YOUR INNVESTMENT

VOL 6, NO. 7 An Innvestments Publication MARCH 1998

Page Index

RED DRESSES & EXOTIC DANCE

The 14th of February brought, amidst a sea of red and white balloons, a wonderful collection of red dresses and smiling faces. This year the Innvestments annual Valentine Party was actually on St.Valentine's Day and it could not have been better. Lady Liz took the podium as her first official party duty as Ms. President and MC'd the evening. After a delicious meal, all the red dresses took their turn in parading before the group. The judges for the evening were Cheri and Susan who later provided the entertainment, and our long time friend Ron, from the hotel staff. Many and varied were the gowns and red dresses on display. Candy then finished the display but was almost driven off by Liz as Candy's gown was not the correct color. Candy and Liz got into a heated exchange of words about what was red and what was black when Liz reminded Candy that Candy was colorblind. At that remark, Candy realized that she must have made a mistake. She pulled the hair pin out of her hair letting it fall to her shoulders and quickly turned to face the members all seated around their tables. At that moment, Liz unzipped the back of Candy's "black" gown, bump and grind music started to play and Ms. Candy did a very entertaining strip revealing a dazzling red nightgown. You could hear everyone break into a low snicker, then into a roaring laugh. At this stage, Calley N. stood up and put a dollar bill into Candy's cleavage. The best red dress contest was then up for grabs. The finalists were Denise S., Brenda R. and Candy. In the end, cool heads prevailed and Denise won the coveted Barbie Doll. Congratulations!


While Cheri was getting dressed for her special entertainment, several heart shaped boxes of Valentine candy were then raffled off. After going through about 10 numbers, there were finally 4 winners. Then the lights were lowered and the music began. Dressed in a very elegant red out fit that gleamed and glittered and yet was soft and diaphanous Cheri made her entrance. Even though we were not sitting low to the floor and the decorations were not Middle Eastern, it was as if we were transported back to another place and another time. Cheri's unique skill as a traditional Middle Eastern oriental dancer worked it's magic. A very curious silence gripped the room as Cheri began to rise and move to the beat of the drums and the appeal of the horns. Twirling, twisting, the movement of the arms and hands, the flow of the veil was all extremely captivating. The dancing amidst the tables brought her close enough so that everyone became enchanted by this magic. The grand finale had Cheri, enveloped within her veil provide a hug to the audience, then bow and disappear.
Needless to say, this evening was one that will be remembered for a long time. The friendship, the food, the entertainment all placed this event in the forefront of the record book of memories. After Cheri's performance, approximately twenty of the girls along with their significant others went to Mallory Dock/Duval Street Station and danced the night away. A sincere appreciation to Cheri and Susan for working the music and to all those others involved in making this an event to remember.

The next meeting of the Innvestments discussion group will be held on Friday evening at our regular meeting location at the XXXXXXX Inn. Start time is 7:00 P.M. For those who want to remain overnight or spend the weekend, please make your reservations ASAP as the hotel is 90% filled for the weekend. Call 800+989-9827 or 508+775-6600 and ask for the Innvestments rate ($49.00). The subject for the evening is: What purpose is being transgendered filling in my life right now?

PAGE 2 YOUR INNVESTMENT MARCH 1998

YOUR INNVESTMENT is a publication of Innvestments, P.O. Box 2194, Orleans, MA.02653-2194 / P.O. Box 354, Sagamore, MA 02561-0354. Innvestments is a non-sexual service organization founded to support and to provide a socially acceptable outlet for the crossdressing, transvestite, transsexual, transgendered community located primarily in Southeastern Massachusetts, Cape Cod and the Islands. All rights reserved. Permission to reprint any article in Your Innvestment is hereby granted to non-profit similar organizations provided that publication and authorship credit be given. Any commercial use of Your Innvestment material is hereby prohibited. Some material may have previously appeared in print. Publication and authorship rights of material reprinted from other sources remain with its originator. The editor/s of Your Innvestment are not under any obligation to accept information and advertisements. Information and advertisements may be published in any form deemed acceptable. Any information about services, products or sympathetic locations published in Your Innvestment is not considered an endorsement of such by the staff of Your Innvestment or the Board of Directors of Innvestments. Innvestments is also know in open source publications on Cape Cod and the Islands as Cape Cod Cross Dressers (Triple C-D).

OFFICERS

Liz W..................................President
Robyn Roberts.....................Vice President
Brenda L...............................Treasurer E-Mail Brrendaa@aol.com

BOARD OF GOVERNORS

Candy Scott........... .....................Board E-Mail Candyscott@capecod.net
Jean-Marie J...............................Board

DUES & SUBSCRIPTIONS

Membership (including newsletter) is $30.00 per-year (pro-rated after Jan.) with a $15.00 meeting fee. Meeting fees payable only for those attended. Subscription only rates are $10.00 per-year.

