older and had more money to spend I accumulated a few frocks and cosmetics, and it has occurred to me that it would be odd if my mother never e ame across them though they were kept out of sight as far as was possible in a small bedroom Secondly the unexplained generosity of my sister, who, unasked, present- ed me with a white satin strapless bra (for my theatricals, she said) and, glorious day, with the silver sandals which symbolized TV for me. If they did

they were kind beyond

words not to mock me or try to talk me out of it.

At this time I was letting off a lot of steam in amateur theatricals, taking female parts in college revues, and sing- ing and dancing and acting material I wrote for these revuer

As far as I knew I was the only person of my kind in the world I knew about homosexuals and knew I was not one I knew of female impersonators and went to their shows avidly but didn t know if they were what I was or were completely different with a common trait. It was not until my college years, when I read widely in psychology and discovered Ellis and Hirschfeld that I realized there were TVs in every country, culture and age. I knew I was no longer alone, but I also knew I had to give up impersonation on the stage I was get- ting too old to escape the rumours and social censure attached to a young man in women's clothes. Australia seems to be less tolerant than America over this, and I knew one fellow whose reputation never recovered In his college career be ause he did a Charleston in flapper costume in one revue Why I never became the victim of such rumours I don't know Perhaps I pulled out and went back to suing VE ely just in time.

I have known, and still know, many gay people. I doN t mind their eccentricity but I don't tell them of mine. Тоо many gay people won't believe TV's need not be gay, and none of the gay types I know are very discreet anyway One, in particular, though he has never known (and will never know) I am a TV has tried for years to persuade me that I am gay I owe him one thing only he gave me my feminine name, He always referred to me as Joan little knowing the pleasure it gave me. One night he poured a bottle of Chanel down my back and I received odd looks for a week