by JoAnn Roberts - CyberQueen

"Delusions are often functional. A mother's opinions about her children's beauty, intelligence, goodness, et cettera, ad nauseam, keep her from drowning them at birth."-- Robert Heinlein

Before I forget, Happy 10th Anniversary Renaissance. May you have ten times ten more.

If you haven't registered yet for the Second International Congress on Sex & Gender Issues, now is the time to do it. This repeat of the fabulous congress that took place in February 1995 at Cal. State University at Northridge will be just as great if not greater. Plenary speakers are Kate Bornstein, Prof. Dr. Louis Gooren, and Dr. Steven Levine of the Harry Benjamin International Gender Dysphoria Association. Sandra Bem (The Lenses of Gender) may make a special address as well. In addition to two and a half days of sessions, the congress is pleased to host the Magnus Hirschfeld exhibit. This exhibit, titled "Seventy Five Years of Sexual Science," is a rare and wonderful review of the contributions of Dr. Hirschfeld to the field of sexual science, particularly with respect to gender role and identity. Dr. Hirschfeld is credited with inventing the term "transvestite." The registration fee for the congress is $80 until June 1 and then it increases to $100. On Saturday evening, June 21, Renaissance will host a 10th Anniversary banquet with Kate Bornstein as the guest of honor and dancing to a tg band. The cost of the banquet is $37. The congress and banquet will be held at the Park Ridge Hotel in King of Prussia, Pa. For complete details, contact Renaissance, call the office at 610-975-9119, or write care of 987 Old Eagle School Rd., Suite 719, Wayne, Pa. 19087.

You've heard of Transsexual Nation. Marched with Transexual Menace. Now it's time to get busy with:

Naturally, they've got a list. And it's nonnegotiable:

Price Controls on Beaded Gowns! Now!...
Decriminalization and Destigmatization of Middle-Aged Narcissism (MAN) Now! ...
Restrooms Without Borders! Hurry! ...
Amnesty for Clothesline Shoppers! Free the Victoria's Secret 7,893!
Haute Couture in Plus Sizes! ...and there'll be more...once they think some up.

Okay, it's a joke. But while satirical in nature, TV Nuisance is a legitimate not-for-profit operation intended to be fundraising mechanism for legitimate transgender issues and projects including:

TVN is the brainchild of Erin Souza, Cindy Martin, Jamie Fenton, and moi. TVN will begin a merchandising campaign with membership cards and maybe more.

All proceeds will go to real charitable projects.

If you want to know more about the goals and projects of TVN (like picketing Payless Shoe Source stores until they all carry size 13 double wide 4-inch stilettos...unless they're having a sale.) Write to 3-D Communications, Inc., PO Box 80588, Valley Forge, PA 19484, or better yet, get on the no-obligation TV Nuis mailing list we'll keep you posted from there.

I spent some time in Las Vegas losing my bra at the crap tables and interviewing Frank Marino for LadyLike Magazine. Marino is the female impersonator who mimics comedienne Joan Rivers in the La Cage show at the Riviera Hotel. I found Marino to be extremely personable and easy to talk with. I asked him if he felt differently in and out of drag. In particular, there is a photo of Frank and his partner in Frank's autobiography His Majesty The Queen (available at the CDS Bookstand) with Frank in a wedding dress and he just looks too natural. He confided in me that the photo was shot that way and with him in male clothes and that he felt really uncomfortable in the male clothes for that photo. I think that Mr. Marino is an extraordinary impersonator and transgendered, at least to some extent. If you're in Las Vegas, drop by the Riviera any night but Tuesday for one of the best FI shows I've ever seen.

On the political front, companion joint resolutions were introduced on March 20 in the House and Senate, according to transgender activist Dana Priesing. The resolutions are House Joint Resolution 66, and Senate Joint Resolution 24. Each proposes the following amendment to the U.S. Constitution:

"Article --
"Section 1. Equality of rights under the law shall not be denied or abridged by the United States or by any State on account of sex.
"Section 2. The Congress shall have the power to enforce, by appropriate legislation, the provisions of this article.
"Section 3. This amendment shall take effect two years after the date of ratification."

Priesing says, "A construction of the meaning of sex in these resolutions, broad enough to encompass sexual characteristics, expression and/or identity, would be enormously beneficial to transgendered people, as well as bisexuals, lesbians and gays (sexual orientation, after all, either is a sexual characteristic or sexual expression). No word yet on how broadly, or narrowly, the term is intended to be construed."

