The Beaumont Society is an organisation run for, and by, people who like to wear the clothes of the opposite gender and people who may be transsexual.
It is a Society dedicated to the special needs of those who feel the desire, or compulsion, to express a feminine side to their personality by dressing, or living, as "women".
The Society was founded in 1966. The name Beaumont was taken from the Chevalier D'Eon de Beaumont, a celebrated French transvestite of the 18th Century.
The Beaumont Society is a national organisation and is run on a regional basis. There are members throughout the country, with local groups in most areas. The Society also has many overseas members. The Beaumont Society is run, voluntarily, by members who have been elected to become Officers of the Society. Besides National Officers, there are Regional Organisers with Assistant and Area Organisers who are responsible for looking after the membership at the local level.
An Executive Committee of the National Officers and the elected organisers meet several times a year to deal with the organisation's business at a national level.
WHAT THE SOCIETY OFFERS
Some cross-dressers have feelings of guilt, shame, self disgust and fear of what they feel to be an inexplicable desire to cross-dress. Usually membership of the Society will help overcome these feelings by providing mutual support and so help to develop self acceptance, peace of mind and understanding. The knowledge that there are so many others who have similar feelings is often a great comfort in itself. Considerable help with practical matters concerned with cross-dressing can be gained through being able to meet and talk to others, or just by reading the Society's Magazines.
The Society may also be of help in gaining acceptance by partners, relatives and friends. For the more self assured the Society offers a social scene where they can meet others, make friends and more fully enjoy their cross-dressing. Some of the meetings are open to non-members.
MEMBERSHIP OF THE SOCIETY
Once your application has been accepted, you will become a Provisional Member. This places a few minor restrictions on the facilities you can use, but you can become a Full Member, without further charge, by meeting an officer of the Society who will sponsor you. This is simply a formality to make sure the Society is right for you and that you are right for the Society. It also acts as a safeguard to help protect the rest of the membership and to introduce you to at least one other Society member.
In practice sponsorship is quite informal. It is a meeting which will give you the opportunity of asking further questions about the Society and, if you so wish, of discussing your own cross-dressing. Sometimes this may be the first time the new member has actually spoken face to face with another cross-dresser. However, there is no pressure to become sponsored. If the prospect worries you, there is no need to actually meet anyone to become, or remain a member of the Society. Sponsorship can take place at any time whilst you are a provisional member. It is not a necessity to be "dressed" for a sponsorship meeting.
PERSONAL SECURITY
The Society is very much aware that most cross-dressers are very concerned that their personal details should not become known to others. The Society operates a strict code of confidentiality and guarantees that all information given on your application form, or to any Society officer, will only be seen by those officers responsible for considering and administering your membership. No personal information is passed to other members and the Society never supplies names and addresses to anyone inside or outside the Society without the member's express permission. It is not even necessary to give your real address on your application form, as long as you provide some means for the Society to communicate with you by post. (e.g. an accommodation address) Within the Society you will only be identified by your membership number and if you choose one, your "femme name". There is no pressure for you to adopt a special name, but most members prefer to use one as part of the feminine image they wish to project.
THE BEAUMONT MAGAZINES
The Beaumont Magazine and the Beaumont Bulletin, are the Society's own magazines . They are published quarterly and come free with the membership fee. The Bulletin contains Society business and members' adverts and is only available to members. The Beaumont Magazine is more general in content with features, colour photo pages, readers' letters and many articles on social events and helpful tips. It provides a lifeline to those members who for one reason or another, are unable to participate in many of the social activities. For those who do, the Magazine also provides news and information on social activities of interest to members, including many events not organised by the
The Beaumont Society also has it's own web-pages on the Internet - (http://members.aol.com/Bmontsoc) - which gives up to date information about the Society and the benefits of membership.
The
Beaumont Society
27, Old Gloucester Street,
London.
WC1N 3XX
or Telephone Janett Scott the Society's President on
01582 732936
The Beaumont trust is a registered Charity established in 1975 and funded voluntary by donations. It's aim is to assist those who are in any way troubled by gender dysphoria, or who are involved in such peoples care and provides referrals to appropriate organisations, professional counsellors, and self help groups. It aims to advance public education about all aspects of gender dysphoria related to transvestism or transsexualism and to protect the good mental and physical health of such individuals.
The Trust is a registered charity, (number 297527), the aim of which is the support of transvestites, transsexuals, their friends and families. It fosters research into both psychological and social aspects of transvestism and transsexualism and can provide speakers to address other organisations. It produces literature and arranges workshops develops befriending facilities and assists with conferences. The Beaumont Trust includes professional and members of other relevant organisations as trustees and officers.
The trust has a helpline which operates every Tuesday and Thursday evenings from 7pm until 11pm. on
07000 287878
Calls should cost no more than British Telecoms national rate.
The
Beaumont Trust,
BM Charity,
London.
WC1N 3XX.
The Beaumont Trust also has it's own web-pages on the Internet - (http://members.aol.com/Bmonttrust) - which gives up to date information about the Society
All communications will be be strictly confidential, and it would be greatly appreciated if enquirers would enclose a stamped addressed envelope.
Women
of the Beaumont Society
(WOBS)
Wobs is a group run by, and for, wives and partners for support - to help support those whose husband's or partner's behaviour is difficult to understand. Write to:-
BM
(WOBS)
London.
WC1N 3XX
A wives and partners helpline, where you can talk to another woman, is available from 7.30pm to 11.00pm by telephoning:
01223
441246
or
01684 578281
or
01389 380389
A registered charity which provides help for transsexuals. It has a membership organisation GEMS for those that seek information.
