For a while there I thought we might have to heed Mr. Long's words, but it looks like we've survived the first organizational crisis in GenderPAC. At the mobilization meeting last November, an agreement was made (or at least several of us thought it was made) to change the name of the news service providing information about gender activism. In Your Face, the newsletter of transgender activism was deemed a bit too controversial and too "in your face" for association with GenderPAC. So, when press releases and news releases continued to go out under the In Your Face banner noting it as a news service of GenderPAC, some board members got a might testy. After much heated debate, talk of resignations and talk of firings, everyone seems to have calmed down. The real issue is "who is in charge here?" the GPAC Executive Director, Riki Wilchins, or the GPAC board of directors. That issue seems yet to be settled to everyone's satisfaction. As for In Your Face, it will continue to be published, but not by GenderPAC. Stay tuned for further developments.
The December 10th issue of The Advocate is notable for two reasons. First, it has an article about the GenderPAC Mobilization Meeting that took place in early November. We can use all of the good press, gay or otherwise, that we can get. Second, it has a most interesting back page editorial by columnist Gabriel Rotello. Rotello says he thinks that gays and lesbians are really transgendered and that homophobes bust on gays and lesbians, not for their sexual choice, but because of their so-called inappropriate gender roles. I like the way this Rotello fellow thinks. I've been saying the same thing for a couple of years now. Finally, someone listened.
Gender Identity Dysphoria as a diagnosis available under the Diagnostic & Statistical Manual of Mental Disorders, Fourth Edition (DSM-IV) from the American Psychiatric Association is under attack by trans-activists who claim the diagnosis is being used improperly by some therapists to incarcerate queer youth. The activists are protesting and lobbying the APA to remove GID from the DSM. Doing so, however, would have serious financial and social repercussions for transsexuals. For example, trans-people would face the loss of their healthcare and civil rights in Oregon and Washington states where being transgendered is legally defined as a disability. Diana Slyter, a pro-GID activist noted; "ITA [It's Time America!] has opened an Oregon chapter with their sole stated goal the elimination of Oregon trans-people's civil rights under Oregon's disability rights laws. With 'friends' like these, who needs Jesse Helms?" My two cents worth on the subject is this: why not protest against the publishers of chemistry books that tell you how to make explosives. It's the same principle. Trash the editor instead of the terrorist who makes and uses the bomb. The problem with GID isn't the diagnosis; it does exist as a disorder. The problem isn't the DSM; it's simply a dictionary. The problem is the unethical therapist who abuses them and their clients.
Jennifer Wells wasn't afraid to shoot her own dog. Not more than two weeks after posting her message about the New York Hate Crimes Documentation Project, Wells pulled the plug after the initial person she was trying to help turned on her. According to Wells, while investigating the incident that prompted the documentation project, she discovered some discrepancies in the alleged victim's story. After a confrontation with Wells over those discrepancies, the young transsexual said that Wells lost control and attacked her physically. Now, I don't know the person Jennifer was trying to help, but I do know Jennifer Wells and I just don't believe that she attacked another person, let alone another transsexual. I could be wrong, but I don't think so. Anyway, Wells posted some hard learned lessons:
I promised to pass this along. TransgenderNet is a network of BBS systems which carry one or more TG-oriented discussion "echoes." The active echoes include a general discussion echo, a crossdresser-only echo, a partners echo, an echo dealing with transgender politics, echoes on transition and post-op discussion (both a MTF and a FTM echo are included), a BDSM echo, and a personal contact echo. TGNet is free of charge except for the cost of the BBS calling a hub system overnight to exchange mail and echo posts. These echoes are not available on Usenet, via Internet listserv, or AOL, CompuServe, Prodigy, MSN, etc. Unfortunately, as many of TGNet's original member BBSs saw their traffic levels drop and their users migrate to the Internet, they shut down and left holes in TGNet's connectivity. The founder of TGNet, Beverly Copeland shut down her own BBS, Feminet and handed off control to Russ Goodale of The Room Next Door in Seattle. Even in this era of "the Internet is everything" there are still many transgender friendly BBS systems up and running. This is an invitation to those BBSs to join TGNet and expand the number of participating voices in our echoes. If anyone has a favorite BBS that would be a good TGNet affiliate, urge them to have their sysop contact Kym Richardssysadmin@xconn.com or Russ my.gizmo@trnd.serv.net for connection information.