I must have hit a nerve last month because that column generated more mail than ever. Here's a sample: "I felt compelled to comment about the HRC/ENDA issue, after reading your comments [last month]. I was one of the activists who traveled to DC in late February. I believe, after having visited and spoken to [staffers] of Senators McConnell (KY), Ford (KY), Baucus (MT), Dorgan (ND), Harkin (IA), Daschle (IA) and Moseley-Braun (IL), that those who support ENDA or legislation similar to it will do so regardless of trans-inclusion. Those who are resistant, as Wendell Ford was, will remain so. The fence-sitters (McConnell) are the ones to work on... That does not mean we should expect passage this year. This is a Congress largely funded by and representing the interests of the religious right, and in my part of the US, they are very, very strong.... I say to heck with the HRC (Human Rights Campaign) and when my lesbigay friends saw what HRC has done to transpeople, they agreed with me. HRC is not our ally, and should be shunned by transpeople. Any transperson who gives a donation to HRC is not getting enough beauty rest. Thanks for the Forum, once again. Anne Casebeer, Bluegrass Belles"

Onto the fashion news! Last month I mentioned the Dinair airbrush makeup system. That elicited this response from Andie Blank. "I contacted Dinair about a year ago, and purchased the full package. It was more like $800 complete with makeup! Unfortunately, I am a spaz with tools, and this was no different. Besides, spray painting myself was very awkward. I think I would have been more successful doing it on someone else. But Dinair was completely reputable, and tried to help me through my problems. When I finally gave up, I returned the unit, and they promptly credited my account." Anyone who wants more info on the Dinair should contact Andie at Andieblank@aol.com.

The BUZZ for Spring are pastel colors in yellows, blues and pinks. But we're talking makeup here, not clothing. Why not try these blue lipsticks: Bleu Satin from Guerlain, Hard Candy Sky or Urban Decay's Vapor. For a more traditional Spring pink try Helena Rubinstein no 47, Estee Lauder Cannes Coral, or Clinique's Watermelon. Another HOT color for Spring is orange and the lipstick isn't being left out here either. Try Guerlain's Orange Insolent. Looking for peach? There's Estee Lauder All-Day South Beach Peach. Looking for a tasty plum? Try Estee Lauder Perfect Bloom.

Laurie909 from AOL commented on my piece about MODE magazine last month. She says, "..though most TV/CD/TGs may be able to take advantage of a magazine like MODE, not all. I am 5' 3" and weigh 128 lbs. I wear a size 8 or 10 petite (am I making you jealous.... well, I use to be able to wear a 7 or 9.) But it's not all glory over here either. Although 8's or 10's may be easier to find than 16's or 22's, unless they're petites, I have to have them altered, too. The sleeves or legs or skirt hems are too long. [My] point being: No matter what size you are, you just can't win." Gawd, is she braggin' or complainin'? Seriously, I know what she means. At 5' 6" myself, everything I buy has to be hemmed and I have all my skirts taken in below the hips.

What's in a name? Back in 1986 there was simply the Donna Karan Collection and the eponymous line made an instant hit. That success was repeated in 1989 with the release of DKNY, a younger, more hip, and less expensive line of clothes. These were followed by Donna Karan Essentials, a line of basic items with which one could build a wardrobe. So, what happened this spring? Ms. Karan got positively wild and released a whole slew of new lines, First there's D, a derivative of DKNY that is supposed to fill in (price-wise) between DKNY and the Donna Karan Collection, ranging in price from $200 to over $600. DKNY Classics is a line of basics (again?) starting at about $100 and topping out at $250. Then add DKNY Active to the list with stretchy logo'd pieces like stretch tights and nylon mesh tank tops starting at $35 for t-shirts and peaking at $250 for a power-stretch all-in-one catsuit. Finally there's DKNY Jeans sporting, ta da... jeans and more t-shirts. Methinks LaDonna has split her personality once too often. But, it's not just Karan doing the splitting. In 1976 Liz Claiborne started her company to fill the wardrobe needs of the emerging career woman. Today there's the Liz Caliborne Collection of careerwear, Lizsport (sportswear), Lizwear (youth collection), Liz & Company (weekend wear), Lizgolf (golf wear), Liz Night (evening wear), and Elisabeth (Plus sizes). Ralph Lauren is another designer splitting lines. In addition to the Ralph Lauren Collection, (Do you get the idea that if it's a "collection," then it's expensive?) there's Ralph for the younger woman, Lauren for less expensive classic pieces, Polo Sport for those who like flashy athletic wear, and Polo Jeans. However, it's hard to tell the pieces apart except by the prices.

So, those are my opinions, but, hey, what do I know? Drowning a delusion might be a bouying experience. Comments? Write care of this publication or email them to CyberQueen@cdspub.com.