JoAnn Ro be r ts M 1991 Box 1 263 King of Pr u ssia PA 19406 GP RD SJ ~naissance ~ws Volume 5, No. 2 Vision - Integrity - Quality February 1991 Two tales of coming out Here are two true stories about transsexuals coming out at work. Identities have been changed, but the facts are true. Perhaps there is a lesson here. Perhaps it is that when we demand sensitivity from others, we should be sensitive ourselves.
"I almost fell over, I was stupefied." "Effective 14 December, I am switching to life as a That was Stan's reaction when Bob, a transsexual female." co-worker, recently appeared without warning in the That was how a transsexual on the faculty of a office of a Philadelphia firm wearing a dress, high West Coast university began a memo addressed to heels and makeup. "I was hurt that he didn't say "colleagues, staff, and other friends" telling them anything before," Stan said, discussing the incident what they could expect in the coming weeks. that Stan now believes cost him and the transsexual In the memo, a copy of which has been obtained by their jobs. the Renaissance News, the transsexual said "I have Before Bob made the immediate, surprise transfor always felt female, and have always felt more at home mation at work "I was one of his closest friends in the with female culture than with male culture." She office," Stan remembers. ''We used to talk a lot about described her "some 30 years ofrecurrent depression, football - the Detroit Lions were his favorite team." gloom, and pain ... because of the incongruity between The two had worked together for three years, the last my psychological gender and my physical sex." See year they had shared the same office. ing a therapist and attending support group meetings Evidently working that close together didn't mean for more than a year, she wrote, "I have gone for 12 that Bob - now called Lisa - felt obliged to warn months with no such depression." Stan or even explain what was going on that first day. She outlined current medical and scientific think "All he said was 'Are you shocked?' Then went about ing regarding transsexualism. "Studies have found his business," Stan said. It wasn't until the second that attempts to 'rectify' it in ways other than gender day that "he started explaining different things," change tend to be dead-end, condemning the trans Stan said. ·"He said he had ideas in his head since he sexual to feelings of deep frustration and to ongoing was a little child and had to come out in the open. He periods of depression," she wrote. seemed much more relaxed than he had been in many To help the people around her better understand months." the phenomenon, the transsexual welcomed ques (Continued on page 4) (Continued on page 4) Transsexualfound murdered in Center City Three days before Christmas, the no motive for the brutal murder nor a pre-operative transsexual. Why body of a 26-year old male-to-fe no suspects. was she murdered? I am sure it was male transsexual was discovered in According to her friend Joanna a crime of hate because of her true Center City Philadelphia. She had Sylvester, Francisco worked in the gender." been stabbed several times in the home health care field and was A $1,500 reward has been offered chest and stomach. studying to become a nurse. She for information leading to the ar A security guard working for had planned to undergo sex reas rest and conviction of those respon Thomas Jefferson University Hos signment surgery within six months, sible for Francisco's murder. Any pital discovered the body of Anna Sylvester said. She lived with her one with information should con Francisco on the morning of Dec. 22 family in the Feltonville section of tact the Philadelphia Mayor's on a hospital construction site near Philadelphia. Commission for Sexual Minorities, 11th and Walnut streets. She was a sweetheart-gentle," 686-1545. All callers are assured Police say that Francisco was Sylvester said. "She never hurt anonymity. killed at or near the site. They had anyone. Her only mistake was being ~naissance 'l\&ws 'l/o{ 5, 9{p. 2
CHAPTER INFORMATION New Jersey 1\g,naissance 9\(g,ws South Jersey: Kelly Harris, •••••••••••••••••••• © 1990 Renaissance Education chapter leader. Write Renaissance • * * *IMPORTANT * * * • Association, Inc., P. 0. Box 552, SJ, c/oP. 0. Box189,MaysLanding, • Until Further Notice • King of Prussia, PA 19406 NJ 08330. Meets on the first : The Reading Chapter : NewsQueen,National Gender News & Survival are trademarks of Saturday of the month at the • Has Suspended Operations • Renaissance. No reproduction of Atlantic Mental Health Center, Inc. • • ••••••••••••••••••••• original articles without the 2002 Black Horse Pike, McKee, N.J. written permission of the editor. Doors open at 7:00 p.m. Call (609) $2/copy, $12 per year, 12 issues. 641-3782. Senior Editors: Pennsylvania Pennsylvania Pamela A. Westin Greater Philadelphia area: Lower Susquehanna Valley: Paula Jordan Sinclair Angela Gardner, chapter leader. Brenda Davidson, chapter Contributing Editors: Write Renaissance PHL, Box AD, leader Write LSV-Renaissance, JoAnn Roberts Bensalem, PA 19020. Meets third Box 2122, Harrisburg, PA 17105. JoAnn Altman Stringer Saturday of the month in King of Meets the first Saturday of the Administrative Assistants: Beth & Rachel M. Prussia, Pa. Winter hours: starts at month in Camp Hill, Pa at 8:00 p.m. Design 8:00 p.m. Call (215) 946-8887. Call (717) 780-1578. Creative Design Services
