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Your Innvestment |
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Vol. 9, No. 4 |
April, May, June 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. 4 |
April, May, June 2001 |
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PAGE INDEX
A lot has happened since our last newsletter. Let us go back to March and take these events one at a time.
The March meeting was a review of the recent MSNBC special that was done about the TV community. A few of the segments were videotaped 3 years ago (that of the Renaissance meeting of the Florida girl coming to New York, and the Jim Bridges piece) but the others were taped last fall. The primary story was wrapped around a Texas girl and her family. The last segment was done at Tiffany Club where Jonelle held court. There was also a piece showing the girls shopping at Carolann's in Framingham and there was Candy Scott and Joan Cossey leading the girls into the store. Of all of the recent reports done about the community, those at the meeting felt that this MSNBC report was one of the better ones and was worth showing to others.
April found Innvestments celebrating its ninth birthday. A small party gathered in the dining room of the Ramada Inn where after a special menu meal was hosted, some entertainment took place. Cheri was there and performed several of her magical (Middle Eastern) dances and had everyone clapping in unison to her finger cymbals. After a few performances she then had Candy join her on the dance floor where Candy followed her movements but not her grace. Candy was then followed by Denise who has been maintaining her practice for about 3 years since she took lessons from Cheri. Denise performed very well and we all felt that she should have her own special show at some future meeting. Noelle was up next and she also performed admirably. This light hearted entertainment was followed by a special audio visual performance with some live entertainment inserted and presented by our own Marsha Lawrence. Marsha had put together a very neat package of slides and video mixed with some live lipsynch, detailing the very early history of female impersonation. Marsha has been working on this for quite a while. She has enough material to make several presentations covering different time periods within the historical context of female impersonation. This was not only an entertaining program but was one of historical and educational interest. Even though this program was rough around the edges it was an exceptional job and well done. It was also during the birthday party that Candy Scott announced her resignation (see story below) from the Board, She was presented with a dozen long stem roses and special thanks from Madam President Noelle and VEEP Denise.
The May meeting was similiar to the March meeting in that another MSNBC special was viewed by the membership. This was the special program presented about a Navy Flight Surgeon who left the military and then went through SRS. Her surgery was performed by Dr. Schrang in Wisconsin and several segments were shown with the doctor. Her odyssey was well presented and this also was deemed a good video tape for viewing by others opting to take this same route.
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 indorsement by Innvestments.
A few weeks ago, Joan Hoffman and some friends drove into town
from the suburbs to catch ''Dame Edna: The Royal Tour,'' the smash
hit starring the alter ego of comedian Barry Humphries. Hoffman
and company dolled up for the occasion, putting on their finest
frou frou and frocks. They dined in the theater district and thoroughly
enjoyed the performance. Everyone agreed that the Dame, with her
lacquered hair and rapier wit, puts on one heck of a show.
It was a typical girls' night out - except for the fact that there
were no real girls in the group, at least in the biological sense.
Hoffman and the other ladies are all members of the Tiffany Club
(and Innvestments-Ed note), an association of cross-dressers who
gather regularly at a nondescript clubhouse in Waltham. At 68,
Hoffman (who was born Stanley) has been donning women's clothing
since the age of 5, but only recently has he felt comfortable
appearing in public dressed as Joan.
Seeing people like himself on stage, on screen, and on television
is part of the reason.
''I go out to dinner, and no one seems to care,'' says Hoffman,
a large woman who favors matronly attire. ''They might look for
a second and then go on their merry way. Years ago, they would
have thrown stones.''
Strides made by the gay and lesbian movement have loosened societal
strictures for transgendered people. But images of cross-dressers
in theater and popular culture have evolved as well. No longer
are they invisible. Nor are they merely being depicted as freaks,
laughingstocks, victims, or psychopaths.
A more complicated picture is emerging - one that doesn't equate
cross-dressing with homosexuality, one that confronts all audience
members with a very different view about gender and identity.
'We used to think of gender roles as pretty fixed, and we thought
that sexual preference defined us, as in: You are a man who likes
to have sex with men, or you are a man who likes to have sex with
women,'' says Lennard J. Davis, a cultural critic and the chair
of the English department at the University of Illinois at Chicago.
''Now this generation feels that your gender identity is completely
separate from your sexual preference.''
Davis's son, a college student, recently changed his name to Emma
and began wearing women's clothing. Emma dates women and has friends
who do not conform to the traditional roles of male and female;
their gender identities are fluid and have nothing to do with
preferences in bed.
