1{F,Naissance ~Ws A.

--,,

. 1{f,naissance ~ws A.. Volume 1, No. 4 P.O. Box 1263, King of Prussia, PA, 19406 November, 1987 AIDS Benefit Is Boffa !!! There were those who thought and bad news. The bad news is: rnunity. It has achieved no small that the idea of an AIDS benefit ticket sales were not up to expecta- measure of recognition through was laudable but ill-conceived. tions and there is no rnoriey to this event. Write-ups, prior to the And there were those who offered donate to AMFAR. The good news show, appeared in the Philadel- rnore positive wisdom - we would is: the show returned a profit and phia Inquirer (the major daily pa- be lucky to break even. But we Renaissance is making a donation per in the city), the Philadelphia fooled 'em all! With barely two and to a local AIDS charity. Renais- Gay News, and Au Courrant, as a halfmonths of preparation, Ren- sance board members will present, well as showing up in event list- aissance members proved, once in person, a check for $500 to WE ings in other city dailies. The show again, that we can deliver what we THE PEOPLE WITH AIDS & ARC itself was provided coverage by promise. The Travelling Trash & in Philadelphia. PGN andAu Courrant, who sent a Talent Tuesday AIDS benefit was Renaissance has shown itself to photographer. . successful by any measure. . be a responsible member of the If you missed the show, too bad! Of course, there is good news metropolitan Philadelphia corn- You'lljusthavetowaituntilwedo it again next year. Have Dress wm Travel ... adventures in Columbus, OH. Last month three Renaissance you put in your bra?" cisco who is a crossdresser. That members took to the road and car Dr. Przybyla said the visit re put Angela and Paula at ease. The ried the organization's message to sulted in a new positive attitude interview went so well that toward Ohio. Angela Gardner, Trudi among his students regarding the end of the segment Sneed even Henry and Paula Sinclair spoke to sexual variations. This, he added, asked the two "B" questions: bath two human sexuality classes at was "quite an accomplishment." rooms and bras. Two telephone Denison University on Sept. 21. He termed the entire visit "amaz callers implied criticism -of The following day, Angela and ing," and promised to endorse crossdressing, but the girls were Paula appeared on the television these Reanissance sessions to his able to deflect it with humor. program "Good Morning, Colum colleagues at other colleges and After the show, Sneed, co-host bus." universities. Dawn Meadows and their pro~ The Denison students had been Tuesday's television show went ducer talked to them for over a half briefed about crossdressing by well, Angela and Paula said, even an hour about crossdressing. They Professor David Przybyla, so there though they were dubious at the were invited to do the show again. were only a few sideways glances beginning. The show on Monday Most of the Buckeyes the girls as the Renaissance girls took their was devoted to AIDS and some of encountered on the trip were po seats at the front of the classroom. the guests quoted Lyndon La lite. For example, on Monday night Each gave a brief autobiogra Rouche and other right wing ex Angela and Paula went shopping phy with heavy emphasis on their tremists. While watching that at a nearby mall (dressed in their crossdressing experiences. The program, Paula became concerned men's clothes). When the sales remainder of the period was de that a city with people like that clerk learned that they were buy voted to questions from students. may not be open to the alternative ing women's clothes for them Although they were a little nerv lifestyle of crossdressing. When selves, she was very friendly and ous at first, the students soon en Angela and Paula arrived at the helpful. The same was true of the tered into a productive dialogue station the next morning, there staff at the motel where the girls with Angela, Trudi and Paula. The were additional "bad omens." The stayed. Because they got back students even laughed at their other guests included a group of from the station late in the morn jokes. The girls also managed to single people there to discuss the ing, they needed an extension of slip in some flirting (Angela with heterosexual dating scene in Co the check-out time. Paula went up the female students, Paula with lumbus and a skin care expert. to the desk clerk-dressed-and the males). But the girls were pleased by asked to keep the room for an The questions ranged from in the open-mindedness everyone additional hour. "No problem," the quiring about feminist issues to displayed. Calvin Sneed, one of desk clerk said, as if they had the old chestnut of "which bath two co-hosts, said before the show crossdressers stay there every day! room do your use?" and "what do that he had a friend in San Fran- 1(p&aissana 