BGB Bluegrass BelleView

July 1998

Social and Support Meeting: Saturday, July 18, 8PM

First Unitarian Church, 4th and York, Louisville, KY.

Upcoming Events:

July 14-22; "Rent" - Kentucky Center for the Arts

July 16, 7PM, Town Forum on Transgenderism, Kentucky Fairness Campaign Office, Frankfort Ave, Louisville

September 30 - October 4; Southern Comfort Conference, Atlanta (see application inside)

Royal Sovereign Imperial Court of All Kentucky Events:

Dear Brothers, Sisters, Monarchs, and Fellow Courtiers,

On Behalf of Reign XVII of all Kentucky we have set the date for our Investitures for July 15, 1998, at Club 141 in Lexington. The admission is $3. Doors open at 8:00. Program begins at 9:30. I am currently working with my Empress Oxana to continue the tradition of making this a UNITY show with Cincy. I will let you know how things progress.

HMRSIM Empress XVII Of All Kentucky, Mika Milano, The Radiant and Resilient Broadway Renaissance Empress Of Patience, Perseverance, And Prosperity. Founder of the Royal Chorus Line. Sister to HMRSIM Empress XII Panzi of ICNY.



With No Apologies

By Dawn Josephine Wilson

Pride (In The Name Of Love)

First of all, I would like to thank Pride West Virginia for asking me to speak at a rally of over 350-400 people on June 21! I was honored to do it, but there is another side to this story. When I was young, I had a serious problem, one that would cause teasing and great embarrassment to me. From1st to 3rd grade, I rarely spoke. Why? I had a really bad speech impediment. I cannot pronounce my r's and w's correctly. Still can't. Many of you have noticed that I tend to get tongue tied on a regular basis. So what does this have to do with Pride? Everything. During my address, I didn't falter or stutter, and from all accounts, I nailed the speech. In the speech, I talked about where courage comes from, and why being out is important. I spoke about cooperation and love. I challenged enemies inside and outside the community, just as I challenged myself to speak clearly. To those people, it takes a lot a courage to stand up, step out and fight for what you believe. That what I do and who I am, despite the fact that I call a library a "liberry."

Secondly, I would like to commend Debbie and Tiffany for all of their hard work with the community on the behalf of transgenderism. Debbie and Tiffany's group, the Valley Girls, are the true transgendered activists in the area, and the only effective ones, as we discovered while we were in the state. What I heard from the GLBT community, PRIDE committee, and the religious community was that there was a renegade transperson who was acting in an unprofessional manner that would have been counterproductive to our cause. The whole thing turned my stomach! Not only did this person not attend the Pride Committee meetings to which she was invited, but, by all accounts, told them where "to go," if you catch my drift! In addition, she issued everything from coercion to out and out threats against the GLBT community of West Virginia, both this year and in 1997, when I also spoke to West Virginia Pride! Despite the best efforts of this poor excuse for a trannie to poison the relations between the GLB community and TG people, I have a copy of the program & TG is openly displayed in it by every group. What this person has done in West Virginia is not acceptable behavior. The term is activism not "ass"tivism! Her actions should not be tolerated! Instead of shunning the GLB community, I walked along the 2.5 mile parade route with the Valley Girls ' Tiffany Slone and watched as she reached out to an elderly person who was gay. It was beautiful. Not only do the Valley Girls have capable leadership, but they are respected by all in the GLBT community. We at BGB are proud to have them as our sister group. Thank you, Ryan McKenzie, and the staff of Pride West Virginia, for such a successful and great time!

