About CrossPort

This is just a note to say hi and to give you all an update on my life since founding CrossPort, being the first president for over 4 years, and the original editor and publisher of InnerView.

First, it is good to see that the organization is alive and well. A big congratulation and thanks to all of you who have taken an interest in continuing to help and support people of similar interest.

Second, I wanted to simply say that even after all these years I still remember how afraid I was that June 5, 1985 night when I hosted the very meeting with only 6 people in attendance. Of the six that attended that night only 3 returned. But thanks to one person's connection and knowledge of other organizations the word spread so quickly that in just a couple of months we had as many as 30 people attending the meeting. Of those first 3 who returned 2 were TS, including myself though I did not know that at the time.

I often wonder how my life would have gone and if I would even still be alive had I decided not to open the door that first night because it certainly changed my life forever.

I began my full time living in 1987 and I had my surgery in March of 1991 in Brussels. In 1989 I had found a good computer-programming job that lasted until 1999 when I moved to Florida with my lesbian partner who I met in 1990.

One of the true miracles of my life came when I got a job working at Walt Disney World in EPCOT. Though I only stayed there a couple of months (because of the low pay and long 60 mile drive) it was a dream come true. I remembered visiting there many times over the years wishing I could simply go there as a woman and here I was working there as a woman.

A little over a year ago I found a new programming position close to home and last weekend my partner and I celebrated out 12^th anniversary.

The move to Florida has been really a new experience. So many people, including those I worked with in Cincinnati knew about my past life although only a few had known me before I was Heather.

Here, no one knows, except for doctors I may need to see. All the people I work with and the many women that live in our current community park where we live sees me as a only lesbian woman.

I view this as a true accomplishment for someone who in May of 1985, not only did not know another cross dresser but also never imagined that I could actually make such a transition. It was all made possible through the help and support of people like yourselves in CrossPort and IFGE whoís first and second conventions I attended.

I had the pleasure of meeting not only Virginia Prince but also Christen Jorgensen. I remember asking her, at a private breakfast I had with her, if she ever regretted her decision. Her answer also changed my life. She said, ěI have cancer and I donít expect Iíll be around much longer, but even if Iíd found that the surgery is what gave me the cancer I still would do it again because without it I would have been dead by the age of 35.î

She had summed up my life and I expect the lives of thousands of who for one reason or another are trying to make a decision to live a happy live. It was CrossPort that helped me to follow her lead as it has helped many others since then.

The one that has changed is CrossPort. It use to have a dash in it.

I still have copies of almost every newsletter sent out for the first 10 years. I've included a MSWord file with scans of an Introductory newsletter we would send to new people and a scan of the very first news letter. It was sent to 6 people plus Tri-Ess.

Just as another history note CrossPort in responsible for the groups that started in Indianapolis, Columbus and one in West Virginia. Originally they all came to CrossPort.

Many Thanks,

Heather Peerson