For current information call (215) NATIONAL INFORMATION 630-1437 24 hrs. a day. v Renaissance has a new mail stitution in their home state (except Renaissance is a 50l(c)(3) non ing address, please correct your Pa.) before asking for chapter status. profit organization providing records: P. 0. Box 552, King of - Any group that wishes to be education and support to the Prussia, Pa., 19406. come a Renaissance affiliate will gender community at large. v Renaissance has a new phone pay a small annual fee for services 1------number as well. Call (215) 630-1437 normally afforded to chapters for Calendar of Events 24 hours a day for current informa free. Affiliates have no legal connec Febuary tion about events and activities. tion to Renaissance and remain au 2nd Ren. So. Jersey Chapter; V The board of directors has tonomous. Services include unlim J.M. Kauffman, M.D., to approved a new policy for the devel ited access to reference publications speak on endocrinology opment of chapters and affiliates. and newsletter copy. and metabolism. - Any group that wishes to be Write for details to Alison Laing, come a Renaissance chapter must Co-director of Outreach, P. 0. Box 2nd Ren. LSV Chapter be incorporated as a non-profit in- 552, King of Prussia, Pa. 19406. , 16th Ren. Gr. Phila. Chapter AND, DON T FORGET ABOUT••• 22-24 Texas 'T' Party B&P, San Antonio, Tex. • Background Papers are avail • The Pen Pal Project. Ifyou are able for $1 each plus $.25 postage willing to write letters to pen pals, March for each pair ordered. Eight papers please inform Maryann Kirkland or 2nd Ren. So. Jersey Chapter are available: 1-Myths & Miscon write to the office, c/o Dept. PP. ceptions About Crossdressing, 2- • A few copies of the Deluxe 2nd Ren. LSV Chapter Re ason s for Male to Female Edition ofDr. Benjamin's The Trans Crossdressing, 3-PARTNERS: sexual Phenomenon are still avail 16th Ren. Gr. Phila. Chapter Spouses & Significant Others, 4- able at$39.95 postpaid. Make checks The Matter of Children, 5-An Anno payable to Renaissance. April tated Bibliography, 6-Telling the • Call the new Transsexual Hot 6th Ren. So. Jersey Chapter Children: A Transsexual's Point of line if you need need someone to View, 7-What Is Renaissance?, and talk with. Call (609) 641-3782 be 6th Ren. LSV Chapter 8-AIDS & HIV Safety and Ethics. tween 7 a.m. to lOp.m. EST, or FAX • 3R addiction recovery support 20th Ren. Gr. Phila. Chapter group meets at King of Prussia on (609) 561-5799. This service is pro third Sat. of the month. vided by the South Jersey Chapter.
2 ~naissance 'J{f.ws o/o{ 5 9{JJ. 2
Little do we think of it, but per they live will pretty much be the ceptions rule the personality of Perceiving the world same. today's world. They make us think, Secondly, how do you perceive believe and do things differently. the world around you? Just how do Others perceive you Should someone become a hermit, you perceive life as it whizzes past The third and final consideration living a lonely, solitary life up in the you every day? Do you notice the is your perception of how the world Alaskan tundra, their personality difference in attitudes between the perceives you. We all act, to some and goals will be diametrically dif sexes? Do you believe you are giv degree, based on how we perceive ferent that the urbanite living in ing something to society or taking the world wants us to act. Do you Los Angeles. And all because of from it? Do you think your work is believe the world perceives you as perceptions. beneficial or superficial? just another woman (or man), or do In the closeted world of the gen How you perceive yourself will people perceive you as transsexual der conflicted, perceptions pose make an impact on how you see the (or weird)? Do you believe other three distinct alternatives to how world. If you view yourself as a people question what sex you are? we act. transsexual, your actions will fit Again, it come back to the action/ into a prescribed mold. This could reaction issue. Ifyou believe people Perceiving yourself be compared to the physics theory think you are transsexual, then you First, is the conscious thought of which states every action has an may put on a show just to reassure how we perceive ourselves. Just equal and opposite reaction. Your your audience. exactly what do you think of your self-perception is manifested in an As you progress further with self? Do you think you're fun to be outward sign that says to the world transition, this could become very around or are you 89 percent bitchy? "female" or "transsexual." subtle feedback of how society per Do you think of yourself as easy Your perception of the world ceives you. Do genetic female friends going or persnickety? Do you follow around you is also affected by the discuss personal things with you the desires of the group or go your sociological surroundings. Because like periods, childbirth or meno own way. Most importantly, how of the socialization process, some pause? These