Renaissance of South Eastern PA
ROSE
March 2008
The ROSE Newsletter
Online Version
Volume 3
Edited by – Ellen Davidson – CeeDee578@aol.com
Published March 9, 2007
There will be a meeting of Renaissance of South Eastern Pennsylvania on Friday March 14, 2007 at the
MCC Church, 130 East Main St. Mountville, PA. The doors open at 7:30 PM – meeting at 8:30 PM.
Please enter at the back.
A word from the ROSE President:
Just a short word or two about past, present and future .... Well, ........ almost short!
The last several months I have been on what you might call a medical leave from ROSE. There had been some concern that I may not be able to return to the ROSE Presidents position but fortunately I have recovered better then Doctors thought I might. In December I re injured my lower back, which was not in to good of condition to begin with from a previous back injury, just sitting at the computer was very painful let alone driving a car or even riding in a car, ..... but ....... I am doing much better now after much therapy and beginning to resume the responsibilities of being President of a wonderful Transgender Group but, walking with a kane now is very very awkward. I feel like Doctor House now on the television show House ... LOL. During my absence the ROSE Board took over the duties of running ROSE and did a marvelous job keeping it running smoothly and providing the needed help and assistance to members and those asking for guidance and education. I am very proud of the work they are doing in my absence and now know I made the right decisions when I appointed them to office to begin ROSE on it's journey to helping the Transgender Community. I am still on the journey to recovery but hope to be able to attend the March meeting.
February's meeting program was a discussion on Hormone Therapy with our very special guest speaker Lorraine Bock from Nightingale Health and Wellness Services. Lorraine's expertise on Hormone therapy was very informative to the large group that attended the special meeting with Lorraine. Many questions were answered and many points of interest were addressed. Everyone came away with plenty of great information and facts about Hormones on the use and mis use of Hormone therapy. I have provided information for anyone interested in contacting Lorraine Bock on Hormone therapy. Their address is ... 2801 North Front Street, Harrisburg, PA, 17110, Phone: (717) 920-9579 ........
Their web site is ... ( http://www.centralpahealth.com ).
Our March Meeting program features our very special guest speaker Wayne. Wayne is a Professional Make up artist in and around the area of Harrisburg, Pa. He has done make up in and out of the area as far as New York for Gender Females, Female Illusionist, Pageant Contestants as well as T- Girls. He has held many make up classes in several areas for those seeking to learn the art of make up application. Wayne will be speaking on and demonstrating the various types of make up applications and the do's and don't of make up as well as how to get that special look your looking for, how to get those sexy eyes and much more. Try not to miss this program if your looking for make up instructions as well as getting better acquainted with make up techniques and secrets.
Our April meeting program will hopefully be a program about creating that wonderful female voice we all would love have. We are in the process of acquiring a DVD and a CD on creating a female voice which we hope will be very helpful to us all in our endeavor to become more feminine in our voices. We are also talking to someone who may be able to further help with creating a female voice who talks in a baritone voice when in her daily life as male but talks like a real woman when in her daily life as a female. Check our web site on Meeting programs for April to see if this program will be scheduled.
I would like to mention the Spring Fling that is being hosted by Trans Central, a Transgender group located in Harrisburg, Pa.... I have attended this function many times in the past and it is something not to be missed. The Spring Fling is a Semi Formal Dinner held at Bubes Brewery in Mount Joy, Pennsylvania .... The link to their Web Site is - http://www.bubesbrewery.com. This is a very friendly TG establishment and they have welcomed us with open arms for many years. This is a yearly event for the TG Community. It was once hosted by Renaissance LSV of which I was a member. This event gives the Transgender community a chance to go to a dinner wearing your best formal gowns and suits or even just go casual. The food is great and the entertainment has been great over the years. So if you want to enjoy yourself on a night out dressed to kill here is your chance. I give this TG Event an AAA for enjoyment.....Try not to miss it. For more information on this event pleases contact our board member Ellen Davidson at ceedee578@aol.com ...... More information about the Local Annual Transgender Spring Fling Event Below ...............