"Sometimes you have to fight a battle more than once to win it" - Margaret Thatcher

It may seem strange to you that I would quote the Iron Lady, but the quote is appropriate. Last night was the Open House for the Robert H. Williams Cultural Center's "Computer Stars" program, complete with a new lab that I helped design and build. More important, I did it as an out transsexual. To me that was very important. So many times, we make excuses for our behavior, from "I was marginalized," to "I lack social skills." Well, I don't buy it! I know that many of you feel that you fighting the same battle over and over again. Well, we are. A worthwhile battle, one that I plan to fight with or without any of you. When I first started down this road called commitment, I realized that there would be no perfect circumstances, nor any perfect people. Still, I kept coming, working, and learning. Has it paid off? Yes. It doesn't matter if you are African - American or Vanilla, GLBT or straight. The point is this: if you want a better situation for yourself and others, you are going to have to work for it.

Last night I was able to close another chapter in my work toward the goal of bringing the center to the forefront of the community. This was accomplished in spite of all the called meetings attended by me alone, all the job opportunities I gave up, all the time and the effort, and all the criticism. The result was that the center now has a viable Computing Center. Romans 5:3 speaks to how suffering leads to perseverence which leads to courage which gives us character. Like many of you, I have suffered injustice and hatred, disappointment and pain, but I've continued on. That's what a real activist does. That is why I founded BGB, and work with both the GLBT community and the African American community. Now the center has Internet access, a website (www.rhwcc.org ) and email capabilities. We have six computers with Windows 95 and four with 3.11. Can we teach with these? Well, I know I can. Classes will be Mondays and Wednesdays at 6:30-8:00 PM for 6 weeks, starting July 8th. Now I know how busy everyone is but I am hoping that those of us who live in the area can stop in and check out our progress.

In closing, I would like to say that a few of our funding partners stopped by - Partners For Youth, and Keeneland Race Course, and they were impressed. I am hoping that they will go back to their organizations, and increase our funding. This is only a beginning, not an end.

Money Matters

Thanks to all of you, BGB is financially solvent, but as we grow to meet your needs the board decided to do some things to solidify our future. A full financial report will be made available at our next meeting, but for future reference, we have the money to cover the following expenses:

Printing of Newsletter $25.00 ( mailing list of 75)

Mailing of Newsletter $25.00

18 months of printing bills $ 200.00

Refreshments $25.00

Church Meeting Room $25.00 a month

This is what your money goes for. This and much, much, much more; to secure our future and provide more programs. The board set the meeting fee at $4.00 per meeting for members, and $6.00 for non - members. We arrived at this figure by checking out the meeting dues of other groups; many are $5.00 and some are as high as $10.00, and do less with it than we do.

If you have any questions or suggestions, please e-mail me or Anne. We would love to hear from you.


Racing He Now A She

By Larry Woody

For years, race driver J.T. Hayes' biggest worry when he crashed wasn't that he had injured himself - it was that medics would discover that he was wearing women's underwear and pink toenail polish.

Since 1992, that hasn't been a problem. That's when J.T. underwent a sex-change operation, and became Terri O'Connell. She had spent the previous 29 years of her life as J.T. Hayes, a successful stock car driver who once raced in NASCAR's premier Winston Cup division.

Now, she's a Charlotte, N.C. model and aspiring actress who was recently featured in Newsweek and The New York Times, and will be profiled in an upcoming edition of People magazine. But, although her body is different, in her heart, she's still a racer. "I'd love to race again," O'Connell said in a telephone interview. I'll drive anything with 4 wheels - IndyCar, NASCAR, anything.

Doors aren't exactly flying open. "It has been difficult since I decided to go public a couple of years ago," she said. "Racing has always been a very closed sport for women and it's especially closed to me." O'Connell is writing a book, Pink, Blue, and Checkered about her unique career experiences. "I've been through hell," she said. "I can provide some insights into racing, having seen it both as a man and as a woman." "It's not something I'm ashamed of. I'm a model and actress who was born a boy. Since I was 3 years old, I knew I was really a girl. It was a physical problem, not a mental or moral problem."

