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The Gender Conmunity ' s News & Information Monthly #59 $7.00

GOING PUBLIC vs. BEING INVISIBLE: WH ICH IS RIGHT? TAKING RESPONSIBILITY FOR YOUR ACTIONS ALTERNATIVE GENDER PRESENTATIONS: A LONG TRADITION YOU CAN'T 11 PASS 11 WHEN THERE'S NOTHING TO PASS AS WHAT IF SKIRTS WERE NORMAL MALE ATTIRE? MOVIE REVIEW: JUST LIKE A WOMAN THIRD WORLD/WESTERN WORLD: SIMILAR YET DIFFERENT NEWS .•. INFORMATION ... COMMENTARY ... HUMOR . M.A.G.G.I.E. Presents••.

Hosted by .flour a c7htWi9 For Funher Infonnadon Conta,ct..• Iowa Artistry Nov. 17-20, 1994 P0Box75 Sheraton Inn Cedar Rapids, IA 52406 Cedar Rapids, IA ~~@~~Q1f~(b~ The Gender Conmunity's News & Information Monthly SEPTEMBER 1994 (ISSUE #59)

KYMBERLEIGH'S CLIPBOARD: "Hiding" in the mainstreamdoes you much less good than you think It will ••• 2 NEWS DEPARTMENT ... BEGINS ON PAGE 4 NEWSWIRE (news of the worldwide gender community) THE DIVA OF DISH (mainstream news) HotBuzzl (snippets from all over) VOX POPULI: Letters to the editor ••• 12 REGULAR COLUMNISTS ... BEGIN ON PAGE 13 COGITO ERGO FEM: A parting sho~: Take responsibility for your life VIRGIN VIEWS BY VIRGINIA: It's getting harder and harder to 11 pass11 because there's no such thingl INSIGHT: Would we still crossdress if skirts were normal male attire? WOMAN TO WOMAN: A challenge to the community HUMOR SECTION ... BEGINS ON PAGE 19 GREAT MOMENTS IN TV HISTORY COMICS THE BEARDED LADY FEATURE ARTICLES: TRAVESTIJTRANSSEXUALLE=TRANSVESTITE/TRANSSEXUAL: The parallels between the third world and the _ western world (Phaedra Kelly) ••• 23 REVIVING THE TRADITION OF ALTERNATIVE GENDER: Is it a blending of masculine and feminine, or a third androgynous concept? (Holly Boswell) ••• 24 ROGER'S (WIFE'S) NOTEBOOK: Some final thoughts for the community, from Roger Pea's widow (Victoria Powell) ••• 25 THOUGHTS ON BLENDING IN: A dissertation on what "passing" really means, from one therapist's client (Rebecca Auge, Ph.D.) ••• 26 YOU ARE WHAT YOU WEAR?: Take care not to confuse what you find appealing with what society sees as acceptable (Rebecca Anne Petersen) ••• 29 THE BEST OF CROSS-TALK: The Magic Of Crossdressing ... 30 INFORMATION FEATURES ... BEGIN ON PAGE 32 'ZINE REVIEWS! MOVIE REVIEW: JUST LIKE A WOMAN (Charlene Day) THE INFORMATION HIGHWAY AND YOU: Local BBS services (Eileen Richards) CALENDAR OF EVENTS HOTLINES

Cross-Talk (ISSN 1070-6852) is Copyright 1994 Kymberleigh Richards, Publisher and Managing Editor. Permission is granted for the reprint in any non-profit gender community publication of any original article appearing in Cross-Talk, provided proper credit is given to the author and source. For subscription information, see page 40. For advertising information, telephone (818) 907-3053. Fax: (818) 347-4190. Internet e-mail: [email protected].

ASSOCIATE EDITORS: Anne Blackwood, Linda Peacock, Virginia Prince, J oAnn Roberts. COVER ARTWORK by LeVaughn.

cross-Talk is printed entirely on recycled paper using soybean oil-based ink by our friends at Arena Press in Point Arena CA Their phone number is (707) 882-2833. Call Anne in the morning if possible, because In the afternoon she turns Into a crazed 'zlne publisher just like Kym. KYMBERLEIGH'S CLIPBOARD

GOING PUBLIC WITH OUR LIVES: THE SEQUEL

by Kymberleigh Richards

Two pieces of July's mail were strangely well-timed nervousness I had was due to my now being an 11out" because of their juxtaposition with an event that was on my lesbian as well. I should have known better than to be calendar for the middle of that month. nervous ... The first was a letter from a subscriber (who prefers to About two-thirds of those in attendance were also at the remain anonymous) requesting the cancellation of her reunion five years ago. Most of the other third I haven't Cross-Talk subscription because she is nearing the end of seen in the twenty years since we graduated, except a few her Real Life Test and nas sex-reassignment surgery who attended either our five-year or ten-year reunions, scheduled for the near future. In her letter, she indicated one male classmate -- my former business partner -- who that she had let other subscriptions and memberships lapse had known I crossdressed, and a female classmate who in our community as well, on the basis that she felt it had seen me crossdressed a dozen years ago when I was important to blend in with her local community as a exploring the TS question (and who showed up with her 11 "normal woman • She indicated that the only ties she will girlfriend). not sever are those with close ------If anything, the reactions were friends she has made in the even more positive than before. community, but she feels the need I simp Iy d 0 not need t 0 Of course, those who were to leave behind some of her "old I • f h f h present five years ago were life" as she enters the new. ape og1ze or t e act t at pretty much nonplussed, except The second was a commentary in I spent the first 33 years of that the women who had been so Crystal Chronicle, the newsletter my Iif e as a boy and a man . wonderfully supportive about my of the Ohio group The Crystal crossdressing last time shifted to Club, in which the writer, being wonderfully supportive Adrienne, indicated that she about my new image and my would not attend her 25th high school class reunion recently discovered lesbian orientation. The men were because she felt that now, having "finally left the past, I (not surprisingly) tongue-tied and couldn't decide what to could not go and not be me". She went on to say that her say to me -- most slipped at least once and called me by 20th reunion had occurred just a few months before her the name they'd known me by for three years back in the self-discovery voyage began, and that her reasoning for not early '70s -- yet their wives had no trouble accepting me as attending the 25th was due to her family not knowing her a woman from the moment they met me. femme self yet and that her brother and sister would have Of course, I am fortunate that my business deals with the been at the reunion (which invited other classes' members gender community and thus I don't have to make to attend as well). Her commentary ended: "Let my allowances for my transgendered lifestyle in order to classmates forget him, because he will not return as make a living. I am also fortunate that I'm able to extend anyone they have known, but as she, whom maybe now that attitude to every aspect of my life. I simply do not need they can be friends with." to apologize for the fact that I spent the first 33 years of my Five years ago I attended by 15th reunion crossdressed (I life as a boy and a man and I am spending the rest of my was not yet living full-time as Kym, but was spending a life as a woman. I simply am who I am, and the rest of the great deal of my social life ). I wrote about it in world can either deal with it ... or ignore it (if they have issue #9 of Cross-Talk in an article entitled Going Public the luxury of exercising that option). With Our Lives. (Maybe I'll reprint it one of these days.) This also has a positive effect on my being a leader in our This past July was my 20th reunion, and I felt absolutely community. I have the freedom to appear publicly on behalf no hesitancy about attending as Kym once again. If of the organizations I am affiliated with that many others anything, I felt more comfortable this time, since I have do not. It is that freedom which allowed me to salvage now had the opportunity to grow into the role I have what could have been a disaster for Tri-Ess when the chosen to spend the rest of my life in. About the only media showed up at the convention last November by 2 offering myself as an on-camera spokesperson. I am wide open for observation and questioning, not only by simply not afraid of the outside world knowing I am those in our community who can benefit from what I've transgendered, because I have nothing to lose by the learned on the way to who I am, but by those who find my revelation. openness an opportunity to find out what this whole So it makes me sad when someone ending their RLT and transgendered lifestyle is about. And it makes me sad that approaching SRS feels the need to shut the door on the in both of the cases I mentioned at the outset opportunities community that was their supportive home because their for educational outreach are being lost. perceived need to "get on with their lives" supersedes the In 1989 I wrote that ~·going public" was the only way to leadership they could provide for this supportive community truly make ourselves more acceptable to the masses. Five ... leadership that would be enhanced by the wisdom they years later, I am even more convinced that this philosophy have gained thrpugh their experiences. It makes me sad is correct. Yes, it's a little scary at times; yes, there's always when someone who has already transitioned cannot share the possibility of an unpredictable reaction; yes, you do still their new lives with old friends from their past simply (sometimes) need to watch your back. because they have not had the courage to share their new But the support you'll eventually get from friends, family, lives with their families. former classmates (!) ... even the occasional total stranger It almost seems as if they have traded one closet for ... more than make up for it. Think about it and think about another; the closet that once hid their transgendered being just a little more open about your life. natures from the outside world, because they were ashamed or afraid of discovery, now hides their past as if they were every bit as ashamed or afraid of that as well. HAVE YOU ASKED A FRIEND TO SUBSCRIBE TO I like to think that I have a walk-in closet with a door that Cross-Talk? has been permanently knocked off its hinges. My life is

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SPECIAL OFFER ON SETS OF 1993 BACK ISSUES! We had an idea a few months ago that, as our retail circulation has grown, there might be some new readers who missed our entire first year in magazine format. At the same time, we were starting to run low on issues #39 and #44, so we took the remaining stock of those two issues, combined them with the rest of the issues from last year, and offered complete sets of all 12 issues (#39 through #50) at a reduced price from our usual $7.00 per copy. Well, we still have about 20 sets available, and quite honestly, we need the storage space. So we're lowering the price another $20.00 while supplies last ... to less than $4.25 per issue ... and WE'LL pay the postage! If you're in the market for the information and serious discussion we provide in every Cross-Talk, then you'll love getting almost 500 more pages' worth, all in one package! {And this is the ONLY way to get issues #39 and #44, which are now completely out of stock except for this offer.) And, if you order one of these full 1993 sets and aren't already a Cross-Talk subscriber, we'll include a discounted subscription offer for the same rates normally reserved for renewing subscribers! (You save even MORE money!) To order, send $50.00 to Cross-Talk 1993, P.O. Box 944, Woodland Hills CA 91365. (Offer good until supplies exhausted. Non-U.S. orders, add an additional $5.00 international postage.)

3 11 Cross-Talk~a Newswire

News of the worldwide gender community

The committee responsible for last year's Tri-Ess "Holiday were disappointed by the female impersonator show at the En Femme" has released the results of a survey of nearby Queen Mary nightclub. Helms was especially convention participants. surprised by the latter comment and said that those who Responding to community concern over the unexpected attended a nearby dinner theatre instead made no similar media coverage of the convention, the committee included negative comments. several questions on the coverage, including some targeted at those who agreed to be interviewed by the media. The 000 survey revealed a 98% approval rating of the media International Gender Transient Affinity director Phaedra coverage by all participants, according to "Holiday'' Kelly . has brought a African organization with a chairperson Kathy Helms. potentially-confusing name to the attention of Tri-Ess "Although a few convention participants opted to return to executive director Carol Beecroft. their rooms or other areas while the television crews were In a. letter dated June 17, Kelly indicated that an filming," H elms said, "most were not inconvenienced by orgaruzation calling itself "Transformation Second Self' the media coverage. Two or three people said that they had based in Nigeria had made contact with Renaissance been approached by reporters and declined to participate, ~ducation Association in 1990 asking for information and but the crews honored their request for privacy in all such literature on transgendered issues but that her research cases." h~d tur~ed up no listing in Ni~eria's civil or business The survey also covered workshop topics, keynote speakers, directories, even though the author of that letter had and outside events. Many reported that they disliked claimed that Transformation was "the world's largest having speakers at meals, and there were several who business search company''. H er subsequent correspondence has not ~een returned as undeliverable, yet Kelly says she "A great new (and v~ hot) zine on multi­ has received no reply. The Nigerian Embassy in London sexuality. .. Real stories about real sexual has also been unable to locate any information on the ex~ces, 1wt {ictiJJn, and resources fur company. straights, gays, lesbians, and bisexualS." Kelly said her motivation in alerting Tri-Ess -- whose full legal · -Factsheet Five Ii . n:une is Society for the Second Self, Inc. -- was a sting 1D a recent Tapestryfor the Nigerian organization. 11 She says that • N. · 1D 1gena's repressed police state, any western TV/TS material. would be seen as ra'.." p o rno~a~hy and fetch high prices", speculating that the orgaruzation could be nothing more than a front for a postal .worker there who has fashioned a false address and co ~l ectmg the mail for potential profit. Tn-Ess director of chapter development Marlene L. bas opened .a dialogu e Wit· h Kelly to exchange any furth er informat 1on that m . . ty ALSO: THE BLACK BOOK ay come to the attention of either par · A 200-pGender Dysphoria Association has been released by AEGIS.

JOIN THE CYBERGENDER MOVEMENT! WE ARE THE GENDER c COMMUNITY OFF-RAMP ON THE R INFORMATION SUPERHIGHWAY! INTERNET electronic mailto and from sisters around the CONNECTION world, plus ongoing discussion and roundtables of interest to the gender community s On-Line SHOPPING MALL (818) 841-8887 (2400 MNP) Gender Community NEWS, {818) 841-8920 (14.4k v.32bis) INFORMATION & s PUBL/CA TIONS Adult STORIES and PICTURE LIBRARIES Tri-Ess NATIONAL FORUM

"We would all be just the same if there were no crossings"

