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Bluegrass Belles, PO Box 20173, Louisville, KY. 40250 | March 1997 |
By Annette Louise Casebeer
So, you think that you are "out"? You've gone out to dinner in nice restaurants "en femme", you
are out to your family and friends with no repercussions, you belong to support groups, maybe
you have even gone to a convention. Maybe you believe you have done everything that you can
do "en femme". My question is this: Do you have the transgendered nerve to board an airplane,
fly to Washington D.C., rent a car, check into a hotel, and then go to Capitol Hill on the
MetroRail and tell U.S. Senators, U.S. Congressmen, and their aides how to vote on pending
legislation? Now, you may say that you don't care about politics, that they won't take us
seriously, that they won't listen to anyone without money, that they won't even talk to you, that
you don't pass well enough to even try, that you don't understand the issues well enough, and that
it won't change anything. This attitude is nonsense, and I think we all know that.
My friends, it's time for all of us to become politically involved. I hire and fire people in my
capacity as a video store manager, and let me tell you, in the Commonwealth of Kentucky, you
CAN be fired for being TG, with no recourse possible against your employer. Discrimination is a
word that is tossed around rather loosely in the workplace, but yes, you can be discriminated
against legally as long as race, skin color, religious affiliation, creed, sex, or country of origin are
not involved. Some states and municipalities offer protections in addition to Federal law, but
these are few and far between. This is not just an issue for the transsexual who is attempting to
transition on the job; if your boss finds out that you crossdress, and doesn't like it, you might find
yourself in the unemployment line. Now that would cut into the makeup and dress budget a little,
wouldn't it?
Some of you who are politically interested may be aware that a remedy is pending before
Congress. It is called ENDA, the Employment Non-Discrimination Act, and as originally written,
it makes discrimination in the workplace on the basis of sexual preference or gender identification
illegal. There are several problems with this legislation, the main one being that transgendered
rights were cut out of the bill. Those of you who think that the Human Rights Commission, the
gay/lesbian/bisexual lobbying group, is on our side, are wrong. HRC does not even acknowledge
the transgendered community in their literature and press releases, and has asked key Senators
and Congressmen to cut us out of ENDA on the shaky pretense that our presence endangered the
bill's passage. We are all aware of the power held by the conservatives and the Religious Right,
and we must admit that we don't fit into their vision of a new American Fundamentalist Christian
Republic that will make Iran seem civilized. Add to this the fact that there are 2 groups involved
with lobbying for TG rights, Phyllis Frye's ICTLEP and Riki Anne Wilchins' GenderPAC, and
then consider that these two honorable ladies don't see eye to eye, and you can easily see many
reasons why we TG people don't make our points as effectively as we should.
Enough excuses, it's time to take the initiative. You can write letters and EMail to your
Congressman and Senators without mentioning your transgendered status, although I believe you
would make a more powerful point if you state that you are transgendered and vote. You can
work at the local and state level to enact ENDA-like legislation in your area. If you have not
already done so, register to vote, and find out which candidates are open-minded about
employment rights for GLBT people. And that's not all....
by Annette Louise Casebeer
If you are "out", and want to have one of the great TG experiences of your
crossdressed life, then do what I did on February 23, and go to Capitol Hill.
GenderPAC is organizing another transgendered lobbying effort May 4-6. The February event that I attended was sponsored by ICTLEP, and, while we
accomplished quite a bit, there is a lot of work yet to be done before ENDA is reconsidered in
early summer. The more transpeople that attend, the better our chances of inclusion, and the
better our chances are of convincing the occasional conservative Senator or Congressmanthat granting employment rights to us does not make them into flaming liberals, and that we aren't
the dangerous amoral freaks that Jerry Falwell and Pat Robertson think we are.
I left my video store at 1:30 AM the night before, stopped for a bite, then
got to work. My work schedule had left me unable to pack or do laundry
in advance, so I had a long night ahead of me. I ran the laundry, and did
my nails while it agitated, then packed for the trip. Around 6AM, the
laundry was done, and while Mom slept, I shaved my legs and arms and
applied makeup for the long day ahead without rushing the job. I then
chose a nice black Joan Leslie suit, dark red top and black pumps for the
tripTwo trips upstairs with the luggage and Mom was fully awake and waiting to see me off. Now, she's seen me "en femme" before, but you would have to
say she isn't comfortable with the idea. To her credit, she did comment that I looked great, that I
would probably pass, and that I was prettier than she had been at the same age and would have
been a pretty woman. I was quite happy with
those comments, they were much more than I had expected from her.
