I pledge to do my best on TWENTY without being too serious. After all, this isn't the New York Times. But you, the readers, also have a responsibility here... (You thought you'd get off easy, huh?)
As you already know, The Twenty is a forum for the members and friends of the XX Club. Next to our regular meetings, it's our best opportunity to share experiences, pass along vital information, and enhance the unity of our group.
The luxury of our little Press comes with responsibilities, however. Those responsibilities are yours.(This is the catch).
It is vital that you contribute. Yes, you. Pass along information, articles, questions, letters and anything else that you find interesting. I'll sort it all out for you, just send it. Please!
I'll even give you some ideas of stuff that I'd like to
hear about:
This has been said before, I'm sure, but since I need content, I'm reduced to begging. Is that what you want? I don't think so. Besides, I don't know how long I can get my SO to write stuff for me.'
Editor, TWENTY
The XX Club
PO Box 387
Hartford, Cr 06141-0387
Thanks for your support, and enjoy the newsletter
Suzanne
Since I had so much fun the first time, I decided to go back for more
self-abuse. Actually, I am so pleased with how my facial laser work has
turned out that I decided to go all out and have virtually my whole body
done. This was performed in two parts - Today, I had my chest, back, abdomen,
armpits and complete arms done. The procedure took from I I AM until 8
PM and was considerably less painful than my facial work. Though quite
time-consuming, the process almost seemed meditative at times and actually
pleasurable as there were alternating hot and cold soaks, and hot wax applications.
Of course the actual hair-stripping during waxing was not fun and at times
the laser was painful but overall, I found it all to be quite tolerable.
Billie was her usual patient, caring, and careful self and we had some
fun creating possible T-shirts for her
clients to wear, such as "Billie is a mother-plucker" and ???? When
it was all over, I was awed by how smooth and clean my skin was with only
a slight bumpiness in a few places. What more could a girt want!!!
March 7th
The process continued with denuding of both legs. This time it took only about seven hours. The pain level was about the same as with the previous body work. The most sensitive parts were, as you might suspect, behind the knees and on the inside of my thighs. Again, by the time I was finished, the process seemed very tolerable. The "acid" test would be real soon. I was headed for a week of skiing at Club Med, at Copper Mountain in Colorado and I was going to take the plunge, literally, by hanging out after siding in the hot tub!!!
April lst
Despite the date, this is not an April Fool's joke. My time at Club Med turned out to be a lot of fun. Having had the body laser made me feel a lot more comfortable at using the hot tub without being "read".
Of course, having a conservative, one-piece bathing suit with a skirt bottom also helped. But not having hairy arms or seeing faint hairs on my chest also helped my self-confidence immensely. It all made for an enjoyable and perspiring experience.
At about three weeks post treatment, I am quite happy with the results. My arms and legs still look hairless with only minimal light growth. I haven't shaved them since my treatment. Some body hair has regrown and I have shaved once. The regrowth is much sparser than before and the hair seems finer. The faster regrowth on the torso may be due to the fact that areas of denser and thicker hair seem to be more resistant to "death by laser" and will probably require more treatments for permanent removal. I am very optimistic now that three treatments will be enough for my legs and arms. Not too shabby if that works out Stay tuned!
As a result, I am going back for a second treatment. This time will be somewhat different, however. Based on results at other Softlight locations, we won't be waxing. Instead, I will shave myself, as closely as possible the morning of the treatment, and there will be two applications of the laser. This will eliminate the worst part of my first treatment but may mean the hair removal will not be as effective and I may need more treatments. The trade-off is worth it, I think. For one, I don't have to go around for three weeks wearing a beard to go with my wig and dress, a process I was feeling was going to be a worse experience than the actual laser treatment I also won't have to experience the painful waxing that I experienced on the first round. All in all, I am very satisfied with how my laser electrolysis is proceeding. I will be back with more news after my next treatment
For further information about the laser
electrolysis, please visit my website at
http://www.jessicawinograd.com.
The history of the Gay, lesbian, Bisexual, Transgendered Civil Rights movement is introduced from a Transgendered / Transsexual point of view.
Feinberg's history includes a discussion of a matriarchal and non-gender segmented society and the arrival of a separatist patriarchy. Modem events include the rise of the Nazi party and the famous Stonewall event in New York city.
Transgender Warriors also includes a Portrait Gallery of individuals who have contributed over the years. Each photo is accompanied by a brief biography with reference to books, significant events, or organizations associated with the people who have had an impact on Feinberg's life and work.
Appendices include the International Gender Bill of Rights and addresses of many Transgender Organizations and Transgendered Publications; many with E-mail addresses and Web Sites.
An extensive bibliography also provides titles for additional information.
See XX Club Librarian Charlegne Mllett if you would like to borrow this
outstanding book.
