|
You have reached the Newsletter Archives of the Alpha
Omega Society. To browse through different years, click on
button labeled "Up". To
explore our website click on the button labeled "Home".
If you want to search our website for something in particular, click right
here to be taken to our search page.
|
La
Femme Silhouette
August-September
2003
|
|
Masthead
2003 |
|
|
|
Table of Contents
Editorial- Gloria
Catching Up- Diane
Minutes-Kathleen
Something More Than
Just A Blouse- Gloria
OmniGender Book Review-Abigail
Cross-Dressed
to Kill- Musings by Transfamily Webmistress Cynthia Hubscher
Scott
Upcoming Local Events-
Diane
Upcoming National Events
Upcoming Meetings
Publication
Notice and Club Policies
|
|
AN
EDITORIAL
At our July meeting we had a very lively discussion about a
recent Question of the Month, that I posed for the group. The
basic question was to, in twenty-five words or less, to define
what is a cross dresser, just as you might see it in a
dictionary. Of course, wearing the clothing of the opposite
sex was a main ingredient in virtually everybody’s
definition, as would be expected. Some included males and
females as part of the
equation, too. Expressing an alternative perspective of
ourselves was also mentioned, as was adopting the persona of
the opposite gender. And one definition included the willful,
respectful, and voluntary wearing of clothing associated with
the opposite sex, without external compensation.
Though there were common threads in all definitions
expressed, each definition also was based on our own
individual connotations of cross dressing whether it be as a
cross dresser, spouse, or as a friend of a cross dresser. I
believe the consensus was that each definition was in and of
itself correct, but that there was no one definitive answer
that suited everyone. And that, to me, is why it can be so
difficult to explain cross dressing to someone whose life is
not affected by it, and gain instant understanding of the
phenomenon. We all seemed to agree that cross dressing was
more than just putting on some clothes, but from there, our
own individual thoughts, feelings, and emotions add to the
meaning.
When Martin told Kathy about me, part of that talk was
based on that he could only tell her about what he and I felt,
and that others would see and feel things from their own
personal perspectives. There is no one right answer or
viewpoint, just as there is no one answer as to why cross
dressing exists. For many years in my life, I tried to fathom
why cross dressing existed, and I failed miserably in trying
to find an answer.
The answer I found within myself, in order to find peace in
my life and in Martin’s life, was to finally admit that
after so many years of inner conflict, that why cross dressing
existed for me really didn’t matter anymore. What did matter
was life itself, and giving myself and Martin the freedom to
co-exist with each of us finding fulfillment. I had to accept
that I would never know why Martin just had to know what it
felt like to wear a dress at four years old, or why at twelve
years old I felt so complete and right dressed as a girl, but
did not feel that way as a boy.
By the time I was thirty seven, "why" had done
nothing but tear my life apart, and the lives of those my
cross dressing affected. I had come to a point of saying
enough was enough. And so, Gloria came to life. Once I allowed
myself that freedom, the whole world changed for me and for
Martin. Martin had his family, his friends, his home, his job,
and his life. And I found family, friends, a home, goals and
purposes for me, and my life.
I am fifty two now, or at least Martin is, and the last
fifteen years have been the most fulfilling of our existence.
I have spent a lot of that time trying to help others to find
their own freedom, peace of mind, and the path of life
discovery that is right for them, just as I was helped to find
those things. And AO has been the means of doing that. The old
saying, If life hands you lemons, then make lemonade"
probably sums up as well as anything what I learned from all
those years of wondering "Why I was a cross
dresser", and "What is a cross dresser".
I found the way to make the best of what life handed me.
Somebody may find an answer as to why cross dressing exists
someday, but at this time in my life, it is a moot point for
me. And, I guess, I do have just one other definition for the
term cross dresser that I would really like to see in a
dictionary, and it is this:
Cross dresser: a human being, a person.
Now that we’ve settled all that, how about you and I get
together over a glass of lemonade. At least that’s what I
think. How about you?