I had heard a lot of scary stories about "en femme" flying, about how they scrutinized ID cards. I
haven't flown commercial in about 16 years, and when I last did so, I never saw my luggage
again, so you can imagine my trepidation. Can you imagine the problem of flying into a city "en
femme", and not have any luggage? In the past weeks, I asked others more experienced than I am
about the pitfalls of flying "en femme", and found that traveling this way presented few problems.
In addition, I went ahead and "outed" myself to the clerk at Southwest Airlines when placing my
reservation; she said that crossdressing passengers should carry and show their legal ID card in
their male name, and that airline personnel would show courtesy towards us as a matter of
company policy; she also stated that any problems we had would come from other passengers and
to do my best to avoid confrontation. I found that to be an acceptable risk similar to that incurred
on a shopping trip, one calling for nothing more than good common sense.
So, here I was, parking the Taurus in the long-term garage at Louisville International Airport,
unloading my leather duffle, garment bag, and laptop computer, shambling sleeplessly into the
terminal, presented myself at the (mercifully) deserted ticket counter, checked my leather duffle
bag, passed through the security check, and trudged down the long hallway to the gate. I
presented my ticket at the gate, picked up my boarding pass, met Dawn and Marjorie, boarded the
plane, stashed my computer and garment bag in the overhead, and settled back into my seat. I
took note of the type of plane (Boeing 737), observed every move made by the pilots and
bantered with Dawn and Marjorie.
The remainder of the voyage and the voyage back was totally uneventful, and the 3 of us were
treated as any 3 ladies would have been treated. Car rental? No problem! Motel check-in? Staff
was a bit dense, but no problems. Metrorail into D.C.? Very pleasant, but who was going to
mess with 20 TG people in a group? Capitol Hill police? Very helpful, no second glances, no
restroom problems at all. The staff at the restaurants and Senatorial lunchroom were oblivious to
our manner of dress.
Yes, my TG friends, you CAN travel "en femme" if you use your head and make proper
arrangements.
Remember the following tips:
1. Pack as lightly as you can, and if you can carry-on your duffle, do so.
2. When asked for ID, show your state drivers' license; the clerks will not out you publicly; they'll simply ask "Is this you?" and let you through. You may have to recite your license of social security number if your femme persona is very different from your male, as mine is.
3. Credit cards in your male name present no problem when en femme. Once again, the clerks will not out you, they just want to get you through with no hassles.
4. Don't forget to get a map at the rent-a-car desk. Getting lost "en femme" can be a harrowing experience for the inexperienced. Another interesting story that I'll let others tell.....
Join us in May for the GenderPAC event. Lobbying Congress is one of the most meaningful and enjoyable TG activities you will ever try, and you will meet new friends from other places. Believe it or not, you will be taken seriously, and that was my biggest surprise.
Annette Louise Casebeer
SPEAK UP!
Yes, we welcome your letters and comments,
good and bad!
Snailmail: PO BOX 20173, Louisville, KY. 40250
By Marjorie Demaille, Dawn Josephine Wilson,
and Annette Louise Casebeer
These are the draft notes we compiled and turned in to Phyllis Frye at the end of our lobbying sessions. Note that you cannot gauge the chances for ENDA's passage along party lines; we met Republicans who are likely supporters, and at least one unfriendly Democrat.
Anne Meigher Northup, 3 Dist Rep. (Ky)
Spoke to: Meghan Boland
Treated: Curious about TG lifestyle; knew about "The Connection", which is a GLBT owned/friendly club in Louisville.
We believe: Will make some calls to district, particularly regarding the "Coming Together"conference in Louisville, KY. Was not completely certain how Rep. Northup would vote on ENDA, but we feel that a fair assessment will be made. Asked who sponsored the bill, and we told her of Sen. Jeffords' involvement.
