Gender warriors
BY VIRGINIA VITZTHUM
(03/07/00)

I am a butch transperson from New York City, and I was at the conference as well. While there was a good deal of discussion of sexuality and of youth and queerness and blurring of identity, it was certainly more of a lifeline for its attendees then a tell-all of sexual promiscuity and body art.

I can tell you that it's not only the green-haired, pierced freaks who confront violence and harassment on a daily basis. We don't all "pass," we don't all "blend." I encounter daily verbal harassment, occasional physical harassment and I have none of these removable marks of freakishness you mention. For me, True Spirit was a heavenly respite from feeling unsafe, from feeling that my outward identity was in itself a justification for others to violate my privacy. I did more than talk about sex there (though I did do a fair amount of that as well). I got much needed medical information, I sought support from other transguys. I found resources and community. I had a damn good excuse to put on my best suit and tie and hit the hotel bar. I had countless conversations with wonderful people about what it means to be a 24-year-old butch tranny, who defies her sexual identity as a lesbian and her gender identity as alternately butch and trans, simply because none of those labels can fully express the way I view myself. I found a new family that weekend.

-- Stacey Meadow

I found your article on F2M transsexuals to be both condescending and insulting. Vitzthum constantly refers to F2M attendees of the True Spirit conference as being female. They are apparently capable of such things as "sisterly indignation." Many attendees are labeled "dykes" without much concern for how these speakers might choose to identify themselves. In this, Vitzthum seems completely oblivious to the reality that many lesbians interpret F2M's as being "traitors to the cause." There were some lesbians in attendance at the conference, but I would hardly call them the norm. Having read Vitzthum's article, it is difficult for me to believe she could have attended the True Spirit conference at all.

-- Martin Macor

Home labor
BY NORA MACALUSO
(03/02/00)

I read the articles recently about home party plans and not making any money. I'm here to prove otherwise. I was one of those "bored" stay-at-home moms that wanted to get out at night (for just a few hours because I was breastfeeding) and make some extra money. I totally thought I was getting into a "hobby job" and was surprised one year later to find out I had earned a free trip for two to Rio de Janeiro followed by a full-length mink coat (back before the days of being un-p.c. to get one) ... and more!!!

I've been with Petra Fashions Home Lingerie Parties for over 10 years and now make over $100,000 a year and am no different than most any mom I know.

If these authors know someone who didn't "make it" in the home party plan, they should keep looking ... they'll find others that did make it!

-- Karen Duling
senior national sales director
Petra Fashions Lingerie

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