'J{pws An Evening At Cha-Cha 3 ... byTherese TS Group To Be Well, it was quite an evening This writer did encounter a at the Warwick Hotel on Octo number of people that had at Co-Sponsor ber 4, 1987 for Cha-Cha 3. Cha tended the TT&TT AIDS bene "Voicesn, the 1988 Conference Cha is a non-profit organiza fit, and met some new friends on Transgender Issues will be co tion dedicated to raising funds as well. sponsored by both Renaissance· for AIDS charities. Cha-Cha 3 Cha-Cha announced that the and The Gathering, a TS support group in the NY, PA, NJ area. was their third annual benefit/ following AIDS groups will be Paula Keiser, a member of both cocktail party. To say that the receiving funds: 40% to Phila groups, brought Jana Thompson attire for the evening was delphia Community Health and JoAnn Roberts together to get "Fashionable" would be an Alternatives; 30% to Action the agreement worked out. Mem understatement. The music AIDS; 20% to BE BASHI; 10% bers of The Gathering will staffthe was more than adequate. to the newly opened AIDS li TS panel at the conference and There was a wide selection of brary; and a $1500 contribu their presence will add immensely good wines and liquor, along tion to The Philadelphia Les to the program's content. with sparkling waters. Regard bian and Gay Task Force. We are also expecting Quad-S to less of your preference for food, All in all the Cha-Cha 3 eve co-sponsor the conference as well. there was something for every ning was very enjoyable and Approval should be forthcoming one; Swedish Meatballs, Prime very memorable. Obviously, a within the month. Rib, Stir Fried Vegetables, and lot of thought and planning Pasta. Desserts did abound, in went into this event. However, Business Report cluding two fine varieties of the most important ingredient grapes and tasty cheeses. The was the PEOPLE, who came For October· coffee was excellent. from all lfe styles and occupa Starting Balance; $423.72 tions. Income: Show Ads&Contrib $173 Show Tickets $200 Thanks For TT&TT from Angela Gardner Member Dues ~ I've been trying to write this Therese was our usherette. Subtotal $1197.72 article for weeks, but it kept Expenses: Donna Miller and Eric of Show Equip/Perf $380 getting too long. I wanted to Donna's Hair Studio 1 in Tren Ohio Lecture $65 thank everyone who worked on ton did hair and makeup. Ali AIDS Donation $500 the show and tell a little of their son was our cashier at the door. Bank Srvc Chi $23.34 contributions. That's where the That's a list of most of the Subtotal $968.34 length problem started. Every things people did (Angela for one who volunteered to help did got to mention that she pro Ending Balance $229.38 so much that the descriptions duced and directed the show as took up too much space. So, well as working the sound Coming Events: here's the short version. board-Ed). Some did more but Paula S. did publicity, JoAnn everyone did so much that October R. made props. Trudi, Etienne some of it's slipped out of my 30th, Henri David Halloween and Berry did rehearsals at airhead. If I've forgotten some Ball, Tickets $8 home for their Andrews' sisters one, please forgive me. Every number. Etienne's S.O., Davy, body gave two hundred per November portrayed the Boogie Woogie cent. Some even risked break 21st, Renaissance Meetine- Bugle Boy and had to assemble ing a nail! Seriously, we December her own costume. Emily and couldn't have done it without 19th Renaissance Xmas Partv Kathy, Trudi's S.O., pulled the quality of help everyone Tentative date-joint w/ Phi ropes backstage. Robyn D. de gave. I'd be happy to give them Chapter of So. Jersey signed the original artwork for all recommendations for jobs in the program cover. JoAnn's show biz. Thank you all. And, January friend Steve helped us get the guess what? There's some cos 16th, "Voices" Conference on Mask & Wig club and he tumes in the attic that we Transgenderlssues worked the light board the haven't used yet. So, lets do night of the show. Chris and another show. Maybe next year 23rd, Renaissance Meetine- Sheila operated spotlights. we'll do it on a Saturday. 2 ,• The Opinion Page

