Kappa Beta Serving the transgendered community since 1988

For several years, Kappa Beta has been a part of a sociology class at UNC-Charlotte taught by Dr. Lance. Several of our members speak before the class once each semester, and they take questions from the class afterwards. A big thanks goes out to Bobbie Long for starting and heading up the visits for several years. Pamela has recently taken over and has done a great job as well. I had always heard great stories from these classes, but I had never been able to attend. That changed on May 31.

We had a great group this time around. Along with Pam, we had Jennifer, Trish, Trish's wife Diane, and myself. Trish and Diane were also first timers, and it was one of the few classes where a wife had attended. We met Dr. Lance in his office at 12:30pm and went back down for the 1pm class. Dr. Lance was very kind, as he made sure he got to know each of us, particularly the three newcomers.

How many times has someone asked you, "What are you?" or "What do you call yourself?" Are you a TS, TG, Crossdresser or Transvestite? Well my first thought is always, "None of your business!" However, so as not to be rude, I answer with a question like "Is it really that important?"

Does it really matter? What's in a label anyway? You are what and who you are! I suppose it is human nature to want to belong to something or some group. But what is this need to label/belong to a specific group anyway? Just by being here at the KB meeting you are belonging to a group.

Most of you know by now that I am a bit of an activist for crossdressers. I’d like to encourage all of us to be activists.

Recently members of our chapter participated in a presentation to a class at a local college. I applaud all who did so.

This opportunity comes up several times a year and is announced in our Yahoo group. Any member of the chapter may participate.

Many, if not most, schools that have a medical and/or psychology program do, or would do, things like this. I encourage all of us to reach out to them as volunteers. No matter how comfortable you are with going out, the students will get something out of it. In the long run, the medical community will benefit, and in turn so will we.

In addition to these schools, I recently heard that our county sheriff’s department has some kind of program to "desensitize" and inform its deputies about handling TGs. I am trying to find out more and I will definitely volunteer my time to help there.

Shop around, girls. Opportunities for outreach are there - even in the "redneck" South!

Speaking of shopping, I bet there are store managers who might appreciate some enlightenment (not to mention our money).