trans on screen - The Beaumont Society

The Membership Journal of the Beaumont Society · Issue 85
TRANS ON
SCREEN
by Penny Ellis
NEVER
A GIRL, ALWAYS
A BOY
BUNNY
GIRLS
AND
OF THTHE EVOL
UTIO
E BU
COST NNY GIRLN
UME
CONCLUSION
KITTY
POTTER
HAS THE PURR-FECT WEEKEND
See photos from Kay’s Harrogate Weekend inside
RELATIONSHIPS
by Carla Mountford
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After all why shouldn’t we?
Luxury
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.contents
14
President:- Kay West
32
40
THE BEAUMONT
SOCIETY
was established in 1966
Charity status granted (2010)
Registration no. 1135548
Membership
Annual membership of the Society
currently costs £29, for which you receive
four issues of this magazine
30
In this issue
Spring 2014 · Issue 85
4.
President’s Page
32. A Week In The Sun
6.
Relationships
36. News & T-Mail
8.
Sam & Ellie’s Fashion Pages
37. Working Girls
Electronic membership is now available
for those who do not wish to receive a
magazine in the post, with the magazines
available to read on the website.
If you have any questions about
membership, or would like to join, please
get in touch with your regional organiser
(phone numbers by area on
01582 412220) or Jane Hamlin the
Membership Secretary
(beaumontmembership@btinternet.com)
Application forms can be downloaded
from our website
(http://www.beaumontsociety.org.uk)
THE BEAUMONT
TRUST
12. Drew-Ashlyn Cunningham
38. Trainsphobia
14. Old Mother Riley & Kitty
40. Playboy Bunnies
17. Trans On Screen
42. One’s True Self
18. Never A Girl, Always A Boy
43. Diversity
20. Gires
44. Family & Friends
The Beaumont Quarterly
Magazine is published and
produced by Goldmine Media
29. Your Letters
47. Helplines
Creative Designers:
Stephanie Wright / Jennifer Kirk
30. Playing The Opposite Sex
Helpline Tues and Thurs 7 to 11pm
07000 287 878
Sub Editor:
Patsy Bearman
03
.president’s page
YOUR
OPINION
COUNTS
I
n December’s issue I reported how busy
the Beaumont Society was with activity,
but the situation has changed and we
seemed to have evened out. I put this down to
the dark nights, Christmas festivities and the
record-breaking rainfall. However, February
saw two social weekends this year with
Chesterfield and Harrogate. Each event was
well received, and you can see photographs of
the guests from each venue further on in the
magazine.
For my events at Harrogate including July
this year I have decided to give a discount to
Beaumont Society members. I feel this gesture
may encourage prospective members, and at
the same time it is an incentive for our current
membership to remain with the Society. It will
also boost our funds so that we can maintain
our core principles which are to help and
educate all matters relating to Trans people. I
am hoping to encourage other event organisers
and commercial providers to do the same and
follow my lead.
I am saddened to hear from some of my
regional organisers that monthly meetings are
not being very well attended. This is a very
unfortunate situation because these selected
venues offer a safe and secure environment
Submissions
for regular attenders as well as newcomers
and their partners. So please, if you are free,
go along and join in. Many Trans people have
benefited from these get-togethers.
Recently, as we all know, good news from
Russia does not flow easily from Mr Putin, for
example, his LGBT laws. However, I cannot
hold him responsible for ‘Moskow’ (spelt that
way) the Samoyed who was my Christmas
assistant as sadly he passed away, too early, in
mid February.
On a different note, up to this present time
no one appears to have applied for the position
of president of the Beaumont Society, so it
looks like I will be with you all for the next
term of three years.
One point I would like to make, before I
finish, is that if you see me out and about and
you have any thoughts or opinions please share
them with me. I am very approachable and my
take on communication is that I learn more
from listening than talking.
I hope you all have a very enjoyable spring
season.
Kay West Beaumont Society
President
February saw two
social weekends this
year with Chesterfield
and Harrogate.
Each event was well
received and you can
see photographs of
the guests from each
venue further on in the
magazine.
Kind regards
Kay West,
Beaumont Society President
Do you have something you would like to add? Would you like to feature inside the Beaumont Magazine? Please send
your stories, letters and contributions to kay.west.online@gmail.com and, you never know, we may include it in the next
issue of Beaumont Quarterly.
04
This annual Premier Weekend will be held as usual at the now renamed Holiday Inn, just to the South East of Sheffield, near to
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The price for the full weekend is £165.00* per person.
For those wishing to start the weekend on Thursday, the extra cost is £68.00* per person and for those wishing to stay the extra day
on Sunday the cost is £68.00* per person.
A deposit of £50 per person is required and cheques should be made in favour of CONFERENCE WEEKEND. Saturday Cabaret, a
return of last years dance ensemble.
For further details and booking forms Janett invites you to contact her with SAE to :Janett Scott
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E: JScott5426@aol.com
T: 01582 732936
Monthly instalments available at no extra cost.
Standing orders are welcome.
Janett Scott’s
Weekend break for Ladies
Holiday Inn
West Bawtry Road,
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T: 0870 400 7235
E: reservations@rotherham.kewgreen.co.uk
YOU ARE INVITED TO JOIN US AT THE NEXT
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full payment will be required by end March.
Finalised details will follow in an Event Guide.
THURSDAY EXTRA EVENING B&B - £65 PP
THURSDAY B&B IN SHARED ROOM - £50 PP
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Friday attendance with dinner - £15
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.relationships
RELATIONSHIPS
by Carla Mountford
When Joanna asked if I could write about my experience of a trans relationship, I have to admit, I was more
than a little apprehensive. Although I wouldn’t want to hide, the thought of sharing private thoughts was
a little daunting. As I thought more about us though, I realised neither me nor my boyfriend had anything
to be ashamed of and, actually, a great deal to be proud of that could maybe help others. It’s just that our
relationship is a little different to most. I realise of course that every relationship is different and we react
to certain things in our own way, but ours is different to most, because I’m dating a trans (FTM) guy.
I
fell in love with my boyfriend just over
two years ago, and although in that time
we’ve had our share of ups and downs,
we always come back to that point where
we kiss and make up, because life’s better
together than apart, which is a really cool
thing to have with someone. I’m not saying
our relationship is easy—if nothing else, the
distance between us can make it awkward
when I want a cuddle—but, as they say in the
adverts, we do it ‘because we’re worth it’.
But, besides distance, there are other
obstacles we face too. In fact, now that I think
about it, distance is probably one of the easier
ones! So what are they?
LABELS
Labels are a fact of life, not just for trans
people, but for those who support them
too. Although a lot of trans guys want to go
out and date a ‘straight girl’, to augment (or
validate) their sense of masculinity, there
are some, and possibly many, who date
within the LGBT community. Interestingly,
they’ll also date while they’re in the process
of transitioning. If that’s the case they can
have a HUGE issue with their girlfriend
identifying as a lesbian. The label can
hang over your relationship as a constant
reminder of what he once was, or maybe
even still is, if he is mid-transition. It might
not even be a label that you’re comfortable
with or feel fits you. But, what is the point
of this label, really? Why get tied up in it?
A relationship is an emotional connection
between two people, irrespective of gender
or sexuality. Sometimes you just like
06
someone, and it doesn’t matter what their
gender is or how they identify. Love people
for the love of people and define your own
label through your own actions rather than
other people’s prejudices.
IMAGE
Although they may be going through a
physical, psychological and emotional change,
trans people are still people. A HUGE part
of being trans is passing for their preferred
gender. By calling attention to the fact he
used to identify as a woman or that he is
biologically female, you are not only insulting
him, but you are potentially putting your
guy in danger of ignorant hate that could be
physically harmful if you’re not in a socially
accepted area. One of the most important
and valuable things you can do is to make
him feel comfortable in his gender. Your guy
might already be self-conscious, especially
about his body. If someone comes up to you,
either because they know you’re dating/with
him or whatever, and asks you if they’re a
girl or a guy, do not explain your significant
other’s situation. It is no one’s business but
their own and it’s up to them who they want
to know about their transition. If it was talked
about previously and you came to some sort
of understanding that it’s okay to tell people
he’s trans, go for it! Otherwise, deny, deny,
deny. Turn it around on that person and
make them feel like they must be blind to
even THINK that it could be a girl.
TALKING
Always talk to your guy before telling friends
about him being trans, especially if he’s
pre-T or in early T stages where it could
be noticeable he’s not biologically male.
Depending on how open your guy is, some
situations are okay to talk about his trans
.relationships
life, but if you’re just out with him, meeting
new people, maybe at a party, do not out
him. Another important point is that, as the
significant other to a trans man, you need
to be aware of what kind of people you tell.
Just because you’re friends with someone or
close to them, they might be more closeminded than you think and might spew
out ignorant comments. You also need to
consider what I call the ‘Chinese whisper’
effect where, once you put a story out there,
you lose control of it and it tends to spread
through your friends’ network, morphing
each time it is regurgitated. Remember that
once you put something out there, it can
never be taken back. Another important
point to note about talking is related to
understanding, which I’ll touch on a little
later. You need to be prepared to listen to
your guy talk about the things they’re going
through, often when you’re not going to have
a frame of reference to ask questions and
support them. The talking that you do, while
you’re learning about gender dysphoria and
how it effects you both, is really important.
You need to ask open questions and provide
him time to answer them. Sometimes you’ll
have to accept that they won’t even have the
answers and to press for an answer will just
antagonise a bad situation.
INTIMACY
If you’re sexually active with a guy, BE
CONSCIOUS. If your guy is comfortable
enough to take off his shirt, understand this
is not the same as a woman taking her shirt
off. Do not stare at his chest and make him
feel uncomfortable. Many trans guys would
appreciate their significant others touching
their chest, but there’s a difference between
touching and groping. Your guy doesn’t want
to be felt up, because they don’t want to feel
like they’re boobs. It’s just their chest and it’s
no big deal. Vaginas. YES, they all know it’s
there, but DON’T POINT IT OUT. Your guy
does NOT want you to comment on the fact
that he has a vagina. Understand your guy
may not be confident enough to be touched
in the genital area. Also, it’s probably not best
to refer to it as a vagina. Use a gender-neutral
word like ‘junk’ or something else because
it could make him feel uncomfortable by
calling it a vagina.
UNDERSTANDING
The gender dysphoria so many trans
guys (and girls) experience is far beyond
what many people could really understand
because they’re not trans, they were born
in the correct body to match their gender
identity. Education is so important – so, so
important. Without education it’s impossible
to have a good understanding. Read as
much information as you can possibly get
your hands on, and talk to other people
who are in the same position (I PROMISE
you’re not out there on your own). But most
of all, you have to understand that although
it sucks to sit there and not be able to do
anything, you need to try and understand
that it’s hard to try and accept everyday
they’re not a guy biologically, and they have
to wake up everyday knowing that. It weighs
down on them. Some guys (and girls) feel it
more than others, but they all feel it at some
point. That’s not a flaw in a personality or
how they are. You went through puberty
once, imagine having to go through it twice.
Of course, this is just my own experience
and opinion based on us. Every relationship
is different and we react to certain things
in our own way, but I wanted to give you a
list of things that I’ve found helpful while
dating a trans guy. It’s not easy dating
a trans guy based on my experience.
Remember, though, true beauty lies
beneath the skin. When you take the
time to really get to know someone,
most of their physical characteristics
vanish in your mind.
07
.ellie & sam
SAM & ELLIE’S
FASHION PAGES
M
aybe we should have reviewed umbrella styles, Wellington boot colours and
sou’westers in our December pages considering the amount of rain that we’ve
all had to contend with over the past three months. We’re now worried that
we might, once again, experience a freeze during the months that are usually associated
with spring, and need to keep wearing our winter coats, boots and opaque tights for
another month or two. Time will tell. All we can do is wish for some mild, sunny weather
during April, enough to bring out the floral skirts and lightweight tops for a few days.
Here’s hoping!
Love from Sam and Ellie. X
Email us at: beaumontfashion@yahoo.co.uk
DOS AND DON’TS WHEN WEARING A MINIDRESS
We know that many transgendered women long to wear
a minidress, even if only occasionally. There is no reason
why you shouldn’t do so, as long as you choose the style
with care, and you only wear it to an appropriate venue.
Above all, never wear a minidress with stockings and
suspenders. Either go for the bare-legged look (and this
may include nude-coloured tights) or wear the dress
with opaque tights. Here are some other guidelines.
Legs and heels
With the focus on the legs, you should ensure that
they look as long and lean as possible. Groom them
by epilating, waxing or shaving closely and keep them
moisturised.
Nothing can flatter a leg line more than a pair of heels.
While traditional high heels can work, consider platform
heels. These can look very attractive paired with a
minidress with the platform’s substantial appearance
really finishing off the look.
Get the length and fit right
A good rule of thumb when wearing a garment that
exposes the leg is to avoid having the piece end at the
widest part of the leg. Go for a style that drops to a point
an inch or two below this; your silhouette will be that
much more attractive.
