Topic: Feedback

Originally appeared in Transgender Tapestry #104, Winter 2004.
Closet is just too kind a word for solitary confinement, being buried alive and running from the truth. Oh, yeah, the cell is nicely appointed, as much as I could make it, but it still has those damn bars, forged from fear and hardened by loneliness. You wake up one day and the hellacious marriage is finally over, the kids are grown and moving on with their lives. You just turned 56 years old and realize you?ve never done much for yourself all these years. Your account is seriously in danger of being overdrawn.

What?s a girl do with such a serious case of the down-home blues? Why, she goes on a bodacious shopping spree, right? A liberating exercise after having been oppressed for countless years in that department. A veritable kid in ye olde candy shoppe! But even that began to grow old after a while. You know the feeling, all dressed up, but nowhere to go. Or so I thought at the time. Little did I know. But don?t kid yourself: breaking out is a learning process in and of itself.

Originally appeared in Transgender Tapestry #105, Spring 2004.

My partner is a transgendered person (FTM) and we are both readers of Transgender Tapestry. We have noticed that there are not many articles on or about FTMs. There is really no specific magazine and very few books on this topic. We have been to drag king conferences, which are helpful and supportive, but to my partner this is part of his identity and not just entertainment. The support groups available in our area are primarily for MTFs and even though they say they welcome FTMs, there are none in attendance. My partner could attend one of their meetings but doesn?t feel they can fully identify with his issues.

Could you please make a connection with someone in the FTM community who would be willing to write one or two articles for each edition of Tapestry? Knowing there would always be something on this topic would help to validate that FTMs really do exist.
?Joanne L and my partner SP

Tapestry is committed to equity in content by and about FTMs and their significant others. Since I became editor in 1990, we?ve published every FTM-themed article we?ve received?and I expect the previous editors did also. Ten years ago, Jason Cromwell was kind enough to edit a special FTM issue of Chrysalis, a magazine I edited at the time. It took him a full year to beg, bribe, wheedle, and cajole enough FTM-specific content to fill 60 pages. It?s not that there?s a lack of FTMs, but there certainly is a scarcity of FTMs who write. Those we know who do write tend to be overcommitted and unavailable and we wouldn?t presume to further burden them?although we would be joyous to hear from them. Yes, this is a hint, Jamison Green! Perhaps someone who reads this will be inspired to write for Tapestry. Perhaps you will?Ed.


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Originally appeared in Transgender Tapestry #103, Fall 2003.

Kudos on a powerful presentation of valuable resources (Tapestry #101). This material will be a tremendous aid to many. The only shortfall is the shelf life of printed material. Please consider creating a web presence to permanently enshrine this material. Over time it would draw an increasing number of people to your web site. Congratulations again.
-Rachel M

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I just received Transgender Tapestry #101. Not only is it the best TG/TAP I?ve ever seen, but it is the best transgender community publication?of any kind?that I have ever seen!!! You, your staff, and your contributors should all be very proud. Congratulations.
-Divinity

Originally appeared in Transgender Tapestry #102, Summer 2003.

I just received my Special Nostalgia Issue of Transgender Tapestry. Having recently resubscribed, I thought it a nice welcome back. I found it to be very interesting. I?m looking forward to my next issue.
--Savina A S

Several folks in the community have wondered why or been upset because they didn?t see themselves or their own personal inspirations in the nostalgia issue. We were concentrating on those who caught the popular eye, the darlings of the media. Perhaps, in a future issue, we?ll take a look at some of the worker bees. No doubt there will be folks who will feel left out there, also. ?Ed.

Originally appeared in Transgender Tapestry #101, Spring 2003.

A Word from Les

My warmest thanks to all the staff for the tremendous work you do putting out Transgender Tapestry. I appreciate the opportunity toclarify something I read in issue #97. I am quoted on the issue of ?passing.? But in my quote, I clearly specify that I amtalking about the plight of transgender individuals?gender variants forced to live as ?outlaws? by passing as a sex that does not feel like home in orderto survive.

I would never use the term ?passing? to describe the life of a transsexual woman or man who is home.
Leslie F