We all have our own ideas on what would be interesting as a program and what subjects everyone would like to hear about at a Transgender meeting. I would like to hear from some of you on your ideas of what you would like to have as program at our meetings. We are here to serve the Transgender community and what you would like to know about, have discussion on as well as have guest speakers to talk about is a major concern of ours so we can better serve you the community. Please send your ideas to us to the following e-mail address and we will do our best to bring your ideas to our meetings for you and the community. ( RoseBoardMembers@RenaissanceSEP.org ) .....
Don't miss the Spring Fling Held at Bubes Brewery ...... March 15th, 2008
A Local Annual Transgender Event
Hosted by Trans Central of Harrisburg, Pa.
TransCentralPA's annual 'Spring Fling' at Bube's Brewery in Historic Mount Joy, PA. This is the largest T-party in Central Pennyslvania. The evening will include dinner, entertainment, music, dancing and a cash bar. The invitation is open to everyone T, their significant others, friends, and family. Dress is semi-formal. Cocktails start at 6:00 pm. Dinner is served at 7:30 pm.Bube's Brewery is an intact, historic 19th century brewery and museum complex. There are several restaurants and bars throughout the complex. They have hosted the"Spring Fling" for several years and are very T-friendly. Our dining and social area is secluded to ensure our privacy. However, we are free and encouraged to roam about the complex. Registration ends on Thursday, March 13th!
Registration:
Contact Ellen Davidson at ceedee578@aol.com to register. Cost is $30 if you register by March 1st, $35 if you register afterwards. You may either pay in person at one of our meetings, use PayPal or send payment via mail. Once you submit your registration, you will be sent to a page outlining these payment options.
Hotel Information:
TransCentralPA has reserved rooms at the Holiday Inn in Elizabethtown, PA, which is approximately 4 miles from Bube's Brewery. These rooms will be held until March 1st at the special rate of $79.99. If you call the hotel directly (717) 367-4000, ask for the 'Spring Fling' discount. If you make the reservation via their website, use the Group Code of 'SFG'.
Cancelation Policy:
Cancelations made on or before March 1st will be refunded 100%. Cancelations made after March 1st but before March 10th will be refunded at 75%. To cancel your registration, please contact us at transcentralpa@yahoo.com.
Here's a few previous Spring Fling Flyers
Spring Fling flyer from the Year 2005 .... This was a flyer for the show for that year at the Spring Fling ...
Spring Fling Dinning Area
* * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * *
Fantastic Transgender Event coming up in Long Island, New York
This Event is hosted by FemmeFever
One you really do not want to miss if at all possible
(April 12, 2008 - 8pm to 12am)
At the Holiday Inn in RONKONKOMA, Long Island, NY
Another Transgender Event coming up is in New York on Long Island called the FemmeFever GALA BALL
Join hundreds of T Girls in stunning formal gowns at something that has become known as a T-girl Prom!
The FemmeFever Gala Ball has been compared to a prom like event. Just visualize yourself all dolled up in formal evening attire as you step into a beautiful ballroom surrounded by friendly loving faces, immaculate decor and fantastic music.A full course dinner will be served to you with elegant white glove service -and you will have a choice as to what you order. This is a Transgender Event that brings spouses, girlfriends and friends of the trans community as well as over 100 T-girls in together for an evening of elegance that is filled with laughter, dancing and an enjoyable show.Dinner, Dancing, DJ, Show and so much more WITH an after Ball party in the hotel lounge. Complimentary changing room, discount on overnight rooms. Brunch with your many new friends the next day.You are welcome to join the Femme Fever group in Long Island, New York on April 12th, 2008 for YOUR PROM!Tickets are sold in advance! ...... Free shuttle service from airport and train.
See www.FemmeFever.com or call (516)520-0380 for information
DO something nice for yourself....YOU DESERVE IT!!
