The History of Us

By Denise

Introduction - In the years prior to Phi Epsilon Mu's formation in 1987 information about crossdressing and transgenderism was hard to come by. The Internet and home computers wasn't exactly a household word yet and obtaining information was less than discreet for most. In the 1980s television talk shows such as Phil Doanhue, Sally Jesse Raphael, etc., would sometimes feature programs about transsexuals or crossdressers. Prior to this there were support organizations scattered around the country, but most people had a hard time making contact with them.  These television programs helped lots of people to make contact with the various groups and a flurry of new groups resulted over the next few years. Below is a historical timeline related to crossdressing, transexualism, etc. leading up to the chapter's formation.  This is by no means a complete list, just some highlights that have been noted.

1900 - Julian Eltinge performs on Broadway in DRAG and is a big hit becoming the first known female impersonator in America.

1910 - The word "transvestite" first appeared from Magus Hirshfeld, a sexologist in Germany.

1920s - Colleges begin drag reviews following Harvard's "Hasty Pudding" show.

1930 - Hans Eighner became "Little Elba" after experimental surgery in Germany.

1940s - Some soldier variety shows featured caricature drag. "I was a Male War Bride" was one of many drag scenes in 40s movies.

1951 - Christine Jourgenson was the first to be publicized as having a "sex change" operation.

1950s - Harry Benjamin began gender research. The word "transsexual" was born. First synthetic hormones discovered. This led to the "pill" and eventually what was to be known as the sexual revolution.

1960 - Virginia Prince published the first issue of "Transvestia."

1962 - FPE group was formed by Virginia Prince and stood for "Full Personality Expression."

1968 - First gender convention held in Oregon titled "Dream" and was held until 1981.

1969 - First "TV" club established in New York by Wilma Thordsen eventually called TVIC.

1969 -  Gay Liberation evolved from NY Queen uprising in Greenwich Village. Known as the Stonewall Revolution this was the first time that gays, who were led by drag queens, stood up to NYC police using force as a result of police harassment. It shocked the city and led to orders from the mayor to quit harassing the community. A historic plaque can be seen across from the Stonewall Bar in Greenwich Village.

1975 - Outreach Institute was founded by Ari Kane.   Ari Kane was one of the
first CD's to appear on network television, possibly on the David Suskind Show. It was a landmark event and led to hundreds of people  contacting Tri Ess when their address was mentioned. (Ari visited Phi Epsilon Mu a couple of times in the 1990s.)

1976 - "Fantasia Fair" convention organized by Ari Kane.

1976 - Virginia Prince and Carol Beecroft merged Virginia's FPE and Carol's Mamselle to become Tri-Ess or "The Society for The Second Self."

1978 - The first Tri-Ess chapter was formed in California, Alpha Chapter.

1978 - Virginia Prince introduced the word "transgenderist" or TG for short. A little humor, in the 1990s Virginia also coined a new term Bi-Gender. However, quite a few of the sisters misinterpreted it as being BIGENDER. As a result, just for fun at one of the FEM meetings several of the members bent over, lifted their skirts, and someone took a shot of all the big enders and sent it to Virginia who got a chuckle out of it.

1982 - Chicago groups hold first "Be All" convention.

1980s - In the mid 1980s Crossdressing, Transexualism, Female Impersonators, and Drag Queens become the subject of many television talk shows.

1987 - IFGE (International Foundation for Gender Education) formed by Merissa Sherrill Lynn. Same year in Chicago was IFGE's first "Coming Together: convention.

1987 - In July 1987 three Orlando area people met following one of the Phil Donahue shows where Tri-Ess' address was given out. Dale of Kissimmee, Phyllis, and Jenny both of Orlando met at Dale's place. This would become the Central Florida Sisters or CFS and eventually Phi Epsilon Mu chapter of Tri-Ess.

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