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The monthly e-magazine of the River City Gems
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January 2010
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Join Our Email List!
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In Loving Memory
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It is with deep sadness that we mourn the loss of our beloved sister
Kathryn Williams, who passed away on January 5th, 2010. Kat was a dear friend and a
true Gem. She will always have a special place in our hearts and our thoughts. |
We are pleased to welcome new members Jennifer S. and Bill H.to our River City Gems family!
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Join Us!
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Support the River City Gems by becoming a member today! As a member, you'll be entitled to a $5 discount on the door fee at all Gems events. You'll also receive a membership card, library
privileges, an entry in each month's member drawing, and even a
special card and cupcake in the month of your birthday! Most importantly, your support will enable us to continue serving the
needs of our community through social events, education, and outreach. You can join or renew your membership at any Gems event or online. |
TGSF Cotillion 2010
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TGSF Cotillion is coming to the South San Francisco Conference Center on February 6, 2010. Visit www.tgsf.org for more information and to buy tickets online. To request seating with the River City Gems, fill in the "Group Name" box and choose silver or gold level tickets. See you there!
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Greetings!
Happy New Year from the River City Gems! If you weren't able to celebrate the holidays with us at our December Social and New Years' Eve Party, you can still read about all the fun we had, thanks to our reporters Tilda A. and Rachel M. As one of this month's features, we are pleased to bring you an interview with Kathy Randall, founder of "Light in the Closet" ministry, a resource for those seeking to understand their gender identity within a Christian context. Also in this issue: Andi R. spins a tale of adventure in "Girls' Sojourn in Vegas," and Carollyn Olson takes you behind the scenes of her recent professional photo shoot. Plus, Rebecca H. shares her personal answer to the question "What Does It Mean to Be A Woman?" Our guest author for January is Vanessa Law, who discusses the struggle for self-acceptance in "Are You Ashamed to Be A Crossdresser?" We hope you enjoy the January issue of Facets. As always, we love to hear your feedback....just drop us a line at facets@rivercitygems.org. Warmly, Marla Morley Editor |
Holiday Cheer for All at Gems December Social
by Tilda A.
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A Sacramento area hotel banquet room became Holiday Central for the Gems on Saturday,
December 12! Those dreaming of a wet Christmas were not entirely disappointed as
there was a bit of light drizzle on and off throughout the evening. Not indoors,
though, where the halls were decked with boughs of holly, and although chestnuts
were not really roasting on an open fire, there was an open bar, or more
accurately, the bar was open, which helped to provide that extra measure of
warmth and Yuletide cheer that made the evening special.
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Gems Ring in 2010 at New Year's Eve Party by Rachel M.
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By 2010 we were supposed to have people living on the moon,
flying cars, jet packs, and a 30 hour work week.... Oh well, look
on the bright side, we do have the River City Gems!
On a chilly Thursday, December 31st , the River City Gems celebrated
the arrival of 2010 - and there was not a silver jumpsuit to be
seen. There were, however, 41 wonderfully dressed Gems
members and friends.
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An Interview with Kathy Randall by Marla M.
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 Kathy Randall is the founder of Light in the Closet, a
Christian ministry serving those struggling with gender identity.
Kathy resides in the Bay Area and is active in the transgender
community both locally and nationally.
Marla: What is Light in the Closet?
Kathy: The ministry "Light in the Closet" was
designed primarily for Christian men who are trying to reconcile
their faith and their need to crossdress. Many of these men
know little or nothing about being transgender, or about the
resources and fellowship available to them in the transgender
community. The Light in the Closet website attempts to provide relevant information, and
helpful links. The information and the articles posted are designed to help them
understand who they are before God based on a Biblical perspective, and
encourages them not to give up on their faith when they need it most.
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Girls' Sojourn in Las Vegas by Andi R.
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For many of us, the chance to climb on an airplane en femme is a dream we thought
would never happen, but it can! And, it isn't all that hard to do.
Recently, my friend Leann and I did exactly that, when we met my sister, Heidi,
for a couple of days in Las Vegas. We found Las Vegas friendly and
accommodating. The three of us had a fabulous time and hope to do it again
soon.
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What Does It Mean to Be A Woman? by Rebecca H.
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Having lived the first 38 years of my life pretending to be a man, I
have found being a woman to be.... liberating. Not only on a
personal level, as I am finally able to just relax and be myself,
the real me, but I also find that I am free of most of the social
limitations imposed on men.
No longer do I have to hide my fear of
spiders, snakes, or the dark. No longer do I have to worry that
asking for help (or directions) will get me labeled a sissy. No
longer do I have to be cautious about talking to women I don't know
when I'm out and about, for fear that they will think I'm
potentially dangerous to them. No longer do I have to hide my
feelings, my love of life, my passion, my femininity. No longer do I
have to be ashamed of caring about my appearance. No longer do I
have to not seek support for the things that are troubling me. No
longer do I have to walk around, like a shell of a person, hiding
the passion inside of me, the music and laughter and dance that is
constantly trying to spill forth!
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Tricks of the Trade by Carollyn Olson
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 A Professional Photo Shoot
Valentines Day is just around the corner, and what would be a nicer
gift for your loved one(s) than a professional portrait or a
sizzling boudoir photo?
I've been fortunate to have two photo shoots recently with
Sacramento area photographer Kelly Swafford and the results have
been amazing. Thus, a "shameless plug" for Kelly and her talent.
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Are You Ashamed to Be A Crossdresser? by Vanessa Law
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Vanessa Law is a happily married 30 year old transgendered woman
from Seattle. It's been a long road to acceptance for her, despite the
fact that she has been crossdressing for more than 25 years. This
article is reprinted with permission from Vanessa's website,
Crossdresser Heaven,
where you can find more of her writings along with resources, support,
and advice.
I spent much of my life believing that crossdressing was a curse, or worse - a sin
I needed constant forgiveness for. Society and religion had convinced me that I
was doing something wrong. If only I had enough will power, or enough faith, or
a mastery of my emotional triggers - then I would be free of crossdressing. I
was wrong for doing it, and I was weak for continuing. As much as I accomplished
in my life I could never conquer crossdressing. I felt powerless, until I
realized that I did have the power.
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The River City Gems is a nonprofit organization with a mission
to improve the lives of transgender individuals and their
families by providing education, resources, peer support, social
networking opportunities, outreach programs, and services
focused on the specific needs of the male-to-female transgender
community. Contributions are fully tax deductible under section 501(c)(3)
of the IRS code.
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www.rivercitygems.org | info@rivercitygems.org | facets@rivercitygems.org
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