Fiesta in Vera Cruz

In the four days of pre-Lenten carnival held in Vera Cruz, Mexico, each year cross-dressing comes in- to it's own, and there is one area of town where true transvestites appear in the most stylish of costumes.

About five or six blocks from the centre of town in a large area adjoining the firehouse, two long rows of eating stalls are set up with tables and chairs and a large inner space for dancing. The waitresses wear evening gowns, some in ruffles and bows, and others in glamorous sheath dresses and exquisite hats. Their manners are sweetly feminine and only their voices be- tray the fact that they are indeed men. While in other parts of town, one will meet caricatures of women, here in the area the imitation is genuine and natural.

A sympathetic description of this scene is given by Kate Simon in her recent book, "Mexico, Pleasure and Places", and her kindly comments are worth repeating.

After describing the scene and some of the "girls" seen there, she goes on to say -

"Just how this institution of public drag grew, no one seems to know or wants to say. Certainly it is in- ternationally known and watched for by aficionados. It is innocent and salacious depending upon the note in any particular eye. The Mexican youths who go to eat pozoles and drink beer, mark the fact of the he-shes with the tolerance of people who have lived with con- querors, and outlived them, who live with flowers and blood and abandonment, to whom the human condition is all its varieties.

"The American dosen't note and let it go. He is staringly mired, fascinated and confused. He feels he should deplore where he is charmed, and should be ap- palled where he is attracted. Only after a while can he concede that what he is witnessing is a humane thing

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