After the sex change operation, O'Connell stayed close to racing in a different way. "I've attended galas and social events at the Charlotte Motor Speedway Club in an evening gown," she said. "I've socialized with drivers and other NASCAR officials I used to hang around with when I was a guy, and they never recognized me." The one driver O'Connell took into her confidence was Lake Speed. "Lake and his wife are such wonderful people - they accepted me as I am," she said. "They helped me through some very difficult times." Other drivers, she said, never knew. "I once babysat for Darrell Waltrip," she said. "He's one of my favorite people, but I never told him about my situation."

When she was still J.T. Hayes, a good ol' boy from Corinth, Miss., she ran some races at Highland Rim Speedway and Clarksville Speedway, collecting some of an estimated 500 victories. She never raced at Nashville Speedway, but said she would welcome the opportunity. O'Connell won dozens of sprint races and competed in one Winston Cup event at Rockingham, N.C., in a car owned by Julie Donlavey. Donlavey, who currently fields a car for Dick Trickle, said he "doesn't think sex is a factor," in O'Connell's struggle to land a ride. "Janet Guthrie came down here years ago and everybody treated her with respect," Donlavey noted. But, Guthrie was never a guy. Said one racetrack promoter: "People are scared to put their name on a car she is driving because of what effects it might have on their product." Added another Winston Cup owner: "It's going to be tough for her. Terri's got a long road ahead to earn the respect of the people in the sport." Says O'Connell, "I'll race anywhere I can get a ride. I used to be a good race driver and I know I haven't lost that ability."

O'Connell, who celebrates her 36th birthday on July 29, realizes she will never again have a normal racing career. "I know there will be a carnival atmosphere wherever I go, but I can't avoid that. I intend to just deal with it with dignity." O'Connell said it took her gather aawhlile to get used to the idea tha the had lost a son and gained a daughter. "Now we have a great relationship," she said. "If my father can learn to deal with it, other people should, too. Accept me for who I am. That's all I ask."

Tennessean, June 2, 1998 and June 13, 1998.




Secret TG Group Shakes Up Church

By Christopher Morgan

The Church of England is facing fresh controversy over the revelation that two women priests began their ministries as men and that the number of transsexual and transvestite clergy is growing. Two other priests are having sex change treatment, church sources have admitted. One has been forced by his bishop to take indefinite leave, but intends to seek a fresh appointment after his operation, as a woman priest. Many of them meet regularly with a number of lay Anglicans as part of a secret group called Sibyls - from the Greek word for prophetess. They hold private church services wearing female clothes. The disclosures come as George Carey, Archbishop of Canterbury, tries to hold the church together in the face of damaging internal divisions over homosexuality and the ordination of women. The issue of transsexuality may surface during the Lambeth conference in July, when Anglican bishops from across the world discuss church doctrine. The conference's steering committee will receive a confidential paper on transsexual clergy. It is believed to highlight the number of clerics who have changed gender or wish to, and calls for an open church discussion.

At least 21 clergy in the Church of England consider themselves to be "transgendered", The Sunday Times has learnt. Fourteen are transvestites. Three are considering a sex change and are said by friends to be in a psychological "grey area". The church's decision to allow the ordination of women priests in 1992 is thought to have encouraged some priests to reveal their inclinations. Speaking for the first time, a vicar in a large Church of England parish has described conducting acts of worship for Sibyls. He also told of his desire to dress and behave as a woman while serving a large parish. "I have taken services wearing women's clothes," he said. "The women at Sibyls said I looked absolutely gorgeous, which was lovely. Sibyls is an accepting group of Christians creating a completely relaxed context for worship. They give me affection and support. We may see trans-gender churches in the future." He has undergone 200 hours of electrolysis on his face and neck over five years. "I do selected exercises to re-do my waistline," he said. "I go away for several weeks of the year, taking the role of a woman. My rule is that I don't dress within 60 miles of the parish. I have got good bone structure and I have been chatted up, which I found quite amusing." The priest has been married for 25 years and has children. But he has consulted two psychiatrists, who confirmed that he had all the traits of a transsexual. He believes his bishop would try to remove him from the parish if he knew. "I would be difficult to sack, but there would be moral pressure on me to resign. I would have a nervous breakdown or commit suicide." Though his wife knows about his secret desires, his children do not. "At transvestite clubs I talk to some of the people. The secrecy is the thing that hurts most. I have to sneak out and worry about being caught and stopped by the police. "There is, however, a real joy of being yourself for a while. I try to grab time when people are out to care for my wardrobe. At other times I cry myself to sleep. Not being the one you want to be and appear to be, you are never at ease with yourself." He said that a senior diocesan official knew about his feelings.