Members' attitudes: impossible to gauge other than fact that she will make a fair informed
decision.
Other issues discussed: the Louisville "Coming Together" conference April 4-6; employment
issues, Lori (first TS EMT in KY, a friend of Dawn's)
Sen. Joseph Biden, D-Delaware
Spoke to: Receptionist
Contact person resp. for ENDA: Matthew Baumgardner 224-5042, 221 Russell Bldg, Wash DC. 20510
Mr. Baumgardner wasn't in office. Sen. Biden is no longer on Judiciary Comm, but the aide is familiar with ENDA.
I would say that Sen. Biden will vote for ENDA again regardless of TG inclusion.
Sen. Mitch McConnell, R-Kentucky
Spoke to :Joe Monaghan (Robin Bowen is actual contact person)
Treated with: Courtesy & respect;
After we left: Probably educated and raised interest. Dawn Wilson was a staff aide for Sen. McConnell, and they were obviously interested in her lifestyle. Quote: Things regarding
ENDA are very hazy right now, and Sen. McConnell does not have enough info to make an informed decision yet.
Other issues: Coming Together (see Northup), invited staff to Louisville Gender Society, and
Bluegrass Belles meeting. Lori (see Northup). I feel very strongly that this one can be
turned with persistance and plenty of info. We will keep pressure on from our end.
Sen. Wendell Ford, D-Kentucky
Spoke to: James Low.
Treated: Correctly but no better than that. Receptionist seemed contemptuous.
After: Probably found us more amusing or entertaining than a serious source of info. He came out
and said that Sen Ford did not feel that ENDA was a proper remedy for job discrimination and
when pressed, the aide could not comeup with a better idea. I feel that they won't support us no
matter what we do, and that the aide was probably not TG friendly. Other issues: "Coming
Together"
Sen. Carol Moseley-Braun, D-Illinois
Treated; Like old friends
Spoke to: Receptionist. Anne Ruhle was contact person, and was ill. After: Receptionist said
that Sen. was fully aware of ENDA, as well as problems with TG inclusion
and problems with HRC They will support no question. Sen is out of town
Sen. Max Baucus, R-Montana
Spoke to: Jim Messina
Treated: like old friends
After: I KNOW that they found us very interesting. The aide was well informed already about
many issues. Was able to say that Sen Baucus would support. Was made aware and would
support TG inclusion. Discussed and compared our battle with the battle over repeal of sodomy
laws in Montana.
Sen. Tom Harkin, D-Iowa
Spoke to: Kimberly Zimmerman
Treated: Friendly, professional courtesy.
After: This one was a foregone conclusion. Harkin is on our side, original cosponsor. Note: HRC
had already been there recently and the Senator was unimpressed with HRC's reasons for
excluding us. Will definitely support ENDA again regardless; Statement: Sen. Harkin supports all
human rights legislation. Mentioned that they would be contacting Sen Jefford's office.
Sen. Byron Dorgan, R-North Dakota
Spoke to: Becky Donovan
Treated: We would not have had a meeting, except that Anne Casebeer mentioned that she was born in Fargo, ND. Once we were granted a meeting, we were treated with respect and professionalism.
After: It was very clear that we were preaching to the choir. Will support ENDA. Will be
checking in with Sen. Jefford's office for particulars on ther language to be used to include
transpeople.
Sen. Richard Durbin, R-Illinois
Spoke to: receptionist
Treated: OK, but contact person not available. Was aware of TG exclusion and said Sen. was out of town for 2 weeks.
Unable to see us due to being too busy: Sens. Tom Daschle, John Glenn, Kent Conrad. All three are expected to support ENDA again.
At the next Belles meetings;
March 15; Wendy Paulley, a Lexington beauty consultant, will discuss fashion and image. We will discuss group dues and organization.
March 22, a shopping trip will be held in Louisville. We will be visiting a number of TG-friendly stores, plus some of the more experienced hands among us may visit a mall or two. Femme or drab is OK.
March 24, Board Meeting at Dawn's Place.