The professor contends that this change has been in the air for
several years now, and that popular culture is only beginning
to catch up. Media images have changed significantly since the
days of ''Silence of the Lambs,'' ''Dressed to Kill,'' or ''Ace
Ventura: Pet Detective,'' a comedy that featured the not-too-subtle
Jim Carrey hyperventilating because he unwittingly kissed a man
dressed as a woman.
When Rupert Graves knowingly kisses a postoperative female transsexual
in ''Different for Girls,'' his lips linger, and he enjoys the
moment.
Hilary Swank won the Oscar last year for her performance as the
female-to-male transsexual Brandon Teena in ''Boys Don't Cry.''
Cross-dressing comedian Eddie Izzard won two Emmy awards for his
solo tour de force ''Dress to Kill.'' And recent foreign films
such as ''Ma Vie en Rose'' and ''Different for Girls'' feature
sensitive depictions of transgendered people.
The Belgian ''Ma Vie en Rose'' could be a primer for children
struggling to come to terms with their gender identity. Fashioned
as a kind of modern fairy tale, it tells the story of a 7-year-old
boy who believes that the magical baby maker in the sky made a
mistake, and that he is going to turn into a girl some day.
Some of the year's most provocative movie releases promise more
to come. Top prizes at the recent Sundance Film Festival went
to the gender-bending rock musical ''Hedwig and the Angry Inch''
and ''Southern Comfort,'' a documentary about a female-to-male
transsexual who develops ovarian cancer and can't get medical
treatment. (Ed Note: Southern Comfort will be screened in Provincetown
during this years Fantasia Fair).
The trend isn't just limited to art films: Transgendered characters
have also made a splash on television, the most mainstream of
all media. This season, such characters have made prominent appearances
on ''Ally McBeal,'' ''Gideon's Crossing,'' ''Nash Bridges,'' and
''Just Shoot Me.''
Certainly there is a long tradition of cross-dressing in both
high and low entertainment: Think Shakespeare, Monty Python, the
Hasty Pudding Theatricals. And in the early 1990s, there was much
hype about drag culture being accepted in the mainstream, what
with movies such as ''Wigstock,'' ''The Crying Game,'' and ''Mrs.
Doubtfire.'' The leggy RuPaul hit the charts in 1993 with a No.
1 dance hit, and it seemed like everyone was putting on a dress
in those days, from Howard Stern to Dennis Rodman.
But the current boom feels less
like a passing fancy, the entertainment industry's version of
the designer latte. And for those who have been living with transgender
issues for decades, the change is long overdue.
''For years, every depiction of cross-dressing was for the purpose
of ridicule,'' says Nancy Nangeroni, co- host and founder of the
radio show ''Gender Talk,'' which airs locally on WMBR. ''I don't
know how to estimate the damage that is done when people grow
up with images that are denigrating.''
Members of the Tiffany Club contend that the latest crop of characters
helps to affirm the existence of their once-taboo subculture.
''Any exposure is good exposure,'' says Brenda R., the club's
42-year-old vice president. ''But,'' she warns, ''there is still
a whole lot of negative stuff that desensitizes people.''
Stereotypes haven't gone away, whether the transsexual prostitutes
in ''All About My Mother'' or the flamboyant and abused drag queen
in ''Flawless.''
Observers wonder whether some of the recent television depictions
aren't, to some degree, exploitative. Many shows, including ''Ally
McBeal,'' introduced transgendered characters during sweeps month,
when networks desperately want to attract viewers.
Cindy, a male-to-female transsexual featured on ''Ally McBeal,''
initially sparked outrage in the transgendered community. The
character was ridiculed by the bullies at the show's law firm
and rejected by a man who was repulsed by her gender identity.
In a later episode, however, the same lawyers rose to Cindy's
defense, declaring her a great woman worthy of love.
''It's important for transgendered people to have visibility on
television, but I am concerned that it isn't just for the `very
special episode' during sweeps month,'' says Nick Adams, entertainment
media manager for the Gay and Lesbian Alliance Against Defamation.
''I am looking forward to the day when we will see transgender
characters incorporated into shows and not segregated into the
sweeps period for shock value.''
Still, some say any depiction is better than nothing. ''Even stories
with underlying negative images can humanize experiences of difference,''
says Jennifer Levi, a lawyer for Gay and Lesbian Advocates and
Defenders of Boston who recently represented a 15-year-old Brockton
boy barred from attending school
dressed as a girl. ''At least it begins the conversation.''