Minidresses do not always need to be worn close
to the skin. A-line or flared minidresses can produce
a very compelling appearance while sidestepping the
sometimes too obvious sensuality of a skin-tight style.
Ditsy-styles can look very pretty.
Wear them at any age
With the variety of silhouettes available when it comes
to the minidress, there is no reason a woman should feel
that she has to put a mini aside after a certain age. With
08
the right style, it can be charming and flirtatious in
any decade. Sheath minidresses can be especially
elegant for older women, while vintage-style looks
can be very age appropriate. Darker colours can
also make a minidress look more professional and
suitable for older women.
Ensure that your shape is right by wearing
shape-wear. Experiment with the huge range
of control lingerie available from M&S or
Debenhams. You need a smoothly changing shape
under the dress, not one with bulges and bumps.
DEBENHAMS
COAST
MINIDRESS £125;
SIZES TO 18
M&S PLEATED
NECK TUNIC
DRESS
£36.00
JOHN LEWIS
SHERRI BLACK
SEQUIN SHORT
DRESS £120;
SIZES TO 18
.ellie & sam
COMMON NECKLINES
Boat (runs from one shoulder to
the other with only a slight dip)
Accentuates the bust, makes the shoulders
look broader, shows off the collarbones,
makes the wearer’s face appear rounder,
elongates the torso and makes the wearer’s
neck look shorter. Best for women with
small busts, long necks, oval faces and
short torsos. Wear hair up to elongate the
neck’s appearance.
Square
Adds breadth to torso, shows off
collarbones and throat. Worn to
add solidity to the appearance
of fine-boned women. Consider
wearing your hair up to balance the
horizontal line created by the collar.
Cowl (a rounded neckline
that hangs in draped folds)
Similar effect to scoop neck:
highlights the collarbone and
lengthens the neck. Universally
flattering, but women with big
busts and broad shoulders should
opt for a deeper cowl to avoid
adding bulk.
Scoop (a rounded
neckline that dips to show
part of upper chest)
Similar effect to V-neck:
flattering, lengthens the neck
and accentuates the collarbone.
Suits all body types, but a wide
scoop neck will make broad
shoulders look broader.
Crew (a close-fitting,
round neckline)
Accentuates the bust, makes the
face appear rounder, elongates
torso. Best for women with small
busts, long faces and short torsos.
Should be avoided by women with
larger busts and round faces.
V-Shape
Universally flattering,
lengthens neck and accentuates
collarbones. A wide V makes
the shoulders look broader, and
a narrow V makes them look
narrower. Use to counterbalance
a large bust, provided the
neckline is not overly revealing.
09
.ellie & sam
SKIRT LENGTH GUIDELINES
The length of a skirt can have a significant impact on how well it flatters
the figure. The following is a guide for skirts of different lengths.
Short: skirts falling mid-thigh can be flattering by elongating legs;
particularly good for shorter or fuller legs; more mature styles can be
paired with elegant hosiery for an elegant line.
Knee: the zone between just above the knee to just below is universally
flattering; for shorter legs, just above the knee is preferable.
Mid-Calf (Midi): the skirt should fall exactly to the slimmest point of
calf; better for average-to-tall women and long-legged figures, especially
those with lean calves.
Long: this length can be a good choice for all ages and most body
types; should fall at or below ankle and be slim-fitting at hips, especially
for petite frames.
M&S PER UNA
MONO-PRINT MAXISKIRT AT £49.50;
SIZES TO 24
M&S PER UNA
BUTTON-FRONT
KNEE-LENGTH
SKIRT AT £39.50;
SIZES TO 24
BRA SIZING
When buying a bra, it is important to get the proper
measurements. To find the band size, measure around the
body, just underneath the breasts. Measure in inches, then
round this number up to the nearest even number. Take
another measurement, in inches, around the fullest part of
the breast, again, rounding up to the nearest whole number.
Using the chart below, convert the difference between these
two numbers to calculate the cup size required.
Measurement difference in inches
Less than 1 inch
1 inch
2 inches
3 inches
4 inches
5 inches
6 inches
7 inches
8 inches
Cup size required
AA
A
B
C
D
DD
E
F
FF
LA REDOUTE LEATHER DRESSES
We weren’t aware that La Redoute had produced leather dresses
until we caught sight of a review in the fashion pages of a women’s
magazine, and we are aware that some of our readers like the
rather racy look of leather. Here are the two styles currently
available. We’ve shown the ‘Fit ‘n Flare’ style in tan, but it is also
available in black.
M&S COLLECTION
SPOTTED LONG
‘FLIPPY’ SKIRT AT
£35; SIZES TO 24
10
M&S ABSTRACT
PRINT SKATER
SHORT SKIRT AT
£25; SIZES TO 18
.ellie & sam
Hi Eleanor and Sam
I enjoy reading Sam and Ellie’s fashion pages,
particularly the problem page. If you do
have any time or space left I actually have a
problem which you may be able to help me
with. I feel I’ve got very broad shoulders and
dressing them down would be a good way to
help conceal them.
Please can you give me some advice on this
matter?
Yours, Katherine
Dear Katherine
Sam writes: So have I, and a lot of other
girls share our problem, unlike Ellie
(scratch her eyes out). We’ve been blessed
with broad shoulders, which are fine
for playing rugby, but not conducive to
wearing dresses.
So, what to do? Disguise them! Nearly
all women do just that with the bits of
their bodies they’re not happy with. This
ranges from padded or minimiser bras to
corsetry, make-up to hair dye, but the most
important is the choice of clothes that will
either flatter or disguise the body shape.
For this problem we have to create an
optical illusion. By that I mean wearing
styles that give us a more womanly shape.
Firstly, never wear tops or dresses where
the opening on the neck sits on your
shoulders; always wear V-neck or round
necks that plunge a little but cover your
shoulders. If you wear strappy tops or
dresses, wear a cardigan, bolero or open
blouse over them, choosing a thickness to
suit the weather. A fitted jacket that flares
a little from the waist is also an option, but
not if you’re dressing casually.
Sleeves are also important, cap type
sleeves will extend your shoulder width
(unless you wear something over, as
above). My favourites are three-quarter
length loose-fitting sleeves, but short
sleeves are fine, as long as they just about
reach your elbows. The pattern on the top
is important as well; don’t go for hoops
and certain types of stripes (chevrons
from outside to in are fine) - better to
stay with random, mixed and traditional
paisleys, etc.
Real Women, Real Lives
transitioning, transforming facial feminisation surgery
For my money, it’s what happens further
down that makes the biggest impact;
because we don’t have hips, and even if you
wear a bit of padding, straight pencil-type
skirts and dresses will make your shoulders
look huge. Either go for flared skirts/
dresses or, better still, if it’s a dress, one
that starts to flare from under the bust. If
you choose to wear trousers or leggings,
wear a loose smock top over them that
reaches at least as far as the bottom of
your bum. Giving an appearance that your
lower half is in proportion to your top half
is important and, with the right choice of
outfit, will create a very feminine-shaped
appearance.
Although it sounds complicated, all we’re
trying to do is convert an inverted pyramid
into a pyramid.
Ellie has written a separate article on
neckline styles. This also has some tips.
Hope this helps.
Love Sam & Ellie
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11
.Drew-Ashlyn Cunningham
PHOTO CREDIT:
Katie Scruton Kitchen.
Facebook @ katie kitchen
photography
THE YEAR
AHEAD
by Drew-Ashlyn Cunningham
A
fter the response I received from the
first issue I featured in, my my has it
been worth it.
Thank you so much to everyone who has
taken interest and wants to continue to read
more about me.
I thought I would give a low-down on what
I have been getting up to and what my plans
are for 2014.
So one of my first big meetings this year
was with the charity all about trans. It was an
interaction that I volunteered to be a part of.
I met with the scriptwriters and makers of the
ITV show Emmerdale. It was to basically get a
sense of what trans people are really like. For
them to see us as just that – PEOPLE.
They asked us questions, just getting to
know our background. I was talking about
what it’s like to be trans on a daily basis: from
being scared to do normal everyday things like
answer the door with no make-up on, or to go
to the toilet worrying if someone would say
anything to me.
It helped them get a better understanding.
It was a nice, friendly, down-to-earth chat.
Everyone from the interaction walked away
feeling like they achieved something from this:
for them to open their eyes a little bit more
12
I THINK JUST BEING
COMFORTABLE
MAKES PEOPLE PASS A
LOT MORE.
to the world and to take away the taboo and
sterotype of trans people.
It was a great kick-start in getting back into
the voluntary work I do.
My next task is to go to King Edwards
School in Sheffield. I have worked very closely
with them for the past two years now, helping
the students understand a little bit more
about the transgender life. They get to ask
me questions they normally wouldn’t get to
ask someone who they didn’t know. It’s fun
and they really feel like they know me better,
and again they go out to the real world with
a much more open mind. I mean, let’s face
it, this is our future generation so we need to
educate them in order for the world to be in a
better place.
One question I get asked is: is it easy to
pass?
Which brings me onto the subject of
passing.
What do us trans men and women need to
do in order to pass?
Now a lot of us automatically think that
hormones and surgery will make us much
happier and more comfortable in our own
skin, to fit in more with society. And that is
probably true. However, for me it’s more than
just going under the knife and popping a
bunch of miracle pills.
It’s about how you present yourself to
society and the world.
I think just being comfortable makes people
pass a lot more.
For trans women it could be make-up.
This can really help change the way our facial
features sit.
I have some vlogs which have tutorials
specifically for trans women at www.youtube.
com/lita212.
You can really make features look a lot
different to what they are. I always do this with
make-up. I’ve not had facial surgery other than
have my lips made larger, so playing about
with make-up is a great way to help present
yourself as female.
Here are some tips on how to do this:
.Drew-Ashlyn Cunningham
Don’t use a pale concealer to cover
dark circles
Use a peach or salmon-colored concealer as
this will help counteract the blue undertones
in the dark circles under the eyes. Again, apply
this before your foundation. It also helps to
cover up any 5 o’clock shadow for people who
are going through transition, or drag queens.
Always prep the skin before doing your
make-up. Cleanse to get rid of any dirt and
exfoliate to remove dead skin cells. Tone to
close up pores – you can also rinse your face
with cold water as this will also close the
pores up.
Moisturise, whether you have oily or dry
skin, in order to control the balance of oil and
dryness – moisturiser really helps the skin.
Then use a primer before applying
foundation. Not only does it help your makeup last longer, but it also helps control oil if
using a matt primer, and control dryness if
using a satin primer.
Blend down the neck
When applying foundation, always blend
down the neck. Not only will it get rid of any
foundation jaw lines but will also help you see
if the colour matches your skin tone.
Another great tip to get perfect skin is to
use a foundation brush such as the highlighter
brush by Illamasqua. It helps buff foundation
into the skin and gives you more of an
airbrushed look.
LOOK AT YOUR COLOUR
TO HELP DETERMINE WHAT
SHADES WILL BRING OUT
YOUR EYES MORE.
Make the most of your eyes
Look at your eye colour to help determine
what shades will bring out your eyes more.
Blue eyes: Try rich browns, golds, warm
taupe or soft peaches. Switching a black
eyeliner to a brown will really help make
them pop.
Green eyes: Violet and plum eyeshadow
shades are best for green eyes. Warmer colours
like deep purples, mauves, lilacs and medium
pinks are good choices. Browns will also look
nice with green eyes.
Brown eyes: These are the easiest to
compliment! You can get away with all of
those bright colors. You can use greens, golds,
browns, pinks, blues, greys and purples. Earthy
colours look great with brown eyes.
Hazel eyes: Light purple looks great with
hazel eyes. To bring out the gold in your eyes,
choose golden-based eyeshadows.
If it goes wrong just say to yourself: ‘Hey, it
washes off.’
Other tips on how to pass is voice. You can
watch tutorials on YouTube. It’s a little tricky to
explain in writing; however, breathe from your
stomach then speak. You will get a lot more of
a softer voice if you speak from the stomach
as there is less vibration there as opposed to
your chest.
Clothes will make a huge difference. Look at
styles and shapes and find out what your body
shape is: apple, pear, tomboy or hourglass.
Different styles can help with features. Go
for more V-necks if you have more broad
shoulders, and avoid anything too tight. Always
make sure things fit. It’s best to look comfortable
and have a size that’s bigger than smaller.
Look at magazines and people around your
age group to see what’s in the latest trend.
And last but not least...
Just be proud and enjoy your life.
You only get one so make the most of it and
what you have to be the best that you can be.
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13
.old mother riley
2014 IS THE 60TH
ANNIVERSARY OF
THE DEATH OF ONE
OF THE UK’S MOST
FAMOUS STAGE AND
SCREEN CROSSDRESSERS, AND THE
50TH OF THE PASSING
OF HIS LONG-TERM
ASSOCIATE AND WIFE.
ARTHUR LUCAN,
WHO, TOGETHER
WITH HIS WIFE KITTY
MCSHANE, WERE
BETTER KNOWN AS…
OLD
MOTHER
RILEY AND
KITTY
by Danielle.
