Main Library
Resource Guide
Nightclubs
Personals
Photos
Pictorials
Chat
Hot Links
Basic Resources
Events

Help &
Reaching Us

California Tourism Official To Have SRS

By Marshall Wilson
The San Francisco Chronicle

October 24, 1997

San Mateo County's top promoter had surprise news for the agency's board yesterday -- Marc Chapdelaine will be known as Marcia and dress as a woman, starting today. The president of the San Mateo County Convention and Visitors Bureau disclosed that she is preparing for a sex-change operation, in a letter read at a meeting of the publicly funded bureau's Board of Directors.

San Mateo County is south of San Francisco and shares a border with the city. It is one of the wealthiest counties in the nation and has some of the world's most beautiful coasts. It has a busy tourist industry.

In the closed-door meeting, board Chairman Paul Gumbinger handed out a one-page letter from Chapdelaine detailing her struggle with gender identity disorder. "I will be happy to share humor, answer questions and try to relieve any discomfort that you might have so we can get over the initial shock and get on with our business as quickly as possible," the letter said. "It came as a shock, obviously," said Gumbinger. Gumbinger, a San Mateo councilman, said the board supports Chapdelaine's decision and plans "to make it a smooth transition for Marcia, her staff and the board." Copies of the book, 'True Selves: Understanding Transsexualism," were handed out at the meeting, and its author, Mildred Brown, discussed the disorder.

With an $800,000 annual budget, the bureau promotes tourism in San Mateo County, which along with 10 cities funds the bureau's advertising and promotions. Chapdelaine said she discussed the matter with Gumbinger several weeks ago in preparation of the announcement. She decided it was best not to attend the meeting "to allow everyone to speak freely." The announcement came as a surprise to many who know the 41- year-old Chapdelaine.

President of the bureau for nearly five years, she is married and has an 8-year- old daughter. Her family has been supportive, Chapdelaine said. Mike Nevin, president of the San Mateo County Board of Supervisors, said the announcement "shouldn't affect the bureau's funding or prevent the bureau from carrying out its policies." Chapdelaine said in an interview that she considers herself "a transsexual woman with a congenital condition and lifelong hormone imbalance." She's been taking female hormones for several months, and plans to "live in the female world" for a year or so before undergoing what she termed "sex-reassignment surgery."

"After years of my mind and body being in conflict, they will now be in harmony," Chapdelaine said. At the bureau, about the only thing that will change is the statio- nery. "She is still the same individual," Gumbinger said. "Her skills and all the rest that goes with that is still the same."


Back to TGF's Home Page