AEGIS Online News, May 1995 – Feb. 1996
In May, 1995, when I was Executive Director of the nonprofit American Educational Gender Information Service, I compiled and transmitted what I believe was the first transgender-specific online news feed. It was called AEGIS Online News. The News initially went out to several hundred AEGIS members and other subscribers as a plain text file over the fledgling internet.
In those days there wasn’t much news to repost. Consequently, the News was initially distributed every other month; it took that long to compile enough material to create a newsletter. Within two years, however, there was almost too much news to handle.
I posted material as I came across it, both from primary sources and from other newsfeeds. Rex Wocker’s LGBT newslist was a valuable resource. Soon, subscribers were sending me material.
In November I moved the News to a majordomo automated list which kept track of subscribers; before that I handled subscriptions, unsubscriptions, and address changes manually and sent out the news via blind carbon copy. The name was changed to AEGIS Internet News and the introductory material about AEGIS was removed because it was available to readers on demand from the server. The list, initially hosted by my ISP (Mindspring) was eventually moved to a server hosted by Kymberleigh Richards, the publisher of the magazine Cross-Talk. This enabled me to send e-mails to the server as I came across news items, yet distribute them as a digest once per day– sometimes twice or three times daily if there was a lot of news. This was easier on both me and the readers, who had been receiving up to eight e-mails a day.
I stopped publishing AEGIS Internet News in mid-1998.
On January 1, 2000 AEGIS was repurposed as Gender Education & Advocacy. Under the supervision of the late Penni Ashe Matz, news went out as Gender Advocacy Internet News.
Below are the five issues that were distributed as AEGIS Online News:
AEGIS Online News, May, 1995 (V. 1, No. 1)
AEGIS On-Line News
Volume 1, No. 1
May, 1995
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NOTICE
This on-line document is provided by AEGIS, the American Educational Gender Information Service
AEGIS P.O. Box 33724 Decatur, GA 30033-0724
(404) 939-2128 Business (404) 939-0244 Information & Referrals (404) 939-1770 FAX
aegis@mindspring.com e-mail
—————————————————————-
Those wishing to receive this document electronically can subscribe by e-mailing aegis@mindspring.com. Include on the first line the message subscribe aegis-distribution list<your e-mail address>
To unsubscribe, please email us at aegis@mindspring.com. Include on the first line the message unsubscribe aegis-distribution list <your e-mail address>
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Please send comments and news items to aegis@mindspring.com
Watch this space for an announcement about the AEGIS WWW Page —————————————————————-
About AEGIS
The American Educational Gender Information Service, Inc. is a 501(c)(3) clearinghouse for information about transgender and transsexual issues. We publish the journal _Chrysalis: The Journal of Transgressive Gender Identities_; a newsletter, and various other materials.
_Our History_
AEGIS was founded in September, 1990 by Dallas Denny to address the problem of lack of credible information about transsexual and transgender issues. We published our first Transition Series booklet at the end of the year, and the first issue of _Chrysalis_ in the Spring of 1991. We incorporated in 1992, and obtained 501(c)(3) status with the IRS in 1994.
_Our Reputation_
AEGIS has an excellent reputation for common sense and quality information.
_Our Philosophy_
AEGIS is dedicated to serving the needs of ALL transgendered and transsexual persons, and of helping professionals. We promote nonjudgemental treatment and depathologicalization (now _there’s_ a word for you!) of persons with transgender and transsexual issues. We seek to do so in an atmosphere of respect and toleration.
AEGIS has worked within the medical and psychological communities to enlighten helping professionals about the shortcomings of much of the literature, and to the misunderstandings about the nature of transgendered and transsexual persons which that literature has fostered.
AEGIS celebrates the true diversity of transgendered and transsexual persons, and advocates the right of the individual to seek body-modifying procedures, up to and including sex reassignment surgery. We also advocate the right of the individual to live without such procedures. We believe that with adequate education, individuals can make competent decisions about their lives.
_AEGIS Personnel_
Our Executive Director is Dallas Denny, who holds a Master of Arts degree in Psychology from the University of Tennessee, and has a doctorate in progress at Vanderbilt University. She has been licensed to practice psychology in Tennessee since 1980. Dallas is a prolific author and popular speaker on transgender issues, and has produced two books on transsexualism, and has a third in progress.
The Chair of our Board of Directors is Joann Roberts, Ph.D., a co-founder of Renaissance Education Association and owner of Creative Design Services. JoAnn has written several books about crossdressing, and is a past member of the Board of Directors of the International Foundation for Gender Education.
Gianna Eveling Israel, the Vice-Chair, is a peer counselor who resides in San Francisco. She is principal author of _Recommended Guidelines for Transgender Care_, which is the first project of AEGIS’ Sullivan Press.
Other Board members include Delia van Maris, M.D., Gary Reiser, Laura Skaer, Melissa Foster, Alison Laing, Carol Miller, and Jason Cromwell.
AEGIS maintains a 28-member Board of Advisors, which includes Carolyn (“Tula” Cossey, JoAnn Roberts, David Gilbert, M.D., Eugene Schrang, M.D., Stephen Morganstern, M.D., Anthony Karpas, M.D., Donald Tarver, M.D., Virginia Prince, Ph.D., Jason Cromwell, Ph.D.(c.), Anne Bolin, Ph.D., and others.
Gianna Israel serves as an omnbudsperson who takes complaints and concerns of AEGIS members to the Board of Directors. She can be reached by e-mail at jamaica@calon.com, or via US mail at P.O. Box 424447, San Francisco, CA 94142-4447. [Phone (415) 858- 8058].
_Our Services_
AEGIS is a membership organization. General memberships are $36 a year, and include two issues of _Chrysalis_, four issues of the newsletter, a 10% discount on materials from our bookstore, and a membership card (available in July). Professional memberships are $60 per year, and include the above, plus additional materials. There are additional levels of membership, with additional benefits and discounts, for those who wish to financially support us, as well as categories for students and those who are incarcerated. All donations are tax deductible.
AEGIS maintains an extensive database of support groups, helping professionals, and other resources throughout the world. We will be happy to provide you with referrals and information.
AEGIS has compiled a definitive bibliography of transgender and transsexual-related material; it was published last year by Garland Press with the title _Gender Dysphoria: A Guide to Research_ (650+ pp.).
AEGIS maintains the National Transgender Library & Archive at its Atlanta headquarters. We publish a holdings list (100 pp.).
The Transgender Historical Society serves as a watchdog organization for the NTL&A. Memberships in the Transgender Historical Society are $30 per year ($20 for AEGIS members). All funds are used to maintain and promote the library and to acquire new materials.
AEGIS has a bookstore, through which we sell educational materials, including our _Transition Series_, the holding list for the National Transgender Library & Archive, and back issues of _Chrysalis_.
AEGIS regularly publishes medical advisories and alerts and issues position statements. Recent advisories have included alerts about the advisability of electrolysis in the groin area before MTF SRS; and the dangers of silicone injection.
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That’s who we are, and what we do. We hope you will join us.
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PRIDE
Atlanta transgender organizations have agreed to work cooperatively to produce a strong transgender presence in Atlanta Pride, 24-25 June, 1995. At a meeting attended by members of AEGIS, Atlanta Gender Explorations support group, the Southeastern Regional Conference (Southern Comfort), The Magnolia Alliance, the Sigma Epsilon chapter of Tri-Ess, and Montgomery Institute, a coordinating committee was appointed. All organizations except Montgomery Institute pledged their support. AEGIS, AGE, Sigma Epsilon, and the Southeastern Regional Conference have also pledged financial support.
The transgender community will march behind a banner supplied by the Southeastern Regional Conference, and volunteers from all local and regional groups will staff a double-space tent, rental of space for which is being supplied by AEGIS and AGE. A donation from Sigma Epsilon will be used for duplication of flyers and other expenses. The transgender booth will feature a helium-filled 8-foot weather balloon, which will hold aloft the Transgender Pride banner used in the parade.
The Atlanta Pride event is the Southeast’s largest, with more than one hundred thousand attendees. This year marks the 25th anniversary of Pride; the theme is From Silence to Celebration.
For the first time, transgendered persons are represented on the Board of Directors of Pride. Dallas Denny of AEGIS/AGE/Sigma Epsilon and Petra Hofmann of AGE/Southern Comfort have been serving on the Board for several months.
Hooray for this unified event!
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Some News and Quotes from Etcetera magazine, 11(19), 12 May, 1995)
* In his new book, “Well Done,” Dave Thomas, founder of the Wendy’s hamburger chain, praises right-wing homophobe/transphobe Pat Robertson “doing things right” and promoting “wholesomeness and family values.” The Gay & Lesbian Alliance Against Antidefamation (GLAAD) is urging that Wendy’s Headquarters receive calls at (614) 764-6800 and (614) 764-6894 to let Mr. Thomas know that homophobia and transphobia are in bad taste.
* “Hate rhetoric is not entertainment. Hate rhetoric is not political commentary. Hate rhetoric is incitement to violence.”
— Laurie McBride, May, 1995 Executive Director of Sacramento-based LIFE AIDS lobby, when interviewed after a bomb threat to LIFE AIDS
* I believe in the indelible, unwashable AIDS tattoo. It would be placed in the private area, maybe even with glow- in-the-dark ink. It would save lives.”
— David Duke, May, 1995 Duke is a contender for the Louisiana Governorship, and has a long relationship with the Ku Klux Klan and other right-wing hate groups
* “Stone Butch Blues,” a novel by Leslie Feinberg with a transgendered main character, will be made into a film, with Pamela Gray (Star Trek: The Next Generation) as screenwriter, and Christine Vachon (“Go Fish”) and Jelayne Miles as producers, and Jan Oxenberg (“Thank You and Good Night)” as Director.
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Fax Sent to Dave Thomas by AEGIS Director Dallas Denny
ATTN: Dave Thomas
Dear Mr. Thomas:
I am writing in reaction to your book, Well Done, in which you praise Pat Robertson.
I come from a typical American family: mother, father, myself, a brother, and two sisters. I was born in 1949 and raised an “army brat.” I subsequently married, and remained monogamous until the marriage unfortunately failed. I went to college, to graduate, school, and to graduate school once again. I have worked for my entire adult life with adults with developmental disabilities. The pay is not great, but there is a great deal of satisfaction in the work.
I am a moral, responsible adult. I believe in many of the things that you do, and that Pat Robertson does. I am monogamous, honest, and a hard worker. Where I differ from Mr. Robertson is that I do not condemn entire classes of people for the way they are, or attempt to impose my morals on others. Mr. Robertson does this even to the point of directly and indirectly causing deaths.
This is not behavior of which Jesus would have approved.
I believe in a world in which there is room for everyone, black and white, straight and gay, rich and poor, male and female. I hope you do, too. Unfortunately, Mr. Robertson does not, and until he comes to that realization, he is not a force for good on this planet; instead, he is doing the devil’s work in God’s name.
Please keep in mind that Pat Robertson called his daddy in order to stay out of the service and having to go to Southeast Asia– he did not do this for religious or moral reasons, but because he was afraid.
With all of the people who are really doing good work, it’s so unfortunate that you chose to praise a man who is so clearly a negative force in our society. Sincerely,
Dallas Denny
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Letter Sent to NIMH
Please note: We used the term gender dysphoria because it was one we felt PHS could understand. We no longer use the term in most circumstances, as we feel it suggests a pathology that is in fact nonexistent in most transgendered and transsexual people.
12 May, 1995
Public Health Services National Institutes of Health National Institute of Mental Health 5600 Fishers Lane, Room 7C-02 Rockville, MD 20857
Dear Public Health Services:
In looking over your list of publications to help the general public gain a better understanding of mental disorders, I did not see any books or pamphlets about gender dysphoria.
Gender dysphoria is a condition which is now considered to effect men and women in numbers considerably greater than the American Psychiatric Association’s estimation of 1:30,000 males, and 1:100,000 females. The APA’s figures are based on applications to gender clinics before about 1980. We estimate that their numbers are off by at least one and probably two orders of magnitude. In our five years of existence, we have received over 5000 inquiries from persons who identify as transgendered and the physicians and psychologists who work with them. Combined local and regional support groups receive many more inquiries than that.
AEGIS is a 501(c)(3) nonprofit corporation which serves as a clearinghouse for information about gender dysphoria. We maintain an extensive referral database, have produced and published a 700+ page annotated bibliography of gender dysphoria, publish a journal and a newsletter, and maintain the National Transgender Library & Archive. We exist because there is tremendous misinformation about gender dysphoria, both among the consumer population and among helping professionals, and because there are tens of thousands of Americans who desperately need our services.
Those who contact us typically report a great deal of difficulty in locating resources and information, and a great deal of information in receiving services from existing agencies which turn them away (often, while they are crisis) simply because they are transgendered.
Some persons with gender dysphoria seek sex reassignment, but the majority do not. All need sources of information and support– and so do their families, friends, employers, physicians, clergy, and mental health professionals.
We are especially aware of the ways in which gender dysphoria affects families, and of how feelings of gender dysphoria can lead to depression, substance abuse and other destructive behaviors, and suicide.
Unlike the stereotypes, persons with gender dysphoria are very much like others. Most are productive middle-class citizens. The most common occupations reported by those who contact us are engineer and computer programmer. The members of our organization include a disproportionately high percentage of physicians, attorneys, airline pilots, educators, and psychologists.
I am sure that the Public Health Service receives inquiries about gender dysphoria. I hope you will consider referring those who call or write to us.
However, another reason for our writing is because we have noted that your list of publications does not include information about gender dysphoria.
We have a variety of published materials about gender dysphoria; however, we would be very interested in producing or serving as a consultant to the Public Health Services for a booklet or at least a pamphlet about gender dysphoria. The need is real and documented for such materials.
There is nothing at all funny about gender dysphoria. It is a condition with which tens of thousands of Americans and their families must deal. I hope you will take us up on our offer.
Sincerely,
Dallas Denny, M.A.
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11 May, 1995 Out Letters 101 Greene St., Ste. 600 New York, NY 10012
Dear Editor:
Elizabeth Cohen’s article “Biberpeople” in the May, 1995 issue of Out reminds me of nothing so much as a 1920s National Geographic piece in which white North American journalists try to convey the essence of being African to other North Americans. My goodness! These natives speak English, and include some mightily talented writers. Why didn’t Out let transexual people speak for ourselves?
The article fuels the popular American fascination with genitals as the demarcation line between men and women. Most transexual people do not have genital surgery, but nonetheless identify in a gender other than the one they were assigned at birth, or as a third sex. Why didn’t Out focus on that, or on transexual activism instead of a 70 year-old surgeon in a little town in Colorado?
More seriously, Cohen’s piece is full of factual errors, misspellings, and errors of interpretations, not to mention being a rehash of an article by J. Tayman in the December, 1991 issue of Gentlemen’s Quarterly.
Face it, Out. The straight press did it first, and better.
Sincerely,
Dallas Denny
p.s. In the future, please keep in mind that AEGIS is an clearinghouse for information about transgender and transsexual issues. We could have set Ms. Cohen straight (well, perhaps not straight, but we would have been happy to supply her with up-to- date and factual information.
We’ve placed you on our mailing list, and hope you will reciprocate.
AEGIS Online News, July, 1995 (V. 1, No. 2)
AEGIS On-Line News
Volume 1, No. 2
July, 1995
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NOTICE
This on-line document is provided by AEGIS, the American Educational Gender Information Service
AEGIS P.O. Box 33724 Decatur, GA 30033-0724
(404) 939-2128 Business (404) 939-0244 Information & Referrals (404) 939-1770 FAX
aegis@mindspring.com e-mail
—————————————————————-
This document will soon be distributed by
majordomo@mindspring.com
As a read-only list
We will notify subscribers when this service will start
—————————————————————-
Those wishing to receive this document electronically can subscribe by e-mailing
aegis@mindspring.com.
Include on the first line the message subscribe aegis-distribution list<your e-mail address>
To unsubscribe, please email us at aegis@mindspring.com. Include on the first line the message unsubscribe aegis-distribution list <your e-mail address>
—————————————————————-
Please send comments and news items to aegis@mindspring.com
Watch this space for an announcement about
the AEGIS WWW Page and FTP Site
Announcement: We are currently putting files into a directory and hope to have them available for FTM by the end of June. The WWW Page will soon follow.
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About AEGIS
The American Educational Gender Information Service, Inc. is a 501(c)(3) clearinghouse for information about transgender and transsexual issues. We publish the journal_Chrysalis: The Journal of Transgressive Gender Identities_; a newsletter, and various other materials.
_Our History_
AEGIS was founded in September, 1990 by Dallas Denny to address the problem of lack of credible information about transsexual and transgender issues. We published our first Transition Series booklet at the end of the year, and the first issue of _Chrysalis_ in the Spring of 1991. We incorporated in 1992, and obtained 501(c)(3) status with the IRS in 1994.
_Our Reputation_
AEGIS has an excellent reputation for common sense and quality information.
_Our Philosophy_
AEGIS is dedicated to serving the needs of ALL transgendered and transsexual persons, and of helping professionals. We promote nonjudgemental treatment and depathologicalization (now _there’s_ a word for you!) of persons with transgender and transsexual issues. We seek to do so in an atmosphere of respect and toleration.
AEGIS has worked within the medical and psychological communities to enlighten helping professionals about the shortcomings of much of the literature, and to the misunderstandings about the nature of transgendered and transsexual persons which that literature has fostered.
AEGIS celebrates the true diversity of transgendered and transsexual persons, and advocates the right of the individual to seek body-modifying procedures, up to and including sex reassignment surgery. We also advocate the right of the individual to live without such procedures. We believe that with adequate education, individuals can make competent decisions about their lives.
_AEGIS Personnel_
Our Executive Director is Dallas Denny, who holds a Master of Arts degree in Psychology from the University of Tennessee, and has a doctorate in progress at Vanderbilt University. She has been licensed to practice psychology in Tennessee since 1980. Dallas is a prolific author and popular speaker on transgender issues, and has produced two books on transsexualism, and has a third in progress.
The Chair of our Board of Directors is Joann Roberts, Ph.D., a co-founder of Renaissance Education Association and owner of Creative Design Services. JoAnn has written several books about crossdressing, and is a past member of the Board of Directors of the International Foundation for Gender Education.
Gianna Eveling Israel, the Vice-Chair, is a peer counselor who resides in San Francisco. She is principal author of _Recommended Guidelines for Transgender Care_, which is the first project of AEGIS’ Sullivan Press.
Other Board members include Delia van Maris, M.D., Laura Skaer, Melissa Foster, Alison Laing, Carol Miller, and Jason Cromwell.
