Transvestia

One of the greatest differences between myself and my fellow policemen is that whereas I am aware of the manifold and diverse types of abnormality, most police- men tend to lump together all deviations from norm under one heading. Thus, transvestites, homosexuals, the ex- hibitionist, necrophile and ravisher are classed as 'queers" This inability to differentiate between the unconventional is probably the reason why many TV's fall foul of the law. Not because they are TV's but "queers".

In Canada and England, there is no specific law or statute against cross dressing. In England however, I know of several instances where TV's have been arrested and charged with "Conduct likely to cause a breach of the peace". Transvestites, as a group, have not yet ac- quired a reputation or identity, for good or evil.

Every policeman, at some time or other comes into contact with some form of deviation. Peeping toms for example. These gentry in some cases, disguise them- selves crudely, as women. They frequent powder rooms or women's changing rooms at swimming pools. Their unskillful impersonations are usually soon detected and an arrest follows. The policeman, unless he happens to be a TV has no way of differentiating between a peeping tom, so disguised, and a harmless TV. Again, many homosexuals disguise themselves as women with the in- tention of attracting a male person. If they succeed in attracting some man, their masquerade is soon dis- covered and often a fight develops. If the police happen along it is usually the homo who gets the dirty end of the deal. I recall an instance in England where a man, a schoolteacher by profession, dressed himself as a woman. It was alleged that "she" made advances to a man. The man on becoming aware of "her" true sex beat the mas- querader so badly that death ensued. The man was sub- sequently charged with murder. He was eventually re- leased on a reduced charge as the jury felt there had been an uncontrollable impulse prompted by loathing and humiliation. This case sticks in my mind as there was actually only the evidence of the man upon which to build a case. It could have been that the schoolteacher was innocently enjoying himself by wearing women's clothing. It could have been the man who made the ad- vances and not "her". It seems, impossible for the

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