are the things they ever, do you love yourself? What you one going through transition in the will discuss only with another think ofyourself as a person is going Jewish or Italian neighborhoods of member of their sorority. If this is to affect how you act. New York City is going to act differ the case, as it has been with me so I have touched on this in the past ently than someone in rural Missis many times, then you can assume articles, but it is an important is sippi. that society is perceiving you in a sues. In my book, The Transsexual's Another factor that falls into the very favorable way. You are being Survival Guide to Transition and mix is the left brain/right brain is seen as normal. Beyond, I noted that I never thought sue. Are you analytical or artistic. A When you receive this kind of of myself as "transsexual." In my painter sees the world much differ feedback, you then can follow a mind, I was always female, though ently that does an engineer. Being pattern of normalcy. You can relax I knew there was a difference be analytical or artistic causes you to and just be yourself. You don't have tween myself and genetic females. see the world differently. Do you see to put on a show for the rest of the While I was going through transi a dying flower and understand the world. At that point your life be tion in Denver, there seemed to be a intrinsic beauty it once embodied, comes much, much easier, a pleas prevailing belief that transsexuals or do you see the same flower as now ant rather than a burdensome task. should act in a certain way, even worthless? Many of the gender con though they were trying to learn the flicted people I have met around the Always love yourself ways of women. Many transsexuals world tend to be in the analytical One issue I briefly mentioned would put on quite a display. They category as judged by their careers earlier is most important - do you perceived that their actions were in electronics, science, law and the love yourself? If you do, then the correct, yet others did not see them like. A few were dreamers, poets, rest of the perceptions will fall into acting as normal women would. The artists, revolutionaries, but not too line and you will be successful. But transsexuals perceived themselves many. Too, an artist in New York ifyou hate and despise yourself, you as transsexual-and acted accord City will see the world much differ will be drawn in a downward spiral ing to that norm - instead of per ently than her counterpart artist in to a pit of doom. While loving your ceiving themselves as female. Mississippi because of socialization. self will carry you upward into a The analysts, regardless of where spiral of success.
3 'l{f,naissance 'J{f.ws 'Vo{ 5, 'J{p. 2 Stan's story (continued from page 1 But not everyone in the office was appearance, she was fired along off other workers at the same time, relaxed. Stan remembers that other with a third of the sales staff. the company could claim to be inno people would turn away when Lisa Stan said it was almost certain cent of discrimination. approached. ''They were very stand that there were to be some layoffs, "I have met tran sgendered people offish, "he said. As Stan remembers, but they were not expected until before this," Stan said. ''They are the women in the office were not after Christmas. Still, he wonders the nicest folks in the world. But I supportive at all. if Bob's transformation didn't speed was shocked that Bob didn't confide The boss, too, was troubled. He up the process. While not specifi in me. Turned me off that he was ordered Lisa not to use the women's cally protected in Philadelphia, not more open with me and would rest room, so she had to use the transgendered people have received just come in dressed as a girl with men'sroom. Thatcausedonlyminor the support of the Commission on out any warning. And then just to problems until a group of visiting Human Relations. Stan said that look at me that first time and smile executives headed to the men's room Bob had shown the boss some pa - that just hurt me to the core" after along drive and found Lisa in pers that he thinks kept Bob from "I would have understood," Stan side. "The visitors were embar getting fired by himself. By laying said. rassed," Stan remembers, "and so was the boss. But Bob got a big kick of it; he thought that was so funny. §~!?r!~g~)' s story to be treated now? "I am changing "It was getting to the point that tions. Furthermore, she arranged my name to Sabrina. I would like to the boss was thinking 'we have to for her therapist and another pro be called by that name. I would get rid of this guy. Visitors are get fessional to be in the building to appreciate it if you would make the ting embarrassed and the women meet with interested persons. She effort to use that name and to use are going to quit'." So Stan specu also provided several copies of The the pronouns 'she' and 'her' in refer lates that a plan to reduce the staff Uninvited Dilemma by K. Stuart ring to me." was put into operation immediately. for borrowing by co-workers. ''Thank you for your understand Three days after Lisa made her first How does the transsexual wish ing," she wrote in closing the memo.
