Glad you stopped by our page! We're the Cornbury Society, a group for heterosexual male cross-dressers based in Vancouver, British Columbia, Canada.
We're always looking for new members and for ways to reach out to support the closeted, the timidly emerging and the out-and-proud cross-dressers in our community.
Before we forget: our phone number has changed! Please use the number at the top of this page: 1-604-862-1321.
AVAILABLE NOW!The Crossdresser's Shopping Guide to Vancouver Here's a handy, purse-sized handbook for the crossdresser in our fair city, packed with information on where and how to shop, size charts, fitting and style tips and much, much more! Look for it at selected stores in the Vancouver area, or e-mail us to order your copy! Retail: $9.95 Please don't send cash! Money orders are safe and anonymous. We cannot process credit card orders. What a deal! |
We're primarily a social and support group, and we cater only to heterosexual male cross-dressers. We recognise that the gender community has many, many facets and needs, such as support for gays and transsexuals, political rights and so on; however we can't be all things to all people. Other groups and services in town are better able to deal with those issues than we are, and we support them. Cornbury helps and supports its membership in ways those groups can't. It's a good system...
The Cornbury Society was started in July of 1989 by a small group of men.We endeavour to provide a safe environment for the development of feminine appearance in conventional attire, as well as encourage a sense of confidence and well being. Spouses and partners are always welcome at our meetings.
Many of our members must keep their cross-dressing activities confidential, and many have a spouse and other family whom they wish to keep secure from public exposure. Accordingly, we do not hold open meetings and we conduct a short screening interview with all prospective members.
We do not have the resources to handle the needs of transsexuals, gays or lesbians or people seeking professional counselling. We are a social and support group, not a self-help or counselling facility. However, if we cannot accept you as a Cornbury member, we will be happy to help you find more appropriate resources.
If you'd like to get in touch with us, here's how!
Cornbury holds regular monthly meetings from September to June. Locations and dates are divulged only to our membership. Meetings can be social events, seminars on various aspects of the craft of cross-dressing, guest speakers, shopping trips and so on. Although we don't meet officially during the summer, many members keep in touch and organise informal get-togethers.
We publish a monthly newsletter for our membership. An edited version is distributed to various resource agencies.
We also publish "The Second Wardrobe", the first in what we hope will be a series of brochures. It deals with some of the basic issues and questions that cross-dressers and their partners may have.Our latest offering is the Crossdresser's Shopping Guide to Vancouver; see the top of this page.
Annual dues cover administration and postage costs. Monthly meeting fees cover the additional cost of meeting rooms when required.
Our Significant Others group is an informal spouse and partner support system.
Much has been written about cross-dressing and the resources on the Web are extensive. You've probably got lots of questions of your own, but if you're looking to us as part of your support system it's helpful to know how we feel about things, isn't it? So - here's what we usually get asked.
Where'd you get the weird name? |
Harrrummph! Lord Edward Hyde Cornbury (1661-1723) probably didn't think it was weird! Although a great many of his contemporaries certainly thought he was! Born in England, he was appointed by Queen Anne as Governor of New York and New Jersey in 1701 for the British. The father of many children, Cornbury often dressed as a woman, once opened the government assembly "fully" representing Queen Anne, had his portrait painted in a low-cut gown and even attended his wife's funeral dressed as a widow in mourning. He was a bit too much for the colonists to take, though, because they shipped him home in disgrace in 1708. Okay, so maybe he isn't the greatest role model, but certainly had no qualms about dressing as he chose to! Besides, it's a cool name. |
How strict are you about the heterosexual requirement? | We won't pry into your personal life, but we do expect you to be straight or behave as such with other members, and we trust you to be honest with us. That said, Cornbury can be a very safe, freeing and empowering environment in which to explore your gender identity. If you find your gender journey takes you where we can't be with you, we'll help you find other resources that can help you better than we can. |
Why so rigid about gays? | We
get asked this more often than almost any other question. We've
also drawn a lot of criticism for this stand by transgender groups
who serve a much broader spectrum of people. Our stand is because of the popular - and - wrong! - flat-footed belief that if a man wears a dress he's gay. We provide a place for men who know they're straight yet still like to cross-dress to come and discover they're not so weird after all. Allowing gay members would prevent many new members from joining - especially those who would benefit most from our group. |
So not all cross-dressers are gay? | No. Regardless of popular assumptions, there is absolutely no established connection between homosexuality and transvestism. While some transvestites are gay, the majority like dressing as women for very different reasons than wanting to "catch a man". |
Isn't cross-dressing illegal? | Not
in Canada per se. However, there are the usual laws against disguising
yourself or impersonating other individuals for criminal purposes,
regardless of whether they're the same sex as you. Be aware,
though that if you live elsewhere, your mileage may vary. Cross-dressing is still a social taboo, especially for men. However, there are many safe, accepting places to go dressed and there are social clubs and support groups for cross-dressers in most major cities. |
Is cross-dressing harmful? | Trick
question! Yes and no. The current social taboos against cross-dressing
can cause intense feelings of guilt and can harm or even destroy
personal and family relationships. Cross-dressing can also become
an obsession, and like any other obsession can grow to leave
no energy or room for anyone else. A cross-dresser's partner
may come to feel sexually threatened or inadequate. However, many cross-dressers who have come to accept their habit and who are in relationships with understanding, accepting partners find that their cross-dressing can be a rewarding, enjoyable aspect of their lives. Many partners enjoy the company of their mate's feminine side and don't see it as a challenge. |
How can I live with it? | This
depends very much on your situation and personal beliefs. Even
though cross-dressing is not illegal in Canada, it may cut straight
across the sexual values of your family and friends. On the other
hand, it's perhaps one of the least harmful or exploitative of
all sexual unconventionalities. Serious cross-dressing can cost lots of time, energy and money. Whether you view it as a hobby or a lifestyle, make sure you budget for it. Respecting your family's needs as well as your own goes a long way to maintaining trust, understanding and acceptance. The Cornbury Society's "Significant Others" group offers support and a place to talk for spouses of and those involved with cross-dressers. |
Who needs to know? | Again,
your answer depends on your own situation. If you're single,
perhaps nobody needs to know. If you're in a marriage or relationship,
you should weigh the consequences of coming out to your partner
against the consequences of keeping secrets. Telling your children is always difficult. Generally, young children are much more accepting than older ones or teenagers. Being able to tell a trusted friend may be a valuable source of confidence and support. You may wish to tell your neighbours, if only to beat the gossip. |
The Cornbury membership includes people in all kinds of situations. We've been there; we can talk with you.
Remember, even if you're outside the Vancouver, BC area, you can still join The Cornbury Society and receive our newsletter! If you're ever in town, you'll always be welcome as a guest at our meetings!
Would you like an application form or more information? Do you need to talk? Or are you going to be in town and want to drop in? Phone, e-mail or write us!Phoned us before? Then make a note of our new number below:
The Cornbury Society,
PO Box 3745
Vancouver, BC V6B 3Z1
Canada
604-862-1321
E-mail: cornbury@bc.sympatico.ca
If you have Adobe Acrobat you can now download a PDF version of The Second Wardrobe, our information brochure.
Coming soon: PDFs of our information packet, some sample pages from our newsletter and an application form to fill out and return!