Popular culture images play a dual role: They empower and disempower
at the same time. ''For people who have been stigmatized, there
is a sense of affirmation when the mainstream culture gives you
some space,'' says Joshua Gamson, associate professor of sociology
at Yale University and author of ''Freaks Talk Back: Tabloid Talk
Shows and Sexual Noncomformity.'' ''On the other hand, more visibility
makes you more of a target.''
That fine line existed several decades ago when gay and lesbian
characters started to emerge in popular entertainment. First there
were over-the-top stereotypes like those in ''The Boys in the
Band''; today we have shows like ''Will and Grace,'' in which
the gay characters are just normal, everyday individuals who aren't
required to represent an entire group.
Transgendered characters may follow a similar arc in film and
television. But how do such stories affect mainstream audiences?
They sit in the theater and laugh amiably, but what happens when
they go home and their sons or daughters announce they are transgendered?
That happened recently to Davis, the professor whose son changed
his name to Emma. Davis and his wife are both liberal academics;
children of the '60s, they lived through one sexual revolution
and, as such, are quick to accept progressive ideas. But their
son in a dress? ''We went through a few stages of horror and despair,
which I can say lightly now, but we eventually realized that he
- I have trouble with the pronouns - is our child, and we love
him,'' says Davis.
It's easy to accept characters on the screen; it's another thing
entirely when faced with transgender issues in real life. ''I
think there is a disconnect between what people do and what they
see in the safe environment of a theater,'' says Courtney Sharp,
a transgender activist in New Orleans. ''I'm not so sure all of
this entertainment and comic relief is doing a lot of education
and sensitivity training.''
Of course, it would be a mistake to look
to LaLa Land as a primary source for education on any subject;
the transgender community is hardly monolithic, and the distinctions
among its members are way too complex for most Hollywood producers.
Consider ''To Wong Foo, Thanks for Everything, Julie Newmar, ''
which follows the adventures of three New York drag queens after
their car breaks down in a Podunk town. Several members of Waltham's
Tiffany Club aren't thrilled with that film and others like it,
since they continue to confirm the impression that all cross-dressers
are gay. In fact, almost all of the members of the club are middle-class,
straight, white men. And therapists estimate that the majority
of cross-dressers are heterosexual.
''When spouses become aware of their husband's situation, the
first question they ask is, `Is my partner gay?' like in `The
Birdcage' or `To Wong Foo,''' says Diane Ellaborn, a Framingham-based
social worker who specializes in gender issues. ''It's good that
there are more images, but unfortunately, the images are inaccurate
for most cross-dressers.''
Sensitive depictions or not, all the fictional characters in the
world don't change the fact that transsexuals are still largely
misunderstood and often demonized by the culture at large. Nangeroni,
the co-host of ''Gender Talk, '' puts it this way: ''For every
two steps forward, we take one step back.''
A next step, according to the transgendered, will be popular culture
images that present them as multidimensional. ''There is more
to me than being transgendered,'' says Michael McKenzie, a Boston
activist and preoperative female-to-male transsexual. ''I am a
musician. I'm an artist. I'm a writer. I'm a poet. I'm a carpenter.''
British comedian Gizzard, for example, may
wear women's clothing and nail polish. But in his act, he riffs
on everything from Stonehenge to squirrels - just like any other
comic.
Other taboos may begin to fall later this year, when H2O broadcasts
the Sundance award-winning documentary ''Southern Comfort.'' Its
central character, a female-to-male transsexual named Robert Ears,
is dying and falling in love at the same time. Critics have hailed
the film for its sympathetic look at a world that was once forbidden
- or presented as laughable.
Ears himself sums up changing attitudes
about gender. ''Being a man or being a woman has nothing to do
with your genitalia,'' he says. ''It's what's in your mind or
in your heart.''
It seems like only yesterday that 10 of us sat around a table
in a room at the Holiday Inn and Innvestments became a reality.
This was the culmination of several attempts led by Chrystal Raymond,
Jennifer Eaton and Judy Thompson. In reality that was 9-years
ago. Since that time it has been my privilege to have been President
followed by being a Board member. Consequently it was with somewhat
of a heavy heart that I submitted my resignation at the April
Birthday Party.
Many good things have personally happened to me and many good
friendships have been formed since Innvestments started. I remember
Charlynn taking to the floor to do an act at one of our Christmas
on Cape Cod parties. It was very moving watching her draw in a
very deep breath....and then sing that she wanted to be a girl.
