IFGE Board Chair Responds:

Criticism of IFGE Convention
Was Unfair and Inaccurate

By Linda Buten


Ed. Note: Last week Transgender Forum reprinted an editorial from the Born Free (Riverside, CA) group's Newsletter that was harshly crititical of the IFGE Convention in Long Beach. Here is a response to the author of that story, Richelle G., from IFGE Chair Linda Buten.
May 30, 1997

Dear Richelle,

I am responding to your editorial in the Born Free Newsletter that was reprinted in Transgender Forum.

Let me enlighten you on a few items:

California Unity- Keep one important thing in mind, the California contingent and IFGE were 50/50 partners on this project. It is no one partner's job to pat the other on the back. As at all conventions, things will go wrong. Volunteers negate assumed responsibilities, people are no-shows, and Murphy's Law will hold true to form. Considering the circumstances, difference in venues, personality conflicts, etc., etc., I felt those who grunted the responsibility, Alison Laing and Joan Goodnight, did an admirable job. I have attended over 50 gender conventions in the past 15 years, participated in approximately 20, and completely organized a BE ALL two years ago in Cincinnati. While we all can see room for improvement, it certainly did not deserve the bull whipping you passed out.

FtM track- You stated that "For the first time at a convention of this sort there was a......... track for the Female to Male TSs." In all due respect, this is the eighth time it has been repeated at an IFGE Convention. A similar program has been around for 5 years at Southern Comfort, and smaller versions have been at previous "BE ALL Weekends" and "First Events". IFGE was not only the pioneer of such programs, money from IFGE helped fund the first FtM International Conference. (BTW- Seed money and leadership from IFGE also helped materialize the first "SPICE Convention", the "American Boyz Convention, the International Conference on Sex & Gender, ICTLEP, and the New Women's Conference.)

Board Members- You said IFGE Board members seemed non-existent. This is somewhat true, but what you don't realize is, the convention partners agreed that no one person be singled out. IFGE directors nor anyone else were permitted to wear identification ribbons as in past conventions. I personally attended every luncheon, dinner, cocktail party and function that time would allow. I even went bar hopping and dancing every night with new groups of people. I spoke with as many individuals as humanly possible. I always saw many of the other board members present. If you don't know them, how do you know they were there or not?

Recognition- You stated that, "the IFGE leadership and Board Members did not recognize the efforts of the local volunteers". Again it was decided by the partners that there would be no special awards for those who worked on the convention. Born Free members are part of the California Team, not exactly a group of outsiders. I don't know anyone who attended that convention that did not realize that the local groups played a large part in making it a success. It was in all the printed literature and announced several times at the podium. (BTW- IFGE did present a special award for Joan Goodnight, but I guess you missed it.)

Thursday night- Thursday night was a fund raiser for IFGE. I remember no promise or even a suggestion of dinner, only entertainment. Jim Bridges and members of the Gay Community freely donated their time to help us raise money, that in return goes back to the Community.

I have no idea why you think this was so offensive. The Gender Community is striving to be inclusive of everyone with gender issues - including many Drag Queens. Your statements about them are leaning towards just being divisive, something we need a lot less of in our community. You may see Jim Bridges only as a money sucking entrepreneur who lives off the community, but if you would get to know the real person, you could have never made this statement.

Background- IFGE was established 13 years ago by individuals like you, from existing groups like yours. It was never designed to be an umbrella organization, and does not claim to be. (I hear this term used repeatedly by people who do not understand the IFGE concepts.) The purpose was to bring together community leaders and try to accomplish things no small group could do by itself. The IFGE "Coming Together Convention", is everyone's and anyone's forum. It was a tool where a local group or groups can entertain a national convention in their home town. The local group is expected to do most of the work on the local level. The conventions serves as a platform where leaders come together for many different reasons. The awards night is one of those reasons.

Community Awards- The IFGE Awards night is not an evening where IFGE gives awards to IFGE volunteers. Years ago, community leaders felt it would be grand to honor anyone who worked for the common good of the Gender Community. A separate group of individuals called the Selections and Awards Committee was formed for this purpose, and it is they who determine who is nominated and receives awards. A member of our board, Winnie Brant in this case, helps organize and maintain this committee, but the Committee speaks for itself. The cost of the awards is provided though the IFGE general fund, but the awards do not bear our name, nor do the Board have a say on who receives what. This year there were eleven awards presented at the banquet, three of them went to current and past IFGE Board Members. Over the years IFGE Board Members have received about 30% of all awards given out. Keep in mind, most of us are very involved in a number of organizations, and IFGE is just one of many.

Long time dedicated leaders like Joan Goodnight in your area, are very far and few between. Most people who win a national award like the Trinity or Virginia Prince, have at least 10 years of community service under their belt. I personally have been very active for over 17 years. I still lecture in colleges, answer mail, work hotlines, organize meetings, and meet the newcomers on a local level. I've spent large sums of money and twelve years on the national scene. This year I received my first, and only award.

You speak about Saturday night's attendance. If you haven't figured out the general attitude of the Gender Community by now, let me clue you in. Ninety plus percent of the Community takes, never gives back, and couldn't give a damn about the next person. Sure it was hot, hard to see and hear, and they really didn't know the person.

But for those who did attend, it was a chance to say THANK YOU to those special leaders who have given so much in the past.

I hope that next time you decide to publicly voice your views about any person or organization you sit back and re-think, research, and speak lovingly from your heart. Healthful and constructive criticisms are always welcomed but your letter ran from self- congratulation to unbridled vehemance aimed at IFGE. The Gender Community is too small to be divided by walls of ill will. Building bridges between differences is our hopes to a better tomorrow. If you are dissatisfied with anything regarding IFGE, myself or Alison would be more than happy to speak with you. I hope you will continue your efforts with the Born Free Organization and I regret not having the opportunity to meet you personally.

Sincerely,

Linda Buten
Chair of the Board of IFGE


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