By Dawn Josephine Wilson
My mama always said you can't eat everybodys home cooking, and you know,
she was right. In our last newsletter some of my " Home Cooking " gave some
people a bit of indigestion. One group insisted that it was aimed at them, but the
truth is, it was not aimed at anyone. In the past I would have caved into the demands of a few and
printed a retraction, but after speaking with family and friends about the article, I have decided
not to. I will not be made to retract something that was not aimed at anyone. I am sorry that some
people feel that they were a target and feel hurt by it. I am sorry that they feel the need to be this
negative in their outlook.
We at the Belles have a positive outlook and will continue to work with all in the community,
regardless of opinions and critisms, BECAUSE THIS COMMUNITY IS TOO SMALL FOR
NEGATIVISM!
There is a big difference between leaders and leadership, one should possess one before
becoming the other. Contary to popular belief, leaders are made,
We all have a shared responsibility to make our community work, whether you are out or not. We
all need each other as a integral part of this microcosm of this or any other community. It is the
task of a leader to see that these things are done. I am proud of the Belles, because they have
made this their group, not mine. Their ideas are the fuel for projects like the BE- ALL, Southern
Comfort, guest speakers, and Congressional lobbying. If you would like to be a part of this new
way of doing business as a group, then join us - we would love to have you!
"Images of Blackness" went off without a hitch to two packed houses February 19th. We raised a
lot of money for charity. I will get a copy of the video.
Dawn is writing and compiling a series of articles that will shine a spotlight on a too-long ignored subject: The great contributions to American culture of African-American GLBT people. She'll have a new article each month. This is her introduction:
" We all manufacture. Some make good, some make trouble , but most make excuses."
Before Madonna, there was Josephine. Before Micheal Stripe, there was Johnny. Before many of
of today's GLBT icons, there were others, but they were black!Did you know that the head of
Winslow clan, Carl,in the hit T.V. show "Family Matters" is portrayed by an open gay black male,
Reginald Vel Johnson? Did you know that one of the hottest tickets on Broadway, " Bring Da
Noise, Bring Da Funk" was written and produced by a gay African American from Kentucky
named George C. Wolfe?
This seasons's spring fashions are soft, feminine and alluring. Sandals are back with heels, as are long shin length dresses of silk and satin. Spring colors this year are brighter, and for the African American, brown is a hot spring color. Pedicures and manicures are a must for any Belle this year. Deep Tans are in and that makes white fashions even brighter.
Dawn Josephine Wilson
by Jamie Wesson
Without a doubt, the right pair of shoes can make or break an outfit. It
doesn't matter whether the person is GG or TG, the wrong shoes can
completely destroy a look that might have taken hours to put together. This
realization came to me many years ago when I observed a lovely young
blonde woman wearing a perfectly fitted white pants suit.....and a pair of
black, clunky-heeled mules! It looked like she had ski boots on! Her outfit
was very stylish and suited her slim bulid, but those shoes just ruined the
line. Too heavy and the wrong color completely.
Now that I've experienced more within the TG world, I see lots of other people making the same
kind of mistakes. White spike heels with a black skirt and hose seems to be a fairly common faux
pas. Read on, and I'll help you learn how to shop for shoes without suffering a heart attack in the
process!
Getting Shoes That Fit:
Sometimes this is the hardest step for a lot of TGs, even though it's really simple. If you're not
out enough or comfortable enough to shop "en femme" or try shoes on in the store "en homme", you need to know what size you are first. This is actually a rather easy
hurdle to over come. Take your male shoe size and add exactly 1 and a half sizes to it. For
instance, I wear an 8 mens, which means I take a 9.5 womens. That
covers the length of the shoe. The next step is the width. Female feet
tend to be a bit narrower than male, but this does vary. If a male medium
width (D) is fairly tight on you, be prepared to find a wide width female
shoe - you may need it. If you wear a wide width male shoe, then you'll
definately have to go wide with female shoes.
A couple of notes here: shoes are made based upon rather basic molds of
human feet, and it's hard for everyone to find the perfect fitting shoe off
the racks. However, there are ways of customizing a shoe one you've bought it. There are inserts
and pads that will prevent slippage if the shoe is loose in areas (heel slippage is common) where
your foot is narrower. Also, if the shoe is tight in areas, it is possible to stretch them out if the
shoe is all leather. There are products you can put on yourself that will help leather stretch.