AEGIS maintains a 28-member Board of Advisors, which includes Carolyn (“Tula” Cossey, JoAnn Roberts, David Gilbert, M.D., Eugene Schrang, M.D., Stephen Morganstern, M.D., Anthony Karpas, M.D., Donald Tarver, M.D., Virginia Prince, Ph.D., Jason Cromwell, Ph.D.(c.), Anne Bolin, Ph.D., and others.
Gianna Israel serves as an omnbudsperson who takes complaints and concerns of AEGIS members to the Board of Directors. She can be reached by e-mail at jamaica@calon.com, or via US mail at P.O. Box 424447, San Francisco, CA 94142-4447. [Phone (415) 858- 8058].
_Our Services_
AEGIS is a membership organization. General memberships are $36 a year, and include two issues of _Chrysalis_, four issues of the newsletter, a 10% discount on materials from our bookstore, and a membership card (available in July). Professional memberships are $60 per year, and include the above, plus additional materials. There are additional levels of membership, with additional benefits and discounts, for those who wish to financially support us, as well as categories for students and those who are incarcerated. All donations are tax deductible.
AEGIS maintains an extensive database of support groups, helping professionals, and other resources throughout the world. We will be happy to provide you with referrals and information.
AEGIS has compiled a definitive bibliography of transgender and transsexual-related material; it was published last year by Garland Press with the title _Gender Dysphoria: A Guide to Research_ (650+ pp.).
AEGIS maintains the National Transgender Library & Archive at its Atlanta headquarters. We publish a holdings list (100 pp.).
The Transgender Historical Society serves as a watchdog organization for the NTL&A. Memberships in the Transgender Historical Society are $30 per year ($20 for AEGIS members). All funds are used to maintain and promote the library and to acquire new materials.
AEGIS has a bookstore, through which we sell educational materials, including our _Transition Series_, the holding list for the National Transgender Library & Archive, and back issues of _Chrysalis_.
AEGIS regularly publishes medical advisories and alerts and issues position statements. Recent advisories have included alerts about the advisability of electrolysis in the groin area before MTF SRS; and the dangers of silicone injection.
—————————————————————-
That’s who we are, and what we do. We hope you will join us.
—————————————————————-
PRIDE
Estimates for the attendance of Atlanta Pride, 23-25 June, 1995, ranged from 125 (a quip by one of the MC’s about the National Park Service estimate) to 300,000. There were probably about 150,000 in attendance.
For the first time, transgendered persons marched under a collective transgender banner. On both Saturday and Sunday, a booth was staffed by members of all Atlanta transgender support and social organizations; at one point there were more than 30 people at the booth. Terry Murphy’s Pride Report follows: Terry Murphy’s Report on Atlanta Pride ’95
Wow, what a weekend! Great turnout of t-people for Pride and a very successful action publicizing the exclusion of transgender from ENDA.
First, it must be said that the Atlanta G&L community has been very very good to us t-folks. There are two transpeople on the Pride Committee here. A t-person was included among the parade judges on the reviewing stand as well. The celebration name here includes Bisexual and Transgender in the title. Transpeople sit on advisory boards to the mayor and county commissioner (the latter being a Republican) and both committee’s have Transgender in the name.
We are welcomed and supported here by our gay & lesbian brothers and sisters– in the bars, in the churches, in the volunteer organizations, in the bowling leagues…. wherever, we’re part of the larger family.
The local t-community here has grown and matured here quite a bit in the past two years and an ad hoc committee of reps from all major groups in town (AEGIS, A.G.E., Montgomery Institute, Sigma Epsilon and Southern Comfort Conference) organized a first-ever coordinated effort to increase our visibility during the Pride Weekend. We rented two booths in the park, had a Transgender Pride marching banner printed up and got ready to show our stuff. Coordination was not sharp in the days leading up to the weekend and I was concerned that our plans would not gel. On top of that, the HRCF/ENDA flap reared its head and I was worried we might not be able to do our part.
I shouldn’t have been concerned. The banner was carried by a good-sized group of marchers and our booth was filled with folks after the march. There were mtfs, ftms, t-couples, crossdressers, people of color, a t-family, a well-know local drag artist, disabli-tees. Young, old, assimilated, out. Queer, straight…everyone. A tremendous showing. We also had 600 leaflets detailing the HRCF exclusion on hand. We distributed them to the crew and sent them off into the crowd to educate folks. I’m sure I spoke to at least 150 folks myself and, without exception, everyone was receptive to our point of view. A very rewarding and fulfilling experience.
Petra Hofmann and I had each spoken individually to a local HRCF board member (a friend who has been a big supporter of ours for years) prior to the weekend so the local HRCF folks knew what to expect. Both Dallas Denny and I engaged the HRCF booth crew on Saturday and Sunday to reassure them that we did the action with regret, that wish it wasn’t necessary but that we felt this was an important issue that needed greater visibility in the larger community and we were going to do that. The local HRCF folks were more than decent about the whole thing. They certainly validated our right to express our opinion – to be sure – and didn’t take any personal offense at the action. In fact, the local public policy coordinator, a woman named Cathy, whose last name I cannot remember (although she says she knows Phyllis Frye and Jane Fee from Minneapolis) actually offered to display copies of our flyer among their own literature in the booth. She has also offered to do a Southern Comfort Conference seminar on lobbying technique. Most importantly though, 25 t-people fanned out throughout the park all afternoon Sunday, engaged the rank and file of the Pride Celebration and educated them about the exclusion of transgender from ENDA. When all was said and done, we distributed 600 flyers.
This strong showing of t-people willing to work on this issue was a major step forward for us in Atlanta — as was the simple visibility and cohesion we displayed during the weekend.
I hope all went as well elsewhere in the country.
XXOO Terry Murphy
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Now Coming to a Theater Near You
(if you live in a large city, maybe) Wigstock: The Movie
Big hair! The Lady Bunny! More big hair! Wigstock, the annual drag event in New York City, now has its own film, just like the 1960’s event whose name it parodies.
Heaven’s a Drag
Leave it to the U.K. to turn out a film about a drag queen ghost haunting his lover because he never finished his panel for the AIDS quilt. (Quotation from Etc., 26 May, 1994).
Late breaking note: A group from Atlanta’s Atlanta Gender Exploration and Sigma Epsilon groups attended the Atlanta premiere (the Lady Bunny lived here at one time, and was present), and reported the movie fabulous.
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A Moment With Edward Davis Wood, Jr.
“Calling an Ed Wood script illogical is like saying dreams make no sense. Images and words went straight from his mind to the page. His stream-of-consciousness dialogue was like a ransom note pasted together from words randomly cut out from a Korean electronics manual.”
— “Look Back in Angora,” a documentary on Wood
With the resurgence in popularity of Edward D. Wood, Jr., the director of “Glen or Glenda?” and “Graverobbers From Outer Space” (the Baptists– can you believe it, Baptists!– who funded the flick insisted Wood change the name, and he did, to “Plan 9 From Outer Space”; we use Wood’s preferred title)– anyway, with the resurgence in popularity of Ed Wood, Jr., we thought we would give you some samples of the dialogue he wrote. We got the quotes from the video “Look Back in Angora: The Ed Wood Story” (Wood had a fetish for Angora).
“I guess I’ve seen everything there is for a policeman to see. And I wonder if we ever stop learning. Learning about which we see. Trying to learn more about, uh, an ounce of prevention.”
— Glen or Glenda?
“This type of case comes to me as well as yourself many times during the course of one month.”
— Glen or Glenda?
“It’s tough to find something when you don’t know what you’re looking for.”
— Grave Robbers From Outer Space
“This afternoon we had a long telephone conversation earlier in the day.”
— Jail Bait (?)
“I am Criswell. For years, I have told the almost unbelievable, related the unreal, and showed it to be more than a fact!”
— Night of the Ghouls
And there was, of course, the sexual imagery:
“You carrying a rod right now? Slip it to me quick.”
— Jail Bait
“That’s a cute pair.” “They have their points.”
— Unknown Ed Wood film
Wood’s TV fiction showed the same surreal quality:
“Another spasm sent the blood rushing from my wounds and up through my mouth. I couldn’t move any longer; not even my arms or my hands. Such simple little movements I had done all my life. There was none, and I knew that I’d had it. I felt the end was close, but I fought for every precious second of it.
Everything suddenly seemed so silly to me. The whole scheme of things. I wanted to laugh, but I couldn’t focus my senses to even that privilege. I was not to be permitted even that last movement toward fate. But I did realize I was still in DRAG. I would die in the clothes I had always hoped for. I only wished I could reach the angora sweater and the wig. But I had outwitted the Killer. The Killer was not to see me die with or without the clothes of my choice. It was the one glowing thought.”
— _Death of a Transvestite_ (by way of Rudolph Grey’s _Nightmare of Ecstacy_) “My dear country now believes in my work, and that it can be a success. Twenty years ago, I was classed as a madman. A charlatan. Now… I have proved that I am alright!”
Ed Wood, speaking from beyond the grave? No, Bela Lugosi, in Wood’s film, “Bride of the Atom.”
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From the Sexnet Mail List:
(A Mailing List for Sexologists)
Here’s a way to protest NSF budget cuts (or anything else!– Ed.) by telephone at no cost to you.
You can call Capitol Hill to tell your Congressperson or Senator what you think AND charge the religious right for our call!
Far-right Traditional Values Coalition leader Rev. Lou Sheldon paid for a toll-free number so anti-gay supporters could call congressional members and express their political views. BUT *ANYONE* can use the same number to give their views.
Call 1-800-768-2221
Just ask for your Congress person by name and you will be connected to that office
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Some Great Signature Lines from the Internet
(No Necessarily All From Gender People)
+———————–+———————————————-+
| xxxxxx@uriac.uri.edu | “Doctor! Is it a boy or a girl?” | | xxxxxx@uriacc.bitnet | “It’s a little young to be imposing roles on | +———————— it, don’t you think?” –Monty Python | |”Mr. Gandhi, what do you ———————————————+ | think of western civilization?” “I think it would be a good idea!” |
+———————–+———————————————-+
+———————–+———————————————-+ | “I regret to say that we of the FBI are powerless to act in cases | | of oral-genital intimacy, unless it has in some way obstructed | | interstate commerce.” –J. Edgar Hoover | +———————–+———————————————-+ | xxxx xxxxxx: xxxxxx@ mindspring.com * finger for xx. xxxxxxxx | +———————–+———————————————-+
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You Can Take the Girl Out of the Trailer Park…
The Street Talk section of the June 10th edition of Atlanta’s _Creative Loafing_, a weekly alternative newspaper, asked the question “Would you be disappointed if your date was a transsexual?” of three Atlantans:
Jerry: I would be a little spooked but I would step back, assess the situation, gather my wits and try to see it for what it is. I’d put it in heaven’s hands and take it from there. But then I guess it would be no different than dating a girl who had a hysterectomy or was sterile. But then what do I know? I’ve known a few transsexuals. They were attractive but we never dated. It was more like I wonder where she got that outfit. Regular women are pretty complicated enough for me so I’ll just stick with the original model.
Shawn (a female): Yeah it would bother me but with my luck I wouldn’t be surprised. If my date told me about it during the course of the meal, well, I really don’t know how I’d act. I know I would not have sex with him, that would be too weird. But I don’t even enjoy sex anymore, my former boyfriend ruined that for me. Now I want to make sure that you realize that I have nothing against transexuals. I just don’t want to go out on a date with them. It’s like that expression, you can take the girl out of the trailer park but you can’t take the trailer park out of the girl.
Scott: It would depend upon how successful the operation was. If I found out on the first date, I probably would not go out again. But if it was several dates later and I really started to like the person before I found out, it probably wouldn’t matter so long as all traces of her being a guy weren’t there anymore. So I guess it’s just how good the surgeon was. And it would relieve me of some of the pressure of having to satisfy her sexually since I assume she wouldn’t have her sexual organs. So here, we go folks, public opinion in the ’90s. A strange mixture of transphobia and acceptance, and, dare we say, attraction, at least on the parts of Jerry and Scott. While it’s much better than “Ewww! That’s so gross! Excuse me while I go make the technicolor yawn,” there’s still a long way to go. Perhaps Jeff Slate, the author of the feature, should ask transsexuals “Would you be disappointed if your date was Jerry, Shawn, or Scott?” We know we would be.
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Woman or a Man?
I stepped on the dance floor feeling very cool I thought I saw an angel sitting on a stool I just couldn’t tell, you’ll think I’m a fool If she was a woman or a man.
She was the kind of woman that a man could crave From her high-heeled shoes to her permanent wave Except maybe she was needing a shave Was she a woman or a man?
Oh I asked her to dance and I took her by the hand She held me so tight it was hard for me to stand Built like a lumberjack I couldn’t understand If she was a woman or a man.
Well I walked her home it was quarter part four My heart was thumpin’ as we ducked in the door And then when she kissed me I thought I was sure If she was a woman or a man
Oh she sole my wallet and she knocked me off my feet She tied on her roller skates, made her retreat All I found was a blonde wig a’lyin’ in the street Was she a woman or a man?
Well I don’t care if she seemed unkind She stole my heart as she robbed me blind I love her so much I still wouldn’t mind If she was a woman or a man.
— Richard Thompson From his 1984 LP _Small Town Romance_
Subsequently recorded by the zydeco band Michael Doucet & Cajun Brew
Source: Either/or-neither/both: Sexual ambiguity and the ideology of gender by Julia Epstein, in _Genders_, 1990, 7, 99-142.
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Tolerance Urged
The Church of England was advised by its own experts to welcome sexually active couples, regardless of whether they are married or are of the same sex. “Everyone, whether single, married, separated, or cohabitating, heterosexual or homosexual, should find a place of welcome in the church,” The Board of Social Responsibility said in its first report on family life in twenty years. The report is expected to be debated in November by the church’s governing General Synod.
— Atlanta Journal/Constitution 6/8/95
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11 June, 1995 Jack Pelham, Editor Etc. P.O. Box 8916 Atlanta, GA 30306 Dear Jack:
I was disappointed by the use of female pronouns to describe Brandon Teena, a female-to-male transsexual, in the New Blips section of the 9 June Etc. It is the more unfortunate since Brandon Teena was murdered for living as a man.
Brandon Teena as not “posing as a man.” He was a man, despite having been born with a female body.
There is an unfortunate tendency for female-to-male transsexuals to be reclaimed as lesbian after their deaths. In Brandon Teena’s case, as in Billy Tipton’s, who was discovered to have a female body only after his death, there is no room for doubt that they identified as men. It does them, and all transsexual people, a grave disservice to dishonor them after death by turning them back into women.
I hope Etc. will be more sensitive to this issue in the future. Sincerely, Dallas Denny American Educational Gender Information Service, Inc.
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From the alt.transgendered Newsgroup
Posted by Christine Rose Cochrane
28 June, 1995 Today a lesbian couple made history by getting married. Tracy Scott was born a man but had a sex change operation a year ago. Although physically female, under British law she is still a man and was therefore able to marry her partner. Both brides emerged from the brief civil ceremony at Chelsea Registry office wearing white satin gowns with matching bouquets and head dresses. (Both bride and groom then said how wonder it was).
They had to take vows as a man and a woman but at the end they were declared married rather than man and wife.
The gay activist Peter Tatchell says the remarkable circumstances that made this marriage possible neatly symbolizes the unfairness of the law. He said that this particular couple were very lucky to be able to exploit a loophole in the law and its mildly satisfactory to see they’ve been able to get a bit of revenge against a profoundly homophobic piece of legislation.
It’s unclear whether this wedding will lead to reform in the law on sex changes. The couple will be known as Mrs. Tina and Mrs. Tracy Scott-Dixon.
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Gee, and It Was the Watermelons the Whole Time!
Iran’s parliament voted on Monday to ban the sale of seedless watermelons deemed corrupting by Moslem clerics. Deputies voted for the bill after a two-day debate in which a minority argued that people should not be denied watermelon because it has no seeds.
“The government has to defend Islamic and cultural values, just as it has to defend the borders… Spreading corrupting, robbing the youths of moral values. Seedless watermelon promotes homosexuality and asexuality.”
The law will take affect after further debate on details of the bill expected in several weeks’ time.
Reuter’s News Service 8 June, 1995 Thanks to Tere Frederickson for downloading this
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Barbie Torched and Banished by Mad Mullahs
London (International Express)– Islamic militants have issued a religious contract to kill off the famous American “Barbie Doll.” The busty, blonde, best-selling toy has fallen to the same fate as author Salman Rushdie (and those darn seedless watermelons– ed.). Labelled by mullahs a “she-devil” from whom children must be protected, several Middle East toy stores carrying the product have already been torched by hardliners.
“The Ayatollah has spoken,” says a spokesperson for the College of Islamic Sharia in Kuwait. “Barbie resembles a mature woman and has nothing to do with children. This she-devil has polished nails and wears skirts above the knee.”
“Our children must be protected from this evil Western style of living, in the shaping of the body, the voluptuous fullness of the lips and her blonde hair,” he explains.
Barbie-maker Mattel in the US admits moves to ban the doll have also started in Malaysia. A company spokesperson says most Middle East families have rejected calls to turn in the doll.
Notes from the Underground Vol. VIII, No. 3, July, 1995
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Table-Top Brown” at it Again
John Ronald Brown, who lost his medical license and was imprisoned in California in the early ’90s for practicing medicine without a license, continues to advertise for patients (victims) for his very bad sex reassignment surgery. Angela Gardner of Renaissance reports receiving “a badly-produced pamphlet, a few flyers that say, ‘The prettiest pussies are John Brown Pussies’, a letter from Brown saying that people are saying bad things about him and don’t believe it and a couple of explicit pictures of his patients vaginas.
Brown was identified by Viva magazine in the 1970s as one of the worst plastic surgeons in the U.S. AEGIS has been issuing warnings about him since 1990. He continues to do *very bad* sex reassignment surgery. He advertises in San Diego, California and does surgery in Tiajuana, Mexico.
Brown’s surgery is cosmetically unappealing, and fraught with dangers, including infection, stenosis, and fistula. Currently, a transsexual inmate of Atlanta Correctional Facility who saw Brown is experiencing severe pain and inability to urinate properly, has lost her vagina, and has fused labia.
Please be advised to avoid “John Brown Medical Program” in Tiajuana, Mexico.
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E-Mail Makes For Rapid Action in HRCF/ENDA Protests
The transgender community has unified as never before in protest of the Human Rights Campaign Fund, which has worked actively to exclude transgender language in the Employment Nondiscrimination Act (ENDA)
Upon hear the news that ENDA, which failed to pass last year, was recently reintroduced without transgender inclusive language, attendees of the fourth International Conference on Transgender Law and Employment Policy (ICTLEP), spontaneously produced a press release. Upon their return home, the continued to communicate via e-mail. As a result, there were protests against HRCF in a number of cities across the U.S. only one week after learning the news.