Above from Karen ...... karen@femmefever.com
Contact Karen for more information
FemmeFever Owner
I have been to this Gala Ball and this is another Event that is not to be missed. I met hundreds of T girls at this Event a couple of years ago, the food was fantastic, the entertainment was wonderful and you could not meet a better group of friendly people. So .... If you want to go to a T Girl Prom, this is your chance. I give this event a AAAA for enjoyment and a wonderfully fabulous time. This event takes place in the Holiday Inn on Long Island in their Beautiful gigantic Ball Room. It is very private and safe for all. Myself, Ellen and Deanna even did a few numbers at this Gala Ball a couple of years ago in Female Illusion. There's an article in one of the old LSV newsletters about our Gala Ball experience, check it outThe link to that Newsletter is .... http://www.renaissancesep.org/Renaissance_LSV_March_Newsletter_2006.html ... this newsletter also has a little information about the spring Fling for that year which was 2006.....
Michelle Lynn GreyFeather
Michelle Lynn GreyFeather,
President / CEO
Renaissance of South Eastern Pennsylvania ___
Submit an Article to the ROSE Newsletter
If anyone would like to submit an article in our newsletter please feel free to contact us at anytime. Our newsletter goes out to over 200 members of the Transgender Community, mostly T-Girls but there are several T-Men and others on the list also. Just send your article to .. RoseBoardMembers@RenaissanceSEP.org ... and we will review it and enter it into our next newsletter. Our community mailing list is private and no one can see anyones e-mail address at any time. All communications are send out to the TG Community in bulk mailings. Your article will be read by over 200 T-Girls and Men in the Local TG Community as well as millions over the internet. You can place your articles in our newsletter free.___________________________________________________________________________________________
Advertise in the ROSE Newsletter or Web site
If anyone would like to advertise in our newsletter or our Web Site @ www.RenaissanceSEP.org ...please feel free to contact us and we will discuss our low fee for advertising in the ROSE Newsletter. This offer is open to Individuals, Businesses and others ...... Please contact us about advertising by sending us an e-mail to RoseBoardMembers@RenaissanceSEP.org ..... and we will get back to you as so as possible .. When advertising in our Web Site and / or our Newsletter your ad will get out to over 200 T-Girls and Men as well as other in the local TG Community as well as get out to millions on the Internet. ___________________________________________________________________________________________
Classified Section of the ROSE Newsletter
Do you have something to sell, wigs, clothing, shoes, misc, Have a service you can perform, Looking for something,
Real Estate for Rent, Handy girl/man services for hire, need help doing something, need help at your business
We are thinking of starting a classified section of our ROSE Newsletter. If anyone would like to place a classified ad in our newsletter please feel free to contact us at RoseBoardMembers@RenaissanceSEP.org .... classified ads from individuals are free to place. No businesses will be able to place ads in the classified section without a small fee. When placing a classified Ad in our Web Site and / or our Newsletter your ad will get out to over 200 T-Girls and Men as well as other in the local TG Community as well as get out to millions on the Internet. Oriental Fashions of China, USA
Chinese Dresses for sale,
$10.00 discount to T-Girls and their Spouses ......... Web Site: ... http://www.orientalfashionsofchinausa.com/
Check out the Web Site then contact me direct for the discount and to order ... sales@orientalfashionsofchinausa.com
Transgender Cartoon of the Month
End
Renaissanceof South Eastern Pennsylvania
Web Site of the Month ...... http://members.tgforum.com/paula1/index.htm
Circulation to over 200 in
the Transgender Community
Neptune's Lounge
208 North Street
Harrisburg, Pa
Phone: 717-233-0581
HOURS
Every Day- 5 PM - 2 AM
Brownstone Lounge
412 Foster Street
Harrisburg, Pa.
Phone: 717-234-7009
HOURS:
M-F 11AM - 2AM,
Sunday-5PM - 2AM
Web Site: BrownstoneLounge.com
The Red Star Saloon
11 South 10th Street
Reading, Pa.
Phone: 610-375-4116
HOURS
Wed - Sat 9PM - 2 AM
Altlands Ranch
8505 Orchard Road
Spring Grove, Pa.
Phone: 717-225-4479
HOURS
Fri - Sat. 8PM - 2AM
Web Site: www.AltlandsRanch.com
Deer Park Lodge
21614 National Pikw
Boonsboro, MD
Phone: 301-797-7672
HOURS
Thurs - Sat. 7PM - 2AM
Sun 7PM - 12 AM
65 miles South West of York, Pa.
Club XS
36 West 11th Avenue
York, PA 17404
Phone: 717-846-6969.
