By Paula Gaikowski (paula.gaikowski@gmail.com)
My search led me from academic libraries to adult bookstores and magazine shops, anywhere I thought I might find a clue. It was in one of these searches that I stumbled upon an advertisement for the International Foundation for Gender Education (IFGE) in Massachusetts. Intrigued, I delved deeper and discovered the Tiffany Club, another organization based in the Boston suburbs. Both were beacons of hope in a time of profound isolation.
The IFGE published a magazine called Tapestry. Whenever I could find it – sometimes in an airport or on a New York newsstand – I would buy a copy, often an outdated issue, and devour its articles. It was a lifeline, a connection to others like me, a burgeoning community.
As fate would have it, my career eventually took me to the Boston area where my company was headquartered. I remember making my first trip to Waltham, my destination: Vernon’s Boutique on Moody Street. This shop catered to the transgender community. Just down the block was the headquarters of the IFGE. This small corner of the world was the seed from which the first national exposure and voice of our community grew.
In my opinion, this area, this collection of individuals and organizations, represents something akin to our Stonewall. It was the beginning of our organized movement. I had intended to write an article about this pivotal moment, but I recently came across a comprehensive piece online. It’s a long read, perhaps 40 minutes or so, but I believe it’s worth your time. It chronicles the rise of this community, what remains of it today, and the struggles, sacrifices and triumphs of the individuals who built it. It details what these pioneers went through to create the community we have today.
I urge you to read it and consider its implications, especially in light of the current political climate. Who knows what the future holds for our community? Understanding our past is crucial to navigating our future.
(Click here to read the article.)
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| Wearing Rene Ruiz |
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| Glamorous fabulous femulators |
My teen years were the 1960's. You would think living in New York City there would have been more acceptance of anyone who was different. But, it was not. I wallowed in self hatred, self loathing because I felt a compulsion to wear my mother's clothing. Cross-dressers were thrown into the same category as being gay, although that more pleasing term came after the customary vulgarities. The local library had a copy of "The Kinsey Report" which was behind the librarians desk. No teen was allowed to checked out or peruse the book on site. The neighborhood newspaper store's magazine rack had Playboy. I did discover in midtown Manhattan "Michael's" which had "interesting" window displays. Even after moving to the Pacific Northwest nothing was different, if not worse. Instances of brief reports of cross dressing were disgusting. The local newspaper ran an article of a man who set fire to his home and held the firemen at bay with gunshots. The news reported his remains were found in his easy chair with high heels strapped to his charred legs. Disgusting to make levity of a horrible situation. Down the street a wife divorced her husband because she found out he was a cross dresser. I even called a cross dresser help line in Seattle. If you're going publish an ad in a newspaper, maybe you should not throw ill will at a young man trying to stumble throw his issues. I hope you never worked a suicide hot line. I am happy the younger generation and their supporters are more vocal. There is a lot of hate out there. I can understand when my African-American family members talk of institutionalize racism. It's the same with us: Be pleasant when encountering, but is there are invitation to a BBQ? Maybe a little, but basically it's seems socializing is within like minded individuals. Maybe, next time around it may be different?
ReplyDeleteGreat story Paula. I also visited Vernon's back then. Bought my first pair of boobs there. But I never got the courage to stop nearby at the Tiffiny club. JJ
ReplyDeleteIt’s amazing how many of the same experiences we share as a group it’s those experiences that bond us together make us understand and provide empathy for each other as we deal with this unique issue that we have been blessed with Paula G
DeleteI just dress up for fun once in a while :)
ReplyDeleteGrowing up in the 60's in Woburn MA, I felt VERY alone. I had heard of this mag and organization, but never got up the courage to follow up on it. And now I l ook back at all the wasted time - time when I could have been living a full life instead of keeping half of it hidden.
ReplyDeleteDid you read the article? Did it bring back and memories? Paula G
DeleteI was in high school in the late 80's. I saw a picture in a psychology book of a man in a nightgown sitting at the kitchen table while his young daughter at breakfast. I was stunned by two things, that I wasn't the only person who might try on women's clothing, and that he was doing it openly in front of his family.
ReplyDeleteAfter seeing that, I scoured the psychology section in the school library for more information about crossdressing. There were a couple books that had clinical descriptions about the topic, and minimal discussion about variations of expression. In total, I think that there were only three additional pictures.
That was when I found out there was a community out there somewhere who were like me.
Where do I find an explanation of the difference between crossdressing and being transgender?
ReplyDeleteFrom Google:
DeleteTransgenderism: A person's gender identity differs from their assigned sex at birth. Transgender people may choose to wear clothing that matches their gender identity. Transgender people may or may not want to undergo medical or surgical intervention
Cross-dressing: Dressing in a way that goes against the social norms or laws for a person's gender. Cross-dressers may wear feminine clothing or express a feminine personality. Many cross-dressers are content with the sex they were assigned at birth. Cross-dressers may not want to change their assigned sex
Hence one is more identity while the other is mostly expression;)
DeleteBanner. Nice to see some older AI women. Older and more greh hair please. who, in their 70' and 80's still wears those heels. short skirts OK but dark tights please.
ReplyDeleteLily European
Never satisfied!
DeleteThe entire Tapestry collection can be found here, at the Digital Transgender Archive... https://www.digitaltransgenderarchive.net/inst/ce25de4c-9599-4532-9194-8a10c4fdf897
ReplyDeleteI use some of them when I taught the trans culture (I got written permission for IFGE)
Thanks PG for the trip down memory lane. I was a card carrying member of IFGE in the '90's living in the mid-west.
ReplyDeleteEverything is in a state of constant change folks. I wish my club, the Saint Louis Gender Foundation was still here like in the '90's, but alas, most of the clubs either die or evolve into something else over time.
Angel Amore
Thank you for sharing this Paula!
ReplyDeleteI hope somewhere, someone has an archive or collection of all the Tapestry magazines. It is right important to preserve the past on all of this. If this was at a library or what not I would surely visit to read them. : )
Norah
Diane posted the location of these in the comments just a couple comments above this one
DeleteWent to the library; vetted by Merissa. Went to the house & dressed. Now it is about finding friends who Femulate.
ReplyDeleteBig Hug
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