5 The Diva Of Dish -- Angela Gardner

Well, I know I said I wasn't going to tread on the island hinder his baggage handling capabilities, I ask you, why of Manhattan June 26th. That resolution lasted till I got a not? call from the casting director in charge of hiring the The irony of the whole story is, Coia's supervisors said he female impersonators for the new Spielberg flick that wouldn't have to get a hair cut if he would stuff it all under started lensing last month in the Big Apple. They wanted a short wig. Think you could get your company to order you me to get gussied up and attend an open call that evening. to wear a wig? Perhaps a simple page boy. How about a What could I do? I gussied and went. shag? Calling Eva Gabor! The traffic and · crowds weren't that bad going into Thanks to Linda C. of LSV Renaissance for the clipping Manhattan. I even found a parking spot on the same block from AP. as Webster Hall, the giant club where they held the casting session. After signing up I had a cocktail and, being a AWARD FOR LONGEST••• NAME/MOST CONFUSING middle aged queen who needs her beauty rest, I decided to PRESS RELEASE: We,ve gotten a few press releases from head for home. an organization called The National Harry Benjamin Under the evil influence of demon gin I forgot that Gender D~sphoric Association and frankly, they've been Seventh Avenue in Greenwich Village was not the place to too confusing for me to comment on. It seems the try and drive a vehicle on that particular evening. As I sat NHBGDA is a Colorado based association that provides in the traffic jam at Christopher Street gays, lesbians and referrals to providers for transgendered individuals transgendered folks partied all around me. One guy seeking psychologists or surgeons. This referral is free to leaned out the broken back window of his rental van to the gender dysphoric and the providers pay $75.00 to take my picture. That gives him two souvenirs to take back register with the NHBGDA. (Pssst. Providers can get a to Georgia. (Rental? Hope he got full coverage!) & A car in the left lane ahead of me was half-heartedly free listing in the Who's Who Resource Guide from Creative Design Services.) trying to pull into my lane. Since I am always a lady I waited for him to pull in but he kept hesitating. (Not the Okay, I think I've got that. They would also like us to know thing to do when driving in NYC.) I reverted somewhat to that they have nothing to do with The Harry Benjamin masculine mode and actually clearly enunciated the International Gender Dysphoria Association, Inc. in phrase, "Come on buddy! Move it!" Sonoma, California. The HBIGDA is often confused with The lesbian on a motorcycle next to me said something to the NHBGDA, I guess. I can't think why. Maybe because the effect of, "You tell 'em, queen!" It was a moment of both organizations have names that only turn into bonding. I would have parked the car and hung out, but gib~erish when you use the first initials. there was nowhere to park. Wnte to the NHBGDA at 3506 South Ouray Circle, That's my Stonewall 25 story. ~urora ~O 80013 or call them at (303) 754-7579 for more information on their referrals. Their founder, Sharon F . ••• Daugherty, is working her way through law school in an THE WIGS ARE ALRIGHT: An employee of USAir is attempt to earn a Juris Doctorate degree dedicated to laws suing that airline over their dress code. Jon Coia is a on b~half of gender dysphoric individuals. It might be a long-haired baggage handler who has kept his hair in a good idea if she took a course on effective writing for press ponytail for about twenty years. He also sports an earring. releases. This guy's a regular hippy! How many crossdressers have used that excuse? "I keep it long in honor of Jimi, man." They told Jon to cut his ponytail in 1991 but he refused and LIKE BU'ITER ···WELL, MARGARINE·••• The cover story of filed suit in June, saying the dress code violates his civil the _Philadelphia Inquirers June 19, 1~94 Entertainment rights. An airline spokesman got himself in hot water with sec~on had a performance photo of Barbara Streisand us when he said dress codes do not have to be sexually taking up almost half the page. But,what does that saY equal. "You wouldn't let a man come to work wearing a und:r the photo? It says, "Jim Bailey on stage as Barbra dress." Well now, hold it a minute. If his dress didn't Stre1s~~-11 And he looks just like her. Of course JiJJJ. 6 doesn t Just look like her, he sings like her ... and the tickets are a lot cheaper to his show; $25 as opposed to $400. SUNSHINE MAN:••• July's Vanity Fair had an Like Ms. Gardner, Jim considers himself to be an actor. interview with the son of '60s pop singer Donovan. He is Unlike myself, Jim Bailey doesn't like to be called a also named Donovan and .like dad, he has musical female impersonator. In the article he says, 11I'm an Inquirer aspirations. While his dad was always a little fey, young actor. People compare me to Hal Holbrook, who played a Donovan Leitch is an absolute swish. His band is called one-man show as Mark Twain, or Robert Morse as Nancy Boy. That's an old English expression that means Truman Capote. It's just the fact that I wear a dress. I the same thing as sissy boy. In the photo accompanying the could be singing as a man." Hal Holbrook may be an actor, interview Donovan is wearing a fishnet unitard, spandex but I think you could reasonably call him a Mark Twain short shorts and a maribou coat accessorized with a black impersonator. choker, black nail polish and alluring eye makeup. Jim left the Philadelphia area to seek fame and fortune in Unfortunately, from our standpoint, he isn't wearing Hollywood back in the sixties. He started out doing Phyllis falsies and he's got a bulge in his pants. He's still cute Diller and then discovered that he could sing like Judy though. Garland. "Something inside said, 'Do this.'" said Bailey. He admits to bisexuality. He says he is in love with model Since then he's been making his living by becoming Kate Moss and he has a huge crush on Jaye Davidson, famous women. He has appeared on several television (who doesn't?) but, they're just friends. He also says he has shows -- mostly in a dress -- including Here's Lucy, The never acted on his attraction to men. Rockford Files and Night Court. In the latter he was Dan When questioned about his high swish factor he replied, Fielding's old buddy who had been through SRS. That is a "True, I'm completely camp. I've never been macho. I feel pretty good acting career and if Jim doesn't want to admit like it's my alter ego, it's like a release. So many of my to anything other than an inner voice that urged him to do friends are gay, and I do feel like I really fit into that it, then who am I to argue with him? I know why I accept whole lifestyle in a way. But then, I'm so turned on and female impersonation acting jobs. It's fun! Lighten up, enraptured by women as well. Maybe I'm a lesbian." I Bailey. Yes, you are a great artist but don't you enjoy it just know just how he feels. Keep your eyes open for young a little bit? Donovan Leitch. He's an actor/model/singer/producer and androgyne-about-town. MORE SHOWBIZ :••• If you haven't seen it, keep your eyes open for Prime Suspects III on PBS. It's part of their FILMS FWUNCING WITH••• Fis: Jane Peabody sent me a Mystery! series and it's a British made show which deals column from the Asbury Park Press. The "Screen Notes" with a homicide investigation that takes place in the seedy column, originally from the L.A. Times had information underworld of England's sexual minorities. (Hey, I've been about a bunch of upcoming releases that feature there!) Someone has killed a "rent boy," one of the street crossdressing. The writer seemed to think this was the way kids who make their living by prostitution. Homosexuals, things were going since the success of Mrs. Doubtfire. That pedophiles and drag queens are featured in the story line is generally the way the Hollywood suits decide where to along with transsexuals and ... oh yes ... straight people. (I put the big development money but I have to disagree this love the way they say, 'pee-do-phile.') time since two of the films mentioned were already in Don't worry , the story is well written, the acting is pre-production before Mrs. Doubtfire came out, and one is superb and the transsexual and transvestite characters are a film that was shot in Australia probably at least a year treated fairly. The fun part occurs in episode three when ago. I think the trend toward crossdressing in movies has some of the straight cops go undercover to a club that · more to do with a gradual build up from Tootsie to The features drag queens on stage and in the audience. The Crying Game than Mrs. D. homosexual cop, who does not dress up, says the only way they'll be able to check out the patrons of this club in their search for clues is to go in drag since none of the male 100 +STYLES FREE TIPS members pay any attention to the queens. Use their own ADVICE prejudice against them. One scene has the cops being dressed up by a performer from the club w?o will also g~t them past the doorman. One of the policemen says 1t makes him feel like he's in Some Like It Hot. The FI reacts negatively to that reference and when the other cop says it's a comedy she replies, "For people who only feel CROWNING GLORY WIGS right in drag, it's not funny." PO BOX 40366°SAN DIEG0°CAUFa92164 Hyou see it listed, don't miss it. 7 Whatever the reason, here are the flicks to watch for. interviewer was a guy named Steve.) Harvey Fierstein (who played Robin Williams brother in Nobody called me to audition, so let's move along to Mrs. D) has written a script called Plucked. It's the story of another drag road picture, the aforementioned Australian a drag queen who has to raise his sister's kids after she film titled The Adventures of Priscilla, Queen of 171e deserts them. It's being produced by Dolly Parton's Desert. This time the queens go walk-about in the outback company Sandollar Productions. Sounds like it could be a in a beat-up bus called Priscilla. (This gives Crocodile hoot. No word if Harvey will play the DQ. Dundee a chance to check their gender without having to travel to New York.) If we think back to the success of that WALK ON THE •.• Next •••up in th e cavalcade of queens is other Aussie import Road Warrior, maybe we can look the life story of Holly Woodlawn. "Holly came from Miami, forward to a whole series of pictures about these drag F.LA. Hitchhiked her way across the U.SA.. " Holly's in queens in Oz. Hollywood now and her autobiography, A Low Life In High Heels has been optioned by the producer who brought us WHITHER WOOD? Not •••mentio ned in the "Screen Notes" the ever memorable Father of The Bride. (Huh?) This was column was the Johnny Depp vehicle The Ee}. Wood Story. I reported as a starring vehicle for Madonna, who was don't even know if that's the title but they have wrapped reportedly set to play the role of Candy Darling ("Candy shooting. (That's show talk.) Stories about Ed Wood (The came from out on the Island. In the back room she was transvestite director of Plan Nine From Outer Space and everybody's darling.") and Harvey Fierstein was penning Glen or Glenda?) have hit the infotainment shows recently the script. Well, they don't mention Maddie or Harv in this so they're no doubt the beginning of the Ed Wood promo latest report. That's show biz. blitz. Johnny was featured in an interview in Us magazine •9• in which he said preparing for the role gave him a new WITH THREE YOU GET EGGROLL: The Steven respect for what women go through when they get all Spielberg project, To Wong Foo, Thanks For E verything, dressed up. He further stated that he has more regard for Julie Newmar. It's the story of three drag queens who make crossdressers now that he knows what they have to go a journey through the South (and live to tell about it!) They through to feel pretty. He always keeps some of his include a white queen, a Hispanic queen, and a black wardrobe from his films. H e reveals in this interview that queen played by action movie star Wesley Snipes. In an he kept an Angora sweater and a pair of pumps from the interview with the Gay News, Snipes said the director Wood flick. See ya at the Queen Mary, Johnny. asked everyone to audition in drag. Sounds reasonable to me. He also said, "IL wasn't the first lime." OFF TO SEE THE WIZARD:••• I know we're not in Kansas Before the interested reporter could ask when Wesley had anymore, we're everywhere. Crossdressing references are done drag before he quickly changed the subject and appearing more and more often in the popular media. I've started talking about his current film , Sugar Hill. Later in received clippings of the Wizard Of Id comic strip from two the interview Snipes talked about how hard it is to just be of my readers. The strip appeared in June. In panel a regular guy and go out in public. H e can't even get away number one Rodney the Knight is walking past an alley from the limelight by using disguises. "It seems like I and a peasant standing there asks him if he'd like to buy always dress the way I do in the movies." The interviewer some hot merchandise. Rodney says,"Let's see it" and in said thac soon (after people see To Wong Foo ... ) even drag the next panel the peasant pulls his smock up over his head won't be a sufficient disguise. Snipes laughed and said, and exposes a pair of frilly bloomers. The third panel has ", you will see me. I'm gonna be out there." (The the peasant's smock back in order and R odney faces the reader and says to himself, "I guess times are tough for crossdressers too." SEXY SHOES Now, when I saw it I chuckled a little and said to myself, P.O. Box 48 "Yeah, ain't no doubt about that." I then forgot about it Rogers City, MI 49779 until Elizabeth Jarrell sent it to me. Liz thought it was 5 17-734 -4030 great. A real affirmation of the acknowledgement of crossdressers in the world as real people with the same Medium and w ide width, sizes 4 - 14, kind of problems everybody has. T hen I got the same 3 1h " - 5 112" heels, variety of styles and clipping from George Fredericks. His comment was, "Oh, the trials and tribulations of we different people!" colors. NO BACK ORDERS! 24 ho ur I hope that George's tongue was firmly stuck in his cheek shi pment. AVERAGE PRICE $44.88. when he wrote that. If he really thinks the strip is taking a Confidential se rvi ce by request. Send shot at us then I'm afraid his sense of humor is askew. of $3.00 for catalog (refunded with order). course portraying the crossdresser as a sleazy guy standiDg 8 in an alley lifting his smock over his head to display his can't turn the world around, we can at least bolster the "hot merchandise" isn't that flattering but I know ·the victims." Liz Carpenter. So saying, I say: Adios Muchachas! majority of us don't engage in that kind of activity. At least not without some kind of advance cash up front. A girl's [Readers are requested to send mainstr•••eam press news items for this column gotta have standards. to Ms. Gardner at P.O. Box 530, Bensalem PA 19020.] I have always been an advocate of maintaining a good sense of humor about what we do. Not just crossdressing. I think most human activities can be hilarious if you look at them from the right angle. (I've seen supposedly erotic films that were a real hoot.) So, lets all lighten up. How One issue for SS.95. Two issues lor SlO 95. about a crossdresser jokes section in this column? I'm ComQJelC lhtS form and send you check or money order to DRAGA.ZINE • PO BOX 691664 • DEPT C running out of classy quotes to close with so if people start WEST HOLLYWOOD. CA 90069 sending me crossdresser jokes I might, remember, I'm NAME saying might, start closing this column with a CD joke. ADDRESS CtlY ______J e•• SIAIE ZIP Speaking of a closing quote, I feel one coming on. "If we

BACK ISSUE EXTRAVAGANZA!!!!

Cross-Talk is reaching more and more people every month, thanks to the many alternative press bookstores and newsstands that now order us for their customers from one of our growing list of distributors. But that exposure means there are many new readers who missed our earlier issues. Fortunately, we plan ahead and keep a supply of back issues for those new readers. Here are the most recent ones we have a good stock of:

#52 (Feb. '94): Media coverage of gender community events; theories of male bonding among drag queens; therapists as gatekeepers; the natural approach to femininity; how to write crossdresser fiction; transgendered music; review of the movie Farewell My Concubine.

#53 (Mar. '94): Being misunderstood; differences between men and women; was Magnuss Hirschfeld ahaead of his time? ; androgyny test; surprises encountered upon leaving the closet; sex-reassignment surgery realities; changing terminology to circumvent the DSM; why .______,w ives and partners make good community leadera.

# 54 (Apr. '94) : The difference between constructive criticsm and taking potshots; creating terms and then fitting into them; Dr. Roger '-:----:------_J Pea's final column; the effect of dishonesty on a relationship; rock stars in dresses; overview of 1993 international law conference; memories of DREAM; abusive behavior in crossdressing.

# 55 (May '94): Hotlines and effective outreach; using clothing as a "passport" to the opposite gender world; hypocrisy about L------'homosexuality; coverage of IFGE convention; trends in military graffiti; Third World transgenderism; overcoming fear; non-traditional partners' needs.

Most issues of Cross-Talk published in magazine format are also available (# 1 through #38 were published in newsletter format and are out of print), with the exception of issues # 39 and # 44 which are no longer available. Send us a stamped, self-addressed envelope (or an IRC if outs,ide the U.S.) for a detailed listing. Look elsewhere in this issue of Cross-Talk for details on .______J ordering a complete set of 1993 issues at a discounted price. To order back issues, send $7.00 for each issue ordered plus $1.00 postage per magazine ($1.50 per magazine outside the U.S.) to Cross-Talk Dept. Bl, P .0. Box 944, Wood land Hills CA 91365. (California residents, add 58 cents per magazine sales tax.) 9 Hot Buzz!

-- JoAnn Roberts

'Tm going to speak my mind because I have nothing to lose." color over basic black. Try brilliant green, neon pink, or - SJ. Hayakawa fire engine red...... •T.& Since this is September, the start of the season, so to speak, Nothing will kill a good time like a killer pair of heels. we'll get right to the good stuff first ... Why, the Fashion What we need is a good shoe stretcher. Well, maybe we News, of course, dahlinks. found a good technique. I pass this tidbit along from the .&Y.& pages of the MFGE news in Minnesota. Whatcha do is fill Dumbest New Look of the Season goes to the Pants + a pan with rubbing alcohol. Jam your foot into the shoe, Skirt look. The idea here is to layer a miniskirt over slim then immerse foot and shoe in the alcohol. Let the alkY pants. Pssst. Ms. Karan. If I wanted to wear pants, I saturate the shoe leather. The leather will begin to stretch wouldn't crossdress. Got it? immediately. Then take your foot out of the pan and let the .AT.A alcohol evaporate while the shoe is still on your foot. Takes We often spend a lot of time and energy learn how to about 15 to 20 minutes. They say it works every time, but not on patent leather. apply makeup, but we don't give much thought to taking it off ... until the wife comes home early from that shopping ...... excursion. Anyway, here's a quick primer of removal For those of you into collecting things, here's sometbin8 methods for eye makeup and mascara. Waterproof new to add to the list: Supermodel trading cards. They look formulations require an oil-based remover to dissolve the like baseball cards but feature top models. Instead of gaDle makeup. Try Cover Girl Clean Eyes Make-Up Remover, or stats, the cards list height, weight, measurements, nwnber Noxzema Dif-Rinse. Water soluble mascara and shadows of magazine covers, calendars, and commercials. The cards only need a good cleanser like Noxzema or Aveeda Pure come in packs of 8 for $1.69 or $18.95 for a special limited Gel Eye Makeup. Personally, I use baby wipes. They're lots edition set. Proceeds from the cards go to the National cheaper. If you wear contacts, you need a little more care Resource Defense Council, an environmental group. and Clinique Extremely Gentle Eye Makeup Remover may be just what you need. .... £T.& Factoid -- Percentages of women on various on-line 11 11 services: America OnLine - 30%· CompuServe - Skinny is still in and the School Girl look has survived 10%; GEnie - 25%; Prodigy - 40%· - 15%· WoJllen's the summer. Thankfully, I haven't seen a crossdresser try , D~lphi , ts to pull off the short-skirt, thigh-high look. Come to WIRE - 90% ··· Another Factoid: Anyone who presen think of it, I haven't seen any real women (off the runway) themselves as a female in cyberspace is presumed to be a either. That's good because it's a look that could get you in male until proven otherwise. All you trans-whatevers aren't fooling anyone on the Net. deep trouble...... Anyone who knows me well knows that my wardrobe is One thing is for certain if you're not on the Net soon, primarily black in color. Partly that's because it goes with you'll be cut-off from a ~ajar source of information. The everything, and partly it's because it's slimming. But lately ~aby-Be!18 are the most likely candidates to bring the I've longed for a bit of color and just in time the "new11 information superhighway into your home in the very near Fall color is brown, warm brown. Colors like coffee, future. Once that happens, it is quite possible that the ver'j chocolate, and cinnamon are cropping up everywhere. I nature of how we run our daily lives will undergo what 15 wonder if brown and black go together? called a paradigm shift, a fundamental change. But for all the hype about the Internet and cyberspace, one thing .... puzzles me greatly. William G"b th thor who While black and brown may not work, one way to add u1 . 1 son, e au color and spice to your wardrobe is to add a hot, bright pop anzed the term "cyberspace" isn't on the net. fbinlc he knows something that we don't? Like, get a life, people. 10 ,

...... Looks that have died an early death (thank goddess) -­ Even though the skirt length of the nanosecond seems to exaggerated ruffles, messy hair, pale makeup, the waif-look, be just knee-length, short skirts have not disappeared heavy shoes, baby doll dresses, and long narrow skirts. (Thank God!). Well, if you were watchlng the runways, you ..... might have wondered if they had disappeared. Some of the You think it's easy being a fashion maven? Check out skirts seemed little more than a handkerchief around the these prices: Donna Karan neon pink velour jacket -­ model's waist. Luckily, what's seen on the runways doesn't $1350; Annani double breasted herringbone suit -- $2430; make it to the stores that way. For example, a DKNY skirt Escada cobalt and black, wool and velvet suit -- $2320; that was 12" at the shows, is about 15" in the store, or a Richard Tyler plum wool gabardine riding jacket -- $2400. Norma Kamali that was 14" on the runway might be 19" on And, if you think no one buys this stuff, here this: Donna the rack. One reason it's a good bet for CDs to wear a Karan's one week take at Bergdorf's -- $650,000; 's shorter length has to do with body proportions. A female take at Bloomies in two days -- $868,000; Chanel three day measures almost two-thirds of her height from her feet to trunk show at Bergdorf's -- $1.5 million. Would someone waist, while a male only measures about half his height. In please introduce me to one of these Sugar Mommas? other words, given a male and female of the same height, the female's waist will be higher. Thus, to give the ..... impression of longer legs on a crossdresser, show more Get stuffed ... that's the message for Fall fashions. Stuff leg, i.e., a shorter skirt. No, not that short! yourself into a WonderBra, a brasellette or a corset. Yes, kids, the voluptuous female form is back in vogue. Many of ...... the haute couture designers showed clothes that were very Okay, you succumbed to the fashion rave of the moment form fitting and the models wore with and bought a really short skirt. What do you wear with it? stays. Imagine, stays in the '90s! One report in W The number one recommendation is cover your legs. Wear mentioned that corsets were back in style big time, heathered and knee boots, or ribbed tights and ankle especially custom-made corsets. Well, hey, if it wasn't for boots, or black opaque and high-cut pumps. crossdressers buying this stuff when the real women Please, stay away from the thigh-high . You'll just weren't, it wouldn't be there for them now, would it? look ridiculous. Also, pale tights will add weight to your Thank you very much ... After all the hoopla caused by the legs and that's the last thing you want. introduction of the WonderBra, almost every lingerie ..... company is rushing to market with their own version. But Okay, that's for under the mini, now what about over it? we all know that Frederick's of Hollywood has had Try the newest fingertip length coats in single or double super-duper push-up bras since 1948. breasted styles. They're slightly fitted through the waist and ...... flare out to cover the hips. Likely, it will cover the mini. It you probably didn't believe me when I told you that stores can also be worn with tight pants or and boots. and catalogs were starting to carry really fashionable Under the jack and over the mini is a turtleneck blouse. clothes in larger sizes. I just received the latest Victoria's .6.T.A. Secret catalog and almost every dress, suit, skirt, and The good news for Fall is that you've still got stuff from blouse is available up to size 16. That's a major leap for VS seasons past that are "in". Like a classic pantsuit, or and a great service for us. If they keep this up, I won't have leggings, an oversize sweater, ankle boots, pleated skirts, to shop for anything anywhere else. anything velvet, or shiny...... Before I forget, I am now wired to the Internet. If you

A revolutionary new way to purchase femme eyewear.. No need to explain your lifestyle or feel un~omfortable .'~ a retail store. Buy with complete anonymity. Our ma1hng · list is never sold or shared. . · · Prism Optical has been selling eyewear by mail_ for over . ·1:.g:;::<:::; 32 years. Prices are 30% to 50% less than retail s~or_es ...... 'g '-''? You will have one month to wear your prescription Optical, Inc. · ~~J ~" .1., ~ eyewear; if not completely satisfied return it for a 100% t;; .· · ... l refund. P.O. Box 680030 ··-"~;,_ ,,.o. ·... ~ Dept. XDI .!~tv;:~!" '·~.-; S d f lor en ior a ree co N. Mia mi, FL33168 , ' '· .. ; catalog today.

