by JoAnn Roberts - CyberQueen

"I don't know the key to success, but the key to failure is trying to please everybody." -- Bill Cosby

Well, kids, I've just returned from the 1997 Fall Harvest event in Omaha, Nebraska, over Hallowe'en weekend. I know, I know, Omaha? Yes, and we had a blast. Let me tell you, those Heartland Girls know how to throw a party! Stef Matthews, Joni Joyce, and especially Barbara Love did a fabulous job co-hosting. Ms. Love did yeoman (yo-woman?) service as Mistress of Ceremonies and she even performed on Saturday night. Speaking of which, y'all could take some lessons from them Omaha girls on how to bridge the transgender and gay/les communities. The Imperial Court of Nebraska (ICON) was in attendance at Saturday night's festivities with the reigning Emperor and Empress and last year's Empress and Emperor (I thought he was really cute and he reminded me of Dilbert, a little).

Just across the river from Omaha is Council Bluffs, Iowa, which is also host to three casinos. We paid a visit to Harvey's on Hallowe'en evening. I was surprised that almost none of the gamblers were in costume. Anyway, I got to shoot craps in drag, but they took me to the cleaners. I was lucky to get out with my lingerie intact. No one at the crap table gave my any problems and I spoke with several of my compadres and the table crew. In a casino, what matters is the color of your money.

Next year's Fall Harvest will be in Minneapolis, Minnesota, hosted by the City of Lakes Crossgender Community (CLCC). Fall Harvest is a regional convention, much like the Be All, that rotates through several midwest cities. The overall framework for Fall Harvest is the Mid-America Gender Group Information Exchange (MAGGIE). MAGGIE was the brainchild of Jennifer Richards, a St. Louis, Mo., transgender activist who passed away two years ago. I spoke with several people in Omaha who are afraid that MAGGIE may fall apart from apathy. That would really be a shame. In a short time, MAGGIE has become very important to the midwest and Fall Harvest is an important event for the country. It is an opportunity for people to come out who might not get another chance. I hope MAGGIE and Fall Harvest will continue in the tradition Jennifer started. Oh, by the way, the 1998 Be All is in Pittsburgh this year and I will be doing at least two programs for them.

Also attending Fall Harvest was Phyllis Frye, the Executive Director of the International Conference on Transgender Law and Employment Policy (ICTLEP). We hadn't seen each other face to face since the lobby days in October of 1995. Both Phyllis and I had been invited to Fall Harvest to give luncheon talks about the future of the transgender community. Our messages were very similar: don't sit on the sidelines waiting for someone else to do the work so you can reap the benefits--go get involved. Sometimes it's just not that easy figuring out how to get involved. Along those lines, watch for an important joint announcement by two of the major national organizations that will give more people a chance to get involved in the future of our community. But, you can always start by donating time and money to your local organization.

President Clinton made an historic address to the Human Rights Campaign (HRC) at a $500 a couple dinner on November 8. It is the first time a sitting president has addressed a gay/lesbian organization. Elizabeth Birch, Executive Director of HRC, introduced the president, and although I did not hear her introduction in full, I am told that she mentioned transgendered people at least twice. Mr. Clinton, did not mention us, nor did he mention bisexual people. His remarks were confined to gays and lesbians. Mr. Clinton specifically endorsed passage of the Employment Non Discrimination Act (ENDA) saying that discrimination on the basis of sexual orientation is"... wrong and should be illegal." If ENDA passes this Congress, transgendered people will not be covered and HRC does not endorse amending the current bill to include us.

Ding, Dong the Study's Dead! Yes, even as I tried to explain the merger-study thing to you last issue, it all came apart mid-month. Actually, the unraveling started almost from the beginning. While the AEGIS and Renaissance boards immediately agreed to participate in the study last July, many IFGE board members expressed their opposition to the idea. Over the summer months, Renaissance sent several requests to Linda Buten, chair of IFGE's board, requesting an official status of the study proposal and the appointment of two study team members. Those requests went ignored and unanswered until it was discovered Buten had set up a meeting with AEGIS during the Southern Comfort Conference without Renaissance participation. Confronted with this meeting, Buten replied with an IFGE Executive Committee position statement: "They seen (sic) no advantage in speaking with anyone from Renaissance because they felt the group has nothing IFGE wants or needs." Regardless, AEGIS and Renaissance resolved to start the study and include IFGE anyway, but the entire month of October went by with no progress. The straw that broke the camel's back was a report from an IFGE board member that Buten has written an editorial for the IFGE Newsletter stating the reasons why IFGE does not need to merge with another organization. Having wasted four months and receiving repeated statements that IFGE is not interested in talking with Renaissance, the Renaissance board decided to officially withdraw from the study. A teleconference for November 16 was cancelled and the study is officially dead. Now, it may seem I am laying blame for the cancellation on IFGE, but that is only partly true. A major change in attitude by Renaissance came about because of the tremendous job Diane Dale and her Strategic Development Team have done in preparing a 5 year plan for growing Renaissance into the next century. Expanding the Renaissance board beyond regional boundaries and creating alliances, rather than mergers, seemed the best route. A Press Release, elsewhere in this edition, describes Renaissance's 1998 plans in more detail.

