RANSVESTIA

hemeh“ (also some similarity in pronounciation). The Cocopas noticed that some boys early in their youth talked, acted and played like girls. These boys were allowed to pursue their desire without ridicule. Civilization and tolerance aren't a matter of technological progress are they?

Some tribes held a special place in religious belief for these people. The Mojaves sanctified them and made them Shamans or medicine men (medi- eine girls?). These priest-doctors in then tenth or eleventh year of age were ceremonially dressed and painted as women and given a female name. As a group they were called "Alyhas." Some alyhas married men and faked menstruation by scratching between the legs with a stick.

Other California Indians called these men "i-wa-musp` (man-woman). They dressed in feminine attire, worked as women and were accepted as such. When a boy showed this inclination he was placed in a circle of fire and offered a bow and a "woman stick.“ The one he chose would deter- mine his entire life-style from then on.

The Pueblos would occasionally chose a virile man and make him ride horseback unceasingly. He was masturbated many times a day and under- went other actions to atrophy the male organs. When feminine contours began to show, they would dress him as a woman and he was forever relegated to that sex. These men were known as berdaches.

Navaho TVs were called "nedl E" and were granted total female status.

Crow berdaches were called "bate" and were given the honor of cutting the first Sun Dance pole in that religious ceremony.

The recent movie “Little Big Man" shows the status of male transves- tites among the Cheyenne. They were held in respect and were not pun- ished or outcast for their desires.

One thing can be seen from this short study. What we call "civilization" has made it very hard for people with differences to survive mentally. The attitude of the so-called savage seems to be much more human and under- standing. Each person was not made to conform to his brother, or sister for that matter. A man didn't interfere with another man's preferences. or desires just because he did not agree with them or share them. Each individual was left to do his own thing, his own way, as long as it did not endanger others. Now that doesn't seem too much for a transvestite to ask of his society. Maybe someday . . .

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