rnet:arilor<pbosfs - -- •• - ... - # ·-·· ·-- VOL. 2, N0.4 METAMORPHOSIS MEDICAL RESEARCH FOUNDATION AUGUST 1983 The Joy Of METAMORPHOSIS MMRF Noles By METAMORPHOSIS, I don't mean my Correction: Please note that the 6 own "metamorphosis to masculinity" information pamphlets distributed but rather, the METAMORPHOSIS MEDI­ by the Janus Information Facility CAL RESEARCH FOUNDATION-which I sell for $25--not $10 (as original­ first established in Dec. 1981 as ly reportecr-in Vol.2, No.3, P.9). METAMORPHOSIS: Gender Counselling Educational Services. We warmly welcome the following new members to join our Board of Profes- People sometimes ask me, "Why do sional Advisors: Dr. Conrado, M.D.-- you peer-counsel transsexuals, why a Brazilian physician who is study- do you conduct research on tr~ns- ing plastic surgery in Brussels, sexualism and why do you educate Belgium; Mr. Klaus Kohlmeyer, M.A.~- professionals and the lay public Director of the Balaclava R~sidence on gender dysRhoria? What is you~ of the Elizabeth Fry Society in Van- moti vation, your reason for being a couver, British Columbia; Ms. Alise "professional transsexual" and what Martinez, B.A., R.N.--Diiector of benefits do you reap from this par- TS Counseling in San Francisco, Ca­ ticular career?" Welt I'll tell you.·· lifornia; and finally, Mr. Jude F. Patton, M.A., PA-C--Director of the I have been counselling, research­ Gender Dysphoria Program of Orange ing and educating re: transsexual­ County in San Juan Capistrano, Cal­ ism and gender dysphoria since 1971 ifornia. We are also pleased to wel­ the time which I began my own trans eome Mr. Joe Ellman, from Spring­ sexual transition. I do it for the field, Missouri, as a special Re­ same reason(s) as any other scien­ search Consultant of the MMRF. tist, philosopher, psychologist, journalist, artist, musician, or On Jun~ 22nd, Rupert Raj met Ariadne actor~ That is, to seek, to find, Kane--Director of the Outreach In­ and then, to proclaim the "truth" stitute in Boston, Massachusetts-­ to the world. To· raise conscious­ for the first time, while she was ness. Or, in simpler terms, I ~o it attending a conference here in Tor­ because it is "in" my blood, "in" onto. They dined out together with the air I breathe~ it is my very Susan C. Huxford--Executive Director life--it is, in fact, myself. "Le of FACT and Director of GenderServe style c'est l'homme." The style (or in Hamilton, Ontario. A good visit!· the work) is the man himself. On July 23rd, Rupert Raj hosted a I have been criticized, on occasion, small rap-social for 6 members/sub­ for being a "professional transsex­ scribers at his residence. Mr. Raj ual", for going public--appearing showed the F-M guests several photo­ on radio and TV and speaking and graphs o~ the phalloplasty--as per­ lecturing on the "transsexual phen­ formed by various plastic surgeons. omenon". To these critics, I say this--"Every one has his mission in To date, we have received 16 Confi­ 11 fe" and this is mine. If not dential Research Questionnaires. transsexualism, gender dysphoria, Grateful thanks are due to these 16 sex and gender, and sexology, it research participants. The rest of woul~ have been something else, eg: you--please support this research (cont'd. on p.9) project and return your CRQs soon! BOOKREVIEW: The Gender Trap researching the truths of gender by Chris Johnson & Cathy Brown with dysphoria. She confuses sex and Wendy Nelson. Proteus, 1983 ($21.50) gender, and lacks•knowledge of the medical and surgical procedur~s ••• THE GENDER TRAP describes itself involved in sex reassignment. She as "the story of the world's mos·t tells how Anne and Eugene meet "Dr. unusual couple--they met and togeth- S", who relates"the cold, clinical . er decided to have a child before details of conver~ing penis to va­ pursuing the sex changes both desir­ gina, clitoris to penis." This is ed so much." It is the story of arrant nonsense. In M-F sex reas­ Eugene and Anne. signmen~ the penis is amputated and part of the stump used to form Eugene is the son of itinerant Irish a clitoris. A neo-vagina has to be parents and is brought· up ••• in a· created by incision. In F-M reas­ dogmatic Catholic tradition. Society signment, hormone therapy may leng­ sends him to a "training school" then the clitoris to about 7 ems., which is a 20th century disgrace •••• but it is inadequate for complete Eugene's childhood is enough to make penetration and cannot be used for any growing b.oy a social misfit. The urination. Phalloplasty--the surgi­ wonder of