11 want to send e-mail, my address is: VOXPOPULI [email protected]. Ask for the on-line catalog to get the latest information about CDS publications, videos, There were no letters to the editor and events. .._T.._ received for publication this month. We had such a good response to the 11Crossing The Lines .:· "Vox Populi" is the gender of Gender" workshop we did last January (despite the community's "town square" for the exchange of opinions bitter cold) that we're going to do it again, but in a and ideas. If you have a response to any editorial, news different locale. Watch for details in a later HotBuzz, but item, or article appearing in Cross-Talk, please feel free to we're coming to the New York City area in November. contribute. We suggest keeping letters to 400 words (one page typewritten or 2000 characters ASCII). Cross·Talk •T• rese~es the right to publish only those portions of a letter If you've been wondering what to do with your time come specifically addressing the issue. Personal attacks will not this Fall, consider giving another try. Yes, be published. it's been hard times for the Fair the past few years, but this You may write us at P.O. Box 944, Woodland Hills CA year it has been revitalized by none other than our own 9~365; fax us at (818) 347-4190; or send e-mail to Kymmer 11 Alison Laing. The new'' FanFair sports a lower cost and via Cross Connection, (818) 841-8887, or to all new programs. kymn:er@xcon~.com via Internet. (CompuServe, America •TA. O~m~, ~rodigy,_ GEnie, and Delphi users: Follow your seI'Vlce s mstructions to send Internet e-mail. FidoNet The HotBuzz about color for Fall is metallic, but not the us:rs: Send e-mail to 1:1/31, addressed to UUCP, and same old gold and silver. Nope, this season we've got write To: [email protected] as the first line of your colors like pewter, brushed aluminum, chrome and the message. If you are using any other Internet-affiliated hottest metallic is gunmetal. These new colors lend a system, ask your system operator for instructions.) We also high-tech look to Fall's newest accessories, from shoes to accept DOS ASCII files on disk at our P.O. Box. bracelets to handbags. Prescriptives even has two lipsticks with metallic shimmer: Myth and Moonglow. THE ORIGINAL, DEFINITIVE BOOKS A.TA. ON CROSSDRESSING!! Remember last month I told you about the misinformation about transgendered folk on the Internet? Here's another "_UNDERSTANDING CROSS-DRESSING"· The first book Of its kind o· • sample of a little posting I found out there in cyberspace ... . . · 1scusses crossdressing from a Basic Rules of Lingerie viewpoint that will inform and educate both the Women in belts & stockings: good. crossdres~er_ a_nd the helping professional. Includes many of ~irgmia Prince's "Virgin Views" columns from Men in garter belts & stockings: bad. :.ransvest1a magazine. $1 o.oo Animals in garter belts & stockings: illegal. HOW TO BE A WOMAN THOUGH MALE": Hobbits in garter belts & stockings: difficult. Covers the entire spectrum of what the crossdresser needs to know to Reptiles in garter belts & stockings: silly. Cloth· . properly emulate a woman: & mg, makeup, Jewelry, wigs attitudes behaviors Bill Clinton in garter belts stockings: slightly more often I eg al asp t ' · • than Hillary. ec s, ~nd full-time change of status. 194 pages of useful information $12 00 Men should not wear panties. "~HE ,TRANSVESTITE AND HIS WIFE": Virginia Women 25 + pounds overweight should not wear lycra shorts. Prine~ s ground-breaking book that answers the questions and con . . . Bras should go on breasts, not on head. , cerns of wives concerning their Underwear should be cleaned and pressed, no starch. partners crossdressing. Contains letters from wives, as well as a letter from a priest addressing spiritual If it has cones, ice cream should go in it, not body parts. concerns. $11.00 Cindy Crawford can wear anything she wants, as long as it is TO ORDER· s d not refe"ed to as a ''strap-on." • en check or money order for total of There was quite a bit of discussion about "strap-on" in the book~ ordered plus $1.00 per book shipping and last item. A lot of people didn't get it. There was also a lot hand/tng to Virginia Prince P.O. Box 36091 Los of discussion about men in stockings and panties, mostly Angeles, CA 90036. ' ' by men and not many against it. Very interesting. ALSO AVAILABLE: AT.._ Books from SANDY THOMAS RELUCTANT PRESS, DIFFERENT PATH PRESS and PM Copyright 1994 by Creative Design Services. All rights reserved. Opinions expressed are those of the author. If you don't like them, go write your own PUBLISHERS. Send SASE for ~rfce list. column. 12 COGITO ERGO FEM

ON BEING RESPONSIBLE

by Anne Blackwood

"DEMAND THE CURE FOR AIDS PROJECT11 is what Demanding that others clean up our messes, making the sign read. Sign might be too kind a title for the posted everything right that we screwed up is a child's approach to flyer. DEMAND THE CURE FOR AIDS. DEMAND THE life. Living for the moment without regard to the CURE FOR AIDS. "Give me the cure for AIDS, or I'll ... 11 consequences is a child's approach to life. That segment of or you'll what? Children, terrorists, and dictators make the population that insists on immediate gratification gets demands of parents, of governments, and of subjects. You exactly what it deserves, and the rest of society has no cannot make demands of the universe. obligation to them when the bill comes due. "It's a conspiracy by the phanna--" Oh, pub Jeez! This column isn't really about AIDS, it's about The fact is that there has never been a cure for any viral responsibility. In a way it's about being an American ... infection. Vaccines, yes; but------excuse me, an United Statesian vaccines are not cures, they are (our neighbors in the Americas only a method to trick your own That segment of the are touchy about that). I make no immune system into being population that inSiStS On secret of the fact that I am a prepared for a particular virus. im mediate g rat ifi cat i 0 n libertarian (a nonarchist, really); You still need a healthy immune you do your thing and I'll do system. On top of that, viruses are gets exactly What mine just so long as we don't unstable; they mutate rapidly so it deserves. interfere with one another. The that you need a new vaccine to price of individual liberty is protect you from the new strain. individual responsibility. You DEMAND THE CURE FOR AIDS. If most of these can't have the first without the second. people had taken some responsibility for their own lives ff someone knowingly engages in high risk behavior with they wouldn't need to demand a cure for AIDS. Except for high risk partners and then acquires an lilV infection and those who got it from tainted blood supplies during subsequently develops AIDS, does society have an transfusions or from blood clotting factors I have little obligation to take care of that individual? I think not. If a sympathy for those with the disease. It is a preventable neighbor deliberately burns their house to the ground, do I disease. have an obligation to help them rebuild it? No, although Yes, I have friends who died of it. It's too bad they're not there may be circumstances in which it may be in my here any more, but to quote the sister of a late friend who better interests to do so (but I would not before asking, passed away from it -- to their mother who always went on "Now, Bob, if I help you rebuild, you're not going to burn about what a genius he was (he wasn't) -- "ff he was such a your house down again are you ?11 and being fairly certain genius, why is he dead?" He knew about the disease early that the answer is "no"). If I have to foot the bill for your on. He knew how to avoid getting it. He worked at the Sex hospitalization and medication when you could have Helpline telling people how to avoid getting it, but he avoided the whole thing in the first place, I resent that as didn't change his own behavior, and now he is dead. So is an intrusion on my personal liberties. at least one of his lovers to whom he passed it. "It's easy for you to say, you don't have AIDS." Exactly. I do Demand more of yourself. not have AIDS! Why not? Because I took responsibility for "Science? That's boring!" "Biology? Snore city." "That's for my actions and life and avoided behavior that would put nerds, man." Ignorance is bliss? Ignorance is death. You me at risk. In the early '80s, it occurred to me that I might make your choices, you live with the consequences. be bisexual (no, this does not mean I wanted sex with "The AIDS epidemic is a tragedy." I'll tell you what a bison). If you recall this was at about the same time that tragedy is. Epilepsy is a tragedy. Breast cancer is a tragedy. news of AIDS hit the mainstream press. Where was AIDS Cervical cancer is a tragedy. Urban violence is a tragedy. predominantly found? In the Gay, B~ and IV-drug-using Famine is a tragedy. Rape is a tragedy. Hamlet is a populations. Where would my curiosity about my suspected tragedy. bisexuality take me? Right into the (continued, page 15) 13 VIRGIN VIEWS BY VIRGINI~

PASSING IS PASSE: BEING IS IN

by Virginia Prince

11 Passing'' used to be the name of the game. In my younger So where does this leave the crossdresser? We have kind days (the '60s and '70s) I had a motto to live up to. It was: of had the rug pulled out from beneath us. Of course this 11strive for Perfection to Avoid Detection!" It seemed pretty sloppier, more masculine and uncaring appearance of .s~ cute to me at the time and I tried to live up to it. As many many women today gives us less to look up to and adJDir of you will remember, I did a lot of traveling in those days and therefore less to imitate and want to be part of. And and on several of those trips I shared rooms, cabins and this, in tum, means less likelihood of being read if we even yurts (those quaint circular structures used by dress in equally sloppy ways. But then, why go to .the nomadic tribes in Mongolia, Iran and parts of far western trouble? The girls aren't wearing heels, skirts or Jll:~ China) with one or several ------·blouses very frequently. ManY unknowing females. One had to W them wear little jewelry or conform to the accepted • omen .are no I anger lipstick. If a CD really dresses.: standards of feminine dress and interested 1n playing to the he would prefer he wo~d. sli of deportment. I guess I did, since I male ego by appearing out like a sore thumb. ~Bg ttY never had any trouble with my 11 11 yourself as being Jane or e,..,c: roommates ... except with one p retty ' attractive e or 1~ and having to dress mor ill is named Florence who got bent out J hn or B 0 r al I u r'1 ng . 0 of shape because I wanted to like you would as tty ~_L:n;na leave the window open one hot ·-:~~------likely to have a pr~ so whY night in Ulan Bator in Outer Mongolia. She got so mad effect on your TV desires, dress? she jumped me from behind and tried to tear off my Of . . t 0 c1ress pajama top. But that was just good clean bitch fighting. . course, it can (and will) be argued that baVlilg frotn 0 Fortunately I stopped my reaction before Charles really m a less attractive way won't necessarily stop Y .u wan't got into it: I got a wrist lock on her and persuaded her that expressing your softer caring sensitive side. True, it e ' ' · becaUS the window was to stay open, which it did. But passing was ··· except that you won't be comfortable doing it less tin · or the thing that I strove for and so do most of the rest of you. ac g m more feminine ways when dressed more u feel That is, you did ... up until the last couple of years. the way John or Bill might dress is going to make yo ain What happened? Well, as women's liberation began to out of place and even effeminate. After all, the :tch take hold women didn't care so much about their reason we crossdress is that it provides a real escape aine appearance as they used to. The clothes you see on women ~ut of our socially expected behavior while at the s uch in the street and in the malls these days are a long way time ~roviding a visible doorway into a world whe:e ~nlY from the epitome of femininity, grace and loveliness. In behaviors, appearances and attitudes are no ent effect, even the young girls and women have given up permissible but expected. After all the old "duck" argutnyou trying to 11 pass". They just dress anyway they darn please. works; i.e., if you walk, talk and quack like a wolllanal ill f All they seem to care about is keeping warm on cold days are. a wom an. B ut when many or most o the felll esIllen and modest enough not to encourage boys and men. With sight are dressing, walking, and behaving like boy~ or rapes and attacks against women on the increase ,it seems what are they, and if you do the same what are you· take So whil ed to that self-protection has led them to look as unfeminine . e women do not have to "pass", they us daY5· more mte t · th · d these and attractive as they comfortably can. res m err appearance than they 0 • els I The psychological result of this is that, except for special ~o w~at are they doing these days ... in their own :th~d, dates or special events women, are no longer interested in th ean · Answer: they are simply being! They are pedal playing to the male ego by appearing pretty, attractive or ey. are modest, they are warm and except for ~e anY alluring. All' they are ~terested in is. just "being11 : "Hey, parti.es they are not trying to impress anybody or ha being this is me, Im happy with myself and if you aren't it's just shpec1al effect on anyone else. They are just tough! 11 t~~~ ~ Now don't r h . . th above, 14 us to pomt out exceptions to e dressing up pretty for parties, weddings, church or whatever. It is as clear to me as it is to you that women still do this and I hope they will continue. But it doesn't change my generalization that on the average women no longer make the attempts they used to do to show themselves off in a good light except on special occasions. They are just satisfied to be. And CDs in turn are having to choose between dressing as our mental image of what we are trying to imitate says or just putting on most any old thing that is handy and going out to the mall with the rest of the "liberated" and "I can't be bothered with all that dressing to look nice" women. I guess most of the young CDs (there must be a few out there) will make some sort of adjustment to the current situation, but I must say I feel a little sorry for them. They, in most cases, will be unable to enjoy the delicious feeling of being a really attractive girl or woman in heels, flowing skirts, a pretty blouse, makeup, hairdo, jewelry and all that "stuff'' that made girls girls and not boys in my day, and maybe in yours too. So I suggest that maybe the younger ones among us consider learning to just be women and not try so hard to conform (passing) to an image that is rapidly becoming passe itself. Think how a six-foot CD in three-inch heels, wearing a mid-thigh miniskirt and C or D boobs, will stand out in a crowd of younger women in cut-off jeans, an old shirt with the tails out, wearing ankle high thick soled army boots, with long but more or less uncombed hair and with little or no makeup or jewelry. "She" won't be "passing" with them but current fashion and custom are surely passing her by. What's a girl to do? WHAT'S ON THE TV TONIGHT? Maybe the day is coming when there will "be no joy m Cartoons by Christine-Jane Wilson Mudville, mighty "Cassie" has struck out"! A book of nearly 100 cartoons drawn by C hristine.Jane Wilson. In the magazine 'Forum', editor Isabel Koprowski wrote: • - the answer IS not Erur· Enders, you'll be glad 10 hear, but delicious feminine clothing such as lacy bras. sue Inch stilettos and the sheerest of >lockings. COGITO ERGO FEM ... continued from page 13 "'What's on the 1V Tonight? ls a charming cartoon book d epicting transvestites In n variety of amusing situa.tion.s. Because. it is the creation of a TV, none other than populations that were most effected by HIV. "Tain't worth Christine.Jane Wilson, the editor of The Glad Rag, the book a lways laughs with, not at. transve.sUtes. The author draws on her own experience, as well as her lmagina· it," I said to myself. I'm alive, my friend is dead, and that's tion. to produce ca11 oons showing the dreadfully emb

15 ~ INSIGHT

. ./~··.·/ .. / ._ - SKIRTS FOR MEN

by Barbara Jean Jasen

A few months ago my sister Maureen in Iowa sent me a scrubbing off that makeup, and slipping into a pair of

copy of an article that was in her local newspaper about pants and some old clodhoppers. "Arrrgh! No way! 11 you say, skirts for men. We have gone thru this whole ball of wax "I enjoy these pretty things too much. I enjoy being a girt' in the past ... pantyhose for men, makeup for men, and But you won't be a girl in a dress anymore, you will only about ten years ago they did try skirts for men. None went be a girl in pants, so would you still crossdress? over very well with the buying public, but today they are I think the answer is yes. We would gladly slip from our showing up in the fashion collection of Jean-Paul Gautlier heels and dresses to the suit and pants simply to be a girl. and Donna Karan and critics are applauding. They have Now I admit that I __ like most of you __ like the clothes, the been seen on men in the trendiest of watering holes in feel of the material; but as I have said before I think they London, in New York, and Baltimore. Buyers for big ar~ only a tool that is used by God and our girl within to department stores are taking them seriously, and there is a bnng out the feminine qualities that we have within us. good chance that in t h e next------We as crossdressers do not WIS'h couple of years we may we ll see If th in gs Ii k e ski rt s 0 r to be women, but rather we WIS'h them on the racks of the local to gain the qualities that we men's store and even in the dreSSeS, heels, makeup admire in her. We wish to be men's section of K-Mart. and h QSe became a part womanlike. As crossclressers we On Regis & Kathie Lee Live not f , f h . have high admiration for the long ago, according to my sister 0 men s as I 0 n ' w 0 u I d we woman and her qualities, so much Linda in Tennessee, Regis and COntinUe to CrOSSdress?. so that we wish to incorporate four other men were modeling When skirts for men. It is quite·------them into our own lives.u}ine to apparent that very soon they will become part of fashion the feminine we cross fromwe cross our worldfrom theof realitymasc to o~ for men. There is little doubt in my mind that once they do world of fantasy. In our world of fantasy we are a differen become part of the man's fashion wardrobe, things like person that we are in our world of reality. But when we pantyhose, makeup and other items that currently are only return d Id and so a part of the women's fashion wardrobe will soon follow. we 0 not want to leave our fantasy wor ld of As crossdressers this really should make us ecstatic, thatality person · of fantasy returns with us to our u1inwor se If. especially since one of the "in" 1oo ks 1s· the grunge look; Thisre i ' hmcorporating herself in with our mascak a ebetter not some special design skirt for men, but rather skirts s ow crossdressing acts as a tool to m e that come off the racks of Goodwill and Salvation Army more well rounded and complete person out of us. here stores. Very soon we will be able to wear our favorite skirt If. men and women simply switch clothing styles, w •tcb anyplace we want with no £ear of our wives or the general ~m clothin the escape from. reality be? I don't .think thatsdresstllg a 5~ . public. g sty1 e will cause us to discontinue cros ur

For years women's f as h10n· has b een adopting almost every Wepants would and switch"t H with the styles and gladlyali. go ofput inen on CPA~11d article of men's wear ... pants, suitcoats, shoes, crew cut sw s. owever, if the person ues different hair styles, even underwear that looks like men's boxer women were to switch, that would be a horse of a shorts. In reality women have been crossdressing for many Fcolor. hi if we are years now. as .on may change, but in the end no matter t}tlnS But Linda posed us a new question that we really do need wearmg a dress or a parr. of pants, femUUill. . ·cy is soinejjnplY to look at: If things like skirts or dresses, heels, makeup that we have inside of us. The feminine clothes are s that and all became a part of men's fashion, and if· a tool that is used to bring out and to develop been women's fashion was entirely pants and suitcoats, would feminin e personality. that we have for so many years t and we continue to crossdress? forced to suppressed. As that femininity is brought ;u re 010 Picture coming home, slipping out of that beautiful dress ~ev:l~ped, we will find that we are more_ a: page JS) 16 ' emmme even while in our male persona. (continue WOMAN TO WOMAN

WOMEN OF SUBSTANCE

by Linda Peacock

When I look at my women friends, I don't see their shapes there" makes a remarkable difference to these women, and sizes, the color of their skin or hair, but instead, I see despite what we might think. Offering our own history of some remarkable human beings, for whose friendship I am dealing with our partner's dressing, combined with support truly grateful. and understanding and comfort truly does make a Recently at S.P.I.C.E., I was privileged to attend the difference. sessions by Dr. Sandra Cole, a woman of substance, If we present ourselves as women of substance, of courage dignity and grace. She is a professional woman who has and strength and dignity, we become a formidable force in found her identity, incorporating it into her work and helping women in pain. A truly caring heart, a shoulder to family, and generously sharing it with our community. cry on, an ear to listen with are all weapons against the Sandra talked at one point about ------pain enveloping our sisters. her entering her "goddess11 stage, The women friends in my life and I, for one, immediately $ Q many Qf US W Q men who are involved in working with identified with that concept and cont in ue t I iv e in the other women in this community knew what she was talking about. 0 are women of strength. They are It is my belief that when a past, never realizing their completely at home with woman has reached that pinnacle potential' their uniqueness. themselves and in their of self-acknowledgement, who relationship, an equal partner, has "found herself," who knows pursuing their own interests, the person who lives inside, prioritizing their lives, facing accepting herself, good and not so good, she enters what adversities. They may be battle scarred, but they are the Sandra calls her "goddess" era. I think it is a point in life winners. They accept that life isn't always fair, that they that not all women reach, because so many of us women may get a bum rap at times; yet, they hold their heads up continue to live in the past, never realizing their potential, and show the world how special they are. And, each of their uniqueness. these women have the total support and admiration of Never is this so apparent than in what w~ call our "gender" their partners, who encourage their independence and community, that which is made up of gender-influenced growth. people, their partners and family members. So often, you These women are in their "goddess" era, much like Sandra find women who seem so down-trodden, so overwhelmed is, and I am, too. and unable to digest what life has fed them. The bitter The community needs women like us, and the .community often overwhelms the sweet, and they dig to the bottom of needs to become more proactive in encouraging women to the barrel in hopes things will be better. establish support systems and serious outlets for the The bitter knowledge of their partner's gender dysphoria is frustrations and pain often associated with being involved often overwhelming, and becomes the visible source of all with a man who is gender-influenced. The community their problems. They cannot cope with all that seems needs to recognize and acknowledge the work the strong wrong in the life, and they flail about, never finding solid women are doing, for they are making a difference. ground. More important, the community should encourage men to Those of us who work with women such as this attempt to face the issues within their own relationships and make a encourage them to look inward and recognize their own real attempt to understand how their wives and partners strengths and weaknesses, and to deal rationally with the really feel. Men should be encouraged to understand the problems in their lives. It is often frustrating to us that boundaries that their partners need to have, and to live they won't or can't see through their pain, and we feel as within those boundaries. Men need to look into their though we are of no help. It is important for those of us partner's hearts, and they need to listen with their hearts involved in peer support to not let this factor get us down and not just with their ears. Their women should be and stop us from trying to help, for simply just "being cherished and cared for; yet, men should encourage their 17 partners strengths and abilities. It is time Lhat women stop is needed, without political involvement, to help women in living in the past, where they were second-class ci~ens the gender community reach that plateau, that "goddess" and start living as vibrant, capable, strong human bemgs. era. We can do it alone, but with the support of the And it is time that their husbands and partners stop being community at large, we can do it much faster. I challenge afraid, and thus encourage this growth, these steps out into the support organizations to help us ... now. the world. Men need to realize that this is no longer a "man's world;" instead, this is a world where men and [Linda Peacock is the Tri-Ess director of wives' and partners' concerns, an women are equals, where a meeting of minds is as IFGE board member, and chair of the SPICE board of directora. She also important as a meeting of hearts. publishes the quaner/y news/el/er for wives and panners The Sweetheart If men and women (and especially so, in this community) Connectiol\ and may be reached by mail at P.O. Box 24031, Little Rock AR 72221 or by phone at (501) 227-8798.] would work together, life would be far better and more productive for a lot of people. Relationships would be strengthened and prosper. All women should have the INSIGHT ... continued from page 16 opportunity (and not "allowed" by their husbands!) to We as crossdres.>ers desire the traits of the feminine far choose how they want to live their lives. Our "gender" more than we do the clothes. The feminine clothes make community has a responsibility to encourage this and to us feel feminine, and that feeling of femininity is what we make possible opportunities for women to learn how really seek. special they are, and to foster this growth. It is not enough Enj oy the fashion trend girls, but in the end do not lose to publish an occasional column or to advertise an event. A concerted effort amongst the major support organizations sight of your true femininity. Whether in pants or skirts, be as feminine as you can be.

