Southern Comfort Conference 1998
A Place to Call Home... If Only For A Few Days
By Kim Ribbans
Atlanta
It was Judy's first time... She stands behind the hotel bedroom door for a
full ten minutes with her hand on the door handle. Breathing quickly but
with shallow breaths she finally turns the handle in response to the
confident knock from the outside. Her escort had arrived. As she opened
the door and stepped out into the hallway, the elevator, the lobby she
could hardly believe her own strength of spirit. Hardly believe that she
was in public. Hardly believe that she was Judy. For the first time.
She sat down, almost fell down, in the bar and looked around her at some
of the nearly five hundred delegates to Southern Comfort, possibly the
worldís foremost transgender conference, which Atlanta has been playing
host to for the last 8 years. Her escort Stefanie Schumaker, post
operative transsexual and co-Chair of the event explained. "Judy has
never been out in public dressed as a woman, and this will be an
experience she will never forget." "For me and the dozens of others who
work all year to put this conference on, Judyís experience validates all
our hard work"
Kim Ribbans Sings During The Talent Show |
And the hard work really showed. This yearís Southern Comfort in Altanta
was the biggest yet. Maybe it was the sheer size and energy of the event
or maybe it really was the best yet it certainly seemed like it.
Southern Comfort was conceived and born as an opportunity for a handful of
mainly closeted crossdressers and transsexuals to get together in a safe
place and express themselves. Since then it has grown to become a highly
respected event with attendees from around the world mixing with members
of the professional support community, the media and friends.
The Terrace Garden & Four Points Hotels on Lennox Road in the Buckhead
area of town, hosted this years event. As the leader of the Atlanta Gay
Male Voice Choir said "Thanks for bringing diversity to Buckhead" Not
known as the most liberal area of this mainly easy going city, there were
certainly no complaints from the delegates, either about the hotel or the
location. From one meeting room in an economy hotel outside the perimeter
to a midtown business and convention property the eventís needs, driven by
attendance and content looks like it is on an upward curve.
Sabrina Marcus, gloriously flamboyant board member and one of the early
forces behind the whole event was bursting with enthusiasm as she stepped
down from emceeing the Friday Night talent show that has become a Southern
Comfort favorite. "I am always amazed at the sheer talent and diversity
of this community, and I donít just mean this show" Sabrina talks as she
strides quickly through the hotel stopping and talking to dozens of
conventioneers as she does so.
"We have Doctors, lawyers, business owners and professional musicians.
The transgendered community is a real slice through the diversity of the
world. And thatís why this conference is such a success. When we need a
skill, we always know that we can find it. Whether thatís for
organization, for design, website building, singing, production or ...
whatever"
Indeed this yearís conference was perhaps the most self sufficient. The
sound rig for the remarkably entertaining Talent Show, was provided by a
transgendered Sound Designer whose business deals with some of the rock
worldís biggest names. The video of the show was put together by probably
Atlantaís only transgender owned video production company. Everything
from the website, the conferenceís printed materials and logistics
management were provided from within the community.
And if you think the Talent Show was an amateur version of Atlantaís
famous drag shows, think again. With everything, from Jami Wardís now
famous stand- up "If the store assistant in Richís thinks your wife is the
luckiest woman alive cozí youíre always buying her clothes... then you
might just be transgendered" To original compositions on guitar and
piano, choreography that would find a comfortable place on any Broadway
stage, the show would knock the spots off most variety show in any city.
Trips to the 24 hour nightlife of Atlanta were as ever hugely successful,
with no incidents other than sore heads to report. But it wasnít all
just partying. Trips to CNN, the Botanical Gardens, Little Five and
Underground were offered along with the highlights of Atlantaís nightlife.
The evening at The Nomenclature Museum, merely served to add to the great
diversity of one of the cityís latest hangouts. And of course, The
Chamber, Backstreet Atlanta and The Otherside Lounge were all hugely
popular venues.
But where does the conference go from here? How big will it get?
According to Stefanie Schumaker the conference will continue to get
larger, at least for the next couple of years. "We really are planning on
a conference in 2001 that might see 1,000 people here in Atlanta. Then
our problems will be the same as any large meeting planner. Venue,
entertainment, the business program, all of that. But what a great
problem to have"
As the attendees checked out of the hotels on Sunday, you could sense the
energy mixed with the sadness of parting. For many the panty hose and
heels would go back, along with their personas, into the closet for
another year. For an increasingly large contingency, life as a
transgendered person goes on, with the same issues and concerns as
everyone. A job, a home and peace of mind. Southern Comfort is a
catalyst, the event a milestone in many lives. For Atlanta it is a chance
to see a vibrant community at close proximity, for the attendees it is a
chance to come together, to express solidarity with our brothers and
sisters and to be ourselves with no fear of judgment or condemnation.
Wouldnít it be nice if everyone had that chance?
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