One of the first persons I discovered was Virginia Prince (left). As with most issues in our community Virginia is thought of in many different ways. On one hand she lived nearly 40 years as a woman but denied being a transsexual, which today could be considered transgender but also was perceived as being homo and transphobic.
None of that really mattered to me as I eagerly read her first couple of books including the "The Transvestite and His Wife"- and never showing it to my wife who knew I was a cross dresser. Shortly after that in the early 1990's I began to attend far away Tri Ess meetings, a nearly 150 mile one way trip and subscribed to Transvestia. Published by Virginia. Ironically, I benefited so much from many of the exact problems she had with others. Transsexuals in particular.
Very quickly I found there were several groups within a group at the so called hetero cross dresser "only" meetings. One of the "groups" would always separate from the main bunch in the hotel we met at and go to the nearest gay venue. Those evenings included some of my first contacts with the diverse subculture I was in including transsexuals and drag queens. Let's just say I had a fairly good idea a portion of the group were not completely "hetero" cross dressers. I loved the diversity of the group.
Then as today, I do think of Virginia Prince of one of the gender pioneers in my life. She opened my world, although I did view her as a throwback to my stodgy old grandmother.
If you don't know much about her, Dallas Denny has written an excellent in depth look at her life. To take a look, go here.
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