I got in some hot water with one of the Renaissance News & Views advertisers last month (where this column originates) because I mentioned a lingerie store in Phoenix, Arizona. I'm sorry for upsetting an advertiser, but this column is internationally syndicated and appears in six different publications at last count. I have readers from all over the world, and if any one of them sends me a tip, I'm going to pass it along. Let's not be too parochial here. Besides, I hardly think that someone from the Philadelphia area is going to do business with some store in Arizona rather than one of the local advertisers.
Anyone seen the new VIVA GLAM ad from M-A-C with RuPaul and k.d.lang? Sorry kids, doesn't work for me this time. The ad has Ru looking like he's wearing just a bikini. Oh, please! Are we that stupid or what? Ru looks horrid, just absolutely horrid. I mean it is sooo obvious he's wearing a corset. But, still the schtick with the Viva Glam lipstick is that every cent (not just the profit) goes to AIDS research. According to MAC that total is now 5.5 million dollars.
See, there's some real benefits to crossdressing. According to a study done at the University for Spoiled Children (Oops, sorry that's the University of Southern California, my son's alma mater), the more often a woman applied an opaque lipstick, the less likely she was to develop lip cancer, and that users who applied lipstick more than once daily cut their risk in half.
Miss Plus USA is the newest of the beauty pageants for women size 14 and up. The winner for 1996 was Vanessa Murphy who measures a zaftig 40-33-44. What's really interesting is that the Barbizon School of Modeling has a special $1200 course for the larger women. A spokeswoman for the school said a size 16 "... can't rotate our hips and push out our pelvis in the same way as a size 4... we have to learn to walk gracefully in other ways." Now, if we could just get that Barbizon course taught at the Poconos...
I seem to have ended up with lots of browns and dark blues in my closet this year. The good news is that one of the freshest looks this season is chocolate brown with navy blue. As each new season arrives, it helps to think about building upon a wardrobe rather than buying everything new. Each season brings with it prominent colors. If you're smart, you'll know exactly what to buy that will expand your wardrobe. For example, purple is one of the hottest colors this season but there are so many different shades -- some are more blue, some more red. There are bright grapes, rich plums and deep eggplants. Find which colors you like and stick with them.
Accessorize! That's the ticket. If you have Christmas gifts to exchange, you might want to treat yourself to some hip, up-to-the-minute accessories, like... big, bold jewelry is back, long chains, big earrings, major bangles... a shiny vinyl or patent leather purse in black or the more fashionable dark red this season, prices range from $10 to $300 (Gucci who started the trend)... shiny shoes will do as well, with a blocky heel a must, but if you really want to be on top of the scene, side-zip ankle boots in red suede... belts are big, especially if they have a big military style buckle, and even better if the buckle is engraved with a designer logo, like CK... and there are hats and gloves, though I've never found a hat yet that fits over my wig, but just in case, look for faux animal prints.
You'll notice I don't have much to say about fashion of late. That's because the designers have all taken leave of their senses. There isn't any clothing worth noting because no real woman would be caught dead in anything that's come down the runway. What I'll do here is give you a peek at some new year trends... new silhouette - the dress... "new" color - brown... "new" metallic - bronze... new shirt style - tight tee... "new" fabric - jersey... new respectable underwear - the thong... new fashion capital - London... newest fad - knickers... "new" shoe - sexy, ultra-feminine stilettos (again)...
Here are two books that warrant a mention for the post-holiday gift exchange... The Lost Artwork of Hollywood by Fred Basten (Watson-Guptil $40) is a coffee table book that gathers little seen screen gems gathered from the late teens to the forties including some gorgeous colorwork by well-known artists, as well as total unknowns... Near and dear to the heart of many a transvestite is lingerie and thus Unmentionables: A Brief History of Underwear by Elaine Benson (Simon & Schuster $30) would be of immense interest. This book suggests we are what we wear underneath our clothes (no argument from me on that point). The text is full of interesting facts and bits of titillating information.
So, those are my opinions, but, hey, what do I know? I think a dog that bites the hand that feeds it ought to be shot. Comments? Write care of this publication or email them to CyberQueen@cdspub.com.
© 1997 by JoAnn Roberts