Enough light-heartedness, let's get to the serious stuff... This could start a run on beauty counters. Phillip B. was touting his Botanical Cucumber and Lotus Breast Enhancing Cream while visiting one of the many fashion mags. He let it drop that he uses it himself to pump up his pecs. "I put it on and in five minutes I feel like the Incredible Hulk. I look in the mirror and I can't believe they're mine." Sounds like I need to add this cream to my little bag of tricks for creating believable cleavage.

Here's a charity most tg support groups could get behind with little trouble. Dress For Success is a non-profit organization that solicits dress suits in size 18 and larger for women entering the work force but who have little money or are a hard to fit size. The New York organization can be reached at 212-545-DSNY.

With the holidays approaching everyone needs a "little black dress" for that special occassion. Vogue pattern 9808 fills the bill. It's semifitted and slightly tapered so it will look good on just about anybody (that's a pun). But what really caught my eye was this... if you are daunted by the thought of threading a sewing machine or think that a dart is something you throw at a cork target in a bar, then perhaps the Professional Association of Custom Clothiers (541-772-4119) can help you find a tailor. If you absolutely insist on buying a dress, here are some suggestions: Polyester and spandex knock-off of a Dolce & Gabbana by Frances Colon for $98... Another polyester and spandex one shoulder dress by Also Known for $82... A below the knee stretch dress by LOTTA $99... Velvet sleeveless shift by GAP, $58... a beaded halter neck dress for Bisou Bisou by Michael Bohbot $88.

Hemlines are all over the map this season. Long straight skirts create a lean line that is flattering and slimming. Add a back slit for a little bit if sexy leg show... A knee-length skirt is more adult and appropriate for a mature woman (say, post-35). A back slit makes for easy movement and a wrap style assures a good fit... The mini seems here to stay so prepare for it with hosiery that matches the color and a good pair of knee-high boots, or at least a higher heel.

Last month I talked about Kevin Aucoin's Making Faces and mentioned eyebrow sealer to block out and redraw eyebrows. Well, girls, I went to our local Sally's Beauty Supply store and found at least two brands of eyebrow sealer and right next to them were eyebrow stencils so you can't make a mistake. The stencils come in rounded and arch styles and cost less than $3.

Espy Lopez at Classic Curves sent me info on the latest addition to her product line -- Hot Lashes. This is a heated eyelash curler that will help your lashes stay curled for up to 18 hours. The complete package includes the curler, heater, eyelash night oil and quick-dry mascara, all for under $50. Zip on over to her web site for more info www.clcrv.com. She also sent me a test unit but I haven't had a chance to try it out yet.

While at Fall Harvest I met two really great folks from Colorado, Kelly and Darla Murphy of Avante Masterpiece Cosmetics. Their cosmetic line is extensive and of the highest quality. You can visit their web site at www.apos.com. Kelly and Darla will be writing a monthly How-To column online for Transgender Forum. Also, look for a special "starter" kit they'll be putting together. It will have everything you need.

I've been meaning to mention another community vendor, Transformations. No, not the Transformations exposed-genitals ragazine. This is Transformations Makeup and Hair out of Austin, Texas. Jon Davis (aka Beth Boyé) and Lauren Carlisle make up the team behind the company. I had a booth next to Jon's on the Queen Mary in Long Beach last April and I saw Jon again at the recent Southern Comfort. Jon did my hair in Long Beach and I really liked the way he styled it, plus I admire his painting technique (that's DQSpeak for makeup application). So, if you see Jon at an event (he's real popular at the Texas ‘T' Party), stop and look over his services as they're very reasonably priced.

I gotta love this guy because he knows how to get your attention. Wolfgang Joop got really pissed off about an article on Gianni Versace's murder that referred to the fashion world as a "decadent and perverted world of high class homos." In retaliation, Joop pulled nearly 1 million dollars worth of advertising from the offending publication and two sister magazines. This guy's got style!

Wall Street doesn't care about your sexual orientation; they care about your financial orientation. So, the Street hasn't been exactly nice to some big fashion names. They took Gucci to the market with a nearly 20 percent drop in a single day while investors took profits even though the company showed solid performance in the second quarter. Donna Karan has had a rough ride on the Street as well and some were smart enough to dump her stock before it slid. Everyone in the fashion world is still trying for the Ralph Lauren pot-of-gold and Gianfranco Ferre is the most recently announced initial public offering (IPO) sometime in 1999.

By the time this hits your mailbox, John Berendt's Midnight In The Garden of Good and Evil will have opened in the theaters. You should go see this film because the transgendered character Lady Chablis is being played by the real Lady Chablis. Director Clint Eastwood is to be commended for choosing the real Chablis over a actor/actress.

So, those are my opinions, but, hey, what do I know? I think failure is good for building character. Comments? Write care of this publication or email them to CyberQueen@cdspub.com.