MARCH 1998 YOUR INNVESTMENT PAGE 3

 

TRANSEXUAL OR CROSSDRESSER

By Candy Scott

The subject "Why do you think there is such a challenge between TSs and CDs?" came up between some members after one of our recent events. There were some very interesting comments made. The following are some of these thoughts shared with you so that you can perhaps better understand some of your sister members.

MEMBER 1 COMMENTS

_ So what is the big deal about going out dressed shopping? I have to do it all the time. -

_ I like to party as well as the next person, but I don't make a spectacle of myself. Would some of these girls dance the same way on a dance floor if they were in their guy mode as they do when in their girl mode? -

_ Why don't they learn to dress for the occasion? Every time they go out they are dressed to the nines. Don't they know that real girls don't dress like they are going to a party when they are just going to the supermarket or the dime store? Especially the wearing of spike heels and short, short skirts. -

_ They want to act like women but they stand, walk and especially talk like guys. Real women do not curse at every other word, do not normally raise their voices that loud and gesture more delicately.-

_ I just think that there is a vast difference between us. I am a real woman but I am unfortunately trapped in a guys body. You are not.

MEMBERS 2 AND 3'S COMMENTS

_ Just the fact that we don't do it all the time makes it exciting or different each time that we do it. I'm sure the first few times you went out alone gave you a feeling of euphoria. Because we can't or won't dress all of the time, doesn't diminish the feelings we have when we do go out. And as an adventure, we like to share what we learned.

_ When we are out partying as our femme selves, we do tend to let loose. But we are not obscene, just having a good time. Why not? Also, remember we do not party all of the time.

_ We have all of these clothes so why can't we wear them when we want? If we are out with others we generally fancy up a little bit but if we are out by ourselves we generally dress down. Yes we agree, short skirts and high heels are not the thing to wear everyday.

_ Everything you say is true, but we can show you some TSs or rather those who claim to be TS who still talk like a guy and use their whole body to emphasize a point. We think practice makes perfect. If you find us doing dumb things, please correct us.

Yes, as you can see, there are many and varied differences but, we are all human and all different or we would all be very dull. I have known TSs that work in the female role and never give it another thought while some TSs I know have a very difficult time and will probably take years, even after SRS, to fully transition. Most CDs on the other hand only do this occasionally. For that moment in time, they are someone else. Who really cares. Let them be someone else. Remember when we first started our journey through life we experienced many new and fascinating things, then continued on. Until CDs get over the repeat phase of their journey, they will keep enjoying the same things over and over. In time, they too will continue on until it becomes just another day in their life. Hopefully, just because we are different, it does not prevent us learning from each other!!

PAGE 4 YOUR INNVESTMENT MARCH 1998

 

LETTERS FROM LIZ

As most of you probably know, I have recently taken on the role of President of Innvestments. Some of you have spoken with me personally or have heard my public comments about my goals as president and the direction that I see us moving as an organization. For those of you whom I have not yet been able to speak with, I'd like to take a few minutes to tell you a little about myself, my connection to Innvestments and some of my goals as president.

Although, like most of us, I have been dressing since a very early age, it is only the last four years or so that I have been able to express my femme self in public. Like most of us, I have spent long periods of time feeling alone, ashamed and fearful of discovery. My membership in Innvestments has given me great peace and personal growth. I must first thank Candy and Jessie who have shown me so much during their time in office. I can only hope that I can be as effective and successful in this role.

It was during one of my first public trips enfemme that I met Chrystal. We spent an evening together in Provincetown talking and bar hopping. She was very friendly and supportive and told me about this wonderful group for TG people which she had helped to found. She gave me her phone number and invited me to attend a meeting. That was in October. It was not until March that I finally worked up the nerve to actually go to a meeting. Candy loves to tell the story of how Elaine caught me in the parking lot and convinced me to attend the meeting.

The one thing which I remember most about my first meeting was how open and accepting everyone was. The girls were all so friendly and helpful that I immediately felt a part of the group. After a lifetime of feeling alone and ashamed, I was accepted and part of a community. It is this simple reality which, for me, the most important thing about Innvestments. No matter where you are on the gender continuum, no matter how you identify yourself, whether you live full time or dress once a month, you are welcome at Innvestments. This is perhaps the fundamental premise of the organization and the support of this concept includes a commitment to remain open to any ideas which you have to help Innvestments grow and continue to meet the needs of the transgender community. If you have any thoughts, suggestions, or comments about the group, speakers, or functions...please let me know.