Now, on to the fun stuff - shopping! I recommend you choose a store that has their stock out on
the sales floor, where the customer picks up the shoes, for your first shopping trip. It's easier to
do than asking a
salesperson to bring the right size out from the back room. Payless and Shoe Carnival are two
large retailers that keep a wide selection out and available. Have some idea what you're looking
for when you go in - dress heel? casual flat? pump? If a salesperson asks, tell them what you're
looking for and they'll show you where those shoes are and then let you find the size you need.
Don't climb out of your socks if they approach you - it's their job. The staff really doesn't care
what you do with the shoes. They'll deal with so many people in one day that you'll just fade into
the crowd. Besides, the staff has probably already dealt with males buying womens shoes before,
and by this point it won't be any big deal to them.
Now then, you've gone in and found a nice pair of shoes on the shelves, found your size, and now
you've got to go up front and actually pay for them! Relax. Just like the sales staff, the cashiers
don't care. They're too busy ringing customers up to worry about who's buying what and they've
had men come through the line before. Don't start babbling out some story about who you're
buying them for, all you're doing then is drawing more attention to yourself, and the store staff
doesn't care why you're buying a pair of shoes - as a shoe salesperson myself, I can assure you
that we just want your money! tightness is across the ball of the foot, and as long as it's a leather
shoe, this is a problem that can be fixed. Also, shoe repair stores are sometimes a good source for
inexpensive shoes. Used, yes, but professionally restored.
Now, if you're a particularly large girl, you may have difficulty finding shoes in your size. The
average shoe store doesn't keep shoes over size 12 for women, although Payless does keep shoes
up to size 13. What do you do if you need a 14? Well, you've got two choices. One is mailorder,
which is very expensive. The second is to build up a relationship with a small local shop. They
can then special order larger sizes for you. It will cost a little more, but the small store will
appreciate the business.
Buying and Returning:
Yes, I said returning. If after you get the shoe home and it doesn't fit, you need to return it and
get the right size! What a hideous waste of money if you don't. Even though you should have
good luck using the sizing equation (+1.5), the sizes do vary between shoe companys. One
company's size 10 may fit perfectly, but be excrutiatingly tight in another's. Be prepared to have
to make an exchange if they don't fit.
One note before I talk about actually shopping and buying shoes: Don't try and steal anything.
You may
be incredibly nervous about purchasing women's shoes, but don't let nerves make you stupid.
You will get caught, as simple as that, and that will look a lot worse if you get arrested for
stealing women's shoes, won't it? Find yourself some shoes, pay for them, smile at the
cashier, say "Thank you", and walk out of the store. Making up stories, constantly looking
around to see if anyone is watching you, snatching up your shoes and racing out of the store - all
of this will make the store staff annoyed and make you feel uncomfortable.
A quick note on when to shop for shoes. If you're nervous about shopping during the prime time
hours between two and seven, then go earlier or later. A morning or evening during the week are
great times to go shoe shopping if you've never done it before. There are fewer people in the
store then, and the sales staff will be so bored they'll be desperate to help you out, just for
something to do!
Buying the Right Shoes:
Getting the right style of shoes can be hardest part of the whole process. The variety of styles and
colors in the women's department is overwhelming. That's why you need to have some idea of
what you are looking for before you go in.
With colors, the easiest thing is to match the shoe color to the primary color in the outfit. If
you've got a nice navy blue dress, buy a navy blue shoe. With black, buy black, etc. Unless the
fabric is metallic or extremely reflective, do not buy patent leather. You want to shoe to be a
finishing touch on your outfit, not a stand out part of it. Now, if you can't find a red shoe to
match a red outfit, you've got a couple of choices: black or white. Go with white if the outfit has
white in it, and it's after Easter. Othersize, black will work. With green, particularly a dark green,
black always looks great. You have to use your imagination to see if the color is going to work.
Picture the outfit with the shoe color and honestly ask yourself if it works.
