The Society for the Second Self, Inc., (Tri-Ess, or "The Society") is the international, nonprofit, volunteer organization that provides accurate informational and educational resources about Crossdressing and Crossdressers for the purpose of promoting understanding, acceptance, tolerance, and a constructive public and self-image. The Society seeks to identify and meet the needs of both the Crossdresser, most often a heterosexual male, and "her" wife or other female partner in a committed relationship with the Crossdresser. Our informational and support activities often also extend to the parents, children, or family members and friends of the Crossdresser.
As an all volunteer organization, our products, programs, activities, services, and assistance are provided with understanding in a knowledgeable manner that demonstrates a personal interest and a caring concern. The Tri-Ess educational and informational resources are also made available to educators, researchers, mental and physical health care professionals, employers, clergy, law enforcement, and public officials, venders, and the general public. The Society supports, participates in, and sponsors academic research on the subject of Crossdressing.
Crossdressers are blessed with an additional facet to our personalities. As we accept our dual, masculine-and-feminine, “bi-gendered” gift, and seek to understand and explore it, the result is a very fulfilling broadening of our entire personality. The act of crossdressing is associated with several behaviors, each with different motivations. For the “Crossdresser,” our occasional adoption of a complete feminine persona and total gender role presentation is an outward personal expression of our inner feminine feelings. We dress appropriately in emulation, rather than in mockery, of femininity. This is about gender expression, not sexual preferences and orientations. We cultivate our complete feminine image, with lingerie, makeup, wig, padding for breasts and hips, as well as the feminine clothing, shoes, and accessories, and even a femme name. Crossdressers are found in every society. It is unfortunate that men dressing and behaving as ladies, for personal expression, remains a misunderstood phenomenon in many modern cultures.
The Tri-Ess philosophy, as articulated by Jane Ellen Fairfax, the current Chair of the Society’s board of Directors, can be expressed in the acronym, F I B E R:
F - Full personality expression, in a blending of both our masculine and feminine characteristics. We do not wish to destroy our masculinity, but to soften its harsher aspects and be all we can be.
I - Integration of our masculinity and femininity to create a happier, more complete, person, as we use our enhanced understanding of ourselves in our daily lives.
B - Balance between masculinity and femininity in our total personalities.
E - Education of Crossdressers toward self-acceptance, education of our families toward understanding, education of society toward the acceptance of Crossdressers as ordinary people with a special gender gift.
R - Relationship-building in the context of crossdressing.
Based upon these FIBER concepts, the Society uses all available resources to achieve its purpose. Tri-Ess’ charitable, educational and literary activities include, but are not limited to, the following:
1. - The Society publishes a well respected, professional quality, quarterly magazine, the Tri-Ess Femme Mirror. The Mirror covers crossdressing from every conceivable angle. Stories of emergence, interesting experiences, activities and events within the gender community, timely wardrobe and fashion information, articles by wives, “ho-to” self-improvement articles, news from Tri-Ess Chapters, treatises on crossgender expression and the law, articles on religion, and scholarly articles and professional research about the “why’s of crossdressing” - are all available in the Femme Mirror, along with photos, poetry and even cartoons - and all in good taste.
2. - Through its Spouses’ and Partners’ Support function, directed by Peggy Rudd, Ed.D, wife of a Crossdresser, noted author of three books dealing with relationship issues involving Crossdressers, and organizer of ‘Dignity Cruises,’ Tri-Ess publishes the Sweetheart Connection, the only quarterly newsletter by wives of Crossdressers, for wives of Crossdressers.
3. - The Tri-Ess Membership Directory and its regularly updated supplements, features profiles and pictures (optional). Most Crossdressers have often felt alone, and may live far from any Tri-Ess Chapter, or other support group. To meet another sister through correspondence can be a very rewarding experience.
4. - The Tri-Ess “Pen Pal Program” matches a Crossdresser desiring to correspond with a volunteer who recognizes her fears, loneliness and concerns. Correspondence provides opportunities to discuss our deepest feelings and experiences with others who share them. The Society provides a free, coded, “Mail Forwarding Service” that allows Crossdressers to correspond while protecting personal security.
5. - The Society also creates, publishes and distributes a variety of booklets, brochures and pamphlets on Crossdressing. An ongoing project is the translating of much of our literature into foreign languages. In addition to English, currently Tri-Ess materials are available in Portuguese, German and Spanish, and another sister has offered to translate our materials into French.