The Sunday Times - London, GB. May 31, 1998




Clinton Exec Order Bans Bias

The U.S. President unilaterally "ENDA's" employment discrimination for federal workers and encourages Congress to do the same for everybody else.

Having advanced policies against workplace discrimination based on sexual orientation department - by - department and agency-by-agency in the previous years of his presidency, U.S. President Bill Clinton finally made the grand gesture May 28 of adding sexual orientation for the first time as a protected category under a wide - ranging Executive Order. He said it would provide a uniform policy for the federal government, but noted that only the Congress could actually extend any means of enforcing it, and called on the legislators to do so. The National Gay and Lesbian Task Force was one of the first groups to applaud Clinton "for this act of leadership and fairness, an important step in countering employment discrimination." The President's statement regarding the order follows in its entirety.

"Today I have signed an Executive Order entitled Further Amendment to Executive Order 11478, Equal Employment Opportunity in the Federal Government. The Order provides a uniform policy for the Federal Government to prohibit discrimination based on sexual orientation in the federal civilian workforce and states that policy for the first time in an Executive Order of the President." "It has always been the practice of this Administration to prohibit discrimination in employment based on sexual orientation in the civilian workforce, and most federal agencies and department have taken actions, such as the issuance of policy directives or memoranda from the agency heads, to\ memorialize that policy. The Executive Order I have signed today will ensure that there is a uniform policy throughout the Federal Government by adding sexual orientation to the list of categories for which discrimination is prohibited in Executive Order 11478 (i.e. race, color, religion, sex, national origin, handicap, or age). "This Executive Order states Administration policy but does not and cannot create any new enforcement rights (such as the ability to proceed before the Equal Employment Opportunity Commission). Those rights can be granted only by legislation passed by the Congress, such as the Employment Non-Discrimination Act. I again call upon Congress to pass this important piece of civil rights legislation which would extend these basic

employment discrimination protections to all gay and lesbian Americans. Individuals should not be denied a job on the basis of something that has no relationship to their ability to perform their work."NewsPlanet, Friday, May 29, 1998




TG Candidate Challenged

Associated Press June 4, 1998

INDIANAPOLIS -- Bob Kern, also known as Bobby Scott Hidalgo, wants to put a dispute over his name behind him and get on with running for Congressman state commission on Monday rejected efforts by the state's Democratic Party to remove the convicted felon, whose given name is Hidalgo, from the party's side of the November ballot because of the different names he has used. State Democratic Party chairman Joe Andrew said he is prepared to appeal. Kern, a former gas station attendant, faces incumbent Republican Rep. Dan Burton in the fall. The district includes much of the Indianapolis suburbs and is one of the safest GOP districts in the nation.

The Democratic Party says Kern defrauded voters by using that name only for the purpose of the May 5 primary. Among other things, they argue that the Anglo-sounding name of Kern and its alphabetical appearance first on the ballot gave him an advantage over his Democratic opponents, Carrie Jean Trammell and R. Nag Nagarajan. However, Secretary of State Sue Anne Gilroy said Kern met the requirements of being a candidate, partly because the name on his declaration of candidacy matched that on his most recent voter registrationKern was sentenced to two years in prison in a 1987 theft and forgery case. In addition, newspaper reports have described him as a cross-dressing female impersonator. He says the only time he cross-dressed was as an undercover agent in a sting operation for the Marion County Sheriff's Department, which the department denies.