The second most important goal I have is to have fun. In the four years I have been out in the community I have had so many great experiences. I have gone to parties and functions, been to gay clubs and straight bars, had dinner at the Park Plaza and breakfast in the early A.M. at the Blue Diner and shopped and shopped and shopped. Most importantly I have met so many wonderful new friends, all who have helped open my eyes and my mind to a whole new world. It has been great fun. (A real hoot!!!) I hope we can all continue to find the pure joy in being able to perform our art and share it with the public.

The third goal that I have is to continue to learn about our community and how each of us can be better, more happy and productive members.

I look forward to working with you all in this unfolding year.

MARCH 1998 YOUR INNVESTMENT PAGE 5

 

NATURE OR NURTURE

 

By Candy Scott

During First Event there arose some reference to the story of male twins, one of whom was raised as a girl and the other a boy and what the eventual outcome of this experiment was. I was later asked by some of our members what I knew about this. I'm sorry, but my crystal ball was in for polishing that day and I could add nothing substantial to the comments that were made. Since then I have viewed a Canadian documentary television program about this same story. The following is, to the best of my recollection, a capsule of that documentary. I understand that this story has also been published in some one, or more, medical reports.

A set of male twins was born in Canada several years ago. One we shall call Jim and the other Jerry. At birth, as was the custom, the boys were to undergo circumcision. A new procedure was to be tried out on the boys. Somehow, during the operation on Jim, the procedure got botched. A decision had to be made on how to repair the damage. At that time, Dr. Money from Johns Hopkins University had expounded the theory that under such a situation, if a baby underwent a sex change operation, it could be raised in its new gender without any long term problems. This seemed to be the answer to the circumcision problem. Baby Jim was then surgically changed from a male to a female and raised accordingly. Brother Jerry, having successfully been circumcised was raised as a normal boy. The family moved so that no one would know and started life anew. As (Jim) Jane grew, Jane knew that she was different. She did not have the same desires or feelings that other little girls had. She wanted to play boy games and do what the boys did. Each year all during childhood Jane was brought back to Dr. Money for follow up examinations. During this television program, I do not recall Dr. Money making any comment on whether or not he felt this follow up had proved his theory that you could change a child's behavior by raising the child as the opposite sex from which they were born, although his writings did seem to favor this conclusion. As Jane grew older, she experienced an attempted suicide. She was not happy and felt that she did not belong as a girl. Jane's mother felt very guilty over what had happened and finally told Jane the complete story. After a very troubled transition into adulthood, Jane left the family, began transition from female back to male and began living as a man. She finally married a genetic female with two children and continues her quest for final SRS. Her brother Jerry experienced a more traditional up-bringing.

This same situation happened to an American Southern lad with (if I remember correctly) muscular dystrophy. The lad was confined to a wheel chair and suffered the same feelings as did Jane while growing up. While in his, now her, teens, the mother finally told the child whereas the child was then dressed and raised from that point on as a boy. This boy felt as though he was the only person in the world to which this had happened. At some point Jane, now Jim, was told about the boy. Arrangements were made for the two to meet. After meeting in a New York hotel, the boy felt much better about himself and Jim felt pretty good about being able to share his story with someone else and thus help them therapeutically. Jim took the boy fishing. The lad is now awaiting SRS back to his full male self.

Jim awaits SRS in obscurity, not wanting to jeopardize his new family or job. The lad also awaits SRS but now is hopeful of the future. Dr. Money refused to comment on any of this.

If anyone has access to this medical report I would like to read it. This seems to be the best documented case that I have heard of which helps proves TG'ism is caused by nature and not nurture.


PAGE 6 YOUR INNVESTMENT MARCH 1998

 

MARCH MEETING WITH SAHDJI

The March meeting seemed to be on us before we knew what was happening. The meeting, as always, started out with some announcements and some information to bring us up to date on what is going on in the community. Liz indicated that we have to start planning now for the annual Christmas party in December. A special committee was formed with Candy and Sara. A third volunteer is still being solicited. Also, ideas for the May and June meetings are also being requested. The meeting then went into the special program.

Sahdji, one of the professional entertainers from Provincetown was our special guest. Many of our members have seen Sahdji and his special troupe entertaining locals and tourists alike. Due to an unplanned program change in our monthly agenda we were very fortunate to be able to get Sahdji to fill in for us. Sahdji proceeded to explain how he, as a professional female impersonator, does those little makeup tricks that keeps him looking so good while on stage. Sahdji sat at the large conference table with all of the girls placed around him and applied his makeup while explaining, step by step, what he uses, how he uses it and why. His effective use of "covermark" put on with a damp sponge was eye opening to all who watched. The productive use of powders to highlight and contour were equally as fascinating to watch. Sahdji's ever ready humor salted the demonstration and brought smiles to everyone's faces. At the end of the demonstration, Sahdji took one of the girls and showed her how to "pick" away at her wig and after a few picks and tucks, it seemed as if the wig were real hair growing right out of her head. A most amazing demonstration. It certainly proved the old adage that "practice makes perfect".