Open: 7 days a week
Hours: 4pm - 2am Happy Hour: 5-7pm ...
Web Site: http://www.clubxsyork.com/
Stallions Entertainment Complex
706 N 3rd St,
Harrisburg, PA
Phone: (717) 232-3060
Web Site: http://www.pickafeature.com/sec/
Club Z,
321 Pine St.,
Williamsport, PA 17701
Phone: (570) 322-6900
Web Site: http://www.clubzbar.com/
Liquid 891
891 Eisenhower Blvd
Harrisburg, PA 17111
Phone: 717.939.3590
Hours, Thurs. 5 - Mid night, Friday, 5 - 2 AM
Sat 5- 2 AM, Sun 11AM - Mid night
After work, Happy Hours, 5:30 PM - 7:30 PM
Web Site: http://www.liquid891.com/
Pride Festival of
Central Pa.
Sat-July26, 2008
Harrisburg, Pa.
Riverfront Park
March 2008
Local Entertainment Calender
Places to Go, Things to do
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Club Hippo
1 West Eager Street
Baltimore, MD 21201
Open 7 Days a Week
Hippo Events Days
Wed, thurs, Fri, Sat
Phone: 410 - 547-0069
Hippotron Events Line
Phone: 410 - 576-0018
The ROSE Newsletter
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Hormone Therapy
Lorraine Bock
Nightingale Health and Wellness Services
Web Site: http://www.centralpahealth.com/
Harrisburg, PA
2801 North Front Street
Harrisburg, PA 17110
(717) 920-9579 + PH
(717) 920-9531 + FAX
Carlisle
1422 Trindle Road
Carlisle, PA 17015
(717) 249-6175 + PH
Transgender Counseling
Kim Rosenberg
Rosenberg Psychological Practice
1008 Cobblestone Ln
Lancaster, PA 17601
Phone: (717) 569-1800 Kim Tierney Rosenberg, M.S.aCHT
Web Site: http://www.kimrosenberg.com/
Michele Angello, Ph.D.
Core Initiatives, LLC
987 Old Eagle School Road,
Suite 719 • Wayne, PA 19087
Phone: 610-917-8561
Web Site: http://www.yourrelationshipdocs.com/
Rowe - Ward Counseling & Therapeutic Services
141 South Pitt Street
Carlisle, Pennsylvania 17013
Phone: (717) 243-2145
Contact Person: Carol Crawford Rowe
schedule an appointment call
1-800-840-5721 or 717-243-2145
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Rowe-Ward counseling has moved from Carlise, Pa. their new location is not known at this time
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From the Pen of Alexis
People ask, where I intend to go with my life; what are the lengths I may go? To be whom I am, to follow my own path. Never letting go of my dreams to be me. Now on my way and living my life for me. There is no other joy or happiness on this earth that can change my mind, heart and soul to be a woman, to live as a woman, and I am a woman. Where to go from here is often asked as well. I have decided that my next step is hormones to get the body that I so deserve to match my heart and soul. As far as surgery may go, I am still deathly afraid of that, but in the same turn willing to go to that extent. The cost is high and would be a very defining moment in my life to be complete. But in my eyes, that is a luxury that I may one day be able to give myself, the one gift I may never get. I am very happy to be me and very lucky for the way I have lived. I do not regret my life only that I wish I had been able to take this step earlier in my life. But I know the changes I have made along the way, with the sacrifices I had to give, just to be who I am. This road I am on is not over; my story, my life is not over, but more just the beginning. If I may use a couple of verses from a song that mentions what I mean; it goes like this:I don’t know if you can see
The changes that have come over me
In these last few days I’ve been afraid
That I might drift away
I’ve been telling old stories, singing songs
That makes me think about where I’ve come from
That’s the reason why I seem
So far away today
Now I have moved and I’ve kept on moving
Proved the points that I needed proving
Lost the friends that I needed losing
Found others on the way
Yes, there’s no denying
I have traveled hard, sometimes with conscience flying
Somewhere with the wind
As far as my family goes, one final verse for them.