14
.old mother riley
Just over a century ago, the variety stages of
England and America were awash with male
and female impersonators: Julian Eltinge, Vesta
Tilley, Barbette, Boulton & Park. Performing
in the cross-dressing theatre clubs in Oxford,
Cambridge, Harvard and Yale, these were all
top names in drag. Many others took some
part in it too, on stage and soon-to-be on film,
such as Oscar Wilde and Charlie Chaplin
(although they are not now famous for drag).
Later comedy acts such as Stanley Baxter,
Morecambe & Wise and the Two Ronnies,
who made their name through television, all
featured cross-dressing characters. But the
Rileys found fame through the media of stage,
radio and film, rather than television. Arthur
Lucan performed for nearly half a century as
‘Old Mother Riley’. For most of these years
he was a double act with Kitty McShane, who
played his ‘daughter’ (also called Kitty) in their
act, but who was actually Lucan’s off-stage wife.
In a strange parallel with the late, great Tommy
Cooper, Lucan also died where he loved to be
most – on stage.
It is also very odd that the modern Mrs
Brown’s Boys—Brendan O’Carroll’s surreal
comedy that is easily the funniest comedy
show on the BBC right now and a winner in
the January National Television Awards—has
many echoes of the Lucans. One suspects that
O’Carroll must have been an old Mother Riley
fan. Like Arthur Lucan, whose stage daughter
was his actual wife, O’Carroll is also married to
his show’s ‘daughter’, Cathy (Jennifer Gibney).
Mrs Brown’s Boys has other O’Carrolls too,
including Maria (Fiona O’C), Buster (Danny
O’C) and Bono (Jamie O’C).
Arthur Lucan was born Arthur Towle in
1885 in the village of Sibsey, and later moved
to Boston, Lincolnshire (not Lancashire, as is
often recorded). It was in Boston’s Shodfriars
Hall, which housed a theatre too, where
the young Towle first trod the boards.
Initially a stage hand, Arthur got to play
small parts when a measles epidemic
decimated the cast. So he began his stage
career very young, and for the next
seven years he was with the Musical
Cliftons’ Concert Party, where he gained
a solid background of contemporary
stagecraft.
During a Cliftons’ tour of Ireland in
1912, he played his first drag part, that
of an old Irish washerwoman with
a character name of ‘Mrs O’Flynn’.
Also in the cast was a beautiful
raven haired 13-year-old – Catherine
(Kitty) McShane. Three years later, with Kitty
barely old enough legally, they married in
Dublin.
Together they developed the washerwoman
and daughter act which eventually became
their famous ‘Old Mother Riley and Kitty’
routines. Arthur wrote many of their
scripts and Kitty sang. Old Mother Riley’s
hilarious predicaments, eccentric ways, facial
contortions, slapstick and malapropism-filled
tirades made them very popular, especially
with children.
During a Cliftons’ tour
of Ireland in 1912, he
played his first drag
part, that of an old Irish
Washerwoman with a
character name of ‘Mrs
O’Flynn’. Also in the
cast was a beautiful
raven haired 13 year
old – Catherine (Kitty)
McShane. Three years
later, with Kitty barely
legally old enough, they
married in Dublin.
Off the boat from Ireland, their career
really took off in the north-west at the Argyle
Theatre, Birkenhead, which began a tour of
many of the famous northern variety and
music hall theatres, and later elsewhere in the
UK. The then-famous theatre entrepreneur
J.C. Williamson booked them for a year-long
tour of Australia and New Zealand, starting
with 10 weeks in Melbourne.
On their return, they starred for the next
three years in the Irish Follies, the Jazz Parade
and Paris 1930. An even greater triumph
followed in 1931 with their ‘Match Seller’ act,
which took them on a long run at the London
Palladium.
Three years later they went to the Holborn
Empire as some of the stars of Bridget’s Night
Out, which opened in April 1934. At the end of
that year they were top act at the Royal Variety
Performance, before the King and Queen.
Their Majesties were particularly amused
with the Rileys’ domestic comedy sketch. Old
Mother Riley, waiting for daughter Kitty to
return from a late dance, complete with rolling
pin, remarked, ‘She went out last night, she
ain’t home yet! And now it’s tomorrow! I would
make meself a cup of tea if only I could find me
blinkin’ corkscrew!’
With this top acclaim behind them, they
then began topping the bills at all the big
theatres throughout the UK.
The new world of sound film – particularly
cheap British B-movies – provided the
basis of more fame for the duo (in those
days most cinemas showed a cheap movie
before a newsreel, and then the main picture
after the ice cream interval). In May 1937
(coincidentally on almost exactly the day
I was born) they started the first of 15 Old
Mother Riley films – whilst at the same time
still touring in stage shows, making radio and
pantomime appearances. Lucan even made a
78 rpm disc for Columbia Records – ‘Villikins
and his Dinah’, a popular Sam Cowell song
from the 1860s. They even made it into the
pages of comics, such as Film Fun, providing
many of us of the older generations with lots of
printed laughter.
They were established for over two decades
as one of the greatest variety and cinema
attractions of the 1930s and 1940s. Even
during and after the war, and in the 1950s,
they were still making films—I recall going to
the Headington Hall village cinema in Oxford
where (for 3d = 1p approx) you could see
cartoons, cowboy films and Lassie/Rin Tin
Tin tales—and frequently another Old Mother
Riley epic!
Arthur and Kitty’s married life actually
reflected much of their argumentative stage
act, which was famous for slapstick and armwaving histrionics. And he also thought—
probably correctly as was shown by later
events— that Kitty herself had something
going with understudy Roy Roland. As a result,
in 1952, Lucan made his last film, Old Mother
Riley Meets the Vampire, with Bela Lugosi as a
mad scientist. Angered by their inharmonious
life together, this was not filmed with his wife.
‘Kitty’ was played by a young Dora Bryan.
15
It also
included a plethora of UK
comic greats: Richard Wattis, Hatti
Jacques, Dandy Nichols, Emily Lloyd and
Charles Lloyd-Pack (the father of Roger
‘Trigger’ Lloyd-Pack, who sadly died in January).
For the next four
years he toured the theatres
without Kitty, although they
never actually divorced. Kitty’s
spend-thrift habits took Lucan to
near bankruptcy and he continued
to work to pay off his creditors, mainly
(like Ken Dodd) the Inland Revenue!
During his tour of the stage show
Old Mother Riley Goes to Paris, Arthur
Lucan suddenly collapsed awaiting his first
cue in the wings of Hull’s Tivoli Theatre.
Lucan was taken to his dressing room,
and his costume was removed to assist his
breathing. As his body lay on the floor,
his long-time understudy and film double
Roy Roland hurriedly donned the Old Mother Riley costume, quickly
made up, and went on in his place. The Tivoli audience was only aware
of a temporary hitch in the running of the show, so close was Roland’s
impersonation, although the performance was halted and restarted from
the beginning. Whilst the chorus line tapped through their routines, and
(perhaps appropriately) as peals of laughter swept the theatre
at the new Old Mother Riley, Lucan died a quarter of an hour
after collapsing on that evening of May 17th, 1954. He never
fully regained consciousness. The Hull City Coroner (Dr Philip
Science) examined him shortly after and found that Lucan had died of
heart failure. A very strange parallel with the death of Tommy Cooper, a
couple of generations later.
After Lucan’s death, Roy Roland and Kitty McShane resumed the
original stage roles of Old Mother Riley and Kitty, but the days when the
act merited and earned £1,000 a week were over. About five years later
Kitty McShane drifted into retirement, helped also
by the considerable demise of stage variety, reducing
their available work potential. She passed away on
March 24th, 1964.
Old Mother Riley, in her unchanging costume
of tatty large shoes and old woollen stockings (a
Nora Batty role model?), a black skirt, her apron, a
beret with a string under her chin and her printed
shawl, became a cross-dressing icon of the mid-20th
century.
Although I guess she’s not the sort of icon many
of us aspire to these days? Maybe there are some
somewhere that do? Maybe there is something
in there too that contributed me my affection for
cross-dressing? There used to be an Old Mother
Riley Appreciation Society. Does anyone know if it
still exists? The BBC has the rights to some of Lucan’s films, but I cannot
recall them doing anything with them
Although the Vampire film occasionally shows on the Horror
Channel as it features Legosi. Perhaps with these anniversaries they will
resurrect some?
Although I guess she’s
not the sort of icon
many of us aspire to
these days? Maybe there
are some somewhere
that do? Maybe there
is something in there
too that contributed me
my affection for cross
dressing?
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.view from the border
TRANS ON SCREEN
I
am not a follower
of ‘soaps’ and it is
many years since
I watched a complete
episode of Coronation
Street, but it was
impossible to ignore
the media fuss over
the demise of Hayley Cropper, played by Julie
Hesmondhalgh. As the first long-term trans
character in a British soap she played a very
important part. I gather that her transition in
the 1990s was covered sympathetically and for
much of the last decade she has just been one
of the women in the cast. While her ending
covered some very important issues it had little
to do with being trans, although I understand
that she opted to take her own life because she
feared delusions brought on by her medication
might have made her revert to her male
persona. I have no idea whether that is likely in
the real world but it provided another reason
for her suicide in addition to the argument
frequently put forward of wanting to avoid the
final stages of terminal cancer.
Hayley’s departure does, however, remove
a well-known and liked trans character from
our screens. Given the number of trans
people there are in the UK there should be
more representations on TV and in film than
there are. It appears that broadcasters and
Sean Bean
- Accused
34
movie makers are dodging the questions that
portraying trans people inevitably raise. So
what are those questions?
HAYLEY’S DEPARTURE
DOES, HOWEVER, REMOVE
A WELL-KNOWN AND
LIKED TRANS CHARACTER
FROM OUR SCREENS.
First of all, who should play a trans
character? Transvestites are played by men,
e.g. Sean Bean in Accused, but it seems that
most trans women are played by genetic
women as in the case of Hayley/Julie and Bree
played by Felicity Huffman in the 2005 film
Transamerica. It would be lovely to see a man
play one of these roles but I can’t think of an
example when it has happened. Neither can
I recall a drama with a trans man in it. No
doubt Beaumont Magazine readers will correct
me. It is easy to insist that all trans characters
should be played by trans people but that is
short-sighted and not always feasible. There
has certainly been a move to having the parts
of ethnic characters played by ethnic actors
but there have been many excellent examples
where this has not been the case e.g. Ben
Kingsley in Gandhi, and many examples of
able–bodied actors playing disabled characters
and so on. If there is a part of a trans character
in a drama of any sort then it should go to the
most able and suitable actor for the role. This
may not always be a trans actor.
The second question is what trans roles
should appear on screen? The problem is, as
a reviewer of my novel, Painted Ladies, has
pointed out, there are many types of trans
and many points on the spectrum between
male and female. From the bloke wearing
women’s knickers, to the closet TV, to the
‘out’ dual role trans person, to the pre- and
post-op transsexual plus shades of F to M, the
possibilities for characters are endless. What
we do need to see is trans people fulfilling a
variety of roles in drama and not just as the
victims of violence or ridicule. Trans people
have jobs, they have hobbies, they have
families, they grow old, they go on trips. A
trans person could be the lead character in a
story which isn’t about them being trans at all,
or they could be the background characters
that enrich a drama. They don’t have to be
positive goody-goody characters. A trans
villain would be a novelty. I am sure that
increased visibility of trans people on TV or in
the cinema would provide benefits in society as
a whole, showing that we exist, are not a threat
and have normal likes and dislikes.
Of course I have an ulterior motive for this
musing. I would love to see Jasmine Frame,
my transsexual detective in Painted Ladies,
portrayed on screen. I have an image of what
she looks like but no suggestions to make
concerning a suitable actor. Her job is solving
crimes but over the course of the series she
passes through the stages of full transition. Her
cases do have a trans theme and the sequels to
Painted Ladies will have many more different
characters reflecting that spectrum of gender.
Reviews have suggested that Painted Ladies is a
gripping story and an educational one. I think
if Jasmine or similar characters were on screen
they would have a similar effect.
For now though we have one less trans
character featured. So farewell, Hayley. Thanks
for all you’ve done. Now let’s see some more
trans people on our screens.
Hayley Cropper - Coronation Street
.my journey
My Transgender Journey,
Part 4 concludes this story
18
4
N
ow I’m beginning to accept the
realities of my journey - I need to
continue tentatively down my chosen
pathway. I start to tell more and more people;
neighbours, more friends and my boss at work.
All of them reacted so positively which made
me feel loved and cared for, and that, no matter
what I did to change my body, they would be
there to support me.
The chat with my boss was an eye-opener;
she was great. She told me not to worry they would not tolerate any bullying at work
from my colleagues and they would make
it as comfortable for me as they possibly
could. We had a very light-hearted discussion
about my transition, which made me feel
comfortable and at ease, as I felt that I
had her full support. She said that,
with my permission, she would
start the process of telling the
other managers within the
organisation.
With this release of my
innermost feelings, I began to
feel more confident and was
able to smile at the prospect of
living the rest of my life being
happy. Don’t get me wrong, I
have, of course, been happy at
times. But it was always with a
large dark cloud hanging over
me. Not being able to express
myself in the right way has affected me in all
parts of my life, from family relationships to
partners and, maybe, even friends.