Crossdressing In The Heartland ... by Trudi Henry Late in September, three of us The class was one of the most masturbation, but breezed Renaissance girls made an appear popular at the university. It took a through the "abnormalities". The ance at Denison University in couple of quarters of trying just to net effect was that I felt more like Granville, Ohio to speak to two get into the section. Finally, I got in a freak than ever. sections of Dr. David Przybyla's and was all set to learn the an Dr. Dave takes a refreshingly Human Sexuality class. swers to all my questions. different approach. He uses a text There's something about a cam I bought the text and just book that spends a number of pus in the heartland in Fall that couldn't wait. I popped open the pages on crossdressing. In inviting takes me back to a time when liv index and found the page covering us to speak, he let us show his ing was easy and I wasn't in debt. "Transvestism". The subject, along students that we can pursue our It was also a confusing time of with homosexuality and transexu feminine side, and yet live a full life trying to get a handle on what I alism, was covered in a chapter on otherwise. He made available, on a was about. I just wish that some sexual abnormalities. It also in private basis, the names and ad one would have done for me what cluded every fetish and kink I'd dresses of TV support organiza Dr. Dave (as his class calls him) is ever heard of and a few I hadn't. I tions in Ohio. doing for his kids. don't remember the exact wording, I can't help but wonder, though, When I was an undergrad, I but in a sentence or two it simply if there was just one kid in either took a course in Human Sexuality said that transvestites were men class who was like me when I was in hopes of learning more about who dressed like women. I mut studying Human Sexuality. If so, I why I felt some of the things I felt, tered, "Thanks for the in-depth hope we gave him/her some en particularly that nagging little analysis." I hoped for more when couragement and made him/her matter of wanting to dress up like the semester started. feel a little less alone. I hope we a girl. The class itself was no better. spared someone the endless cycle We spent days on fantasies and of guilt, obsession and alienation.

Living In A Box ... by JoAnn Roberts The newspaper carried a story almost 32 years. The person that So, how many of you are still today ofan 11 year old boy who was walked through the world was only living in your own boxes? Isn't it kept in a wooden box by his step a facade, a shadow-person built about time for you to start pulling grandmother, because she feared out of other people's expectations. the nails free? Isn't is about time he was brain damaged. The boy Then one day something hap for you to kick the boards loose? was found to be mentally normal. pened. The nails made of igno And, isn't it about time for you to When I read the story in the rance started to rust away. They face the world and yourself with October 10th issue of the Philadel were soon followed by those offear. the truth? phia Inquirer, I almost started to Eventually, the nails were all gone There are no barriers except cry. What an ignominious way to and first one side then the other those you erect yourself, so tear live! How has that poor child's fell away from my box. I let free the them down~ Look in the mirror and pysche been damaged? What will real me. I faced the world for the say to yourself, "I have the ulti happen to him in later life? The first time and realised that I could mate control and responsibility for whole thing gave me pause to con be my own person. I could have my life." Then believe it and get on sider my life. original thoughts and feelings. I with the rest of your life. The past As I thought about that child, I was not a puppet to be controlled. is immutable, so why worry over realised that I, too, at one time, I knew I could do almost any what cannot be changed? Look lived in a box. My box was made thing I set my mind to and that forward to the future and new from a variety of woods; bigotry, ultimately, I could control my life. goals. You will be amazed at how racism, sexism and parochialism The key was acceptance of myself much you can accomplish if you were a few. The nails holding it all and acceptance of the responsibil will only believe in yourself. together were fear, loathing, igno ity for my actions. I understood There is no one in this world rance and despair. The wood was that there is a basic human dignity more deserving of your respect supplied, without charge, by the within everyone and that dignity than yourself. For, ifyou cannot re world around me and I pounded deserves respect. I resolved never spect yourself, how can you possi those self-made nails. Yes, my box to apologize to anyone for being bly respect anyone else? And, how was nailed shut from the inside. I me. And, I would consider care will you ever break out of your box hid the real me in that box for fully any criticism of others. before you mentally suffocate? 3 ..,

