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."
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