First Open TG On NGLTF Board

From the Bay Area Reporter, June 4, 1998

The National Gay and Lesbian Task Force (NGLTF) has named L.J. Irving of Oakland to its board of directors. Irving is the first openly transgendered person appointed to the board of a national gay, lesbian, bisexual, and transgender civil rights organization.

Irving, a drug counselor and case manager at Jelani House in San Francisco, has a long history of activism. A former member of supervisor Tom Ammiano's staff, she was a founding member of Lesbians and Gays of African Descent for Democratic Action (LGADDA). She has also been involved with the Harvey Milk Democratic Club and the Los Angeles Gay and Lesbian Community Services Center.

"I'm really looking forward to increasing the visibility of people of color and to reaching out to those who can't afford the high ticket events," Irving told the Bay Area Reporter. She emphasized that she intends to advocate for people of color youth, and people with low incomes."We need to reach out, instead of expecting them to come to us," she added, stating that she plans to work with NGLTF to meet people "in the clubs, in the churches, in the families." Irving recently returned from her first board meeting, and was very impressed and enthusiastic about the group's openness to inclusion, commenting that "they're not some big national highbrow group." She sees the board becoming a new and very enthusiastic group, and noted that additional board members will be added this fall. One of her goals is to recruit board members under the age of 30. Irving is reluctant to describe herself as a leader in the transgender community, because she feels that the Bay area has so many "trailblazers" more worthy of recognition. "I have an enormous amount of humility, and pride for the trailblazers" she told the B.A.R. "I'm not in a position to take a lot of credit for leadership." Irving said that she would go to local transgender leaders for guidance on transgender issues. This humility is typical of Irving's approach, which she describes as being about service and not politics. "My goal is for people to be visible, empowered and connected." "I'm not a leader, just a worker." Irving said. "I'm more like a doorman, holding the door open so that others can come in."




Murphy's Place Closes

Murphy's Place, the oldest operating gay bar in Louisville (nearly 11 years) closed its doors for good on Tuesday, June 30 due to financial problems. I've heard that the last night was packed, and that the place was basically stripped of all its pictures, photographs, and other items which were taken as souvenirs by the crowd. Even a cash register was taken, I've been told.

I was wondering if anyone was there on the last night and, if so, could they give us a little more info on the final night? Please email me or provide me as soon as possible with any info you might have. Thanks!

David Williams, Editor, The Letter


Our Time in Eden

By Anne Casebeer

The Truth Is Out There

June was a very interesting month in the life of this group, and I'm completely exhausted! This roller-coaster ride started with the RSICK Coronation, held at the Radisson Hotel in downtown Lexington on June 4.This was attended by Dawn, Marj, Angela, Terri, Evelyn, and moi, and was a very impressive affair - all glitz and glitter. John Moses and Mika Milano were elected Emperor and Empress, both friends of our group. It was a pleasure , as always, to share our table with David Williams (editor of The Letter). Dawn and Marj stayed until the end, which reportedly was about 230AM; facing a drive to Louisville as I was, Angela and I made our goodbyes around 11PM.

June 11 brought us to the Louisville Pride Picnic, held at the Water Tower on River Road. Terri arranged for BGB to have an information booth (Yes, Terri, your tent is safely stowed in my garage), and I pulled together some brochures and handout materials. We had many people stop in and say hello; a few who were just curious, a few others who were transgendered, and a couple others looking for people they knew from the other group that used to meet in Louisville. Angela and I decided to make public fools of ourselves on the karaoke stage, as RuthAnn operated one of the attractions. The day was quite pleasant and people were very warm and friendly to all of us. If I hadn't had to spend much of the day monitoring a crisis at the video store via cellular phone, I'd have been able to circulate more, but it was very pleasant to relax and greet the nice people who visited our tent. Sunday, June 12 found Angela and I awakening too darned early, preparing for the trip to the Lexington Pride Picnic. Angela was the emcee of this affair, and in the opinion of most, acquitted herself well. Despite the scattered showers, the day was very pleasant, a chance to mingle and converse.

