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Your Innvestment |
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Vol. 9, No. 3 |
February, March 2001 |
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HOME PAGE - NEWSLETTERS - LINKS TO OTHERS - MEMBERS PAGE |
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Your Innvestment |
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Vol. 9, No. 3 |
February, March 2001 |
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PAGE INDEX
The 9th annual Valentine Party had more than its share of red dresses this year. There was about 22 lined up across the dance floor, each looking to take home the Barbie Doll. The Valentine Barbie was awarded to a red lacy knee length number worn by Angela Lord, a girl who has not been out that long and has only attended a few functions. Needless to say she was ecstatic and is still walking on air.
The evening started off with a few announcements and again a delicious meal prepared by the staff of the Ramada Inn. This was followed by the best red dress contest and then the introduction to Satin, who was the main entertainment.
Eric Satin worked her proverbial buns off. She performed a medley of country and western as well as some popular music. Included in her troupe was a comedian who performed between sets while Satin changed. His Blues Bros. act was o.k. but his comedy act needed a lot of help. Candy found herself on stage trying to drag Eric through his routine....well you can imagine how that came out. Following the entertainment Marsha provided the dance music and played several excellent pieces with her horn. You have the give the girl credit. Overall it was another super party with everyone enjoying themselves.
Satin will be performing at the Randolph Country Club on March 30th for an AIDS benefit. That's on a Friday night at 7:30 p.m. A ten piece band, gospel singers, a Nashville recording artist, and of course female impersonators will all be there and all proceeds go to AIDS, $20.00 a ticket. It would be a fun evening for a bunch of us to attend.
Your
Innvestment is
a publication of Innvestments, P.O. Box 354, Sagamore,
MA.02561-0354. Innvestments is a non-sexual service organization
founded to support and to provide a socially acceptable outlet
for the crossdressing, transvestite, transsexual, transgendered
community located primarily in Southeastern Massachusetts, Cape
Cod and the Island. All rights reserved. Permission to reprint
any article appearing in Your Innvestment is hereby granted to non-profit similar
organizations provided that publication and authorship credit
is given. Any commercial use of Your Innvestment material
is hereby prohibited. Some material may have previously appeared
in print. Publication and authorship rights of material
reprinted from other sources remain with its originator. The editor/s
of Your Innvestment are not under any obligation to accept
information and advertisements. Information and advertisements
may be published in any form deemed acceptable. Any information
about services, products or sympathetic locations published in
Your Innvestment is not considered an endorsement of such
by the staff of Your Innvestment or the Board of
Directors of Innvestments. Innvestments is also know in
open publications as Cape Cod Cross Dressers.
Noelle R. (NoelleRose@aol.com)......President
Denise S. (denises@aol.com)..Vice President
Brenda L. (Brrendaa@aol.com)........Treasurer
Julie W....................................................Board
Candy Scott............................................Board
PO Box 354
Sagamore, MA 02561-0354
Tel.: 508+563-3160 (8 AM to 1200 Noon) Email: Candyscott@capecod.net
Membership (including newsletter) is $30.00 per-year (pro-rated after January) with a $15.00 meeting fee. Meeting fees payable only for those attended. This pays meeting location fees charged to the group, and for pizza and soda or full/partial payment for food in the hotel dining room for all. Subscription only is $12.00 per year
.
Advertising is placed in
the newsletter free of charge at discretion of the editor/s and
is not considered an endorsement by Innvestments.
By Lynn Stevens
Lynn Stevens is the pseudonym for a physicist and
freelance science writer living in Chicago.
I live my life as a male, and work in a highly competitive
and respected scientific profession. But I can transform myself
into something resembling a woman with clothing, cosmetics and
a little bit of padding in the right places. In this guise I've
had some of the most interesting experiences of my life. People
treat me based solely on the way I look, which is an unusual experience
for a man.
I'm tall, slim and have androgynous features. With dim lights and distance, I can pass for an attractive, fashionable, 30-something woman. But at close range, I look a bit too tall. Then there's my voice, too deep for a woman, plus the contour makeup on a prominent chin, the ever-present Adam's apple.