Those who are interesting in learning more about the transgender community’s plays about ENDA should ask to be placed on her the Transexual Menace mailing list. This is a majordomo mailing list, meaning that anything sent to the list will be automatically bounced to all subscribers.
To subscribe, send a mail message to majordomo@zoom.com and include the following in the body of the message:
subscribe ts menace your full e-mail address example: subscribe ts menace aegis@mindspring.com
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Some Gender-Related World Wide Web Sites
(And One FTP Site)
Above & Beyond http://199.1700.46/
CDS Publications http://www.cdspub.com
Christine Alan’s Home Page http://www.netins.net/showcase/chrisa/index.html
Christine Norman’s Home Page http://csclub.uwaterloo.ca/~cbnorman
DVG Home Page http://www.best.com/-rwr13/.dvg/ (e-mail is dvg@rwr13.vip.best.com)
FTM Group http:ww.ftm-intl.org
Gender & Sexuality http://english-server.hss.cmu.edu/Gender.html
Gender Manifesto (Martine Rothblatt) http://199.171.16.53/gender3.html
Graffiti BBS http://www.mindspring.com/~graffiti
Hormone FAQs http://www.portal.com/~valerie/hormone-faq/top.html
IFGE Web Page http://www.transgender.org/tg/ifge/index.html
Ingersoll Gender Center http://www.halcyon.com/ingersol/iiihome.html
Jamie Faye Fenton’s Home Page http://www.zzom.com/personal/jamief/jffpage.html
Julie Pond’s Gender Home Page http://julie.pond.com/-julie/
Laura Potter’s Home Page http://www.echonyc.com/~degrey/Laura.html
Lesbian Avengers– London Chapter http://www.cs.ucl.ac.uk/students/zcacsst/LA.htlm
Phillida’s Home Page http://www.mindspring.com/~phillida/pchintro.html
Queer Infoservers Directory http://www.infoqueer.org/queer/qis/ http://www.infoqueer.org/queer/qis/homepages.html (directory of USENET groups) gopher://gopher.infoqueer.org:1901/11/other-goperhs/queer-topics email queer@server.berkeley.edu to add homepage to net
Queer Resources Directory– htt://vector.casti.com/QRS/.html/QRD-home-page.html.
Queer Resources List http://www.qrd.org/QRD/www/electronic/email/lgbt-list-of-lists gopher://gopher/qrd.org/11/QRD/electronic/email (E-mail lists)
Radical Religous Right http://www.qrd.org/QRD/www/RRR/rrrpage.html
Tina’s Home Page http://www.ifi.uio.no/-tina/ (e-mail is tina@ifi.uio.no)
Transgender Linkage http://miles.pnw.net/transgen.html
The Transgender Page http:rniles.pnw.net/transgen.html
Transsexual Menace http://www.echonyc.com/~grey/Menace.html
TStar http://travesti.geoph!-s.mcgill.ca/tstar.html
Vanessa Kaye’s Home Page http://www.gomedia.com/outline/trans/vkol.html
Krystine Tyler’s FTP Site ftp.roses-online.org Login ID: roseson Password: repartee e-mail: krystine@roses-online.org
AEGIS On-Line News, August, 1995 (V. 1, No. 3)
AEGIS On-Line News
Volume 1, No. 3
August, 1995
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NOTICE
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—————————————————————-
* * * About AEGIS * * *
The American Educational Gender Information Service, Inc. is a 501(c)(3) clearinghouse for information about transgender and transexual issues. We publish the journal_Chrysalis: The Journal of Transgressive Gender Identities_; a newsletter, and various other materials.
_Our History_
AEGIS was founded in September, 1990 by Dallas Denny to address the problem of lack of credible information about transexual and transgender issues. We published our first Transition Series booklet at the end of the year, and the first issue of _Chrysalis_ in the Spring of 1991. We incorporated in 1992, and obtained 501(c)(3) status with the IRS in 1994.
_Our Reputation_
AEGIS has an excellent reputation for common sense and quality information.
_Our Philosophy_
AEGIS is dedicated to serving the needs of ALL transgendered and transexual persons, and of helping professionals. We promote nonjudgemental treatment and depathologicalization (now _there’s_ a word for you!) of persons with transgender and transexual issues. We seek to do so in an atmosphere of respect and toleration.
AEGIS has worked within the medical and psychological communities to enlighten helping professionals about the shortcomings of much of the literature, and to the misunderstandings about the nature of transgendered and transexual persons which that literature has fostered.
AEGIS celebrates the true diversity of transgendered and transexual persons, and advocates the right of the individual to seek body-modifying procedures, up to and including sex reassignment surgery. We also advocate the right of the individual to live without such procedures. We believe that with adequate education, individuals can make competent decisions about their lives.
_AEGIS Personnel_
Our Executive Director is Dallas Denny, who holds a Master of Arts degree in Psychology from the University of Tennessee, and has a doctorate in progress at Vanderbilt University. She has been licensed to practice psychology in Tennessee since 1980. Dallas is a prolific author and popular speaker on transgender issues, and has produced two books on transexualism, and has a third in progress.
The Chair of our Board of Directors is Joann Roberts, Ph.D., a co-founder of Renaissance Education Association and owner of Creative Design Services. JoAnn has written several books about crossdressing, and is a past member of the Board of Directors of the International Foundation for Gender Education.
Gianna Eveling Israel, the Vice-Chair, is a gender specializing counselor who resides in San Francisco. She is principal author of__Recommended Guidelines for Transgender Care_, which is the first project of AEGIS’ Sullivan Press.
Other Board members include Delia van Maris, M.D., Laura Skaer, Melissa Foster, Alison Laing, Carol Miller, and Jason Cromwell.
AEGIS maintains a 28-member Board of Advisors, which includes Carolyn (“Tula” Cossey, JoAnn Roberts, David Gilbert, M.D., Eugene Schrang, M.D., Stephen Morganstern, M.D., Anthony Karpas, M.D., Donald Tarver, M.D., Virginia Prince, Ph.D., Jason Cromwell, Ph.D.(c.), Anne Bolin, Ph.D., and others.
Gianna Israel serves as an omnbudsperson who takes complaints and concerns of AEGIS members to the Board of Directors. She can be reached by US mail at P.O. Box 424447, San Francisco, CA 94142-4447. [Phone (415) 558-8058].
_Our Services_
AEGIS is a membership organization. General memberships are $36 a year, and include two issues of _Chrysalis_, four issues of the newsletter, a 10% discount on materials from our bookstore, and a membership card (available in July). Professional memberships are $60 per year, and include the above, plus additional materials. There are additional levels of membership, with additional benefits and discounts, for those who wish to financially support us, as well as categories for students and those who are incarcerated. All donations are tax deductible.
AEGIS maintains an extensive database of support groups, helping professionals, and other resources throughout the world. We will be happy to provide you with referrals and information.
AEGIS has compiled a definitive bibliography of transgender and transexual-related material; it was published last year by Garland Press with the title _Gender Dysphoria: A Guide to Research_ (650+ pp.).
AEGIS maintains the National Transgender Library & Archive at its Atlanta headquarters. We publish a holdings list (100 pp.).
The Transgender Historical Society serves as a watchdog organization for the NTL&A. Memberships in the Transgender Historical Society are $30 per year ($20 for AEGIS members). All funds are used to maintain and promote the library and to acquire new materials.
AEGIS has a bookstore, through which we sell educational materials, including our _Transition Series_, the holding list for the National Transgender Library & Archive, and back issues of _Chrysalis_.
AEGIS regularly publishes medical advisories and alerts and issues position statements. Recent advisories have included alerts about the advisability of electrolysis in the groin area before MTF SRS; and the dangers of silicone injection.
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That’s who we are, and what we do. We hope you will join us.
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* * * AEGIS NEWS * * * — Recommended Guidelines for Transgender Care — AEGIS’ Sullivan Press plans to publish * Recommended Guidelines for Transgender Care* by Gianna Israel and Donald Tarver, M.D. later this year.
The Recommended Guidelines is a comprehensive resource for mental and physical health professionals who work with transgendered persons.
The RGs, as they are known for short, address a variety of transgender and transexual populations, including youth, persons of color, and those who are HIV positive. They discourage psychiatric gatekeeping.
“We’re very excited about this project,” said AEGIS Director Dallas Denny. “The Recommended Guidelines represent a huge step forward in the treatment of transexual and transgendered persons. It’s especially significant that one of the authors is a transgendered woman, and that a transgender-managed organization is publishing them. We’re taking a financial risk with this project, and we’re counting on the community to come through for us. It’ll be the first time in our five-year history we’ve really asked for money.”
The planned publication date for the RGs is 15 December, 1995.
AEGIS plans a major fundraising drive to raise money for the printing of the RGs; donations will be tax deductible.
Those donating $100 or more will receive a copy of the * Recommended Guidelines*.
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* * * COMMUNITY NEWS * * * — God Squad? —
Most transgendered and transexual persons have always been intensely interested in spiritual matters. Lee Frances’ _Grace and Lace_ newsletter has addressed the needs of Christian crossdressers for the better part of a decade, and for some years, small healing circles which draw heavily on Native American and pagan traditions have come together in various areas of the country.
Now a network of transgendered and transexual ministers and others interested in transgender spiritual issues (affectionately nicknamed the God Squad, but still without an official name) is forming. Lynn Walker, a Russian Orthodox priest, is serving as coordinator.
For information, write
Lynn Walker P.O. Box 090248 Brooklyn, NY 11209-0005,
or send her e-mail at NatashaNZ@aol.com
—————————————————————- — T.O.P.S. —
In a similar vein, an organization called T.O.P.S. (for Transgender Officers Protect & Serve), was formed in July when _The New York Post_ ran a story on Trenton, New Jersey Police Officer Janet Aiello, who recently transitioned from a male role to a female role. The _Post_’s article, written in the usual sensationalistic and patronizing tone, was unwarranted, as Aiello’s police department is well aware of her transexualism and neither her supervisors nor city officials had any particular problem with her transition. Following the _Post_’s article, reporters and camerapersons staked out Aiello’s house and even hid in bushes to ambush her. Three cameramen were “attacked” (pushed) by Aiello’s sister, who screamed, “Leave my sister alone! If she wants to have an operation, that’s her business!”
Transexual activist Riki Anne Wilchins suggested that T.O.P.S. be formed to serve as an organization which can respond to future attacks and intrusions like the _Post_’s. Founding members include Officer Aiello; Tonye Barreto-Neto and Stephan Thorne, both female-to-male police officers; and Michelle Kammerer, a California firefighter whose transition several years ago resulted in national headlines.
Janet Aiello is an AEGIS member.
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— Presbytery in Quandary —
For the first time ever (so far as we know), a Protestant church has been forced to deal squarely with the issue of transexual ministers.
Next week, an issue of the Atlanta _Journal/Constitution_ will carry a major story on Presbyterian minister and psychotherapist Erin Swenson, Ph.D., whose name change resulted in her Atlanta- based Presbytery being forced to confront the issue of her transexualism. Dr. Swenson has been charged by a fellow minister with “impersonating a woman,” despite the fact that she is open about her transsexualism and had informed the presbytery about her transition. She was working quietly with a committee from the presbytery; however, the minister who made the charges brought _Journal/Constitution_ religion reporter Doug Cumming to a presbytery meeting, and when it was made clear to her that there would be newspaper story about her regardless of whether or not she cooperated, Dr. Swenson agreed to cooperate with Cumming.
Dr. Swenson is a member of AEGIS. AEGIS has helped her provide educational material about transgender and transexual issues to her presbytery and to Dough Cumming.
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— Out Transgendered Physician —
Dr. Melanie Erin Spritz, an AEGIS member and an out transexual physician, has landed a 5-year residency in internal medicine/psychiatry at SUNY Brooklyn Hospital. The battle was not an easy one; she was turned down for a number of other residencies because of her transexualism.
Dr. Spritz is working to establish a clinic for transgendered and transexual persons in the New York city area, and to educate her physician peers about transgender issues.
Congratulation to Dr. Spritz for being (so far as we know) the first transexual person to go through medical school post- transition and out of the closet, and to SUNY Brooklyn Hospital for supporting her.
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– ACTIVISM PAGE –
— Transgender Community Protests HRCF —
The transgender community is up in arms following the introduction in Congress of the Employment Non-Discrimination Act (ENDA) without transgender-inclusive language.
Last year, transgender lobbyists Phyllis Frye, Riki Anne Wilchins, and Jane Fee visited Capitol Hill for purposes of lobbying for T* people. After visiting with staff of Senator Jeffords, the sponsor of ENDA, they succeeded in having the language of the bill modified to include transgender and transexual people. After they left the hill, lobbyists from the Human Rights Campaign Fund (HRCF), an organization which has pledged to fight for human rights for everybody, succeeded in having the transgender language removed from ENDA. The transgender lobbyists then went into educational mode with HRCF, explaining the importance of transgender-inclusive language to all feminine males and masculine women, whether or not they are transgendered.
When ENDA was introduced in June of this year, it happened to occur during the annual conference of ICTLEP, the International Conference on Transgender Law & Employment Policy, which was attended by transgender and transexual activists from across the country. When Sarah DePalma, one of the attendees, downloaded the language of the 1995 ENDA bill from the Internet and saw that transgender language was once again not in it, she called it to the attention of the other attendees; this resulted in a special planning session at which a comprehensive strategy to protest HRCF was developed.
Because of the ease and speed of communication through the Internet (for those who can afford a computer; see editorial which follows the news section of this newsletter– Ed.), it was possible to bring together protests against HRCF within one week. There were actions at Pride events in Atlanta, Seattle, Houston, New York, and Philadelphia; most typically, leaflets were quietly handed out, although in typical form, Phyllis Frye went over the top in Houston, bringing along a large sheet advising people not to give money to HRCF, and showing her willingness to be arrested for the cause (There’s nothing shy about Phyllis <grin>– Ed.). Fortunately, no one was arrested at any of the protests.
HRCF has received e-mail, telephone calls, and letters from angry transgendered and transexual people across the country, but for some time maintained a stance that there are other ways to include transgendered and transexual people than by including them in ENDA. The transgender community showed no intention of letting up the pressure. There were plans for protests at HRCF fundraisers across the nation, and transgender lobbyists will converge on Capitol Hill for Transgender Lobby Day, October, 2, 1995.
Most recently, HRCF Director Elizabeth Birch has entered into serious dialogue with leaders of the transgender community, including Phyllis Frye, Tere Frederickson, and Riki Anne Wilchins. HRCF has agreed to a meeting to resolve its differences with the transgender community. Meanwhile, however, the protest against HRCF will continue.
Those who wish to learn more about the HRCF controversy and/or Transgender Lobby Day can get on the Transexual Menace mailing list. To subscribe, simply send an e-mail message to majordomo@zoom.com, and include the following in the body of the message:
subscribe ts menace your full e-mail address
example: subscribe ts menace fingers@phoenix.phoenix.net
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— Transgender Lobby Day —
On 2 October, 1995, Transgender and Transexual lobbyists (both MTF and FTM, despite the title of this article) will gather on Capitol Hill in Washington, DC, to make lawmakers aware of their special needs. A prime topic will be transgender and transexual inclusion in ENDA. For more information, join the Transexual Menace mailing list (see above for the particulars of the Menace List).
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— Transgender Employment Day __
ICTLEP, the International Conference on Transgender Law & Employment Policy, is calling for the celebration of “International Transgender Employment Day,” on Monday 4 September, which happens to also be Labor Day.
It’s no secret that transgender and transexual persons are frequently unable to get or keep jobs simply because of their status. International Transgender Employment Day acknowledges this problem and declares the right of transgender and transexual persons to secure and retain employment and to receive just compensation; this is one of the rights in the International Bill of Gender Rights, which was originally written by JoAnn Roberts and which has been slightly modified by ICTLEP.
Intl. TG Employment Day will also serve as an opportunity to raise funds for the transgender lobbying organization It’s Time America.
For more information, contact Riki Anne Wilchins of Transexual Menace at riki@pipeline.com (212-645-1753) or Karen Anne Kerin of It’s Time America at kkerin@vermontlaw.edu (802-223-4756). And of course, you can always join the Transexual Menace list (see above).
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* * * EDITORIAL * * *
— Two Communities —
There are two transgender communities. The members of one community correspond with each other via long distance phone calls and e-mail and Priority mail. Members of the other community don’t “do” letters, have no computers, and their phones are as likely as not to be disconnected at any given time. They tend to run into one another in bars and nightclubs, or in the laundromat. One community is composed primarily of persons with college educations and stable and even exceptional work histories. The other community is plagued by homelessness, legal problems, and drug and alcohol dependency. Most of the members of one community have been married (heterosexually, prior to transition), and many have children. Most of the members of the other community have never been interested in members of the other biological sex.
HIV rates are low in the first community; rates of infection in the second community are among the world’s highest.
These two communities exist largely independent of and remain largely ignorant of each other. Members of each community typically have little idea of the problems and frustrations of the members of the other community.
What everyone in the two communities have in common is what has been called gender dysphoria, transexualism, transgenderism, gender identity disorder. It is a powerful feeling, an incredible desire to express oneself in ways Western society has considered inappropriate. Those in the first community have typically kept those desires hidden or repressed, and gone through their lives in the gender roles that was expected of them. Those in the second community have been unable or unwilling to do that, and have freely expressed themselves, typically at a very young age, despite the usually harsh consequences.
The consequences of those who start crossliving when very young are typically devastating. Rejection occurs at all levels of society. Parents kick them out. Officials refuse to allow them to attend school. No one will hire them. Typically, they wind up on the street, with all of the temptations and danger which lie there: violence, prostitution, alcoholism, drug use, promiscuous sex. Having nothing and no one else on whom they can rely, they often turn for a source of income to their only asset: their bodies. Some do so with eagerness, most with resignation, for prostitutes, and especially transgendered prostitutes, are devalued by our society. No one cares if transgendered street workers are beaten or murdered. Few care about their health. A few people try to help them, but as exploitation often begins with a profession of friendship, and from authority figures; they become suspicious of those who claim to be their friends. There are no rewards for being honest or dependable; what pays off are scams and hustles. Friendship is a rare thing, and hard to risk, for friends get murdered, die of AIDS, get carted off to prison, make off with your belongings, or simply disappear.
Under such circumstances, honor takes a form almost inconceivable to those who have not lived the life: don’t rat on others, don’t cooperate with the cops for any reason, never give a sucker an even break. Erratic or abnormal behavior becomes the norm; those who act “normal” don’t survive for very long. And experience is not guarantee of safety; even the most streetwise wind up victims to violence or disease.