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One consolation company operates the jail under a city supervisors who voted to tear is that it seems to have al ways been contract with the county located on down his "beloved" Embarcadero thus. the Florida Panhandle. Freeway. Falske said he had no +++ Smith, 32, was being held in the reason to live and would take the In 1 702, for example, John Smith, county jail while awaiting trial for supervisors with him. a resident of Strawberry Alley in criminal mischief. She was later Responding to the threat, police Philadelphia was arrested and convicted and sentenced to six years searched his apartment where they charged by a grand jury for ''being in a state prison. found a .38 caliber pistol, an Uzi, masked or disguised in women's +++ ammunition, and two pairs ofbrass apparel; stalking openly through the Remember Charles Daugherty, knuckles. Under the terms of a plea streets of the city from house to the 26-year-old man who posed as a bargain, Falske pleaded guilty to a house. It being against the law of Colorado high school cheerleader single felony charge of possessing God, the law of he province and the for eight days earlier this year until brass knuckles. law of nature." Smith was following school officials became suspicious? +++ an old English custom of going about He has pleaded guilty to criminal Finally, in the "crossdressing for the neighborhood in costume for impersonation charges. A judge in success" file, we have this item about drinks and cakes on Christmas Colorado Springs said that Daugh Brazilian Alfonso Felipe dos San night. erty was attempting to obtain a tos. Smartly clad in a wig, pumps +++ pubic education through fraud. and black dress, he lied his way into The custom is practiced with a Sentencing was to be held earlier the cockpit of a Varig airliner en different twist in Detroit nowadays this month; Daugherty could be sent route between Lisbon and Rio de - men dress up as women and rob to prison for two years. Janeiro in November saying that he people with guns and knives. +++ wanted to take a photograph. In According to Motown police re High school students in Mus stead of a camera, he pulled out a ports, a gang of crossdressed rob kegon, Mich., may be even less can of Mace and sprayed the pilots. bers is posing as prostitutes. When sophisticated than those in Colo A relief pilot rushed to the controls they snare an unsuspecting john, rado. Two female students believed and the plane landed safely in the they take him to a deserted location that Mari Louise Medacco, 1 7, was Canary Islands. and rob him at gun point. So far, really a guy and let "him" have sex Dos Santos' sister said her 39- four members of one gang have been with them on several occasions. But year-old brother had a death wish. arrested and will stand trial for one it was in the dark so perhaps they +++ attack. couldn't tell "his" penis was false. We don't wish to sound callus, +++ Mari called herselfMario, tightly but if dos Santos really wanted to Officials at the first privately wrapped her chest with an ace die, he should have moved to San operated jail in Florida have a spe bandage, and told the girls that she Diego. In 1990, four transgendered cial way of treating transsexual had suffered a rib injury. people were murdered and three inmates who cause trouble - they +++ others were assaulted. have their hair shorn and keep it as Mari may have gotten the idea of Police say that while there are a souvenir. crossing the gender line for sex from similarities in the cases, "the dis In a practice that sounds some biology class. When males are in similarities prevail." All of the vic thing like the human skin lamp short supply, the female African reed tims were Hispanic and had know shades at Nazi extermination frog develops testicular nodules and to engage in prostitution. Police camps, a barber at a state prison fertilizes the eggs of other females. believe most or all of the victims reception center was ordered to save There was no mention in the Omni were members of a prostitution ring the hair he cut from Rhonda (Den article of where the frogs get the based in Tijuana and operating in nis) Smith and send it to Robin tiny ace bandages. the San Diego area. Krakow, one of three jailers Smith +++ The most recent victim was shot is accused of biting and scratching Women posing as men can be a in the chest in the driveway of a while they were booking her at the mean lot. Take the case of Lynn (continued on page 6) 5 'l{?nai.ssance ~ws 'I/o( 5, 'J{p. 2 THENEWSQUEEN ~ (continued from page 5) guessed I was underage because I Patti LaBelle certainly isn't an motel. Police say the slaying came was dressed as a woman," he said. gry about men impersonating her. as the result of"a dispute." "Some fans say I am even more "It's a compliment for anybody to +++ beautiful than Rosanna." do anything that connects with Patti Police in Memphis have no mo While he says his family is sup LaBelle," she said in a recent inter tive for the November murder of a portive of is act, especially is father view. "It's never embarrassing to well-known transsexual enter and two brothers, Alexis admits me. It's never like you're trying to tainer. The body of Michelle Maree there is some tension in the family. move in on my territory. It's just was found not far from the Club Rosanna worries that being known that you appreciate me (enough) to Tiffany where she worked as a as a female impersonator may ruin want to do that. It's the highest waitress. Alexis' chances ofhaving a career as form of flattery." While robbery is a possibility (her an actor. But so far that hasn't been The Philadelphia native said that purse was missing when her body a problem. He got a role in the movie on one occasion she met a man who was discovered), some members of Last Exit to Brooklyn - as a trans impersonated her to perfection, but the city's gay community speculate vestite. he was wearing is male clothes