological Workups. "7hank-0 to/l /l.e.m.e.mg.e./li.ng that I am STEPHEN E. PARENT, DIRECTOR ..otill m.e. d.e.~pit.e. all th.e. chang.e.-6."

(cont'd. on p. 9) 8 QUESTION OF THE MONTH (cont'd.) QUOTABLE QUOTES

"You didn't 'go w~ong' o~ do any In the investigation of transsexual thing w~ong. ~Y condition i-0 an ism, we are only just beginning to innate one, p~oiaily genetic in touch the tip of the ice-berg. o~igin." --Su-0an Huxto~d, exec. Dl~., TAC7 "7o change thei~ vl-0lon ot me a-0 a a temale to that ot a male." To the (non-transsexual) person on "7hank you to~ loving ~E a-0 I am." the outside looking in, it is "gen der dysphoria" (a disturbance or- "7he love i-0 mo~e impo~tant than disorder of the gender or the the -0oclal convention-0." '' mi n d " ) b u t , t o th e ( tr a n s s ex u a 1 ) .. "Don't make -Ouch a iig deal out ot person on the inside looking out, it. Tamily -0ay-0 they'~e up-0et ie it is "sexual dysphoria" ( a discom cau-Oe it'-0 -Ouch a ha~d lite, iut fort or "dis-ease" with the sex or • i~onically, they a~e what make-0 it the body). A difference of perspec- ha~d with thei~ tea~-0, plea-0 not t i v e • 11 ~ d c D · --s· u-0an nux~o~ , exec. ~~., to change and guilt t~lp-0." TAC7 "I'm not -Oo~~Y and want no pity . Transsexuals have an emotion that to~ who and what I am." we don't have. It's not an emotion like anger or f~ar. It's a gut feel "I know it'-0 ha~d to~ you too. ing. We can't experience what they 7hank-0 to~ t~ylng to unde~-0tand." are feeling or what they are going ~Don't ca~e." through. --D~. Ray Blancha~d, Re~. e) YOUR FRIENDS? P-0ych., Cla~ke In-0tltute ot P~ych. "~o-0tly, they have ieen g~eat." I find the whole study of transsex "Plea-Oe don't t~y to put me in a ualism to be fascinating •••• Trans mold. I want to ie t~ee and want sexuals are a tragic group of peop you to accept me a-0 I am." le ••• ~They are a difficult patient population to work with. "7hank-0 to~ ca~lng enough to t~y to unde~-0tand--and to~ it not to --D~. Betty Steine~, P-0ych~at~i-0t matte~ when you didn't." in Cha~ge, Cla~ke In-0tltute ot P-0ych. "Accept me a-0 an o~dlna~y man who The surgically trained underscore l-0 ~ehaillltating hlm-0elt t~om a the technical limitations inherent dl-0ailllty; I app~eclate hone-0ty in procedures designed to metamor and I need you~ teediack." phose females into males. They sug "Loyalty to my ma-0cullnlty." gest that since, as one surgeon quipped, "It's easier to make a hole "7hank-0 to~ the help." than a pole", fewer females will "A-0 you've -Oeen the exte~lo~ change, seek a surgical solution. the lnte~lo~ ~emalned.the me you --D~. Richa~d 9~een, Dept. ot P~ych., alway-0 knew." State linlve~-0lty ot New Yo~k "I'm -0tlll the -Oame pe~-Oon I alway-0 wa-0 ln-0lde--I ju-0t needed a iody For many years there has been no change." plastic surgeon at Johns Hopkins "Ju-0t love me to~ me and ie -0uppo~ committed to phalloplasty. I am tlve." strongly in favor of a penile pros "I love you all!!!" thesis as superior to surgery. * * * --D~. John ~oney, Dl~ •• P~ychoho~ October's Question: DID YOU HAVE monal Re-0. linlt, John-0 Honkln-0 Ho-0p. ANY COMPLICATIONS SUBSEQUENT TO: a) THE MASTECTOMY? b) THE HYSTER (Send us your "QUOTABLE QUOTES") ECTOMY? IF SO, PLEASE SPECIFY.

9 i CANADIAN CAY ARCHIVES -~ WHAT'S IN A NAME? (cont'd. from p.l) Jay) once their transition is com plete and then, select a definitive their first names to their precise ly masculine or feminine name. gender-equivalents~ nevertheless, do retain their same initials. And, Such gender-definitive names may they alter their first names to re symb6lize: a) the fact of their sex flect their 'new' sex, eg. 'James X' reassignment, eg. 'Renee' (French becomes 'Janice X', 'Cathy Y' turns for "rebirth") or b) the personifi into 'Charles Y', 'John Z' changes cation of their newly-adopted gen into 'Julie Z',etc. A special advan der role,·eg. 'Emmon' (Gaelic for tage of keeping one's initials is "There is the man"), 'Guy' (English the obvious one of cheque-signing, and French), 'Butch', 'Belle(a)' not to mention monogrammed posses- (French or Spanish for "beautiful"), i ons. 'Beau (regarde)' (French for"hand • Next, the 'moderate-low similarity' some" or "good-looking"). group, like the 'high similarity' And, there are those TSs who adopt group, retain their surnames also, the names of people whom they ad • but not their original initials, mire or otherwise identify with- eg. 'Ken X' transforms into 'Louise frequently, famous celebrities, eg. X', 'Ger al dine Y' emerges as 'Bi 11 'Rita' (Hayworth), 'Marilyn' (Mon Y', 'Bruce Z' modifies to 'Donna Z', roe), 'Candace' (Bergen), 'Jackie' etc. An essential advantage of keep (Onassis), (Lady) 'Diana(e)', etc. ing one's· surname is the beneficial one of claiming an. inheritance with- Members of the 'no similarity' group may also, on occasion, choose out undue legal hassle. --~ names that are allitetative (the Finally, the 'no similarity' (or, same consonant for both names) eg. 'high dissimilarity') group wish to 'Canary Conn', 'Mario Martino', discontinue all connection with and 'Renee Richards', 'Rupert Raj', break off from their past life. 'Stella Stevens', 'Tony T.', or,, Their motivation is that they want assbnant (the same vowel for both to begin a whole new life with a names) eg. 'April Ashley'. brand new identity without any re minder whatsoever of the trauma Finally, there are those transsexu al entertainers who employ onlY one suffered prior to sex-reassignment. name, eg. 'Capucine', Coccinelle-,-,- So, they change both names and bbth initials, eg. 'John Doe' become_s__ _ 'Tula'. 'Betty Smith', 'Jane Jones' turns into 'Bob Johnson', etc. One reason members of this group dispense with their original surnames may be in order to protect their families and Gennert 5enn0 relatives from embarrassment or COUNSELLING, EDUCATIONAL harrassment. Another reason might AND RESEARCH SERVICES be so as to minimize the possibili ty of discovery by a former friend, Susan C. Huxford, B.A., B.Ed. acquaintance or business associate. Director The above motives spring from prac Agent for tical considerations, in part, as does also the choice of androgynous/ unisexual names, eg. 'Leslie', 'Pat' Lrl(CT·J~~-cr- 'Chris', 'Jay', 'Sandy', 'Robin', 'Lee', 'Alex', 'Sal', 'Laurie', etc.· FOUNDATION FOR THJ:!; ADVANCEMENT The prigmatic value of such ambiva OF CANADIAN TRANSSEXUALS lent ('either-or') names is clear- P. 0. Box 291, Station A especially during the transitional Hamilton, Ontario Telephone: Canada (416) 529-7884 stage. However, some TSs drop the LSN 3C8 use of such androgynous names (eg.