I felt vindicated by our monthly meeting on June 18. We had our largest group yet, including 3 new members, and the return after some months of some others. Welcome and welcome back! Adam Schneider from the Fairness Campaign spoke to us about the upcoming Town Forum at Fairness on transgenderism. Several members of the group volunteered to serve on the panel, and obviously anyone wishing to attend or participate is strongly encouraged strongly to do so. This will be held Thursday, July 16, at the Fairness Offices on Frankfort Avenue. It is intended to be an educational forum for members and supporters of the Fairness Campaign, so that they understand TG people better as we move towards reintroduction of the Fairness Amendment in '99. I hope that this evolves into an ongoing partnership for change in our community that includes BGB members and It's Time, Kentucky! Yes, I know that not everyone wants to take political action, but this is very important. Several cities have passed rights legislation that includes TG people, and we have a real chance to do so right here in Louisville next year, with the changes in the Board of Aldermen. Those of you who missed out on joining the BGB Expeditionary Force that invaded Impellizzeri's for some of the best pizza humans have ever destroyed, we missed you. The only downside was the trip afterwards to Murphy's; we had a good time (ah, it was karaoke night, sorry), but it was our last visit there; Murphy's closed for business July 2nd. That comfortable neighborhood pub will be missed by most of us. There are still plenty of places we can go, but that was the best one for conversation and relaxing.

June 19 was the Wasson Volunteer of the Year Awards Banquet, held at the Campbell House in Lexington, Since Dawn and Karen traveled to Charleston to address Pride West Virginia, I was left with the pleasant duty of presenting the "Volunteer of the Year" awards to Marjorie and Angela, which they definitely deserved for their hard work over the past year. Dawn and Karen walked in from their trip just in time to hear my hastily-drafted remarks, then we discussed the West Virginia goings on (see the details in Dawn's article) in the Campbell House bar. It sounds like Tiffany and Debbie of the Valley Girls have good things growing in West Virginia, which is an area that certainly should be able to support a gender support group - they have located themselves between Huntington and Charleston, which I feel is a very smart move. Just as we draw members and support from both Lexington and Louisville, they can do so from their 2 cities. A couple members of BGB are planning to go to West Virginia to visit them in August, and we offer them our support and encouragement. Also, on June 28, Terri and Stacey marched in the Pride March in Louisville (I can't take every Saturday off in a month's time). I need to take this chance to thank Terri for taking the ball this month and arranging for BGB to participate in the Pride Picnic and Parade. Not all members can make every event, but we should have members at all events, and it takes help from everyone. If anyone in the group sees an event that BGB should participate in, go ahead and look into it, get the details. You don't have to be on the board to help or organize something like the Picnic, you just have to want to do it. This applies to non-GLBT community events, too. The more visible our group is in the community, the better it is for the image of TG people.

So, the truth is, BGB is now an integral member of both the Louisville and Lexington communities. It took a lot of hours of work, sweat, patience, and tact, but here we are. Now, let's build on it. But, let's rest first....I'm beat!

How Do We Get Where From Here?

So, where to from here? We had a board meeting Sunday, June 28 around my dining room table, and came up with some ideas, burnt hamburgers, and strategy for the future. The months to come are holding some interesting meeting ideas. We're planning a meeting devoted to helping us deal with our families and spouses. A fashion show is in the offing, as is a fine Halloween outing, and a visit to the Vogue Theater to see the Rocky Horror Picture Show.

We've also started planning our December Holiday Party, which we plan to hold at our regular meeting place to keep it on a more reasonable fiscal keel. Of course, Southern Comfort is fast approaching, so save your jukebox money and get your 20-seater Chrysler off the blocks.