at that since she was working in a +++ the time. "I said 'Girlfriend, youjust straight club, a patron may have If Alexis really wants to get his don't look anything like me.' I just gone off on a murderous rage when career on the fast track, he'll get couldn't imagine how in the world he discovered her true gender. himself to the Connection Theater he could get to that point where he Maree was 40 years old and had in Louisville, Ky. That's the site for looked so much like me.'' lived as a woman for many years. the 1991 Miss Gay U.S.A. pageant. She said that during a subse She won the Miss Gay Memphis The tentative dates are April 2-7. quent appearance in Geraldo, the crown in 1973, and for the past two +++ same impersonator was so good he decades had performed in most of While James Cagney didn't fooled Patti's aunt. the gay clubs in the area and organ crossdress (at least not that we +++ ized many benefit shows. A tribute know), his early association with Through her extensive contacts and benefit show was held after her drag didn't hurt his career. The around the world, Phaedra Kelly death to raise money for funeral movie tough guy's first job was as a has provided an update on a foreign expenses and to purchase a head dancer in a vaudeville female im dispatch published in the Decem stone. personator's act. ber column ... +++ +++ The Pakistani transvestite who After all of this Sturm undDrang, Another type entertainment ca was campaigning for a provincial some innocent female impersona reer seems to thrive on crossdressing assembly seat received 7,000 votes. tion is a weJcome relief - even - rock and roll, which Sting ob While Aslam Khusra did not win more welcome when the impersona served is "a bit like Las Vegas; guys the race, she will run again. tor is related to a celebrity. dressed up in their sisters' clothes Miss Sinclair does not dress in her sister's clothes, but Alexis Arquette, 21, brother of pretending to be rebellious and slu! is angry when. she no receive clippings about crossdressing. She was uery happy this past month, thanks to Phaedra, actress Rosanna Arquette, has per angry but not really angry about Sharon Morgan, and Lisa de Lansing (note to Lisa - please putyouraddress inyournert note). You can keep her happy formed in Hollywood gay bars in anything." by sending clippings to lhe Renaissance office. Pt ease no te drag since he was 1 7. "No one the name and date of publication. Looking for ... LEE'S MARDI GRAS ~Make-up Lessons BOUTIQUE ~ Cosmetic Shopping Assistance LEE G. BREWSTER, PRESIDENT in Center City Philadelphia? 3rd Floor Paula Jordan Sinclair 400 W. 14th St. (9th Ave.) 985-4812 (212) 645-1888 New York, NY 10014 (Not affiliated with a cosmetics company) 6 ~naissance 9-{f,ws 'J/o{ 5 'J{p. 2 FORuM "So what is a woman, anyway? What is a man? ... Does a slight chromosomal dif gressively bilateral society. Many and maybe even our genders are dif ference really matter that much? of my friends - male and female, ferent at different times in our lives. And do our traits and personality straight and gay - admit that they "Or, perhaps, in a world free of really come attached to our sex? ... It might occasionally wander out of religious restrictions and cultural is staggering to think ofall the rules, their label if such an adventure limitations, there is no such thing limitations, and horrors that have didn't have so many social ramifica as ge11der or sexual orientation! been perpetrated in the name of tions. Maybe there are as many Perhaps we are all just people." gender when no one knows what sexual orientations as there are gender is! ... people - and maybe these orienta -Lesbian syndicated colum "More and more, I believe that tions are different at different times nist Wendy Caster in her "Double sexual orientation is far more dif in our lives. And maybe there are as Mischief' column appearing in San fuse that we dare consider in our ag- many genders as there are people- Diego's Gay & Lesbian Nation. 'The them-and-us view ends at the jail gate." To the Editor: munity in a hellish situation. that she'd borrowed Fort Knox! In Initially, my anger at Joan Hoffs Women set up women's inmate the United Kingdom, she would have attitude (toward the letter from groups, gays set up gay inmate been sentenced to a maximum of Lofofora Contreras, RN, Sept. '90) groups. So why not ours? If we pro five years with parole in three. That was such that I would have gladly pose to cease being seen as alien by is unless the criminal is transgen given her a break - somewhere society and to assimilate into soci dered. around the neck. But realistically, ety as human beings, we better take It seems that on both sides of the we are a human society with all the the rough with the smooth ... big pond, our gender gets double for faults and virtues that go with that, If you are so pure, by all means whatever we do. This is the case compressed within a small minor throw the first stone. But ifyou, like with one British transsexual I work ity which refracts those qualities to me, accept that despite your best with. Had it not been found out that the extreme because of our very intentions, the public still sees little she is transsexual halfway through smallness. So we can accept that or no difference between our "or a life sentence, she would have been there is one of everything, including ganized" world and our ignored and out ten years ago. Now, if she went a "hang 'em high," gung-ho redneck ill-helped crime and vice quarter, for parole, she'd not only not get it, who makes stupid blurts about and if you are still confident in your but would end up in an institution minorities within our own minor own virtue, you will cast down the for the criminally insane ... ity ... first stone and build foundations Our inmates' group is in its in The them-and-us view ends at upon it... fancy, and is so far the only one in the jail gate. When one of our own I have contact with a transves the whole United