Who we serve: II

In a town not far from here, a man who we shall not name was arrested while driving drunk. He was wearing women’s underwear and a hooded sweatshirt at the time. This wasn’t the first time. The previous time he had been more completely dressed. According to news reports, he was wearing a black dress trimmed in white, earrings, lipstick, rouge and eyeshadow. He was also drunk then. A well-liked teacher, he is now suspended and stands a good chance of losing his job. He was not a member of Alpha Omega. He wasn’t part of any group so far as I’ve been able to tell. And so far as I can tell, he never contacted Alpha Omega.

I wonder if it is a chicken and egg situation with people who drink and cross dress. Do they drink to work up the courage to cross dress, or drink to assuage the shame and/or guilt they feel for doing it, or both? I’m no expert on drinking, or alcoholism. I don’t know. I do know what I wish, writing this coming into the New Year is that no one gets drunk when they should instead be contacting us. I hope that being part of Alpha Omega would help people deal with issues of guilt and shame, with isolation and loneliness.

It is likely that for an ordinary teacher, driving drunk would be a question of rehab, both personal and community. That rather than throwing away a good person, people would work to rescue him. But add cross-dressing to the mix and the equation changes. This being Ohio, we don't protect Gender Expression as New York City has just enacted under a Republican mayor and shown on this card:





Non-discrimination according to gender would help us, a lot. Many of us fear that discovery would cost us our jobs. A law like NYCs would help. I don’t see that happening in Ohio any time soon. In the meantime, it is our job at Alpha Omega to provide a place where people affected by crossdressing can find comfort and support in each other’s company, education and the opportunity for personal growth, and simply a place to relax and be themselves, whoever they are- all of course in a family friendly, non-sexual environment. The newspapers published the teacher’s name and address. I’ve been thinking about sending him this newsletter. What do you think?



Diane Sofia Frank



PS. The image above was the front side of a card for distribution in NYC. Like any good fashion show, the backside should be seen as well.