Board of Directors
|
Newsletter Staff
|
Other Contributors
|
|||
The StLGF is a non-profit, non-sexuall, social end educational organization open to all adults who believe in freedom of gender expression, Although our members are primarily male-to female crossdressers and male-to-female transsexuals; all members of the transgendered community, as well as supportive family members and interested professionals.
"The Gazette" is published bi-monthly in January, March, May, July, September, and November. The deadline for submissions is the 15th of the month prior to publication. For information please use our voice mail number (314) 607-4163.
All submissions become the property of StLGF, and should be accompanied by a release-to-print statement. Letters, articles, and/or pictures that include nudity, profanity, or obscenities will not be published.
We also reserve the right not to publish any other materials that we consider inappropriate. All issues are copyrighted. However, any nonprofit organization or publication may reprint articles or other information from this publication, provided they allow the free use of their materials by other non-profit organizations.
If you have any questions please write:
StLGF,
PO Box, St. Louis, MO 63117,
or call us at
(314) 607-4163
Email the StLGF:
stlgftg@netscape.net
Web Sites:
http://members.aol.com/stlgf1/
Email the Editor: Christy Kay: Christy Kay
by Erika Cantrell
A few members of our organization have recently commented on my relative inactivity in StLGF and my equally conspicuous departure from Pride and other organizations in the GLBTcommunity. What can I say? I haven't been doing the job I was reelected to do . . . and for that I owe all the members of StLGF and the St. Louis GLBT community an apology! You entrusted me with the operation and future of this organization, and the simple fact is that in recent months I have not found the time or energy to do what the job requires (and you deserve). I wish I could do a better job at delegating responsibility, a reasonable solution, but that's never been one of my greatest strengths, particularly outside of the workplace.
When I really needed the StLGF three years ago, it was there for me . . . in particular, StLGF members were there for me . . . brought together by our organization. My first meeting was my first step out of the closet . . . and from that day on nothing was ever going to be the same again. I knew that I had embarked on a trip going somewhere . . . fast . . . although the ultimate destination was not clear. I knew that I could never go on living with this essential part of who I am locked up inside. The energy that I poured into the organization, first through the newsletter and then through my first term as President, and into community out reach, came from my need to discover who I was, what I needed to do, and where I was going. It provided me with endless sources of information and many new friends. I also found that I was able to gain great satisfaction in giving back something to an organization that had given me so much. But these experiences only reinforced the belief that my own life couldn't stand still . . . there were issues to be dealt with and changes to be made.
During my first two years in StLGF it seemed like I had endless amount of energy to draw upon and invest in our organization. So, what happened? Well, there are so many things happening in my life that it is hard to know where to start. However, the over riding issues have involved dealing with personal issues in my own evolution as an openly transgendered woman, and bringing some degree of closure to my life as a male. The process of coming out to family and friends, and beginning to build a new life as a woman, has been one of the most important and rewarding (yet anxiety provoking and exhausting) developments in my life. The reality of bringing 26 years of marriage to a close, while at the same time expanding my family responsibilities, has also taken its toll. The physical stuff is nothing by comparison. In retrospect, I should have anticipated this situation and declined to accept a nomination for a second term, but at that time I thought it was the best thing to do. I was convinced that we needed another year to find our next generation of leaders.
With the benefit of hindsight I look back much more sympathetically on the previous admistration. Our past President, I'm sure, experienced a similar evolution and conflicts between the demands of managing our organization and personal development. This is probably something we should try to learn from. Pre-operative transsexuals are the logical pool to look toward when selecting a President. They tend to be (or become) more out, and have a greater need to find support and bring about change in the social arena. On the other hand, they are people in evolution . . . and the time will always come when they need to move on (not necessarily away) . . . but on. Perhaps we should learn from these experiences and discourage more than a single term. Perhaps we should create a shared leadership, with different individuals guiding the social/education and outreach components of the organization. After all, if done right, both are full time part-time jobs.
You're all very special people! I hope you won't think to harshly of me! Please remember, you can't always depend on your elected leaders to do it all. If you see things that need to be done or could be done, just volunteer, jump in, and do it. With your help I'm confident we can make it and the organization will be stronger for it. I don't really know what the next several months hold for me. All that I can say is that I will try my best to do better!
One Girl's Impressions Of the Fall Harvest
By Jennifer L.
It seems amazing to me that it's only been about 2 1/2 years since I first worked up the nerve to step outside my door as Jennifer. I've had so many wonderful times since then. I've been to the Texas T-Party three times, and this year, I attended the Fall Harvest for the first time. They've all been great, and I highly recommend conventions!
Part of the fun is the pre-paration for the trip-those last-minute shopping trips, getting the wigs styled by Jena, doing more sit-ups than usual, and so on.
