Surgery made him what she is today

By Nancy Bigler Kersey

A rustling of programs usually proceeds striptease artist Jennifer Fox's entrance in Ann Corio's production of "This Was Burlesque," appearing at Musicarnival through Saturday.

After veteran performer Miss Corio announces Miss Fox's act as "Is She or Isn't She?", portions of the audience furiously start turning pages for a quick glance at her biography. Then, suddenly, wives start nudging their husbands as they whisper excitedly, "This is the one, this is the one!"

All the fuss stems from the fact that they are about to get a most intimate look at a phenomenon of modern medicine.

The shapely and curvaceous 27-year-old Miss Fox has undergone surgery to change her sex from male to female.

Even the most reluctant disbeliever can hardly quibble with her qualifications as she bares her assets bit by bit, but there is more to Jennifer Fox than meets the eye.

She is self-assured and exhibits no hang-ups regarding her feminine sexuality since she became female six years ago.

"After six years, it's a situation that seems like it has always been that way.” she said.

"As a male growing up, I was unbelievably effeminate and wore unisex clothes with long hair. I was often thought to be lesbian. I was never attracted to a homosexual male.

"I did not feel as a total

person. I was not happy with myself physically. It would not have helped even if someone loved me as was.

"If you are so effiminate as a male that you are not acceptable to society, people have a tendency to blame the person when it's really nature's fault. It's like a person chose to be transsexual.”

Miss Fox did not want to repress the overwhelming feminine characteristics she possessed while grow ing up, and she said that her parents did not push her in that direction.

"I was pretty much able to develop my own character. I think parents have terrible guilt feelings when their children don't come out in their own image. Unhappy with her situation. Miss Fox began to ask herself some searching questions.

"I said, what are my alternatives? How will I be

The Plain Dealer/William G. Vorpe

Jennifer Fox makes friends with Musicarnival's resi-

dent cat.

able to get along better in society?**

After giving it considerable thought and attending a gender identity clinic at the University of Minnesota to determine her psychological and physiological suitability as a candidate for such surgery, she returned to her hometown of Chicago for the operation.

She paid the full cost of $10,000 herself, she said. from high school savings and two full-time jobs later as a female impersonator in Chicago strip-tease

clubs.

"It is elective surgery, there is no doubt," she said, "but I consider it corrective surgery. I believe in selfimprovement. When the time comes. I'll have my face lifted."

After surgery, Miss Fox said she experienced some guilt feelings. She frequently wondered if people meeting her for the first time would like her as well if they had known her other

than she is now.

She gradually became poised and self-confident and got married three vears ago. Her divorce was finalized just last month.

but she sees no link between that and her sex change.

A peachy-keen year

The new crop of canned cling peaches is now on your grocer's shelves. Both halves and slices will be plentiful this year.

She said her husband accepted her for who she was. Their problems began, however, when her husband cut down his business travels.

"Now he wants something different out of lifea partner who will be there."

Miss Fox tried staying home for several months, but it did not work out. She loves traveling and her work.

"The relationship wasn't a failure, the marriage was. I'll still always love him as a friend. I'm a little old-fashioned about falling in love."

Since she always had show business ambitions and had the experience as a female impersonator, Miss Fox continued to accept club bookings after her operation-but as a striptease star.

Through her work, she has traveled all over the globe, including three months entertaining in Vietman.

At first, she did not advertise her sex change operation, although she never tried to hide it. However, when an agent threatened to expose it, she beat him to the punch.

Instead of her bookings falling off, it turned out to be good for business.

Miss Fox applauds the new attitudes that seem to go hand-in-hand with the new unisex clothing.

"It's healthier." she said. "It's a better adjusted attitude toward sex.

"Before, a woman was supposed to be a dainty thing sitting at home, and a man was supposed to be masculine like a lumber-

jack.

She pointed out that many virile Scotsmen wear kilts, and Marlene Dietrich made pants popular while still looking every bit a

woman.

"Somehow people think that having the surgery makes you an authority on sex."

To the contrary, Miss Fox does not claim to know it all. but she can offer some advice from experi-

ence.

"I think most people in the United States have a sexual identity problem. I think the more you know about sex, the better adjusted you are."