If you s~e a news articl_e relating to the gender community, .Please send 1t to us at P.O. Box 944, Woodland Hills CA 91365, or fax it to us at (818) 347-4190.

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10/2/76: Carol (Marcia Wallace) dresses as Uncle Sam for Howard's Bicentennial party on The Bob Newhart Show, CBS.

3/ 21/64: Bilko (Phil Silvers) dons the guise of U /20/75: Murray (Gavin MacLeod)'s career as "Gladys Crump" to participate in a women's poker producer of WJM's "Happy Homemaker" show tournament on The New Phil Silvers Show, CBS. ends when, angered by having to act as Sue Ane Nivens' (Betty White) dress model, he dumps her into a three-tiered wedding cake on The Mary Tyler Moore Show, CBS. 19 r ~~0~ 11 CROSS-TALK11 COMICS <3~~!D THE ADVENTURES OF KAREN by KAREN ANN MICHAELS

I(~, "11-IE"C.WB WIU... BE" AL, I DIDN'T SAY l DON'T CLOSED "?>Y THE" TIME WE: t-\AvE:" AN'<"n-\ll-.!6 ID WE"AR- G~ Tl-le'RE! w~ to Ycu i"\cA\\J Yo..i t:o.i•\+WJE 1 5A ID I t::ot-l'I t'\ A '1f< ANY\'1-l llJ"- TO \NE"AR? ANYll-\ ING. NEIN l "'Tb W~ARr!

1 I ~A ~~~ C -~ E:::CJ/ (&eJ..r>L.A,..E)

WHAT 'S ON THE TV TONIGHT ? by Chr;st•ne-Ja"" YES LO~N~ . '.J: 5uf'POSE" You COULD CALL 1\'\M° ~ l'D LIKE YOU TO MEET THE WIFEI

l?X'Pef.i E tJLE,1301'" ):t-1 ~ I \I j1Yf€~~D rt-:>y'OO~ -'f{rjt.\] ---· SPEED \;':=:=:?f::==:I

SACRE BlfU! WITH SUCH 816 Fm MADEMOISELLE -OUl!-YOU ARE ZEE- CROSSDRESSAIRllE ..II NOTE: The comics and cartoons appea . . nng on this page are separately copyrighted by their creators, and may not be reproduced . without their permission. many form ill

Tama'• World by Tasha Barnard

"You and your wife go shopping for clothes as girlfriends? Her advice must be very welcome!" , _ ·-·- _,,--...., 11 ,, \ l .... ',~)-If I I ( • /,~' : ,,.. ;i:'L ·. v ."'..y\ ~ / ~J

/ I )\\

\ (1~; ~- I 7.. , ____ ~ v I ( /' --"t./'., . : I " ·.. b ut now I've realized she never ap proves "Well, yeah ... at first ... " of anything she can't wear as well!" 20 \ \~ ADS WE'D LIKE TO SEE by Karen Rusnak a .f.rtJ ~ vitJ: 7: S. r C.D. ~ Ca.U• TNIS ltONTH : ,, Su~cU FDR HAIR" •• , as we pursue the. Girl w1N11n we soriet1mes Fall down •••

HEY C.D. IJHY DID I 8Ul' S OF TH£SE ?

IT ·s D1ffE!rErff 'We c.rossdress more TS. before 6am. .. tlian any otner 6randi of tlie 'US Afilitarg! The MarinesTM We're lookin' for a few good men... and if they have great fool(jn' kgs ... that will help!

AND ANOTHER AD l'D LIKE TO SEE by Ricky Hunt ~ RRT U~ Tirtd cf waring that plain old white bra when you d.nss upQ Now you can hide )'OUr good castt in your unmcnt~­ YES! ablt:s even as )'OU show your good castt to the world With )'OUr clothing. For the discriminaring crossdnsscr: Bras Rrr IF YOU'RE A CARTOONIST, YOUR Us now offers brassicns with the finest reproducnons cf both WORK COULD BE APPEARING HERE modern and classical arr printtd on the cups in. full C~· Think how srylish you'll feel with Boracellt bracing your INSTEAD OF THIS BLANK SPACE! bosom or Cicsz.yn clasping your cleavage. Wonder as Wor!"" wraps his ~nt about your ah... inscrrs. Our cxccnst~ Please send a sample for consideration to h'brary cf fine arr enables you to dnss for any occasion. Rnd if Kymberleigh Richards at P.0. Box 944, the occasion calls for undrrssing with a special friend -we can Woodland Hills CA 91365. givt new meaning to the phrase 1)o you want to sec my ctchings9" Low pay •.. great exposure ... fOT- informarion and a catalog writt to : Bras Rrr Us n3 Ristulc &ulcvanl. fancasyland. CR 1u21

SPeCUU., - Her now and get the cnrirc ceiling cl the Sistine Chapel in glorious color for your very own! . We recommend up siz.c DD and above for the best nproducnon-

21

------~- / THE BEARDED LADY

MRS. "I HAVE-MY-DOUBTS" FIRE

by Ricley Hunt illustration by Rita

By the time this sees print the movie will probably be relegated to videotape and pay-per-view, but I have to written form for a classified ad (haven't they ever heard of a telephone?) th bill. 't mount my soapbox and comment on Mrs. Doubtfire. I . · ··· e a ty to pee through a bodysUI enjoyed the movie, but only the superb talent of Robin standing up ··· high speed changes in and out of a latex mask and mas · d Williams saved it from one of the most awful scripts ever b . sive un ergannents in a public bathroom ... to emerge from Hollywood. After the first five minutes I ags left m a public bathroom that are still there when you started counting cliches and stereotypes but before another ··· and how did an unemployed actor working as a 8r~~ five minutes past I had run out of fingers, toes and other lpmg. clerk and nanny find the time and money to turn appendages to keep count. Sadly, I had to include how a ump mto a showplace? many times Mrs. Doubtfire scratched, clutched or adjusted Th he movie suffers mostly from a bad case of "what could ave been" J b her own concealed appendage. . · ust a out every character in it is a parody or tired stereotype· Th . th Id 1------~ : e gay brother and his partner, e 0 prune social worker and the swinging boyfriend. In almost every instance the writers opt for the low ll road: The tired sight gag singed falsies and other lll~!l\I such drivel. But all that 'pales before the arrested character development. Let's face it, the Williams t- male character is a thoughtless meatball. He's loving and generous when he wants to be but with no disciplineth or sense of proportion. ... h'e al ways does e wrong thing for the right reason. io what happens when he becomes Mrs. Doubtfir~ he role brings out all the good parts of personality while suppressing the parts that alw~ys lead to trouble. Mrs. Doubtfire develops, gains poise and sensitivity and starts to grow up. So far it sounds lik f a dozen articles you h e any one o rsona ave read about how leaving the IIlale ~e d behind f · · e side an . rees you to explore your feIIli.D.W kJJOWil· discover things about yourself you have nev;r reading Maybe the scriptwriters should have bee d will

=~~==~=~=~~~~~------~~~~~~as~~w~~~tt~Back in eighth grade my English teacher taught us about si'tu t~ome of this, the script calls for a bigblY coasn must "willing suspension of disbelief'': When we read a book a ion where both th al d £ IIlale person see a movie we should be willing to put up with c or be at the same pla t : m e ~ e . . dd d a iew Th ce a t e same trme. d tails are unre al1stic o s an ends needed to make the story k e ~cene works as slapstick __ almost __ but the e h M. D btfi I ul wor . so glarm' I M D proves w·it r~d· ou ire co d suspend the entire Golden g y wrong to any crossdresser. rs. hi h Gate Bn ge, complete with rush hour traffi f unable to refuse too many drinks and loses track of cd . Ii f I . w d b ic, rom my is e e . n no particular order here of the thin s 1 role she is in ... and off we go into low comedy. All;~ s couldn't swallow: g well, however, and the female role gets a job froIIl k e A. contested divorce hea~ing less than three years from shenanigans, but they are all still the same schulll~ 5~ filing ... a government social worker with the time t ak Perhaps I ask too much was hoping for IJlore, for t a · h .. om e I· · 1 Iwas two evemng ome visits a week (how conscienti ) e us1ve blending that produces a balanced character· ous ... a hop' . d paoe 31) 22 mg someone, anyone, would learn to (connnue' 0

.... 4------,-----. --~------_ ___., TRA VESTl/TRANS EXUALE TRANSVESTITE/TRANSSEXUAL by Phaedra Kelly

·t th t Greece, that once aware of the situation outside the Third t is only for a percentage of our entrre· coromllill Y a 0 World, that they are angry at not having the choice not to we promote the awareness of TV heterosexuality and TS be a whore. hetero-by-abstract of reality through surgery. If one wishes Yet our sisters see themselves as gay, not by our to insist that they are so pure that butter wouldn't melt definition, but because the sexuality attitude in these between their thighs, I would tell them that while they may countries is "he who gives is straight, he/she who talces is have in truth started snow white, they have also in truth gay", and it is only through transformation that any polarity drifted, and that to pretend otherwise and prejudge others (or hetero-through-abstract reality) is achieved. on that basis is hypocritical. The fact is that it is through the reality of the existence of Hypocrisy must be self-defeating in order that we can fight human dualism and its need to operate at a different it from outside as well as inside. frequency by each individual, that any of us exist at all. It In the '70s I met many people from so-called hetero gro~ps follows that frequencies differ further within our world who in private were anything but hetero, representmg communities, and that those Travesti who transform to themselves to their wives as something beyond bisexual but survive are not that far removed from what we call TV, TS more a1cin to polymorphous perversity or amoral s~e:xu!!ali=·ry:!:...------1 regardless of gender. Not that I condemn their lifestyle, only their hypocrisy. Hypocrisy must b_e se/f-defe~ting in order Be true to yourself and you will be true to all that we can fight 1t from outside as well others. We have all considered our sexuality as inside. far more than most outsiders, precisely because of the constant challenge to it ··· and We have all decided what we are on the orTG. gender identity scale yet sexuality appears to have a If you were to look at and touch a Third World Travesti, constant undulation ~d -- dependent on circumstances smelled her perfume, looked into her beautiful eyes with and chance -- can still surprise us with the sudden their Jong lashes, watched her sensual movement, your appearance in our life of the "right" wrong person. heterosexual tendencies would go into overdrive and you I agree with what has been said in these pages on more would long with all your heart to be her man. If you are than one occasion by our managing editor, that m~st of the afraid of that and burn with guilt just at the thought of it, "contact" ads are for "she-male" whores, attractmg men then at least be honest about it and help from a distance, with the powerful sensualism of words overexploited by truthfully and effectively. Find those who are less worried tabloids writing "stop-it-I-like-it" smut about us all. B~t about it, who will better understand your Travesti sister stop to think that at least these male women are free ID (use the "contact" mags, if you would), and who have more the U.S. to a) malce that choice and b) engage in it freely options -- although unaware of them -- than you or those I " ntact" ad thr ough the relatively safe medium o f· tb e co ' ·kin many tell you of. rather than standing on a street corner n s g Liaison between those you find in your own world and perils, as is common for a Travesti sister in a Third World those in the Third World who lack the options. Only by country helping each other not despite but because of our Th e T r.avesti · si·ster may have been gay, bi ' hetero ' TV , differences can we show by good example the hypocrisy of fetishist or natural hormone imbalance TS. It doesn t those who would perpetrate a genocide of self-interest on matter; once her nature forced her "out" she had only one our entire nation within nations. option: Travesti whore. . b If a gay Travesti uses her transformation to attract t e [Phaedra Kelly is tire director of International Gender Transiem Affinity, 1 curi·ous 1y bi·s exual lover she doesn ' t need s urgery· ' it would Bank Buildings, School Green Road, Freshwater Isle Of Wight P040 9Al, kill her in the end on~ way or another. If she is hetero, U.K.] · ' a.inf J t her if bi she be mg a whore is frightening and p u 0 ' ' might have -- in a more informed world -- have taken . a MOVING? Please send your new address six t~ eight wife or female lover· if TS she would prefer to remain weeks in advance to P~ . Box 944, Woodland Hills CA ' ' of these pure until after her surgery. Yet none knew . 91365. Include your four-digit subscriber number. options,.· except from vague hints· t h roug h the media ' and 1 her inner feeling of despair closed her mind to these. know, from TGTA missions to such places as Turkey and 23 v-· ------~- -~~------

/ REVIVING THE TRADITION OF ALTERNATIVE GENDER ) by Holly Boswell )' I

I cr::ntemporary societies still seem determined to ~umed the roles of spiritual leaders, mediators, teachers, polarize gender along strict anatomical lines, even though VISlonaries and healers. But where are we now? If the the vast majority of cultures throughout history and around intuitive knowledge within this tradition is correct, that the globe understood that anatomical sex doesn't dictate the~e is ~ ab1?1dance of transgendered people being born gender identification any more than it does sexual dunng this penod of time to help restore balance and heal orientation. Gender isn't black or white, masculine or our troubled planet, what are we doing? Do we need a feminine, but a glorious rainbow of possibilities. Ancient "wake up call"? Goddess religions and other natural spiritual world views Beca~e. of western civilization's emphasis on materialism respected men and women as equals, regarded Nature as and its inherent polarization, most transgendered people divine, revered diversity and loved all manifestations of are manif~sting as their assumed opposite, either through life. cros~dressmg or sex reassignment surgery. This is often Since the replacement of Mother Nature with God the motivated more by a need to assimilate than a quest Father (about five thousand years ago), the constructs of to":ard truly becoming oneself, which would otherwise gender have been defined more narrowly and rigidly to revive the forgotten "oddity' of a third sex. suit the pwposes of those in control of each r:::---~------..:....::..:.:=~=------i particular society. Ancient people before this f!lhteerrneativ!! _gender is a distinct neitherness era apparently knew that such traits as lrr1 sp1t1t takes precedence ou:er #orm. sensitivity and nurturance were not exclusive .. , 1 1 to females, nor aggressiveness and competitiveness exclusive to males. A more recent example is that up until World War I in the United States, pink Alternative gender may be regarded as a composite of was for boys and blue was for girls. Just how arbitrary are masc~e and feminine traits, but is essentially unique our notions of gender, anyway? unto itself ··· a distinct neithemess where spirit takes Psychologists today acknowledge that androgyny -- one's p:ecedence over form. Whereas ' crossdressing D13Y personal blending of so-called masculine and feminine vicariously lead to gender insights and transsexuaJistn traits -- is the healthiest model for self-actualization and ap~ropriately correct those who see fueir genderI anatoJJl.Y fulfillment. This entails a process of unlearning o~ social variance as a problem, transgenderism (in its full sense) conditioning in order to more fully become our own can lead to a potent activation of new and healthY unique selves. C.G. Jung called this process alternative gender expression. Gender is after all, a 11 individualization11 and recognized that a reconciliation PschY asocial · construct, rather than mere physicalizatlon.' · · If w th . •tual with one's inner contrasexual energy (the feminine ~' e transgendered, were to truly follow our sp11'1 "anima" in men, and masculine "animus" in women) was longmgs, where might they lead? Indeed how might we 11 11 the key to wholeness -- a word that is related to health ideally transform ourselves and o~ cultur~? If we were to and holiness. If most people were honest about it, they more effectively express our unique truth and beauty to would probably find themselves in the middle of the those in our daily lives as well as the media that bell-curve of gender rather than the Rambo-Bimbo :~nsationalizes us, what might we accomplish? Gen:; extremes. ~ er~tion is a crucial key to human evolution, promo d" While many people have androgynous potential, the c~ti Id~a that we should strive to be 11whole-gende~;cai tradition of a "third sex'' involves a minority within whom Vating all our gender traits to meet the en these tendencies are much more pronounced. These are challenges of our t. Rather th "ime. ept out the truly transgendered, who have profound difficulty an a call to arms11 can we not ace conforming to the polarized codes of gender, and whose personal gender challenges as ; ucall to heart"? If p_erh~~ gender. identities stray far beyond the normal expectatio ns we only have this one lifetime can we not live it wt ofth err sex. Such people are too often unaware that the honesty and . ' 11 as our 1 compassion ... for ourselves as we ot a have a st rong, persIStent . tradi" tion of their predecessors·y oved ones? Aren>t we all after all a blessing and n the berdache in Native North America, shamans in Siberi~ curse? ' ' and th~ Arctic, hijiras in I~dia, xtm~th in the Middle East, Let. us live our lives with love and joy and may our grace radiate thr gh . ' gal/ae m the Roman Emprre, certam Druid priestesses in ou out the worlds of all bemg. Old Europe, the mahu of Polynesia, one-breasted amazo ns, [Reprinted 'th . . rransgendered and many more. These were people who commonly S Wl Permission from the newsletter of Phoenix 24 uppon, Asheville NC. j '·J'

\ ROGER'S (WIFE'S) NOTEBOOK I by Victoria K. Powell \ {Editor's Note: In the days and weeks since the death of \ Roger Peo, Ph.D., who wrote the "Roger's Notebook" column that appeared in Cross-Talk, Tapestry, Reniassance News, and countless group newsletters, I have had the opportunity to talk with Roger's widow Victoria on several occasions. In our conversations, we frequently spoke of our individual memories of Roger ... hers as loving wife, mine as friend and editor. Recently she decided to share her thoughts with the community in this article, which is appearing simultaneously this month in Cross-Talk and Renaissance News & Views.]

