By A.E. Seymour

This time last year the strength of our country was tested. We as Americans pulled together to comfort one another and stand tall against the forces of terrorism. Now it is time for the one-year anniversary of a tragic day in all of our lives. Now is the time for us to remember that fateful day. The day that would change our lives forever, September 11, 2001. Say a prayer, light a candle, go to a memorial service or just sit and remember what happened and whom we have lost. Remember to put your flag out so it can proudly wave in the skies showing we remember what we have lost and what we have gained.

Our country stands tall and strong, our flag waving proudly in the skies, its colors never

running. Never forget the day our nation fell to rise into a greater nation. A nation of great pride and strength that no one can ever bring down.

Innocent lives taken too soon,

Men becoming heroes doing what they loved.

Families torn apart by death and devastation,

Souls lost amidst ashes and rubble.

Our lives were changed that fateful day

The day when our world collapsed

And our Country taken hostage by unseen faces

And unknown people who only thought it would weaken us.

But it only made us stronger, wiser,

And more determined as a people to seek justice,

To pull together as a great Nation should.

Even though we stand in mourning for those thousands lost

Our flags at half mast for the brave Souls who tried

To rescue those buried under fallen buildings.

For those Lost Souls. We as a nation salute you

And hope you find Peace and Rest.

Just look down on us from the heavens

And Know your Death was not in vain

Nor will it go unavenged.

--For those who died on Sept.11,

2001...Rose Savage--

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The email addresses will stay in place regardless of who the officers or committee members are.

This makes it easy for all chapter members to learn the addresses without having to change

them each year.

By Diane Sofia Frank

Last month (August) we had a video night for our meeting. "The Dress Code" is a totally fictional story of a cross-dressing eight-year-old Catholic boy who is also a spelling champion. Totally by coincidence, an article by George Hagen, a real life father of an eight-year-old boy who prefers "girly" things appeared in the September issue of Parents Magazine. I would have liked to have the article, which is currently circulating on some TG newsgroups, reprinted for all to read, but Parents Magazine, in a courteous reply, was unable to give permission to do so. Thus, gentle readers, my summary must needs suffice.

I wish, having suggested "The Dress Code" as a movie and vehicle for discussion that I could say better things about it. On the positive side, I remember all too well the tension of parents watching high stakes spelling bees, feeling different from boys as a child and I couldn’t help leaking a little around the eyes at young Bruno’s overcoming every obstacle to being himself. But despite having wonderful acting, my favorite Tenor-Baritone duet (from George Bizet’s "The Pearl Fishers") and the marvelous presence of Shirley MacClaine as the whiskey-drinking, cigar-smoking grandmother, the story had Hollywood size holes in the plotting, character development, dénouement, and most importantly in its take home message. I was left frustrated once the mist cleared from my eyes. I don’t think the movie would be much help to George Hagen or his son.

Mr. Hagen’s son is not, to all appearances, an otherwise normal eight-year-old boy.

"Already, he knows he's different. He's not a girl, and yet he doesn't act like a boy."

"Since our son was 2, he has favored girls' toys, girls' clothing. At first, my wife and I attributed this to his admiration for his big sister. But while she stopped wearing dresses years ago, his interest in pretty clothing has not abated: "Nice dress," he'll say earnestly to the lady next door. Occasionally, he dresses up for fun, though not as much as he used to. WE have videos of him as a 3-year old, waltzing jubilantly around the living room in a scarlet silk bridesmaid dress."

At present, the primary "girly" behavior is an interest in dolls. Unlike Bruno, there’s no broken marriage here. No father forced to give up opera so as not to appear to be a sissy, no flamboyant mother. True, in this marriage the woman works outside the home and the father works from the house as well as keeping it:

Neither parent presents a model of the "girly" behavior expressed by the boy, but both parents try to accommodate it. The father acknowledges playing dress up and various other non-gender-stereotyped behaviors as a child. The mother worries about possible transsexuality. However, the observation at present is that the boy has never expressed a wish to be a girl or dissatisfaction with being a boy. This sense of self is in powerful evidence in the closing anecdote in the article:

Playing with dolls causes this family a lot of grief. Before play dates with other boys, his room is carefully checked so those signs of his unboyish interests are not in plain view. Paper dolls are removed from display and put away in a drawer. Stuffed animals are ok, dolls are positioned so they appear to belong to his older sister. He knows from bitter experience where to draw the line, what he can and cannot get away with.

