Welcome to the July 2004 edition of The Tranny Tribune. As usual, please let me apologise if you have received this in error.

This issue, has been sent only to members of the Trannyweb Community. To receive it, you must be registered with us.

The most frequent reason for receiving The Trib by mistake is when friends or colleagues register you as a Trannyweb member as a prank.

This situation helps nobody. If this is not your thing, we urge you to unsubscribe using the instructions at the bottom of this page. You must follow the instructions carefully though, or you won't be removed from the list.

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We have two pieces of major news for our members in this issue. Firstly, we know that a large number of our girls are still in the closet, so to speak, with wives, families and friends who do not know about their other self and that's how they want it to stay.

So, we now have a new way that you can join Trannyweb anonymously - no credit cards needed! Of course you can still use a credit card if you wish but you can also now pay by phone.

Either charge it to your phone bill or pay by text from your mobile phone! Please click here for more info or see the panel below right.

Secondly, we have just opened our Trannyweb shop. We've called it TrannyStuff. There's more on that below. In this issue there's also a competition which will earn the winner a Sterling Silver Trannyweb Pendant.

Gloria Glover is organizing The Trannyweb Baltimore Blast (first weekend in Sept) which is a whole weekend of girly stuff (dressing, make-up, photos, shopping, entertainment and so on). There's more info below left.

This edition's Celebrity Interviewee is Vicky Lee, a legend in the tranny world and authoress of the famous Tranny Guide.

Hugs, Katie xxxx

Well I don't know about you but as a girl, I just love retail therapy!

In an effort to keep the wolf from the door, we have decided to have a go at running our very own Tranny Shop.

There are not many products yet but with your support, we will try to add more and more every week.

Currently you can buy our new unique Tranny Pendant from our new shop.

You can also buy copies of the latest edition of 'The Tranny Guide' which is a bible for all transgendered people right around the world, and we are also stocking the video version of the guide too. Why not buy both?

We also have some downloadable Tranny books which you can read instantly (no waiting around for delivery).

Dr Minako Sakrura's new digital book, 'Steppin' Out on a Saturday Night' can also be downloaded from the store.

And remember, Trannyweb Full Members are entitled to a 10% discount on everything they buy!

To check out the TrannyStuff store please go to:

http://www.trannystuff.com

THE TRANNY TRIB CELEBRITY INTERVIEW

Although not a regular, Katie has been a visitor to The Wayout Club in London, England, since around 1997. So she was thrilled to have the opportunity to interview one of the founders - Vicky Lee...

TT: How did you become involved in the Tranny community?

VL: I have always cross-dressed since I can remember. I started mixing on the London tranny scene in the 1980s. I was a regular weekender at The Philbeach Hotel . I would stay Friday to Sunday and OD on the tranny scene.

TT: Did you ever think that you would one day be in charge of a tranny empire like Wayout?

VL: What I do on the scene has grown like a snowball rolling down a hill. I just take the opportunities as they come along. I don't consider it an Empire in fact I have recently rationalised and consolidated my activities as I have said yes a few too many times and like stretched rubber band I was about to snap.

TT: The Tranny Guide has become a 'must-have' bible for all trannies. What made you sit down and write it?

VL: In the pre internet 80s - To the point of boredom I was asked every time I met others on the scene "Where do you shop - Where else do you go" With a group of others we put into the form of a book all our knowledge. When we could see it on the page we saw gaps - waxing for example we knew very few and some were positively ant tranny. We researched and encouraged to add to our book.

TT: The Tranny Guide is now in its 12th edition and each year it's been totally re-written. How has it changed over the years since you published your first edition?

VL: The first edition only covered London and was in black and white and had 59 pages. Over the 12 editions it has gained international personal reports and listings, over 1000 pictures each issue, 336 pages (half in colour) and recently interactive personal profiles.

TT: Do your family and friends know of and/or approve of your lifestyle and business?

VL: I have a female partner who I have been with now for 30 years. Her family and my friends are my family and my support. All read my books and have visited my club. I hope to have all of them with me at The Transfandango Ball in London 30th October to celebrate my 50th birthday which is on the 21st. Through them I have many young people who are very supportive and loving who I am very close to. My blood family have known about my whole self for over 10 years my father died some 9 years ago I was blamed for his death. My mother sister and three nieces and nephews have subsequently cut me off and I have not seen them for four years.

TT: You've also been involved in tranny entertainment for many years with nightclubs, wine bars and restaurants. Tell us a little about those.

VL: I have earned a living as a DJ and been involved with promotions and theatre since school. I met Steffan Whitfield in the 80s and he offered me the opportunity to help promote a gay night at the Hippodrome Leicester Sq in London. After about 10 weeks we were offered a small venue and we formulated London's first weekly Saturday night out for transgender people and friends. Steffan asked me to perform in a show and for the first time I found that I could do something with no nerves (Vicky Lee had no stage fright).

TT: Without giving any trade secrets away, what's in the pipeline for the future?

VL: As I said previously personally I have rationalised and consolidated. I hope to improve my health and my work to life balance. I will be continuing with the annual Tranny Guide and of course the WayOut Club every Saturday. I aim to improve the web sites that support these two projects. I will be looking for good books Vids DVDs and CDs to promote and offer via my web shop.

TT: If you had your time over again what would you do differently?

VL: Nothing - everything has made me what and who I am and that I am happy with. My life has led me to meet the wonderful people that make my life so special. Despite the problems with my family that I would never have wished for - I have NO regrets. However I do wish I had known my options in my teens so that I could have enjoyed it all from a younger (thinner) age. BUT then I would not be who and what I am my life would have led in a different direction.

TT: Are there any other projects you'd like to mention?

VL: I'm planning some new DVD/Vids - A "Best of WayOut Shows" compilation and a "Vicky Lee Story" with clips from my earliest experiences on stage. These projects are not date sensitive so they will happen when they happen.

Vicky's most famous publication, The Tranny Guide, is available from TrannyStuff -

Please click here now to get your copy