Well worth reading… “Economic realities lift gay rights” by a columnist for the San Francisco Chronicle. Here’s an except:

As you may have noticed, Ford Motor Co. made a hasty retreat this week from its announcement that it would stop advertising in gay and lesbian publications. It was a triumph for individual rights, fair treatment and a more tolerant social structure.

Uh, sure. If that’s how you want to see it. Personally, I’d say it had more to do with a simpler common denominator.

Money.

For all the dialogue about the social significance, for example, of the new gay-themed cowboy movie “Brokeback Mountain,’’ the real issue won’t be whether it breaks cinematic ground, but whether it breaks even on the balance sheet. It is amazing how brave and socially responsible folks can be when there’s a profit to be turned, and the greatest strides toward acceptance of gays and lesbians will come on the economic, not legal, front.


The columnist goes on to describe the example of how conservative Palm Springs was initially horrified by what’s been called “lesbian spring break” but quickly changed it’s mind once it realized the money it brought into town—and now the locals eagerly look forward to it each year and everyone gets along fine.

In other wordsis that greed is a good icebreaker for getting past biases, and from there personal interaction can help people realize that CDs may be different, but not “abnormal.” Unfortunately, most of us are far too closeted to make people aware of our buying power.

But there are a number of trannyfests (Southern Comfort, Eureka Springs, Esprit, etc.) as well as smaller things, like local transgender dinner outings, etc. The history of Esprit, which is held in a small town in Washington state, had a similar history from what I’ve read. The conference is one of the biggest money makers for local businesses so needless to say they’re more than happy to welcome would-be customers. But apparently, many of the locals have also grown to genuinely like the conference attendees.

So when I shop en femme, I always make it a point to send feedback to the company—so far all positive—so that they’re aware we’re here. Plus I do try to interact with the sales staff (a little small talk, etc.) so that they can see I’m a person too. Maybe a bit eccentric, but there are lots of eccentrics in this world.