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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