Love Always,
Gloria
Return to
Content
|
|
Catching Up-
By Diane Frank
I really thought I’d get a newsletter together for August, but things piled
up. First, we had to move our website fully to its new home. It’s unbelievable
how much work it took to do something that should have been so simple. It was
supposed to be just copying some files, changing some names and email addresses.
At the risk of boring people with technical details, there were changes that our
vendor made that rendered some parts of the site inoperative. Our guest book
wouldn’t work. The site indexing wouldn’t work. Some links got broken that I
hadn’t expected. Several phone calls later (and thanks for the cooperation of
Diane Brennan handling the financial end of this), and some late nights, our
site functions pretty much the way it’s been functioning, and I can get back
to worrying about content.
Something else that happened in July was that I started a new job. I’m
commuting 40 minutes minimum each way, and this is taking another chunk out of
my time. But it does mean I’ll be able to afford to upgrade my wardrobe. And
while I was waiting to hear when and if my job would start, I did audition for
and get into the upcoming production of Victor/Victoria at the Cassidy theatre
in Parma Heights. I’m totally blown away by the talent of the rest of the
cast. I hope it does work out that AO has its October meeting as an outing to
the show. I think that we should get to work on ordering a block of tickets, as
the AO meeting night is the Saturday before the show closes and those nights are
typically pretty full. I can’t say I’ve found a restaurant in the area that
would be good for dinner first. I suspect people will be going out after
rehearsal on Labor Day Sunday, so I’ll get a better idea then.
Also in July I was invited to speak at a presentation sponsored by PFLAG and
Trans-family. I’ve written down what I said, but I’m not going to publish
those remarks in the newsletter...but rather put them in the "webmistress
selects" section of the website. I expect that some of my points are fairly
controversial, and I’d rather have them somewhere where I can be clear that
these are my opinions as one member, albeit an officer of Alpha Omega rather
than risk having them taken as a policy statements for Alpha Omega.
On another note, I’ve had some interesting email correspondence lately. It
seems that my recommendation that people read the Bailey book, "The Man Who
Would Be Queen", so they could be aware of some of the pernicious arguments
out there was taken as some kind of approval by the publishing house. A quote to
that effect appeared on the web site. I wrote to them, and it has been pulled.
Another letter commented on my book review of "The New Girl". The
remarks were favorable and by someone who knows the author.
The other correspondence I’ve been dealing with on the old web home has
been people
SPAMMING our guest book. I’ve made some changes in the code that permitted
that, and we’ll see if we can avoid it for a while.
And we also had to sever a link to us from a site largely devoted to hooking
people up.
And that’s it for Summer Vacation.- Diane
Return to
Contents
|
|
MINUTES
OF ALPHA OMEGA SOCIETY
MEETING
JULY 12, 2003
Gloria called the
meeting to order at 8:00
p.m. There were fourteen
people present including
Pamela, who was attending
her first meeting, a
Denise, a guest of Abigail
and Jean.
Gloria announced that
our cook out would be
August 17. Due to low
summer attendance, Gloria
suggested that the August
meeting be cancelled.
Penny moved we cancel the
August meeting, Kathleen
seconded. There was no
discussion. The vote was
unanimous to cancel the
August meeting in lieu of
the cookout. The September
meeting will be back in
the church.
Diane Frank proposed
that the October meeting
(October 11) be an outing
to attend a showing of
"Victor/Victoria"
of which she is a cast
member. Possibly a place
for dinner could also be
arranged at a place that
is "friendly".
Abby moved we attend this
outing as our October
meeting, Abigail seconded.
The motion was carried
unanimously. Diane will
provide further
information, i.e.,
tickets, etc.
It was suggested we try
to get a counselor as a
speaker for the September
meeting. Kathleen
suggested that since we
should be back to a more
normal attendance by then,
that we hold our first
formal member initiation
for all current members.
Diane Frank shared
upcoming events with the
membership. Abigail told
us about a retreat she had
recently attended as
"Abigail". She
has offered to write a
newsletter article about
her experience.