6. - Tri-Ess sponsors and provides the leadership resources for about 30 Tri-Ess Chapters in the United States and Canada. These Tri-Ess affiliated groups of Crossdressers, including many wives, support the aims of the Society on a local basis. Chapter meetings are held regularly to provide opportunities for Crossdressers to practice and improve their feminine gender presentation skills. The Tri-Ess Chapter meetings also serve as social gatherings where members can enjoy informative, educational, “ho-to” programs and the company of others like themselves. Some Chapters meet in hotels; other in members’ homes or at sympathetic churches, businesses or restaurants, but always in a safe ,k secure, non-threatening social and educational environment. Our wives never feel unwelcome or out-of-place. Most Chapter meetings are crossdressing occasions and many Chapters also have additional non-crossdressing meetings and activities that serve as an excellent way to bring out timid new Crossdressers and apprehensive wives.
7. - Each November, since 1979, The Society sponsors a national convention and conference for Crossdressers and our supporters that we have named The Tri-Ess Holidy En Femme.. Holiday participants meet new friends and attend a wide range of educational seminars and workshops featuring recognized professionals and community leaders. They enjoy shopping and dining outings, and generally have fun “e femme” while learning more about crossdressing. Holidays are held around North America in cities where there are Tri-Ess Chapters.
8. - Tri-Ess also established and presents the annual Spouses’ and Partners’ International Conference for Education. “S.P.I.C.E.” is the only event in the gender community designed to address crossdressing issues for wives and partners. While their Crossdressers attend this non-crossdressing event, the focus on the conference is on wives and other females involved in committed relationships with Crossdressers. The professionally prepared and presented programs deal with crossdressing topics from the wives’ prospective and are designed to overcome fears, provide current information, promote an understanding, enhance communications and strengthen family relationships. S.P.I.C.E. also moves around the country, in order to reach more people.
9. - Tri-Ess serves as an effective voice of advocacy for Crossdressers and their families. In recent years we have shared a community outreach booth at conventions of various helping professionals. We support the Intonation Conference on Transgender Law and Employment Policy (ICTLEP) and the ITA and GenderPAC lobbying efforts. Tri-Ess leaders have appeared on radio and television talk shows informing the audiences about crossdressing. Tri-Ess Chapter members participate in educational outreach by speaking to many helpline volunteers, police departments and university classes. Many local Tri-Ess Chapters also support a variety of charitable causes, including local food banks, spousal abuse, and family crisis centers and breast cancer research.
10. - Tri-Ess is a supporter of the International Foundation for Gender Education (IFGE), the umbrella organization for all categories of the transgendered. Some of the IFGE Board of Directors are also Tri-Ess leaders. The Society has a long history of supporting and working for cooperation, tolerance and understanding within a community of diversity.
11. - For the emerging Crossdresser, the Tri-Ess “Big Sister Program” offers personalized support and assistance. A volunteer Big Sister, through correspondence and personal visits, when possible, helps the Little Sister in ways ranging from finding wigs, makeup, and the right feminine clothing and shoes, to attending her first Chapter meeting, or going out to restaurants or clubs.
12. - The Society has an expanding presence in cyberspace. Tri-Ess International and several Tri-Ess chapters have established home pages, thus expanding access to information and our educational outreach worldwide. Last year Tri-Ess launched an on-line forum for wives and partners of crossdressers. Subscription is free, and is limited to genetic females only. It has been hugely successful, providing a safe space in which our wives and partners can share their experiences and receive the support of our peers. Our most recent project is an on-line forum for crossdressers.; Subscription is free, and comes with your Tri-Ess membership. It’s a great way to meet and chat with your sisters on-line, and receive the same sort of peer support enjoyed by the ladies on our forum.
13. - Through the Tri-Ess Library Project, the Society places a set of books dealing positively with Crossdressing in public and institutional libraries.
14. - The Society’s Board of Directors has designated specific funds to assist in financing professional, academic research involving Crossdressers as ordinary people. The al volunteer Board of Directors of The Society for the Second Self, Inc., continually evaluates these and other program opportunities in order to ensure that Tri-Ess provides the Crossdresser, whether novice or experienced, and her family with the finest, appropriate, resources designed to meet their needs. The Society for the Second self, Inc., is recognized by the Internal Revenue Service as a publicly supported tax exempt, Section 501(c)3, educational, literary and charitable organization described in Section 509(a)(1) of the Internal Revenue Code (the “Code”). Contributions to The Society are tax deductible to the donor under Section 170 of the Code. Please consult your tax advisor. A copy of the IRS determination letter will be furnished to potential donors upon written request addressed to the Secretary.
If you would like more information about Tri-Ess, crossdressers and crossdressing, or if you would like to join in supporting our work, please write us:
THE SOCIETY FOR THE SECOND SELF, INC.
8880 Belaire Blvd., B2, Suite 104
Houston, Texas 77036-4621
Telephone: 713-349-8969
E-Mail: TRIESSINFO@aol.com
Tri-ess