The Seahorse Ball 2008

Tonight was the night, and after an eventless drive to Sydney, I took my time in the hotel room to get ready for the ball.

I was ready for the ball early, and received a few messages from “Wendy” about my ticket, so I jumped in a taxi and headed for the Sydney Airport Mercure. A few minutes later and I was standing in the lobby, looking and feeling somewhat apprehensive about the night. Wendy thankfully was not far away in the lobby bar, so I went and got a drink as well as the tickets. I couldn’t see any faces that I recognised, but Wendy made sure to introduce me to all the people she knew there.

The glass of bubbly did little to change my feelings.

A short while later Wendy indicated that everyone should go through, so I finished my drink and followed.

My first impressions as I walked through the lobby were being confirmed as I walked to the entrance of the Ball. I was horrified and intimidated (if that’s a good word to choose) by what I saw… This was a ball, a dinner, an event, for men in dresses, drag queens, and not for transsexuals, transvestites. I saw men of all different ages dressed in dresses from the sublime to the ridiculous, intermingled with family members and the odd person that was really trying to be like a woman in appearance. There were a couple of very larger than life drag queens with huge hair, mingling, and there was me, trying to be as feminine as possible feeling like a fish out of water. Who were all these people?

After a couple of quick pre-dinner drinks I was feeling a little more relaxed, and had the attitude, “Hey, I’m here, I should just enjoy myself”. Whilst waiting I was looking for “Clare” whom I had spoken with on many occasions in the last week and hoped that she’d look as she did in her photo.

Joy of joys I spotted Clare in the crowd heading in my direction at about the same time as she spotted me. She had a couple of friends in tow, all (bar one) looking more like I was expecting, men trying to pass themselves off as women (and making a damn good job of it). My night started to settle and I knew I was going to have fun.

Clare introduced me to a few people, and I must admit I can only remember the names of her and Sara, both of which are from Canberra, both fantastic people by my reckoning.

The night was long, and involved some dancing (I don’t do dancing, but Clare ensured that I had a go).

After the ball we migrated to the bar, and some like Clare got changed. It was a very late night with much fun had by all.

Note: Upon reflection, my horrified reaction and my disappointment at the number of men in dresses were self centered unfounded.  I assumed that everyone would be like me, and the only major difference being some would be on hormones, and some not.  Of course I’m completely wrong, the Seahorse Society is for Cross Dressers and transgendered people, and it seems  a lot of fully transitioned transgendered people leave the society.  Of course that’s my speculation and it could be that the transitioned people don’t attend the functions as much because they like me are happy to wander in public as their preferred gender, so they don’t feel the need to get dressed up.  All that said I’m looking forward to going to the Christmas Party then to the Ball next year with some of my new found friends.

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