Kingdom. I has been caught and incarcerated, tite in an American prison. She was couldn't see that a gala dinner would it is not ours to judge or forgive, only put away for ten years for unarmed do much to help it, given that the job ours to serve a member of the com- petty burglary. I thought at first (continued on page 9) NEW CDS TITLES The Transsexual's Survival Guide Jo.ANN ALTMAN STRINGER The first comprehensive guide to transition - all the Fine Cosmetics things your therapist never tells you. Written by a Wigs by Rene of Paris successful, post-op transsexual: $20.00 Make overs Facials Art & Illusion Companion - The long awaited addition Nail Sculpting & Tips to A&I, includes photos: $8.00 Waxing All prices include shipping and handling. make check I money order payable to: Call for Appointment CDS, P.O. Box 1263 King of Prussia, PA 19406 7 ']\?naissance '.l{fws 'J/o{ 5, 'J{p. 2 Is Life a Drag? Then join us in the Poconos on May 16-19 or Sept. 19-22, 1991 for an extended weekend of fun and festivities. for full details write: C.D.S. PO Box 1263 King of Prussia, PA 19406 Paradise In The A JoAnn Roberts Production ...... •.....• .• ····························· Poconos On the cutting edge of contemporary William R. Stayton, Th.D. TV fiction! En Femme FICTION Magazine licensed psychologist Published 6 times a year experienced gender counselor Classy • Original •Thought-provoking Single issue: $7.00 Subscription: $30.00 by appointment Send check or money order to 987 Old Eagle School Rd., Suite 719 EFFM 1977 N. Olden Ave., Suite 205 Wayne, PA 19087 Trenton, NJ 08618 215-971-0700 -COUNSELI NG- Theseus Counseling ANDROGYNY -EDUCATION- Services UNLIMITED ARI KANE, M.ED . Roger E. Peo, Ph.D. GENDER SPECIALIST BOARD CERTIFIED SEXOLOGIST HJB NORTHERN HJB fil1EMEB l:lEJ'I.~ BQSIQtJ ABEA 126 WESTERN A VE. 233 HARVARD ST. SUITE 222 SUI TE 302 P.O . Box 4887 AUGUSTA, ME 04330 BROOKLINE, MA 02146 207-(322·9531 6 17·277-4360 POUGHKEEPSIE, NY 12602 (914) 462-7455 8 'l{?naissance 'J.f!,ws 'J/o{ 5 'J{p. 2 TS inmate sues N.Y. State for sex assault; gets $25,000 and transfer to women's prison New York State has agreed to offense. At that .time, corrections Jested and harassed her and forced payatransgenderedinmate$25,000 department officials sought an in- her to have sex with them. This to settle a law suit that charged she dependent determination of Far- formed the basis for her suit. was harassed and sexually as- rell's gender, and had her examined Flateau said that transgendered saultedbyguardsinthemen'sprison byapanelofuniversitymedicaland inmates such as Farrell who have where she was incarcerated. In psychological professionals. Al- medical authorization can receive addition, she has been transferred though she presents the appear- female hormones at state expense. to a women's prison. ance of a female, Flateau said, the He also said that if officials deter- A repeat offender, Jackie Farrell, experts determined that Farrell was mine transgendered inmates are 35, has been in and out of several most suited for a male prison. She "victim-prone," they can be placed New York prisons. According to a was incarcerated at the Clinton in voluntary or involuntary segre corrections department spokesman, Correctional Facility.That was gation to protect them from other some ofthose sentences were served where Farrell charged guards mo- inmates. in men's prisons and at least one Court approves name change was served in a women's prison - Bedford Hills near New York City. for Garden State transsexual Spokesman Jim Flateau told the The New Jersey Superior Court With the assistance oftheAmeri Renaissance News that the assign- appellate division last month ruled can Civil Liberties Union, Eck won ments to different gender prisons that a Bergen County pre-op trans- a tentative decision in her favor in came because Farrell's arrest re- sexual can have a female name. December. The final Superior Court ports, furnished by the New York John W. Eck had been prevented ruling came last month. City police, sometimes listed her as from changing her name to Tina "Absent fraud or other improper a man and sometimes as a woman. Lindsey by Superior Court Judge purpose," the court said, "a person She claims to have had a sex change Birger Sween. Although Eck had has a right to a name change." The when she was 18 years old. lived as a woman for much of the court also said Eck's decision to live In 1985, Farrell was sentenced to pastdecade,Sweensaidalegalname as a woman is "of no concern to the three and a half to seven years in change would be "fraudulent be- judiciary, and ... has no bearing on" prison for robbery, her most recent cause Eck is still physically a man." approving the name change. "The them-and-us view ends at the jail gate." (continued from page 7) room to hog the benefits of groups and murdered just for being demands only hard, physical, hands and give nothing in return... transgendered. Yet, these victims on, practical work which our com What are the needs of the com would count themselves lucky just munity ought to be able to do by paratively free? More transgendered to be known to exist, unlike in some now. arses on seats in groups, more par strict Arab states where transgen My American transvestite inmate ties and frillies? It can't be much dered people are stoned or rent reports that she and her sisters get more than that, since I see hardly physically apart by their families monthly medical and psychiatric any attention paid to a campaign and neighbors, their bodies left to checkups. The professional conduct for improved media relations or to rot on the desert without even the ing these sessions confesses that he work overseas for the victims of right of cremation ... knows nothing about transgendered Islam or communism. If you will not join in with the issues and will not consult others What are you doing that is so physical work, then let those of us who could instruct him. So Lisa vital it takes precedence over your