Those who have maintained some semblance of stability in their lives have little conception of the ways in which life on the street molds personality, damages psyche, and places its own variety of Golden Handcuffs on those who live it– or on early influences like physical and sexual abuse which can damage an individual so that he or she is incapable of functioning in middle-class society. They see only how they have bettered themselves by hard work, and consider those who are on the street to be lazy, shiftless, or otherwise morally flawed. They don’t understand how their lives as males (or as females) have imbued them with privilege that is lacking for those with acknowledged transgender status. They see only that they have worked for what they have become, and what they have accumulated; they don’t see how their relatively stable lives have left them relatively psychologically intact enough to work towards those ends, or how people have basically left them alone as they have worked towards their goals. No one gets left alone on the street.
Those who transition later in life tend to resent the natural femininity (or masculinity) shown by so many on the street, while simultaneously detesting them for their lifestyles. They never realize that it was the pursuit of self which has resulted in the lifestyles that they find so distasteful.
People on the street, on the other hand, tend to be resentful of those with middle-class lifestyles. Many are not in their situation so much by choice as by circumstance, and a journey to a middle-class lifestyle is an improbability, at best. They are stuck on the street in the same way that so many middle-class persons are stuck in their original gender roles. There is a great amount of inertia to overcome. Just as most transgendered individuals who achieve middle-age without transitioning never do so, most men and women on the street never overcome the inertia that keeps them there. They see no way out. They see those with more than they have, who are not as “pretty” as they are, and assume that such persons have had an easy route. What they don’t see is the anguish and psychological damage which has been caused by the years of denial and the bodily changes which have occurred as a result of not dealing with one’s transgender nature until middle age.
To be honest, many of those who have had the advantage of a middle-class lifestyle rarely give any notice, or especially much money, to the organizations which exist to support them. They certainly don’t give money to organizations which serve people on the street. Many call organizations like AEGIS and IFGE repeatedly, asking for advice and referrals, but don’t join or otherwise support those organizations, and don’t donate either their time or money to building community. The social and support groups in the community are hard-pressed to serve those who come to them, and either through oversight or lack of funds and volunteers make little attempt to structure events for people on the street, who find an evening in the bars eminently preferable to support groups in which they are expected to sit around in a circle four three hours, baring their souls (support group) or sipping tea (social group).
To be equally honest, most of those on the street are more interesting in taking, also, and do little to contribute to community, even when they can. They find it easier to drink or smoke or snort away their money rather than using it to improve their situation, and tend to complain about their lot and sometimes to protest the activities of the “other” transgender community than to form their own organizations or conduct their own outreach and education programs.
I don’t have any magical solutions for how these two communities can work together. But I believe they should, for it is our histories and our present circumstances which make us different much more than any strength or weakness of character. Those in both communities are battling the same internal feelings, the same shame and guilt.
It’s perfectly legitimate to be a member of either community, or as a few of us are, of both. Perhaps those with a foot in each community can work to ensure that both communities keep in mind the ways in which they are the same, and the ways in which they are different, to stop (when they aren’t ignoring each other or denying each others’ existence) blaming and envying one another for who we are and what we do, and to learn to work with one another.
— Dallas Denny
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* * * FEATURE * * * — Ask Lola Anything —
Lola Cola’s advice column in _The Southern Belle_, the newsletter of Atlanta’s Sigma Epsilon chapter of Tri-Ess, is always funny. However, she topped herself in the July ’95 column: Dear Lola:
Last weekend, my wife and I went out to dinner with some straight friends who don’t know about my evil twin sister. We went to Planet Hollywood, that trendy new restaurant owned by some film stars where the walls are bedecked with Hollywood memorabilia. Well, one of the items on display was a bustier Madonna wore in “Desperately Seeking Susan.” It was gorgeous and I just couldn’t keep my eyes off it all night. Now I’m obsessed. I must have it. I must! Tossing and turning at night, I dream of felonious midnight adventures to secure this treasure. Either I’ll own that glorious garment or die of sleep deprivation. What am I going to do? Keep in mind, I’m law-abiding and 6’2″, 235 lbs.
— Desperate Wannabee Dear Desperado,
Oh sure, I can see it now… black outfit, blackened face, James Bond burglar gear, rappelling through the skylight, deftly avoiding the laserbeam alarms, and at last getting your hands on the object of your lust. Overcome by passion, you try it on right there at the crime scene… only to discover that Madonna is just a wee bit smaller than you as the seams explode. Though it sounds like a terrific aerobic workout, why not save the sweat and just ask a qualified seamstress to duplicate it in your size? It will spare you the potentially humiliating experience of performing “Like a Virgin” for the boys on cellblock 19.
— Love, Lola Dear Lola,
My wife thinks I’ve lost my mind and I really need your advice. I recently bought this wild platinum wig that’s cut in a radical bob style. Every time I put it on I start talking like a Valley Girl… which is pretty odd, considering that I’m 43 years old and from the South Side of Chicago. And I don’t mean sometimes; I can’t, like, speak any other way? Like, when I’m in this rad ‘do, ya know? So, like, what I’m wondering? Should I, like, totally deal with it? Like, with my wife, like? She’s, like, sooo stone age about it. Saying, like I neeed to purge it. I’m like, so sure!… As if I might do that. So, like, help… or something?
— Radical Babe Dear Sunshine,
Honey, drop the wig off at a qualified speech therapist and see if that helps. Maybe they can teach it French.
— Love, Lola Dear Lola,
Do you have any helpful household hints about how I might get some mascara stains out of towels? I really laid it on my lashes thick last night, as I was off with a few of the girls to one of those really dark, loud nightclubs where everyone wears black and either feigns boredom or seems to be on some new designer drug I’ve never heard of. Anyway, I had a few cocktails, and when I got home, I just wiped a towel across my face a few times before falling into bed. Seems I picked the wrong towel, however. It was one from a really expensive set my new girlfriend brought home from New York City as a gift for my birthday. Now I’ve apparently ruined it and I’m afraid when she finds that out, I’ll have done equal damage to our relationship. It certainly seemed like a good idea at the time. Now what?
— Clean & Sloppy Dear Miss Piggy,
How on earth did you ever get me mixed up with Heloise? Perhaps some of those designer drugs you’ve never heard of? Well, I’m sorry, but I simply haven’t a clue, dear. There are people for that sort of thing. Had you directed your letter to Heloise, I”m sure she’d have the answer for you, something involving old pantyhose and white vinegar, I imagine. But since you’ve written me, I feel dutybound to supply you with some properly Lola-like advice, and so I shall. Stash the towel away for the time being.
At your next opportunity, take girlfriend out clubbing with you and liberally administer all those dangerous drinks (don’t neglect shooters) until she answers the question “How many fingers?” with her name. At that point, you can take her home, put her to bed, and then drape the ruined towel over the bathroom sink. In the morning, throw a hissy fit, and you will find yourself rewarded for your slovenly habits. Now then, let’s see Heloise answer a question about tucking!
— Love, Lola
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— MediaWatch —
In Which We Bring you News of Books, Articles
Movies, and Other Transgender-Related Stuff The current catalog for Cornell University Press has this listing:
Trexler, Richard C. Sex and Conquest: Gendered violence, political order, and the European Conquest of the Americas Cloth, ISBN 0-8014-3224-3 $29.95
This dazzling book delineates the relation between force and sex in social and political institutions. Its subject is male sexual culture in Europe and America at the time of the conquest; its basis is the primary sources of the period. The story it tells– of biological males who lived as women– forges a link between sexual themes dating from Antiquity and the erotics of much of the violence in today’s world. What does it mean, Richard C. Trexler asks, that the Spanish and Portuguese repeatedly justified their conquest of America’s Indians with the claim that the Americans had to be saved from themselves because they practiced sodomy, transforming into “women” (berdaches) the young men whom they penetrated. To answer his question, Trexler interrogates the sexual culture of both conqueror and conquered. The author first examines the erotics of power in early modern Iberia and reveals a world in which domination and subordination were coded as masculine and feminine. He pays particular attention to the military, where abuse of the young and humiliation of the vanquished often were signified through homosexual rape and effeminization. Indeed, Trexler says, the sexual subordination of young males, so common in the violent world of the early modern army, is central to the thinking and institutions of the patriarchal state. Turning to the native American world, the author finds a remarkably similar pattern of gendered dominance and submission. he reconstructs the lived experience of the berdaches– biological males who lived as women– analyzing the familial and political pressures that produced them and concentrating on the social, religious, and sexual roles they were expected to fulfill. Trexler concludes that making berdaches was a form of state building,and that state building through berdaches involved child abuse. Finally, assessing both Iberian and American attitudes toward the transvestism and homosexual behavior he describes, Trexler maintains that civil institutions in both the Old and New World were modeled on the military; the weak, however defined, were gendered as feminine to guarantee the power of the (macho) elite. In an impassioned conclusion, he argues that the sexual violence so deeply encoded in social and political institutions must be confronted before “we [can] freely revel in the distinctive genius of each human culture.”
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— A Plea From Kate Bornstein — My name is Kate Bornstein, and this is a call for submissions for an upcoming book I’m working on, called “My Gender Workbook.” It’s a follow-up to my first book, “Gender Outlaw.” It should be out from Routledge some time in the fall of 1996, with illustrations by Diane DiMassa, creator of “Hothead Paisan: Homicidal Lesbian Terrorist.” Lookin’ to make it a fun piece of work.
The book will contain a section which, hopefully, will weave through the entire book. This section will be called “1001 Ways To Live Without Gender, By People Who Do.”
So, I’m looking for a *lot* of outlaws and in-laws to respond to the following questions:
1) Do you consider that you break any rules or laws or conventions of gender?
If so, which ones? How do you do that?
2) Have you ever had to, or do you now have to overcome any fear regarding breaking gender conventions? Which fear(s)? How do you overcome that?
3) Do you consider that you live, or have lived either all or part of your life without gender? Could you describe how that works for you?
Please feel free to write as many responses as you like, to one, two, or all three of these questions. Answers can be humorous, serious, or in any vein whatesover. They can be poetry, cartoons, slogans, or they can be more questions. The only thing I’m asking is that they be *short.* because I want to include as many people’s voices as possible.
Sadly, there’s no payment available for these, but I’ll be *very* glad to credit your words as you like. Please do include your name and a way to contact you (email, fax or snailmail addresses, please) to get permission in writing from you to publish your words. Deadline for submission is October 31st (Halloween), 1995.
*****IMPORTANT NOTE: Please do *not* email submissions to my OutlawGal address. I’ve got a whole system set up to receive submissions as follows.
Thanks!******
You can get your responses to me in any number of ways:
1) e-mail them to: 1001ways@eor.com
2) fax them to 206-860-5030
3) snail mail them to:
1001 Ways 1202 East Pike Street, #991 Seattle, WA 98122, USA
Finally, if you have any contact with any lesbian, gay, bisexual, transwhatever, SM, sex worker, feminist, radical faerie, new male, queer or radical zines or newsletters, bulletin boards, BBSes, newsgroups, mailstrings, phonetrees, websites, comix, whatever: please pass this request along!
Thanks *very* much.
Sincerely,
Kate Bornstein
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— Your Tax Dollars at Work —
(Well, they’re probably at work somewhere, but AEGIS is funded solely by memberships, book sales, and the occasional contribution)
— These are some of the letters we’ve written lately — 25 July, 1995 Food & Drug Administration Blood Bank Practices Laboratory 1401 Rockville Pike Ste. 200 North, HFS 370 Rockville, MD 20852-1447
Dear madam or sir:
I am the Executive Director of American Educational Gender Information Service, Inc., a 501(c)(3) nonprofit clearinghouse for information about transgender issues.
I am writing in response to the recently-raised question of blood donations by transexual and transgendered persons. Attached for your information are letters from Sarah DePalma of It’s Time, Texas! and Arthur W. Bracey, MD, of the St. Luke’s Episcopal Hospital Volunteer Blood Donor Program. I have also attached a list of journal articles concerning HIV risk in transexual persons, as excerpted from my 1994 book by Garland Press, Gender Dysphoria: A Guide to Management.
I am writing for two reasons: first, to make it clear to you that there are two distinct sub-groups of the transgender/transexual community. Because of differences in lifestyle, sexual behavior, and income, these groups are largely invisible to one another and to the professionals who provide them with medical treatment.
One of these sub-groups consists of persons with low- incomes, many of whom are unable to find work because of their gender presentation. This group is likely to use shared needles for injection of illegal drugs and/or hormones, many of whom run afoul of the legal system, and many of whom become prostitutes. This group, as a whole, is at grave risk for HIV. The journal articles I have included concentrate entirely on this sub-group; in fact, this has been a problem common in the literature in general (Denny, 1992).
The other group consists largely of persons with a middle to upper class lifestyle, and many of whom are celibate or monogamous. Unfortunately, to my knowledge, there have been no studies of HIV prevalence in this group; however, infection rates are not considered to be any greater than for the rest of the population, and may be somewhat lower, due to the typically long periods of celibacy which most transexual people go through as parts of their transitions.
I would like to point out first, that refusing blood from the second group exacerbates the national blood shortage, and unfairly links them with sexual behaviors which are not common to that group; and second, that the problem of HIV in the first group is endemic, and the struggle of those in the second group to participate fully in society does not diminish the critical health care needs of the first group, who are infected at astonishingly high rates.
Furthermore, to discriminate against an individual solely because of his or her gender identity is unfair, and possibly illegal. It makes little sense to reject blood because of the clothes an individual wears, when the real risk factors are his or her history of drug use and sexual history.
I realize that the FDA is in the business of protecting public, but in this case, I think that a straw man has been set up.
I feel it is invoking global proscriptions against taking blood from transgendered persons is premature before some effort is made to measure HIV infection rates in transgendered and transexual persons in which socioeconomic class is controlled for. I think you’ll find that the existing studies do not do that, but concentrate on populations who live in poverty, frequently engage in intravenous drug use with shared needles, and engage in promiscuous unprotected sex– and that these are the real issues, and not the clothes that they wear. Sincerely, Dallas Denny, M.A. Licensed Psychological Examiner (TN) References
Denny, D. (1992). The politics of diagnosis and a diagnosis of politics: The university-affiliated gender clinics, and how they failed to meet the needs of transsexual people. Chrysalis Quarterly, 1(3), 9- 20.
pc JoAnn Roberts, Sarah DePalma, Phyllis Frye, etc.
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10 July, 1995 Elizabeth Birch Human Rights Campaign Fund 1012 14th St., NW Ste. 607 Washington, DC 20005
Dear Ms. Birch:
This is an official position statement of AEGIS, the American Educational Gender Information Service, Inc. We are a membership organization with more than 500 constituents.
We are entirely in support of the community’s initiative to call attention to HRCF’s continuing efforts to keep transgender-inclusive language out of the Employment Non-Discrimination Act. I say community, rather than transgender community, because the concern extends beyond just transgendered persons; many lesbians, gay men, bisexuals, and heterosexuals have expressed their concern at HRCF’s actions and pledged their support.
The transgender community is showing a strength and fervor previously unknown in GLBT political circles. Four things are clear, from my reading of the community’s mood and intentions: first, that the transgender community is in this for the long haul and will not back down from this issue or buy HRCF’s platitudes, but will settle only for full inclusion in ENDA and other legislation; second, that the transgender community will inexorably wear down the resistance of HRCF (and no doubt legislators) by deluging you (and them) with protests, letters, e-mail, FAXes, and phone calls; third, that the transgender community’s initiative will hit HRCF very hard in the pocketbook, eventually leaving you in a very undesirable financial position; and fourth, that the transgender community, which will have upwards of 60 lobbyists on Capitol Hill this fall, will cost you far more votes than transgender inclusion in ENDA could ever have.
AEGIS does not engage in direct political action, but we can and do help others to get organized, and our members and officers, myself included, frequently engage in political protests. We will help the community in any way that we can in this matter.
This year, Atlanta’s transgender community had a contingent marching in the Pride Parade, as well as a double-sized booth. The community engaged in an action in which 15 activists quietly passed out more than 600 flyers condemning HRCF’s exclusion of transgendered persons (enclosed). In the entire action, only one individual, a member of the local HRCF board, had a problem with the protest; he suggested that we should try to change HRCF from within, rather than from the outside. We have every intention of joining HRCF.
The overwhelming reaction of Atlanta Pride attendees was 1) we didn’t know this was happening; 2) how can they do that?; and 3) how can we help? Many of the people we leafletted said you would be hearing from them (and some in fact stopped by the HRCF booth that day), and any number of people, including more than a few HRCF members, indicated that they would not be donating to HRCF until ENDA contains transgender-inclusive language. Several people spontaneously helped us pass out flyers, and several gay/lesbian/bisexual organizations have since pledged to give us their support.
We are enclosing Terry Murphy’s account of Atlanta Pride for your edification. We concur entirely with that report. We respect HRCF’s work, and value a good working relationship with HRCF, but absolutely cannot live with HRCF’s behavior in this instance.
We have no doubt that next year, if this situation still exists, the transgender community will pass out hundreds of thousands of flyers to the attendees of Pride marches everywhere. I am sure that before then there will be actions at HRCF events in Greeneville, SC, Nashville, TN, Raleigh, NC, Philadelphia, PA, and anywhere else HRCF attempts to raise money in the nation.
HRCF is playing a vital role in the fight for human rights. However, we remind you that your name is not Gay and Lesbian Rights Campaign Fund, but Human Rights Campaign Fund. To deliberately sell out the rights of the few does not set well with people whose rights have themselves been sold out. You shouldn’t have to be told this.
We have no doubt that HRCF will eventually come to the realization that the way for anyone to win is for everyone to win. We only hope that day comes sooner than later, and with a minimum of hard feelings. Sincerely, Dallas Denny, M.A. Executive Director, AEGIS JoAnn Roberts, Ph.D. Chair of the Board, AEGIS
cc Phyllis Frye
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— ThermoLazy —
There’s been a great deal of discussion on the internet and in the pages of fashion magazines like _Allure_ about Thermolase, a revolutionary new method of electrolysis which has just received FDA approval. Frankly, it has seemed too good to be true. Valerie June-mate posted an excellent discussion of the process and the patent application on the net, and we have reproduced it with permission.
From: valerie@shell.portal.com (Valerie June-mate) Subject: Thermolase overview, analysis, and patent Date: 3 Aug 1995 05:39:03 -0700
Back by popular demand…
Contents copyright 1995 by Valerie June-mate, valerie@shell.portal.com. All rights reserved. Permission is granted to freely redistribute, provided that the entire article (including this copyright notice and all disclaimers) is reproduced intact and without charge (beyond a nominal charge for accessing e-mail, public net news, public web sites, and non-profit support groups). Hardcopy or cybernetic redistribution for profit requires negotiation with the author.
This article is the Thermolase patent prepended with a brief overview and analysis. Note that it is possible that Thermolase is now working beyond the patent (obligatory sentence to diffuse a law suit).