She told me that she always had wanted to do that act and that
was her chance. I also remember her being the one to have presented
me with a delightful plate currently hanging on my wall in a place
of honor, picturing a young girl with long flowing hair. As many
know, I am loath to receive any praise or recognition (It's an
old military thing). I had spent all evening watching Judy Thompson
and Fran DeNys to make sure they did not give me anything. Also
it has been wonderful watching some of our gals mature and develop
confidence inf themselves. In the early days very few if any of
the girls had ever been out to eat. Now, enjoying a good meal
in a nice restaurant while "en femme" is just an everyday
occurrence. I have also enjoyed working with many of the vendors
and local establishments that have provided us with speakers and
support. Joe Dowick at Mallory Dock has become a very good friend.
Also working with the folks and the old Holiday Inn and now with
the folks at the Ramada has been a very pleasurable experience.
But time has marched on. There
have been several changes in the overall health status here at
home and after 9-years, it is time to make way for others. I have
agreed to continue with the newspaper and some of the other minor
tasks that make the organization work. Being in the retired category
does allow more opportunity to take care of some of the club business
during the day rather than for someone else trying to cram it
all in on a Saturday or after hours. I know the club is in good
hands and will continue to flourish.
In order for the club to flourish and
continue on, it requires everyone's assistance. Our membership
comes and goes, rises and falls. This past year has been very
difficult due to a lack of participation by many. This hurts our
financial well being and what we can offer to the membership in
programs. (It is just one of the reasons why the newsletter has
been so erratic.) As it become easier for us to come and go in
public, many feel they no longer need a support group. Please
remember how difficult it was for you just a few years ago. Others
need your support now.
I will still be around and feel free to call.
Love you all.
DEAR CANDY Today I had a moment to read your article in the
latest Innvestments news letter on politics in the GLBT community.
I couldn't have put it better myself. Why does everyone who has
a belief have to be a prophet? Why do converts become zealots?
Why must "active in" mean "activist". I very
much like the characterization of the CD/TS community as a loose
band of people with common interests doing things together. The
social aspect is what I enjoy the most. I would characterize both
Innvestments and Tiffany as social clubs. Period. For that matter,
may I be bold enough to say that I also do not enjoy reading Death
Notices of Transsexuals around the country. I always like to hear
things about to TG people we know around the area, especially
in the club, because these people are important to me socially,
as friends, and as sisters. I don't want to appear uncaring, I
just don't need to know how the movement overall is doing. I can
barely handle how I'm doing. I just want some girls to talk to,
and to go out with to make it more fun, and to protect me a little.
Angela Lord
First of all, I believe we deserve the support of the GLB community. After all, the whole gay rights movement began at Stonewall when our drag queen sisters refused to put up with police harassment any longer. I don't buy the line that heterosexual crossdressers are fundamentally different from drag queens. Having seen their pictures and heard their stories I recognize them as transgendered sisters. So WE started the movement and WE deserve to share in the benefits it has won. Gay and straight alike we share the struggle for basic human rights. Not *special* rights, just the *same* rights that everyone else already enjoys. The public lumps all us "queers" together anyway. The dictionary defines queer as "strange, odd, peculiar, eccentric, in appearance or character." Well, *I* resemble that remark! And those of us who are *visibly* queer are easier targets than are straight-looking homosexuals. Oh sure, there are plenty of us who are quick to protest that we are not gay. But you know, for "straight guys" we sure hang out in gay bars a lot! For that matter, some of us *are* queer or at least a bit bi! I was wondering which sexual orientation is "straight" for a transsexual, anyway? Is it the same pre-op as post-op? Is a T Girl who finds other T Girls attractive gay or straight? As you can see, this all gets very complicated. Personally I don't think it is anyone's business whether I'm gay or straight unless they want to sleep with me. If you fall into that category send me an email and we can talk about it. ;-) [Ed: this is a "winkie" which denotes an attempt at humor on the part of the author.] So I think "T" is a natural part of GLBT and not just an afterthought. I think we should take common cause and support THEIR rights and ask them to support OURS. What do YOU think? Please drop me a line and let me know.
Applying Mascara
1. Start at the Top. Twirl mascara brush horizontally from lash
roots to tips. At eye's inner corner hold brush vertically.
2. Get to the Bottom of It! To apply mascara to lower lashes, hold brush vertically and sweep on "windshield wiper style" to color every tiny lash.
3. Second Time Around. While lashes are still wet, apply a second coat of mascara just as you applied the first coat.
Applying Liners
Lip Liner - Keeps lipstick in it's place. Apply liner just inside
the natural border of your lip line. Choose a color one tone darker
than your lip color. Then fill in with lipstick.
Eye Liner - Apply liner along lash line, from inside corner to outside. Then soften the outer corner with a "smudge."
