Online Community & Support Groups

I’ve gotten a few requests now from people to join CDOD, which is, unfortunately, closed to new members.
Here are a few other options if you’re looking for online support or community.
For SOs of MTF CDs only:
CrossDressers’ Wives and SO Support (CD-WSOS)
Support for Wives and Significant Others of CrossDressers (SFWaSOCDs)
For SOs of MTFs or FTMs:
TG Partners
Crossdresser and SO Support and Community:
A Crossdresser’s Secret Garden
and of course there’s the new group I’ve started, as a forum to discuss the topics I’ve brought up in the book:
My Husband Betty Discussion Group

Take My Breasts Away event

February 7, 7:00-10:00 pm
TAKE MY BREASTS AWAY
Gala fundraiser to raise money for FTM Evan Schwartz’s chest surgery. The incredible line up includes: Emcee Tristan Taormino; The Cast of Butch McCloud with Episode 7, Honey I Shrunk The Lesbians!; Helen Boyd, author of My Husband Betty; Drag performer extraordinaire Johnny Kat; clips from Transparents, a film about FTMs and their children; plus postcards to send to your congress persons, raffle with great prizes, and tasty culinary delights.
Location: The Center, 238 W. 13th Street, NYC
Admission: $20* (*no one turned away). You can purchase tickets in advance at www.smarttix.com.
Email: johnnykatloveschilifries@hotmail.com
URL: www.hottrannieboy.com

from Booklist:

“Boyd never expected to write about transvestites and their partners, yet here is her fascinating account of marriage to a crossdresser, the intent of which is to reduce the tumult his crossdressing causes in the couple’s lives and to help more women deal better with having transgendered husbands. The originator of an online support group for couples like hers, Boyd supplements her own experiences with those of others to explore the diversity within a stereotyped group (the male-to-female transgendered) and answer questions concerning their behavior. Boyd was supportive from the onset of her knowledge of “Betty,” but even after two years’ socializing within a supportive transgender community, the Boyds’ first outing in the real world terrified her because of her own and society’s expectations-and that was the first of a series of painful realizations. Boyd’s skill as a writer enables readers to enter a relatively hidden existence easily, and perhaps even to appreciate its complexities. Her account, though initially disquieting to some, well may become a standard text in gender studies.”
-Whitney Scott

Amnesty International Request for Testimony

Campaign Against Discrimination > Request for Testimony from LGBT People
Request for Testimony
In the United States, Amnesty International’s (AI) work includes research and organizing around human rights violations by police, correctional officers, and the criminal justice system, as well as human rights abuses based on sexual orientation and gender identity or expression, sex, race, national origin and immigration status.
AI is now researching how the police interact with lesbian, gay, bisexual, and transgender (LGBT) people and communities. For example, we are trying to find out:
* How the police answer calls for help by LGBT people;
* Whether the police fully investigate crimes against LGBT people;
* Whether police officers treat LGBT individuals with respect;
* How police officers deal with same-sex domestic violence or sexual assault;
* Whether LGBT people have experienced verbal harassment from police officers;
* Whether LGBT people have been physically or sexually assaulted by police officers;
* How LGBT people�s experiences with police might differ based on race, sex, age, income, immigration status and gender identity.
The goal of the project is to make real changes, especially for communities who are most at risk of being treated badly by police. At the end of the project, AI will be publishing a report that will describe police interactions with LGBT people across the country, and talk about specific examples. The report will let the public know how police treat LGBT people and communities, and will include recommendations based on our findings. AI will be organizing based on the report�s recommendations.
Gathering people�s accounts of their personal experiences with police is an important part of this project. That is why AI is asking LGBT people to tell us about their experiences with the police. We fully understand that you may want to keep your experience private The information that you provide will be treated in the strictest confidence. We will not include names or identifying information in any public documents unless you tell us that it is OK to do so.
For more information

Take My Breasts Away event

February 7, 7:00-10:00 pm
TAKE MY BREASTS AWAY
Gala fundraiser to raise money for FTM Evan Schwartz’s chest surgery. The incredible line up includes: Emcee Tristan Taormino; The Cast of Butch McCloud with Episode 7, Honey I Shrunk The Lesbians!; Helen Boyd, author of My Husband Betty; Drag performer extraordinaire Johnny Kat; clips from Transparents, a film about FTMs and their children; plus postcards to send to your congress persons, raffle with great prizes, and tasty culinary delights.
Location: The Center, 238 W. 13th Street, NYC
Admission: $20* (*no one turned away). You can purchase tickets in advance at www.smarttix.com.
Email: johnnykatloveschilifries@hotmail.com
URL: www.hottrannieboy.com

KFAI (Minneapolis) Radio Interview

For those of you in the Minneapolis/St. Paul area, I’ll be interviewed on a talk show tonight on KFAI radio. The show is called “Fresh Fruit” and it focuses on the issues that arise for GLBT families. I’ll be on around 8:00 – 8:20 PM.
Tune in if you can!
1/29/04: If you have RealPlayer, you can listen to the audio here.

Trans*Am party 1/25

For those of you who couldn’t make last night’s book party at the Corner Bookstore, which was a smashing success, there is another party this Sunday night. It’s called Trans*Am – produced by Ethan Carter, and open to trannnies, genderqueers, and supporters.
What: Trans*Am
Where: Meow Mix, 269 East Houston @ Suffolk
When: Sunday, January 25th
Doors open at 9pm, with tunes by DJ HiFi Hillary, hosted by Carolyn, and featuring readings by Evie, Sydney, Carolyn, Tennessee, and yours truly!
There’ll be contests to give away a few free copies of MHB.
For more information

Entertainment Weekly

In the January 23/30 edition of Entertainment Weekly, right under the Best-Sellers list, you’ll find a box titled “Opening Acts.”
In that box appears an excerpt from My Husband Betty .
Our first national coverage!