I ran a U.S. patent search and found the one that Thermolase is based on: 05226907 by Nikolai Tankovish of San Diego, CA. This has proved more illuminating than the company financial prospectus and press releases. While I–as much as the next woman–would love to see safe, permanent, painless, mass hair removal, and the science in the patent is believable, I think it will not be safe or effective in practice for several reasons.
The general principal of the patent is that the hair and pores are contaminated with a substance that absorbs laser energy at a frequency that is translucent through skin. The contaminate is removed from the surface of the skin. The laser is scanned over the area, which activates the contaminate and kills the tissue in the pores. Three types of contaminates are exemplified in the patent: 1) An oil suspension of fine carbon particles that heat when properly excited; 2) dye that heats when properly excited; 3) hermotoporphin derivatives that release free oxygen radicals when properly excited.
These substances can do their work only if they completely penetrate pores which contain the hair follicles. The patent claims that this can be accomplished by massaging and capillary action. In reality, the substance can penetrate completely only into pores which contain no hair or waxy sebaceous buildup. In most people, healthy hair roots make a good seal in the follicle part way in, which would prevent the substance from reaching the base of the root which really needs to be killed. Therefore, the substance will mostly kill tissue near the surface of the skin–which at best, will not reliably kill the hair follicle; at worst, it will cause scarring by destroying too much healthy tissue near the skin surface.
In addition, the technique does not differentiate hair follicles from the other connections to pores: sweat and sebaceous glands. While losing sweat glands is not serious if it is only a small percentage of the total body surface, losing all sebaceous glands in an area will turn the skin into a desert that no amount of externally applied moisturizer could ever refresh.
The patent author freely admits that tissue damage could occur 3-6mm in radius around each hair follicle. That is greater than the average distance between hairs on the face.
Besides permanently damaging the complexion if the technique is improperly applied–which all three substances could do–there could be significant adverse effects from each substance specifically: 1) Black carbon suspensions and blue/black dye would mix with the dying cells, causing pseudo-blackheads that would take weeks, if not longer, to be completely expelled from the pores (since the sebaceous glands would also be cauterized, there would be less fluid than normal to carry out the matter). 2) Free oxygen radicals (from the excited hermotoporphin derivatives) are known carcinogens.
What scares me most about the Thermolase process is exactly one of their selling points: that it is astoundingly fast. The laser scan portion of the process is completed in less than a minute. If the parameters were not correctly set, my complexion could be permanently destroyed in one fell swoop before either I or the operator realized there was something wrong. Perversely, the full extent of damage may not be apparent for weeks or months (or even many years, if free oxygen radicals are used, and melanoma or other cancer resulted). In the interim, the temporarily amazed and satisfied customer will have persuaded many of their friends to do it.
In summary, I think the concept of the patent has some merit–but unless Thermolase has perfected: 1) an effective way to make the contaminate reach the root of hair follicles; and 2) new contaminates without the adverse effects of the examples in the patent; and 3) an automatic feedback mechanism that immediately adjusts the laser for proper exposure based on the skin absorption and reflection; and 4) (The most difficult) a way to differentiate hair follicles from sebaceous glands …then I think they do not have a safe or effective product. It is possible that I am being unnecessarily pessimistic–but, I am certainly not willing to be a guinea pig, which I posit that all Thermolase customers in the first couple of years will be.
If Thermolase is smart, they will allow more development time to address the above problems. If they are greedy and come to market too soon, their salons will be popular just long enough for the consumers to realize they are being ripped off or harmed.
Now, to the patent text, so that you may analyze the matter for yourself.
—– begin patent —–
Patent Number: 05226907
Title: Hair removal device and method
Status: A [active]
Inventor(s): Tankovich; Nikolai I. San Diego CA
Serial Number: 783789
File Date: 19911029
Issue Date: 19930713
International Class References: {5} A45D 26/00
US Class: 606/133
US Class References: 606 9 606 131
Field of Search: 128/395;398 606/1;15;9;16;36;43;131;133
US References: 03538919 19701100 Mayer 128 398 N 03693623 19720900 Harte et al. 606 3 N 03769963 19731100 Goldman et al. 606 3 N 03794028 19740200 Mueller et al. 606 133 N 03834391 19740900 Block 128 398 N 04336809 19820600 Clark 128 398 N 04388924 19830600 Weissman N 04608978 19860900 Rohr 606 9 N 04617926 19861000 Sutton N 04813412 19890300 Yamazaki et al. 606 46 N 05059192 19911000 Zaias 606 9 N
Foreign References: 1041610 19781001 CAX 606/9 3220962 19831201 DEX 606/9 2590791 19870601 FRX 606/9 2595239 19870901 FRX 606/43 8002640 19801201 WOX 606/43 8602783 19860501 WOX 606/9
Other References:
Porphyrins In Tumor Phototherapy-Alessandra Andreoni et al.-May 16, 1983 pp. 143-155.
Investigation and Therapy In Dermatology With Dye Lasers A. Anders et al Jun. 20, 1977-pp. 520-526.
Art Unit: 3309
Primary Examiner: Pellegrino; Stephen C.
Assistant Examiner: Dawson; Colenn
Legal Representative(s): Ross; John R.
Abstract:
The present invention provides a device and process for the permanent removal and of unwanted human hair. Hair on a section of skin is contaminated with a substance having high absorption of a frequency band of light which passes through the surface of the skin. The skin is illuminated with light at this frequency band at sufficient intensity and duration to kill the follicles of the hair. Specific embodiments to produce death of the follicles by heating and by photochemical reaction.
Claims Allowed: 4
Exemplary Claim(s): 1
Drawing Sheets: 5
Figures: 8
Summary: This invention relates to devices and methods for hair removal and in particular to the use of laser devices for hair removal.
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION
The principal methods presently used for hair removal involve the use of electrolysis techniques or chemical depilatories. These techniques involve some pain, are time consuming, and demand a fair degree of expertise in their application and normally do not guarantee a permanent effect.
The prior art of hair removal also includes attempts at removing hair with laser beams. Three such techniques are described in the following United States patents: Weissman et al., Method for Laser Depilation Device and Method, U.S. Pat. No. 4,388,924; Sutton, Depilation Device and Method, U.S. Pat. No. 4,617,926; and Mayer, Depilation by Means of Laser Energy, U.S. Pat. No. 3,538,919. All of these devices and methods teach the removal of hairs one hair at a time with a narrowly focused laser beam. Therefore, they are relatively inefficient and time consuming.
What is needed is a simple, harmless device and method for removal of hair over a relatively broad area of skin.
SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION
Present invention provides a device and process for the permanent removal of unwanted human hair. Hair on a section of skin is contaminated with a substance having high absorption of a frequency band of light which passes through the surface of the skin. The skin is illuminated with light at this frequency band at sufficient intensity and duration to kill the follicles of the hair. Specific embodiments produce death of the follicles by heating and by photochemical reaction.
Drawing Description:
BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS
FIG. 1 is a drawing of a section of human skin showing a growing hair.
FIGS. 2A, B and C show a cross section of skin and 3 hairs during 3 stages of a process of one embodiment of the present invention.
FIG. 3 shows qualitively the paths of the photons of a laser pulse showing absorption in a carbon-oil suspension.
FIGS. 4 A and B show the temperature distribution near a typical hair during the process of a preferred embodiment of the present invention.
FIG. 5 shows qualitively the paths of the photons of a laser pulse showing absorption in hair dye.
Detailed Description: DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS
Preferred embodiments of the present invention can be described by reference to the figures.
Coat and Heat Method
A section of human skin showing a cross section of one hair is shown in FIG. 1. A first preferred embodiment of the present invention can be described by reference to FIGS. 2-4. FIG. 1 shows the hair shaft 33 a nerve ending 34, a sweat gland 35 and arteries 36 and veins 37. First, a laser absorbing carbon suspension is prepared of carbon powder in peach oil. The particle size of the powder preferably is about 10-20 nm and its concentration preferably is about 15% to 20% by volume.
A clean section of skin is depicted in FIG. 2A. This suspension is rubbed on the skin with a massaging action so that portions of the carbon suspension infiltrates the hair ducts of the hair that is be removed as shown in FIG. 2B. Next to the surface of the skin is cleaned preferably with an alcohol pad to make the skin surface clean but to leave the hair pores contaminated with the carbon suspension as shown in FIG. 2C.
Laser Application
The laser device used in this preferred embodiment is a CO2 pulse laser which has the spikes in the range of 10.6 microns. Light in this range will pass through the surface of the skin of a fair skin person and is readily absorbed in carbon. Laser parameters such as pulse width and repetition rate can be selected to best fit the skin and hair types of the patients. The parameter for two specific examples which I have utilized with good results for hair removal are shown in Table 1: TABLE 1-Parameters Preferred. -First Example Second Example -Pulse Width 275 ns 200 s -Repetition Rate 30 Hz 8 Hz -Laser Spot Size 1 cm2 1 cm2 -Energy per Pulse 0.1 Joule 0.2 Joule -Scanning Rate 20 seconds per 10 cm2 30 seconds per 10 cm2 –
Each point on the skin receives illumination for about 2 seconds and about 60 pulses and each square centimeter receives about 6 Joules. Some of the light is reflected. I estimate that of the light which is not reflected about 50 to 80 percent of the energy of each pulse is absorbed in the carbon.
FIG. 3 shows a simplified view of a section of human skin and qualitatively the paths 12 of some of the photons of a laser pulse illuminating a section of skin 2 containing a hair duct with a hair 4 contaminated with carbon suspension 6. A few of the photons travel directly through the skin and are absorbed in the carbon (depicted by photon 14). Some are reflected from the skin surface (depicted by photons 16). Some are absorbed in the skin (depicted as photons 18) but a major portion of the photons (I estimate 50-80 percent) undergo diffuse reflectance in the skin and are absorbed in the carbon after several reflections.
Operating within the parameters specified is very important. They have been chosen to preferentially heat the suspension which in turns heats the hair follicles and the blood vessels feeding the follicles to temperatures high enough to kill the hair follicles and the tissue feeding the follicles but to minimize the heat to the rest of the skin tissue. The pulse width is a most important parameter. It must be chosen so that a large amount of energy is deposited in the suspension quickly so that the temperature of the suspension rises rapidly in steps to about above 70-80 C. This temperature applied for about 1 to 3 seconds is high enough to kill the follicles and/or the vessels feeding the follicles but not high enough to vaporize the oil. During this short period minimal heat is transferred to the skin tissue except that tissue immediately surrounding the follicle.
I have performed hair removal experiments using the parameters shown in Table 2 with excellent results. There is no significant pain. The hair is permanently removed and there is no apparent detrimental effect.
I have performed a qualitative mathematical analysis in order to estimate heat absorption and temperature distribution in the hair and skin tissue. This analysis is shown in Table 3. TABLE 2-Heating of hair and carbon oil suspension in hair duct. -Repetition Rate 33 pulses per second -Time between pulses about 0.03 seconds -Hair duct diameter 0.1 mm -Energy per Pulse 0.1 J -Energy per second (0.1 J) (33) = 33 J/sec = 3 W -Beam spot 1 cm2 -Hair spacing 130 hairs/cm2 -Distance between hairs 0.1 cm = 1 mm -Assume of energy goes -into hair duct -Energy per hair per pulse (0.1 J/130)/4 = 0.00016 J -Volume of hair duct -Length 1 mm -Diameter 0.1 mm – – – -Density of oil and hair = 0.9 gm/cm3 -Mass of oil & hair 0.000007 gm -Specific heat of oil & hair assume 4 J/gm C. – – –
Thus, each pulse will heat the carbon oil suspension roughly about 5 C.
Each pulse will also heat the skin in general. We have assumed for this qualitive analysis that about of the energy the laser pulse reflects, is absorbed in the hair ducts and is absorbed in the skin in general. If we assume that the skin is heated fairly uniformly to a depth of 0.2 cm, a skin density of 1 gm/cm3 and a specific heat for the skin, of 4 J/gmC. the 0.025 J pulse will heat this typical skin section about 0.04 degrees C. The 60 pulses over about 2 seconds will give a general heating of about 2 C. Therefore, heat deposited generally to the skin is practically negligible.
However, heat from the hot carbon oil suspension will be transferred by conduction to the tissue surrounding the hair duct. I used the following relationship (see note 10 of Zwig & Wibber, IEEE Journal of Quantum Electronics, Vol. QE-23, No. 10 Oct. (1987), Mechanical and Thermal Parameters In Pulsed Laser Cutting of Tissue) to estimate the heat spread from the hot carbon oil suspension in the duct:
=/K
where represents the thickness of a heated zone during a time , K being the heat of conduction. Assuming K=1.44X10-3 cm2/S and using 0.03 sec as the time interval between pulses, we estimate that the heat spreads out by about 0.007 cm from the hair duct between each pulse. This is about equal to the radius of the hair duct so we assume that about one half of the temperature rise from each pulse is transferred to the surrounding tissue during the 0.03 second following each pulse. This means that the net increase in the temperature of the carbon-oil suspension from each pulse will be roughly 2.5 C. Thus, as depicted in FIG. 4 in about second the temperature of the carbon-oil suspension in the hair duct has risen from a normal temperature of 37 C. to about 90 C., a temperature high enough to kill the follicle and the tissue cells immediately surrounding the hair follicle (i.e., within about 5 hair diameter). In a little more than one second the temperature has risen to about 140 C. which I currently propose as the upper range. At this point the patient would begin to feel pain. Therefore, the illumination should be applied so that no spot is illuminated longer than about one second during one scan. FIGS. 4A and 4B shows a rough approximation of the temperature distribution between 8 millimeters of the center for a typical hair duct after 20 and 40 pulses.
For my preferred process I illuminate a 10 cm2 area by making 2 or 3 passes over each spot during a 20 second scanning period. For each spot the temperature will have dropped from the range of about 100 C.-140 C. to below about 50 C. during the approximately 7 seconds between scans.
As a result of the illumination, I estimate that essentially all follicles will be killed or will die within 2 weeks because of reduced nourishment due to the destruction of the tissue surrounding the hair duct which feed the follicle. I also estimate that the destroyed tissue is confined to within about 3-6, millimeters (about 6-12 hair diameters) of the center of the hair.
STAIN METHOD
A second embodiment involves the use of dyes to stain the hair follicles. A pulse laser beam of light having a frequency precisely equal to a resonance frequency of the dye illuminates the hair and skin area where the hair is to be removed. The dye and laser beam are chosen so that there is very little absorption by the skin tissue but great absorption by the dye. As indicated in FIG. 5 the photons will undergo diffuse reflection in the skin. But when a photon intersects the hair it is absorbed. Therefore, absorption in the hair could exceed 90%.
To stain the follicles, dye is mixed to form a solution which will penetrate into the follicles. A good substance used to form this solution is hydropertis. In one embodiment, I use commercial hair dye #124 (deep black with blue) which already contains such a solution. It is rubbed on the skin and hair and let stand for 30 minutes. The dye will migrate through the hair all the way to the root. The skin is cleaned using standard dye removal solution. This dye #124 has an absorption peaks at 694 nm and 587 nm which matches perfectly with the wavelength of 587 nm dye laser. Dye #124 also has a resonance of 531 and 584 nm corresponding to the output of copper vapor a laser supplied by
Spectra Physics.
For this embodiment I use a pulse width of 150 ns ruby laser and 200 s dye laser. With a beam cross section diameter of 0.4 cm, the energy density is 2.5-3.5 J/cm2. There are many other dye-laser combinations available which will be obvious to persons skilled in the laser art.
The secret is to match the laser wavelength with a resonance peak in a dye which can be applied to and absorbed in the follicles.
PHOTO CHEMICAL DESTRUCTION
A third embodiment for practicing this invention is to apply a photosensitizer to the hair so that it is absorbed along the full length of the hair to the root. The skin area is then illuminated with laser light which readily penetrates the skin but is absorbed resonantly by the photosensitizer. The photosensitizer undergoes a chemical reaction which is deadly to the hair follicles.
A good specific example of this embodiment of the present invention is to apply a 20% solution of hermotoporphin derivatives topically to the skin over where the hair to be removed has been recently shaved. The solution is absorbed into the portion of the hair remaining under the skin by capillary action. The skin is then cleaned thoroughly with an alcohol pad. Next the skin area is illuminated with an argon dye laser at 632 nm. The energy required is about 5-10 Joules per square centimeter. In this case, the time period is not very important. It could be several minutes per square when the laser energy is absorbed in the hermotoporphin derivatives, singlet oxygen is produced as a result of photochemical reaction. The singlet oxygen is toxic for protein and phosphorlipids in the hair follicles and the follicles are thus killed.
OTHER CONTAMINANT-LASER COMBINATIONS
There are many other chemicals which can be used in the stain method and the photochemical method. I have listed in Table 3 some of these along with a corresponding recommended laser for the illumination.
OTHER EMBODIMENTS
It is very important for all of these embodiments and in other embodiments which will be apparent to persons skilled in the art that the light absorbing substances have a very high absorption coefficient at frequencies which pass readily through the surface of the human skin. An illumination source is matched to this frequency. The substance used can be one with a high resonance peak at the frequency or it can be one with a high broad absorption coefficient over a wide band continuing the illumination frequency. The important thing is to use a light of a frequency which defuses through the skin and has a relatively low absorption in the skin and to use an absorber for contaminating the hair which will provide very high absorption of the light.
Persons skilled in the art will recognize that certain frequencies will be preferred for light skinned persons and other frequencies may be preferred for dark skinned persons. The preferred beam size is about 1 square centimeter but could be as large as about 5 square centimeters.
TABLE 3-Dyes and matching laser.
-DYE LASER -Hematoporphyrin Argon Dye (632 nm) -derivatives -Indocyanine Green Diode Laser (785 nm) -Microcyanine Cooper Vapor (540) -Photophrin II Argon Dye (630) -Chlorin-E6 Dye (660) -Chlorophyll Argon Dye (630) -derivatives -Black Ink Ruby Laser (694) –
While the above description contains many specifications, the reader should not construe these as limitations on the scope of the invention, buy merely as exemplifications of preferred embodiments thereof. Those skilled in the art will envision many other possible variations are within its scope. Accordingly the reader is requested to determine the scope of the invention by the appended claims and their legal equivalents, and not by the examples which have been given. Claims: I claim: 1. A process for the permanent destruction of plurality of hairs growing on a section of human skin comprising the steps of: (a) applying to said hairs and skin section a contaminant having a high absorption of at least one frequency band of light which penetrates human skin, (b) cleaning the skin leaving at least a portion of the hairs under the skin contaminated with said contaminant, (c) illuminating said skin section with said at least one frequency band of light, a significant portion of which is absorbed in said contaminant so as to permanently destroy said plurality of hairs, wherein said contaminant is comprised of an oil and absorber suspended in said oil.