Yet even when people can tell that I'm not a woman, they tend to treat me like one because of the way I dress and carry myself.
Why do I do this? Well, I get to wear some great outfits, sometimes with brutally uncomfortable shoes. I enjoy the fashion and style aspects of this hobby. I like combining color, texture and proportion to produce an attractive look. It is an art I have perfected better than most women have. Also, the transformation is exhilarating. I feel like an actor in a role. Through costume and craft, I become a different person, interacting with an audience, but always remaining myself. Experiencing the world through this altered state of perception offers an adrenaline rush, but I always know that things will return to normal in a few hours.
When I stroll down the street, men of all ages stare. From a distance, they anticipate a visual treat: a tall fashion model. Closer in, they sense some incongruity. By the time we pass by each other, they know I'm not a real woman. Children and women, on the other hand, pick up on my gender switch much sooner.
I have never experienced the public ridicule that many crossdressers report. I think this is because I don't just look like a man in a dress,' so there remains enough doubt to ensure civility. Also, I'm careful about where and when I go out dressed as a woman. I prefer safe urban areas, on weekends, at night.
By far the rudest people are white middle-class males and their dates, especially those who frequent clubs marketed as "alternative" and "edgy." They feel free to judge, criticize and ridicule those whom they consider the "other" be it the transgendered, minorities or different social classes. Rude people can also be found amongst the artsy crowd, the type of self-appointed social critics who demean "trailer trash" for having opted for a mobile home over a comfortable suburban home in a "good" school district. For them, transgendered folks are part of the entertainment. I've found that working people and minorities are far less judgmental and are more likely to treat me with respect.
When I enter a bar or party where my kind is tolerated, I am able to see (fe)male behavior from a unique perspective. Unlike a man, who usually takes the initiative in a social situation, a woman needs only to create a circumstance: She can wear something skimpy and stroll out onto a balcony. She senses the heads turning toward her, the men scanning her body.
I've noticed that in bars, women watch men out of the corners of their eyes. This allows a man to safely inspect a woman's body, clothes and movements. He can even eavesdrop on her. If she passes the physical examination, the man must decide that he has a chance of gaining and keeping her attention. Then he moves into her field of vision and stares in her direction. At this point, she can pretend to have just noticed him and then look away in dismissal. Or she can smile, a clear invitation.
For me, the most interesting aspect of all this is being "hit on" by men who know I'm not a woman. Some men, after the 20 minutes of obligatory chitchat and a free drink, will ask you if you want to sleep with them. Others will try the grope approach, usually an arm tickle to initiate physical contact. Or a man will casually place a hand on your thigh, as though this was a natural part of the behavior continuum. Alcohol, for some reason, inhibits male understanding of simple monosyllabic words like "NO!"
Since I have some stereo typically masculine personality traits, it's a pleasure to dress up as a woman, to be warm, kind and caring towards people. I like being able to use my body more when I talk, to not feel the necessity of knowing the details of some complex mechanical gadget. I like having doors opened, drinks bought and compliments made about my appearance. Being on the receiving end of male behavior is a revelation for any man.
I don't know where this experiment is headed. Frankly, I can't imagine doing it ten years hence, when I can't be the center of attention on the dance floor or enjoy the sensuous feel of a daring little slip dress because gravity has finally overcome my connective tissue. Having experienced many "perks" of the other gender without paying my dues in the workplace or the delivery room, I feel obligated to give something back perhaps by writing about women's maturity from my unique perspective .
Jewelry trends, like fashion, are often inspired by the past. It is no surprise that charm bracelets, which have a long and rich history, are enjoying a renaissance. Technically, a charm bracelet is a link bracelet adorned by tiny trinkets, each one representing a special time or moment in the owner's life.
The heavy look on the wrist has never been more popular with the fashion savvy, and this year, since the trends of the season are calling for dangling hoop earrings and stacked bracelets, charm bracelets are appropriately back in style.
