A couple of days ago, I received a fascinating publication in the mail. Its called SSSHHH! and it's the newsletter of the National Transgender Library and Archive, which itself is part of the AEGIS organization. The newsletter first explains the mission of the NTL&A and briefly describes the library's different holdings. Most of the rest of the twelve-page newsletter is devoted to analyzing the history of a classic Transgender oriented magazine: "Female Mimics (1963- '79)." The article is very thorough in it's methodology, and rich in suppositions to explain the events of the magazine's run. It's a great professional study, and is engrossing. It also got me thinking.
The article made me reflect upon the fact that most of the information I've learned about transgenderism came from reading. It didn't come from Donahue or Geraldo; rather, a significant amount of it has been from various texts. In the quest for transgender literature, I've come across a myriad of different things. I found informational guides, clinical research, personal accounts, and fiction just to name a few.
One pervasive thing about much of the transgender-oriented literature is that it's difficult to find, but fortunately things are improving. The article correctly states if one were to go to the library and attempt to find materials on transgenderism, there is often very little to be had, what is there is frequently horribly out of date, or repeatedly, it's just not there any-more because it's been long since stolen. The article also states that even with published authors such as Leslie Feinberg and Kate Bornstein, most Transies still get their first exposure to TG oriented literature in sex shops, but things have indeed come a long way. It's great that now one can go to many Barnes and Noble book stores in the country and get Crosstalk, it's certainly a vast improvement when one of us can walk into the new Border's book-store in Norman and grab a copy of Transgender Tapestry.
I think my first exposure to any kind of TG oriented literature was in the OU library, when I specifically searched for whatever I could turn up. I read everything they had to offer on the subject; again, some of it badly outdated, some of it badly biased, some of it just plain bad. BUT, there was some good mixed in there too and reflecting upon all I'd read, I did precisely what anyone who can read SHOULD be able to do. I formed my own opinions based upon what I'd read, and realized that not everything could be taken at face value. It was an important lesson to me, and one that's applied to my life and my view of my transgenderism ever since.
After reading all the nasty technical stuff I found magazines, informational guides, and fiction. No big surprise I didn't find anything when I searched the libraries and bookstores for these! Somewhere along the line, I ran across a copy of Ladylike at Christie's Toybox. I'd already heard of JoAnn Roberts because Vanessa had loaned me and Tracey copies of JoAnn's Coping With Crossdressing and Peggy Rudd's My Husband Wears My Clothes, two excellent informative works. And not too long after that, I'd managed to get on-line access and again quickly stumbled (read this as systematically searched!) onto the transgender information. I'd found a whole wealth of documents and photos. Again, there was a profusion of subjects, going from the most serious to the most ludicrous. The vast array of information presented to me taught me a primary skill that anyone going into the twenty-first century will need: the ability to accumulate, process, and weed through enormous, and diverse amounts of information.
The latest thing I've achieved in this little quest for knowledge is to give back to it all, and start contributing my own. I began to write my own TG oriented articles such as ludicrous parodies, personal observations and reflections, and my own twisted version of transgender fiction. I'll never be a "Manifesto of the Week" type person; once a month is hard enough. I write because I want to and because it's fun, not because I have to. Those who know me well, know that's me inside. I've always loved to write and love it more so when it comes from my heart. I love to be able to give part of myself to others in this way.
For me the whole thing is coming full circle. I sought, I found, I learned, I thought, and I wrote. I think my biggest hope in all this of all is someday I'll be in that library too.
Rachel
Postscript commentary:
My first exposure to information discussing trans-issues was in the mid eighties and the info was from my mom's 70's era human sexuality textbooks. The OU books came five to eight years later.
AEGIS itself is now defunct. The National Transgender Library and Archive is alive and well and was recently moved to the Labadie Collection, Hatcher Graduate Library, Ann Arbor, MI. More information can be found at http://www.gender.org/ntgla/index.html I am unaware if the NTLA's newsletter is still active.
If I am not mistaken, Crosstalk Magazine is defunct. Tapestry is alive and well. I haven't seen any trans-magazine in a local bookstore in years, and it appears that the GLBT sections have actually diminished (at least in Oklahoma City). Progress is sometimes a rocky road.
I call several publications in this article "excellent." I'd have to re-read those articles in light of five years worth of experiences since. My gut feeling is that I don't think I'd rate 'em nearly as high on the scale now.
I don't say "Transie" anymore, I now say Tranny. I don't know when or why I changed that, language is a peculiar thing.
I recently met Leslie Feinberg, whom I mentioned in this article, when (s)he gave a speech at the University of Oklahoma. It was energizing, eye-opening, and sorely needed. When we talked, (s)he told me that (s)he'd love to hear me speak one day. I don't know if (s)he says that to everyone, but it felt pretty good. Maybe some day I will.
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