Following my disclosure, I have had
an overwhelming amount of support,
understanding and questions…boy have
I had questions! If I could help to educate
people a little on what it means to be
Transgender, it would be something of which
to be truly proud.
At this point both my partner and I began
to have concerns about how my transition
would affect our relationship. I battled with
the fact that I didn’t want her to go on the
journey with me, because of the feelings of
uncertainty post-transition. Transition posed
so many unanswered questions for both of us!
I also believed that it was not only my identity
issues that were the cause of our problems. My
own insecurities, sense of failure and lack of
confidence most definitely played their part.
Why couldn’t I communicate with her? She had
been nothing but supportive of me. I became
selfish and all-consumed with my identity. We
tried to continue with some semblance of a
‘normal’ relationship.
I went to the pharmacy to collect my
testosterone. It was like holding a pot of gold in
my hands. This little box containing 31 perfect
little tubes of Testim gel (generic name for that
particular brand of testosterone) was the key to
my future!
I struggled with my image and with people’s
perception of my gender. I was sometimes
called ‘Sir’, but people would often correct
themselves once they realised or heard me
talk. It embarrassed me when they corrected
themselves. I would rather they have continued
to think that I was a man. Children might
say to their mother, ‘that man over there’. The
mother would then correct the child and say,
‘no, that’s a woman’. Sometimes I wonder about
adults, as they perhaps don’t give their children
enough credit for having the perception or
foresight that they themselves may lack.
But I really needed to talk to like-minded/
bodied people. I felt alone, in the sense that,
I had such great support, but I needed that
mutual understanding you get from people
in the same situation. I was then introduced
to The Beaumont Society, a support group for
transgender people. I spoke to the director and
she explained that the Society would love to
encourage more female-to-males to the group
but as yet, it was still a predominantly male-tofemale group.
She advised that it may suit me better to
join a group with at least some female-to-male
members. She told me to look up TG-Pals,
another ‘Trans’ group and I talked to one of
the partners who told me to come along to a
meeting. I eventually plucked up the courage
.my journey
to go, and met some extremely wonderful
people that night, not least the two partners of
TG-Pals and a TG-Pals mentor. The numbers
were again on the bias towards male-tofemale: 27 male-to-female and 3 female-tomale, to be precise.
I am carrying on with my daily application
of T. It is normally applied to the upper arms,
or sometimes thighs. It has become a ritual and
a dose is never missed. It gives me a sense of
empowerment, something that I can control. It
amazes me that this gel has the power to alter
my mind and my body.
Unfortunately, the relationship that was
already struggling took some further knocks
and it was mutually decided that it would be
better for both of us if we went our separate
ways. Failure again! I knew that this woman
had been paramount in my transition thus far
and that I would have absolutely hated to lose
her from my life altogether. We said that we
would give each other some space and that, in
time, we could continue to have a friendship.
My failures weighed heavily on my mind and
the aforementioned depression started to crank
up a gear or two.
I still haven’t heard from the GIC regarding
my appointment and, as I continue down the
private route, I quickly realise I cannot afford
to self-fund indefinitely. But fortunately, I
was able to get another prescription on the
proviso that I had some blood tests done. I
awaited the results with anticipation; had this
gel really been able to change the hormone
levels? The results arrived: my testosterone
(T) levels were at 20, which is, apparently,
good so it is working!
Now, as time goes on, I am beginning to
realise that continuation with self-funding was
not going to be possible for much longer. I have
now moved into my own flat and have become
completely self-sufficient, which means that
funds are tighter than ever. I contacted my GP
to ask if she would take over responsibility for
blood tests and prescribing of T. She said she
would need a care plan from my consultant. As
yet, I am still waiting to speak to her to ask her
to do this.
I am now at the point where I am
beginning to feel more self-confident with
regard to self-image. I now regularly go out
and about with the small patches of stubble
on my chin that I have managed to cultivate.
Ironically, I am called ‘Madam’ even more
now, than pre-T. This amuses me greatly,
but deep down, it hurts. It is as if people
just cannot see the real me, even though
from the outside, I think I conform to many
of the prerequisites of being male. I have
the swagger, the clothes, the stubble and,
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possibly, the attitude?
I am enjoying and valuing the peer support
I now have. These people have enriched my
life in so many ways. I have enjoyed one-toone time with one of the TG-Pals mentors and
have also been out to a popular gay venue, for
a social get-together. This is the first time I
have been out as Daniel. I have some questions,
which are still unanswered but my conclusion
thus far is still one of confusion, but with a
general note to self: ‘let it be’. I shouldn’t place
restrictions and boundaries on myself, it is
not productive. For this journey is one of
exploration, not rules.
It is a well-known saying that ‘life begins at
forty.’ Well, I am nearly forty and I feel like my
‘real’ life is truly just beginning.
This has been my story so far. I estimate that
I am now approximately only a quarter of the
way through my transition. The locked doors
are beginning to be opened for me and I am
looking forward to the next chapter in my life
‘I am a work in progress.’
*This concludes
Daniel’s story*
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19
.gires
GIRES
GIRES is a registered charity, which began in 1997. Its main aim is
to improve substantially the circumstances in which gender variant
people live. It does this by informing and training all those in a position
to give them positive support, including politicians, other policy
makers, clinicians, and the providers of commercial and government
services. It serves healthcare organisations, the police, teachers,
commercial employers and journalists, as well as family members.
G
IRES combines the expertise
of a largely voluntary team of
trans and non-trans people, who
undertake a wide range of work and ensure
that the charity is robustly governed. The
six trustees are professionally qualified in
medicine, engineering, law and business
administration. Four of them are members
of the World Professional Association
for Transgender Health (WPATH), make
presentations at healthcare conferences
internationally and maintain good
working relationships with the health
professionals around the world who
specialise in gender variance. A chartered
accountant maintains the charity’s financial
records. GIRES is supported by 350
individual and 57 corporate members,
making annual subscriptions, one-off
donations and payments for services.
The Corporate Members are involved
Bernard & Terry Reed, founders of Gires
20
in aviation, information technology,
publishing, television, financial services,
healthcare provision and regulation,
education, policing, the law, local and central
government, and sport.
The services that GIRES provides for its
Corporate Members and other organisations
include: helping with the transition of a
student or staff member, developing policies
and practices, training, e-learning, engaging
with the trans community, and designing
a healthcare scheme for gender variant
employees. GIRES operates a national
system for reporting transphobic crime and
maintains an online directory of trans support
organisations. GIRES supplies a wide range
of literature and its website provides a wealth
of material, including a toolkit for schools to
use in combating transphobic bullying. The
website is accessed from 189 countries and its
use has grown rapidly.
GIRES is keen to collaborate with the
many other organisations that support
gender variant people, including the
Beaumont Society. It is a member of the
National LGB&T Partnership and the
National Trans Youth Network, as well as
other groups that promote equality, including
the Equality and Diversity Forum, the
Anti-Bullying Alliance, National Voices,
Schools Out and the Sex Education Forum.
Its trustees serve on the Parliamentary
Forum on Gender Identity, the intercollegiate
committee that has developed Good Practice
Guidelines for the Treatment of Gender
Dysphoria, and the two separate NHS
England Clinical Reference Groups that are
developing specifications for gender identity
services for adults and for young people.
The results of a survey conducted by the
EHRC align with the GIRES estimate that 1%
of the UK population experience a substantial
degree of gender variance (650,000), of whom
only a small proportion have so far sought
medical help to undergo transition to a new
gender role (20,000). The number who have
sought help is growing rapidly, 20% per
annum in the adult population and 50% per
annum among young people. There is ample
scope for that growth to continue and it is not
unrealistic to estimate that the number may
reach 130,000.
GIRES responds to a daily stream of
requests for help, which are sometimes
desperate, via the telephone and email, from
gender variant people and those who care for
them, as well as from the media.
Specific tasks that GIRES has recently
undertaken include:
Engaging with government officials and
politicians regarding the Marriage (Same Sex
Couples) Act 2001.This involved working
.gires
with a group of trans individuals to develop
written evidence and then present it to the
Parliamentary Scrutiny Committee. The
end result is not sufficiently satisfactory
and GIRES will continue to press for
improvements in the legislation.
GIRES has also responded to many
government consultation papers and engaged
in discussion with officials in the Government
Equalities Office (GEO), the Home Office,
the Department of Health, NHS England, the
Department for the Environment Food and
Rural Affairs, the department for Education,
the Ministry of Justice and the Greater
London Authority, as well as in the Equality
and Human Rights Commission (EHRC).
GIRES will, in particular, work with the
GEO and other government Departments in
checking progress against the Government’s
LGB&T action plan (dated March 2011), and
the Transgender Equality Action Plan (dated
December 2011). This will relate to the issues
raised in the Trans Community Statement
of Need that GIRES helped a wide-ranging
group of gender variant people to prepare.
GIRES promotes research, for instance, by
making awards to the authors of influential
reports including the team that published
the Trans Mental Health Study 2012, which
included Jay McNeil, Louis Bailey, Sonja Ellis,
James Morton and Maeve Regan. The study,
based on an online survey that generated
responses from 889 people who had personal
experience of transgender healthcare, shows
that 42% had waited at least a year to be
seen within a gender identity clinic; 58%
felt that waiting had led to a worsening of
their mental health or emotional wellbeing;
46% of those seen at a gender identity clinic
had experienced difficulties that included
administrative errors, restrictive protocols,
problematic attitudes and unnecessary
questions/tests; and 20% had wanted to
harm themselves in relation to or because
of involvement with a gender identity clinic
or health. The study reinforces the case for
offering speedy and benign treatment: 85%
were more satisfied with their body since
undertaking hormone therapy, and 74% felt
that their mental health had improved as a
result of transitioning
GIRES made its award to the 34 members
of the Revision Committee for the new (7th)
edition of the Standards of Care published by
WPATH and then worked with its directors
to establish an International Fund to cover the
cost of translating the Standards into other
languages, into which GIRES paid a grant of
$20,000. WPATH has already published the
translations into Russian, French and Chinese,
and is well on the way with Norwegian
and German versions. Further possibilities
include Italian and Hindi. Establishing this
document as the authoritative standard for
treatment worldwide will have important
implications for treatment in the UK, where
practice has lagged behind the best available
internationally.
GIRES supports Educators and has
17 schools, colleges and universities as
Corporate Members. It developed the
content of the transgender equality e-learning
resource, hosted by the Skills Funding
Agency, designed for use in the further
education sector.
The GIRES free e-learning resource is
also used widely, including by the House of
Commons Library, and GIRES is developing
other e-learning resources for healthcare
professionals.
The GIRES trustees run the charity very
prudently. Its annual income is £70,000, out
of which it generated a surplus of £5,000. It
has a bank balance of £85,000, which enables
it to undertake projects, fund awards or
make grants without always having to obtain
external finance.
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21
Chest
erfiel
CHESTERFIELD WEEKEND
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CHESTERFIELD WEEKEND
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l
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rfi
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e
t
s
he
CHESTERFIELD WEEKEND
Har
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HARROGATE WEEKEND
HARROGATE WEEKEND
This month’s letters have been sent from
Beaumont Society member Alison.
What’s on your mind? Share your thoughts with the rest
of the Beaumont community. Please email your letters to
kay.west.online@gmail.com
VOLUNTARY WORK
Some years ago I felt that I wanted to put something back into society and spread my wings further as Alison.
Shopping, dining out, visiting stately homes and local meetings were no longer enough for me. I needed to
spend more time as Alison in the real world.
A
s Alison, I have been working as a
minibus driver for a local disability
care home for the past 10 years.
I went for an interview with the local
volunteer services who were charming,
understanding and assessed my talents to
ascertain what charity work would suit me.
They suggested that minibus drivers were
always in demand by local charities, and as
I had a clean driving licence and was used
to driving almost anything, perhaps I would
consider that.
I realised that no matter how good a care
home may be, residents need to get out and
about like anyone else. I applied to three
different charities, explaining about myself,
and was offered work with all of them. I
chose one that is not far from my home.
I went for an interview and the services
manager said that she had no problem with
me being a TV. Her only consideration was
that I could do the job. I had a CRB check,
in my male name, and underwent a period
of training including passing a MIDAS
(Advanced Minibus Drivers) test.
It has been extremely rewarding and
I have made many friends amongst the
residents and staff at the home.
As a volunteer I have met all sorts of
people from garage mechanics to hospital
consultants and just about anyone else you
can think of. In my volunteer work I have
never received anything but courtesy and
acceptance.
After 10 years I have retired from driving
large minibuses, although I still take
residents out in a small minibus that I don’t
need a MIDAS certificate for, and go to the
home once a week to help out in any way I
can (usually organising games, etc.)
If you feel that your life as a TV is lacking
something I would recommend charity
work. You will find it very rewarding and
you will undoubtedly make new friends.