2. The process as in claim 1 wherein said absorber is carbon powder.
3. The process as in claim 2 wherein said frequency band of light is produced by a laser.
4. The process as in claim 2 wherein said frequency band of light is a band centered about 10.6 microns (wavelength) and is produced by a CO2 laser.
—– end patent —–
Valerie June-mate ~ valerie@shell.portal.com
Subj: HRCF Date: 95-09-06 23:57:31 EDT From: aegis-list@flux.mindspring.com To: aegis-list@flux.mindspring.com
From: aegis@mindspring.com (Dallas Denny) Sender: owner-aegis-list@flux.mindspring.com Reply-to: aegis-list@flux.mindspring.com To: aegis-list@flux.mindspring.com To those of you who are following the transgender community/HRCF controversy, this is a posting from Gulf Area Gender Alliance
— Dallas
Summary:
* Gulf Gender Alliance agrees to call off leafletting. * Two members attend dinner. * Keynote speaker speaks out for transgender inclusion in EDNA & rights movement.
The New Orlenans HRCF leadership is very aware of the transgendered community’s outrage over the exclusion of the transgendered in ENDA. Nancy Sharp is the lead person on local discussions and has found the local leadership to be receptive to the concerns of the transgendered. They were not aware of the stance on ENDA in Washington, D.C. After local leaders agreed to voice their dismay to D.C. leaders, the planned leafletting at the HRCF Fund raiser was called off.
Nancy sat between Joan Ladner, an HRCF national board member, and Brian Sheer, the HRCF state coordinator (LA). Nancy was treated very well at the dinner. Internal discussion among the HRCF leadership is continuing at this time in an attempt to reconcile the national board’s position on the Transgendered and its opposition to ENDA inclusion. Look for evidence of their support prior to our Sept. 16th meeting in Washington. Adrianne Tayler, a Gulf Gender Alliance member from Baton Rouge, also attended the dinner and has gathered support from the HRCF members in Baton Rouge.
Dee Mosbacker, MD, PHD, co-producer of the films “Straight From the Heart” and “All God’s Children” was the keynote speaker. She asked the over 500 members and politicians in the audience “Who do we think we are, as we go about obtaining our (Gay) rights. to exclude others from obtaining those same basic rights? Who do we think we are to exclude the Transgendered, the Drag Queens and the Dykes? Who are we?” Dee then went on to say “These people have made valuable contributions to us and we should value them.”
Ms. Mosbaker concluded by saying that she would not be part of an organization that denies the Transgendered their rights. There was some chuckling and laughter at some tables but the vast majority agreed with her in their ovation. We hope that Dee Mosbacker does not need to resign from HRCF over this issue.
Dallas Denny, M.A.
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— END AEGIS NEWS —
AEGIS On-Line News, November, 1995 (V. 1, No. 4)
AEGIS On-Line News
Volume 1, No. 4
November, 1995
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* * * About AEGIS * * *
The American Educational Gender Information Service, Inc. is a 501(c)(3) clearinghouse for information about transgender and transexual issues. We publish the journal_Chrysalis: The Journal of Transgressive Gender Identities_; a newsletter, and various other materials.
_Our History_
AEGIS was founded in September, 1990 by Dallas Denny to address the problem of lack of credible information about transexual and transgender issues. We published our first Transition Series booklet at the end of the year, and the first issue of _Chrysalis_ in the Spring of 1991. We incorporated in 1992, and obtained 501(c)(3) status with the IRS in 1994.
_Our Reputation_
AEGIS has an excellent reputation for common sense and quality information.
_Our Philosophy_
AEGIS is dedicated to serving the needs of ALL transgendered and transexual persons, and of helping professionals. We promote nonjudgemental treatment and depathologicalization (now _there’s_ a word for you!) of persons with transgender and transexual issues. We seek to do so in an atmosphere of respect and toleration.
AEGIS has worked within the medical and psychological communities to enlighten helping professionals about the shortcomings of much of the literature, and to the misunderstandings about the nature of transgendered and transexual persons which that literature has fostered.
AEGIS celebrates the true diversity of transgendered and transexual persons, and advocates the right of the individual to seek body-modifying procedures, up to and including sex reassignment surgery. We also advocate the right of the individual to live without such procedures. We believe that with adequate education, individuals can make competent decisions about their lives.
_AEGIS Personnel_
Our Executive Director is Dallas Denny, who holds a Master of Arts degree in Psychology from the University of Tennessee, and has a doctorate in progress at Vanderbilt University. She has been licensed to practice psychology in Tennessee since 1980. Dallas is a prolific author and popular speaker on transgender issues, and has produced two books on transexualism, and has a third in progress.
The Chair of our Board of Directors is Joann Roberts, Ph.D., a co-founder of Renaissance Education Association and owner of Creative Design Services. JoAnn has written several books about crossdressing, and is a past member of the Board of Directors of the International Foundation for Gender Education.
Gianna Eveling Israel, the Vice-Chair, is a gender specializing counselor who resides in San Francisco. She is principal author of__Recommended Guidelines for Transgender Care_, which is the first project of AEGIS’ Sullivan Press.
Other Board members include Delia van Maris, M.D., Laura Skaer, Melissa Foster, Alison Laing, Carol Miller, and Jason Cromwell.
AEGIS maintains a 28-member Board of Advisors, which includes Carolyn (“Tula” Cossey, JoAnn Roberts, David Gilbert, M.D., Eugene Schrang, M.D., Stephen Morganstern, M.D., Anthony Karpas, M.D., Donald Tarver, M.D., Virginia Prince, Ph.D., Jason Cromwell, Ph.D.(c.), Anne Bolin, Ph.D., and others.
Gianna Israel serves as an omnbudsperson who takes complaints and concerns of AEGIS members to the Board of Directors. She can be reached by US mail at P.O. Box 424447, San Francisco, CA 94142-4447. [Phone (415) 558-8058].
AEGIS staff include Executive Director Dallas Denny, newly appointed Chief Financial Officer Erin Swenson, Ph.D., Carla Pridgen, Donna Johnston, and Phillida Hutcheson. _Our Services_
AEGIS is a membership organization. General memberships are $36 a year, and include two issues of _Chrysalis_, four issues of the newsletter, a 10% discount on materials from our bookstore, and a membership card (available in July). Professional memberships are $60 per year, and include the above, plus additional materials. There are additional levels of membership, with additional benefits and discounts, for those who wish to financially support us, as well as categories for students and those who are incarcerated. All donations are tax deductible.
AEGIS maintains an extensive database of support groups, helping professionals, and other resources throughout the world. We will be happy to provide you with referrals and information.
AEGIS has compiled a definitive bibliography of transgender and transexual-related material; it was published last year by Garland Press with the title _Gender Dysphoria: A Guide to Research_ (650+ pp.).
AEGIS maintains the National Transgender Library & Archive at its Atlanta headquarters. We publish a holdings list (100 pp.).
The Transgender Historical Society serves as a watchdog organization for the NTL&A. Memberships in the Transgender Historical Society are $30 per year ($20 for AEGIS members). All funds are used to maintain and promote the library and to acquire new materials.
AEGIS has a bookstore, through which we sell educational materials, including our _Transition Series_, the holding list for the National Transgender Library & Archive, and back issues of _Chrysalis_.
AEGIS regularly publishes medical advisories and alerts and issues position statements. Recent advisories have included alerts about the advisability of electrolysis in the groin area before MTF SRS; and the dangers of silicone injection.
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That’s who we are, and what we do. We hope you will join us.
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* * * AEGIS NEWS * * * Area Code Change
Southern Bell has changed the area code of all telephones in our area of Atlanta from 404 to 770. The 770 exchange is already active. Please change your records to reflect this change. —————————————————————- AEGIS Initiates Fundraising Drive for Book Project
The American Educational Gender Information Service, Inc., a respected national clearinghouse for transgender and transexual issues, has initiated a drive to raise funds for the publication of the _Recommended Guidelines for Transgender Care_, by Gianna E. Israel and Donald Tarver, M.D. This comprehensive resource addresses issues of support and treatment in a nonpathologizing manner, and has been praised as a major breakthrough by a review committee comprised of professionals and transgendered persons.
AEGIS Executive Director Dallas Denny said, “We’ve very excited to be publishing such an important work. The _Recommended Guidelines_ make it clear that having a transgender or transexual identity is not in and of itself pathological or a sign of mental disorder. They provide up-to-date recommendations and protocols for providing psychological and medical services to the very diverse groups which comprise the transgender community.”
The _Recommended Guidelines_ will be the first publication of AEGIS’ Sullivan Press, named for FTM transgender pioneer Lou Sullivan. AEGIS will need to raise funds to meet costs of production and promotion. Denny said, “This marks the first time in our five-year history that we have come to the community to ask for its financial support. We estimate that we will need about $8000 to pay for the printing and other production expenses. We have been very effective in generating money for our general operating expenses by sales and memberships, but this project is very ambitious.
“We are dedicated to this project, for it will bring positive change to our community. We are planning to revolutionize the way transgender and transexual persons are viewed and treated by professionals; unfortunately, that can’t happen unless we are able to pay the printing costs.”
AEGIS will be asking individuals and organizations in the transgender community for their financial support for this project. All monies donated will go into a special fund which will be used only for the _Recommended Guidelines_ project. Donations will be tax-deductible under Section 501(c)(3) of the IRS code.
“We’re asking for $100 sponsors, $250 sponsors, $500 sponsors, and $1000 sponsors, and frankly, we would love to hear from a $2500 or even a $5000 sponsor. If we exceed our goal, we’ll be able to have more copies printed and thus lower our per unit price. This is the perfect opportunity for a philanthropist to step forward. Those giving donations will be gratified to know exactly where their monies will be spent. We certainly are in need of funds for our many general operations– maintaining the telephone help line; publishing _Chrysalis_, our journal, and _AEGIS News_, our newsletter; acquisition of new materials for the National Transgender Library and Archive; our mail order bookstore; and for purchasing much-needed equipment like a copy machine– but the priority is the _Recommended Guidelines_. They’re going to change things in a big way. We certainly hope the community will show its appreciation of the importance of this project by reaching into its pockets; we certainly can’t go any deeper into ours!”
All members of the AEGIS Board of Directors have made personal donations to the _Recommended Guidelines_ project.
Those who donate $50 or more will receive a special commemorative mug. Those who donate $100 or more will also receive a copy of the _Recommended Guidelines_. Those who donate $250 or more will additionally receive a special, limited-edition hardcover copy of the _Recommended Guidelines_ signed by both authors. Those special few who donate $500 or more will additionally receive a commemorative plaque; donors of $500 or more who attend the IFGE Conference in Minneapolis, Minnesota or Southern Comfort 1996 in Atlanta, will be treated to a special awards dinner.
The price of the _Recommended Guidelines for Transgender Care_ is $29.95. AEGIS is taking pre-publication orders at a special price of $24.95 including Shipping and Handling.
Expected Publication Date of the _Recommended Guidelines_ is Winter, 1995. —————————————————————- New Affilate Policy
Our Board of Directors has approved an affilate policy for other transgender and transexual organizations. Affiliation allows the use of the AEGIS name, publications, logo and joint activities; affiliated groups maintain their independence. The policy and a checklist follow. Policy for AEGIS Affiliates AEGIS is a tax-exempt (501[c][3]) educational organization that promotes the understanding of transgender and transsexual behavior and issues. The AEGIS philosophy is open membership for all persons regardless of sex, sexual orientation, gender-identification, age, race, ethnic origin, or religious affiliation. AEGIS proactively supports the concepts and practice of inclusion and diversity. 1. Definition
An AEGIS Affiliate is a group of persons who agree with the goals and policies of The American Educational Gender Information Service, Incorporated, and, while having no legal connection with AEGIS, will maintain an association through the use of the AEGIS name, publications, logo and joint activities.
2. Requirements
In order to qualify as an Affiliate, a group must demonstrate and maintain the following:
(a) If group membership is below twenty, a minimum of two (2) members who are members in good standing of AEGIS.
If group membership is twenty or above, a minimum of four (4) members who are members in good standing of AEGIS.
(b) Provide a copy of their By Laws or other organizing document demonstrating that they are in accord with AEGIS goals and policies.
(c) Pay a one-time fee of $25.00 to cover the entitlements described below.
(d) Place the Executive Director of AEGIS on distribution for all publications, notices and general mailings produced by the Affiliate.
3. Entitlements
A group that has met the requirements in Section 2 is entitled to the following:
(a) Use of an AEGIS Affiliate logo & name.
(b) One complete set of AEGIS publications for their library
(c) Purchase AEGIS publications at 50% of the cover price for resale to members.
(d) Participation in the national member referral service and preference for space in the AEGIS newsletter.
4. Termination of Affiliate Status
Affiliate status may be terminated unilaterally and without cause by either party. After termination, the former affiliate will cease using any reference to AEGIS (including the name, logo, or publications) that might imply the association continues. AEGIS will cease listing the organization as one of its affiliates.
5. General
AEGIS expects the Affiliates to encourage all of its members to become members of AEGIS, but this is not mandatory. It is expected that the leader of the Affiliate, or at least one member of its governing body, will maintain a membership. The Affiliate is encouraged to use its own unique name, but in association with AEGIS, e.g.; OK New Women & Men, an Affiliate of AEGIS (or an AEGIS Affiliate). Those wishing further information about affiliation should contact AEGIS, P.O. Box 33724, Decatur, GA 30033 (770-939-2128 Voice; 770-939-1770 FAX aegis@mindspring.com e-mail).
Checklist for Affiliates Please send this form, along with your check or money order and supporting documents, to AEGIS, P.O. Box 33724, Decatur, GA 30033 A) If group membership is below twenty, a minimum of two (2) members who are members in good standing of AEGIS.
If group membership is twenty or above, a minimum of four (4) members who are members in good standing of AEGIS. Our approximate group size is ________.
We have _______ members (please list up to four names below) ________________________________________________
________________________________________________
________________________________________________
________________________________________________ B) Provide a copy of their By Laws or other organizing document demonstrating that they are in accord with AEGIS goals and policies. _____ We have enclosed our By Laws or organizing document. (c) Pay a one-time fee of $25.00 to cover the entitlements described below. _____ We have enclosed check or money order for $25.00. D) Place the Executive Director of AEGIS on distribution for all publications, notices and general mailings produced by the Affiliate. _____ We have placed AEGIS on our mailing list. —————————————————————- * * * NEWS * * * From Atlanta Journal/Constitution, 10/11/95 Police Seek Clues in Slaying
by Kathy Scruggs Atlanta police were looking Tuesday for the driver of a taxicab that was seen speeding away from a lot where a teenager was found shot to death.
Quincy Favors Taylor, 16, had been shot once in the chest. Police had not established a motive or identified a suspect Tuesday evening, said Lt. R.G. Christian.
Two people found the body around 12:45 a.m. Tuesday behind the A&P store at 2275 Marietta Blvd.
“Some type of cab was leaving the area at a high rate of speed,” Christian said. “It was about the same time the two people found the body. We’re hoping somebody saw something.”
Detectives were investigating a tip that Favors frequented Loretta’s Disco at 708 Spring St., NW, a popular gay club featuring cross-dressing entertainment, Christian said. Ronnie Young, an employee, said no one by the victim’s name was known by management.
Quincy’s aunt, Brenda Ware, told WSB/Channel 2 that Quincy was a cross-dresser who worked as an entertainer at a club downtown, but she didn’t know its name. Family members also told the station they believe he knew his killer.
Quincy was registered at North Atlanta High School, a magnet school for the performing arts, but records show he had not attended this year, said Sandra Walker, spokeswoman for Atlanta public schools.
—
Quincy Taylor’s slaying is at least the seventh of a transgendered person in Atlanta since 1990– Ed.
—————————————————————- From Reuters, 24 October, 1995.
Court Rules Boy Subjected to Sex Change is a Man
BOGOTA. A Colombian boy who underwent a sex change operation to become a female without his consent when he was seven years old has won the right to be identified as a male, judicial sources said Tuesday.
They identified the boy as a 14-year-old resident of northwestern Antioquia province who underwent the sex change and was treated with female hormones at the request of his parents in April 1987, six and a half years after a dog destroyed his genitals.
He rebelled against the idea of being changed into a woman, however, and filed a suit last year demanding that he be entitled to choose his own sexual identity and rid himself of the girl’s name his parents gave him.
The Constitutional Court ruled in the boy’s favor Monday and ordered that the Colombian Institute of Family Welfare assist him in any way possible to overcome his emasculation and identity crisis, court sources told Reuters.
They said the court ruling, which refers to the boy as suffering from “a very dangerous and very high dose of resentment,” would be announced late Tuesday.
There was no immediate word on whether doctors would seek to reverse the effects of the hormone treatment the boy received or close the artificial vagina surgeons created for him. It also was not clear if the boy would seek to take legal action against his parents, who left him a crib with the dog that emasculated him while they both left home for work, or against the doctors who performed the sex change operation.
Bogota’s El Tiempo newspaper identified the boy as Javier Pinto but the court sources said his real name had been withheld to shield him from public scrutiny.
“They operated on me when I was very young, they gave me a vagina supposedly to make me into a woman,” El Tiempo quoted the boy as saying. “But when you’re older you can think more and decide for yourself … I decided to be a man because that’s how I was born,” he said.
In its ruling the court said the boy “has a man’s voice, he dresses and acts as such, he dreams of having a girlfriend, a wife and a home and wants to become a teacher.” —————————————————————- From Associated Press, 1 November, 1995 08
RAVENA, NY. Cross-dressing is a no-no at one Albany-area high school. Even on Halloween.
Two boys dressed as women at Ravena-Coeymans-Selkirk High School were sent home to change their clothes yesterday.
Principal Andrew DeFeo says the costumes Jed Sherman and Sean Ostrander were wearing might offend women.
And DeFeo says school officials made the policy against cross-dressing clear after a recent school government meeting.
But some students are yelling double standard since girls who dressed as men in ties and beards weren’t sent home.
Sherman said he thought it would be funny to dress as a six-foot-eight grandma. He plays center for the school basketball team. He wore his grandmother’s purple dress coat, a scarf and makeup.
Ostrander’s sister, Sarah, wore men’s pants, a jacket, tie and a painted beard and sideburns with no repercussions. —————————————————————- From Associated Press, 1 November, 1995
MANCHESTER, CT. A transsexual who served as a substitute teacher in several Connecticut schools pleaded no contest to charges she molested six boys in two classrooms last year.
Nancy Misenti, 34, cried as she entered pleas Tuesday in Superior Court to six misdemeanor counts of fourth-degree sexual assault. The no-contest pleas result in a finding of guilt.
Misenti was arrested in April 1994 after the boys complained she molested them in elementary school classrooms in East Hartford, mostly by putting her hand down their pants.