Now, you've got to be careful picking out a shoe style as well. Most TGs go immediately for the
highest, thinnest heel they see in the store. Don't. Even if it's a great looking shoe, be honest with
yourself and ask two questions: will it go with any outfit I have, and will it look good on me? If
you've already got very long legs, a high heel may not be for you. Do you need to add more
height to yourself? If you have fairly short legs, you can wear high heels and they'll make your
legs look great. If you have long, shapely legs, you won't need any extra heel. Long but slender
legs can wear a low heeled pump. The slight heel adds shape without adding a lot of height.
These can be very dressy or quite casual, depending on the outfit. Take a look at the dress flats
as well, they're very stylish and a lot of fun to wear. There are some wonderful "loafer" styles out
there as well, that are very cute and can be both dressy or casual.
Heels sure look great, but you've got to be realistic. 90% of women don't wear 4" heels to work
in, and very few wear them out dancing either. High heels like that are also bad for your feet.
Doctors recommend never wearing a heel highter than 2.5" at the most. Besides, with the huge
selection of pumps, skimmers, slings, mules, flats, softies, clogs, and sandals, why limit yourself to
only dress high heels?
Lets sum all this up. First off, don't make a big deal out of buying a pair of shoes for yourself. The staff doesn't care what you buy, just so long as you buy. Have your size in your head before you go in, but be prepared to exchange if the shoe doesn't fit immediately. Have some idea of what you want before you go in, as well. Seriously consider if the shoe will work for you: does it fit your style, your outfits, your shape? Take a long look at all the styles available and don't limit yourself. Themain thing is, enjoy it. Finding the right pair of shoes always feels good.
Jamie Wesson
Upcoming Events
2nd National Gender Lobby Days, May 4-5-6
GenderPAC, the new national political organization dedicated to gender, affectional and racial
equality, has announced the 2nd National Gender Lobbying Day to be held on Monday and
Tuesday, May 5-6 in Washington, DC.
1995's Lobbying Days on October 2-3 drew over 100 activists to Capitol Hill to lobby for gender
rights issues, including trans- inclusion in the Employment Non-Discrimination Bill (ENDA) and
the Hate Crimes Statistic Act (HCSA), as well as issues around trans health care and the
treatment of transpeople in the military.
In over 2 days of intense lobbying, activists called on the offices of nearly every one of the 503
Senators and Representatives.
In another break with the 1st Lobby Day but in keeping with GenderPAC's commitment to
"gender, affectional and racial equality," lobbyists will be asked to focus on ENDA and HCSA,
but also on issues of women's rights, gay rights and marriage, and the increasing tide of racial
intolerance in the US. Although this is an aggressive agenda to ask of activists, it nonetheless
reflects GenderPAC's mission, and its understanding that these are shared, linked oppressions.
Said Alison Laing, acting co-Chair of GenderPAC: "This is a chance for anyone concerned with
gender, affectional or racial equality to show up in Washington and have their voices heard. We
welcome all people to participate, to let the incoming Congress know that we are not going away,
that no American is free until *all* of us have our rights."
Dana Priesing, Washington DC lobbyist for GenderPAC, declared "Based on my recent visits to
Capitol Hill, it's clear that we made an real impression in 1995. Telling our stories humanized us:
it made them see us as real people instead of tabloid television subjects. This time we'll be
returning with a focused, polished and more professional approach, identifying the bills and the
language important to us and working to educate everyone with whom we come in contact." For
more information contact: Riki Anne Wilchins , Alison Laing, Dana Priesing
Editor's note: We made an impact in February. I'm going back, contact me if you're
interested.
Come Together Kentucky, April 4-6, University of Louisville. Mandy Carter of the National Black Gay and Lesbian Leadership Forum is the keynote speaker.
Let's show a transgendered presence here! Contact Common Ground/Ky Fairness Alliance
2263 Frankfort Ave, Louisville, Ky. 40206.
Attn: Adam. Phone: 502-897-9063
http://www.louisville.edu/rso/commonground/forum97/
Tennessee Vals' Pride Ball, Nashville, TN, to benefit the GLBT Center in Nashville. May 10, 9PM. Let's help our sisters, the Vals, plus it's a good excuse to wear formals.....For details, contact Jennileigh Love
Be-All Weekend, Chicago, Illinois. June 4-8
Pre-registration required
Chi/Tri-Ess, PO Box 40, Wood Dale, Il. ,
or call 630-262-8707.
Information Brochure