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CelesteÕs BeginnerÕs Guide To Gender Groups:

If you are just starting off on the Gender Path here are some suggested
groups. These groups will help you learn to explore both yourself and you
chosen gender. They will help you learn to articulate yourself and grow
beyond who you are now. Also they will open the doors to more resources.
From theses groups you will make friends that know what you feel. They will
half the grief and double the joy of being yourself. Last, they will help
you have fun. No mater how great you gender dysphoria, we need fun. Being a
"gender bender" is a lot of fun! The laughter make the load of being
"different" a lot easier.

Tri-Ess (Society for Second Self; SSS or three (tri) s's (Ess))
P.O. Box 194
Tulare, CA 93275

Tri-Ess is the oldest, largest cross dressing organization in world. It is
the most successful. It is for "heterosexual cross dressers". It is "family
oriented". It has the best "security" system for those cannot let it be
know that they are cross dressers. The system works! It has chapters in
every major city in the country. You are never more than a couple of hours
driving time from an active chapter. Tri-Ess has a "Big Sisters" program
for new cross dressers. There is a support program for the wives of cross
dressers. There is the annual "Holiday Enfemme" held in some major city. In
1991, it was held in Chicago. In 1992, the "Holiday Enfemme" was held in my
chapter in Atlanta Georgia.  Its dues are $35 a year. 

Here are my opinions.
Unless you are living "full time", pass 100%, constantly have fun and have
lots and lots of friends, you need Tri-Ess. If you are "new" to the gender
trail, you need Tri-Ess. Even if you KNOW you are going to be a "new woman"
one day, Tri-Ess is your first stop (it has been for many). I had a "Big
Sister" that helped get started. I belong to the Atlanta chapter, Sigma
Epsilon. Sigma Epsilon chapter has the distention of having the first woman
(her husband is a cross dresser) president. Linda Peacock is great human
being. She has help me and many others. I learned at Sigma Epsilon how to
have pure "fun" for the first time in my life there. I learned how to look
good, feel good and go shopping with that group. I am proud to be a member
of Tri-Ess and a Sigma Epsilon girl. Their monthly meeting are
"mini-conventions." I am looking forward to the next one.


IFGE (International Federation for Gender Education)
P.O. Box 367
Wayland, MA 01778-0367
(617) 899-2212
FAX: (617) 899-5703 (for MC/Visa orders)

IFGE publishes "The TV-TS Tapestry: the journal for all persons interested
in crossdressing and transsexualism" or simply "Tapestry" is a quality
publication for helping the entire gender spectrum. It comes out 4 times a
year. In includes, letters, well written articles, some written by helping
professionals, cartoons and poems. It includes a listing of health care
providers including gender clinics, support groups and personals. This
magazine does not accept sex oriented ads, letters or personals. IFGE also
supports a yearly conference and works with Tri-Ess. IFGE also has a
"bookstore" for buying all these hard to find books on gender related
topics. The Tapestry publication & membership is $40 a year. You get 4
issues of Tapestry for that.

Here are my opinions.
I am a member of IFGE. This was my staring place. I was looking for
something. Part of me and my life was missing, but I didn't quite know the
words or how to describe the feeling. When I saw the cover of my first
issue of Tapestry, it all jelled. I finally understood. It was as if I had
been shot with a gun. It took several days to get the courage to pick up
the magazine. When finally did, I had to take it home. That night I read
the letters and cried and cried and cried. I found that there were people
that felt and hurt like I hurt. That there was a name for the trouble and
tormented me. My living in despair was going to end and I had found hope.

All my life I had felt broken inside. With what I started learning in
Tapestry, I started to piece together the parts of me, the female parts,
that I had been broken and scattered. Because of Tapestry, I started the
path to being a whole human being.

For me Tapestry was my beginning of hope.

IFGE helps supports the needs of the f->m cross dresser and transsexual.



AEGIS (American Educational Gender Information Service, Inc.)
P.O. Box 33724
Decatur, GA 30033

Hot line (evenings only): (404) 939-0244

The American Educational Gender Information, Inc. (AEGIS) is an Atlanta
based not for profit corporation which disseminates information to persons
interested in issues of gender. AEGIS is a professionally managed national
organization.

Publishing:
o Chrysalis Quarterly
o Booklets
o Pamphlets
o Bibliography of Gender Dysphoria

Telephone Help line (evenings, answering machine days):
(404) 939-0244

Professional Education:
o Seminars
o Workshops
o Classes
o Consultation

Referrals:
o Psychologists
o Counselors
o Social Workers
o Endocrinologists
o Surgeons
o Electrologists
o Support Groups
o Gender Clinics

AEGIS supports the Standards of Care of the Harry Benjamin International
Gender Dysphoria Association.

Here are my opinions.
I am proud to be a staff member of AEGIS. I help with the Macintosh and
have loaned them a LaserWriter. Ms. Dallas Denny is a close personal
friend. She has helped me to begin the exploration of my gender dysphoria.
She helped me select a counselor that suited my needs. She has helped
nurture my female side. She has held me when the pain hurt so much. I have
laugh with her when she sings "Gender Bender" She has helped so many others
and works hard catch one more person. Too many have perished needlessly due
to ignorance, intolerance and bigotry. AEGIS makes a difference.

AEGIS helps supports the needs of the f->m cross dresser and transsexual.


ETVC (Educational TV Channel)
P.O. Box 426486
San Francisco, CA 94142-6486

ETVC is a open group to transvestites and transsexuals. They march in the
San Francisco Gay Pride parade behind a banner of "Transvestites and
Transsexuals." They are considered the premiere open group. They publish a
new letter every other month and their dues are $20.

Here are my opinions.
If you live in the San Francisco Bay area or visit there at lest once a
year, you should belong. The bay area has LOTS of gender activities. ETVC
is the your road map to those activities. If you like good news letters,
its is worth the $20 alone! ETVC and the Gay/Lesbian community work
together. Hate crimes in the bay area have solidified the Gay Lesbian/
Bisexual/ Transvestites/  Transsexuals. I am proud to be a member of ETVC.


AGE (Atlanta Gender Exploration)
P.O. Box 1542
Roswell, GA 30077

Hot lines: (404) 642-9652 or (404) 962-3118

AGE provides a safe, caring atmosphere in which crossdressers,
transgenderists, transsexual persons and their partners, friends and
families can discuss and explore their gender issues. A.G.E. is governed by
an Executive Board which consist of member selected officers and a
facilitator who is a mental health professional.
AGE supports the Standards of Care of the Harry Benjamin International
Gender Dysphoria Association.

Here are my opinions.
I am not a member of AGE. A close personal friend of my is the president.
She has helped me explore my gender issues. She has helped me better
understand myself and supported me though troubling times. I have been to
one of their meetings. If you don't feel that Tri-Ess fits you needs and
your are in the Atlanta area, I would recommend this support group.

AGE helps supports the needs of the f->m cross dresser and transsexual.

They are many more groups than these. These are ones I personally know
about and have been involved with. Whatever you path, you are not alone.
There are those that can help you and your loved ones. Get involved. Give
of yourself and you will receive beyond you wildest dreams. For me I
finally have a place, no, many places, "Where I fit, where I belong."

Love, hugs, and hope,

Celeste