The Other Woman
F
rances’s article from issue 84
of the magazine urges me to
say that when I go shopping as
Alison I never have any problems using
the ladies changing rooms in any shop
or department store including M&S,
Debenhams, BHS, John Lewis’s, etc. I
mostly go shopping on my own as my
wife will not go out with me when I am
Alison, although over the years she has
become very understanding.
I have few illusions about myself. I don’t
think I pass as a woman and of course my
voice is a dead giveaway. However, I am
very particular about my make-up, hair,
clothes, etc. I always try to look the best
I can and dress suitably for my age, or at
least the age I look when I am Alison.
and blend in. What is the point of having
beautiful clothes if you can’t wear them
in public? I always wear good quality
clothes, shoes, etc.
Like Frances I am sure my wife feels a
little resentful about the number of pairs
of shoes I have, not to mention handbags,
two wardrobes and a chest of drawers full
of Alison’s clothes.
29
.kitty potter
Playing the
Opposite Sex
Felicity Huffman - Transamerica
Transamerica is an independent film that tells the story of Bree,
a transsexual woman played by Felicity Huffman, who goes on
a road trip with her long-lost son Toby, played by Kevin Zegers,
just before her surgery, because her therapist refuses her
permission for the operation unless she faces up to her past.
One of the movie’s major themes is the personal journey
towards self-discovery, from encountering transgender support
groups to making family amends on the way.
The film was Academy Award–nominated and won a Golden
Globe for Huffman’s performance. Critics also praised the
film saying it was both terrific and touching, and that Felicity
Huffman brings empathy and tact to her performance as Bree.
Jaye Davidson - The Crying Game
The Crying Game is a British psychological thriller which explores a
number of themes within it. Jaye Davidson plays Dil, the attractive
girlfriend of a soldier who is kidnapped by the IRA and killed; however,
one of the members made a promise to seek out Dil and protect her, only
to find himself gradually falling in love with her before discovering that she
is actually transgender. The unexpected events force him to decide what he
wants for the future, and ultimately what his nature dictates he must do.
This film earned critical acclaim and went on to be nominated for six
Academy Awards, winning for Best Original Screenplay. Jaye Davidson was
nominated for Best Supporting Actor for his performance as Dil, making
him the first mixed-race British actor to be nominated for an Oscar.
Linda Hunt The Year of Living Dangerously
Linda Hunt stars as Billy Kwan, the male Chinese-Australian
photographer. The character also has the condition of
dwarfism. The producers looked at a few actors that had
the vital things needed for this character and weren’t
pleased with any of them until they saw Linda Hunt, and
so they decided to cast her opposite Mel Gibson’s character,
Australian journalist Guy Hamilton.
Linda Hunt won an Academy Award for Best Supporting
Actress, beating big names like Cher and Glenn Close;
however, it was definitely well deserved. It had been the first
time an Oscar had been won for playing a character of the
opposite sex.
Despite her small stature of 4 feet 9 inches, Linda Hunt
is a high intellectual and has a very rich, resonant voice
which has been used for documentaries, cartoons and
commercials. She starred in the sci-fi movie Dune, provided
the voice of Grandmother Willow in Pocahontas, and
recently landed a role in the TV series NCIS.
30
.kitty potter
Dustin Hoffman - Tootsie
Tootsie is an American comedy about a talented but
volatile actor played by Dustin Hoffman, whose reputation
for being difficult forces him to adopt a new identity as
a woman to land a job in a hospital soap opera called
Southwest General. Playing his character as a feisty, feminist
administrator instead of just another swooning female
in the plot, the character quickly becomes a television
sensation.
Tootsie was the the second highest-grossing movie of
1982 after E.T., and in 2000 the American Film Institute
ranked Tootsie as the second-funniest film of all time. It was
also nominated for 10 Academy Awards, with Jessica Lange
winning Best Actress in a Supporting Role.
Dustin Hoffman himself realised that he had missed out
on many conversations with interesting women after being a
woman who, although not stunningly beautiful, was credible.
Hilary Swank - Boys Don’t Cry
Boys Don’t Cry is an independent romantic American
film telling the real-life story of Brandon Teena, a
trans man played by Hilary Swank, who is beaten,
raped and murdered by his male acquaintances after
they discover he is anatomically female.
The themes the film explores are freedom, courage,
identity and empowerment.
The film won a variety of awards, with the majority
going to Hilary Swank for her performance, including
being awarded an Oscar for Best Actress. Her co-star
Chloe Sevigny, who played her love interest, was also
nominated for Best Supporting Actress.
To prepare for the role, Hilary Swank reduced her
body fat to 7%, and she dressed and lived as a man for
one month!
Cillian Murphy
- Breakfast on Pluto
Breakfast on Pluto is a comedy-drama about
a transgender foundling called Kitten,
played by Cillian Murphy, who is searching
for love and her long-lost mother in the
towns of Ireland and London in the 1970s.
For his portrayal of Kitten, Cillian
Murphy won the 2007 IFTA award for
Best Actor, and was also nominated for a
Golden Globe.
Cillian Murphy prepared for this role by
arranging to meet with a transvestite who
dressed him up and took him clubbing
with other transvestites. He took notice of
the group’s quick wit and attributed it to
the constant insults of prejudiced people
around them.
31
.a week in the sun
A
WEEK
IN THE
SUN
ANOTHER SHORT STORY BY SAM LAMDEN
AND ELEANOR ROBERTS ABOUT OUR
THREE FICTIONAL FRIENDS: SUE, BONNIE
AND MONICA. ONE OF US WRITES THE FIRST
HALF OF THE STORY AND EMAILS IT TO THE
OTHER FOR COMPLETION.
PAR
TWOT
32
.a week in the sun
T
he morning after the day/night before
was not a pretty sight. At the crack of
eleven thirty I slid precariously out of bed
and into the bathroom. They say a mirror
never lies, but I can assure you somebody must
have stuck a photo of another person on it and that
person was ready to audition for a remake of the
Zombies. There was no sign of Monica or Bonnie, so
they’d either gone out or, like me, were suffering the
after-effects of the Spanish hospitality.
I do, though, remember Monica in the middle
of the floor dancing a very poor rendition of the
flamenco, flaying the skirt of her sundress and
slapping the flat heels of her sandals, in a vain
attempt to impress the man who looked like Lenny
Goodman from Strictly, much to the delight of
the audience. Bonnie and I were more subdued,
coming up for air occasionally between slugs of
wine! Fortunately we’d eaten at the bistro place after
dancing, but the wine, and what I think was brandy,
flowed there too. No wonder I was looking and
feeling a little jaded!
After I tore the photo off the mirror I set about
making myself look human, albeit in male mode to
start with, except for the remnants of eyeliner and
mascara that had gone south and were now sitting
happily on my cheeks. As I was drying myself after
showering I heard a few grunts coming from the
kitchen. I exited the bathroom to see Bonnie was
doing a good impression of a panda; she mumbled
something about Monica and hastily retreated to
her room.
I drank my tea whilst attempting to apply a base
coat of make-up to try and resemble the gender of
the clothes I was wearing (skirt and strappy linen
top), when a loud knock on my door was followed
by Monica informing me that it was a lovely day
and that she’d been thinking about hiring a car. I
left my room on a paracetamol hunt to find Monica
studying maps of the island and looking as fab as
always. How does she do it?
Unbeknown to Bonnie and I, Monica had chatted
up the guy from the local car hire firm last night
and secured a deal that meant we got a Jeep for the
price of a Reliant Robin! After studying the map
while I made us coffee, Monica declared we would
drive to Mount Tiede this afternoon and drop down
to Puerto del a Cruz for tapas in the evening. That
sounded like a plan to me.
The doorbell rang. Monica opened the door
to our new friend, the taxi driver. He looked
dishevelled, as he had done when we first got into
his taxi, but we knew he could scrub up and be
human-like. As Bonnie joined us, now in femme
mode and with no sign of the hungover mess I’d
seen earlier, Mr Taxi Driver introduced himself as
Jesus (that is ‘Heysus’ in English, not the real thing).
‘I am here on official police business,’ he
proclaimed in a very serious voice, not entirely
helped by the fact that he had a large tomato ketchup
stain on his shirt. Or was it blood? No, surely not.
‘My brother, he is in cops, in anti-smuggling
squad. He want you to help him. Okay?’
My mind skipped. What could it be? Drugs? I
immediately thought of the obvious film, The French
Connection. Popeye Doyle. My heart lurched. Drug
gangs? We were on holiday, for goodness sake. What
kind of help would they be looking for? And what
was the stain on his shirt? He saw me looking.
‘Okay. It’s tomato sauce,’ he said. ‘My Maria was
angry at me for coming in so late and threw a bottle
at me this morning. Is all your fault.’
‘Oh,’ I replied, weakly. I wished I could think of
something witty to say, but my senses seemed to have
left me.
‘Okay,’ said Jesus. ‘You want me to explain some
more? My brother, he says that an English gang are
planning to smuggle wine and cigarettes back with
them to Britain. He needs someone to spy at a yacht
party tonight. But all the cops are known. So you
help him? Okay?’
I felt like praying. ‘Help me, Jesus’ was the thought
that sprang into my mind, but this gap-toothed
person was the last man I should be calling on for
assistance. Was this for real? Was it some kind of
leg-pull? He couldn’t be serious, could he? I looked
round at the other two girls, standing behind me in
the doorway, both looking as disbelieving as I felt.
‘You’d better come in, I suppose,’ was all I could say.
He turned back towards the car and waved,
and a tall, handsome man climbed out. Inspector
Montalbano? Surely not. What would he be doing
here? And do fictional television characters ever turn
up in real life? Not in my experience. The sun was
in my eyes, causing them to water slightly. By the
time I’d moved out of the direct light the second man
was walking through the door, holding out a police
identity card for me to inspect. A genuine police
officer, but sadly not Montalbano. He was, though,
vastly more handsome than his brother and he spoke
better English.
‘Pleased to meet you,’ he said. ‘I hope you can help
us, and I can reassure you that you won’t be in any
danger.’
I beckoned him to follow us into the apartment
and led him through to the kitchen, where Monica
and Bonnie poured us all some strong coffee. We
listened to his plan.
------------------------------------------------------
33
.a week in the sun
The yacht wasn’t quite the luxury boat
that we’d imagined. Sue had thought it might
resemble the kind of cruiser that billionaires
owned. Monica had suggested something a little
less grand but still way beyond our everyday
experience. I had no knowledge of boats so
really didn’t know what to expect. We strolled
along the quayside enjoying the warm evening
air and trying to remember our instructions
from the policeman, Juan.
‘Don’t take any chances,’ he’d warned us.
‘Just listen in to any conversations that sound
suspicious. We think most of the people there
will be British so there should be no problems.
We want times and dates.’
So here we were: walking alongside the
marina, dressed up for an evening of partying
but feeling scared stiff. We’d opted for slightly
different outfits. Sue was wearing a beautiful,
flowing maxi-dress in cream with wedged
sandals in a matching shade. Monica had
chosen a low-cut, strappy top in black with
matching silk evening trousers and platform
wedges in black and gold, while I’d opted for a
strappy floral dress that dropped to mid-calf.
Sue had picked it out for me, saying that it was
one of the most gorgeous dresses that she’d ever
seen. We’d chosen jewellery for each other and
checked each other’s make-up and hair.
‘We’ll knock them dead,’ Monica had
announced as we stood in the hallway ready to
leave. ‘Yacht party, here we come!’
We were soon standing on the timber
decking beside the boat, almost shaking with
nerves. The yacht wasn’t huge, but the cabin
area and deck could comfortably hold about
thirty people with others spilling out onto the
jetty near where we were standing. Monica took
charge; I think that Sue and I were too nervous
to speak.
‘Wow, great party,’ she said to a man on the
side-decking of the boat who was wearing
a skipper’s cap. He’d just opened a bottle of
bubbly and was trying to catch the escaping
effervescent liquid in a glass. Monica quickly
snatched a couple of empty glasses from a
16
nearby tray and offered them to him.
‘Thanks,’ he replied, looking her up and
down. ‘Want to join us? You and your friends?
We could do with a few more attractive women.’
He offered us each a glass of bubbly. Monica
turned and winked at us. I smiled wryly. In the
few months that the three of us had become
friends, Sue and I had realised that Monica’s
self-confidence knew no limits. She’d talk
to anyone, push herself forward into quite
challenging situations and would seem to throw
caution to the wind. Here she was with her arm
resting on the man’s shoulder, sipping bubbly as
if it was the most natural thing in the world to
do. I turned and gaped at Sue, who just smiled
nervously and whispered in my ear, ‘Let’s go
with the flow.’
‘So when will you to return to
England, Captain?’ she asked,
her voice husky. ‘I hope you’re
not planning to leave me too
soon, after we’ve only just met.
