their type of love. Normal men would certainly not go for an satz" girl when there are so many of the genuine article around, what is left? The ersatz life of the "in-between" who is condemned to continuous frustration in most cases since he/she cannot fulfill, either biologically or psychologically, all the functions of either

80X.

This is not to say that there are not some people who are true transsexuals, who are simply not organized to be adequate males and for whom the feminine life is the only satisfactory one. To such persons I say fine, go ahead, and I am glad that there are surgeons in this world who have the courage to help these people. I have known of a few of these people who have made a good adjustment and a good woman's life for themselves and I admire them for it. But I've also known several whose only goal has been to become prosti- tutes, strip teasers, and to roll men for their money. Unfortun- ately, many of those clamouring for the operation and many of those who will achieve their goal will not be really better off and hap- pier in their new life.

What many TVs and FPs don't realize is that it is their very maleness that makes them interested in the feminine world. Take away this drive and there is no motivation left. Soon a dress is just something to keep you warm and modest, it loses its glamour. (Changelings in general have less interest in their dress and app- earance than a good FP does.) This also goes for the rest of the attributes of the feminine world which we now yearn for. Oh, don't get me wrong girls, I know how you feel...I have been there. My heart nearly stopped out of sheer envy that day years ago when Christine first hit the papers. Since then I've come to realize that hers is not the solution it seems, and I hope some of you con- templating such an operation will do some real objective thinking before you go ahead with it...its irreversible you know!

Now for the operation itself. In the first place this is not a 45 minute operation with 3 days in bed and a $500 bill. The op- eration takes about 3 hours, requires hospitalization for about 2 weeks and further convalescence at home thereafter. As to cost, I couldn't say, but 2 weeks in a hospital is liable to run up to- wards $750 and the medical bill will be $3-5,000.

The first stage of the operation consists of placing the test- icles inside the abdomen. Some doctors prefer a simple castration, others feel that since the patient came to his current status