Terri dropped in on me at work July 4 (and, yes, within reason, you are welcome to do that), and we had a very pleasant chat about the general direction of the group and where we should be headed. I hope all of you noticed that Terri was the organizer of the BGB booth at the Pride Picnic. That was done with the appreciation, approval, and thanks of the BGB Board. Terri is not on the board, however, by her own choice, but her contributions to this group have been as significant as those of any board member. The point is, to help your group, you don't have to be a board member. Frankly, most of the board have pretty demanding lives. I work bizarre hours, plus deal with my parental responsibilities, and then and only then deal with TG matters. Dawn has her career, plus her church, plus her excellent work with the Williams Cultural Center. Angela's working full-time and attending college; Erica's running a business, and RuthAnn's been very busy at her new job. Sometimes, we need help, and the crush of events has been overwhelming. So, if you see a job that you think needs doing, whether you are on the board or not, why not see if you can be the leader of the "task force?" For instance, I'd love to see a non-board member organize the Halloween party, the December Holiday party, an event to benefit charity, or a shopping trip for new members where we pair off experienced people with new members and go shopping to a center outside the metro area (the outlet malls in Seymour and Edinburgh, IN, or Florence Mall come to mind).

Another thing that we've decided is that our first board elections will be held next year. Until now, the board has been a voluntary thing. By next May, we should have enough members that there might actually be some competition for positions. A few months prior to that, we will publish a basic "job description" for each board position. Some jobs do have certain requirements, of course. For instance, it'd be pretty hard to be newsletter editor if you do your computing on an Apple II or an IBM PC built before "Thriller" was released. Most jobs on the board require a certain degree of "outness"; it's pretty hard to be Outreach person unless you're pretty "out", but Treasurer or Secretary can be closeted. Start thinking about it, because burnout, career, or family obligations will very likely keep at least one or another of the present board from running for election, if normal practice holds true.

Join Up!

I've had another pet idea running around in my head for some time now; I'd like to encourage members of BGB to join other trade and community organizations to help spread the word. For instance, Angela belongs to NOW (National Organization for Women), Dawn belongs to NAACP, and I belong to the Video Software Dealers Association (VSDA) and Okolona Business and Professional Association (OBPA). So, what would happen if each of us in the group joined our professional trade organization, a political group, or any other club, as an out transperson or as "some guy/girl?" That way, we divide and conquer, and when any of our affiliated groups needs a show of force, we can be there to help, or can throw in our help in a charitable cause.

No, we cannot all do everything. But, if we each shoulder a little piece of the work, we can cover a lot more bases, do a lot more good, and earn a lot more respect for transgendered people. As I say often, we are fighting misconceptions, and the best way to do it is to be out, public, open, living life and helping people. We really waged the good fight well this month, made a lot of friends and contacts. Now, let's build on this....


Totally....

By Angela Bridgman

Be Careful What You Ask For...

All I've ever asked for, since I first came to this town was for someone to give me a chance to make or break my own self. Well, you've heard it said, "Be careful what you wish for...you just might get it"? Well, that has happened to me. I have gotten a new job, and a big one it is, too! It is strange how this happened, actually, and the coincidences involved make you wonder if God tightened all the screws before He set the machine in motion.

I started off with a desire to go back to school, so that I could be something a little better than a $7 per hour marker researcher. I contacted Sullivan College, and they sent me information. When it came, I knew immediately what course I wanted to study. I had, for a long time, held a desire to become a lady lawyer...so, I signed up for Paralegal Studies, at Sullivan College. My classes begin June 30. Thank God for Pell Grants, or I'd really be in trouble! As it is, I expect to be paying about $5,000 for each 9 months of schooling, and my Associate's degree will take about eighteen...so, we're talking $10,000. We're talking $20,000 when you throw in the B.A., which is my eventual goal at Sullivan, whereupon, I may, if I so choose, then continue my education, further, by going to law school....This is something I have considered, and would like to do...whether or not it is feasible is another question, one that I'll have to answer when I get closer to my B.A.