BM
Gentrust
London.
WC1N 3XX
The Gender Trust Helpline for transsexuals (before 10.00pm) is:
07000 790347
Gendys is a network for all who have encountered gender identity problems personally, transsexuals, transgendered people and gender dysphoric people of either sex, and for those that provide care, both professional and lay.
Members can be entirely open with other members or remain anonymous. This is a matter of personal choice. All personal information is entirely confidential and members are expected to respect this. Subscriptions support the network and help provide the various services.
The network hopes to help transsexuals and intersexed people see themselves not as victims, but as survivors of their gender identity difficulties.
The organisation that runs the Gendys Conference at Manchester University bi-annually (next conference will be in 2000).
The organisation is run by Alice Purnell
Gendy's
Network
BM Gendy's
London
WC1N 3XX
or e-mail
Crosslynx
Glasgow
&
West of Scotland TV/TS Group
Meets the second
Wednesday of every month.
For details telephone
0141 332 3333
on Mondays between 7.30pm and 9.30pm.
The Chairperson of Crosslynx is Ruth Stewart
Mermaids is a support group formed by a group of parents, all bringing a child to a Gender Identity Development Clinic, who were brought together as a result of their children’s long-standing Gender Identity Issues. They have been able to support each other and their children through the difficulties and trauma that gender issues commonly bring to families. They have identified a need to form a support group to aid ‘Other families, children, and teenagers in similar situations.
Gender Identity Issues
Gender Identity Issues vary considerably. They may arise when a child exhibits gender, behaviour to some degree or other. Some may be boys who prefer to take the female role or vice versa; others may have a compulsion to play with toys mostly used by the. other sex (for instance, a boy who predominantly plays with dolls, or a girl who always plays with Action Man and ‘army, toys’). ‘ Some children may only feel comfortable when playing with peers of the other physical sex, or may cross-dress from time to time.
Some children may be unhappy about their own biological sex and wish to belong to the other one; some adolescents may experience a crisis over a problem of sexual orientation. These situations may lead to considerable concern and distress for all those involved.
At school, a child or teenager with a gender identity issue may come in for a great deal of bullying, mickey-taking, name-calling, or even physical attacks. The child or teenager may have great difficulty in responding appropriately. However, the education of people about Gender Identity Issues in the school environment is very important in dealing with these problems.
Many adults with gender identity issues describe difficulties in childhood. Often they complain of having been very unhappy teenagers, and that their suffering had not been recognised early enough by parents and professionals. If this suffering can be recognised early in life, then with the right help, support and treatment young people can be helped to tolerate living in these distressing conditions until, having found a solution to the identity conflict, they approach a happier and less traumatic adulthood.
Gender Identity
Gender Identity is the sense of belief that "I am male," or "I am female." A child becomes aware of its gender identity before or around the age of five years. In most people their gender identity is the same as their sex, i.e. a woman or girl feels she is female and a man or boy feels he is male, but in a few people their gender identity and their sex do not match, and this can cause problems.
Gender Role
Gender role can be defined as the way someone behaves in terms of ‘maleness’ or ‘femaleness’ and the role they take in society. Gender role is variable, valuable and dependant on the cultural values of a society.
Sexual Orientation
Sexual orientation is separate from gender identity - it is simply whether one is attracted sexually to men, women, both or neither
Mermaids recognises that awareness of gender identity issues at an early age should be promoted, and help provided to families or individuals in order to alleviate any problems that might arise. It is often helpful to talk to others who have gone through, or are going through, similar problems to, one’s own. Contact with others, whether it is by telephone, letter, or in person, can alleviate the feelings of loneliness and alienation that can arise. Discovering that one is not alone can bring strength and understanding. to very difficult situations.
To contact them in the first instance write to:-
The
Mermaids Support Group
BM Mermaids
London
WC1N 3XX
(an SAE would be appreciated)
Support group for transsexuals and transvestites based in the south of England. They hold meetings in the Reading, Newbury, and Basingstoke area. It aims to hold meetings at least monthly on Saturday nights and runs formal dinners twice a year. To contact them write to:-
The
Seahorse Society
BM Seahorse
London
WC1N 3XX
or e-mail:- Seahorse.Society@btinternet.com
A campaigning organisation looking for equal rights for transsexuals.
To contact them write to:-
Press For
Change
BM Network
London
WC1N 3XX
or e-mail letters@pfg.org.uk
A group based in London that holds weekly events and publish the "Tranny Guide". Run by Vikki Lee.
To find out more about the Way Out Group take a look at their web site at
http://www.wayout-publishing.com
A group based in, as the name might suggest, Essex. The group leader is Stacy Novak and for more information you can contact them on 01268 583761
To Contact Northern Concord write to:
The
Northern Concord,
P.O. Box 258,
Manchester,
M60 1LN,
England
or E-mail JennyB@northernconcord.org.uk
The Northern Concord is a completely voluntary organisation
The Liverpool TV/TS Group has been running for many years at various venues, they currently meets at:
36,
Bolton Road
Liverpool
L3 5SX
The venue is opposite the Adelphi Hotel, near the taxi rank.
Meetings are every Friday night from 7pm through to 11pm. Excellent changing facilities. Tea, coffee, soft drinks and light refreshments available. If you'er attending for the fist time ask for Allison or Lynn, and they will make you feel welcome.
The group operate a helpline / information line 0151 709 4745 on Friday nights between the hours of 7pm until 10pm if you want to ring first.