Joining Seahorse FAQ

Frequently Asked Questions about joining Seahorse

Prospective members may have a number of concerns about the process of joining the Seahorse Society as a member and may lead them to postpone or avoid joining. Hopefully, this FAQ will reduce those concerns or those of their partners.

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1. How private is Seahorse?

   Your most obvious concern may be privacy and confidentiality. We understand the need for complete confidentiality and the need to protect one's private information and identity given the very nature of being a cross-dresser.
   
   Only committee members have access to your personal information and are strictly bound by the rules of the Seahorse Society of NSW to never divulge your personal information (such as your male name, your address or occupation) to anyone, including fellow members. All members are bound by this rule.
   
   We have a privacy statement available here, as well as the Society's Rules.
   
   

2. I have applied for membership, but I have not heard anything yet.

   Sorry about that. We are a small organisation run by volunteers on a part-time basis. The Membership Secretary, Susan, may be absent for a few days.
   
   If you have applied on-line, the webmistress (Christine Parker) will have a record of your application and can be contacted. She may be able to expedite your application. Use contact page to contact either Susan or Christine.
   
   Typically, it may take one to two weeks to organise the induction interview. You have probably waited years to do this, so waiting another week or two is nothing in the scheme of things.
   
   

3. This induction interview sounds a bit scary... Why do I need to have an interview? Do I have to be cross-dressed for it?

   We can understand why you may be anxious, but it is not scary, just an informal chat to get an idea that you are suitable to join (most applicants are) and for us to explain the function of the Society.
   
   We also have the interview to be able to exclude persons who may be completely unsuitable for Seahorse.
   
   Your area's Big Sister will contact you discretely and organise a time and place to meet. We recommend this be in male-mode in a public venue, such as a cafe, rather than in the home of the applicant or Big Sister.
   
   In many cases, a phone interview with our Membership Secretary, Susan, is all that is required.

4. Once I have joined, do I get a membership number or something?

   In the immortal words of Homer Simpson when he joined The Sacred Order of the Stonecutters:

   "These people look deep within my soul and assign me a number based on the order in which I joined."

   We do the same.
   
   

5. So where are your monthly social meetings held?

   We do not divulge the exact location until you have been accepted as a member. Suffice to say that it is in a discrete hired hall just north of Parramatta River.
   
   

6. Does it cost anything to go to a meeting?

   The entrance fee is just $7.00 for members and guests. There is no charge for partners. The fee helps cover the rent and allows us to provide some food, such as pizza or Chinese take-away.
   
   

7. Look, I'm nervous about coming to my first meeting and wearing female clothes in front of others.

   That is OK. Many first time members come along in male clothes for the first meeting. You will be welcomed warmly no matter how you are dressed. Those that do come to their first meeting dressed as a male, often regret that they did not come along dressed as a woman, and usually we do so at subsequent meetings.

   If you do come along dressed as a woman, no one will criticise your style of dress (unless it is inappropriate) or make-up skills.
   
   

8. I would love to travel to the meeting enfemme, but it is not practical for me to do that.

   No problem. That is an issue for some of our members, especially with Daylight Saving Time making it difficult to exit your residence. We have changing facilities available if you cannot dress at home and travel to the meetings.
   
   

9. My partner is concerned that the meeting will turn into a bit of an orgy!

   Definitely not! Overtly sexual behaviour or propositioning members is not acceptable. A nice chat over a cup of coffee or tea and a cake, a fashion parade, a trivia quiz or the like, is more likely what happens. Our members are said to be more like CWA ladies rather than orgy goers.
   
   

10. Can my wife/girlfriend/partner/family member(s) attend?

    Most certainly! There are usually quite a few partners attending each meeting.
    
    

11. How many members attend the Social meetings?

    This varies, but of recent times it has not been unusual for 30-35, sometimes more than 40, members, partners and guests to attend.
    
    

12. So, what happens at the Social meetings?

    Mainly it is a chance to relax and have fun, to catch up and socialise with fellow cross-dressers, and to meet and greet new members. We often have theme nights, including fashion parades, trash & treasure nights, visits from supportive commercial companies, and occasionally guest speakers. The attending committee members let everyone know about upcoming events and what is happening within the Seahorse Society.
    
    

13. Are transsexuals or gay cross-dressers allowed to join Seahorse?

    There was a time, many years ago, that transsexuals were specifically disallowed from being members. However, this rule was dropped a long time ago and they are now warmly welcomed as members. A small, but significant proportion of our members have transitioned to living full-time as women and several are post-operative transsexuals. While the majority of our members are heterosexual, gay cross-dressers are also welcome.

14. 25 possible reasons (real and fanciful) not to attend a Seahorse meeting

    Can be found here

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Related Pages

Members' Guidelines
Joining Seahorse
Our Aims