The Birth of Betty

Leading Lady

BETTY LYNN PALMER

Introduction

"Leading Lady" autobiographies in TVia appear to indicate that normal heterosexual males may begin cross-dressing due to a variety of reasons; most of which are innocent, sincere, and harmless in themselves, but which lead to tragic results such as divorce, loss of income and business reputation, and personal guilt and fear. Some authorities believe the "compulsion" to cross-dress is present in the individual at birth (nature), others believe the cross-dressing con- ditions are present in the individual's childhood and are thus en- vironmental (nurture), and finally, the less informed believe cross- dressing to be a latent homosexual drive. The general public appears to have strong opinions based on little or no evidence, therefore, it behaves only in the manner for which it has been conditioned.

A majority of TV autobiographies reveal difficulty with the wife as a major problem (or disaster). This difficulty is so absent in my case that the reader may doubt the truth in the words that follow. I assure you they are true in every detail.

Past, Present, and Future

My childhood was noticeably free of any major TV tendencies. I did not wish to be a girl, or a boy, I never even thought about it. I played games, built model airplanes, had a paper route, had friends, had pets, rode a bicycle, played sports, and was a good student. I was brought up in an average apartment in the central city, had both parents, and three brothers. My father was older than average, college educated (valedictorian of class), good provider, easy-going, liberal, and a "good guy." My mother did not work, kept house, completed two years of college, was younger than average, was at- tractive, and had serious health problems, but did not complain. My

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