Transvestia

when I at last stumbled onto TRANSVESTIA and came to know many other TVs personally.

During my tour with the navy, I discovered that there were other people with similar desires through the now defunct publications such as Bizzare and Exotique which were available at certain newsstands. Before this discovery, I had thought that I was one of a kind and not like most others in my individual developement. Having traveled that far, I was again stymied as there was no means of communication. The editors and staffs of said magazines were of no help. Frustration lead to half-hearted compromise with myself and things went on their lonely way.

During the following civilian years there were many romances that didn't develope into marriage. Of them all, I revealed to only one girl my trans- vestic bent and only after having known her for sev- eral months. Of course at the time, I couldn't explain the subject to anyone since I knew very little myself. Her reaction was puzzlement and simulated tolerance which I doubted. Anyway, this factor was not the reason for our later parting, but looking back, had we stayed together, transvestism would have made a tremendous barrier to a happy relation- ship.

My first meeting with another real TV was quite accidental. However, before I relate that I must

preface it by saying that all of my dressing had been in private and without the finishing touches of wig or makeup and I had never been photographed while dressed.

One day while I was downtown window shopping, I passed a portrait studio which had displayed along with many photos a variety of wigs. You can well imagine the ideas that leaped into mind beholding this sight. Being shy, I let several weeks slip by before the courage came so that I could phone the studio with an "amateur story" well rehearsed in my