Brow Liner - Brush brows into shape. Then fill the gaps or entire brow with liner.
Q: What's the right way to apply Eye Liner?
A: Draw a fine line along upper lid, close to the lash base. Start
1/4" from inside corner (near nose) to the outer corner.
Smudge slightly with your finger. Under eye, start at center (middle
of the pupil), and draw a fine line to outer corner. Smudge slightly.
Q: Is it true that wearing foundation is better for your skin
than not wearing it?
A: YES! Foundation acts as a barrier between your skin and irritants
in the environment (wind, cold, sun, pollution). Wearing foundation
with SPF 6 or above daily helps to guard against the sun's aging
affects.
Q: If I'm wearing foundation, do I need powder?
A: Powder can make the difference between OK makeup and a professional
look. It glides easily over skin for an even finish, it's adherent
(lasts) and helps foundation and blush last, too. It's absorbent
and helps prevent skin from becoming shiny.
Q: What's the secret to a long lasting manicure/pedicure?
A: Always use a base coat (clear) under nail enamel to prevent
staining and create an even base for color (choose one that solves
your individual needs). Apply top coat over dry enamel and under
nail tip to prevent chipping. Reapply top coat to fingers and
toes every other day.
Editor's note: Many of us "temporary girls" use a clear
coat of nail polish under our enamel because it makes the removal
of the polish much easier and quicker.
Q: I hate tweezing my brows. Is there any way to make it easier?
A: Always try to pluck one hair at a time in the direction the
hair grows. Try tweezing after a hot shower when the pores are
open and the skin is supple. The hair will come out easier.
Let's take a minute from the busy pace of our activities to ask what is the intended purpose of our little group. On the second page of each of our newsletters it says "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 Islands." Are we as a group meeting those goals? Are there other goals that we should add to the above quotation?
First let me explain that I have been an active member of Innvestments for about seven years now. I keep coming because I enjoy the opportunities to get all dolled up and to meet other people with the same interests. Although I can go other places as my femme self it is always nice to have a "safe" place to come to. I always enjoy the presentations we have at our meetings whether it be a psychologist giving a lecture or a demonstration of the latest fashions or makeup techniques. I have made many good friends over the years and look forward to making more as time goes on. I also miss many of the friends I made that seemed to "graduate" from our group once they made their transitions in life.
When our purpose is stated as "founded to support and to provide a socially acceptable outlet" for transgendered people I always think of the "new" people to our group. Isn't it great that there is a group right here on Cape Cod that people can turn to. There are so many "closeted" crossdressers out there. Many are afraid to discuss their needs with anyone, including their spouses. I am always so happy to see a new face at our meetings! The main way we help them, I believe, is just by being there and answering their questions. They usually ask things like "How did you get started in crossdressing?", "Does your wife know?", "If so does she understand?" and "What kind of makeup works best?" Of course the answers to those questions vary widely from member to member as all of us have had different experiences. The point is that we are able to provide some support and guidance to people that, I feel, is more valuable than what they could learn from talk shows, publications or even well meaning psychologists.
We are also a social support
group for the more experienced crossdresser and transgendered
person. Yes, it is true that many of us don't really need makeup
and fashion lessons any more. At least I hope I don't look that
bad! So why keep coming to meetings to hear the same presentations
on these subjects over again? The reasons I hear most often are:
By continuing do to the above things and by showing a steady presence in the area I believe that Innvestments is indeed meeting the goals that were originally set out for us. Is there room for improvement of the group? Of course! With the help of our members and the current leadership of the club we can improve. Some of the things that we would like to try are to have presentations at our meetings by our own members. What expertise do you have that could benefit our members? Should or could we change the parties we have? For instance the Ramada Inn has been asking us to move our Christmas Party to New Years and sell tickets to the public for the show. Would that be good for the club? How about having a theme for some of our parties such as Southern Ball Gowns, Bridesmaid gowns, Fifties Fashion or Roaring Twenties to name just a few? Suggestions are both wanted and needed.
These days there are clubs for any and all interests out there. I have personally run into the Beanstalks (girls over 6 ft. tall), hot rod clubs, antique car clubs, gun clubs, wooden canoe clubs, investment clubs, gardening clubs and other clubs for almost anything that you can think of. Isn't it GREAT to know that there is a transgender club called Innvestments right here on Cape Cod!
Now if we can all sit down and try to figure out why we all have this undeniable desire to dress in the clothing of the opposite sex. Send your ideas to Brrendaa@aol.com and I will try to do something for the next newsletter.
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.