Kathleen suggested that
the newsletter begin
including an AO calendar
to keep members aware of
dates and times of
meetings and outings. This
is especially needed
during the next few
months, with outings,
cancellations, and
alternate meeting nights
approaching. She also
mentioned that during the
next few weeks, working
with Diane Brennan we
should be able to
determine annual expenses
for the group.
Since there was no
other business to discuss,
Kathleen moved we adjourn,
Abigail seconded.
The meeting was
adjourned.
Respectfully Submitted,
Kathleen Fenton
Chair of Member Support
Return to
Contents
|
|
SOMETHING
MORE THAN JUST A BLOUSE
The other day Kathy and Martin were out shopping for some
miscellaneous items, when Kathy happened to notice a couple
racks of some clearance-marked clothing. Next thing Martin
knows, Kathy is pointing out a particular blouse, and then a
denim jacket that she thinks would be nice for Gloria to wear.
Since Martin has bought clothes for me before, and knows what
I like, he took a look at the items. Kathy was right. The
blouse and jacket were definitely very pretty.
And so Kathy and Martin are there both talking about
whether the blouse and jacket will fit Gloria. The blouse was
easy enough to guesstimate that it will fit, but the jacket
was another story. To answer the quandary, there was only one
solution. After all, the conversation between Kathy and Martin
went, since Gloria is a large framed woman, if the jacket
would fit Martin, then it should easily fit Gloria. And so,
right there in the store, Martin tried on the jacket. The fit
was good enough so that Kathy and Martin agreed that they
would get the jacket for Gloria.
So the jacket and blouse went into the shopping cart.
Needless to say, the blouse and jacket do both fit me, and I
have Kathy and Martin to thank for that. Kathy, for wanting to
get a couple nice things for me, and Martin for being such a
good-natured sport for trying on a woman’s jacket in a store
full of people, just to see if it would fit me.
Though shopping for clothes for me isn’t an everyday
occurrence for Kathy and Martin, it does point out that it is
something they both have become fairly comfortable with over
the time of them being together. The point of this story isn’t,
however, about Kathy and Martin buying clothes for me, or even
about Martin trying on the jacket in the store. The point is
the caring of Kathy to, just at times out the blue, want to
buy something for me, because as she has told me, Kathy wants
Gloria to look good. Just as Martin and I know the colors and
styles that suit Kathy, she has cared enough to know the
colors and styles I like, and that she thinks would suit me.
That means a lot to me. In turn, I like to look good (or as
good as I can) for Kathy.
Many times, I will try on outfits to have Kathy tell me
what she thinks, so I can decide what to wear to a meeting,
because I value her judgement. Knowing Kathy wants me to look
and feel good about myself is something I treasure deeply. And
I know that if she teases me about my long, dangly earrings,
or whether a dress or skirt I might wear is too short, or
anything like that, that it is done with caring.
There is a lot of pride I feel when Kathy will tell someone
that I am her best girlfriend. And Kathy’s caring goes
beyond the clothes and things I wear. I know she cares about
my feelings, as well. I know Kathy cares about my thoughts and
my emotions, and about who I am as a person. Kathy knows how
deeply I care about the group, my friends, and my desire to
help others.
In short, Kathy cares that I exist, and want meaning and
purpose for my life, just like any other human being. Kathy
knows when I need time to be me, and cares that I have that
time. And even at times when there is just no way for
"Gloria" to be around, she knows I am there and
understands that, even if all anyone else sees is Martin.
I have such tremendous respect and caring for Kathy, and I
know how fortunate I am that she is a part of my life and
Martin’s. And my caring and respect goes out to all the
other women in AO, and in my private life, who know me, and
that I call friend or sister. My life has more completeness
because of them. If I miss someone’s name, please forgive
me, but I want Sherry, Jean, Z, Elaine, Allie, and all the
other women who do or have attended AO meetings to know how
much your being there enriches the lives, not only of your
spouses, but all of us because you are a part of the AO
family. And at last month’s meeting, Denise, a guest brought
by Abigail and Jean, became part of the AO family by becoming
an Associate Member of the group. We all made a new friend.
