This file contains information on “transvestites (TV)” and “transsexuals (TS)” collected by the Befriending Team.

It contains information about various groups, and includes zines, newsletters and other publications from groups across the UK including: Tweenie – an independent TV/TS magazine (Essex); The Tartan Skirt – newsletter of the Scottish TV/TS group; Transessex – Essex tv/ts group; Transvesta – information bureau of benefit to transvestites and transsexuals; and Gemini – a magazine for transsexuals and transvestites.

Also includes correspondence from the Befriending Team requesting to be put on mailing lists and requesting further information from relevant groups.

There are personal accounts from people who self-identified as either “transsexual” or “transvestite”, as well as publications, information sheets, or conference and workshop details, relating to “transvestism” and “transsexualism”.

Please note that there is outdated and offensive language used within this file and potentially upsetting material.

“Transvestite” is a historical term used to describe individuals who wear clothes associated with a gender other than their gender assigned at birth. This is generally considered to be a derogatory term and has been used here in a historical context.

Individuals who wear clothes stereotypical to or associated with a gender other than their predominantly-identified gender may describe themselves as crossdressers but this is only used to describe individuals who self-identify as such.

Transsexual may also be considered an outdated term, although it is still used by some individuals. Transsexualism is described as: an individual's identification with a gender inconsistent with or not culturally associated with their assigned sex.