RMTSK

Jennifer Paul

I am Jennifer and I am one of the founding members of TSK. I like many cross-dressers didn't give full expression to the feminine side of my male self till I was in my late 40's. Like other cross-dressers I started sneaking and putting on my older sister's clothes at an early age but these urges were very secret and very hidden and I grew up being very much male. I lettered in high school sports and people who know only my male side I feel would have no idea that that this part of my life is possible. But when one gets to middle age, many cross-dressers realize that our feelings for feminine expression are not going away and life is getting shorter, so if one is going to explore this side of themselves, it should be done sooner than later. I have now been actively expressing my cross-dressing for 15 years now.

I have been on the board of TSK since its inception, first as secretary and now webmistress. I am married and my wife is supportive of my cross-dressing. We have two grown children and grand children. I have a doctorate in the social sciences and am professionally employed.

In my male mode, I fish, hunt, and camp whenever I can. Photography is a major interest. As Jennifer I have been out in public dressed as a woman to restaurants, to the theatre and shopping. I feel that my female expression is an important part of my life and feel blessed that my spouse understands this; however, my cross-dressing amounts to only a relatively small percentage of my everyday life.

When I first began revealing my desire to dress as a woman to my wife, like it is with so many cross-dressers, it was through dressing up for Halloween. After the second Halloween and an excited anticipation my wife began to wonder about my desire and this led to many discussions. Like many spouses, when cross-dressing is first revealed, she wondered if I might be gay or if this cross-dressing would lead to something more significant. Now after years of living this duality together, my wife understands that my cross-dressing is an essential part of my life but it is not my whole life. She has my male side and she now looks at and understands that my Jennifer side is a creative expression of one part of my personality.

I feel that cross-dressing is one inherent aspect of the human condition and as such needs to be more tolerated if not totally accepted by society. However, I also feel that cross-dressers have a responsibility to project both a positive image and behavior, both for the benefit of their fellow sisters in this condition of life and for the society that can benefit from the creative and happy expression of one natural aspect of the human condition.