To some, AO may be just a cross dressing group, but I haven’t
seen it that way for a long time. An AO meeting is a
gathering, a reunion of friends, who are all partners in
sharing a part of their lives together. An AO meeting is about
friendship, caring, respect, understanding, and, yes, even
love. Cross dressing may be a thread that brought us all
together; but it is just that, a thread that helps to weave
the fabric of what is the substance and purpose of AO.
AO is about enriching our lives, and not about clothes or
make up. At least, that’s how this old blonde thinks about
it. Kathy’s buying me a blouse and jacket to help me look
and feel good about myself as a person triggered these
thoughts about, not only our relationship, but how it is all a
part of much more.
My Love Always,
Glo
Return to
Contents
|
|
Book
review
by Abigail
A review of Omnigender:A trans-religious approach by
Virginia Ramey Mollenkott.
All revolutions require theorists such as Thomas Paine and
Sam Adams, who explain the "how" of making
revolution and apologists such as Thomas Jefferson, who
explain the "why" of making revolution. The
current gender revolution, which we, as members of Alpha
Omega Society, are part of, has in Virginia Mollenkott
both theorist and apologist. Dr Mollenkott's book
Omnigender, published in 2001 by the Pilgrim Press of
Cleveland,presents in 192 pages of text some of the best
writing about gender and society now available anywhere.
Virginia Mollenkott holds a PhD from New York University.
Presently, she is professor emeritus in the English
Department at William Paterson College of Wayne New
Jersey. In addition to a distinguished teaching career,
she has served as stylistic consultant to the New
International Version Bible Translation Committee
(1970-1975), as a member of the executive committee of the
Milton Society of America (1975-1978), a member of the
Inclusive Language Lectionary Committee of the National
Council of Churches,and member & officer of the
Evangelical & Ecumenical Women's Caucus, among others.
She has authored more than a dozen books, served as editor
for others and contributed to numerous journals and
magazines, including Christianity Today, Christian
Century, The Other Side, Daughters of Sarah, Today's
Education, Studies in Philology, and the Journal of
English & Germanic Philology. For several years, she
has conducted retreats for LGBT persons at Kirkridge
Retreat in eastern Pennsylvania, which is where I met her
& purchased my copy of Omnigender.
The book consists of seven well-written & highly
readable chapters. Each chapter contains footnotes for
those like me who want to know what influenced an author's
thinking and what else as a reader, I might be interested
in considering. Yet if the reader wants only one book
right now to consider, Omnigender offers itself as
masterful, comprehensive & thought-provoking.
I recognize that reviewers over-simplify, especially when
one attempts thesis statements which authors present with
great labor, in rational and detailed writing.
Nonetheless, if pressed, I would say that Dr. Mollenkott's
principal thesis is that 1) the binary gender
"system" is a social construct which 2) is
presently harmful to many persons (including some of us,
dear sisters, as our discussions have revealed this winter
& spring) yet 3)the current gender "system"
CAN and, indeed, SHOULD be deconstructed and reconstructed
in a better, more healthful and helpful manner.
Dr Mollenkott's fourth chapter discusses creation,
cross-dressing and sexuality from the prospectives of both
Judaism and Christianity. In presenting a view from
Judaism, Dr Mollenkott cites to W. Gunther Plaut's The
Torah: Genesis--A Modern Commentary as well as to work by
Lewis John Eron, Saul M. Olyan, Phyllis Trible & John
Elwolde. I found her analysis to be well-informed and
informative. (Out of curiosity, I would like to hear a
response to this chapter from Diane Frank or from Diane's
rabbi).
As someone born & nurtured in Christianity, I found Dr
Mollenkott's analysis of the Christian tradition exactly
right. I consider my own gender-enriched nature to be a
gift from the God who created me. I add a heartfelt
"AMEN!" to her declaration that Christian
ministry is "a work of reconciliation and making
peace." [p. 126].