Let me tell you that I love you
That I think about you all the time
But if I should become a stranger
Know that it would make me more than sad
My life has been everything I’ve ever had
Alexis Luanne Clark
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From Alexis’ kitchen
" Italian Sausage Soup with Tortellini "
Prep time: 20 minutes Ready in: 1 hour 35 minutes
Cook time: 1 hour 15 minutes Yields: 8 servings
“Italian sausage, garlic, tomatoes, red wine, and tortellini – this soup combines favorite ingredients from an Italian kitchen. You can use sweet or hot sausage, depending on your tastes, and fresh herbs if you have them on hand.”
INGREDIENTS:
1 pound sweet Italian sausage, 1 cup thinly sliced carrots
casings removed
1 cup chopped onion ½ tablespoon packed fresh basil leaves
2 cloves garlic, minced ½ teaspoon dried oregano
5 cups beef broth 1 (8 ounce) can tomato soup
½ cup water 1 ½ cups sliced zucchini
½ cup red wine 8 ounces fresh tortellini pasta
4 large tomatoes – peeled, 3 tablespoons chopped fresh parsley
seeded and chopped
DIRECTIONS:
1.In a 5-quart Dutch oven, brown sausage. Remove sausage and drain, reserving 1 tablespoon of the drippings. (cont.)
In a 5-quart Dutch oven, brown sausage. Remove sausage and drain, reserving 1 tablespoon of the drippings. (cont.)2.Sauté onions and garlic in drippings. Stir in beef broth, water, wine, tomatoes, carrots, basil, Oregano, tomato sauce, and sausage. Bring to a boil. Reduce heat; simmer uncovered for 30 minutes.
Sauté onions and garlic in drippings. Stir in beef broth, water, wine, tomatoes, carrots, basil, Oregano, tomato sauce, and sausage. Bring to a boil. Reduce heat; simmer uncovered for 30 minutes.3.Skim fat from the soup. Stir in zucchini and parsley. Simmer covered for 30 minutes. Add Tortellini during the last 10 minutes. Sprinkle with Parmesan cheese on top of each serving.
Skim fat from the soup. Stir in zucchini and parsley. Simmer covered for 30 minutes. Add Tortellini during the last 10 minutes. Sprinkle with Parmesan cheese on top of each serving. Editor’s note – This was a main dish at a recent ROSE meeting potluck dinner and it was great everybody loved it!
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Cathy's Chatter
It looks like we just about got winter beat. That furry critter that comes out of a hole in the ground every February told us this year that spring will arrive at its usual time. I would not begin getting the short skirts and tops out just yet. You know the damage Mother Nature can inflict on us just for last minute laughs.I had to do a research paper for my sociology class on deviance. I took a functionalist view and typed fourteen pages worth. For those that do not know, functionalists believe, in the case of deviance, that it is necessary in order for a society to not only survive, but also grow. Society needs this type of behavior to distinguish what is acceptable or not acceptable behavior. The good part is that if a deviant behavior goes on long enough and it is not seen as harmful to society at large, it begins to be accepted and eventually it is not considered deviant behavior. With that said, I guess most of you know that we are considered deviants. Everyone in the LGBT community is. Times they are a changing though. The LGBT community still experiences prejudice, but for the most part, the LGB part is becoming a norm in the function of society. Tell someone you are lesbian or gay now a days and the reply you will get may be, “And your point is?” Of course that is the way it should be! That leaves the “T” part. The transgender community is lagging when it comes to being an acceptable part of society. We are in good company though. In 1776, a group of deviants got together and signed the Declaration of Independence. Fast forward to the fifties and we can read about a group of deviants integrating an all white school down south. It was a group of deviants that in 1969 created Woodstock, one of the greatest music events in recorded history in a field outside of a quiet upstate New York village no one ever heard of until then. Yes, we are in good company and perhaps someday soon, we will not be labeled deviants as well. For now, the best we can do is support and stand up for one another. We can educate society that despite who we are, we can still work hard and love our jobs. Inform society that we all have families to whom we give and receive love just like they do. Additionally, we can let society know that we are just good people trying their best to have a good life like anyone else. Just my thoughts…….Cathy
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Deanna's Thoughts
Hello Rose ladies and others!
