I would sneak into my sister's rooms and wear one of their dresses. When I was in Jr High School, I often found excuses for not participating in family functions so that I could be home, wearing my sister's dresses and making up my face.

When I graduated from high school I joined the navy and was able to purchase material pertaining to crossdressing and finally learned that I was not queer but merely had another side to me that needed expression. I actually went about four years without crossdressing, then the old feelings came back and the next thing I knew, I had purchased several dresses and was just satisfied, wearing them in a hotel room. Later, I found myself with a complete wardrobe and several wigs. At first, I stayed in my apartment. One day I decided to buy a new dress and went to a dress shop to see what was available. I told the lady that the dress was for a costume party but she saw through me and asked if I would like to try the dress on in the shop. I went into a dressing room and when I had the dress on, the lady asked me to step out and let her observe me. My legs were rather hairy and she remarked about that and said that with the right foundation, the dress would look nice on me. So, I went home and shaved my legs, put on all my other pretty things and decided to go back to the shop and show the lady what I looked like. I got to the door, but 'chickened' out but not enough to get completely undressed. I slipped on a pair of pants and a shirt, put many of my feminine things in a bag and drove to the store. I must have looked a sight, with false eyelashes and make-up and with men's clothes. I went in and asked to use the dressing room and got dressed for her. When I stepped out of the dressing room there was a couple in the store and I became rather nervous. I finally relaxed. The couple left, men- tioning to the lady that I looked nice in the dress. I was estatic from the compliment and decided to drive home as a girl.

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After that experience, it was all that I could do to keep from going out as a female but each time I went out, I acquired more and more confidence. Then conditions changed and I had to stop my crossdressing for awhile that is until I came to Jacksonville, Florida, when I REALLY got into it. I bought a Wig, while dressed. I eventually located a bar where crossdres- sers were welcome and went there when I was out dressed. I met a lady who accepted me for myself. I was able to visit with her as Jennifer and we were both comfortable. I had surpassed my fears of being identified as a male in 'drag'. Soon, I had to

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