Around the time I decided to sign up for Paralegal Studies, a local attorney contacted me about a possible job. He had heard something of my political work, and the ordeal I had gone through with the Census Bureau, and wanted to give me a job, after he heard that I was going to school, for Paralegal Studies. So, I get to his office, first day, and found out why I was paid a week in advance - anyone with less stick-to-itiveness would have run screaming from this project.

The project? Well, I have to get this man organized....he is an excellent lawyer, I have seen him in action already, and have gotten some open court experience, which I believe will be very useful to me in conjunction with my schooling. I am one of those who believe that you don't learn one-tenth in school, what you do in the real world, but, the school is absolutely essential, because the sheepskin is your ticket to ride the merry-go-round. It doesn't guarantee you will grab the brass ring, but, at least it gives you a chance to try. If nothing else, it will take care of one of the two liabilities I have in obtaining secure employment.

One does not need to be a genius to know that my new boss, while being sharp as a tack, and a brilliant lawyer, was not born to be a filer. His files are disorganized with more madness than method, and his computers were obsolete around the time a certain young man named Hinckley tried to impress Jodie Foster. So, last week I put in 80 hours, getting some organization in the place, and I will spend about 50 this week, but I'm finally getting a handle on it...just in time, school starts next week, hopefully I'll be able to work a regular 40-hour a week job, instead of extras, while holding down my 12 credit-hours....no rest for the weary (or is that no rest for the wicked?? No rest for the trollop??....Ah, never mind)

In other recent news in my life, I was elected, along with Marjorie, as Bluegrass Belles Volunteer of the Year for 1997-98. My deepest gratitude to those who believed in me when I wasn't sure I wanted to believe in myself...y'all know who you are!! Anyway, I was under the impression that I was to deliver an acceptance speech for this, but that was not the case, so, I will close off this month by including in my article, the speech I had written, and was prepared to deliver.

I am very honored to accept this award tonight, but, I would be remiss if I did not acknowledge the fact that I couldn't have done it without the help of many people. When I came here, to Kentucky, not quite a year ago, I was all but running for my life. A case of employment discrimination had taken almost all my energy, and the case is, as of yet, still unresolved. Fifteen percent unemployment in Pennsylvania left me virtually unable to locate a livable job, and, as a result, my self-esteem suffered.

When I came here, I wasn't even sure I believed in myself anymore, or if I even wanted to. I didn't know if I wanted to continue to fight for the GLBT cause, since, up to that point, my battle had caused me nothing but heartache and pain. But there was a person who believed in me. This person took me into her home, when I had nowhere left to go. This person enabled me to regain my confidence, and my self-esteem, so that, once again, I was able to go to the forefront in the struggle all of us are involved in. That person is Anne Casebeer.

As Outreach Coordinator of the former Bluegrass Belles, now known as BGB, in order to be more inclusive of those in our community who identify as FTM, I have spent a lot of time, energy, and money, in order to help many people come out of the closet, and deal with their issues of being transgendered. No, it's not an easy job; it's a job that sometimes I wish wasn't mine....but the rewards of the job far outweigh the occasional disappointments and setbacks.

Meanwhile, the rest of BGB, particularly Dawn Wilson, and Marjorie Demaille, became very good friends to me, and were there for me in time when I was not strong enough to go on. They wouldn't let me give up. They gave me their friendship, and their support, when I wasn't even sure I wanted it. They refused to give up on me, as all others in my past had. It is because of these people that I am here, accepting this award, tonight.

There is, however, more to it than that. There are too many people to individually name who are also responsible for my being here tonight. These are the people who have built the foundations of our struggle, here in Kentucky. The ones on the front lines, and the ones who work behind the scenes. The people who have volunteered thousands of dollars and hours so that our struggle could continue...those who prepared mailings, licked stamps, answered phones and email...the list goes on and on. Many of those people are here in this audience tonight, and this award belongs to all of you. Till next month, Fer Sher!




















.

.

















.



.