So we spent the next hour strolling around
the deck and cabin area, but always keeping
close to each other, as instructed by Juan. We
nibbled at some food, sipped at our glasses of
bubbly, listened to the gentle lapping of water
against the hull of the boat and watched the
stars. We joined in with a few conversations,
but spoke as quietly and carefully as we could
to avoid raising suspicions. Well apart from
Monica, who had become the life and soul of
the party and was even now telling a rather
risqué joke about a bishop and an actress. It was
getting quite late in the evening and I decided
that a visit to the loo was required, so walked
through the cabin to a door at the far end that
I’d seen several other party guests use. It led to
a short corridor, and I found that all the doors
were locked except the one for the toilet. I was
on the loo when I heard someone unlock and
enter the next room. This was followed by
the sound of voices, but speaking too softly
for me to make out much of what was being
said. But I did hear mention of ‘the goods’
and ‘these boxes’. I then heard the door close
and footsteps walk away. I flushed the loo and
rinsed my hands, then returned to the tiny
lobby. Dare I try it? I held my breath, turned
the handle of the adjoining room and pushed.
The door opened.
I caught sight of stacks of packing cases
before a man’s face appeared, his body blocking
the view.
‘What do you want?’ he asked sharply.
‘Just the loo,’ I squeaked.
‘Next door.’ He pointed the way. ‘Are you
blind?’
‘Too much bubbly,’ I replied, trying my best
to smile in a way that might suggest inebriation.
I must have been successful because he seemed
to relax and opened the loo door for me. I
went in and repeated the movements of a few
minutes earlier, trying to make sufficient noise
to reinforce the idea that I was more than a
little drunk. When I came out, the corridor was
empty, so I made my way back to the party.
‘I think I’ve seen the cases of stuff,’ I hissed
to Sue and Monica when I rejoined them.
‘A huge stack in a small cabin. But the room
will be locked again now. All we need is the
information about dates and times.’
‘Well, our glasses are empty,’ Sue said. ‘Should
we get a refill?’
‘Absolutely,’ Monica replied. ‘And now’s the
time to use our feminine charms.’
We returned to the drinks table and Monica
took the captain by the elbow, moving in close.
‘So when will you return to England,
Captain?’ she asked, her voice husky. ‘I hope
you’re not planning to leave me too soon, after
we’ve only just met. I do so love the company of
a man in uniform. Were you in the navy?’
She squeezed his arm and took another sip
of bubbly.
‘Why do you want to know?’ he asked, his
eyes narrowing.
‘Navy officers seem to have that extra little
.a week in the sun
bit of je ne sais quoi,’ she responded smoothly.
‘Particularly when they’re in whites. Even the
thought makes me go weak at the knees, really.’
He relaxed. ‘No I wasn’t. Disappointed?’
She cocked her head sideways slightly and
smiled. ‘Maybe slightly. Are you going to show
me your control room?’
‘What room?’
‘You know, where you drive this thing. It’s got
a big wooden wheel with shiny knobs sticking
out of it, and charts, and a tube where you
speak, saying things like “half-speed ahead” or
“give it all you’ve got, Scotty.”’
He laughed. ‘You’ve been watching too
much television. And aren’t you getting your
programmes mixed up?’
‘Maybe. I love charts. Show us some charts,
please.’ She stroked his cheek with her little finger.
Sue and I tried not to show the feelings of
extreme anxiety that were coursing through us.
He took out his keys and unlocked the door to
the small bridge and we trooped inside. He then
unlocked a small cupboard and took out some
charts.
‘This is one of the local harbour’, he said,
spreading one on the table surface.
Monica pretended to study it carefully, then
took him by the arm and dragged him to the
window. ‘Talk me through what the chart really
shows,’ she said. ‘Show me the landmarks and
where the hazards are.’ She glanced back to us
and nodded at the open cupboard. There was a
log-book inside.
I moved to stand behind the two at the
window, blocking the view of the captain in
case he turned, while Sue quickly glanced inside
the logbook. It only took her a few seconds,
and she was back at my side. I gently touched
Monica on her shoulder.
‘Well, that’s all very fascinating, Captain,’ she
said. ‘If we have a party on Friday evening, will
you be able to come?’
‘I’m afraid not,’ he replied. ‘We’ll be on
our way by then. Surely you’re not thinking
of leaving already?’ He looked genuinely
disappointed.
‘It’s nearly midnight,’ Sue said. ‘Monica turns
into an ugly duckling at twelve, so we promised
to get her home by then. Honestly, we’ve had a
really tiring couple of days, and we’re all nearly
dead on our feet. We must go before we keel
over.’Monica gave him a peck on the cheek, and
the three of us returned to the deck and made
our way quickly to the jetty.
‘They’re leaving on Tuesday and are making
for Cornwall,’ Sue whispered. ‘They expect to
be there the following Monday. I’ve even got the
name of the contact in Falmouth who will be
meeting them.’
Juan was waiting beside a car in the marina
car park, a pair of binoculars around his neck.
We told him of our discoveries and he breathed
a sigh of relief.
‘And you’re all safely back,’ he said. ‘I had
some of my men hidden nearby in case of
trouble, but you didn’t need them. You can
relax now, and I’ll take you home. I’ll get the
information to your British police and they can
arrange a welcoming party for the yacht when
it arrives.’
Monica sighed. ‘Talking about welcoming
parties makes me think that we’ve just had to
waste a brilliant party opportunity,’ she said.
‘I was enjoying myself.’ She glanced at her
watch. ‘The night is young. Who fancies going
clubbing?’
Sue and I groaned.
‘Don’t be wimps, you two,’ she continued. ‘I
bet Juan’s up for it, aren’t you Juan?’
He nodded, warily.
Monica sidled up close to him. ‘Umm, do
you have a uniform that you could put on?
Maybe a white one?’
“Trans in the
21st Century”
Edited By Alice Purnell
and Jed Bland
ISBN 978 0952 135 777
By, Joanna Darrell
Trans in the 21st Century, or, T21C as it’s come
to be known, is the Beaumont Trusts update
to its previous publication “Transvestism and
Cross-dressing. Modern Views”.
Divided into 20 sections, 7 of which are related to
“medical matters”, 8 to “Transgender groups, including
families” and the remainder being spread across a
number of categories including personal accounts and
Trans culture and history. More extensive than it’s
predecessor, the book covers a broader range of
material within each section. The transgender section
now features a number of personnel accounts, which not
only help make the book more accessible to readers but
also provide a useful insight for healthcare professionals.
“Trans in the 21st Century” is priced at £15.00 (excluding P&P) and
is available from both the Beaumont Society and Beaumont Trust.
Either email email@beaumontsociety.org.uk or visit the Beaumont
Trusts website at www.beaumont-trust.org.uk.
35
NEWS&T-MAIL
Since our December magazine, our Facebook and Twitter feeds have seen quite a bit of activity on a wide range of
subjects – here are some of my favourites from the last quarter.
Did you know that as well as our Facebook page, many of the regional groups now have
Over on Twitter, we
received a message
from Clare and Anthony,
the children of trans
activist Christine Goodwin. Christine
actively campaigned for trans quality
in marriage, taking her case to the
European Court of Human Rights in
2002. Christine and her family are
looking for donations for their campaign
in promoting rights in Milton Keynes.
We’ll be featuring more on Christine in a
forthcoming magazine...
Did you miss out on our tweet promoting
WigStoreUKs 10% money off promotion?
Not to worry, there are still some
great bargains at their website www.
wigstoreuk.co.uk.
Over in the eastern region we continue
to support Age Concern Luton at their
regional meetings and are working with
a number of regional groups to try to
bring a Pride to the area…hopefully as
soon as 2016!
Lastly, we regularly get postings to the
@Beaumont_Soc feed which make us
chuckle – take a look at a couple of my
favourites below.
Facebook pages as well? These are great places to catch up with regional news as well as
make contact with friends who are local to you. In addition, many of the Beaumont Society
Committee run their own Facebook groups and pages. This month, I take a look at four such
groups that are well worth a look.
Phoenix is a monthly support group held in Kent, UK, on the first Sunday of each month
between 16:00 – 19:00 at Walk Tall Lower Road, Northfleet, Kent DA11 9BL. Run by Becky and
Debbie, if you’re from the eastern area and not able to get into London on a regular basis, this
excellent group holds regular meetings in Kent and features some really interesting speakers
and topics of conversation. Drop by their page regularly for more news.
Beaumont Emerge is our regional group in North Wales. Primarily for wives and partners of
trans people, the group is run by the lovely Sue, Charlotte and Callum, our area organisers for
North Wales. This Internet-based group has big plans for the area and is currently working to
establish a regular meeting space as well as our traditional weekend events!
The Heel Exchange is a Facebook group for trans people to exchange shoes, news and
stories about their favourite fashion items. If you have larger feet, as many of us do, this is
not only a great place to find Internet sites which can help, but also a bag a bargain from
another member!
@Beaumont_Soc Do you have any tips
for getting out of dress that you’ve got
into but can’t get out of?
@Beaumont_Soc Is it true that you have
to be retired to be a member?
@Beaumont_Soc Is transgenderism a
human-only condition? Do you know of
documented cases of trans penguins ?
36
Transgender Make-up Advice and Support is a Facebook page which not only allows members
to post great deals on make-up from the Internet and high street, but also share ideas for
looks as well as ask questions – not only of other members, but also make-up artists directly.
Even if you don’t have any questions about make-up or fashion in general, it’s still worth
dropping by every now and then to catch up with the latest fashion gossip!
.working girls
WORKING GIRLS
by Ruth Hunt
W
e saw a major milestone recently
when Turner Prize–winning
potter, Grayson Perry, went to
Buckingham Palace to receive his CBE from
Prince Charles dressed in a smart blue twinset, matching hat and stiletto heels.
Looking glamorous and, most importantly,
not out of place in the grand setting, Grayson
put those of us who love to dress en femme
firmly on the map – and full marks go to the
Royal Family for granting Grayson’s wish to
go as his alter ego, Claire.
Wonderful though this was, however, it
does beg the question – could any of us get
away with turning up at such an event (or
something like your work’s Christmas party)
dressed to your girly nines without facing
shock, ridicule or, even, hostility, rather than a
tolerant acceptance?
Grayson is lucky in that he is seen as a
somewhat eccentric artist and his crossdressing leanings are generally accepted as
part of his creative persona – rather than
something that has compelled him since he
was a child.
Grayson Perry CBE
But what happens to those of us who
would love to come out more and be accepted
for what we are in a range of settings, from
home, to work, or even down the pub?
In our hearts we know that the accepting
attention that Grayson receives, for instance,
particularly from the media, is likely never
to come our way. In fact, we fear it would be
quite the opposite.
Many, if not all, organisations now have strict
equality and diversity policies which include
recognition for transgendered members of staff.
However, I have often asked myself what would
happen if, one day, I did turn up for work
dressed in sensible, but female, office clothes.
Would my boss call me into his office and
ask: ‘What the hell is going on?’ In theory, there
is nothing they could do but I know – and you
know – that life would be made very difficult.
Particularly if you came out as a cross-dresser
rather than someone who was transitioning.
There are plenty of stories across the Internet
(which, I guess, you have to take with a pinch
of salt) which detailed people’s experiences of
dressing up to go to work, especially around
Halloween which, apparently, is the crossdresser’s holiday in the US (go figure!).
But they have ‘got away’ with it because it is
seen as a fancy-dress phenomenon. Whether or
not they are successfully accepted for coming
into work one day en femme and others in their
male guise is not so clear.
At my work, we have annual equality and
diversity weeks during which events, workshops
and awareness-raising activities are held and
I have often thought of turning up as ‘Ruth’ to
give a talk to people about cross-dressing and
why I do it.
It probably won’t come as a surprise to you
that I have never had the courage to suggest
such a talk to my HR department!
But, if Grayson Perry’s appearance at
Buckingham Palace as Claire – and receiving
Royal endorsement from not only Prince
Charles but the Duchess of Cambridge too
– does not make cross-dressing part of the
mainstream then what more can we do?
No one wants to frighten the horses, of
course, but people outside the entertainment
industry appearing in their female guises would
probably go some way to achieving wider
acceptability.
Eddie Izzard, our most well-known
transvestite comedian, is accepted but, I
suspect, it is seen as part of his ‘act’ by many
people rather than a lifetime compulsion. And,
again, he is part of a liberal-minded part of
society where such things as cross-dressing are
simply par for the course.
A friend in the education field said that he
once worked with a highly respected professor
who appeared at meetings all the time in a skirt
and blouse and eventually no one blinked an
eye. So it can happen. ( He did spoil it rather by
smoking a pipe and having a beard!)
So, when will we see the accountants, the
entrepreneurs (imagine Duncan Bannatyne
appearing on Dragon’s Den in pencil skirt
and white blouse without doing it as part of
Comic Relief!), the marketing men, the project
managers, engineers, etc., begin to appear in
the workplace as their feminine selves? And
not just at social dos but in their general dayto-day work.
Now that would be a revolution!
37
.trainsphobia
TRAINSPHOBIA
by Joanna Darrell
T
he chances are that if I were to tell you
of a group within society who suffered
ridicule and prejudice from others
for the way they dressed and occasionally
spent their weekends, you would probably
think I was speaking from my experience
as a transgender woman. You might even
think your initial impression was confirmed
if I were to add their wives don’t understand
them, don’t join in with their hobby and
only on some occasions tolerate it...strangely
though, I’m not talking about the transgender
community, or myself...