In exchange for Misenti’s pleas, prosecutors agreed to drop six felony counts and not to seek any specific punishment when she is sentenced Dec. 14.
Misenti, who also had taught as a substitute teacher in Hartford and New Haven schools, worked for three days at the two schools in East Hartford. She was escorted from a classroom and fired on the third day after the boys — then ages 9 to 12 — complained that she touched them improperly.
Misenti was not available for comment after Tuesday’s court hearing.
Shortly after her arrest, she said she was being falsely accused because of hysteria over her sexuality. She claimed she only hugged one boy and rubbed another’s arm.
“The very suggestion of molestation makes me sick to my stomach,” Misenti said.
The families of at least two of the boys have filed notices of intent to sue in civil court.
Misenti’s pleas in the criminal case cannot be used against her in any civil proceedings.
The no-contest pleas are not an admission of guilt, said Todd Edgington, Misenti’s lawyer. They do acknowledge that the state likely would convict her at trial, he said. —————————————————————-
Man Who Posed as a Woman In Marriage Pleads Guilty to Communications Fraud by Brian Maffly 6 September, 1995 Salt Lake Tribune
FARMINGTON, UTAH. A Bountiful man accused of masquerading as a woman pleaded guilty Tuesday to defrauding a naive husband.
Felix Urioste, 34 stepped out of 2nd District Judge Rodney Page’s Courtroom to face a throng of reporters and photographers after pleading to reduced counts of communications fraud and forgery.
His case fueled nationwide headlines this summer when Bountiful police accused him of duping Bruce Jensen, a 39 year old medical lab technician, into marrying him in Lyman Wyoming, in 1991.
The sham same-sex marriage later was “sealed” in Salt Lake City’s Mormon Temple. Urioste then rang up $40,000 in charges on Jensen’s credit cards before disappearing last spring, police say.
“Mr. Urioste, posing as a female, made statements that he was pregnant (with Jensen’s child) and was saddled with prior debts,” said Deputy Davis County Attorney Bill McGuire. “As a result of these misrepresentations, a marriage was formed.”
A clean-shaven Urioste appeared in court with short hair dyed black, sporting a dark business suit a few sizes too big. He declined to speak with reporters, except to say “I am not relieved” his criminal case was resolved.
When entering his pleas, Urioste hesitated before uttering the word “guilty”.
“My client is not agreeing that representations about his sex or pregnancy is a part of the communications fraud he is pleading guilty to,” defense attorney Marlin Criddle told Page.
The guilty pleas stem from a $1,500 home-loan check mailed to Jensen. Urioste signed Jensen’s name to endorse the check without authorization and cashed it, McGuire said. He faces two 0-5 year terms when he is sentenced Oct 24.
After spending 100 days in the Davis County Jail, Urioste bailed out Friday when he posted a $5,000 bond.
“I don’t know where we get justice with more jail time,” said Bountiful police Sgt. Grant Hodgson. “How do you repair the lives that have been destroyed?”
As part of the plea deal, Urioste is to undergo a psychological examination and cooperate with police to determine how much money and property Jensen lost as a result of the marriage.
Jensen has filed for an annulment, which Urioste is not expected to contest. The victim now lives out of state, and was not available for comment.
Authorities say that, on the basis of a single sexual encounter with Jensen, Urioste claimed he was pregnant with twins that later were stillborn.
Davis County prosecutors agreed not to seek any additional charges in connection with Urioste’s relationship with Jensen. But authorities in Weber and Salt Lake counties could bring charges for Urioste’s conduct at state universities, said Hodgson.
Posing as a woman named Leasa, he secured $17,000 in loans after entering false information regarding his gender, Social Security number and marital status, Hodgson said.
The first loans issued to “Leasa Jensen” were for studies at the University of Utah. “She” later transferred to Weber State University and posed as a Salt Lake City police officer studying criminal justice and abnormal psychology, Hodgson said.
The alleged charade fell apart after Jensen filed a missing person report April 22 because his “wife” had failed to return from New York, where she was supposedly having cancer treatment.
While traveling as a bearded man in Nevada, Urioste was arrested in May for suspicious use of Jensen’s credit cards.
Urioste’s lurid story is potentially worth thousands of dollars in interview fees from the tabloid media, raising concerns Urioste could profit from his crime. But the Money could help Urioste pay Jensen, who was nearly driven into bankruptcy.
“The Jensen family is concerned about the money that can be made,” Hodgson said. “There is emotional trauma they want to address in a civil setting.” —————————————————————-
Man Who Posed as a Woman In Marriage Gets a Year in Jail by Brian Maffly 25 October, 1995 Salt Lake Tribune FARMINGTON__ Felix Urioste wants to return to his native New Mexico, get a job, and find his male identity.
But a judge in Davis County on Tuesday ordered the 34 year-old Bountiful man to serve a year in jail for defrauding a man who alleges Urioste conned him into a same-sex marriage.
Bruce Jensen, a 39 year-old lab technician, married Urioste, whom he knew as a round-faced, brunette medical student named “Leasa” in 1991.
The union was solemnized in Salt Lake City’s LDS Temple two years later.
The Jensen marriage became mired in debt and Leasa disappeared in April, supposedly during a trip to New York for cancer treatment. She turned up as a mustachioed man in a Nevada jail after police arrested him for using Jensen’s credit cards in May.
Bountiful police detectives broke the news to Jensen that his wife of more than three years was a man.
In a plea deal, Urioste pleaded guilty to reduced counts of forgery and communications fraud, third degree felonies that could have sent him to the Utah State Prison for up to 5 years.
These charges arose from a $1,500 home-loan check mailed to Jensen. Urioste forged Jensen’s signature and cashed the check, court records say. Davis County prosecutors agreed to not pursue other charges against Urioste in connection with his relationship with Jensen.
Second District Judge Rodney Page gave Urioste credit for the three months he served following his arrest, and ordered him immediately into custody.
Urioste has denied deceiving Jensen about his gender, but he agreed to pay restitution to help cover debts the defendant accrued during the marriage.
The defendant has assumed a female identity since age 17. Although he was undergoing sex-change treatment to become a woman at the time of the marriage, Urioste retained his male genitals, Page said.
Urioste convinced Jensen he impregnated “her” with twins to get Jensen to marry him out of a sense of responsibility, prosecutors alleged.
The supposed twins were stillborn, Urioste allegedly told Jensen after the phony pregnancy produced no children.
What Urioste gained as a result of criminal conduct is a matter of dispute and will be decided at a Dec. 15 restitution hearing. The judge voiced reservations about pinning all of Jensen’s losses on his marriage to Urioste.
“The victim had to be aware of the great majority of this, because he made payments on this debt.” Page said.
Jensen is more interested in getting paid back than seeing Urioste incarcerated, defense attorney Marlin Criddle said while asking for probation.
“The best way to obtain restitution is for Mr. Urioste to start working,” Criddle said. Urioste, who said nothing on his own behalf, has an unspecified job waiting for him in New Mexico.
As anticipated, the tabloid media have already gotten Urioste to sign contracts for him to tell his story on camera. Proceeds from all interviews are to be paid into the state Crime Victims Reparation Fund, Page ordered.
The television program “Inside Edition” is paying Urioste $5,000, Criddle said, and a German television station is paying $500. —————————————————————- * * * COMMUNITY NEWS * * *
HRCF Protests Called Off!
The Human Rights Campaign Fund has made a commitment to work with representatives of a spectrum of the transgendered community with a specific focus on hate crimes.
The Human Rights Campaign Fund has also committed to assist transgender representatives with an amendment strategy in the context of the Employment Non-Discrimination Act (ENDA). The strategy does not include re-introduction of the current ENDA; the language of the current bill remains as is.
All groups involved will work in good faith to continue their dialogue and to build coalitions in the context of ending violence and discrimination against this community.
In a meeting that can easily be described as historic in its significance, the national leadership of the Human Rights Campaign Fund (HRCF) and the leaders from three of the largest transgender rights organizations met in Washington D. C. on September 17, 1995. The meeting was arranged by Elizabeth Birch, Executive Director of the HRCF, following a nationwide protest sponsored by It’s Time, America!, Transsexual Menace, and Transgender Nation.
Transgendered persons viewed the HRCF as the organization primarily responsible for their exclusion from ENDA and retaliated by picketing selected HRCF fund raising events in major cities across the nation.
As a result of intense negotiations the HRCF has committed to actively support a transgender inclusive amendment to ENDA. At least two transgender activists will work with the HRCF on drafting the amendment language. In addition, the HRCF and transgendered leaders agreed to work together in gaining gender and transgender inclusion into the Federal Hate Crimes Statistics Act and other federal hate crimes legislation. It was further agreed the organizations would work together in reaching out to people of color, feminist organizations and others as part of a larger coalition building process. Additionally the HRCF agreed that if asked, they would provide training for transgender activists new to lobbying on Capitol Hill and limited logistical support.
The ENDA portion of the agreement applies only to the legislation as it currently exists. Assuming the bill does not pass in the near future, it will need to be re-introduced in 1997. Unfortunately, the HRCF would not commit to transgender inclusion in the new version (if needed) and further discussions on this and several other topics will be necessary. However, transgender rights activists involved in the meeting felt the meeting produced substantial progress and further protests of the HRCF have been canceled.
—————————————————————- First Transgender Lobby Day Huge Success
More than 100 transgender and transexual lobbyists representing most of the 50 states met on the East steps of the Capitol on Monday morning, 2 October before separating into small teams which visited the majority of the US senators and representatives. Lobbyists shook hands with staffers and made them aware of the needs of the community. The lobbyists were for the most part treated with courtesy (some aides were very uncomfortable and let their facade slip).
Media coverage was minimal due to the unexpectedly announcement that the Jury in the O.J. Simpson murder trial had reached a verdict after only four hours. However, ABCs 20/20 has done a segment on transgender and transexual activism which is scheduled to air in early November.
* * Of Interest from the Internet * *
From: lisa@interport.net (Lisa Aaronson) Subject: Re: “Unusual” genealogical situations: This one takes the cake! Date: Wed, 1 Nov 1995 08:18:13
I came across this on soc.genealogy.computing. The question going on was how exactly you deal with same-sex marriages and TSity in a family tree chart.
Smiles, Lisa ————————————————– In article <476lc4$dfa@doc.cc.utexas.edu> churchyh@doc.cc.utexas.edu (Henry Churchyard) writes:
>In article <NEWTNews.815079078.25660.jac@jac.wrlc.org>, >Jim Cobbs <jac@wrlc.org> wrote:
>> Trans-sexuality: Since the individual who undergoes a sex >> change operation is physically sterile in the new gender, we >> dodge the bullet of the same individual being BOTH a natural >> father *and* a natural mother (or mother and father).
>How about the following case from the Fugger archives: >(G. Matthews, 1970, pp.247-8)
>From Piadena in Italy, the 26th day of May, 1601
> A weird happening has occurred in the case of a lansquenet > named Daniel Burghammer, of the squadron of Captain > Burkhard Laymann zu Liebenau, of the honourable Madrucci > Regiment in Piadena, in Italy. When the same was on the > point of going to bed one night he complained to his wife, > to whom he had been married by the Church seven years ago, > that he had great pains in his belly and felt something > stirring within. An hour thereafter, he gave birth to a > child, a girl. When his wife was made aware of this, she > notified the occurrence at once. Thereupon he was > examined and questioned as to how this had come to pass. > He then confessed on the spot that he was half man and > half woman, and that for more than seven years he had > served as a soldier in Hungary and the Netherlands; in > proof whereof he produced his genuine passport. He also > stated that while in the Netherlands he only slept once > with a Spaniard, and he became pregnant therefrom. This, > however, he kept a secret unto himself and also from his > wife, with whom he had for seven years lived in wedlock, > but had never been able to get her with child. The child > has been christened Elizabeth. He is able to suckle the > child with his right breast only and not at all on the > left side, where he is a man. He has also the natural > organs of a man for passing water. Both are well, the > child is beautiful, and many towns have already wished to > adopt it. The couple, however, are to be divorced by the > clergy. —————————————————————-
* * Fantasia Fair * *
Better Than Ever Your fearless AEGIS Executive Director has been on the Board of Directors of the Outreach Institute for the past three years, working to improve Fantasia Fair and make the organization fiscally accountable. All OIGS monies are now tracked by Treasurer Marcia Heindl, who happens to be an accountant, and the fair was wonderful this year. Here’s a post by Miqqi, a member of The Canadian Men’s Chorus.
From: mag@nexus.yorku.ca Subject: Fanfair 1995 Date: 30 Oct 1995 00:17:29 GMT FANTASIA FAIR 1995
by Miqqi Alicia Gilbert
[Editors note: Italics are indicated by *.]
I have just returned from Provincetown, Massachusetts, a small picturesque town on the very tip of Cape Cod. I was there to participate in my first Fantasia Fair, a week long celebration of the feminine in the male ranging from timid to committed cross dressers to long time transsexuals, with every stop along the way. The week consisted of workshops given by first rank professionals, lunches with speakers on fascinating subjects, wonderful banquets, exciting events, and some of the most warm and beautiful people I’ve met in my life. I could just give a diary of my own time in P’town, but everybody’s Fanfair is different depending on who they are, what they need, and how much they are willing to give and take. So, instead, I will take different aspects of the fair and tell you about them. The four parts of my story will be, 1] What Happens at the Fair; 2] Workshops and Personal Growth; 3] People at the Fair; and 4] Will You Go?
1. WHAT HAPPENS AT THE FAIR
Fanfair, which just celebrated its 21st year, take place in the predominantly gay and lesbian town of Provincetown, MA. This quaint fishing village is now a renowned tourist resort with numerous inns sprinkled through the town. There is an abundance of great shopping in charming boutiques specializing in women’s clothing, jewelry, and tourist items. As the fair takes place late in the season there are many great bargains to be had.
The first, and perhaps the foremost, fact about Fanfair is that you are totally free to be yourself. You can dress all the time and go wherever you want. You can stroll the beach, explore the shops, sample the restaurants, go for a manicure, get your hair done, have a coffee, and walk in and out of every shop on commercial Street. The only `look’ you’ll get is one from a pleased and hopeful shopkeeper. As you walk down the street, the light breeze swirling your skirt against your hose, local residents will smile at you and say, “Hey, honey, having a nice time?” (On my first such walk just after I registered, I reached such a heady state of euphoria I had to go off by myself and breathe slowly and deeply just to keep from bawling with joy.)
When you arrive at the fair you will already have been assigned to one of the charming inns in town. You will check in with your hosts, unpack the U-Haul trailer of clothes you brought (almost just kidding), and walk down to the Crown & Anchor on Commercial Street to register with the fair. After that you can have a walk, a nap, or, if you’re of a more serious bent, begin shopping.
The first night is the welcome dinner where you will meet many sisters from all over the world, some of whom will, by the end of the week, be friends for life. No one is lonely at Fanfair. No one sits alone, because someone will always say, “Hey, why don’t you join us?” And, of course, there is always your house mother, one to each inn, to make sure that no one gets lost in the shuffle.
Monday, this year, was focused on orientation. We had speakers from the police come to reassure us that P’town has zero tolerance on hate, and that if you get into trouble your mode of dress is no concern of theirs. As long as you obey the parking rules, which basically means leave your car at the inn, the police are a girl’s best friend. Having heard a fair number of stories on the net and other places about rude cops (and nice ones too) it was gratifying to be told that I’m all right and part of their public. After the police we had introductions of staff and the experts who were there to help us grow and explore our feminine selves in workshops and discussions. After a sumptuous buffet lunch there were mini- workshops so newcomers could get an idea of what they wanted to do. There are always free workshops and discussions available, but some have fees (never more than $20) so that the professionals can be paid. Seemed fair enough to me.
After the orientation, Fanfair is in full swing. Monday night was the Diversity Dinner, a church supper put on by us for the town’s people. Many local residents come religiously every year (pun intended). The dinner is cooked, served, and cleaned up by us Fanfair gals. At every table there are local people and Fanfair participants, and it’s a wonderful opportunity for everybody to learn about each other. And doing it is fun. I’ll never forget standing next to Virginia Prince as she washed and I dried a seemingly endless stream of pots, pans, and flatware, all the while deep in discussion about the nature of cross dressing.
Mornings are taken up with workshops, and I’ll write about those separately later on. Lunch, which is included in the package every day, provides a choice. You can go to one of two restaurants depending on what discussion topic interests you. The first hour of the two hour lunch break is taken up by eating and yakking and swapping stories with new and old friends. Then, at 1:00, the speaker begins talking or running the discussion. Then at 2:00 there are more workshops and discussion groups. And any time the spirit moves you, all the work can be abandoned in favour of walking, relaxing, shopping or exploring. No one takes attendance at Fanfair.
Tuesday night was the fashion show, and it was here that our little gang, the Canadian contingent which dubbed itself The Canadian Men’s Chorus, first made our presence known. We were all in the show and had a ball. Imagine this. You have four outfits, four changes, two before the break, two after. There’s a tiny change room where everybody who is dressing squeezes in and helps each other with zippers and jewelry. Out there in the front of the house are 200 people, mostly from town, who cheer and whistle with the appearance of every one of the 18 models who walk down the runway, do their little twirl, and sashay on back. Scared as I was, I thought I’d died and gone to heaven.
Wednesday night was the Outreach awards banquet, so we all dolled ourselves up in evening dresses. The night was a social event to celebrate those of our own community who had made special contributions above and beyond the call of duty. The food was great, the company was perfect, and the sense of celebrating ourselves was moving.
Thursday night and The Canadian Men’s Chorus, along with fifteen or so other acts were back to work. It was the night of the Fanfair Follies! And, if I thought the house was crowded for the fashion show, it was *packed* for the follies. I peeked out from the bar, where I was having a small drink (ok, a large drink,) to steady my nerves, and saw a line extending half a block long. “What,” I asked an experienced gal, “are all those people doing there?” When I was told they were lining up for good seats for the follies I had to be physically restrained from bolting. There was live singing, dancing, lip synching, and the house was full and exuberant. (And just so no one gets too scared, there were lots of sisters who enjoyed the show from the seats_not everyone has to participate in everything.) The follies was followed by a scrumptious buffet and house parties. I think I checked in about 3 am.
Friday night was the Fantasy Ball. Dinner was on our own, one of the three of seven nights where dinner is on your own, and a whole bunch of us went to a really nice restaurant. At the ball, the night where you can dress up in your wildest fantasy, there were numerous Dommes in black and fishnet and leather, colourful genies, pirates, peasant maidens, and several nurses, cheerleaders and aerobics instructors. The prize for best costume went to a charter member of The Canadian Men’s Chorus, Melissa, who stunned everyone with her magnificent Little Bo Beep costume including ruffled pantaloons and shepherd’s crook. It was a wild night, and I frankly don’t know what time I got to bed.
