Renaissance News & Views

Renaissance News & Views (initially simply Renaissance News) is the monthly publication/newsletter of the Renaissance Education Association. Renaissance is a non-profit organization which "has the purpose of providing information about transgendered behavior to the general public and professional counsellors. It also provides peer counselling and outreach services"^[1] It was a 501(c) organization. The first issue was published in August 1987. The last one was published in December 1995.^[2]

Both Renaissance News & Views and its parent organization, Renaissance Education Association, were based out of King of Prussia, Pennsylvania, and catered largely to the Greater Philadelphia Area. It also had chapters in Wilmington, Delaware and the Jersey Shore. At the end of its publication, its Editor-in-Chief was Angela Gardner, who appears to have been involved with the newsletter from its start. It was published by Creative Design Services, an organization which provides resources for Trans women and Cross dressers.

The newsletter consists of news, advice, and event information for Transgender, Gender-nonconforming, Transsexual and Cross-dressing folks who are Designated male at birth. There are few mentions of other kinds of Trans or Gender-nonconforming people, including Trans men or Nonbinary people. The publication, perhaps owing to its age, does not really make a difference between these communities. it does representSome of its contributors clearly still identify as male, whereas others seem to identify as female. In some cases, contributors appear to consider their "female" personas as separate from their regular ones, even when they are not actively involved in Drag.

Generally speaking, the newsletter (towards the end of its run) featured news articles, a "News Beat & Reminder" section written by the Editor-in-Chief, a Gossip column by JoAnn Roberts called "Hot Buzz", and a shopping advice column by Jessica Brandon entitled "Shopping with Jessica." It tended to feature information about access to Sex reassignment surgery, Laser hair removal, Breast prostheses and other resources commonly used for Trans women to pass as female, or not be "read" as male. The content of the newsletter was generally fairly a-political.

Through the newsletter, readers could also access "Background Papers," which were specific pamphlets on trans issues, such as "Myths & Misconceptions about Crossdressing," "PARTNERS: Spouses & Significant Others," and "The Matter of Children." Additionally, Renaissance Education Association also provided access to "significant other support" (for significant others of trans women and/or crossdressers), a Pen pal program, and the "TransParent" forum for trans women/crossdressers who have children. Renaissance Education Association also organized regular holiday parties, as well as various gatherings to allow its members a chance to engage with their community and a safe space to present their gender in the way they chose. It also held a yearly HIV/AIDS benefit ball.

The icon of the newsletter was the Mona Lisa, perhaps due to the rumors that the Mona Lisa was Leonardo da Vinci in drag.

All of the issues of the newsletter are available digitally through the digital transgender archive via the The Transgender Archives at the University of Victoriaa [external link] t the University Archives (Mearns Centre for Learning), in Victoria, British Columbia, Canada.

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