While waiting at Southampton for a train
back home to Bristol, an elderly man came
up to me and asked if he could share my seat.
‘Sure,’ I said, moving my handbag so he could
sit down. He gave me a glance, sat down and
unpacked a notebook, camera and tripod.
Next he organised his collection of books
around him before saying, ‘Yes, I admit it, I’m
a trainspotter. Bet you find that a bit strange
38
eh?’ Turning to him, I replied, ‘Not so much,
my name’s Joanna and I’m transgender.’
He grinned. ‘Alright, it’s not a competition.’
Standing, he looked me up and down and
reminded me that he ‘fought a war for me’.
Not really sure what point he was making, I
thanked him for protecting our freedom and
steered him back towards telling me about
his hobby. ‘Are you sure?’ he asked, ‘I’ve never
had anyone ask me before.’
‘Sure, I’ve got time, I can always catch a
later train,’ I said. ‘Would you like to grab a
coffee?
And just like that, we had a conversation.
Although I can’t remember it all verbatim,
I thought I would share that pretty cool
moment. It turns out our groups have a lot
more in common than you might think –
who’d have thought it?
He asked all the usual questions you get
when you’re out and about: did my parents
approve? Was I married? What did she think?
Why did I pretend to be a woman? Was I
going to have the op? If my boobs where
real; what my real name was; where I kept
my bits; if I liked men or women; even if I
had AIDs (how very 1980s). He occasionally
muddled pronouns and once even told me to
sort my make-up out after I had wiped some
mayonnaise off my upper lip. Responding
to this barrage of questions, I found it easy
to sympathise with how many trans people
feel about how they fit with society and their
perception of transphobia.
A good example of this was when he
asked if I was a ‘tranny’. Explaining that
for many trans people this was a deeply
offensive word and wasn’t a label that many
would appreciate, it was comforting to see
his reaction and apology. ‘I genuinely didn’t
realise, I’m so sorry,’ he offered.
Trying to diffuse the situation I offered,
‘That’s OK, I thought Trannies were white
vans that Ford make. No offence taken.’
Our conversation rambled on and
eventually it came to my chance to ask him
about trainspotting. I asked him why one line,
gauge or class was better than another; why
he couldn’t share his hobby with his wife; if he
was a full-time trainspotter or not; what sort
.trainsphobia
of support network there was; where he went
to share his experiences; how he met people;
how he dealt with people looking at him and
judging him. I also asked if he judged himself
unfavourably if someone had some kit that
he didn’t, if his wife approved and if his beard
was real (just for fun of course).
A GOOD EXAMPLE OF
THIS WAS WHEN HE ASKED
IF I WAS A ‘TRANNY’?
I was struck at how passionate and
knowledgeable he was about his ‘lifestyle
choice’ or ‘hobby’, how his eyes lit up with
excitement when he told me about the
romance of the golden age of steam and how,
now that he was older, it was his gateway to
the world which helped him get out and enjoy
new places and meet new people. He told
me about the groups that he had joined and
his layout in the attic (N gauge apparently,
representative of part of the east coast
mainline). It just poured out of him with
almost schoolboy enthusiasm. He then said
something that made me think: ‘It’s just got to
the stage now where I’m too old to care about
what other people think, and I want to get out
there and make up for lost time. It’s not like
I’m hurting anyone doing it.’
Thinking about what he had told me,
I took a sip of coffee and that instant of
silence became a moment which became
noticeable. ‘Are you okay?’ he asked, ‘I
haven’t upset or bored you have I?’ After
thanking him for telling me all about trains
and explaining that I’m more of a plane girl,
I went on to say that for some members
of both communities, trans and trains, I
guessed that some of the things we had
asked of each other and the way we had
clumsily asked them could be taken as being
offensive. But over coffee and cake (or in
my case a sandwich) we had just been two
people seeking to educate themselves about
the other’s interests and lifestyles.
‘What’s your point?’ he asked. So I went
on to explain a little to him about prejudice
and how it often led to a particular hate
crime called ‘transphobia’. At this point,
his body language changed and he rasped,
‘I’m not prejudiced’, almost challenging me
to defy him. It’s frightening how a single
word can change the tone and direction of a
conversation between two people, much like
the original word that caused the comment
in the first place. Once out there though,
lines get drawn, people get defensive and
the conversation becomes adversarial rather
than engaging.
Thinking a little about it
later on the train ride home,
it seemed to me the
experience had shown me
that before we judge, we
should at least try and
understand the context
of the situation that we’re in. Although I’m
sure many will quote that ‘ignorance is no
defence’ and favour a zero approach to this
sort of prejudice, I wondered if doing so on
occasion risks alienating the very people you
are trying to get acceptance from. Worse still
is when you just highlight the issue, without
pointing out why it’s a problem and then
providing a solution.
I imagined some of my friends listening in
to our conversation, perhaps even reading it
now and saying this person was ‘transphobic’
because of what he had asked (particularly
the ‘tranny’ part), then taking to social media
to vent their anger at ‘yet another incident’.
What positive change comes from such an
action though? The chances are that person,
or group of people, don’t read your blog as
it’s not on their range of interests of things to
follow.
For me the key to the progressing
acceptance of trans (or any other minority
group, including trainspotters) in the wider
community is education in the first instance,
followed by support of all parties as our
understanding of each other increases.
Sometimes, though, the first attempt fails,
maybe even the second, but although it may
test you, it shouldn’t deter you.
Press ahead with education and
understanding, rather than frustration and
highlighting prejudice. Of course, you’ve got
to be safe when you’re taking on these battles
and sometimes there will be times where
no amount of positive action, support and
education will help, but hey, you’ve got to try!
39
The Bunny Girl costume is beloved of the cross-dressing community. So many of us have
tried to emulate the fabulous Bunny Girls. Danielle is old enough to have been to their
venues in London and Southsea. And yes, there was a real TV bunny girl. TV Bunnies
have featured in the TV media on many occasions. So let’s take a look at …
PLAYBOY
BUNNIES
AND THE EVOLUTION OF THE
BUNNY GIRL COSTUME.
by Samantha, Danielle and Jo P.
1953 – Chicago. In November, the first issue
of Playboy appears with Marilyn Monroe on
the cover.
1959 – Playboy ran a piece about the
Gaslight Club, a Chicago nightspot featuring a
music hall atmosphere and showgirl waitresses
dressed in provocative corsets and fishnet
tights. Victor Lownes (Playboy promotion
director) noticed the immediate, extraordinary
response from readers, with over 3,000 letters
wanting to know how to become Gaslight
members. Lownes projected a similar idea to
Hugh Hefner, Playboy’s M.D.
40
1960 – Lownes urged Hefner on and thus
was born the plan for the first Bunny Club.
Lownes turned to a friend for help—Arnie
Morton, who owned Chicago’s Walton Walk
club—and they found a failed club nearby at
116E Walton Street, with a low-cost lease.
Morton would himself train the staff and
handle the restaurant operations. The next
step – a suitably alluring yet pert waitress
costume. A scantily clad real-life girl suitable
for a Playboy centrefold was what was needed,
to serve food and drinks, but there were no
real precedents. Hefner’s first idea was to clad
the ‘Playmates’ in short frilly nighties, but as
a serviceable waitress uniform it was soon
discarded.
One Isla Taurins (a Latvian refugee), who
was dating Lownes, came up with the Bunny
idea. Looking at the Playboy magazine’s logo,
she suggested the girls should look similar, as
‘rabbits’. At first Hefner rejected the idea as the
rabbit logo was clearly a buck. But with Lownes’
encouragement, Taurins and her mother, a
good seamstress, worked on the idea. And a few
days later she walked into the half-finished club
and modelled the seemingly simple prototype
Bunny outfit for Lownes, Hefner and Morton.
To Lownes it looked more like a strapless
one-piece swimming costume with oversized
ears and a tail than a suitable cocktail waitress
outfit, and he was sure Hefner would discard
the design. But Hefner saw the possibilities
and liked the fluffy white tail and bunny ears,
although he thought it too low cut on the
legs. By tucking it up the sides it dramatically
lengthened the appearance of Isla’s legs, but
it still seemed rather baggy. The costume was
then cut even higher on the hip and shaped
with considerable boning. The cuffs and bow tie
collar would be added later.
The original Playmates wore this costume,
based on the famous Merry Widow corset, in
.playboy bunnies
one of ten colours. The following year satin
rosettes were added, pinned to the costume
over the right hipbone.
Paris-born dress designer Renee Blot was
then hired by Playboy to perfect the costume.
She eliminated the seams, raised the side cut
even higher and supervised the production
of the Bunny suit by Chicago corsetieres
Kabo. Soon there were 12 sizes, and 12 shades
including the iconic red, peacock blue and
emerald green. Different colours were used for
girls doing different jobs and having differing
status positions within the club. The three-inch
heeled satin shoes were dyed to match the
bunny costume.
Danskin sheer black tights replaced the
original mesh dancer’s tights in 1962. Two
years later further improvements were made,
and a washable and highly durable one-piece
foundation was adopted. There were only two
cup sizes – 34D and 36D (remember, these
costumes were designed when the icons of
the time were voluptuous 36-24-36ins, such
as Marilyn Monroe and Jane Russell, and not
the stick-thin models we see on the catwalks
today). All the Bunnies were going to exhibit
plenty of uplifted décolleté, which often
THE ORIGINAL
PLAYMATES WORE THIS
COSTUME, BASED ON
THE FAMOUS MERRY
WIDOW CORSET, IN ONE
OF TEN COLOURS. THE
FOLLOWING YEAR SATIN
ROSETTES WERE ADDED,
PINNED TO THE COSTUME
OVER THE RIGHT
HIPBONE.
required considerable, extra-hidden underbust
padding for their varied sizes of bosoms.
The original cotton bunny tails were
replaced with fake fur ones around July 1969.
And it was at this time that the only (known)
TS Bunny Girl made her appearance. American
Aleshia Brevard was in the entertainment
industry, working as an actress, when a friend
told her there was a billboard with posters of
them both on it, opposite the Playboy Club
on Sunset Strip. The friend had been a former
‘Bunny of the Year’ and she got Aleshia into
the club for an interview, and was able
to point to the larger-than-life poster
across the road.
Hefner’s policy was to put
applicants into one of the
famous costumes complete
with tail and ears, and
take a Polaroid of her.
The photo was then
graded on a scale of one
to the highest of ten. If
the applicant passed in
the revealing costume,
she was rewarded with a
personal interview with
the M.D. and the Bunny
‘Mother’. Aleshia scored
nine, but the Mother—in
Aleshia’s own words—was
‘not in my corner of the hutch!’
But she was nevertheless hired
and worked serving drinks with the
heavier trays. She commented, ‘It was like
Boot Camp in three-inch heels! Before going
out onto the club floor we had to stand for
inspection by the dreaded Bunny Mother. She
checked your fingernails, make-up, ears, tail,
collar, cuffs, shoes and tights.’
By becoming a Bunny, Aleshia said she was
trying to convince the world—and especially
herself—that she was 100% woman. Farm boys
did not often become a prevailing male fantasy
figure! After some years, when she felt her
looks were no longer working so well, she left
that very glamorous sweatshop!
Amongst the dozen Bunny costumes were
specialised ones, for example, to serve in
the VIP room (Very Important Playboys)
the Bunny outfit was in blue velvet with
silver trim. Emelio Pucci-influenced prints
were introduced at one time. Polka dots and
psychedelic prints were introduced for girls
serving the disco area, and a more burlesque
influence was added in July 1980, with a
lace and satin cabaret costume featuring
mesh stockings, garters and matching dyed
high heels.
There were 41 Playboy clubs around the world
at one time, which allowed more variations of
the basic costume. In Jamaica the Bunnies went
barefoot. Hefner’s DC9 jet (known as the ‘Big
Bunny’) had Bunnies in sleek, black wet-look
costumes: trousers, jackets and coats trimmed in
white, designed for Playboy by Walter Holmes.
Such dollies could hardly walk about airports in
Bunny traditional dress, but these outfits were
outstanding in their own right!
But the clubs started to lose money despite
their gambling facilities, and were set to close
from 1982 onwards, including those in London
(in the Walter Gropius building in Park Lane),
Manchester and in Portsmouth. This was
in what was previously Kimbells’ Ballroom,
in Osborne Road, Southsea (do any of you
remember it?) The last one to survive was the
Los Angeles Bunny Club, which stayed open
until June 30th 1986.
Playboy Clubs are making a comeback right
now, with a new facility in London under
negotiation, but it is not known if the Bunnies
will be back to serve the customers in the
famous old costume.
The exact design of the bunny costume
is patented and is still strictly monitored by
Playboy, although there are many ‘replicas’ on
the open market.