On the spirit of Roger's Notebook and as Roger's wife, I compromise is a necessary ingredient too, especially in relationships. would like to share with the community two philosophies Roger would have wanted all persons -- male and female -­ that Roger felt the transgendered culture may want to in this transgendered sphere to be happy with themselves continue to integrate into their lifestyle and culture. They and to realize their true sexuality by listening to their are unity and the acceptance of one's sexuality. hearts and reaching out for help in both the community Roger felt that unity is an important factor to the success and the professional environment. of the community. 1 think this may be summed up b~ a Just one last note about Roger. Not many persons in the letter from a crossdresser who wrote to Roger expressmg transgendered field knew of Roger's "other" profession as his feelings that "we are our own worst enemy''· His a respected senior engineer at IBM for 33 years. His meaning was that the disparity that surfaces in the degrees in physics and engineering enabled him to work community is destructive and acts to divide -- .and on patents, computer designs and projects, and to act as an ultimately diffuse -- the concerns. Roger would have liked international liaison for IBM. the community to come together under a united banner Roger's memorial celebration on April 14 was attended by that can share differences and be enriched by them. persons from the wide spectrum that was Roger's life. I The acceptance of one's sexuality is a bit more co~plex asked seven persons to speak, addressing his diverse and I will illustrate by example, just as Roger often ~d. In interests. I asked Dr. Sheila Kirk to represent the the transgendered culture -- particularly the transvestite or transgender community and I am grateful for her most crossdresser -- there appears to be a denial of personal gracious and dignified words. In closing, I would like to sexuality. When this happens, the desire to emul~te .the share a comment by one of Roger's colleagues from IBM, female gender takes on an anti-sexual fascmau~n, who said 11 and I thought he belonged to us ... 11 I thought that focusing just on the visual image. The male's self-sexuality a very poignant statement to describe Roger. I believe that tends not to be integrated because it is not identifies .as he belonged to all of "us", and he would like this normal under the circumstances. Therein lies the conflict remembrance. that many crossdressers encounter. The linking 0 f the feminine clothing and image to the socialization and the (You may contact Victoria at P.O. Box 3445, Poughkeepsie NY 12603. sexuality imprint of the "Man". Roger would have like,d Copyright 1994 by Victoria K. Powell. This column may be reprinted in any each person to reach inside the psyche and celebrate one s non-profit organization's newsletter if the name and address information is included. Other publications must obtain written approval. A copy of any own expression of sexuality. This is a personal struggle reprint should be sent to Victoria.] that each person must wage on his own terms; however, GET CROSS-TALK FREE!! . f iends in the gender community and receive It free for yourself! Now you can share Cross-Talk with you! r use the form on page 40 and order your subscription. First, if you do~:t alread( su~~cn~~~lope Cross-Talk is mailed in and find your four-digit subscriber Second, look at the mailing labe on ~· e in the upper left corner of the label). . . . number ( t s ears In the lower right corner of the page 40 subscription form. Third, write that number in the. box tha ap~ and send them to your friends in the community. Fourth, make copies 0! ~rc~ewith a tour-digit number in the box, we'll extend that subscription by Now ... whenever we get a new subscnp . f Every new subscriber with your number in the box delays your one month for each year in the new subscnpl ion;. e by at least one month I renewa node . . • • • h b of free extensions _'LOU ma_y receive, so make as many copies as _y_ou want! There 1s no 11m1t on t e num er 25

------~-·-·~-,..-- ~---- ~----~-- ~------~------~-~------~- PASSING THOUGHTS ON BLENDI NG IN by Rebecca Auge, Ph.D. lJh e practical matters involved in "passing" often arouse right cues to feed them! some degree of anxiety and fear in persons formally 2. If passing is your goal you must first deal effectively with diagnosed as TS, those who may believe they are TS, and a any distracting hair problems you may have, especially certain subset of CDs. I want to offer this column as a facial and other head hair problems. That may mean springboard for generating a discussion of this important electrolysis and a good quality hairpiece or wig ... or and sometimes difficult to discuss topic. moving to Iran and wearing a veil. The following was composed by a client I saw in therapy 3. You may do best (and learn a lot about styles and how about five years ago. I offer it here with some minor they change, too) if you strive to match "the average woman editing and with her permission. Some of these items apply (or man)" in dressing and behavior for your location, age, to women or men while others apply to women only. size, etc. I know you're above average, but you'll just have r------t-o.....:p~r-e-te_n_d,.! You may pass better dressing-down as compared to dressing-up. . Effective passing is a workable combination 4. It's better to err on the conservative side of the correct or situationally appropriate in clothing, shoes, and makeup. For behavior and appearance. example, skirts or dresses knee-length or longer will attract less attention. Leave the tight skirts to Tina Turner unless you've got These suggestions may be helpful to you if you get turned the legs, hips and butt to fill one ··· and off (and not turned on) by being "read" in public settings. you're prepared to handle ~he attention a tight or short skirt generates! If you feel any of these ideas are silly, or plain stupid, just 5 sigh deeply and move on to the next one, or propose an · Conservative, but "in-style " footwear will work best. alternative way of looking at things. Comfortable footwear makes ~ natural, gender appropriate walk · ·th our To begin then: easier· A shoe color that matches or blends WI Y 1. Effective passing is a workable combination of the hose and fits your overall outfit will draw less attention to correct or situationally appropriate behavior and your feet. Sandals can be quite comfortable, stylish, and appearance, in other words, actions, clothing, makeup, etc. make for easy walking. They also have a long season, ·all ot (Wow, is that abstract!) Your ability to relax, feel good especi Y here in California. Sandals, however, may n about yourself, and blend with your environment is work that well fo r business or professional women. 6 especially important. Attitude helps a lot! A person who · Avoid heavy, especially dark eye makeup· for exalllPJe, black Jin ' ' t Go sees or meets you for the first time wants to be able to e~e . er on your lower lids, gloppy mascara, e c. quickly classify y.ou. as male or female. If you're ambiguous ahead, if it helps you get into your streetwalker fantasy ··· or present conil1ctrng cues expect to make people curious but for your safety and health though let's hope it's just a fantasy d hin ' ' akeUP and/or anxious. If a person can't quickly and comfortabl an not g more. Don't expect heavy eye Ill e classify. you into o~e of thes~ two categories they'll spen~ to go over real dandy at your local mall unless, roayb ' 1 you're f If 01an· extra time searchmg your lillage" until they're able to a ourteen-year-old or fixing to catch yourse a 1, And ye ~ bacr- come up with enough cues to make a classification and . s, some men you'll catch you'll want to thr0' reduce their discomfort, satisfy their curiosity, etc. They m the pond. . . .d ifyin' may 7 Easy d . d better even as k f or assistance m 1 ent g you from someone ~ali . oes 1t on jewelry! A few pieces of goo or froJJl who is wit~ the~ . O~ce ~hey kno~ your gender (they'll qh ty Jewelry may work best for you. Stay awaYcl WO· probably think of 1t as sex, but you ll be wearing clothes ... c eap costum · Ir rrirl o\ Get dr e Jewe Y unless you want to be a Er ke a so they won't really know your sex) then they know how to . essed up, look the situation over and then ta respond to you; for example, whether to ffirt or noL to ffir 1 r epc~ off (maybe two pieces for you Lave;ne). d ears The worse thing that could happen would be for so l. · 1erced e · ' · ce . meone will h arnngs or clip-ans that imitate pier gliOg not to precisely know your gender and then make an . . error ear . elp create the needed effect. Drop or da.:1 ill in relatmg to you. This could summon their d rings don't 1 you re eepest ook good with glasses (unless iJJO' homosexual fears and send them into a tizzy perh Oklahoma)· r k N t wear 0 ear · . ' s ic to studs or button earrings. 0 or creatmg· some kind o f scene on t he very spot' aps, rmgs 1s alm t urse ... , . , pronto. not hav· . os as serious as not carrying a P Maybe they ll have a seizure, or hemorrhage, or something mg a Visa card• as worse. Spare the public this potential trauma. Find the 9. Shorter h · · . 001en they matur au styles tend to be preferred by w their 26 e. Few professional women over 40 wear hair below their shoulders. But, as you know, almost all or don't look good for some reason, for example, a men like long hair on women. You may want to avoid the miniskirt on most 35 +-year-old women. If you wear '50s or 'big hair" look, too. '60s style clothing in 1994 you may attract attention you 10. Tall women typically look best in longer hairstyles, for don't want. So determine what you want and find out what example, shoulder length. Short hair will make a tall works best for you. woman look even taller. Conversely, short women look 17. H you need or want plastic surgery you may want to use shorter with long hair and taller with short hair. And your money and time for something that will more remember, no hair will make a woman look like Yul immediately help you pass, perhaps a nose or jaw job or Brynner ··• or just plain bald! apple shave rather than breast implants. On the other 11. Avoid garish clothing combinations. Learn to put an hand, if implants will help you feel significantly better outfit together. Learn what styles and colors work best for about yourself and raise your self-esteem, then theyre you. One of the neat things about a nice dress is you don't probably worth it. Ask lots of questions. Check around, talk have to find a skirt and blouse combination that works to others who have had this work, and get the best surgeon (unless you're one of those folks who wear several outfits . you can. at the same tinle ). H you want to look like a caricature of a 18. Work on your voice if you intend to talk to people. Practice with a tape recorder, shadow women talking on ~?man, or a clown, go to a drag party or waddle off and Jom a circus. radio and TV, get an evaluation and recommendations from a speech and voice specialist. Call 800 numbers for U. Mind your own business when in public. Avoid free practice talking to people on the phone. H your work eye contact. H you're tall, learn to recognize :ne~sary involves lots of talking on the phone with clients, business e difference between attracting attention because you're associates, etc, you'll want to get your phone voice together :"' and visually striking, vs. getting read because your real quick. You'll probably also want to learn how to ess and/ or behavior is not congruent with others' sneeze, cough, and laugh in a gender congruent way. H you expectations. ff you make nervous wasteful eye contact you ma ' don't intend to talk to people you might want to consider sus Y•• make yourself and others anxious and, perhaps, moving to another planet or hop in your time machine and . picious. you make a lot of nervous eye gestures while If be a silent movie actress. IIl a store you might feel you're being read because others In addition, don't forget to work on your nonverbal are Watching you, especially clerks while actually they may behavior, that is, eye contact, posture, hand and facial be checkin ' · O th g you out to see if you're a shoplifter. n e expressions, etc. which are very important parts of oth er h d , h an ' make eye contact with salespeople, w en communicating your gender in face-to-face conversations. cipropria~e and needed. . If you can learn to feel comfortab~e talking t? a person • . Practice walking a little slower than you might one-to-one it can be the basIS on which future Ordmari} bl 1 to YWalk. Keep your feet and knees reasona Yc ose relationships are built. This face-to-face relating to another ~ether· Walk by placing one foot in front of the other· POmt u y d n't ha .,our toes; avoid a duck or pigeon walk. ou 0 Ve to walk exactly like a fashion model, but an aPProxiJn · alk lik a crossdressl_na IUJnbe • ation to that style and less of a w e Headquarc:ers 14 If l]ack or chimpanzee may help. ail Pollsh Your hands tend to be on the large side, rings, n by Mail or in Person be ' vampire nails, etc. will draw attention to them. So ~,~~ =· y gh your heart, esp careful. · ou don't want a stake throu We have everything 0 -~ Blo~CI~y while shopping at Nordstroms : you need to create the lar lllingdales! Also, if you do have large hands, carry ultimate in femininity. gePUrse Including our own 15. If y · d 0 n the beauty and nail salon, Celti our legs are still muscular from your ays . and transformation i.e bes (or was it the Lakers?) wear darker colored hose, center. ., lacks e people ltlay ' grays, or the darker flesh tones. som legg ;ant to Wear two pairs. (I'm not talking about f~: ~rnon 's Sbecialties hlac~ hfolks here.) Also, black shoes generally go be:tWlor 386CT Mooay Street red ose. Stay away from black hose and those w e th Waltham, MA 02154 lllo PUrnps that light up your feet! Also, remember, for e 617•894•1744 st Part hi ar olds on East ' w te hose were made for ten ye end $10 For our new TV/TS Catalog 16 er Sunday. S lJI receive our free monthly newsletters . Some I . I for a)most an'U c othing is almost always in sty e, th loaded with spedals and products .rone· fi • kirt On e Other h or lDStance, a nice medium length s · f-style and, certain other clothes are currently out-o 27 person can often be developed as y~u work with a good you. H things don't go as well as you would like, learn from therapist in building your presentation as a woman or your mistakes, then produce positive change. Talk things man over a period of months or even several years. over with friends. Setbacks occur for everyone. Bounce 19. Exercise and workout! You'll be healthier, look better back, get on track. in your clothes, and feel better about yourself. Regular 24. You might want to learn to practice meditation at exercise can help reduce stress and depression, too. home as another way to help you relax and reduce stress 20. You may be fat, short, tall, or not particularly beautiful, when you're out in public. Use a phrase that includes your but you may still pass if you work at the essentials and name as your mantra, for instance, 11Relax Rhonda," (of have enough time and money (for electrolysis, etc.) to take course, if your name is Ruby Begonia, just say "Relax the steps that becoming a woman or man involves. Ruby'). Then repeat that phrase to yourself when you're in Looking like a Bozo is much easier than building a a public setting when you feel a little tense or anxious. workable image or presentation. Ies trite but true, women You'll relax, feel a lot better, and gain even more control and men come in all shapes, sizes, and styles. There may of your life. very well be a look that will work for you. Search for it. 21. Practice will produce improvement. Socialize and grow. So here's one person's view of this territory. Your view ma~ You'll get better with experience. Stay at home and stay be different. Also, notice the author uses the words "pass where you are! Set small achievable goals for yourself. Be or "passing1 in the list above. How do you feel about this? patient. Go slow. Be realistic. Be kind to your self. Revise Is it better to think of striving to 11blend11 with other wonien plans as needed. If something you do doesn't work, don't or men.? What's the difference between IIpass ing'' and do it again. Do something new. Always have a Plan A and 11 11 blending? What do these two words mean to you? aPlanB. I'd love to have you add to this list. The preceding is just a 22. If you look as good as you can, or reasonably close to it, start. Share your experience and creativity! I'm confide~t and feel good about yourself, you'll enhance your chances people ranging from beginners to those living full tiJne. 111 of doing well in public. A licensed therapist, well their preferred gender roles for years all have sometbin: experienced in the gender area, might be able to help you to add. I'll bet this list can be hundreds of items long an understand yourself, assess your motivation, and assist you terrifically helpful to people. in formulating goals and developing plans. Ask yourself: In addition, what would a list exclusively devoted to F2M Given what I've got, and what's possible for me, what do I people be like? need to do to develop my potential and maximize my image? You may fmd that you can fit in and, in the [Copyright 1994 Rebecca Auge, Ph.D. Dr. Auge is a clinical psychOI08/:: ~ process, build yourself a better life. Oakland, Calif., and may be contacted at 3637 Grand Avenue Su t 23. When things go well for you say something nice to Oakland 94610, by phone at (510) 835-9820, or via Internet a yourself, give yourself a word or two of praise, produce a [email protected].] positive thought. Give yourself compliments and avoid destructive forms of self-criticism. Occasionally, give yourself some sort of treat, maybe even buy yourself HAVE YOU HAD A REAL-LIFE ADVENTURE THAT something! Work at reducing those negative or critical OTHERS CAN LEARN FROM? 0 thoughts. You've probably already had much more than your Please send it for consideration to Cross-Talk, P. · share of negative or critical comments in your life from . _Box 944, Woodland Hills CA 91365. ed) others, who don't understand you. Don't add to them. (Submissions on MS-DOS or Macintosh disk preferr · Spend time with people who treat you well and appreciate

I.A~«;~ §IZ~ Sli()~S Ul~i:.CT T() ~()U! LaFemme Footwear, a leading large-size ladles' shoe manutact , y to the gender community at unheard-of low prlcesl We have the w~~:s~ representative ls now selling DIRECTL ankle straps, sandals -- In sizes ranging all the way up to IZE variety possible of shoes __ pumps, boots, s 15 We know what It takes to make a large-size shoe for the crossd ' and up to 5° heelsl that fits properly and comfortably. Plus, because we work dlre~;s~r and have the experience to give you a shoe custom color shoes to match that special outfltl Y Ith the manutacturer, we can even provide WRITE TODAY FOR FREE BROCHURES Ne: laFemme Foot111ear. Oept. XT p 0 /J DETAILING OUR PRODUCf 1..1 ~ · · ox 788. 8un Valley CA 91353 28 YOU ARE WHAT YOU WEAR? by Rebecca Anne Petersen .