Saturday night it poured rain. It was the first bad weather we had, so we really couldn’t complain. And, as we were going to be in one place for the evening (and you could drive there and park) it wasn’t so bad. The Awards banquet is where those people who have been outstanding for and during Fanfair receive recognition. There is Miss Cinderella, who is the gal who everyone thinks seemed to grow and flower the most. This year it was won by our own Melissa, she of the Bo Beep fantasy, for whom the whole experience was rich with growth and sharing. Others awards were for the Best Dressed, Miss Femininity, Miss Congeniality, and, finally, Miss Fanfair, given to the gal who has served the most and the longest in the interests of the fair.
That last night was exciting and beautiful as we pulled out all the stops and wore our most wonderful dresses. But it was also tinged with sadness, as we knew that the morrow brought an end to our magical ephemeral world. But, even then, we all knew that we had each changed and grown and made new friends, and that would *never* leave us.
On Sunday there was a `whenever you turn up’ brunch at one of the restaurants, and then some of us went to the Unitarian Church for the service. I did, and believe me, I’m not a churchgoer, and was very glad. There was a sense of closure, and being in that lovely tabernacle with so many local people who had embraced and loved us, was, somehow, right.
Leaving was the most difficult thing I had done since arriving in P’town. And, as one friend said, the only solace is that tomorrow is one day closer to next year.
Copyright M.A. Gilbert, 1995 Toronto, Canada
[This article may be re-published or re-posted in or on any transgender magazine, newsletter or electronic bulletin board, provided only that no profit is made and that the copyright notice and authorship are left on.] —————————————————————- * * U.S. Passport Policy * *
Recently, the following was posted on one of the transgender- related USENET groups by Louise Raeder. We were happy to see it, as it saved us from having to type it in! We have a photocopy of the original document in our files; it represents official US passport policy. To wit: you can get your name changed immediately upon presentation of a court-ordered name change, or without a court order, if you have been using the name exclusively and can prove it. You can have your passport amended to the new sex with an affidavit from a physician that you have had genital surgery. If you are in the “final stages of sex reassignment” (what this means is unspecified, so you can be creative here), you can get a one-year passport in the new gender so you can go abroad for treatment.
Please note: this is official policy. Your treatment at the hands of officials at different offices may differ. Some of our members report difficulties with getting their one-year passports, and others report that they were able to get the usual 10-year passport without problem. If you encounter an obstacle, you can show them a printout of the memo which follows. Then, at least, they’ll know official policy. Department of State
Washington, D. C. 20520
In reply refer to: PT/LS
August 18, 1978
Ms. Joanna M. Clark Director, Legal Research Division Renaissance [THIS ORGANIZATION CLOSED IN 1986]
Dear Ms. Clark:
I refer to your July 20 letter to the Passport Office.
When an applicant has changed his/her name, the passport will be issued in that name if the applicant presents a court order changing the name. When the applicant has not obtained a court ordered name change, a passport will be issued in the assumed name only when the applicant submits the following:
a) Affidavits executed by two or more persons attesting that they have known the applicant by both names and that the applicant has used the assumed name exclusively for at least the past 5 years;
b) Documentary evidence such as school records, military records, employment records, tax records, or other public records; and
c) Identification in the assumed name only.
A transsexual who meets either of the above requirements may have a passport issued in a new name.
In addition, a transsexual may have the sex designation in the passport changed from that indicated on the birth evidence provided the applicant submits a doctor’s letter which states that the applicant is a post-operative transsexual or a pre-operative transsexual who is in the final stages of treatment prior to surgery. If the applicant is post-operative, a full validity passport will be issued. If the applicant is pre-operative, a passport valid for one year will be issued. Unless a pre-operative applicant shows extenuating circumstances, a passport will not be extended until the applicant submits a doctor’s letter stating that the surgery has been performed. The reason for this is, as stated above, a pre-operative applicant must be in the final stages of treatment prior to surgery before a passport will be issued with the new sex designated therein. This policy is based on 22 U.S.C. U211a which grants the Secretary authority to issue passports “under such rules as the President shall designate . . . “.
Executive Order No. 11295, 31 Federal Register 10603 (1966) designated the Secretary to exercise authority conferred upon by the President by Section 211a. In addition, 22 U. S.C. U2658 provides that “the Secretary of State may promulgate such rules and regulations as may be necessary to carry out the functions . . . vested in the Secretary of State . . . “.
Based on the above authority, the Secretary has promulgated rules and regulations pertaining to the issuance of United States passports. Title 22, Code of Federal Regulations, Section 51.24 concerns the issuance of passports to individuals who have changed their names. A copy of the passport regulations is enclosed for your convenience.
There is no regulation which specifically deals with the sex designation in the passport. Our policy explained above is based on the fact that the passport is a document of identity as well as citizenship and is highly regarded as such both domestically and abroad. Accordingly, the passport must be issued with data which best identifies the bearer. We believe that a pre-operative transsexual whose treatment has progressed to the final stages prior to surgery can, in most cases, be better identified by the new sex.
The passport is limited in validity to one year because, until surgery is completed, issuance with the new sex designation is an accommodation.
I hope this information is of assistance to you.
Sincerely,
Michele E. Truitt, Acting Chief Legal Division Passport Office
by: Robert W. Knott Attorney Advisor
Contents of letter verified 22 April 1988 by William B. Wharton, Director, Office of Citizenship Appeals and Legal Assistance, Department of State, Washington, D.C. 20520. Contents of letter re-verified 14 July 1989 by Bonnie Lea-Brown, Attorney Adviser, on behalf of William B. Wharton, Director, Office of Citizenship Appeals and Legal Assistance, Department of State, Washington, D.C. 20520.
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AEGIS Online News, February, 1996 (V. 1, No. 5)
AEGIS On-Line News
Volume 1, No. 5
February, 1996
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* * * About AEGIS * * *
The American Educational Gender Information Service, Inc. is a 501(c)(3) clearinghouse for information about transgender and transexual issues. We publish the journal_Chrysalis: The Journal of Transgressive Gender Identities_; a newsletter, and various other materials.
_Our History_
AEGIS was founded in September, 1990 by Dallas Denny to address the problem of lack of credible information about transexual and transgender issues. We published our first Transition Series booklet at the end of the year, and the first issue of _Chrysalis_ in the Spring of 1991. We incorporated in 1992, and obtained 501(c)(3) status with the IRS in 1994.
_Our Reputation_
AEGIS has an excellent reputation for common sense and quality information.
_Our Philosophy_
AEGIS is dedicated to serving the needs of ALL transgendered and transexual persons, and of helping professionals. We promote nonjudgemental treatment and depathologicalization (now _there’s_ a word for you!) of persons with transgender and transexual issues. We seek to do so in an atmosphere of respect and toleration.
AEGIS has worked within the medical and psychological communities to enlighten helping professionals about the shortcomings of much of the literature, and to the misunderstandings about the nature of transgendered and transexual persons which that literature has fostered.
AEGIS celebrates the true diversity of transgendered and transexual persons, and advocates the right of the individual to seek body-modifying procedures, up to and including sex reassignment surgery. We also advocate the right of the individual to live without such procedures. We believe that with adequate education, individuals can make competent decisions about their lives.
_AEGIS Personnel_
Our Executive Director is Dallas Denny, who holds a Master of Arts degree in Psychology from the University of Tennessee, and has a doctorate in progress at Vanderbilt University. She has been licensed to practice psychology in Tennessee since 1980. Dallas is a prolific author and popular speaker on transgender issues, and has produced two books on transexualism, and has a third in progress.
The Chair of our Board of Directors is Joann Roberts, Ph.D., a co-founder of Renaissance Education Association and owner of Creative Design Services. JoAnn has written several books about crossdressing, and is a past member of the Board of Directors of the International Foundation for Gender Education.
Gianna Eveling Israel, the Vice-Chair, is a gender specializing counselor who resides in San Francisco. She is principal author of__Recommended Guidelines for Transgender Care_, which is the first project of AEGIS’ Sullivan Press.
Other Board members include Delia van Maris, M.D., Laura Skaer, Melissa Foster, Alison Laing, Carol Miller, and Jason Cromwell.
AEGIS maintains a 28-member Board of Advisors, which includes Carolyn (“Tula” Cossey, JoAnn Roberts, David Gilbert, M.D., Eugene Schrang, M.D., Stephen Morganstern, M.D., Anthony Karpas, M.D., Donald Tarver, M.D., Virginia Prince, Ph.D., Jason Cromwell, Ph.D.(c.), Anne Bolin, Ph.D., and others.
Gianna Israel serves as an omnbudsperson who takes complaints and concerns of AEGIS members to the Board of Directors. She can be reached by US mail at P.O. Box 424447, San Francisco, CA 94142-4447. [Phone (415) 558-8058].
AEGIS staff include Executive Director Dallas Denny, newly appointed Chief Financial Officer Erin Swenson, Ph.D., Carla Pridgen, Donna Johnston, and Phillida Hutcheson. _Our Services_
AEGIS is a membership organization. General memberships are $36 a year, and include two issues of _Chrysalis_, four issues of the newsletter, a 10% discount on materials from our bookstore, and a membership card (available in July). Professional memberships are $60 per year, and include the above, plus additional materials. There are additional levels of membership, with additional benefits and discounts, for those who wish to financially support us, as well as categories for students and those who are incarcerated. All donations are tax deductible.
AEGIS maintains an extensive database of support groups, helping professionals, and other resources throughout the world. We will be happy to provide you with referrals and information.
AEGIS has compiled a definitive bibliography of transgender and transexual-related material; it was published last year by Garland Press with the title _Gender Dysphoria: A Guide to Research_ (650+ pp.).
AEGIS maintains the National Transgender Library & Archive at its Atlanta headquarters. We publish a holdings list (100 pp.).
The Transgender Historical Society serves as a watchdog organization for the NTL&A. Memberships in the Transgender Historical Society are $30 per year ($20 for AEGIS members). All funds are used to maintain and promote the library and to acquire new materials.
AEGIS has a bookstore, through which we sell educational materials, including our _Transition Series_, the holding list for the National Transgender Library & Archive, and back issues of _Chrysalis_.
AEGIS regularly publishes medical advisories and alerts and issues position statements. Recent advisories have included alerts about the advisability of electrolysis in the groin area before MTF SRS; and the dangers of silicone injection.
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That’s who we are, and what we do. We hope you will join us.
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* * * AEGIS NEWS * * * Area Code Change
Southern Bell has changed the area code of all telephones in our area of Atlanta from 404 to 770. Please change your records to reflect this change.
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Recommended Guideilnes Fundraiser Continues
The American Educational Gender Information Service, Inc., a respected national clearinghouse for transgender and transexual issues, continues its drive to raise funds for the publication of the landmark _Recommended Guidelines for Transgender Care_, by Gianna E. Israel and Donald Tarver, M.D. This comprehensive resource addresses issues of support and treatment in a nonpathologizing manner, and has been praised as a major breakthrough by a review committee comprised of professionals and transgendered persons.
The _Recommended Guidelines_ will be the first publication of AEGIS’ Sullivan Press, named for FTM transgender pioneer Lou Sullivan. AEGIS is raising funds to meet costs of production and promotion.
Approximately $2500 of the $8000 needed has been raised as of 22 January, 1996. “We need to raise the additional money so that we do not have to raid our general operating fund,” Executive Director Dallas Denny said.
“We’re asking for $100 sponsors, $250 sponsors, $500 sponsors, and $1000 sponsors, and frankly, we would love to hear from a $2500 or even a $5000 sponsor. If we exceed our goal, we’ll be able to have more copies printed and thus lower our per unit price. This is the perfect opportunity for a philanthropist to step forward. Those giving donations will be gratified to know exactly where their monies will be spent. We certainly are in need of funds for our many general operations– maintaining the telephone help line; publishing _Chrysalis_, our journal, and _AEGIS News_, our newsletter; acquisition of new materials for the National Transgender Library and Archive; our mail order bookstore; and for purchasing much-needed equipment like a copy machine– but the priority is the _Recommended Guidelines_. They’re going to change things in a big way. We certainly hope the community will show its appreciation of the importance of this project by reaching into its pockets; we certainly can’t go any deeper into ours!”
All members of the AEGIS Board of Directors have made personal donations to the _Recommended Guidelines_ project.
Those who donate $50 or more will receive a special commemorative mug. Those who donate $100 or more will also receive a copy of the _Recommended Guidelines_. Those who donate $250 or more will additionally receive a special, limited-edition hardcover copy of the _Recommended Guidelines_ signed by both authors. Those special few who donate $500 or more will additionally receive a commemorative plaque; donors of $500 or more who attend the IFGE Conference in Minneapolis, Minnesota or Southern Comfort 1996 in Atlanta, will be treated to a special awards dinner.
The price of the _Recommended Guidelines for Transgender Care_ is $29.95. AEGIS is taking pre-publication orders at a special price of $24.95 including Shipping and Handling.
Expected Publication Date of the _Recommended Guidelines_ is Winter, 1995.
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AEGIS Welcomes Oklahoma New Men & Women as an Affiliate
Oklahoma New Men & Women has become AEGIS’ first affiliate.
OK New Men & Women is part of COTA, Central Oklahoma Transgender Alliance, a consortium of support groups which is designed to meet the needs of all transgendered and transsexual persons. There is a group for heterosexual crossdressers; an open group, and a transsexual-focused group, OK New Men & Women.
Atlanta Gender Explorations and several other support groups have applications pending for affiliation with AEGIS. Policy for AEGIS Affiliates AEGIS is a tax-exempt (501[c][3]) educational organization that promotes the understanding of transgender and transsexual behavior and issues. The AEGIS philosophy is open membership for all persons regardless of sex, sexual orientation, gender-identification, age, race, ethnic origin, or religious affiliation. AEGIS proactively supports the concepts and practice of inclusion and diversity. 1. Definition
An AEGIS Affiliate is a group of persons who agree with the goals and policies of The American Educational Gender Information Service, Incorporated, and, while having no legal connection with AEGIS, will maintain an association through the use of the AEGIS name, publications, logo and joint activities.
2. Requirements
In order to qualify as an Affiliate, a group must demonstrate and maintain the following:
(a) If group membership is below twenty, a minimum of two (2) members who are members in good standing of AEGIS.
If group membership is twenty or above, a minimum of four (4) members who are members in good standing of AEGIS.
(b) Provide a copy of their By Laws or other organizing document demonstrating that they are in accord with AEGIS goals and policies.
(c) Pay a one-time fee of $25.00 to cover the entitlements described below.
(d) Place the Executive Director of AEGIS on distribution for all publications, notices and general mailings produced by the Affiliate.
3. Entitlements
A group that has met the requirements in Section 2 is entitled to the following:
(a) Use of an AEGIS Affiliate logo & name.
(b) One complete set of AEGIS publications for their library
(c) Purchase AEGIS publications at 50% of the cover price for resale to members.
(d) Participation in the national member referral service and preference for space in the AEGIS newsletter.
4. Termination of Affiliate Status
Affiliate status may be terminated unilaterally and without cause by either party. After termination, the former affiliate will cease using any reference to AEGIS (including the name, logo, or publications) that might imply the association continues. AEGIS will cease listing the organization as one of its affiliates.
5. General
AEGIS expects the Affiliates to encourage all of its members to become members of AEGIS, but this is not mandatory. It is expected that the leader of the Affiliate, or at least one member of its governing body, will maintain a membership. The Affiliate is encouraged to use its own unique name, but in association with AEGIS, e.g.; OK New Women & Men, an Affiliate of AEGIS (or an AEGIS Affiliate). Those wishing further information about affiliation should contact AEGIS, P.O. Box 33724, Decatur, GA 30033 (770-939-2128 Voice; 770-939-1770 FAX aegis@mindspring.com e-mail).
Checklist for Affiliates Please send this form, along with your check or money order and supporting documents, to AEGIS, P.O. Box 33724, Decatur, GA 30033 A) If group membership is below twenty, a minimum of two (2) members who are members in good standing of AEGIS.
If group membership is twenty or above, a minimum of four (4) members who are members in good standing of AEGIS. Our approximate group size is ________.
We have _______ members (please list up to four names below) ________________________________________________
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________________________________________________ B) Provide a copy of their By Laws or other organizing document demonstrating that they are in accord with AEGIS goals and policies. _____ We have enclosed our By Laws or organizing document. (c) Pay a one-time fee of $25.00 to cover the entitlements described below. _____ We have enclosed check or money order for $25.00. D) Place the Executive Director of AEGIS on distribution for all publications, notices and general mailings produced by the Affiliate. _____ We have placed AEGIS on our mailing list. —————————————————————- * * * NEWS * * *
— T.O.P.S. is TOPS —
On Friday, 19 January, ABC’s 20/20 aired the long-awaited segment on T.O.P.S. (Transgender Officers Serve & Protect), which featured shots of Transgender Lobby Day in Washington, and interviews with T.O.P.S. officers.
Early reaction on the Internet showed mixed reactions from transgendered people, with some feeling that the segment, like most other news coverage over the past 40 years, objectified us. The most common complaint was the “Golly, gee-whiz” exchange between Hugh Downs and John Stossel at the end of the segment. Most posts, however, felt that it was overall a vast improvement over most media cover of transgender and transsexual issues.
— D.C. Fire Department Re-Opens Tyra Hunter Investigation —
A press release from activist group Transexual Menace informs us that the Washington, DC Fire Department has re-opened its investigation into the circumstances surrounding the death of Tyra Hunter. Hunter, who lived as a woman, was in badly (and probably fatally) injured in a car crash last Fall. A Fire Department paramedic, in treating her, cut away her slacks and discovered that she had male genitals, whereopen witnesses say he stopped working on her and made jokes for five minutes before a supervisor arrived on the scene and began treating her.
A consortium of activist groups from the gay, lesbian, bisexual, transgender, and African-American communities was initially unsuccessful in producing more than a sweep-it-under-the-rug “investiation,” despite repeated visits with D.C. Fire Chief Otis Nixon.
— Op Ed —
How coincidental that the re-opening of the D.C. Fire Department’s investigation into the death of Tyra Hunter coincided with the 20/20 segment on T.O.P.S., which prominently featured Tyra’s death!
In the past, transgendered and transsexual people have been treated with impunity by all segments of society. This is still continuing, of course, but now there is a bite to it. Those who act outrageously towards us will find themselves, like as not, with a phalanx of black t-shirted protestors who are quite expert in drumming up sympathetic television and newpaper coverage.
Many people in the transgender community are offended by activism of this sort, and in truth, it is not pleasant to behold. However, it is comforting to know that if I were to be badly hurt or killed under questionable circumstances, there would be someone at hand to ask the difficult questions and to raise a little hell if they didn’t like the answers.
— Dallas Denny
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