I arrived a day early so that I could shop. I covered both of Cedar Rapids' big malls on Wednesday. I found a pretty wool swing coat on sale (it was cold and windy that week), a skirt, a jumper, some tops, etc.
My taste in clothes seems to change completely every year. In addition, I am slowly discovering what works for me and what doesn't. As a result, I always have clothes I don't wear anymore, so I take these to the convention to trade or give away. It's fun discovering what looks good on you, what fits your style, what's hot this fall, and so on. Everyone has their own look, and this helps make a convention so interesting and so unforgettable.
The Fall Harvest officially started on Thursday with a pizza party by the hotel pool. It was great fun to renew the friendships I had made with some of the girls from the T Party, and to meet new friends. In particular, it was great to see Leslie from Des Moines, Michelle from Colorado, and Tiffany from Illinois. I was also proud to see all the girls from St. Louis who made the trip. We had a good size contingent. The pizza party was a good way for everyone to get acquainted and talk about plans for the next few days.
On Friday I attended a make-up session put on by Jim Bridges. A lot of his advice was very good and basic stuff, such as always washing and shaving your face with Vase-line Intensive Care Lotion rather than soap, which is hard on your skin. He also recommended putting some ice in a wash-cloth and placing it over your eyes to freshen your eyes later in the day, such as after dinner when you're getting ready to go dancing! If you like gossip, ask Jim to tell you some stories about the stars and models he has worked with over the years! Jim also did makeovers during the convention, and many of the girls took advantage of this. Carmen looked great after her makeover, and I have to admit that I didn't even recognize Vicki, with her makeover and new red hair!
The entertainment after dinner on Friday was a talent show. It's obvious that many of the girls have spent years working on their acts. Our own Jamie Edwards did an old-fashioned Carmen Miranda-style number with the full headdress of fruit and a sarong that looked so-right! It was cute and also so funny that I almost feel off my chair. Shannon Gayle did a cute song also.
Renee Edgerton gave a presentation on "How-To for the Extra Tall Transgendered." I missed her seminar because of a scheduling change (or maybe I was out shopping), but she was sweet enough to "condense" almost her entire seminar for me on Saturday when I ran into her in the hallway. Because I am 5' 13", I listened eagerly. This is another one of the nice things about conventions-the people are so nice and willing to be helpful, including the hotel staff.
The Saturday night dinner is always the highlight of a convention, and the Fall Harvest was no exception. Everyone is at their very best. I could just sit and admire all the pretty dresses and lovely faces all night, but who wants to sit when you can mingle and make new friends! The St. Louis group completely filled a table, and included Shannon, Chrissie, Angela, Macy, Carmen, Vicki, Rita, Ashley, Barb & Evelyn, Joyce, Jamie & Andrew and of course, Jennifer. (Jennifer, Jamie and I worked on this list, if we missed anyone, we all apologize. CK) After the dinner, we watched as Joyce LaFontaine competed in the Fall Harvest Pageant. I'm sure it takes a lot of guts to get up in front of such a big crowd and compete, and I have a lot of respect for anyone who can do it so well. Way to go, girl!
After the pageant (and a touchup of our makeup), we moved on to the hotel bar, where we all proceeded to open the eyes of some wedding parties and some other interested observers. Many of the people who were at the hotel for other reasons ended up talking and dancing with us. I hope they go home and tell their friends, who tell their friends, and so on, until it's no longer a surprise to see us out in public. At 2 a.m. we closed the place down, and I reluctantly turned in.
Sunday morning at a convention is interesting-seeing all those guys walking around the hotel and trying to figure out who they were the night before. Irs also a little bittersweet. We've become a little community at the hotel by this time, and it's hard to say goodbye.
The only consolation is thinking about the next convention. For me, that's probably the Texas T Party, March 11 to 16, 1997. I hope to see you there! Look for me-I'll be the tall girl in the purple dress out on the dance floor!
Rita's Oh So Rambunctious Ramblings
by Rita Amore
Dear Ones-It has been six months since the venerable and beloved Front Page Bar was shuttered. We have all been saddened by the lack of a good replacement venue receptive to our lifestyle expression. I had a recent flashback to "The Old Page" when I interviewed Bill Hamilton for this ramblin' Ramblings. The ever-enlightening interview with Bill encompasses the majority of this column. We will get caught up on most other things in my next column.
For those of you who don't know Bill, he was the most regular of all Page regulars. Bill, also known as Cab Driver Bill, was in the Page ninety percent of the time shows were being performed. Bill had a hobby of taking pictures of the performing queens, other cross-dressed audience members, and STLGF members.