I was originally going to do something on cross-dressing for Saint Patrick’s Day, but a search tells me nothing significant. Bube’s Brewery is a nice place. It is very theme oriented, you’ll more than likely be greeted at the door by a Geisha, or cowboy, or ghoul! This is the place that has those mystery dinner things. You know, you pay money to hear a murder and then play detective and have dinner. We TG’s usually go upstairs and have dinner and drinks, one year there was a drag show, another there was a comedienne and damned if some of us thought she was all that funny! She did do a good skit on socks and dating that you had to hear.There are caverns that you can actually have dinner in! As well as run from unwanted advances from a guy you decided against dating, that happened to me a few years ago, I can laugh at it now. I know the true meaning of: “I have a headache”-LOL! By the time you hold this in your grubby little paws, er I mean perfectly manicured and polished nails it will be meeting time again! This meeting should be a good one. Roxie Prima Donna one time reigning queen of Harrisburg will be giving a talk and a demonstration on makeup. She is brilliant! Roxie has perfected different styles of makeup throughout the years and is well known for her work! She used to hold drag school in Harrisburg; in which Ellen, myself and Michelle was glad to partake of her knowledge and expertise! For those of you fussing about a makeup person coming to a Transgender meeting…..well, don’t! We could all use a little help now and again! Remember she is emphasizing passing which you (or we) need to do! Passing also boosts our confidence and ability to act feminine. Would you sooner look and act feminine? Or look like a bad train wreck and attempt to act feminine? Roxie will tell you this herself. Besides, most women love makeovers!
I had a chance to be with Michelle Greyfeather earlier in the week and she seems to be doing a lot better than she was. Don’t worry Michelle! We gotcha covered! Spring is the time of renewal and the end of winter. The time when the temperature begins to warm up, things thaw; trees should be budding by April, which is right around the corner. Originally spring was considered to be part of the New Year until ole what’s his name got a hold of things and decided that his calendar system was the best.
Next month’s meeting is up in the air as far as subject matter. We are trying to put together something concerning using your female voice, and maybe I will have a little more time to start writing about Transgenderism and the history of our people, myths, deities, ect. There is more than what most people might think of. Anyway, Happy Springtime! And enjoy a green beer for me! Hell, enjoy any beer for me!
Diana
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TG Article 2
What Have you Done Lately?
By Brianna Austin
Within every community there are those that find a cause, injustice or revolution for which they can embrace and become passionate. As a community the gay rights movement demonstrates the power of unified concerns and the tenacity of a common goal. Victor Hugo said it best: "There is nothing as powerful as an idea whose time has come." It seems of late that our time has come.
Most of us are old enough to have lived through the civil and gay rights movements, feminism and the sexual revolution. Nowadays you see the term and the images of transgender everywhere - in the news, in feature films and on television sitcoms. But in recent years the perception of transgender people by the mainstream seems to have shifted just a bit, and we are portrayed as someone's brother, cousin or father - in other words we are just people of a different perspective.
What seems to be general familiarity now (at least in the metropolitan areas such as NYC, Philadelphia, Boston, Miami, New Orleans, London and Paris etc.), if not total acceptance, we sometimes take for granted. It was a rough and rocky road that was paved by transgender warriors before us, who refused to be less than who they were which makes our Saturday night romps possible. They risked losing friends, family, careers, and enduring arrest, mental and/or physical abuse and being socially exiled.
In every movement there are those that put themselves out there as beacon's of light, in many different ways, to guide those in the shadows - which is still true today. But the real question is WHAT HAVE YOU DONE LATELY? Isn't this part of your community too, isn't this part of who you are? Believe it or not it does not take much to make a difference. Some say, "I can't be in the spotlight - I have to much to lose". So they attend the local events to "get" what they need and call it a day.
Rose Royale addresses
the crowd at QWE'RE Musicfest
Rose Royale stood before a packed house at the first annual Qwe're Music Fest this summer in
NYC (produced by Chloe and Joe Birdsong), and in her soft spoken way challenged the gay,
lesbian, trans-variant and transgender community to be inclusive and respectful of one another.
