Chapter 4: the 1970's.
The 1970's marked a revolution that brought open discussion of sexuality to print. However, it was made clear that this was only for people who perfectly fit the man-woman relationship model. Bigoted psychologists openly damned gays and lesbians as perverse and deviant and created the myth that people could be "changed" to fit the model. Transgendered people were not a continuum then, but fit only into the "transvestite" or "transsexual" camps. Such people were also depicted as perverse and deviant, as well as being obsessed with fetishes.
Of course, I was not like any of these people. Literature was not really available. There were only "Drag" magazines and female impersonator magazines. Such publications did not have much useful content, and if I bought one, it was quickly purged. I would also occasionally get a copy of "Transvestia". It was more interesting, but I was really turned off the politics therein.
I new there were clubs and others with my strange interests, but I was in denial. I could not imagine myself actualizing those hidden, inner desires. Besides, I did not believe that I even had the aptitude or ability to crossdress for real.
As the decade came to an end, I dated and finally became engaged. This was due more to determination to overcome my lack of socialization than any inherent dating skills. At last, I thought, I was going to get ride of all these unnatural desires once and for all.
Last Modified Wednesday, January 08, 2003