Hello all,
I feel I must comment on the Tri-ess issue, as many have gotten the incorrect assumption that they are biased and against gay or bi cross dressers, this is not correct.
Tri-ess was started as a "heterosexual cross dressing support" group. If you recall, many contemporary publications make reference to crossdressers as predominantly straight. This may or may not be a realistic assessment, however the issue is tangential.
Many crossdressers, when they come out to wives and family, are hit with "Do you to be a woman?" Or transition? The answer is generally no and the issue can cause significant marital stress and even divorce. Such individuals need to prove to spouses that they are straight.
Tri-ess was formed as a safe group for crossdressers, their spouses and families. The last thing they want is a group of transsexuals talking about who the best transitional surgeon is, hormone levels, and such issues (this is not to deminish transgender people, but a BIG difference between crossdressers and TG people.) Cross dressing individuals need a group to reinforce for themselves and their families the difference.
Thee were once 47 Tri-ess grops nationwide. Today only14 remain!
Sadly many of the chapters such as Sigma beta in Oklahoma City were torn apart by infighting with TG Members who wanted to move the focus to TG instead of crossdressing. Rather than form a seperate TG group, a good CD group was destroyed.
The charter requirements specifically provide the group is directed to heterosexual crossdressers.
As it is, there are 3 groups in Oklahoma City for Transgender and NONE For crossdressing.
It's not about discrimination, it's about meeting the needs of a group with different needs.
Please understand and respect those needs. Yes Tri-ess runs vanilla but it's for spouses and family members including children as well.