I realized at that moment that everyone could contribute in a powerful way. You don't have to
be a political activist, columnist, performer, celebrity or necessarily visible at all to make a
difference - all you have to do is care. "I help out when I can" Rose said to me in a recent
interview. Rose, who refers to herself as part drag-queen and part transgender, told me that "if
I help one person it makes it all worth while".
So what can you do? Here is a short list.
1. Respect Each Other - Our different opinions, perspectives, and experiences make us rich. Engage in ideas not debate.
2. Be a Light of Positive Energy - Simply be kind to the person next to you.
3. Be proud - of who you are and be of good nature when around those in and outside the community.
4. Educate - the Ignorant and Misinformed. Rose says "I can't live angry, some people really don't understand". Don't respond with anger - take just a moment to educate if the person is willing to listen.
5. Be Helpful - Provide advice, experience, friendship, or support to someone just coming out. Remember you were there once and it can be frightening.
6. Support Our Allies - The event promoters, performers, publications, foundations, and retailers provide the creative energy
and dollars to expand our universe - support their efforts so they can continue their work.
7. Spread The Word - If you see, read, hear or experience something that moves you, tell a friend - or two, or three.
In the end we are a melting pot of society who outwardly expresses ourselves more openly than most of the mainstream. We can make of this community, and the way it is perceived by the mainstream, whatever we as a group, are willing to visualize.. Be Victorious Where You Stand - Make a difference.
As always, be happy, be safe, and think pretty.
Brianna Austin
Rose Royale addresses the crowd
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TG Article 3
In sight to a Crossdresser
Read Jamie Daily's Insight to a Crossdresser ....
Jamie has answered some personnel questions aske to her about crossdressing. go to her web site and check out her answers and compare her answers to yours and see if they are familiar ...
TLBG CALENDAR
Club Activities and Events Schedules
Sun Mar 9 – Gay Pride Show – Stallions - Harrisburg ..... http://www.pickafeature.com/sec/
Fri Mar14 – ROSE meeting – 8 PM - MCC Church – Mountville ...
Meeting Program Information ... http://www.renaissancesep.org/ROSE_Meeting_Program_Information.html
Meeting Information .... http://www.renaissancesep.org/updating_page.html
Sat Mar 15 –TransCentral Spring Fling – 7 PM Bubes Brewery – Mt Joy
Mon Mar 17 – St Patrick’s Day Party - Stallions ... http://www.pickafeature.com/sec/
Fri Mar 21 – 891 Divas Show – 10 PM – Liquid 891 – Harrisburg ... http://www.liquid891.com/
-Drag Show – 10 PM – Dawg Haus – Manheim ... Click picture to enlarge
Drag Show – 10 PM – Dawg Haus – Manheim ... Click picture to enlargeFri Mar 28 – Country Line Dancing by Michael J – 9 PM – Altlands Ranch – Spring Grove ..
Fri Apr 4 – Gay Pride Tour 2008 – Club XS ... http://www.clubxsyork.com/
TG ARTICLE 1
Article From Cookie magazine
"The Pink Dress"
By Sara Hoffman
The Pink Dress
Young Sam demands to wear a dress to school, forcing his parents to
make a decision: protect him from ridicule or cultivate his self-expression?
By Sarah Hoffman
At seven o'clock on a Thursday morning, my 4-year-old son announced, "I'm going to wear a dress to school today." I froze, teacup halfway to my lips. I shouldn't have been entirely surprised by the statement, given Sam's history on the pink side of the dress-up box, but this time something was different.
The previous weekend, Sam and I had visited his grandma in Malibu. Looking to cool down after a sunny playground romp, the three of us had wandered into a high-end children's boutique. While his grandma and I snickered over rhinestone-encrusted Converse sneakers and $600 infant sweaters, Sam was drawn to a frilly pink sundress. "Can I have it?" he asked.
I blinked at him. Trying to keep things light, I told Sam the dress was not his size. He dropped his chin to his chest, big blues fixed on me. "Well, are there dresses in my size?" he asked shyly. I paused, trying to decide what to say. "Boys don't wear dresses" came to mind, but that wasn't true—Sam had always loved trying on his girl friends' princess costumes. "I'm not going to buy you a $270 dress from this ridiculous store" also came to mind, but that didn't address the point—his or mine. He would be asking the same question about a $7.99 sundress at Target, and I'd still be wondering why my boy wanted to wear one—and why, really, he couldn't. As I steered him out of the store, Sam started to weep. "I wish I had a pink dress!" he wailed.
