RANSVESTIA

call "uncomplicated, heterosexual cross dressers." Uncomplicated, that is, by other variant behaviour patterns such as homosexuality, sado-masochism, bondage, punishment, fetishism, etc. The purpose of the magazine is not only to entertain and to provide a medium of expression, but also to educate the readers in the nature of their behaviour pattern, to let them know that they are not alone, which is an almost universal concern among FPs, but especially to allay their fears that they must be homosexual or mentally ill. The average FP has these worries because that is all he can find in what little litera- ture exists on the subject. Yet he is usually married and a father and successful as a breadwinner and regular guy. Through publishing this magazine I have had written, phone and personal contact and consul- tation with several thousand such people. Some years ago I sent out a questionnaire to the readers attempting to collect some useful statistics about the pattern. I received back 504 responses. This is more cases than appear in all medical literature combined.

Although the common view is that cross dressing is indicative of active or potential homosexuality, only 28 percent of the respondents said that they had had even one homosexual experience in their lifetimes. This compares with the 37 percent that Kinsey reported for the general population. Seventy-eight percent were or had been married and 74 percent were fathers. These data are provided to oppose the idea that cross dressers must of necessity be homosexual since they dress like women for the same reason that women dress femininely, namely to attract males. The sample was clearly overwhelmingly heterosexual in nature and activity. Data on educational level showed that about 25 percent had college degrees and a further 13 percent had advanced degrees. Income was somewhat ahead of the general population with 56 percent earning between $5,000 and $10,000 and 25 percent earning more than $10,000. These figures are not impressive today but they were in the early sixties. They are cited to indicate that the group in general was socially competant rather than being a group of losers as some would suppose.

Since 82 percent came from intact families, 72 percent reported a good father image and 51 percent indicating that the father was dominant, there is little support for family causation from absent fathers or dominant mothers 83 percent disclaimed any special predictive treatment as a boy saying that they were treated just like other boys their age, yet 54 percent of them began their dressing

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