who do it receive some result of your Leggett (RN, Dec. '90) is by all ac own front line? How many of you fund raisers, some funding to help counts a very lucky little girl to be have heard a cell door slam, seen us do the job. You have the time to getting all she wants and needs in religious police guns on a night street raise money, we have the time, the way of help ... in Istanbul, the glint of knives on ability and energy to make it count Hoff expects that inmates should the Bois de Boulogne, or the five for something. What Lofofora and I become less "selfish" overnight. I foot truncheons of Pakistani riot are saying to you is this -for God's am sure there are negative transgen cops? In some places where the sake let's tie the two together! dered inmates, just as I am sure ~nderTransientAffinity has been that there are more selfish people and will continue to go transgen -Phaedra Kelly on the outside where there is more dered people are arrested, tortured United Kingdom 9 ~naissance 91/J,ws 'l/o{ 5, 'J{p. 2 THE lcoNOci:AsT ™ HEMPSTEAD, N.Y. - I'd send them The brouhaha over Allen's book formations has been relegated to a dictionary, but I'm afraid they'd started with an unkind and un the "clearance" pile. cut it up ... credited review by Daniel M. T. T A T Our "favorite" cut 'n' paste news Graham. Graham says the book is woonLAND mLLS, CAIJF. - Speak letter (Lifelines) arrived from Long "bland" and the author couldn't ing of circumspection and deaf Island Femme Expression with make up her mind if it was sup ears .. . a notation on page two that they posed to be "a photo book or text." Our community's walking ver were proud to have received the His final recommendation was, "it's sion of a venerial disease has turned "prestigious 'MONA' award" from not worth purchasing." up again. According to Kym the "Rennaissance (sic) Educational Well, Daniel, wave a red flag in Richards in the November issue of Association of Philadelphia" in front of a bull why don't you! Cross-Talk Phillip Salem is tak "December 1989." Now I know why Several members of our commu ing personal ads in several trans they cut 'n' paste; it was April '89. nity are hopping mad about the vestite publications, including The But, I really got a belly laugh review and wrote to Volen to say so. Transvestian, under the pseudonym from the "reprint" statement which The complaints fell on deaf ears. of Tanya Ray. says, "Any not-for-profit group in First, Graham is a professional Richards has been building a file the TV-TS community may copy book and video reviewer. His opin of Salem's activities, most of which anything out of Lifelines whether ions, I'm sure, come from a much involve allegations of mail fraud. we wrote it, adapted it, or stole it broader base of information for Salem's front, the North Ameri from someone else,justgive us credit comparison than the complainers. can Transvestite Transsexual or we'll scratch your eyes out ... " So, he didn't like the book. So what? Society, solicits money for infor T A T Second, the Transvestian is not mation and either sends old TV TENNENT, N.J. -The sales figures what I would call a "representative" magazines or does nothing. Then, if speak for themselves .. . publication of our community and you file a complaint with postal au A "tempest in a teapot" was anything published in it I'd treat thorities, Salem has been known to stirred to life not long ago when with circumspection. identify complainants as transves Mariette Pathy Allen's photo Third, the sales numbers say it tites to authorities, thus breaching essay book, Transformations, was all. This community did not rush your confidentiality. given a negative review in The out to buy Allen's book. We failed to Salem claims to be a medical Transvestian. The publication is give it support. Sales were flagging doctor and a psychiatrist. Both edited by Tania Volen and pub long before Graham wrote his re claims appear to be patently false. lished by her husband Fred Barry. view. It is not his fault that Trans- He has also offered hormones for (continued next page) Leonard J. F. P. Schneiderman : ,;._:: ,~:;*~\;{,VP'·: :=.-r,_-.. 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Gender Alliance and Kansas gal if they are really prescription Smith says the local economy is City's Crossdressers and hormones, i.e. drugs. pretty bad and the "freeloaders" [my Friends. Richards tried to communicate term] are a real strain on the group. I'm really pleased to see regional this to Tania Volen at The Trans So, they decided to do something organizations like this and the New vestian but Volen still isn't listen about it. Hence the new policy and York State Gender Coalition ing to complaints from within our officer. The group also has an "ex springing up. It means we're learn community. She accused Richards ception" policy for true hardship ing how to work together and build and Cross-Talk of carrying on a cases which was not mentioned in true community. "vendetta" against Salem. the original article. I propose a similar organization Cross-Talk urges all members of Smith also says the "sargeant" be formed on the east coast. I'd like the community to avoid all contact appelation is not very popular there to see a Mid-Atlantic Gender Coali with Salem and his organization. but they didn't what else to call it. (I tion (MAGC pronounced magic) I wholeheartedly add my support liked "First Amazon.") formed from support groups be to those recommendations. I never seriously thought that tween Connecticut and Virginia...... Smith, chapter leader Shirley Kay, Can it be done? That's up to our PORTLAND, ORE. - I bitched awhile or any other officer were only inter leaders, but I think it can. back when the Northwest Gen ested in the money. My intention ...... der Alliance newsletter mentioned was to point out the irony of the title GRAND RAPIDS, MICH. - Words of a book on how men and women and to prod the group into devising wisdom ... communicate. They didn't tell us new ways to gather their lost sheep To those who think that I have a the author or publisher. back into the fold. quiver of poisoned arrows aimed at My thanks go to Roni L., the ...... their hearts, please take note of this newsletter editor, who filled in the ST. wms, MO. - First South Af uncredited item from the Nov.