Date: Sat, 26 Aug 1995 07:01:27 -0400 From: Msjulian@aol.com Subject: Gay FTM Networking Newsletter Please post with your gender-related mailing list or organization, or pass on to any gay/bi FTMs of your acquaintance-- Thank you, JULIAN (Msjulian@aol.com) ------------------------------------------------------------------------------ ------------------- 25 August 1995 Hey there, gay boys, This is to announce the founding of the first (as far as I know!) international (three of you are Canadian) newsletter for transgender gay and bi men. The purpose is to disseminate information of interest to us all, to spark discussion among us of issues that concern us, to raise our visibiilty in the gay community, and to enable us to network with other gay/bi peers in our geographical areas or in our areas of interest (writers with writers, etc.) I would like to have the first issue out by early September. SUBMISSIONS: The newsletter will consist both of short feature articles and of regular departments. Features can be factual articles, memoirs, fiction/poetry; art and cartoons are welcome as well. Departments will include: New member list; Member profiles; Letters; Reviews; Resources; Gay Community Calendar; Networking; and Classifieds. Reviews can include books, movies, plays of trans or gay interest (I'm doing a review of 'Wild Reeds' for the first issue, for example, because its depiction of gay male adolescence reminded me poignantly of the fact that I never had that experience.) For Resources, the first issue will include a list of gay bookstores and gay publications. Gay Community Calendar will include upcoming events by city or region; I'm depending on members to send in events from their areas. Networking will be member-contributed listings such as requests for information in specific areas of interest or requests for communication from others in similar occupations or with similar avocations/hobbies. Classifieds can include products and services. Submissions from SO's and admirers of gay/bi transgendered men are also encouraged, and eventually we may have a page devoted to them. CIRCULATION: Frequency of issue--quarterly, bimonthly, monthly--will depend on how much material we have. Eventually the newsletter may be available online; for now it will be by mail, and while I'll be requesting a small donation from each person to cover copying and mailing no one will be refused if they have no money to spare (having been on disability myself now for 3 1/2 years for Chronic Fatigue Syndrome, I know sometimes people can't spare even a few dollars.) The newsletter will be created via desktop publishing and photocopying to keep expenses down. If later on we are able to afford commercial printing that would be great. MEMBERSHIP: Right now I have a core list of 35 of us, gleaned from the SF FTM group, the Conference, and my online correspondents. I would like to ask each of you to send (with each person's permission, of course) a list of your gay/bi FTM contacts who would also like to receive the newsletter (include snail, email, and phone if possible.) I know there will be some overlap, but if I get even one new name from each of you the first issue will have a circulation of 70--pretty awesome! I would like to list all 'charter subscribers' in the first issue; if you or someone whose name you send me does NOT want to be listed, please say so. It is acceptable to use a screen name only or an alias if you are not 'out' (either as trans or gay) so long as I know who you really are. I am also willing to serve as a 'clearinghouse' for people who want to list in the networking section but are reluctant to list their home address or phone. We need to balance the advantages of open communication with each other with our individual comfort levels about privacy. Another possibility is to list members' personal information in a separate directory to be issued with subscriptions, so that ultimately we could feel comfortable enough to distribute the newsletter in public forums like gay bookstores. BTW, this newsletter is NOT meant to compete with the FTM Newsletter, but to address the special needs and interests of gay and bi FTMs. Please try to get your information to me by AUGUST 31. If you have something you'd like to put in--a feature, review, or contribution to any of the departments--send it along too. Any suggestions you have for the first issue would be most welcome! Looking forward to hearing from you, JULIAN Msjulian@aol.com