For me, the most delightful and challenging sections of
the book are the third and the seventh chapters. In the
third chapter, Dr Mollenkott presents the best discussion
of all the terms currently in use describing some aspect
of the gender experience. She discusses, beautifully &
thoughtfully, the concepts of intersexuality (in its
numerous medical manifestations), transexuals,
cross-dressers, drag kings & drag queens,
transgenderists, and androgynes. I have read legal,
sociological, psychological and medical discussions of
some of these terms but have found no one who has written
so succinctly and yet elegantly as Dr Mollenkott. In my
legal advocacy on behalf of LGBT clients I will, from now
onward, cite to this book. (I also recognized with new
light, the transgenderist as well as androgyne components
of my own gender-enriched nature!)
In the seventh chapter, Dr Mollenkott presents, in her
most radical fashion as theorist & apologist for the
gender revolution, what needs to be done, why it ought to
be done and how it ought to done. This chapter certainly
poses problems for those who like our present society as
it is, for those who like change at a snail's pace and
even for those who say they want a revolution & have
carried pictures of Chairman Mao, (as the Beatles warned
us, that doesn't necessarily mean that one REALLY wants a
revolution!). Some of this chapter may antagonize any
reader. (Does our society really need to get rid of
urinals & go to unisex style restrooms, with plenty of
stalls for use? Do I hear Jean, Zanna & Cathy
cheering?)
Yet, once the reader has, through serious &
thoughtful reading, reached the concluding chapter, she
can not but agree that "[b]ecause we are members of
one global divine/human family, the only ethic that makes
sense is kindness, compassion, and mutually respectful
justice." [p. 192]. Dr. Mollenkott reminds us, like
the prophet she is, that "where there is no vision,
the people perish." [Prov. 29:18 in the KJV &
cited on p. 185].
In the grand tradition of Dorothy Day & Norman Thomas,
Susan B. Anthony & Frederick Douglass, Dr. Mollenkott
sees the possibility of a better world. She exhorts us to
make an effort to transform our present world into that
better one. I strongly encourage you to buy this book,
read this book, think about this book, debate this book.
And when you have finished, join Virginia Mollenkott in
raising a cup of blessing to celebrate our passing over
from human bondage to human freedom: "Next year,
whenever that may be, in the New Jerusalem, wherever that
may be!"
Return to
Contents
|
|
Cross-Dressed
to Kill- Comedy and Tragedy
Cindy Scott, the Webmistress for Transfamily ( www.transfamily.org)
wrote the introduction and compiled the articles in the
following musings on crossdressing, comedy and war. I thought
this was a thought provoking piece and the juxtapositions
deserved a further audience. Cindy graciously granted us
permission to reprint her essay here.
Background:
"Dressed To Kill" is the title of Eddie Izzard's
most recent comedy tour, an Emmy award winning HBO special,
and a very successful video release. (see the Amazon review at
the bottom of this email)
http://www.amazon.com/exec/obidos/tg/detail/-/B00003CWOU/transfamilyofcle/104-0440308-7232731
Izzard, who is a self-proclaimed transvestite (not a weird
transvestite but rather an "Executive" transvestite,
an "Action" transvestite) remarks in his stand up
act that he wanted to join the army. However, since the army
is not fond of make-up, except the "basic slapdash night
time look," he couldn't get in. He says that he felt the
military was making a huge mistake. The basic idea of an
attack is surprise.... "and what would be more surprising
than the First Transvestite Brigade, Airborne Division!?"
"Oh look, their make up is smashing...... and they've got
GUNS!!! Well, I don't know about you, but I was sure
surprised. Were you surprised??"
Okay, so imagine my surprise at finding the below item on the
MSNBC website this morning. Eddie, it seems, is right.
Cindy
---------------------------------
http://www.msnbc.com/news/947071.asp?0cv=CB20
Dressed to kill
By Mark Scheffler, SLATE.COM
Few things exemplify the chaos of Liberia more than the sight
of doped-up, AK-47-wielding 15-year-olds roaming the streets
decked out in fright wigs and tattered wedding gowns. Indeed,
some of the more fully accessorized soldiers in Charles
Taylor's militia even tote dainty purses and don feather boas.