Next, "Ladylike" dressing is the hot trend. Runway fashions emphasize skirts, pretty blouses and tops, and bias-cut dresses. Hot colors are camel, red, and black, and tweeds in black-and-white combinations, and all shades of berry. Classic cashmeres, tweeds, satin, and silk are fabulous fabrics. Also, certain items were spotted on the runways: the tie-neck blouse, the deep V-neck top, the skirt-suit, pleats, A-line or bias skirts.
Accessories are big - dig back into those closets! Chunky gold jewelry, pearls, scarves, belts, gloves, berets, handbags, and high heels are in.
Look for bags and shoes in croc or stamped leather. Fur (faux!) was all over the runway worn tied around the neck or sewed onto last year's coat collar.
The debate about whether or not to wear foundation has always been a heated one amongst women. While some conjure images of sickly-looking color, others wouldn't think of showing their faces in public without it.
But today, the benefits of wearing foundation far outweigh any argument to the contrary. Foundation enhances our skin, protects and actually improves our complexions. Still, sifting through the countless formulations and finding the right color can be dizzying. Here is a guide to help you choose what's right for you.
Determining your skin type is the first step in choosing the best foundation. According to B.J. Gillian, Cover Girl's makeup pro, use these rules to determine your skin type: First, wash your face with a neutral pH cleanser, like Moisturel. Wait ten minutes. What does your skin feel like? It should have one of the following characteristics:
Stick to oil-free formulations that are water-based contain ingredients like silicone and glycerin rather than oil. These foundations have a satiny, spreadable texture but won't leave you feeling like a grease ball. Select a neutral or matte (shine-free) finish. Some to consider:
Keep in mind: For problem skin or to conceal minor breakouts, spot apply a medicated foundation or concealer. Look for one that's oil-free and/or contains salicylic acid like Neutrogena Skin Clearing Makeup or Cover Girl Clarifying Liquid Make-up.
Normal and Normal-to-Dry Skin
Foundations that contain hydrating elements like vitamins and botanical oils provide the ideal coverage for this type of skin. If you prefer to keep oil in check with an oil-free foundation or a water-based one (water with pigment), be sure to prime your skin first with a lightweight moisturizer. (For oil-free options, see products for oily and normal-to-oily skin.) Some good choices include:
Dry and Mature Skin
Rich moisturizing creams, foundations and liquids are most flattering for mature skin or skin with fine lines and wrinkles. These formulations bring moisture to the skin and plump up fine lines. In some cases, light diffusing particles in the pigments of the foundation will produce a softer-looking skin surface. Some to try:
George Washington wore high-heeled boots, tight satin pants, a ruffled silk shirt, and a curly wig.
He ran for President in the thirteen colonies and won. Today, in some places, he'd have to run for his life!
Care for them regularly. Weekly manicures keep nails and cuticles in good shape and help prevent problems like hangnails.
Condition nails daily. Use a good cuticle cream, like AHA Cuticle Eraser, to micro exfoliate non-living cuticle tissue and apply a lightweight oil, like SolarOil, nightly to keep nails flexible and resilient.
Keep nails coated. A coating will help seal in the valuable conditioning treatments you apply and protect nails from the drying effects of multiple hand washing.
It has been asked on a few occasions why Your Innvestments does not carry any of the political or so called activist press in our newsletter. The simple answer is because the majority of the membership has indicated at one time or another that they do not want it. On occasion we have printed something that seemed to be of value to most everyone, that if analyzed could be construed as being political, such as the time that we printed copies of the flyer asking if you had ever been attacked or discriminated against. I personally am not against publishing anything to do with collecting fact. Far too many decisions within this "community" are based on non-factual events or substance. And, in my biased opinion, the political way to go for many things is not the right way. There are far too many contradictions that seem to be swept aside when the politic comes out to play. First, this article is not reflective of the leadership of Innvestments. It is my own opinion and subject as I indicated...to my own biases.