The most interesting fact about Bill is not his love of female impersonation nor his hobby of photographing attractive performers and crossdressers. It is that he has turned his entire apartment into a shrine to drag. Pictures of performers and cross-gendered subjects line three-and-a-half walls. Being a fan of a good drag revue myself, the Lovely One was transfixed by the photos of various performers that I had come to know over the years. Some are now deceased, some are dying, and some are very much alive. The shrine could be made into a coffee-table photo book of St. Louis drag.
Bill was raised and lived in the county all his life until divorcing his fourth wife in the late 1980's. His introduction to the Queens of St. Louis nightlife occurred in 1988 when he rented space from the late Toni Harris, a performer at the Front Page. The Queens initially didn't want to have anything to do with this scary, hard-looking Hoosier of a man until he won them over by taking pictures of them. (We all know the seductive power of camera flattery, don't we, Girls?)
Some interesting facts about Bill:
Although Bill cultivates a dark and mysterious outer image, it is not representative of the real man behind the camera. He is extremely kind, and he's protective of the Queens. He enjoys a good show, a good drink, and writing poetry.
COMINGS & GOINGS-The new year has come, and as promised, the Lovely One is responsible for the "Trashy Diva Party." What is a "Trashy Diva" you ask? (YOU had to ask?) Well, an original diva (i.e. Maria Callas) was an opera performer and personality who seemed larger than life. A Trashy Diva is a modern aberration of the classic diva. She is a drag queen who doesn't lip sync. Madonna, Dolly, Cher, and Bette are examples. Got the drift? Ms. Bobbi Fox will be giving false eyelash lessons at the party. The event will probably be held in February and may be held at Bill Hamilton's house. Prizes will be awarded in various categories. Keep yourself posted to the latest releases on this event.
THE NEWS REAL-As reported on CNN this fall regarding an historical fashion exhibit at the Metropolitan Museum of Art, "In the royal courts of 18th century Europe, a well-dressed woman commanded much power - resulting in a trend of men dressing and looking like women- Menswear of the period matched women's in extravagance and discomfort: corsets were common for both." It seems the Industrial Revolution caused a clothing chasm to widen as men got to wear practical clothing and women the frou-frou. It seems as though the 1990's are bringing clothing for each sex back to some similarity. Now we all wear blue jeans.
TV QUEENS-The Lovely One has a nomination for my favorite TV women reporters who remind me of drag queens. CNN's anchor Lynn Russell and the Weather Channel's Valerie Voss have the look down pat - big hair, severely tailored suits, and large jewelry give them the air of a cross-dressed daytime corporate dominatrix.
LATE NEWS-I am saddened to report that Jeff Womack died at 12:30 a.m. on January 2nd. Jeff was the spouse of Jennifer Richards who passed away on December 22, 1995. Jeff was a great and fun guy as well as friend of STLGF. He owned a floral shop in Park Hills and regularly provided arrangements for club banquets. Jeff could be counted on to provide support at our annual club "Follies" fundraiser, and he cut quite a figure dancing with Miss Jennifer at our "Speakeasy" banquet. Few people were aware that he used to give professional dance lessons. Jeff was last seen by most club members when he attended the STLGF picnic in August. May he rest in peace.
Until the next time, my Lovelies- "I never met a drag queen I didn't like," said Jill Rogers, transgendered sibling of Will.
by Gertrude J.R. Williams The positive response to the last issue's column on the Menglish manguage was gratifying. Many readers reported their now unapologetic use of the singular "they"; and a few are trying to humanize language in written communications at work. Some were curious about the origins of the pseudo-generic "man," a term that has contributed so heavily to the exclusion of the female in language and thought. This linguistic form, like many others, was androgynous in very early times. In Old English, which dates from about the 5th century to 1050, "man" originally was a truly generic term defined as a human being or a person of either sex. An adult female person was a "wifman"; the pronunciation of "women" is a vestige of this usage. An adult male person was a "werman," derived from the Latin vir. Had these three language forms remained, this problem of linguistic exclusion of females would not exist today. The original meaning of "wif," adult female, narrowed to become the modern word "wife"; and "wifman" disappeared from Anglo-Saxon language usage when "-man" was dropped. It was the syllable "wer-" that was dropped for the male, whereas "-man" was retained. Thus, "man" became defined as both a person of either sex, its original meaning, as well as an adult male person, the later linguistic vestige of "werman." The word "werwolf" is one of the few remaining traces of "wer." Certainly a woman's capability in transforming herself into a wolf is equal to that of a man, yet there is no such word as "wifwolf." The current definition of "werwolf" is "a person transformed into a wolf." Ironically, "wer"' is now a generic form referring to both women and men.
Back to Gazette listings. Prior Issue of The Gazette Next Issue of The Gazette Top of This Page.