Why did this practice begin and what is the logic behind it?
THE CROSS-DRESSING combatants blipped onto the Western press's
radar screen right around the time the Liberian Civil War
started on Christmas
Eve in 1989. During Taylor's rebel siege on Monrovia in the
'90s, his band of dolled-up marauders -- aka the National
Patriotic Front of Liberia -- put on one of the most
disturbing horror shows the planet has
ever seen. Between 1989 and 1997, 150,000 Liberians were
murdered, countless others were mutilated, and 25,000 women
and girls were raped.
The NPFL's shock-and-awe antics were apparent from the very
start of the conflict. In an essay in Liberian Studies
Journal, an administrator at
Cuttington University College tells a story of Taylor's forces
storming the rural campus during the initial stages of the war
in "wedding [dresses], wigs, commencement gowns from high
schools and several forms of 'voodoo' regalia. … [They]
believed they could not be killed in battle."
SHOCK AND AWE
According to the soldiers themselves, cross-dressing is a
military mind game, a tactic that instills fear in their
rivals. It also makes the soldiers feel more invincible. This
belief is founded on a regional superstition which holds that
soldiers can "confuse the enemy's bullets" by
assuming two identities simultaneously. Though the
accoutrements and garb look bizarre to Western eyes, they are,
in a sense, variations on the camouflage uniforms and face
paint American soldiers use to bolster their sense of
invisibility (and, therefore, immunity) during combat. Since
flak jackets or infrared goggles aren't available to the
destitute Liberian fighters, they opt for evening gowns and
frilly blouses.
The cross-dressing "dual identity" isn't just a
source of battlefield bravado, though. Cross-dressing has deep
historical roots in West African rites-of-passage rituals
involving "medicine men" who would recommend wearing
masks, talismans, and bush attire as a means of obtaining
mystical powers. Rebels dressed in gowns and wigs and adorned
with bones, leaves, and other "forest culture"
trappings are practicing a modern variation on this technique
of using symbolic "clothing" to
access sources of power far stronger than their own.
And in common Liberian initiation rituals -- which exist in
memory throughout the country, if not always in practice -- a
boy's passage to adulthood is symbolically represented by the
donning of female garb. He must first pass through a dangerous
indeterminate zone between male and female identity before
finally becoming a man. A soldier dressed in
women's clothes -- or Halloween masks, or shower caps, etc. --
on the battlefield is essentially asserting that he's in a
volatile in-between state. The message it sends to other
soldiers is, "Don't mess with me, I'm dangerous."
Liberia's adult warlords appropriated and updated these
rites-of-passage rituals in order to form tight-knit proxy
fighting forces. The strongmen persuaded impoverished youths
to join their battalion by offering them the chance to be part
of a secret society and attain supernatural powers. In a
country where the young had few if any options, this was
seen as an opportunity to "be somebody."
POSTER CHILDREN FOR WAR
After Charles Taylor's Cuttington University attack, other
offshoot Liberian militias vying to control the country
embarked upon similar gender-bending rampages. One of the more
notorious henchmen of the era was Joshua Milton Blahyi, a
commander whose nom de guerre was "General Butt
Naked." Hired for his ferocity by rebel leader and Taylor
contemporary Roosevelt Johnson, his "Butt Naked
Battalion" consisted of drug-fueled teens who went into
battle in flowing dresses and colorful wigs. The general
himself reportedly wore only laced-up boots and his weapon.
Not surprisingly, these troops became poster children for the
war. Dressed in gowns and shower caps and "fortified by
amphetamines, marijuana and palm wine [they] sashayed
irresistibly for photographers," writes Bill Berkely in
The Graves Are Not Yet Full: Race, Tribe and Power in the
Heart of Africa. "Liberia's fifteen minutes of infamy
seemed to spring full-blown out of the most sensational
Western images of Darkest Africa."
