The Seahorse Society

by Leslie, Seahorse Society President

(The Gender Centre advise that this article may not be current and as such certain content, including but not limited to persons, contact details and dates may not apply. Where legal authority or medical related matters are cited, responsibility lies with the reader to obtain the most current relevant legal authority and/or medical publication.)

Seahorse still believe that one of its main functions is as a "first-step-out" for those with enhanced gender feelings.

Although many, if not most, of the readers of Polare will have heard of the Seahorse Society, it is apparent that there are a number of misconceptions about Seahorse. Rather than try and address the various ideas that are about, let me just give you a brief run-down on the history of Seahorse, and where we are today.

The moves to form an association for heterosexual transvestites began in 1969, and culminated in the formation of the Seahorse Club in 1971. The early meetings were held in the members' homes and at restaurants. By advertising in the newspapers, Australia Wide, and by appearing on the television, the club was large enough by 1976 to hold a conference which took place in New­port, on Sydney's Northern Beaches. A second conference was held the following year. These were basically three day events, and by all accounts were quite successful

Soon after this, there developed a schism in the club, probably caused by distance and personality clashes and the various states set up their own clubs. When I joined Seahorse in the early eighties, the term heterosexual transvestite was still being used, although there were at least three members who had undergone, or were undergoing, hormone therapy and S.R.S.

By the late eighties, it was apparent that it was inappropriate for the club to maintain such a strict limitation on member­ship, but as in all associations the need to change the underlying philosophy has to be member-driven, and it took a couple of years of reasoning, plus a talk from a solicitor attached to the Redfern Legal Service, before we could adapt.

At the same time, a decision was made to incorporate the club and in 1990 it become the Seahorse Society of N.S.W., Inc. And at the same time the requirements to be specifi­cally anything were dropped and Seahorse welcomed anyone with enhanced gender feelings. However, it would be fair to say that Seahorse still believe that one of its main functions is as a "first-step-out" for those with enhanced gender feelings. And as such we welcome anyone, whether they wish to dress infrequently in clothes of the opposite gender, live full-time in the same way, who are on hormone therapy, or who have identified as transsexual or intersex.

In our membership application form there is no requirement for anyone to state their sexuality, or their genetic intentions. We do, however, ask our members and their quests to behave in a manner which wouldn't cause offence to anyone, member, partner or guest, so that those just coming out into the community, who very often have a partner who has pre-conceived ideas about the situation, find that the meetings are very low-key indeed.

We have had a couple of recent inci­dents where persons who have obvi­ously identified themselves closely with a specific group, have made the com­ment that, "They're just men wearing dresses!". I find it ironic that these same people will no doubt insist on total acquiescence of their own life­style. We cannot force individuals to hold specific views, but the committee of Seahorse is trying to reduce the "pigeonholing" of people, and to work in a complementary way with the Gender Centre.

Our meetings are held on the last Friday of each month, except for December, which is the second Friday and may be completely social, or we may have a presentation of clothes, or shoes, or make-up etc. There is no alcohol supplied at the meetings, and members are not encouraged to bring any, because we would require a liquor license. So we make do with tea, coffee and soft drinks, and some small nibbly things to eat. The evening runs from 7:30pm to close to midnight, and there is a $5.00 meeting fee to cover the cost of hall hire and catering.

Each month we also have a restaurant night, where those members who wish to come along can do so. We try and vary the restaurants, although if we find one we like we do make return visits. Again we try and keep the cost down to about $25.00 for two courses and most of the time, we succeed.

If any member of the community feels that they might enjoy coming along to either of these meetings just call our phone line, on 9807 7395 and have a chat.

Shortly with the agreement of the Gender Centre Manage­ment Committee, we will put up a poster bringing Seahorse to your notice.

Polare is published in Australia by The Gender Centre Inc. which is funded by the Department of Community Services under the S.A.A.P. Program and supported by the N.S.W. Health Department through the AIDS and Infectious Diseases Branch. Polare provides a forum for discussion and debate on gender issues. Advertisers are advised that all advertising is their responsibility under the Trade Practices Act. Unsolicited contributions are welcome, though no guarantee is made by the Editor that they will be published, nor any discussion entered into. The editor reserves the right to edit such contributions without notification. Any submission which appears in Polare may be published on our internet site. Opinions expressed in this publication do not necessarily reflect those of the Editor, The Gender Centre Inc.I, the Department of Community Services or the N.S.W. Department of Health.