Everyone adjourned to the lounge and then went to Mallory Dock to finish the evening. Speaking with Sahdji after the meeting date, he indicated he had a very good time and as the girls seemed to enjoy the session he volunteered to bring his troupe back with him and redo the demonstration, this time involving everyone and letting them practice on themselves. Innvestments thought this would be good for everyone and is working this into the upcoming schedule. We sincerely appreciated Sahdji's efforts and thank him for bringing us his talents on such a short notice.

SPECIAL NOTE

We have a CD member who is looking for a house mate. House is located in quiet upper Cape community. Non-smoker preferred. Interested persons should contact Denise at 508+xxx-xxxx.

We have a CD subscriber who has a furnished apartment for rent. Located on the 2nd floor, it has four large skylights, 2 bedrooms (1 large/1 small) with 5 closets (2 are walk-in). Apartment has full bath, full kitchen with gas stove and a sit and eat counter, a dining area, open living room with built in book shelf, hot water heat included and electricity included. A stacked washer/dryer can be had for an additional fee. It is approximately 2- miles from Exit 7 and is not bothered by summer traffic. Non-smoker preferred. Landlord is obviously T friendly. Price: $650.00 per month. Interested persons should call Candy Scott at 508+xxx-xxxx.

We also have a friend who has at least one and possibly two vacant rooms in a very large boarding house complex. This is located in Dennis not far from Exit 9 and summer traffic should not be a bother. Owner is T friendly. One other T lives within complex. Excellent living situation. Contact Candy Scott at 508+xxx-xxxx.

Page 7 YOUR INNVESTMENT MARCH 1998


CANDY'S
CUPBOARD

_
Medical research continually amazes me. The latest medical research (CNN, 11 March) has now revealed that women who smelled secretions taken from under the arm pits of other women extended or shortened the time between their menstrual periods to reflect the same cycle as those women from whom the secretion was taken. And you think we are weird??? Perhaps this is why some married CD's have a stronger urge to dress during certain times of the month as compared to other times of the month????

_ In case you hadn't noticed or realized, the Hyannis XXXXXXX Inn has become the Cape Cod XXXXXXX XXXXX. The same super folks are still there, only the name has changed. They are no longer under the Holiday Inn umbrella but are an independent hotel and still part of the XXXXX Management Group headquartered at XXXXXXXX in N XXXXXXXX.

_ Due to some personal problems, Jean-Marie has verbally submitted her resignation from the Board of Directors. Liz will ask for nominations from the floor during the next meeting in order to vote in someone for the duration of Jean-Marie's term.

_ Plan now if you want to attend Tiffany Clubs Spring Fling. It will be held May 28th thru the 31st in Provincetown. Pick up the bright yellow colored flyer at the next meeting.

_ For those political activists, the 3rd National Lobbying Day will take place April 19th thru the 21st in Washington, D.C. See the flyer at the next meeting.

_ We have learned that one of our professional entertainer friends, Vaunessa Vale, from Boston is in the hospital in Pennsylvania. We have sent her a card from the group and wish her well.

_ I hate to admit it but it must be time to go on a diet. My earrings don't fit anymore. (Liz say's not to worry, all I have to do is toss out the old ones and buy new ones.) Gee thanks Mom!!

_ And while speaking of Liz...Liz has a set of boobs...Opps, I hope so! I mean silicone prothesis ...that have only been worn once. They are size D (which Liz feels is too large for her body frame) and which she would like to sell. They cost her $240.00 new and are not that old. They are still in the box and have all of the items that go with them. Contact Liz directly.

_ I received a telephone call and was asked if I could find a copy of something that I was given. Ha. I laughed so hard I almost wet my panties. We have been living in a shell for the past two weeks as installers were supposed to arrive to put down new carpeting. If they don't arrive soon I'll have to move.

_ For those wanting to start in the Middle Eastern traditional oriental dance class...come on over. Those 4 of us who have continued on, Denise, Julie, Robyn R. and Candy are having a neat time. If there are enough who want to, we can start another class. Contact Denise: 508+xxx-xxxx.

NEXT MEETING - 6 APRIL
The next meeting on 6 April is the birthday party. At 3:30 P.M. the regular rooms will be open at the hotel. These will be available should you need to change, etc. Supper will be served at the Mallory Dock at 7:30 P.M. The menu will be salad; spaghetti with sauce and meat-balls; a glass of wine; birthday cake and ice cream. Come join us for our 6th birthday event. SPECIAL NOTE
WEAR YOUR EASTER BONNET. We will have an Easter Bonnet Parade at the Mallory Dock. Prizes will be awarded for the prettiest and the funniest Easter bonnet.

 

BACK TO NEWSLETTERS INDEX

 

BACK TO INNVESTMENTS HOME PAGE