But to get back to the comparison of the movie with real life, no one is running interference for this boy because he is a champion speller, with possible divine inspiration like Bruno. He’s just an ordinary eight-year old, as nearly all of us were. Excellence in some area will not cause people to embrace our differences, because despite the many excellent qualities we all possess as human beings, those qualities aren’t readily visible like a trophy. We have our excellence inside where it takes effort to see. And that was the take home message from Bruno. If you’re excellent at something you can get away with anything.

There is no doubt that this message about excellence is true. We see it promoted countless times in American life, whether it’s the cross-dressing of former basketball star Dennis Rodman or the free pass given to top executives while they meet the stock analysts required numbers, or even RuPaul for just being so darned good at being a drag queen. No doubt we should all strive for excellence in either femme or homme modes. But is it right that only the people who achieve public excellence should be allowed self-expression and fulfillment? Of course not! So what does Bruno have to teach George or his son? Not much I’m afraid.

I liked the movie making a point of the nature of bullies: They pick targets of opportunity and far too often people in positions of authority look the other way or blame the victim. When Bruno’s Grandmother pulled the lead bully and his wolf pack off of another victim, the point is clear…the bullies pick anyone who appears vulnerable. Bruno’s particular behavior/identity/vulnerability was an excuse not a cause. On the other hand, the movie in knee jerk fashion endorsed the notion that boys have to fight to men. No one could help but cheer when Bruno, in a dress, threw down his chief persecutor. But why should that have to be? George makes a valuable point about this sort of thing:

No doubt, a non-violent solution probably wouldn’t have sold well, and could have created even more resistance than the picketers at the end of the movie. Recently, some traditional-values groups have protested against anti-bullying programs as promoting a ‘gay’ agenda. (News Brief’s, Gay People’s Chronicle, August 16, 2002) This makes it very clear that some people feel it a social entitlement to harass people who are different.

I don’t have a clue what Bruno’s fate might be as he grows up. I suspect that Hollywood and the well-intentioned Shirley MacClaine don’t know what to do either. But it doesn’t matter. George Hagen’s son is a real live boy, with two thoughtful loving parents. Let’s leave them with the last word:

Dear Nicole:

I found your email address from the Cendant web site. Since you know about franchises, I thought you would be the person to ask. I have recently heard that your hotels have a "Controversial Guest" policy that includes crossdressers as a controversial guest. It is my understanding that not complying with this policy could cost a hotel their franchise. I was wondering about the validity of this claim and more about the policy, if it truly exists.

Any information you can provide would be helpful.

Sincerely,

Lisa Ann Seymour

Secretary, Alpha Omega Chapter of Tri-Ess

Ms. Seymour—

In response to your inquiry, we do not have a so-called "controversial guest policy," and we do not discriminate against hotel guests based on their preferences. More to the point, we respect the constitutionally guaranteed free-speech rights of our guests, and we have said so publicly. 

That fact notwithstanding, sexually oriented events do offend many families and business travelers, who constitute our key markets. It is totally within our prerogative to remind our franchisees of our marketing objectives and warn them about the danger of losing business from those groups if they continue to host sexually oriented events. This is exactly what we have done. However, we have not "pulled" or terminated a single franchise agreement in connection with these types of events nor have we threatened to do so. As long as our franchisees comply with all local, state and federal laws and the terms of our franchisee agreements, we will honor their right to sell their guest rooms and function space to the groups of their choice. Regrettably, messages to the contrary appearing on the Internet are the result of a misinformation campaign conducted by the National Coalition for Sexual Freedom and other organizations that have posted the NCSF "news release" on this topic.

I hope this clarifies our position.

Rich Roberts

Communications Director

Cendant Corporation, Hotel Group

1 Sylvan Way

Parsippany NJ 07054

Right now, however, my plan for Outreach will be a basic nuts and bolts approach of coming up with names and addresses (emails included), and sending out letters and group brochures. The Outreach Committee needs your help in providing us with lists of the following: therapists, psychologists, psychiatrists, sociologists, MD’s clothing stores, shoe stores, jewelry stores, wig salons, makeup centers, community agencies and groups, police departments, restaurants, churches, entertainment venues, and anything else you can think of in Northeast Ohio that we should be contacting.