On an article in our group newsletter, I once made consideration to his age or his physical build. reference to the fact that it was nice to be in the company For years I searched for an explanation as to why I of some CDs that were not worried about the superficial, crossdressed. After many wordy explanations, I had another CD break it down to the lowest comm or the "how they looked" aspect of crossdressing. When . f on d asked what they saw in the mirror when dressed, they . enommator o two words ... "It's fun". That's pretty much responded with the feelings derived, rather than the it: We dress because i~'s ~ ~d it produces a great physical image the mirror returned to them. amount of pleasure. Taking this mto consideration, what I It has been brought to my attention, however, that the basic or anyone else chooses to wear is of no concern to anyo ne Is hi reason for crossdressing is purely a physical image e e. T s, of course, assumes that it is a controlled environment, such as in the home or at a CD func~: situation. After giving this subject much thought, I must uOn. agree with this statement. We crossdress to r------­ create a physical image that is different than What we as males find attractive in a female our normal male image. I don't think many becomes of prime concern in the creation of us would continue crossdressing if, after of our feminine image, at least from a all the paint, powder and clothing were physical standpoint. applied, we looked exactly the same as we did prior to starting the ritual. The feeling of feminine attire is one thing, but I believe il is far What is appropriate for home or a CD function may not surpassed by the image that is returned from a mirror. I be for the general public. ~ave often wondered if there are any blind crossdressers In the past, I .have b~e n criticized by other CDs (yes, even Ill existence. me) for dressmg a bit too flamboyant. I will even admit to If, in reality, we dress to create an image that is different the fact that I dress on the flamboyant side. But you must or more attractive than our male image, then it would not take into consideration that these people saw me at CD be unusual to be concerned about Lhe superficial. Most will functions, not the local mall, or some restaurant. For those admit to the fact that their female self is more attractive situations, I dress appropriately in jeans, etc. Remember than their male self, at least in their own minds. we dress for the reason of enjoyment, so why not dress the This also would not be unusual, since society has always way that pleases you, when in a controlled situation? told us that the female is the more attractive of Lhe two We as humans also make snap decisions about others sexes. Unfortunately this is the misconception of a great based on their physical appearance. As CDs, we are no number of males and is not a true assessment of the total different in this snap decision-making process. We as men ~ic ture. A woman finds great attraction in a man. In fact, make decisions on a woman's sexuality based on how she it Would be safe to assume that women find men just as dresses. Don't deny it; at one time or another, you att · s· ractive as we find women. probably have made a statement something like, "Wow, tnce we may assume that a great number of CDs are look how short that skirt is, I'll bet she's easy." Maybe she trying to create a feminine image that "may" be more is, but then again, maybe she dresses the way she does attractive than their male image, then heavy importance is because it pleases her. ?laced upon physical appearance. The feminine image that As humans -- taking the CD aspect out of it -- most people is adopted is created from a male viewpoint, however. dress in a style that pleases them. I will agree that there are exceptions to this rule. For example, street walkers What we as males find attractive in a female becomes of dress to attract clientele. Both males and females will at Prime concern in the creation of our feminine image, at least from a physical standpoint. No consideration is given times dress to attract a member of the opposite sex, but if sex is not the reason, you will usually find that most dress to thi s ·unage, other than from a physical appearance standpoint. to either be stylish, comfortable, or to just feel good about themselves. Taking this theory into consideration we could wind up with . ' Don't be too quick to judge, because what you see, is not middle-aged men dressed as teenage girls. Or a necessarily what you get, especially in the case of the CD. :espectable man dressed like a hooker. A 20-year-old girl tn a micro-mini and three-inch heels is an attractive sight, ~specially to a middle aged man. If that man is a CD, there [Reprinted with pennissio11 from tire newsletter of tire Sima Silver Belles 1 (Sigma Sigma Beta Chapter, Tri-Ess, South Lake Tahoe CA. Ms. Petersen ~ the possibility he will try to emulate that 20-year-old-girl, is SSB's newsletter editor.] smce ·ri was a pleasurable sight. He gives· little 29 THE BEST OF CROSS-TALK

THE MAGIC OF CROSSDRESSING

by Wendi Seabreeze

What is it about our affinity for the feminine essence of of your birth to categorize your personal vibes. rn also give life that attracts so? The sweet aromas stimulate our minds you your best day of the week that you'd probably feel more and hearts so that we become enthralled. The soft textures comfortable in your femme attire, and if you like to travel, and colors of a pretty dress, the hot look of a sexy dress, or notice that I've also listed a city somewhere in the world the scent of a lovely perfume, stimulates our natural senses where you might feel right at home in. with which we become mesmerized. The stirring sights and or experience of wearing glittering gems and metals, (Dec. 21 - Jan. 19) Realistic sisters born between th~e awakens our souls, whereby we become unconsciously dates would probably enjoy wearing lapis lazuli set JJl enraptured and enlightened! heavy marcasite, or garnet in gold. Your fun day of the Have you ever noticed how some------~- week is Saturday and if you're of our loving sisters are always wh 6 n y 0 Ur OW n b Ody ever in Oxford, England or wearing pearls, or some of them Brussels, Belgium, you may never most often wear sapphires or • wears a piec.e of j" ewel ry · ~~~ The amethyst? Some of your SlSters It can harmonize with then (Jan. 20 - Feb. 18) prefer gold, while others love th .b "I I ' determined girl of this tiJDe z?ne silver or copper. Why are we OSe VI es WI make you· ne J1Jlg, should own at least 0 u~rP.f partial to a certain gem Qr feel better a cld of 5 Y" metal? Good question, right? bracelet, or ne ace thyst.

Well, in simple terms, some ------withyour sapphire best day gemsof the orweek aJll~ ts a}so jewelry just feels better on us than other pieces do. I guess s turd Hantburg. 0 n a ay. Someday you just have to visit the keyword here is "feel" if I were to try and explain that Germany, or Salzburg Austria sensation. 11Feel" isn't just the sense of touch or sight. Feel (F b ' · oJlle 19 5 encompasses the finer forces of nature that are invisible to aque • .- Mar. 20) You spiritual babes should owncan eve r the eye. "Feel" can be described by the science of physics. atnanne or turquoise set in silver. If you 011 However, if I began to explain how a particle or wave purchase a platinum bracelet, do it! Try going out roor~a, affects our inner-being, you might get bored and not finish a Thursday night, and what fun you'd have in AlexaJl reading his article. So, I'll simple state that everything ever Egypt, or maybe Seville, Spain! W all created by nature or man, sends out vibrations (vibes) that (~ar. 2 ~ - Apr.19) You ... the mistress-of-illusion kn:etal are perceived by our astral-like senses. When your own a out diamonds, for it's your gem. You like your Ne~ body wears a piece of jewelry that it can harmonize with, around your neck to be heavy like gold and iron. allt then those vibes will make you "feel11 better. If you wear a Tuesday . try b emg· your femlllllle-self,. . it . may b e aFl pleas rence, piece of jewelry that your etheric body cannot harmonize surprISe. Certainly, someday you must travel to 0 with, then you may "feel11 uneasy, or anxious about Italy, or Marseilles, France. ur 0 anything, or you might even 11 feel 11 upset, angered, or like a ~~r. 20 - May 20) You earthy Hippie girls in ~ ~ to wandering puppy. ~a e,. aren't you feeling high? But don't restrict yoursd hey, Think about it!· Isn' t it· funn. Y h ow some costume jewelry Justou Jade' try emeral ds too with. copper 1ewe . lry · .AJJ Where just seems to be there. But if you wear a genuine gem like y rule the Friday night air so don't neglect it. al ....,,o, . are you . , b p e1J>" a diamond or emeralds or even Jade, or if you wear real S . going on your next vacation? May e gold, you can actually "feel11 extra special. If you've never Pam. .-111 felt this way before, then you're missing out on a real (MayAl 21 • J une 20) For you, the girl on the go, wear fUJ1DY:ae•J 1e · • t eat or exandrin · · 't it a em1Jlllle r · thin e set m sterling silver. And tSn d beY' Within this article I'll share some information concerning wh g about Wednesday, they're perfect for you!. All? yotl which gems and metals may be right for you. This won't be en was the l · F ctsCO • might b . ast time you visited San ran d there· based on any astrological forecast, but I must use the date (Ju 2e SUrpnsed with all the adventure you'd fin the c~te 1 30 ne - July 22) Yes!!!! We moonbabies are in our moonstone and pearls. If we don't wear silver, there's no way we can get out on a Monday night. If you're looking to travel this year, try Amsterdam, Holland. Or for a real adventure visit New York City. DROP 'N' ROLL FOR (July 23 • Aug. 22) I can see the fire in the eyes of these girls, adorned in all that gold and bright dazziing ruby stones. You rule Sunday nights where all attention will be on you. Someday in your life you need to visit Bombay, GLOBAL MAIL India or Bath, England! (Aug. 23 • Sept. 22) Someone told me a lot about you girls, that you are still virgins, my oh my. I couldn't believe that seeing you in all that Peridot and agate set in silver, I also know you've been invading the Wednesday night atmosphere. Your romance is waiting for you in Paris, France, or Hollywood, California. (Sept. 23 - Oct. 22) You girls always seem to be cheerful and balanced wearing all your opal and zircon. You also l~ve the feel of copper and know how to party on a Friday Global Mail is a listing of art proiects, zines, archives actions night. Vienna, Austria has a lot to offer, and email and BBS listings, anarchis! listings, boycotts, book projects' exchanges, networks, sound & video projects, collaborations, moil Johannesburg, South Africa calls for your justice. art events &morel Includes approximately 400 listings from 30 (Oct. 23 • Nov. 21) You are indeed a regenerated girl in countries. your onyx and malachite stones. There's something about the touch of steel that you can't explain. But you go out to Sample issue available for 2 stomps USA or two IRC's foreign. rule the Tuesday night tiptoeing scene. Everything seems Global Moil, PO Box 597996, Chicago, IL 60659, USA t? _fall into place for you. New Orleans is where you gotta VlStt.

Wen, dear readers, I hope this little bit of information will THE CARTOON ADVENTURES OF A he useful for you, or that you at least find it interesting. As TRANSGENDERED HIGH a student of many schools of thought, I'll tell you that the SCHOOL STUDENT, AS ORIGINALLY PRESENTED IN marvelous joys to be found by wearing real gems, can help ·cAOSS-TALK• FROM 1989 elevate your awareness of your world. T01991. ALSO INCLUDES FOUR [Originally published in Cross-Talk #36, July 1992.] SINGLE-PANEL CARTOONS NEVER PUBLISHED IN THE BEARDED LADY ••• continued trom page 22 •CROSS-TALK• AND A SELF-PORTRAIT OF THE be a better person, male or female. Maybe even the ARTIST, ANGEL. message that men in dresses are not to be dismissed out of hand. But the ending is painfully trite, forced and hopeful, To order, send $5.00 plus 75 cents postage to: and since no one has changed the problems will just start ove · "CROSS-TALK", Dept. TC r agam when the camera is turned off. P.O. Box 944 So enough of the social analysis (blame it on being Woodland Hills, CA 91365 Inarried to a social worker). Go rent the movie if you haven't seen it already. It may not live up to its potential, but Watching Mrs. Doubtfire play the air guitar while GET Cross-Talk FREE!! cleaning is worth the price of admission alone. See page 25 for details.

31 'ZINE REVIEWS! - by Kymberleigh Richards

It's been a long time since I stopped reviewing TV fiction The book also features a cute second "TebbY' cartoon. in this column (in fact, I think the last time I did was [Sissy Maid Quarterly #2, $12; Transformation #2, $10 from sandy when Cross-Talk was still a newsletter!}, but two recent Thomas Advertising, P.O. Box 2309, Capistrano Beach CA 92624-2309, or releases from Sandy Thomas deserve special attention. from most CD-oriented boutiques or mail order book stores.] The second issue of Sissy Maid Quarterly is out, and while D•D I've never understood the appeal of this genre, there is As Cross-Talk becomes more and more well-known as a apparently a large constituency of crossdressers for whom source of information on transgender issues, we also find this is a very powerful fantasy. Sandy first appealed to this ourselves listed in a lot of resource guides. I've mentioned element with the 1991 novel Maid Up and continued with several in this column, such as Factsheet 5 and Richard last year's three-part Maid In Fonn and two-part Sissy Kadrey's Covert Culture Sourcebook which I reVIewe· d her Maid Academy stories. The author of the 1993 books is the last month. ' primary author and illustrator for SMQ. We've also been included in the first edition of tb:e 11 It's actually pretty cute, with all the articles" written from Alternative Lifestyles Directory which was released ~ a perspective that suspends reality by presuming the summer, and the publisher sent a review copy when it existence of such things as sissy maid academies and came o~ the press. . e female employers who e~ploy such feminized male help. The directory concentrates on publications ~~ The table of contents lists topics such as summer fashion ... resource guides like The Black Book which predoIJllllan yf 11 11 0 the best maid uniforms and rompers for playi on the day Iis t b usmess· and mail-order sources). A number . . ns are off'; how to best mix boyfriends and sissy maids in an alternative sexualities and gender expressio ender employer's life; heel heights for maids; and advice to maids represented; those particularly of interest to the g . on how to hand-wash lingerie and properly scrub pots and co · · · hirsute mmuruty mclude adult babies, queer 'zmes, which pans. women, S /M B /D and related fetishes and TV /TS ( · Like I said, I don't get it ... but if you do, this is well done. Ii ' . If 15 sts 16 titles all by itself). The directory itse t D•D ~p~abetized by title, with a subject section in the fr;;e Sandy came out with the first edition of the Trans/onnation listmg all titles for a specific lifestyle interest and. ~e p the comic book last year with an engaging tale of a man who n~ber for each publication's listing. In addition~ · about to die in an accident, has his consciousness' subject header is reproduced above each individual Iistlll~ mysteriously transferred to his sister's body. That issue had for . further verification to the reader. There's also end 5 11 section · th didn't as a filler an "Archie style cartoon featuring "Tebby the . .m e back listing titles that since 11 Teen-Age Transvestite • infor~abon on their magazines but it's of little use they didn' · ' Tebby talces center stage in the second edition, te~g the t mclude "last known address" data. d !llY Otherwise nl 15· spelle tale of her transformation by a rich girl who "decided to n . ' my o Y complaint is that they Il1 655; l make a young lady out of her boyfriend". While it's an di:~ m our listing. It has over 200 listings (IllY ~ate it okay tale, I'm more looking forward to some of the future . t count them) and the publisher hopes to up storylines hinted at in the first few pages. ~rea~ar. ~ However, the second tale in this book really got my m~·02 748_ 00;;~e from Wimer Publishing, P.O. Box 80099, Da -~ attention. It features a Batman-type character, Nightm who has his mind switched into his female adversary's b:' 11 . D•D . i.,au!B 11 by a . then-destroyed m~d-exchange gun • Witho~ Our friend d . . . writer / Mast an occas1onal contr1but111g It's okPY·' destroymg the plot, suffice it to say that as he adapt t . ers put the publisher of a new 'zine called 81ld d 'd s 0 which co If teelll . being a woman, he . ec1 es not to try to find a way back to . . ncentrates on sexuality sex, se -es ·.,es ill dis his own body. I think there's a sequel in the works th ability d 18· ' pecU' ere, fu an hoping to add transgender pers . 3ddiilg too ... ture issues. The publisher Linda Crabtree, is _.,, page) C ross-Talk h ' . d, 11~ 32 to er upcoming booklet (contmue MOVIE REVIEW

JUST LIKE A WOMAN

by Charlene Day

In this movie, Gerald (Adrian Pasdar), an American The scenes in the restaurant include fairly realistic banker living in London and working on a portrayals of patrons who may pass or who cannot pass in half-billion-dollar deal with a Japanese company is thrown a dark alley. We can relate to Gerald's hesitancy to reveal out by his wife who returns home early from a trip and himself to Monica. We understand the fear he experiences discovers women's underwear and clothes in her bedroom. about going out in public in the daytime. Also, there is the She thinks he is having an affair with another woman and fear of meeting someone you know, and the biggest fear of Won't let him explain -- nor most likely would she all ... what happens if you are stopped by the cops. understand -- that the clothes are his and he is a Aside from the story I have some interesting impressions: transvestite (or the term I prefer, a crossdresser). Gerald has great eyelashes, even as a man. The clothes are He ends up renting a room from Monica (Julie Walters), great and there is the honest portrayal of the tendency of a recent divorcee that needs rent money to keep her large some crossdressers to over-dress. One of the patrons of the Edwardian home. It seems like an ideal arrangement for restaurant is sitting with his elbows on the table, a sure both of them, but she is curious about the woman who visits giveaway. his room late at night. He explains that she is just a very Just Like A Woman doesn't parody crossdressing. It pretty close friend ... much shows what many of us have seen or experienced for Although Monica is older than Gerald, they are attracted ourselves. I hope it gets a lot more public exposure. to each other and eventually end up in bed together. After the bedding he is filled with some kind of guilt. He avoids 'ZINE REVIEWS! ... continued from previous page her for the next three weeks because he doesn't know how listing "intimate resources" for people with disabilities and to tell her that he is a crossdresser. She is distressed and invites the gender community -- especially those who also convinced that, because of the incident, he will leave the have disabilities -- to make contact with her. boarding house. Write Linda at Phoenix Counsel Inc., One Springbank When he finally comes to tell her "something important", Dr., St. Catharines ON L2S 2Kl, Canada if you're she is prepared to hear that he is leaving, but is surprised interested. when he explains that he is a crossdresser; he and o• o Geraldine, the woman of the midnight visits, are the same One of the 'zines we reviewed in issue #57, Skyjack, p e~so n . She bursts out in laughter -- probably in relief that apparently ceased publication before we could get the word he is not leaving -- in surprise at his revelation. out about them; the complimentary copy of Cross-Talk we Gerald, now disconsolate returns to his room and starts to sent them was returned as undeliverable around the pack. Monica has second thoughts and goes to his ro?m beginning of August. I'm sorry to see this one go; it had a and asks to see Geraldine. Gerald complies and Moruca lot of untapped potential, in my opinion. witnesses the transformation from Gerald to Geraldine. Following this, there are episodes in a restaurant that caters to crossdressers and some shopping sprees where Help you to pass more easily! Make Geraldine gains confidence in her ability to pass. FURS you feel, look, be more ladylike! But, things are going too smoothly: Geraldine is stopped by the cops one night and hjs li fe comes apart. He has a NEW CUSTOM-MADE AND USED FURS - FUR lYranrucaI boss that has been pressuring Gerald to sell GARMENTS & FUR ACCESSORIES - BOUDOIR some properties to the Japanese that Gerald thinks are FURS (Bedspreads, Throws, Comforters, Lap Robes, Bed Wrong, and when the boss hears about Geraldine, he fires Jackets) -- MAIL ORDER/ N.Y. CITY SHOWROOM Gerald. FREE QUOTATIONS! NO OBLIGATION! Without revealing the rest of the story, suffice it to say that (516) 379-6421 Gera. ldin e eventually gets even with· the ex-b oss. Th · · is is a very compassionate movie about crossdressmg. 33 /,