Bibliography – The main reference volume
is The Bunny Years by Kathryn Leigh Scott
(ISBN 0-938817-17-5). This book has a lot more
detail about the clubs and the Bunny Girls, who
included such subsequent pop icons as Debbie
‘Blondie’ Harry. Also references from various
other books and back numbers of Playboy
Magazines, The Bunny Book by Playboy
Publications, The Woman I Was Born Not To
Be by Aleshia Brevard and Bunny – The Real
Story of Playboy by Russell Miller.
41
.one’s true self
one’s true self
BOOKS AND ARTICLES ABOUT TRANSGENDERED, TRANSSEXED AND
CROSS-DRESSING FOLK HAVE BEEN WRITTEN APLENTY, WITH TITLES
AND CONTENT OFTEN REFERRING TO THE ‘TRUE SELF’ AND THE
DISCOVERING OF, AND EXPRESSION OF, THIS SELF.
I
n the rather narcissistic age
through which we are living there
have been criticisms of this, and
indeed aspersion cast upon some
who persist in expressing their ’true
and self-indulgent – ‘What about your
responsibilities to family? Wife? Partner?’
are objections sometimes raised, feeding
into a sense of guilt which can make a
person extremely ambivalent about being
themselves.
It’s important therefore to distinguish
between the need and desire to embrace
and live from a place of authenticity
narcissism which is usually an attempt
to get someone or something from the
outside to meet an unmet need on the
other. The former, if followed, leads to a
deepening of meaningful experience and
a greater capacity to take part in life, in
society, and to meet the obligations and
expectations of others in a healthy way;
the latter knows no boundaries in the
something that is missing within the
self. Connecting with, discovering and
honouring the needs of the ‘true self’
is a ripening and enriching experience,
evident not just to the person concerned,
but often to those around them –
unhealthy narcissism it is not.
Allowing the ‘true self’ to come
through, to acknowledge it and hear it
can take great courage, and it’s common
for people to resist hearing this voice,
often from fear. Many people are not
used to deciding what is true for them
based on their inner experience, as
42
opposed to allowing an external authority
true and then to admit it to the self
and even reveal it to the world – that is
risky. It means risking the censure and
judgement of others, possibly doing
without their support and approval, and
jeopardising the status quo. As well as
that, it is very human to have internalised
those criticisms and judgements so that
they are voices coming from within as
well as without. The Jungian analyst
James Hollis says that standing up to the
internal fear is possibly one of the most
critical decisions a person can make in
order to grow in an authentic way.
An enormous amount of energy can
be locked up in the parts of the self
which remain suppressed and hidden,
and hearing and allowing what the self
needs to communicate can free up large
amounts of energy, making it available
to live life, to grow and experience the
richness of a broad range of emotions
and experiences.
Reference: Finding Meaning in the
Second Half of Life by James Hollis,
PH.D. Gotham Books 2005.
James Caspian is a counsellor and
psychotherapist specialising in gender,
and is a Trustee of the Beaumont Trust.
See www.transgenderawareness.co.uk
It’s Important
therefore to
dIstInguIsh
between the
need and desIre
to embrace and
lIve from a place
of authentIcIty
and truth
.diversity
A
Helen Belcher
diversiTy
TRANS PEOPLE HAVE GENERALLY NOT HAD A GREAT REPUTATION
FOR CO-OPERATING WITH EACH OTHER. HERDING CATS IS THE USUAL
ANALOGY. APART FROM THE HISTORIC ISOLATION MANY OF US HAVE FELT,
ONE KEY ISSUE, I THINK, IS THE LABELS THAT ARE USED, WHICH HAVE
GENERALLY BEEN IMPOSED UPON US IN AN ATTEMPT TO DISCERN THOSE
WHO NEED OR SEEK MEDICAL INTERVENTION AND THOSE WHO DON’T.
To be fair, The
quesTion was asked
wiThin The auspices
of a meeTing which
had The LgbT LabeL,
buT iT drew my
aTTenTion To The
various ways in
which we ofTen
uninTenTionaLLy
‘oTher’ ourseLves.
43
.family and friends
TRANSGENDER
FRIENDSHIP
I
have known J for over 40 years; both as
a friend and also as a work colleague.
So to say that J’s transgender issues
were a surprise would be an enormous
understatement. In fact I would have
previously described J as a normal redblooded male, who enjoyed beer, music,
cricket and the company of ladies…
The first time that J and her wife B, my
husband and I went out as a foursome,
was to our local cinema. I was a little
shocked at J’s transformation; so much
care had been taken with hair, clothes and
make-up. There were stares from some
people in the cinema queue and in the
ladies’ toilet – to be expected I suppose.
Once seated we all managed to behave
normally, I hope, and to interact in the
usual familiar way. To me, there was just
the same kind person inside J’s skin, so
who were we to judge?
My very straight heterosexual husband
took it all in his stride. Life never ceases
to amaze!
Since that first foray into the outside
world as three females and one male,
we have met many times at a variety of
events and venues. The dynamic of two
couples may have changed, but hopefully
the friendship has not. J’s decision to
become female has obviously been of
great importance to her. For someone to
put themselves through so much is to be
greatly admired, and the least we can do
as friends is to be as supportive to both,
whatever the future may bring.
MY VERY
STRAIGHT
HETEROSEXUAL
HUSBAND TOOK
IT ALL IN HIS
STRIDE. LIFE
NEVER CEASES
TO AMAZE!
Carol
Northern Concord’s
Cross
Talk
n Weekend 2015
E
g
i
B
Le
5th - 9th February 2015
A weekend to brighten up those few dull months after Christmas and New Year, good food,
great live entertainment and good company. It’s been described as going away on a cruise, but
without the bother of going to sea! Bring your wife, your partner, or just pair up with a friend for
a weekend break to remember. Choose between two, three, or four nights stay you won’t be
disappointed, except when you’ve got to go home that is!
Price for Friday & Saturday is
just £185.00 per person, add
Sunday for even better value at
£253.00 for the three nights and
if you would like even more
arrive on the Thursday for
just £59.50 extra.
For more details, booking forms
and a guide to the itinery go to
Northern Concord’s website at:
www.northernconcord.org.uk
Or email:
jennyb@northernconcord.org.uk
Northern Concord, P.O. Box 258, Manchester, M60 1LN, UK
44
Our venue is the Ringwood Hall Hotel
A beautiful Georgian listed Manor House
close to the historic market town of Chesterfield,
CAMBRIDGE DIAMONDS
MEET 7.30-11.00 PM
EVERY WEDNESDAY NIGHT AT
THE BOAT HOUSE PUB
E: info@goldminemedia.co.uk W: www.goldminemedia.co.uk
PHOENIX
THE TRANS SUPPORT GROUP FOR KENT
A friendly place to meet for chat / coffee in a secure venue on
the first Sunday of each month from 1600 - 1900
Cost £5 per person. Tea/Coffee 50p per cup
LAUNCH NIGHT SUNDAY 6th OCTOBER 2013
(and then monthly after)
Venue Address: Lower Rd, Northfleet, Kent DA11 9BL.
Contact Becky Essex 07595 159108 beckytvessex@yahho.co.uk
CORTEX
HERTFORDSHIRE
Letchworth, Stevenage and Watford - L. G. B & T Group
The L.G.B & T Group is open to transgender people and anyone
who wish to come.
Meeting places based in Hertfordshire
Social activities across UK
Tea, coffee and buffet
Changing area and parking available
www.tgcortex.com
or contact
Francesca on 07884 346 037 or email: cortexherts@yahoo.co.uk
Brenda on 01462 742 660 or email: brenda.reeve711@btinternet.com
For Stevenage Abi on 07960 153 758
Very friendly and supportive staff
(SITUATED BETWEEN THE TIVOLI WETHERSPOON
AND THE GEORGINA RIVERBOAT)
14 Chesterton Road, Cambridge. CB4 3AX
Car Park (fee refunded if food min £5 purchased)
Parking also on Staples Forecourt and surrounding streets.
PRIVATE USE OF FUNCTION ROOM
(Entrance on left just inside back door from car park)
Also find us in the pub
CHANGING FACILITIES
Own toilets
Food and Drink
LIVE MUSIC - EVENTS - CHAT
Web: www.tgcambridge.org.uk
Contact: Di Aitchison 07989 038223
WOULD IT BE HELPFUL
TO BE ABLE TO TALK TO
SOMEONE WHO UNDERSTANDS
YOUR SITUATION?
YOU ARE NOT ALONE...
Gender Identity Research and Education Society
Melverly, The Warren, Ashstead, Surrey KT21 2SP
Telephone: 01372 801 554
Information for trans-people, their families and
professionals who care for them.
www.gires.org.uk
A RECENTLY-FORMED GROUP OFFERING:
Confidential support to women whose partners are transgender and may express
themselves through cross dressing.
Volunteers who are all women who have been through the experience of living with a
transgender person. They will provide emotional and practical support, information and
understanding of others in a similar situation.
We can relate to your feelings and reassure you that they are “normal”.
BRIEF DETAILS OF THE SERVICES WE INTEND TO PROVIDE
Confidential Online Forum
Confidential Telephone Support Line
Answers to frequently asked questions
Letters describing their personal experiences from wives & partners of transgender people.
CONTACT DETAILS: partners@beaumontsociety.org.uk
WEBSITE ADDRESS: beaumontsociety.org.uk/partners/partners.html
OPERATIONAL FROM: 1st April 2013
London girls can meet at the :-
The London Friend
86, Caledonia Road, Kings Cross, London N1 9DN
on the Second Sunday of the Month, at 7.00pm for company and chat
in a friendly atmosphere for a small charge of £2.00.
Refreshments available.
This venue is secured for the LGBT community
Phone Helen Elliot on 020 8371 5663
A Beaumont Society supported meeting
Can you help with funds for the
LondonFriend!!!
Northern Concord
The National Transgender
Celebration
The Northern Concord is
a social group for
Cross-dressers, transvestites,
transexuals and their wives or
partners. The group is based in Manchester,
England and has worked for the TG community
successfully for over 23 years
www.northernconcord.org.uk
E-mail: jennyb@northernconcord.org.uk
P.O. Box 258, Manchester M60 1LN
WWW.SPARKLE.ORG.UK
Friday 11th to Sunday 13th July
Sparkle c/o PO Box 186, BARNSLEY
South Yorkshire S73 YT
Sparkle is supported by the
Beaumont Society
Check with Diane Ball
dianetvball@aol.com
For meeting dates and venue for ladies in
LINCOLNSHIRE
and local counties
THE BEAUMONT SOCIETY
Established 1966
www.beaumontsociety.org.uk
The purpose of the BEAUMONT SOCIETY are to form an association of those who help CROSS
DRESS or who are TRANSSEXUAL and, through this assoication, to provide a means of help
and communication between members, in order to reduce the emotional stress, eliminate the
sense of guilt and so aid better understanding by them and of their families and friends.
HELP LINES
BS INFORMATION LINE 01582 412220
The Beaumont Trust
BM Charity,
London, WC1N 3XX
Trustline:
07000 287 878
(7pm to 11pm Tues & Thurs)
www.gender.org.uk/bt/
Press for Change
Scotland
Trans-people and the law
www.pfc.org.uk
Edinburgh Trans Women
info@edinburghtranswomen.org.uk
Meet on first Saturday monthly
7.30pm to 09.30pm
9 Howe Street EH3 6TE
Email or telephone 0131-523-1100
Tel: 08448 708 165
10.00am to 5.00pm
Enquiries: office@pfc.org.uk
Transsexuals, Transgendered & Partners
GENDYS NETWORK
www.gender.org.uk/gendys
EUROPE
Association Beaumont Continental
Centre MBE 130 39,
Boulevard da la Liberte 35000
RENNES
www.abcfr.org
BM Gendys
London WC1N 3XX
Northern Ireland
Belfast Butterfly Club
028 9267 3720
(Weds. 8pm to 10pm)
www.belfastbutterflyclub.co.uk
E-mail: trans@belfastbutterflyclub.co.uk
Grampian Gender Group
Meet 3rd Saturday Monthly
Details Mobile No 07050-562175
Monday & Wedneday 7pm to 9pm
The Sandy Initiative
Gender Identity Clinic
Glasgow
Tel No 0141 211 8130
(For Scottish Transsexuals no GP
Referral Necessary)
You can contact the Facilitator by email
sandyfordtranswomen@yahoo.co.uk
Lgbt Centre Helpline 0300-123-2523
Tuesdays & Wednesdays from 12 to 9pm
Women of the Beaumont Society: www.gender.org.uk/wobsmatter
E-Mail: wobsmatter@aol.com
Yahoo group: http://uk.groups.yahoo.com/group/wobsmatters
The views expressed in the Beaumont Magazine are those of the members and do not necessarily reflect the views of the editor or the
executive committee of the Beaumont Society. All items appearing in the journal are, except where noted to the contrary, subject to the
copyright of the Beaumont Society and shall not be reproduced without the written permission of the Beaumont Society. The editor
reserves the right to alter, shorten or refuse any item submitted for publication. The Beaumont Society may not be held responsible for
the truth or accuracy of any claims made by any advertiser in this publication. All members are advised to check the price of goods
and services offered by advertisers. The Beaumont Magazine is also available for electronic members in PDF format.
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