-Dec. missing information in the Decem rica, now Arkansas ... issue of Puff & Stuff (l.M.E. of ber NWGA issue. I can just see the mass exodus to Western Michigan). You Just Don't Understand: Little Rock. This town won't know "Few people get through their Women and Men in Conversation is what hit them once the word gets working life without being criticized a fabulous book with an incredible out about this. every now and then. This observa insight into the language structure According to the December issue tion holds true whether they are of men and women. Central to the of the St. Louis Gender Founda executive vice presidents or the book's thesis is that women talk to tion (StLGF) Gazette, the Arkan lowest worker on the totem pole. each other to make "connections," sas legislature passed a law which "Truly mature people - those i.e. build community, while men talk makes sex change surgery a man who don't allow themselves to be to each other to gain "status," i.e. datory sentence for men twice con blinded by resentment-can some my dog's bigger than your dog. We victed of crossdressing. First timers times find good even in the most in this community would all do well get probation. The surgery will be malicious criticism. If the critic - to read this book. performed at a state hospital. No no matter how unfriendly - points The authorisDeborah Tannen. word on who pays for the surgery. out some weakness you weren't con Ph.D. and the publisher is William But, the really important news scious of, and you take action to Morrow& Company, New York. It's in this issue is about MAGGIE, the correct it, you will have turned the only available in hardback. I picked Mid-America Gender Group and intended injury into a genuine bene up my copy at B. Dalton for $18.95 Information Exchange. (I just love fit" ...... clever acronyms.) MAGGIE's goals Ignorance is a temporary condi ALBUQUERQUE, N.M. - Some are to pool regional information and tion; stupidity is permanent. members of the Fiesta Chapter of resources, sponsor an annual re ...... Tri-Ess were stung by my comments gional event, coordinate activities NOTA BENE - The opinions ex in November's column about their among regional groups and encour pressed here are mine and mine sargeant-at-arms. age growth on individuals through alone. They do not represent any One in particular, Wendy Smith, participation in regional and local "official" position of the Renaissance wrote to explain their situation. It events. At this time, MAGGIE is organization or any other person. /{you'd like to com11U!nt, positively or negatively, please seems, as is often true in any group, supported by StLGF, Iowa write to me at P.O. Bo:x; 1263, King of Prussia, PA 19106. I'd there are a few "takers" who have Artistry, Omaha River City like to hear your opinion of things. 11 ~naissance 'J.&,ws 'l/o{ 5, 'J{p. 2 Phila. Outreach Director lists goals By Maryann Kirkland "fraternalize" more with Renais makeup and clothes are removed. sance. Regionalization has occurred How comfortable are you with ''her" Being elected outreach director in other parts of this country-the when you are "him?" Do you prefer for the Greater Philadelphia Chap "Be All" weekend is proof of that. to have your two personas com ter is for me a deeper commitment 3. And lastly but most impor pletely meshed or completely sepa to ongoing efforts in this vein. So, I tantly, outreach efforts to our own rated? Of course there is no right of find myself in the early months membership to determine needs for wrong answer - only personal already very busy and in high gear. personal growth. It was an unani preference. So come out and discuss My program for chapter outreach in mous decision of the chapter's new your lifestyle with others. 1991 has three components: board to both examine individuals' I expect to be caught in the act of 1. A revitalized participation in satisfaction with basic skills and performing one of my goals at the the ongoing projects of the national socialization and to adopt policies monthly meetings. However, I can outreach directorship. These include that will foster the personal growth not possibly succeed to the extent mass media exposure, college class of transgendered persons. The fo necessary without your help. Please room speaking, pen pal writing, and rum by which we hope to accom look over this list of outreach pro prison outreach. plish these goals is the TV rap ses gram components and select an 2. As the I.F.G.E. representative, sion. Each month, spontaneous dis activity that makes you feel better to ensure that correct informaton cussions have been occurring in the in return. I am not bashful and will flows between Wayland, Mass., and room designated. Now several be actively looking for "a few good here. Also, I plan to encourage, by people, including Michelle Lynn and women." For those members who means of example, participation in myself will be more available to cannot attend meetings, I plan to regional affairs. Delta Chi Educa initiate and lead rap sessions on write a regular feature on true out tion Association is one of three whatever topic. reach activities with the great un organizations in the District of Co My favorite topic is the expres washed public. lumbia/Virginia area that wishes to sion of your femme self when the r,..~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~--..""' Up to 75% savings Take a Walk on the Wildside™ on all your favorites ... Inc. As seen on television ult.~(.l)IJ/d~I Imported corsettes Heels (sizes 8-14) . Fragrances ;:;JlrtMll~· Dermablend® make-up • Jean Patou • Chanel .. 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