THE INFORMATION HIGHWAY ANID YOU

MY LOCAL BBS

by Eileen Richards a local BBS are significant. Service providers are usu8!1Y large commercial ventures, including CompuServe, Geme, In this article we will examine the local roads that lead to Prodigy, and America OnLine. BBSs are, for the most part, the information superhighway, some of which are on- and smaller; many are run as hobbies of the sysop, not as a off-ramps as well. These are Bulletin Board Systems for-profit business. That means that the smaller systems (BBS). are often free; medium sized ones are a mixture of the BBS got its name because the early ones had only one or philanthropy of the sysop and subscription money; two of the features that the modem ones now have. They ~ larger ones have (hopefully) passed some magi could post messages, both private and public, and the public make-break point where the subscription revenue exceeds messages were the really popular part. Much like a 11 expenses and pays for expansion. . bulletin board with 3x5 cards at your local supermarket, Th . . . vanous these messages were available so anyone could read them, e mteraction with other users on the BBS, ll1 .th · · n Wl they could be on (almost) any topic, and could be replied ways, IS the primary purpose for the BBS. Interactio ck other services, like online airline reservations, sto . to. Even the replies could be replied to! In that way, discussions are held, and many times not just by two quotes or trading, and live access to other systems ~ people. commonly available from service providers, and ~o One discussion area, called private e-mail, is considered commonly available from BBSs. Financially, the JllaJor . . th1 base fee, 11 private" because its messages can be read by the author sernce providers generally charge a mon Y 1 dditi. al h · · al bout Y and designated recipient only. Everyone can use this area, a on ourly fees for connection, addition i but they don't see messages that they aren't a party to. Of fees .for premium services, and additional specific fees or course it's not absolutely private, because the system parti~ular activities or .services. base operator ( sysop) can see any message on the system at Here s :in example usmg Prodigy's rates: The mo~Y tiJlle anytime. chai:ge IS $8.95, which includes two hours of premtUJJl ther 0 There are several different types of BBS: social, chat, (which on includes all the public messages written by • ) dating, games, professional, sex, graphics, library, business, users and ten letters of no more than six scr eens JJld educational, network access, etc. Most offer more than one length each. Additional letters are 25 cents each, . and deli · • Ifriell ' of these services and others have almost all of them. In this a ttonal premium time is $3.60 per hour. My~ vered article we will concentrate on the type of BBS that has befo~e she realized what she was doing, and disco for traditionally appealed to the gender community. BBSmg, had run up over $100.00 in additional cbarg~ tb 11 Chat, Social or Dating boards have dozens of lines where letter~ and premium time during her "Free !'A $8.9511 people can "talk" to each other interactively. Each person (Prodigy called it that because they waived ~e lllail enters a chat area, then types a line and when the Enter monthly fee). To be fair, Prodigy offers an offline and re~m/ · cl- key is pressed, the words display for everyone in that area ~iter software -- which costs $5.95 to g ach· to see. letters written using that software cost only ten cents e ~ r a 0 The "sex" boards have ''.hot chat" areas and/or erotic games By comparison a typical local BBS charges $1.5.00 · 110 15 and/or explicit GIF (Graphics Interchange Format, 30 hours for $15.00. (In hourly access, there ut, ~lo~k ~f 0 pronounced "jiff') files -- pictures that users have sent in xprra~ion or renewal date, but when your tiJne runsbUY a you will be · e or that have been converted to digital form. The boards that fl requested to purchase more tun have specialize in graphics have extensive libraries of GIF (and at-rat~ subscription.) For this amount you gener~Y tbe other format) files, some sexual in nature, but many not. :e~~ct:d access to all the BBS services, inclU~~c. A­ Many boards have extensive libraries of programs that the ranes, electronic mail, chat areas, gaJlles, JJlOiltb users can copy to their own systems and use. monthly subscription might cost $5.00 to $30.00 per Otl Some boards provide access to networks. That topic will be and range f ccess· rom an hour a day to 24 hour a day a _.=11 uot discussed at further length in a future installment of this some system th . . s WJ.J> · 1 s, e lower priced subscnptton series. me ude access to all features boo.e The difference between commercial service providers and (There is · l cal P one more cost variable· Your 0 te fof company will · Jl].inU 34 charge you the regular rate per any data call you make with your modem, just as if you had female, and the sysop or a staff member calls to verify you, talked to a friend that far away for as many minutes. For they are expecting to find a female on the phone. Many this reason, BBS sysops - and commercial service boards also are open only to adult subscnoers, and the providers -- try to offer as many local numbers as they can, verification process is a legal check to make sure that you so you can pick the least expensive one for you to call.) are of age. Computer and Telephone law is still evolving, Some BBSs have a few services that they charge extra for, and where a graphic file of a nude is art in one person's per use. One I know can send a fax for you. Some will let eyes, it could be pornography in another's. So if they are you use their local numbers to reach another BBS that checking to make sure you are of legal age, it's for their wouldn't be local for you, charging less than what the protection, not to invade your privacy. I have explained my phone company would charge you. If you fall in love with a feelings regarding my gender to sysops and been granted BBS that isn't local to you, ask about other ways to reach it their bless~ to use my femme name, show female that won't cost as much. I'd rather belong to two BBSs, and gender, or both. Sysops can be quite understanding and use one to reach the other -- say at the cost of $20.00 per accommodating, and I have not been censured or forced to month -- than have to pay $60.00 per month in phone append TV, TS, CD or some other designation to show charges to the phone company, wouldn't you? gender disposition. That, in my book, makes the sysops I've When you first call (or "log on" to) a BBS, you will be been involved with more accepting of our community than asked for your handle -- this is the name you go by on the the service providers who do require such labels. [Editor's board. Depending on the board, the first time you call it, Note: Shortly before press time, we received word that you may either be asked to either enter your desired America OnLine has discontinued its "label" requirement as handle or to enter "NEW' (this will usually require you to reported in Marla Baldwin's earlier installment in this series choose a password and complete one or more (Cross-Talk #53).] Menus are lists of the choices available to you at the questionnaires). If it is not the first time you have called, you will then be moment; your selection in a menu directs your session on asked for your password. The importance of choosing a the BBS. Often a menu will lead you to another menu. handle and password cannot be over-emphasized. Your From the main menu, you can select the electronic mail handle is what people will know you as for the length of menu. From the electronic mail menu,· you can select time you are on that system; you will not usually be reading or writing mail. The menus have letters or allowed to change your handle once it has been chosen. numbers or symbols that you will press to direct the way You may go by different handles on different BBSs. This the session goes. On some boards, you should not press Enter after your selection; on others, it is required. will allow you to interact with the same people differently; A typical chat menu may offer you Private Chat, Group to 11 hide" from other users who might be bothering you; or to have both female and male accounts. Some Sysops don't allow handles and require you to use your real name; DRAG IN THE MOVIES some require only that the name you use sound like a real has been go Ing on as long as the movies name. Some systems let you change your handle, but they themselves .•• assign you an Identification number, which cannot be And you can enjoy some of the great cinematic changed. If you are number 451 on that system, you can be. drag moments with Ralph Judd's books Drag "Zsa Zsa Gabor 451" at 7:00, "Ray Bradbury 45ic' at 8:00, Gags and Drag Gags Return, both of which and "Alice in Wonderland 451" at 9:00, if you so choose. feature old movie photos showing female Of course, your friends may recognize you as "451" no impersonation. The 60 photos in each book all matter what name you give yourself for the moment. have had fictional humorous captions added, and Your password needs to be chosen with care. It needs to include Identification of the actor, tltle, studio, be both easy enough to remember and must not be too and year. Or order Ralph's new ten postcard set easy for others to guess. Your name, address, phone Gender Pending, featuring vintage movie lobby number, or other easily guessed word would not be cards with drag scenes. appropriate. If you are on multiple boards, do not use the To order, send $7.95 for Drag Gags or $8.95 same password on all of them. Since the sysop has access for Drag Gags Return (plus $2 per book S & H) or to your password on that board, he could try to impersonate $4.95 (plus $1 s & H) for Gender Pending to you on another board if he was unethical. Ralph Judd Communications After you have completed signing on, some systems will 1330 Bush St. #4H give you immediate but limited access, and some will San Francisco CA 94109. require that they verify you before you are given a free Credit card orders, call (800) 637·2256. demonstration account. They want you to try out the California residents, add your local sales tax. system, for a while, and decide to subscribe, but first they Want to make sure of a few things. If you say you are a 35 Chat, Semiprivate Chat, Linked Chat, or specifically BBSs (not necessarily local ones). Because of the costs labeled chat areas (by topic, such as "hot chat" or "S&M involved, most sysops don't offer linked chat during all chat"). Group Chat -- or Teleconference -- is an area where hours, but post when the link will be active. U you have many callers can engage in the same discussions, or not, friends in another city (or country) and a BBS local to similar to being in the same large room. There could be them is part of the group that links up this could be a great one discussion; or a moderated game; or several way to keep in touch without having the long-distance bill discussions; or even one discussion with some off-topic to pay. questions, and a heckler (or two). . . Hot chat isn't a technique of chatting, its a style of Semiprivate chat is a private area that you mvite callers conversing. It is often meant to arouse and is usually into. U you are the hostess, then you can invite and evict sexually explicit. On boards that allow minors to call, it anyone you choose (except the sysop, of course), as often as may not be allowed between minors or between minors you wish. On systems that don't offer hosted semiprivate and adults. Etiquette (and system rul'es ) require that if a chats, you can use a high-numbered chat area and only tell private area is reserved for such chats that it be used. the callers you want to know, what area to meet you in. One last thing. about chat, there are' special symbols use d (The lower-numbered areas show on the "who is online" in chat. Smileys are pictures made with typewriter listing; the higher numbered ones generally don't show.) characters, usually sideways. A colon, hyphen and n'ght . In these types of chat, the other callers only see what you parenthesis, like this :-) makes a smiling face. At least, .if typed after you press the Enter key. Action phrases (if you put your head on your left shoulder it does. wink gnn available) can greatly enhance the fun in these chats, sigh and the like indicate actions or emotions. A future because by typing a word or two, an entire sentence will article in the series will discuss these in depth. be displayed to the other callers. For instance "Hug Betsy'' When you write a letter to another caller on the saxne would display "Eileen is hugging you close" on Betsy's BBS, it is delivered to their e-mail (for "electronic-mail") Screen, and "Eileen is hugging Betsy close" on everyone box instantly, and they will be notified if they happen to be else's screens. On the other hand, private chat is between two callers online. This is a standard feature common to all BBSs. Some systems allow you to send carbon copies, which are only, and each person sees each keystroke as it is typed. It · be is an etiquette convention in this type of chat to press copies of the same letter to other callers. You may even Enter two or three times when you are done typing, to able to edit each carbon copy separately. . indicate to the other caller that it is their turn to type. you can also send mail to users on other systems Via Linked chat is between callers on that BBS and other w.h at's called netmail. The mail is delivered one or morwee times per day to another system, and eventually to . ed ~ystem that you addressed it to where it is then deposit . 10 the recipient's mailbox. A 'typical netmail address f; composed of the caller's handle and the system address d the system that their account is on. Emily Clarke discusse COSMETIC WORKSHOP Internet add dif" ent on ON THE ROAD . . resses previously; they look ier is ~fer ent nets (for example, my Fidonet address . and my Internet address is LOOK FOR JIM AT THESE UPCOMING ~1/leen[J:I02/528] NATIONAL GENDER COMMUNITY EVENTS: e1 [email protected].) In dd' · nter a ition to Internet and Fidonet you may encou TG-net whi h . ' d issues, September 27-0ctober 2 R 1 ' c is themed for transgendere ks SOUTHERN COMFORT aynet (also as RIME) and MajorNet. Networ ill AUanta, GA e knoWn will be dis d . cusse more extensively in another ar tide October 16-23 this series. FANTAStA FAIR Another f tur . public Provincetown, MA ea e that is common to all BBSs are u message board . here yo ost . s, or forums. These are the areas w have p public notices, or comment on what others ~rd posted This · h · Bo"' s . " IS ow BBSs got the name "Bulletul. ue ystems . Forum . d euque calls fo th s are arranged by topics, an d topic! F r e conversations to stay on the paste A,.,,e WHEN VISITING THE LOS ANGELES AREA, orums are I al the sa...- STOP BY THE JIM BRIDGES BOUTIQUE: system. oc ; only readable by callers on 12457 VENTURA BLVD., SUITE#103 STUDIO CITY Netforums ar h f u111s. A (comor of vonhJrn ond Whitsett, nail to th o Ouoon MlllV) message . e ~ e networked equivalent of or e ,viil BOlfTIOUE HOURS: 10 Thur.sat. 4j>m - 10pm be tran v:rttten San Diego on the local BBS the ~.,.,, 0f sm1tted to th h fofLJ.»'" that to · 0 er BBSes and added to t e dable pie when th . . · ·s rea 36 e netmail 1s passed. Then it 1 on the other BBSs, and callers on those boards are able to File horaries contajning the graphics files I mentioned comment on comments (or "postings") made by others earlier (GIF files) are usually the most popular on a without regard to the location of origin. A question asked gender community-oriented BBS; most also have libraries in such a forum may be answered not only by callers from with .stories or information documents. the same and other cities, but also by callers from other BBSs have a lot to offer. I even met my girlfriend -- thank countries! Similar to this concept are private you for helping me with this article, sweetie :) - online! subscription-based memberships in groups of callers The low cost for membership, (remember, some are. (across networked systems) called lists. Software at a FREE!) and the number of services available give the best designated system (the list se"er) coordinates the bang-for-the-buck that I have seen. We have quite a subscnoer database and routes - or re-posts -- subscribers' community, and there is a lot of support out there, and a messages via netmail. Emily Clarke mentioned the two lot of it is from who you meet in cyberspace. best known of these, cd-forum digest and TRANSGEN, last {Next month: A survey of once-local BBSs who have expanded to become month; a future installment in series will discuss all this nationally /aiown within the gender community.] available netforums and lists in greater detail. [Editor's Note: Due to technical problems typesetting last month's The new Cross-Talk style book is now available for installmen~ the subscription request addresses were those wishing to submit articles for publication. To improperly shown. cd-forum 's request address is receive a copy, send a #1 O SASE to P.O. Box 944, [email protected] and TRANSGEN's is Woodland Hills, CA 91365. [email protected] The instructions are co"ect.] Another standard feature common to all BBSs is file libraries. Files stored on the BBS' hard disks (or, in some cases, on CD-ROMs) can be selected by subscribers and sent to their computer (this is called downloading) or they 1i 5 i :>:>X~Bcy can submit files to the sysop for inclusion in the library r . . THE SISSY BOY DIGEST is a Great l1de.~+· (uploading). The length of time it takes to do this depe~ds New Publication where your Fan- :_:.!) ,, on the file size and the speed of your modem connection. tasies, Dreams and Desires of beinq Sissified can come true A Megabyte (1,000,000 bytes) takes about seventy minutes by way of the Unique Stories Available only in this publication. The stories are illustrated at 2400 baud. If a higher speed modem is available the to make them more Enticinq and Believable - It ~ will transfer in dramatically less time. could happen to you. Don't you wish! 76 Fan­ tastic Paqes and only $8.00. Sent in a Plain, Well Sealed Envelope by First Class Mail. Or­ der Today and Receive a FREE 24 page Complete­ BOOKS FOR CROSSDRESSEAS ly Illustrated Tv Book Cataloq Valued at $3.00. AND THEIR PARTNERS send $8.00 to: Empathy Press, P.O. Box 12466, Seattle, Washinqton 98111. Canadian Money is Taken at Par. By Peggy Rudd: MY HUSBAND WEARS MY CLOTHES, a sympathetic discussion of the issues facing the Wife of a crossdresser. ($12.95 + $2 P & H) . CROSSDRESSING WITH DIGNITY, advice on [ Lydia's TV Fashions I brin~ing crossdressing out of the closet an into a rNelat1onship with pride.($12.95 + $2 P & H) Celebrating our 14th year LOVE CALENDAR: THE SECRETS OF EW! • CLASSIC PUMPS • WE CARRY LOVE, a day-by-day set of proverbs and quotes • STAGE PUMPS• Dresses • Skirts • Lingerie • Sh~es • Wigs to help reinforce the love In a relationship. Beard Cover • Make-Up • Garter Belts ($10.0Q + $2 p & H) SIZES9TO 15 RED & BLACK LEATHER ·oVaist Cinchers ·Corsets• Bras• Maid Uniforms OR PATENT LEATHER Breast Forms • Nylon Hose • Panty Hose ALSO AVAILABLE: The classic book by 5" HEELS $95.00 (crotchless & garter belt) Mariette Pathy-Allen TRANSFORMATIONS, a 6" HEELS $105.00 Thigh High, Knee High, and Ankle Boots Available Including S & H se · ' · 0 f the ries of photo essays with biographies CA residents add 8.25% tax crossdressers portrayed. ($19.95 + $3 P & H) Phone orders with •MAKE-UP LESSONS• MasterCard or Visa Call (818) 995-7195 MANY OTHER STYLES To ORDER, SEND CHECK OR MONEY ORDER TO: OF SHOES IN STOCK! For catalog (send $6.00) PM PUBLISHERS, Department KR Outside U.S. (send $10 U.S. Dollars) 13837 Ventura Boulevard. Suite 2. Shennan Oaks, California 91423 5304 Store Hours: Monday through Friday 12:00 noon to 6:00 p.m. P.O. Box Saturday NEW HOURS 11 :00 a.m. • 8:00 p.m...... Katy, TX 77444·5304 37 r

EVENTS CALENDAR

September 3 & 4, 1994: "GenDys '94", conference for professionals and others, University of Manchester, U.K Details from BM GenTrust, London WClN ~~~mber 15-18, 1994: Fourth Annual "New Women's Conference", Guerneville CA. Information from Wendi kaiser, P.O. Box 67, South Berwick ME 03908-0067, or by telephoning ~207) 676-5870 (fax-~ 676-4433). . . . September 22-25, 1994: "Paradise m the Poconos , CanadenstS PA Details from Creative Design Services, P.O. Box 61263, King of Prussia PA 19406 or by calling (610) 640-9449. • • . 04) September 29-0ctober 2, 1994: Southern Comfort Conference , Atlanta GA Information from P.O. Box ?759l, Atlanta GA 357 or by calltng (4 30 1 ~~ . 1~ October 8, 1994: "Gender Symposium f?r Medical and Mental Health Professionals", Miami FL. Information from The Eden Society, P.O. Box ' Pompano Beach FL 33061-1692 or by ealhng (305) 784-9316. October 16-23, 1994: 20th Annual "Fantas1a . F air . " , P rovmcctown. MA, sponsored by Outreach Institute. Write Alison Lain , P.O. Box 41, Southeastern PA 19399-0941 for details. g 9 November 2-5, 1994: "Fort Laud_erdale Freedom73"2, Sunrise FL, sponsored by Serenity and the Eden Society. Information via Internet ([email protected]), AOL (JessicaAN), or by telephonmg (305) 468-9 . November 10-13, 1994: Tri-Ess "Holiday En Femme", New York City. Open only to Tri Ess m b . d d ther heterosexual crossdressers. Details· from Lyn d a F ra~ k , ,330 W· 45th St. · #3H• Ncw y ork NY 10036; telephone ·(212) 765-3cm crs, wives an partners, an o r November 17-20, 1994: "Fall Harvest 94 , Cedar Rapids IA, sponsored by MAGGIE. Host organizat' 561. · Ar . D . fro p Box 75 Ccda Rapids 52406-0075 or by calling (319) 373-3031. . !On. 1owa ttstry. eta1 1s m · 0 · 1 February 21-26, 1995: 7th Annual "Texas T Party", San Antomo TX. Details from P.O. Box 17 Bulve . March 13-19, 1995: International Foundation for Gender Education "Coming Together-Worki rdeJX 78163 or by ca~lm~ (210) 980-7788GA . Details rrom IFGE, P.O. Box 367, Wayland MA 01778. ng ogether Convention , Atlanta · Ml!Y 17-21, 1995: "Esprit '95", Port Angeles WA, sponsored by Emerald City, NWGA and Co b . . Kirkland WA 98083-0873. ' rn ury Society. Details from P.O. Box 873 • (Please send i11fonnation on national gender community events to Cross-Ta~ po Box 9 W. di . 44 00 · · ' and Hills CA 91365.) ----

l\'l~'IU~ l ..CJCJlilNCr GRACE AND LACE LETTER A PublicatiOfl for Christian Craisdr"sers 11fJll 1l 111~''' t•CJC)I) lee Frances Heller Publisher P. 0 . Box 31253 Jackson. MS 39286-1253 'ZINl~S! 601 -362-6 335 SUBSCRIPTIONS ARE FREE We've been printing (and publishing) zines like yours SEND FOR P.. SP..M.PLE COPY for over five years and we bow the territory. We offer sheet-fed offset printing, fecycl2d paper & soybean inks, . plus full liin derr, ma::i:ig and shipping services on runs of I00 to I0,000. (Sorry, no newsprint). High quality, fasc turnaround, and a thorough understanding of the zine world. Plus special discount pricing, just for REACH THE GENDER COMMUNITY Ai zines. Call us for a free estimate today! A REASONABLE COST!!! ADVERTISE IN ~~@~~= lf~lk~ We. re the prov d transse ~~d communities en way to reach the crossdressing an do ... an we deliver the Ts who are serious about what th:r gender at .. 10 community pubal. "."er cost per copy than any 0 1cation1 Call us tOday for details ... (818) 907·3°53 38 HOTLINES