One of the political items that irk me is that when questioned about why we like wearing dresses the first thing out of everyone's mouth is "...first you have to understand that I'm not gay!" O.K. If you are not gay, why do you want to link any of your causes to the gay community so that you are identified immediately as gay, lesbian, bi and transgendered (GLBT). As most folks know, I am not bigoted except toward people who are bigots. But it fails to justify inside of my head why the loudest voices to proclaim they are not gay are the largest vocal group to support joining the T to GLB.It is strange to me to note that my questioning of this. immediately puts me in opposition to those who consider themselves the leadership of the transgender movement and their political aims.
Another thing that I do not agree with is establishing separate rights for transgendered folks. I do not believe in different groups having different rights. I do not believe that whites, blacks, greens, or polka dots should have any different rights than oranges, purples, blues or pinks. I do not believe in having separate rights for each group of individuals who feel, rightly or wrongly, that they are discriminated against. There should be equal opportunity for all and there should be no bigotry against any individual. But, regrettably this I know is not reality. But because it is not reality, does not make it correct to proceed to try to establish separate rights. If something is not right, fix it, do not create another system. And I do not believe that petitioning Congress for this and other T causes is very smart. The idea of having a day where everyone goes to Washington and parades up and down the halls trying to get Senators and Congressmen to listen to their pleas is a waste of time. I have spent enough time stationed in the Washington, D.C. area to know that on any day of the week, there are from one to two hundred and one different groups pounding the halls of government touting their cause. And the causes are everything from freeing some killer from jail to sending purple people eaters in the mail to all democrats. The causes are endless and most folks, unless they are waiving thousand dollar bills, hardly ever see their representatives. They get number 7 on the totem pole whose job it is to see that no one gets to see the boss unless they have an invitation or an appointment. They have heard it all and sometimes even yawn in your face. Some do a good job of pacifying you and letting you think you made your point and write all this stuff down to ostensibly give to the boss, but toss it in the circular file after you leave. It is a never ending cycle. If the representative is corrupt, they will take the big bucks and unfortunately then the entire country loses. If per chance you do see the boss, it is a slow day and they are looking for a giggle or it is a photo op that they hope they can turn to their advantage at voting time.
Turning folks into instant celebrities is another irk of mine. The latest person to rise to the top of the speaking circuit is Dana Rivers. One person in the community gave me a glowing report on Dana and how great she was and what she was doing for the community. Sorry, I don't buy it. I heard for the first time, Dana speak at First Event this past January. Fine. She is a pleasant person and I have no axe to grind with her or what ever she is doing but please don't tell me that Dana, or anyone like her is doing is going to save us all from who knows what. For example: I first saw Dana on television. She made a good impression and it was a mildly interesting story at the time. When she spoke at First Event this year, she updated everyone on what she had been doing since last year. So what? Dana was a school teacher who transitioned on the job. She was fired. She sued. She received some settlement but is not teaching anymore. She is now involved with "the community". First, ...If I were her boss...I also would have removed her from her teaching job. I would not have fired her but relocated her within the system someplace else within the school district.....and let life go on. Instead she got booted out and then "the community" hitches onto her and now she is a big name. My questions are, Did she ever work with a T group someplace? Did she ever work with her peers? Did she ever do any counseling work? Did she ever do any public speaking? What did she do before she was fired and made national TV? Nothing that I'm aware of and I hope I'm wrong. If she had been assimilated into the school district at some other location, the transgender world would never have heard of Dana Rivers.
I'm sorry, but politics in this "community" are very self serving. One night over supper with Virginia Prince, Virginia said to me......"This is not a community. It is a loose coalition of groups and individuals who occasionally get together when it is to their mutual benefit. And the individuals involved are all looking for something." And this I do believe.
I
have always marched to the beat of a different drum and I guess
just because I have gotten older and hopefully smarter, it hasn't
changed me that much. I still follow that different drumbeat.
I believe that what we need in this group, are more good, fair,
and honest folks with no egos, a lot more experience, tolerance
for other and no real or wannabe politicians. We need more research,
more institutions with research facilities to get involved and
folks to get over the notion that if a person wears the traditional
clothing of the opposite sex they are either a pervert or crazy.