"But sweetie," I said in my best calm, concerned mommy tone, "you have two pink dresses. Your princess dress-up costumes are both pink."
"But I want one I can wear to school!"
At 4, Sam has been expressing his preference for pink for half his life. My husband and I have bought him several pink items that fall in the sort-of-odd-but-socially acceptable range: pink Converse sneakers (hold the rhinestones), pink T-shirts, and—our most risqué to date—a hot pink polo shirt. His grandparents gave him a pair of pink light-up Skechers that he adores. The dress-up box at home overflows with pink tulle, lace, and marabou feathers.
But for public appearances, my husband and I realize that certain things—hair accessories, flowery clothing designs, dresses—are on the other side of a line we haven't been quite willing to cross, one that sits right between eccentric-but-cute and is-that-a-boy-wearing-that? We have tried to find a comfortable place on the near side of the line where Sam can express himself without inviting ridicule, and we knew that a pink sundress would go beyond that. But it was starting to look as if Sam was no longer happy within the narrow parameters we'd established to protect him.
"Is This a Phase?"
I'd wanted to think that this was just a phase for Sam, but I was beginning to understand that it was not. My son wanted to wear a dress—for real, not for dress-up. He wanted to show the other children in his life, in preschool—the place where he expresses himself publicly—his true self. The pink-sundress-wearing self. And I was going to have to figure out what to do.
I am a woman who rarely puts on a skirt or heels, and I was a kid who preferred overalls to frills. The part of me that thinks outside of the gender box looks at Sam and thinks he should wear whatever makes him feel most comfortable and beautiful. And yet ... I am his mother, and my fiercest urge is to protect him. I know that boys who look and act like girls get tormented, beaten up, and beaten down. A dress on a boy feels like an invitation to mockery.
My husband and I didn't know whether Sam was ready to wear a dress to school—or if we were ready for him to. We wondered if learning to fit in with the other boys was more important than expressing the real Sam. Yet we knew that our attempts to steer him toward the masculine were not working, and that he was becoming increasingly resistant to wearing boy clothes in general. More important, we knew that denying his desire to look the way he wants would quash a part of him and make him unhappy, probably in a more fundamental way than we even understood.
So I bought him a dress, a $10 pink embroidered sundress from Old Navy. I did not decide if it would be okay for him to wear it to school, because I was not ready to decide. I figured he could try it out at home and see how he felt. How we felt.
Sam's declaration that he would wear the dress to school saved us, in a way, from having it occurred to me that having confidence—being proud of who he is, even if he's different from other kids—is the best defense against the inevitable ridicule.
Handling Teasing
So we coached Sam, as best we could, on what to say to the children at preschool who might tease him. We role-played the kinds of things he could say back to them. We talked about how much teasing can hurt, and how teasing is wrong.
At that morning's drop-off, my confidence in Sam moved up a notch when he announced to his teacher, "Look at my pretty dress! No one is allowed to make fun of me."
After school, Sam beamed as he reported that his teachers had said they liked his dress, and the other 4-year-olds had said he looked pretty. But the kids in the 5-year-old class had teased him and told him that he was "girly," that "boys can't wear dresses," and that he "must not be a boy."
"What did you say back?" I asked, hiding my trepidation behind an encouraging smile.
"I said, 'Don't make fun of me! I can be a boy and wear a dress, because it is my choice!'"
I couldn't have said it better. I asked Sam how he felt about his day in a dress, and he said, "I want to wear a dress to school again!"
And how did I feel about the experiment? Well, next week is tie-dye week at school. The class parent in charge of ordering the clothes (T-shirts for the boys, dresses for the girls) called to ask if I wanted a T-shirt or a dress for Sam. Touched by her thoughtfulness, I thought I would give Sam the same consideration she had, so I let him decide.
It looks like there will soon be two dresses in Sam's closet.
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