Dan lead a busy life, traveling and working to support his family during
the week. On weekends he devoted his time to remodeling the ancient brick
farmhouse or landscaping the huge yards, and playing with his family. He
called it his way of feathering the nest. Dan loved his family. He strove
for success and dreamed of the days when they could all be together instead
of working their lives away. He longed to spend time with his children,
to watch them grow, to teach them all the wonderful things he had learned,
the things only he seemed to see with his very special eyes. Inside Dan
burned the heart of a poet. He wanted his children to reach for and touch
the sky; and be able to write about it so others could understand that
joy too. But Dan never lived to see his dreams realized, for inside of
him burned another passion, so bright, so hot, so
impossibly and irresistibly strong. When Dan had married, his wife
Margaret learned of his other passion.
One day in April, seven years ago, Dan disappeared. It was rumored that he was spotted all over the east coast. That he had moved by himself to a new town. But none of the rumors were verified. There was one insidious rumor of another woman. But those who knew Dan knew that his loyalty to Margaret was total. This rumor too, was dismissed. The police were called in to investigate. Although the investigation was inconclusive, they suspected murder. The usual suspects were questioned.
Margaret, acted like she was crushed, but when pressed by the police she admitted that they had argued before she saw him last. If she knew anything beyond that, she wasn't speaking. She did claim, however, that Dan was alive and sick, but she didn't know where he was. Since the police failed to locate a body, and wouldn't proclaim him dead, Margaret soon began divorce proceedings. Several months later Margaret began taking her sons to a child psychologist, and it was rumored that she too sought counseling, but doctor/client confidentiality prevented the police from finding the reason for the need for this therapy. In spite of these facts the police decided that Margaret, a young professional woman, underinsured, with a big mortgage, had everything to lose and little to gain if she had murdered Dan. The children were too young, so they weren't suspects.
The police questioned Dan's parents and found them beside themselves with worry. They said they had heard nothing from Dan or about Dan's whereabouts. A consulting psychologist was brought in to ask some clinical questions to try to build a profile of Dan's early family life. This had two purposes, the first to try- to locate hidden motives of the parents, and the second to see if Dan had any secret passions which might help locate him if still alive. He concluded that although the father was distant, and the mother overprotective and self-effacing, neither showed abusive tendencies. Their descriptions of the early home life was of little use either There was one incident that was mentioned - when he was caught trying on makeup - but this wasn't significant and didn't even make his report The parents were eliminated as suspects when it was revealed that they had an air-tight alibi.
Other relatives, friends and business associates were quickly investigated and lacking motive, dismissed just as quickly. No trace of the rumored mystery woman was ever located.
Dan used to say that his name was appropriate, Diamond. Like a diamond, he shined in the light, and he had many facets, some which few or none knew about. Those who knew him best felt him to be a mm, and beautiful person. Some who knew him best were never questioned by the police. Dan saw that that part of his life, that other passion, was isolated from his home. Just like two opposing facets on a diamond.
Who killed Dan Diamond? Don't you see, Dan isn't dead, well not entirely anyway. How do I know? My name is Denise, and I'm the "other" woman, and I am Dan or rather, Dan is now me. I'm the passion that Dan fought all his life to hide. I'm the secret shame he buried deep in his heart. I'm the longing to wake just once and be... normal. I'm Dan's inner heart, the madonna that cries out for existence. The beauty that flowed from his soul.
I am me and we long to go home. But the words exchanged that day, the
hurt, the pain, the divorce, the longing, the very real sense of loss,
can't be overcome. In a very real way Dan is indeed dead. Killed
by a lack of tolerance, understanding, and real love for the person he
was in total. But, the person who looks out from that picture, holding,
protecting his sons, will never die and will never cease that protection.
Nor can we go home until the love is total, and unconditional. 'Til then
the dreams of all the victims in this drama will remain unfulfilled.
Reprinted From Newsweek
March 24, 1997
Now it appears that John's transition from boy to girl wasn't so seamless. An article published last week in the Archives of Pediatrics and Adolescent Medicine reports that despite his feminized body and upbringing, John in fact rejected his new gender. He tore off the dresses, dreamed of becoming a mechanic and even tried to urinate standing up - despite his reworked anatomy. "I thought I was a freak or something," he told the study's authors. When John was 14, a doctor finally told him about his past. "For the first time, everything made sense," he says. He proceeded to have his breasts removed and his penis rebuilt At 25 he married a woman and adopted children.
Researchers say that John's case, although unusual, has far-reaching implications for the way we understand the power of environment in influencing sexuality. "You can't magically decide somebody is either male or female," says Elizabeth Rice Allgeier, editor of The Journal of Sex Research. "Hormones, culture, parents, genetics - they're all interacting and modifying one another."
John's case may also affect the way doctors treat children born with
ambiguous sexuality - some chromosomes and anatomy of both sexes. In the
past, doctors have usually converted these babies to girls, because that
surgical procedure is easier. John's case shows that, regardless of a
child's upbringing and anatomy, some boys will always be boys.
JOB HUNTING: Poring over the Sunday paper for a job is a thing of the past. Use the classifieds for wrapping fish and jump into the Net! If you don't have a computer handy, fear not! Most libraries have free intemet access now. Many have trained staff to help you find prime job sites online. Sites like CareerPath.com and Monster.com are full of employment leads to suit any career. The library is a real money saver if you need to do some word processing, too. Many have workstations to do that resume you've been putting off. Compared to Kinkos for example (at $12-$16 an hour) the library can't be beat!