As Julie Andrews famous song indicates, "A little bit of
sugar makes the medicine go down". Jamming it down someone's
throat gets you absolutely nothing and in the process, you might
get your fingers bitten off.
Editors note: The opinions expressed in this article are those
of the author and may or may not coincide with the opinions of
others in the group or of the group as a whole
Top of Page
A special room rate for Innvestments of $44.00 is being offered for those individuals who desire to stay over at the Ramada Inn. At this special price it is felt that the rooms will go rapidly so please call today and make your reservations. Call the Ramada Inn at the following numbers: 508+775-1153; or toll free at 800:676-0000 or 888+CAPE-398. Be sure to mention the Innvestments Birthday Party.
Friday evening the 23rd of February 16 members and friends of Innvestments and Tiffany Club got together and attended the 8 p.m. Dame Edna show at the Wilbur Theater in Boston. The show was a good 2 ½ hours long and it kept you in stitches the entire evening. From picking on the audience in the first 5 rows to having folks come up on stage, feeding them supper and calling the baby sitter to check on the kids, laughter just rocked the hall.
After the show, the majority of the girls and significant others went across the street to Bennigans where we, after being told it was a 30 minute wait, were seated and served in short order. Standing out in a crowd helped us all at that time.
Candy received a telephone call just after the Valentine Party from an owner of a business frequented by our members. They knew about the party and then had heard first hand from some of the girls of the good time that was had by all. The question asked was if they could attend any future events? Absolutely! If you are on our mailing list or receive this newsletter from a friend and want to attend any of our functions, please do. Our events are not secret and closed and you do not have to have an interview and be given a secret knock, handshake and whisper. We would love to have you attend. Without the support of the community, Innvestments would not have the success that it does. The next event that YOU want to attend please do. We look forward to seeing you.
President's
Column
From High On Her Throne
Her Royal Highness, Queen Noelle Rose the First, Speaks:
As I view it, the purpose of Innvestments is to serve the transgendered community as a whole. Can you help us do it better? We get a good turnout at our major events, so those are obviously something we are doing well. We are giving part of our community something it values. But this is a part of our community which is already active socially. Unfortunately we are not getting very many people at our regular meetings, which would appear to mean that those meetings are not filling the needs of very many of our members. Those who have been attending are part of the relatively "out" and socially active part of our community. Since recent meeting attendance has been low, we have not had outside speakers. I think this is unfortunate, since I learned a lot from our speakers in the past. However, we are reluctant to invite a speaker when the turnout at a meeting might be low. Is there something we can do which would encourage more members to attend our regular meetings?
Are there other kinds of meetings that you would like to attend? Some of us have gotten together to have dinner or go to the movies, to go shopping and attend events locally or off-Cape. While this sort of thing can be done alone, it is more fun to do it with others! Along these lines, I recently saw a flyer advertising "Same Sex and Friends" Ballroom Dance Lessons beginning in April. That sounds like it might be fun, let me know if you (and your S.O.) would be interested! Is there anything we could be doing to broaden our outreach to young or closeted members of our community or to help improve the reputation of transgendered people?
If you have any suggestions, or would just like somebody to go out with, please write to me at PO Box 681, South Dennis, MA 02660 or by email: NoelleRose@aol.com. And don't forget that we all look prettier when we smile!
Hugs,
Noelle
As if I didn't have enough to do -- starting this week I will
be joining the staff of HAIRBENDERS in North Truro...on Route
6 ..near the Truro Police Department ... on Wednesday and Friday
evenings and Saturday's by appointment only.
As I did in Waltham, I will be specializing in men's and women's
hair cuts and styling ... and will do some wig cleaning and styling
if the need arises.
So tell your friends and if you're visiting in the area - stop
in and say hello. It's only a little place on the hill has that
welcoming feeling'. Hope you are all doing well and I look forward
top seeing you all soon. As always, Love Vernon and Lady
Di