The International Foundation for Gender Education

by Sarah Gina Jones

Transgender Tapestry 099 Fall 2002 Table of Contents

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Originally appeared in Transgender Tapestry #99, Fall 2002.



We?ll All Miss Her

by Nancy Cain



I remember meeting Candy Scott in the fall of 1994 at one of the Innvestments meetings in Hyannis, Massachusetts. She spotted me as a newcomer and immediately latched on to me. She wanted to know all about me. I was flattered.

Originally appeared in Transgender Tapestry #99, Fall 2002.





Lessons From my Year as President

Or How to Survive with your Sense of Humor Intact



It was little more than a year ago that I was approached by friends who encouraged me to run for President of the TransGender Education Association (TGEA), one of the social/support groups in Washington, D.C. At the time, there was a palpable sense of apathy rising in a group that once numbered over 90 members. Over the years, the pool of regulars?who always found a way to stay involved?began to dry up or burn out. As elections approached, there were more open positions than there were nominations or incumbents.

Originally appeared in Transgender Tapestry #99, Fall 2002.



by David Steinberg



One fine spring day in 1997, Hank Wolny?like thousands of other sightseers?found himself strolling along legendary, star-studded Hollywood Boulevard, not far from the corner of Hollywood and Vine. Heading west from Frederick?s of Hollywood, Hank noticed a store that was exclusively devoted to selling fetish footwear. A block further along, there was another store selling exactly the same thing, then another, then another.

This column appeared in Da Kine magazine, November 2001 and reappeared in Transgender Tapestry #099, Fall 2002.



by Li Anne W. Taft



Make No Excuses



Whatever others may think or say about their appearance and lifestyles, transgendered men and women can feel secure in who they really are . . .



Early in my journey between genders, I learned an important lesson. One morning, after I had boarded a Honolulu bus, the driver leaned back and gave me big stinkeye, as if to communicate his disapproval of my transgendered appearance. Feeling uncomfortable, I grimaced back and looked for a seat in the back of the bus.

by Miqqi A. Gilbert



The initial installment of this column appeared in Transgender Tapestry #098, Summer 2002 and continued with this column in Transgender Tapestry #099, Fall 2002.





III



Back in my office, I watched the clock as time approached for my lecture. The course, Gender and Sexuality, is in a lecture hall that seats about 130, but there are only about 90 in the class. I timed my arrival for a few minutes after the start, so I wouldn?t be standing around waiting for the class to begin. I entered, butterflies fluttering away, walked to my table, put down my books and purse, and faced the class. A round of applause started, begun by a wonderful gang of students from the TBLGay club, who had come to offer support and make sure I was all right. These are young people who have come out at a tender age. Most have suffered as they discovered their own non-mainstream identities early in life, so they know how important support is.

Originally appeared in Transgender Tapestry #099, Fall 2002.

by Monica F. Helms





The Kansas Supreme Court decision on March 15, 2002 in ?In re Estate of Gardiner? sent a shock wave through our community that we had not experienced since the Supreme Court turned down Christie Lee Littleton?s case, the firing of Dana Rivers, or the Minnesota court case of Juli Goins. The transgender community has become used to serving as society?s sparing partner, bobbing and weaving to avoid solid contact, but it still stings when they land a strong left hook that sends us to canvas. How can anyone blame us when we respond to these emotional defeats?



In true transgender fashion, our response comes in the form of words, pouring out our emotions on the computer screen before us:



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Originally appeared in Transgender Tapestry #099, Fall 2002.



by Monica F. Helms



This April, I felt privileged to attend my first IFGE convention. I had fun, and made new friends. The awards ceremonies brought tears to my eyes, while the workshops and panels informed and delighted me. But in spite of all this, there is one evening that will forever live in infamy. I call it The Night of a Thousand Ribs.

Letters to the Editor



Originally appeared in Transgender Tapestry #099, Fall 2002.