Today, some 14 years after Taylor's troops first began their
march toward Monrovia, Blahyi has put his clothes back on and
supposedly found God. Roosevelt Johnson, who tortured former
Liberian president Samuel K. Doe to death in 1990 and recorded
it on video, is talking about returning from exile in Nigeria
with a promise to solve problems with
"elections, not guns" once Taylor is gone. And
Taylor himself is sitting in his Monrovian compound being
shelled by new bands of rebels wearing bathrobes.
Mark Scheffler is a writer living in Chicago.
MSNBC Terms, Conditions and Privacy ©2003
<
http://www.msnbc.com/m/info/terms.asp>
-------------------------------------
Editorial Reviews
Amazon.com
In Dress to Kill, Eddie Izzard spins free-flowing jokes
about San Francisco (where the comedy concert was filmed),
transvestitism, squirrels, American optimism, Hitler, the
British royal family, mass murder, and Stonehenge--and that's
only the first 30 minutes. It's as if this ingenious comedian
says whatever comes off the top of his head, but giving that
impression demands cunning and skill; Izzard romps through
human history and transforms surprisingly complex ideas into
biting satire--as well as knockout bits of sublime frivolity,
like describing the movie Speed entirely in French. His
mercurial patter is sprinkled with four-letter words, but his
twinkling glances make this more mischievous than crude.
Izzard has delivered some excellent performances in movies
(like Velvet Goldmine and The Cat's Meow), but it's on stage
that he really explodes with daffy wit and charisma. Simply
brilliant and completely addictive; you will want to watch
this over and over.
--Bret Fetzer
Cindy Scott
Webmistress, TransFamily
http://www.transfamily.org
----------------------------
"Before I formed you in the womb I knew you, before you
were born I set you apart"
Jeremiah 1:5
"For we are His workmanship, created in Christ Jesus for
good works which God prepared beforehand, that we should walk
in them."
Ephesians 2:10
God doesn't make junk.
Return to
Contents
|
|
Upcoming
Local Events
Victor/Victoria
September 19th-October 12th
Victor/Victoria
Friday, Saturday 8PM
Sunday 3PM
Cassidy Theatre
6200 Pearl Road
Parma Heights, OH
(440) 842-4600
If you need an explanation of Victor/Victoria, you are
seriously out of touch girlfriend. Blake Edward's movie
featuring Julie Andrews as Victoria, a second rate Soprano who
becomes a first rate "female impersonator" is an
all-time favorite. The supporting cast of James Garner as
conflicted Chicago mobster King Marchand and Robert Preston as
gay cabaret singer Toddy were also notable elements of the
movie. Leslie Ann Warren played King Marchand's girlfriend to
a t, while ex-Detroit Lions football player Alex Karras made a
surprising sweet appearance as Marchand's gay bodyguard. The
musical suffered somewhat for being too much of vehicle for
Julie Andrews on the Broadway Stage, but we have word that the
Director plans to restore some of the balance in this local
stage production- which is also rumored to be a Cleveland area
premier. Rumor also has it that someone you know will be in
the cast.
Kabuki Performance and Demonstration by Onoe Umenosuke
Thursday, October 9th
7:00 PM, Kulas Auditorium, John Carroll University FREE!
The noted Kabuki actor will demonstrate how he prepares for
female roles in the all0male kabuki tradition. Here’s what
has been written up elsewhere about the program:
Tuesday, October 7, 2003
U-M Center for
Japanese Studies presents: ONNAGATA: THE MAKING OF A WOMAN
With ONOE UMENOSUKE
Kabuki lecture and demonstration
Tokyo’s acclaimed Grand Kabuki onnagata actor Onoe Umenosuke
demonstrates how he transforms himself for his female role in
this traditional form of Japanese theater. After applying
make-up and wig, his metamorphosis will be complete when he
dresses in the elaborate layers of a kimono. In full costume,
he will demonstrate the feminized movements, speech and other
techniques from the onnagata’s repertoire by performing the
dance, Ayame. Maki Morinaga, Assistant Professor of Japanese
Literature and Theater at the University of Minnesota, will
provide an introduction prior to the demonstration. This event
is organized and sponsored by the University of Michigan’s
Center for Japanese Studies and the Consulate General of Japan
in Detroit, with support from U-M's Center for World
Performance Studies, Institute for Research on Women and
Gender, and the International Institute. For more information
visit this
website
Again...the above is written about the performance two days
before the one at John Carroll.