Due to limited treasury funds, we may only be able to send out 20 – 40 contacts each month, but it will be a start, and Alpha Omega’s name and information will be getting out there as a tool for those seeking more information about cross dressing in general.

The Committee will also be charged with developing a suitable script for a VHS or CD disc for local outreach and also for possible marketing. If someone wants to be on this video, let me know because, although one person could do it, it would be better if three or four brave souls were involved. This video will happen, so be ready for it. These items alone will keep your Outreach Committee very busy, but we will always be receptive to other workable projects.

Now let’s talk about "fund raising". Our treasury needs funds - it’s that plain and simple, boys and girls. Meeting fees and dues just aren’t cutting it when it comes to meeting expenses, and nobody, I’m sure, wants to raise meeting fees or dues. So how do we increase funds, and also cut expenses. For a place to start, DONATIONS come to mind. Keep in mind that since A-O is a nonprofit corporation that cash donations are tax

deductible and would be greatly appreciated. However, other donations are also welcome such as the cost of food for a meal, supplies (such as soft drinks, coffee, paper plates, sugar and creamer, envelopes, stamps, table covers), finding speakers willing to attend without a fee, and even re-instituting a 50-50 raffle.

These things all help save expenses the group pays for. Over the years, Kathy and I have donated all of the above items, as well as newsletter printing costs, untold letters and phone calls for group business, items for raffles, and other things as well. The cost of a new dress or pair of shoes could go a long way towards building the treasury coffers, if donated to the group instead. So keep this all in mind. Less expensive meeting places are also a possibility. Though our meeting place has been just great for us, it still costs $200 a month for the group to pay for it. I do thank our meeting place for the temporary reduction in rent, but it will be going back up soon.

We also need bodies at our meetings. Everyone knows summer is generally lower attendance (that is a fact of life), but we do need you, as members, to support the group with your attendance. 

Those are the obvious things. Now let’s talk about real "fund raising". Though a wet tee shirt car wash might be an interesting idea, it is not really a workable idea. So how can Alpha Omega raise funds? I believe a web business could be a workable idea. I know we have creative people who could come up with ideas for this business. My own random thoughts have come up with ideas for tee shirts, cups, posters and the like that could be done at minimal expense and marketed on a web business. And the items don’t need to be cross dressing related at all.

I believe that a more comprehensive booklet about cross dressing or some of our own stories about our experiences, as well as a good video and/or disc about cross dressing are marketable. Any my idea for a cookbook could also have merit and raise funds. The possibilities are out there. All we have to do is make it happen. Alpha Omega needs funds to make things happen. Without funds there is no treasury. Without a treasury, we can’t meet expenses. And, if we can’t meet expenses, Alpha Omega and all its members, and members yet to be will suffer from it. I don’t want to see that happen. Do you?

There is so much Alpha Omega has done, can do and will do, IF we all make it happen. So please, do what you can, give what you can, and lets make happen the things that can make our treasury a whole lot healthier.

Sincerely,

Gloria Sue Fenton

Debra London and Joanne Pippin

19-Aug-02

(An Article Sent to the Gay Peoples

Chronicle)

For many years now, the GLBT in Cleveland has fought for and won a substantial measure of acceptance within the larger community. Confronting discrimination is a fact of life for many GLBT persons.

Often the abuses are slight and best chalked up to small-minded people. At other times, the discrimination is institutionalized and pervasive. In these instances, it falls upon every member of the GLBT community to make their voices heard and not accept such treatment.

There is a saying that "everyone wants a dog to kick". Within the GLBT community, "kicking the dog" is not uncommon. The dog in this context is usually the T in GLBT. Transgendered (TG)people are often seen as deserving of ridicule from members of the gay community.

It is not uncommon for distasteful and derogatory comments to be directed at TG members by the gay community. Comments seen as derogatory are often just blown off by members of the TG community, because it simply isn't worth the time or energy to fight every battle.

However, when discrimination reaches the level of being institutionalized, it is time for all members of the GLBT to stand up and be heard. Acceptance is NOT a one way street. One cannot hope to be accepted by the community at large if one allows discrimination to exist in any form.

Asking to see someone's ID is not a violation in and of itself.