--• Catalog Shopping: Part 2 by Paula Sinclair in the wrong location. Do you have Valenci, Designer Circle, Salem, Autumn has barely begun them in your neighborhood too? VA, 24156-0201. I can't vouch for and already mail order companies Thanks to their efforts, buying quality or service because even are havng sales on Fall Styles. pantyhose takes far too long and though they offer large sizes (up to Isn't merchandising wonderful? you can never seem to find the size, 11 D or EE), they are still too small Just try telling that to the models style and shade you want. Well, for the huge growths at the ends of who had to wear wool suits and now there is a catalog just for my legs. Prices are good-nothing coats in June or July so we could pantyhose-L'eggs Showcase of over $50 and many pairs for $30 have Fall catalogs in September Savings. The catalog offers first and $40. If someone has any expe and October. But, whatever the quality and slightly imperfect rience with this company, perhaps season, these mail order compa L'eggs, Hanes, Underalls and Iso they will share it with us. nies have what it takes. toner pantyhose in all sizes, styles And speaking of sharing, The all-time top slot on my and shades, at considerable dis despite the fact that my mailman list belongs to a company that not couns. A pair of L' eggs cost over $3 has several times suggested that I only offers mail order, but has at my local market. I can buythe move to a different Zip Code zone stores all over the country. The same pantyhose (slightly imper and take my catalogs with me, I am nearest one to us is in north Jersey. fect but fully guaranteed) for $1.49 sure there are mail order compa Royal Silk Ltd. offers classic cloth a pair from the catalog.. The catalog nies I don't know about. Ifyou have ing in 100% silk or silk blends. also contains L'eggs lingerie, pant done business with a firm that Taking advantage of two circum ies and Bali bras. And, making it a provides good merchandise, rea stances in world economics full service outlet for TVs, a full se sonable prices and fast responsive cheap labor in the Far East, and lection of men's Hanes underwear service, please let us know so we China's push to both expand their and socks. Quality of all the items can share it with all. By the same silk industry and gain foreign ex is very good even though some token, if you have been ripped-off, change-Royal Silk has simply items are rated slightly imperfect. tell us that too, and we will warn wonderful clothes at reasonable As they say in the catalog, these our sisters to save their stamps. prices. One minor problem is that are imperfections that you You can send your contributions to the clothes are so good and so inex wouldn't even notice. And the me care of Renaissance. pensive, that keeping them in great prices are even better during stock is difficult, so once in awhile one of their regular sales. The an order is delayed. But the com address is L'eggs Brands Inc., Box pany is very responsive and, I be 6000, Rural Hill, NC, 27098. [In 'l(Jn.aissana ?{Jws® is the monthly lieve, tries very hard to satisfy its case you were not aware of it, publication of the Renaissance customers. The line is not too terri almost all the hosiery in this coun Education Association, Inc. Copy bly extensive, running, as I said, to try comes from only two or three right 1987. No material maybe re classic clothes. In my opinion, clas mills, all in North Carolina. Ed] produced in any manner unless sics form the foundation of any While we're below the waist, credit is given to the source. good wardrobe. Many things are we might as well go all the way ... to Subscription and Associate available in size 16 or extra large. shoes. (What did you think I was Membership is $12 per year. Full The address is Royal Silk Plaza, 45 going to say, you nasty thing!) As I Membership in the group i~ $30 East Madison Ave., Clifton, NJ, have written, Lane Bryant offers per year. 07011 shoes in larger sizes and wide Renaissance is a non-profit cor I don't know who these people widths. The styles aren't tremen poration which has the purpose of are, but I wish that they would stop dous, but they aren't "old lady" providing education about it. I mean those people who root shoes either. I have just seen a transgendered behavior to the through the pantyhose displays in catalog that has prices equal to general public and professional the supermarket, messing them Lane Bryant's and with marvelous counsellors. up and putting the packages back styles. The company is A. J. Renaissance meets once a month, on the 3rd Saturday of the month, unless otherwise noted. Starting time is 9:00 PM in the late For Your Information Spring/Summer, and 8:00 PM in Renaissance now has a phone line for information about events and the FalJ/Winter. Regular meetings activities. Call (215) 640-9449 any evening after 6:30 PM Eastern time. are held in the Valley Forge area. If JoAnn ,is not available the phone will not be answered. Occasionally, we will meet other places and these will be noted in Mona Lisa charms in sterling silver are available to all members of the newsletter. Renaissance for $25. Non-members may purchase them for $40. Contact This newsletter is produced for JoAnn Roberts at the number above or write. Renaissance by Creative Design Services. 4