it is that he rises above cal art of creating a penis--is this and becomes a master of Kung-Fu still in a very rudimentary stage This is the sort of compensation to of development. which the M-F TS often resorts, but always without relief •••• Eugene ap­ As well, Ms. Nelson is misinformed pears as a classic transsexual--at in calling Dr. Robert Stoller "the the age of 5 he knows that he doesrlt one man who has attempt~d to make feel like a boy •••• What does it feel any lengthy study of tra~ssexualis~" like to be a man? What d~it feel ••• The pioneer work of Dr. Harry like to be a woman? I have yet to Benjamin and the very solid re­ meet the genetic male or female who search carried out by Dr. John can tell me. Certainly THE GENDER Money at Johns Hopkins are complete TRAP does not answer the question-- ly overlooked. (Continu~d on p.10) ! t only serves. to point up the tradii-..-------------------_, tional expectations of our society. GATEWAY GENDER ALLIANCE Anne's background is entirely differ~ ent. She is brought up in a fairly Publishers of the Phoenix stable, protective artisan's home in __ Monthly-International the heart of industrial England. She II International support organization is a bright student who is success­ for the ful in highschool, winning a place female;. to-male male-to-female in university where she meets a boy­ transsexual and crossdresser friend whom she eventually marries. But she is a tomboy whose mother can~ POBox62283 (408) 734-3773 not keep her in dresses and who is Sunnyvale. CA 94088 (6 pm to 12 pm PST) never so happy as when she is tinker~'----------~----------------------------' inqunder the hood of the family car. ••• Anne's marriage produces no child­ WANTED! ! ! ren because neither partner wishes that responsibility. Anne abhors the Poems, limericks, free verse on idea .of giving birth and appears to themes related to: transsexualism, be totally lacking in maternal in­ transvestism, and androgyny for stincts. When she eventually does inclusion in forthcoming book: AN have a baby, it is her partner who ANTHOLOGY OF TS, TV, AND ANDROGY­ assumes the mother role •••• NOUS VERSE. Send submissions to: Rupert Raj, METAMORPHOSIS, P.O. Writer Wendy Nelson seems to have Box 5963, Station A, Toronto, been more concerned with producing a Ontario, Canada MSW 1P4. readable "autobiography" than with •• 2 DEAR RUPERT f QUESTION OF THE. MONTH I was very anxious to learn more What is the a) best experience you about your organi~ation. The news­ have had re: your transsexualism letter is very enlightening. I was and sex reassignment? excited about reading your life story in the February and April "(j.etting m.al..e idfl-ntit.ication." issues. I am ertclosing the Confi­ "(joing out in th.e wo4ld a,o a man dential Research Questionnaire. I and pa44ing and t.eing acc11..pt.ed a,o hope it helps make some progress a man.--t.ui.l. male p4ivi l.11.ge,o. " into dealing with people like us. And also enclosed is a check for "Di,ocove4ing how happy daily tit..11. $25 to join as a member of METAMOR­ c.an t.e. " PHOSIS. I am currently trying to get my "H11..lping 4om.11..on.e 11..l4e who thought phalloplasty completed and am at th11..y w11..~11.. a t4an4411..xual." present sitting in a hospital room "(jen11..4al comto~t in 4.elt-11..xp~11..44ion." recuperating from another stage of the penile construction. The cost "J.u,ot fi..11..ing afi..l11.. to fi..11.. li• " of this surgery in the U.S.A. is "'F.e.11..ling cong4u11..nt and ,otopping outrageous. I understand that the the p~11..ten-011... " ·canadian insurance program will take care of most of the cost if a "'Finding a gend11..4 id11..ntity c.l.inic.." person is referred by the Gender "Having a woman acc..ep~ m11.. a4 a man." Identity Clinic there. "When I ul-0ited a new c.hu4ch and It has taken me several years to join11..d in the 4inging and 411..al.ized finally come in contact with other to4 th.e ti4,ot tim.e that I wa-0 4ing­ people like myself. It is so good ing th11.. men'-0 pa4f_ and I tit in." to know and hear from others that "7h.e total acceptance ty my p4ie-0t." have experienced the same things. Thanks to organizations like META­ "When a woman, ofi..4e4uing me c.ont.em.­ MORPHOSIS and TS newsletters, I no plat.11. which ~11..,,of.4oom I -0hould ent.e~, longer feel totally alone in my -0aid 'You c.4n't go in th11..4e/' 411..­ fight as a person. te44ing to th.11. wom..en'-6 4oom." I will be awaiting the next issue b) the worst? of METAMORPHOSIS and any other cor­ respondence you would like to send.