By Vanessa Kaye
Chair of C.O.T.A.
The Central Oklahoma Transgender Alliance
Over the course of the last few years, many detractors, and some members, have accused Tri-Ess of becoming a pool alongside the banks of the Transgender River.
(Ed. Note: Tri-Ess is a multi-chapter transgender organization that may have a larger combined membership than any in the world. It has been the subject of some controversy because of its hetero-only, non-TS policies)
It has appeared to many that Tri-Ess does little to attract new members, isn't innovative and shies away from controversial topics. Since I, too, had begun to feel that Tri-Ess lacked vitality I felt moved to address these three points.
First, Tri-Ess, like any other organization is comprised of people. It wasn't the organization digging this safe little pool alongside the Transgender River, it was her members. The members of Tri-Ess are responsible for not only failing to challenge the organization, but for allowing Tri-Ess to have an image of being a stagnant pool. While ensuring their "safe" pools of social clubs, and losing sight of the main purpose of a support group, many members have cut their chapters off from the life giving currents.
Attracting new members is the responsibility of all members, not just those at the top. An increase in membership for the sake of numbers is meaningless. If we have something to offer as a local and a national organization, there will be a response. Chapters must meet the needs of members and potential members in their local communities. If a group responds to the needs of local members and develops or is involved in outreach programs, new members will come. The national organization should be more active than they are in supporting chapters and providing assistance; however, I am sure that the help will come when the need is made known.
Tri-Ess can be innovative when approached with a new idea. During the time I was working to bring C.O.T.A. (The Central Oklahoma Transgender Alliance) to life, many sisters warned me, "Tri-Ess will never go along with that idea." Yet, in truth, it was Tri-Ess who helped to establish this new community. Not only did Tri-Ess pledge its help, but the Chairwoman herself became personally involved with this new alliance that joins Tri-Ess, Renaissance and AEGIS to provide a comprehensive transgender support organization.
I challenged the editors of the Tri-Ess magazine of ignoring that sexuality and crossdressing are interrelated for many gender-gifted people. I asked why they didn't print articles on this topic. I was quite surprised at their response, "If someone would send one in," they said, "we'd be thrilled to print it. But nobody seems to contribute such articles." Again, the responsibility for Tri-Ess appearing to be cut-off from the life giving waters of the Transgender River must be directed to her members and not just the leaders alone.
There are other aspects of transgenderism that Tri-Ess should acknowledge and be more active in. Yet, Tri-Ess is so designed as to be responsive to the needs of her members, not to anticipate those needs. All of us- members, officers and friends of Tri-Ess are responsible for keeping this organization alive. We should not, and cannot allow Tri-Ess to become a stagnant, dying pool of water separated from the mainstream of the transgender community.
To fulfill this responsibility we must constantly challenge ourselves in terms of being open and honest with both our feelings and our needs. Moreover, we must challenge Tri-Ess or any support groups we belong to, to meet those needs.
Back to our home page