These hotlines a~ b known to be e run . Y non-~i'ofit organizations, and may not be answered "live" at all times as a result. Listings followed by % ara for Most other :xually-onented; listings followed by :/J: are for primarily TS-Oriented groups; listings followed by @ are for heterosexual TV/C~rours without notice11 nlfgs ar~ for "open" (both TV/CD and TS) groups. While we make every effort to keep this listing updated, phone numbers may ch~~ Y· • you fmd an Incorrect listing, please let us knowl ge

~~ ENGLAND/NORTH ATLANTIC REGIONS: Gender Dysphorfa Support, Kansas City: (816) 753-7816 :fl: Chi 0e:o~,9 Rochester: (716) 251-2132 fndiana Crossdressers Society, Indianapolis: (812) 876-5635

Conne . u Chapter Tri-Ess1 NYC: (201) 663-0n2@ Minnesota Freedom of Gender Expression: (612) 220-9072 Cross ~cut Outreach Society, Hartford: (203) 657-4344 N.G.D.O., Detroit: (313) 842-5258 # East Co ressers International, NYC: (212) 57C>-7389 Paradise Club, Cleveland: (216) 586-9292 Eulenspf:1 :i2SoM ~roup, Cambridge: (413) 584-7616 # Quad-City Society for Sexuality Ed., Davenport: (319) 324-9641 Expressi 9 c1ety, NYC: (212} 388-7022 % St. Louis Gender Foundation: (314) 997-9897 Gender ~~ ?-ur Nature, Syracuse: (315) 475-5611 Sunday Society, Chicago: (312) 252-7024 Gender t1 n •ty Program, NYC: (212) 969-0888 # Wichita Transgender Alliance: (316) 682-9131 Girls' Nlg~~North, New Hampshire: {603} 924-8828 SOUTHWEST/MOUNTAIN REGION: Images Harttut, NYC: (212) 794-1665 ext 202 Alpha Chi Chapter Tri-Ess, Amarillo: (806) 359-7714@ Imperial ord: (203) 779-9708 Bluebonnet Coalition, San Antonio: (210) 656-4163 lnt'I. Fou Queens of New York: (212) 580-9858 Boulton & Park Society, San Antonio: (210) 980-7788 Lambda ndatlon for Gender Education: (617) 894-8340 CrossDressers International, Tulsa: (918) 582-6643 Long lsla~dhlFilambda Chapter Trl-Ess. Utica: (607) 547-4118@ Delta Omega Chapter Tri-Ess, Dallas: (817) 264-7103@ Metro . emme Expression: c516) 4334866 @ First Saturday, El Paso: (505) 434-5144 Outreapcohhtannsti~tender Network, NYC: (718) 461 •9050 Gender Crisis Help Une, Tucson: (602) 293-3456 Re 1 ute N p I ( Gender fdentity Center, Denver: (303) 458-5378 flectlons Bo ' · ort and: 207>77 5-0858 Gulf Coast Transgender Community, Houston: (713) 780-4282 Renaiss • ston: (617) 323-6082 Renaissaannce LGreater Philadelphia Chapter: (610) 530-1437 Help Me ... Accept Me, Dallas: (214) 416-6632 · Re ce SVCh ReCast, Dallas: (214) 994-9314# naissance S apter, Harrisburg: (717) 780-1578 Second Image, Austin: (512) 515-5460 Sigma Nu Rh . Jersey Chapter: (609) 435-5401 TS Peer Support, Houston: (713) 333-2278 # Silent Pass o Chapter Tri-Ess, Trenton: (609) 586-1351 @ Tau Chi Chapter Tri-Ess, Houston: (713) 347-8747@ Tiffany Clu~gBoe, Rhode Island: (401) 438-7417 Texas Ass'n. of Transsexuals, Houston: (713) 827-5913 # iransGe ' ston: (617) 891-9325 s An 1 ~ lransGennder. Educational Ass'n, Arlington: (30 ) 949-3822 West Texas Gender Alliance, an ge o: ,915) 944-1381 T densts I 1 PACIFIC NORTHWEST: ranspitt P'tt ndependence Club, Albany: (518) 436-4513 Emerald City, Seattle: (206) 284-1071 1 1 Washin t sb~rgh: (412) 231-1181 G d Ce t Se ttl (206) 329-6651 XX ,,.hwegnon-Ba1t1more ty) Cl All1'ance·. (301) 2n-5475 NorthwestIngersoll Genderen er Alliance,n er, aPortland: e: (503) 646-2802 l'liE SOUTH· ub, Hartford: (203) 646-8651 # Rose City Gender Center, Portland: (503) 230-1036 American Ed· Salmacis Feminist Social Society, Eugene: (503) 688-4282 Atlanta Ge d ucational Gender Info. Service: (404) 939-0244 Transsexual Lesbians & Friends, Seattle: (206) 292-1037 :fJ: Black Rose" ~r.Exploration: {404) 875-9846# THEWESTCOAST(CA&HI): CarolinaT ' hngton: (301) 369-7667 % Tri Ess l..D 8 An I 1213) 876-6141@ Eden Soc• ratyns-Sensual Alliance, Charlotte.· (704) 551-8838 Alpha Chapter • ' ge es: " 1e p Amer. TranssexuaJ Education Center: (213) 389-6938 :/J: Fantasia 1 ompano Beach: (305) 784-9316 # Androgyny, Santa Monica: {213) 467-8317 01 GOA Nor1tl r ando: (407) 425-4527 # eom Free, Riverside: (909) 278-0958 Gender 1 Carolina: (704) 642-1914 CHIC, Los Angeles: {818) 248-9075@ Grace & ~ormat!o~ Network, Gainesville: (904) 332-8178 Diablo Valley Girls, Concord: (510) 849-4112 Louisville Gce,dM 1ss1ssippi: (601) 362-6335 Educational TV Channel, San Francisco: (510) 549-2665 Montgom en er Society: (812) 944-5570 FTM, Oakland: (510) 287-2646 # Montgom:ry lns~tute, Augusta: (404) 603-9426 # Hawaii Transgendered Outreach, Honolulu: (808) 923-4270 M.O.A E Ff rast1tute, Gainesville: (904} 332-6638 # Neutral Comer, San Diego: (619) 685-3696 Mu Sigm' · uderdale: (305) 966-2138 Powder Puffs Of California, Anaheim: (714) 779-9013 Phi EpsiJ~ C~apter Tri-Ess, Arkansas: (501) 972-1826@ Rainbow Gender Association, San Jose: (408) 984-4044 Phoenix ~h u .Chapter Tri-Ess, Central· FL: (407) 677-9540@ Sacramento Gender Association: (916) 482-7742 Serenity' ev11te: (704) 259-9428 Sigma Sigma Beta Chapter Tri-Ess, Lake Tahoe: (916} 544-2460@ Sigma ' H~llywood: (305) 436-9477 Society for the Second Self (Tri-Ess) Nat'I.: (209} 688-9246@ Starbur;f~lon Chapter Tri-Ess, Atlanta: (404) 552-4415@ Swan's Inner Sorority, San Jose: (408) 297-1423 Tenness~e ~mpa-St. Petersburg: {813} 527-1012 CANADA: Virginia's als, Nashville: (615) 664-6883 Club Met, Montreal: (514) 528-8874 ~IDWEsr8 ~cret, Richmond: (804) 222-6796 Entre Femme, Quebec: (418) 529-1132 # Beta Gam VICINITY: F.A. T.E., Vancouver: (604) 254-9591 Central Ill' m~ Chapter Tri-Ess, Minneapolis: (612) 870-8536@ Gender Mosaic, Ottawa: (613) 749-5203 Chi Cha 1no1s ~nder Assoc.: (309} 444-9918 muslons Social Club, Calgary: (403) 486-9661 ChicagoP~er Tn-Ess, Chicago: (708) 364-9514@ City of La ender Society: (708) 7 49-1202 [For a fist of hotlines for organizations outside North America send a Cross-Pokes .crossgender Comm., Minneapolis: (612) 229-3613 self-addressed envelope and an International Reply Coup~n (/RC) to Cross-Talk, Dept. 111, P.O. Box 944, Woodland Hiiis CA 91365.} Crossdre rt, Cincinnati: (513) 474-9557 Crossroa~sers &Friends, Kansas City: (913) 791-3947 Crystal er~ Detroit: (313) 537-3267 u •Columbus: (614) 7n-0648 39 NEWS? INFORMATION? COMMENTARY? ADVICE? PERSPECTIVES? IT'S ALL IN

(_,)

The Gender Conmun;ty's News & Information Monthly

Back in 1988, a newsletter called Cross-Talk was born, with a mission to provide the gender community with thought-provoking articles, news, information and entertaining features, without gossip, sexually-oriented material or references, or so-called "passing" stories ... and nearly sixty issues later, Cross-Talk (in magazine format since January 1993) is still packed with as much useful information as possible! Only Cross-Talk has separ~te c~lumni_sts for crossdresser, transsexual, transgenderist, wife(partne~. and profess1~~al - ~.1ewp01~ts .. . three separ~te news sections for gender community, mainstream. and 'tidbit n~ws items_ ... plus movie and alternative press reviews, events calendar and .. ~upport. hothnes, c?m1cs ~nd humor features, plus our NEW monthly column on the information superhighway'. Almost six years have passed since we put out those firs~ five_ pages, ~nd while we're eight times bigger, our commitment to provide the community with a quality product hasn't changed one bit!

Now, as then, we give everyone in the worldwide gender community the opportunity to receive Cross-Talk at the lowest price possiible (subscribers save at least 40% off the cover price) while ensuring automatic receipt of our unique mix of articles, editorials new it" cartoons, etc., bY having it delivered direct. by ma1·1 eac h man th . , s ems,

Cross-Talk is published by members of the gender community, with total concern for ou b 'b rs' privacy and security. our mailing list is kept completely confidential (we don't even keep a list of addr rfsu s~n el _. sue orders!), · · ·1 d · 1 · ·1 . esses rom smg e 1s and each month's issue 1s ma1 ~ m a Pam mania ~~ve1 ope with only our P.O. Box return address There is nothing - not even our name -- on the outside of the envelope g1vmg any clue as to the contents. ·

Subscribe today and keep the information coming to your mailbox ... ------·------

Cr oss-Talk CONFIDENTIAL SUBSCRIBER INFORMATION FORM

NOTE: We cannot mail to,, Ma i 1 i ng Narne ------"Occupant" / "Boxholder Mai ling Addr ess

c i. t. y State Zip [ ] One year (12 issues) $54 [] T"1o years (24 issues) $96 ------Mail t o : Cross-Ta lk P.O. Bo x 944 Wood land Hills, CA 91365 Ilb:::=! =:J N1 ·n· ll . S. s nbsuribers: Add $1 2 per year f · or int ernational postage. FROM SANDY THOMAS CONTEMPORARY . CONTEMPORARY TV FICTION # 17 is "HUSBAND TO HOSTESS." This TV FICTION is a special "double issue" (a very long story that would normally be two books .. ) It's /.EAL # 33 ...... 7.00 · · · · · · · . PRETTY AS YOU PLEASE# 32 .... 7.00 · · · · · · · . MY SON, THE BRIDE# 31 ...... 7.00 · · · · · MY SON THE DEBUTANTE # 30 .. 7.00 · · · · · LIKE A DAUGHTER# 29 ...... 7.00 · · · · . HOLIDAY IN HEELS # 28 ...... 7.00 · · · · · WOMAN-HOOD COMPLETED# 27 . 7.00 · · · · · WOMAN-HOOD# 26 ...... 7.00 · · · · · ONE OF THE GIRLS# 25 ...... 7.00 · · · · · HUSBAND TO HOUSEWIFE# 24 .. 7.00 ..,.., · · · · · PAUL: GIRL MODEL# 23...... 7.00 .~J' · · · · · MY SON, THE BRIDESMAID # 22 .. 7.00 · · · · · WOMAN'S WORK# 21 ...... 7.gg · · · · · THAT'A GIRL# 20 ...... · ·ho ~:ii · · · ·. TITFOR TAT# 19 ...... · · · · · · · · · · ·NEAR MISS# 18 ...... 7.00 _j_ . . TV VIDEOS VHS · · · · · GOING A BROAD# I 7 ...... 7.00 ..... MOVIN'ON9~ ...... NEW ..... 29.95 · · · · · DRESSED TO DANCE# I6 ...... 7.og SHE'S A BOY ...... NEW ..... 39.95 · · · · . FLIGHT OF FANCY# 15 ..... · · · 7.0 ..... QUEENS OF THE PACIFIC ...... 39.95 · · · · . MAID UP# I4 ...... 7.0 0 ..... GUYS IN GOWNS ...... 39.95 : :_; : : WHERE THE GIRLS ARE BOYS ...... 39.95 · · · · . ACTING LIKE A GIRL # 13 ... · · · · 1.0o0o · · · · . ALL DOLLED UP # 12 .... · · · · · 7· _::L . . TV SERIALS - NEW! . · · · · NOT ENOUGH GIRLS # 11 ...... 7.00 DESTINED FOR DRESSES# I ...... 7.00 : : : : : DESTINED FOR DRESSES# 2 ...... 7.00 · · · · . SKIRTING TllE ISSUE # 10 .... · · · 1.o0o · · · · · JUST LIKE A WOMAN # 9 ... · · · · 7·0 DESTINED FOR DRESSES# 3 ...... 7.00 · · · · · LIKE MOTHER. LIKE SON # 8 .... 7.00 ..... MANICURED TO PERFECTION# I ...... 7.00 · · · · · MISS-ING PASSPORT# 7 ...... 7.00 ..... PRIMPING TO PERFECTION # 2 ...... 7.00 · · · · · CHEERLEADER MASCOT # 6 .... 7.00 : : : : : POLISHED TO P~.Rf:ECTION # 3 ...... 7.00 MAID IN FORM A .. NEW ...... 7.00 · · · · · PAT GOES COED # 5 ...... 7.00 ..... MAID IN FORM "B" .. NEW ...... 7.00 · · · · · SUBSTITUTE DAUGHTER # 4 .. · · 1.gg . .... MAID IN FORM "C" .. NEW ...... 7.00 · · · · · MODEL HUSBAND # 3 ..... · · · · 7...... FORCED TO BE A DAUGHTER# 1 . NEW .. 7.00 '_j/_: ·ROOM FOR A CH~~-G~ # 2 ..... · 7.00 ..... LEARNING TO IJE A DAUGHTER# 2 NEW .. 7.00 1 1 ..... BECOMING A DAUGHTER# 3 .... NEW .. 7.00 · · · . : n~P~fJ 1cy?lo1ro~tf·1~§ s # 11 ...•.• ~~go · · ·_1· .. TV NARRATIVES -- AUDIO CASSETTE TAPE ..... GIRLIES # 16 ...... -· ...... ioo ... : : llOLIDAY IN HEELS# I CASSETTE TAPE .. 12.00 ..... HIS FIRST DRESS. . . # l:> ...... ioo . :./· .. HAWAII IN HEELS # 2 ...... 12.00 ..... MY SISTER'S SHADOW# 14 .. ioo __y. .. 1V MAGAZINES ..... THE BOY WHO BLOSSOMED# I3 .. ioo • I BECAME A GIRL ... - COMIC BOOK# 2 • I0.00 ..... THE GIRL'S PART # 12 ...... ioo • • • • I BECAME MY SISTER - COMIC BOOK# 1 . 8.00 · · · · · THE NEW GIRL # 11 . · · · · · · · · · . 1·00 : j .. AMERICAN BOY IN ENGLAND 200 pages .. 24.00 ..... FRENCH DRESSING# 10 ...... ioo J : : T'fa Revisited Fiction Series: - ..... vow OF FEMININITY# 9 ...... ioo THE PICTUlm ALBUM # 20 ••••••• NEW •• 7.00 ..... VIRGIN vows# 8 ...... ·oo •• ' .•• : BOYS TO BABES # 19 ...... 7.00 ·····CHANGING VOWS TOO# 7 ······ho · . . . . THE MAKEOVER# 18 ...... 7.00 ..... EXCHANGING vows# 6 ...... ioo · · .... PETTICOATS FOR PATRICK# 17 ...... 7.00 ..... SKIRT FOR A FLIRT# 5 ...... ioo · ..... FEMININE FORTE# 16 ...... 7.00 ..... UNIQUE CONCEPT/FLOOD # 4 .. ioo · ..... MANNEOUIN # 15 ...... 7.00 ..... GOING TO THE BALL # 3 ...... "oo · · · ... BIRTH Of BARBARA# 14 ...... 10.00 ..... SCHOOLING IN SKIRTS # 2 ... ~·oo · · .... IDEAL MARRIAGE # 13 ...... 10.00 Tot · 1· · · · CANT CUT IT # I ...... · · · · · · · .... CHARM SCHOOL# 12 ...... 7.00 · · .... ACCEPTANCE #II ...... 7.00 •. a order...... ······~-- · · · ... FASHION MODELS# 10 ...... 7.00 Sh · · · ... A TALE OF TWO MOTHERS*# 9 ...... 7.00 CAPt•~g $1.00 per item ($5.00 max.) -- - · · · · .. MARTIN TO MARION# 8 (two books) ..... 12.00 · · · . : : CHRIS TO.CllRIS~IE # 7 ...... 7.00 Totatsidents add state tax ..... · · · -- · · · . HE CROSSED THE LIN~ # 6 ...... 7.00 MEnclosed (I am over 21 years old.) •• • • -=-AS ADV · · · · .. CAN'T LICK 'EM. JOIN ·EM# 5 ...... 10.00 · · · · .. HIS AND HER'S EQUALS THEIRS# 4 ..... 7.00 ake check~ pay~bie·t~:·s·ANDYTHOM · · · · ... PINK MIRROR# 3. · · · · · · · · · · · · · · .... 9.00 · · · .. : IT'S ALL IN THE FAMILY# 2 ...... 7.00 · · · · . FATED FOR FEMININITY # I ...... 10.00 NAME ...... · · · · .. ADVENTURES IN PETTICOATS ...... 7.00 ··································································· · .....· · · · · Turnabout ... · · · · · · · · · · · · · · · · · · · · · 7.00 Send order to: SANDY THOMAS ADV. A.DDREss ...... P. O. Box 2309 ······················································· CAPISTRANO BEACH, CA 92624-0309 PERHRP6 WE CRfl HELP. You're not an alien and you're not alone. Since 1985, CDS has be;~ . g the ·information needs of the transgender community with publications like RRT &ILWBID :nn serv1n BEHO,,u UUIOE TO Cl/0550/IE551RU. POL5. I nno II ($15 ea.)' THE Tl/Rfl55EXURL'5 5Ul/P/PRL UU/OE TO TRRfl5/T/Ofl nno haS ($15) ' IOEflTITH mnnRUEIREflT JR Tl/Rfl55EXURL/5/R ($15) ' and COP/flu WITH C/1055011E55/flU ( $1 2). cD s aIs~ $40 videos like BR5/C IRRKEUP, LROHL/KE OEPOllTIREflT, C051flET/C 5Ul/UEl/H and 5Tl/R/UHT DOPE on HOR/RDflEfi, JUS eac h, Plus $3 shipping & handling each . Call TOLL FREE to order by VISA or MasterCard. '\t. CREilTIYE DESI/in SERVICES PO 61263, King of Prussia, PA 6 ~(II) Bo~ 1940 S Credit card orders only. 1.800.871. 9449 OR send e-mail to: cdspub@omn i. vol cenet. com