Eddie Izzard
Friday October 17th
8 PM
Allen Theatre, Playhouse Square Center
Britain's crossdressing comic has a one night stand in
Cleveland. . Be warned his humor has been highly political in
past shows. The show would get an X-rating as well. But he
really is very funny.
He's also in Pittsburgh on the 14th and 15th, as well as
Detroit on the 18th.
Go Here for ticket Information: http://www.playhousesquare.com/ticketinfo/index.cfm
Varla Jean Merman ,
Cleveland Public Theatre.
October 23rd, 24th, 25th, 26th and October 30th, 31st,
November 1st and 2nd
(216) 631.2727
Jeffrey Roberson is Varla Jean Merman in Varla Jean Merman’s
Under a Big Top. She’s back for a third year in her most
colorful revue to date. Varla Jean Merman’s Under a Big Top
encompasses circus, carnival, magic and freak shows- and yes,
processed cheese!
A NIGHT WITH DAME EDNA
February 17-29, 2004
Palace Theatre
Dame Edna, simply the most talented and adored Australian to
grace the stage, has returned to her beloved United States for
another fun-filled theatrical tour. With Special Tony Award in
hand, Dame Edna, is back with the funniest show you will ever
see, and she will guarantee you at least one major laugh per
half-minute!!! A Night with Dame Edna opened in Miami,
Florida, in September 2002, and American audiences have been
hysterical with laughter ever since! Barry Humphries stars as
the world's funniest diva!
www.dame-edna.com
Return to
Contents
|
|
|
|
|
|
Upcoming
National
Events
A YANKEE
DOODLE OF A
SPICE, July
9-13,2003
Windsor
Locks, CT
www.tri-ess.org/spice
HOLIDAY EN
FEMME,
November 6-9,
2003
Denver, CO
www.Holiday-EnFemme.org
www.rmtsk.org/holiday
COLORADO
GOLD RUSH,
March 6-9,
2003
Denver, CO
www.ColoGoldRush.org
Lake Erie
Gala
November
20-22, 2003
Erie, PA
www.eriesisters.org .
|
|
|
|
|
|
Publication
Notice and
Club Policies
This
newsletter is
copyright
1998-2003 by
The Alpha
Omega Society. All
right
reserved.
Articles and
information
contained in
this
newsletter may
NOT be without
advance
permission
from the
individual
author. Write
to editor@aosoc.org
in order to
contact the
author. When
permission is
granted, a
copy of the
issue
containing the
reprinted
material must
be sent to
Alpha Omega
within two
months after
the material
is published
and proper
credit is
given to
author and
source.
The
opinions or
statements
contained in
this
newsletter are
those of the
authors and do
not
necessarily
reflect the
views of Alpha
Omega.
Contributions
of articles
are welcomed,
but may be
altered in the
editing
process, with
the author’s
intent
retained, or
may be
rejected,
whether
solicited or
not.
Absolutely no
sexually
explicit
material may
be accepted or
printed.
Alpha Omega
is a
non-profit
social support
group for
heterosexual
crossdressers
and their
wives or
partners.
Also, members
from related
organizations,
helping
professionals,
and approved
guests are
welcome when
cleared
through Alpha
Omega’s
officers.
Meetings
are the second
Saturday
evening of
each month
unless a
special event
is scheduled
that takes the
place of the
regularly scheduled
meeting. The
location of
the meeting or
event is only
released to
members or
others with
the approval
of an officer.
Members and visitors
must be 18
years of age
or older. We
will exchange
newsletters
with any other
similar group.
Send all
correspondence
to Alpha
Omega, P.O.
Box 2053,
Sheffield
Lake, OH
44054.
Return to
Contents
|
|
|
|
|
|
