neopronounhaven

[neopronounhaven]

Happy 48th anniversary of this ey/em/eirs news article, as of Aug 23, 2023!

“Eir sentences would sound smoother since ey wouldn't clutter them with the old sexist pronouns. And if ey should trip up in the new usage, ey would only have emself to blame.”

~ Judie Black, August 23 1975, “Ey has a word for it,” in the Chicago Tribune, 1, page 12.

[neopronounhaven]

If you've got 5 minutes to spare, could I interest you in a short survey about titles? Everyone of any age, gender or location is invited, and it's open until at least Monday 14th August 2023.

You can see a spreadsheet of participation (including a little bit of demographic data) here.

Thank you!

[neopronounhaven]

How many pronouns should be in the pronoun checkbox list?

So, I'm working on generating the pronouns checkbox list for next year using the multiplier system.

The following options that are not actually pronoun sets have to be on the list:

I want people to frequently change the pronouns they use for me

My pronouns vary depending on specific conditions

Any

Avoid pronouns / use name as pronoun

A pronoun set not listed here

Questioning or unknown

For comparison, the identity checkbox list is 20 long, in two columns (10 per column), which seems to work. That looks like this:

This year's pronoun list was 15 long. It can't be over two columns because the options are a bit too long. On the same screen, 15 checkboxes look like this:

(Bear in mind the "preview" black bar at the top won't be there for everyone else!)

What do you think is a good length for a pronoun list in one column? Think: Plenty to choose from, but not so many that you have to scroll too much and can't easily find what you're looking for.

Feedback also tangentially welcome on the length of the list of pronouns or the list of identity terms in this year's survey!

[neopronounhaven]

Short survey for nonbinary people about NAMES

Please click here to participate! I will publish the results. Also please tell your nonbinary friends about it, let's get several hundred thousand participants so we can once and for all find out the quintessential Nonbinary Name™️

[neopronounhaven]

The 2023 Gender Census is now open!

[ Link to survey ]

The 10th annual international gender census, collecting information about the language we use to refer to ourselves and each other, is now open until 9th May 2023.

It’s short and easy, about 5 minutes probably.

After the survey is closed I’ll process the results and publish a spreadsheet of the data and a report summarising the main findings. Then anyone can use them for academic or business purposes, self-advocacy, tracking the popularity of language over time, and just feeling like we’re part of a huge and diverse community.

If you think you might have friends and followers who’d be interested, please do reblog this blog post, and share the survey URL by email or at AFK social groups or on other social networks. Every share is extremely helpful - it’s what helped us get 40,000 responses last year.

Survey URL: https://survey.gendercensus.com

The survey is open to anyone anywhere who speaks English and feels that the gender binary doesn’t fully describe their experience of themselves and their gender(s) or lack thereof.

For the curious, you can also spy on some graphs and demographic data for the incoming responses here.

Thank you so much!

[ Link to survey ]

Image credit: Avery at Tradescantia Hub

[neopronounhaven]

The 2023 Gender Census is now open!

[ Link to survey ]

The 10th annual international gender census, collecting information about the language we use to refer to ourselves and each other, is now open until 9th May 2023.

It’s short and easy, about 5 minutes probably.

After the survey is closed I’ll process the results and publish a spreadsheet of the data and a report summarising the main findings. Then anyone can use them for academic or business purposes, self-advocacy, tracking the popularity of language over time, and just feeling like we’re part of a huge and diverse community.

If you think you might have friends and followers who’d be interested, please do reblog this blog post, and share the survey URL by email or at AFK social groups or on other social networks. Every share is extremely helpful - it’s what helped us get 40,000 responses last year.

Survey URL: https://survey.gendercensus.com

The survey is open to anyone anywhere who speaks English and feels that the gender binary doesn’t fully describe their experience of themselves and their gender(s) or lack thereof.

For the curious, you can also spy on some graphs and demographic data for the incoming responses here.

Thank you so much!

[ Link to survey ]

Image credit: Avery at Tradescantia Hub

[neopronounhaven]

Do you ever read a fic so interesting you want behind the scenes lore, ten pinterest moodboards and one of those fancy .gif edits but none of that exists bc it's a fanfic?

[neopronounhaven]

I'm thinking that I might start putting this year's survey together in the next few days, which means pulling in Patreon pledges to fund the survey software etc. is imminent.

If you would like to contribute financially to this year's annual survey of everyone whose genders defy and transcend the limited binary model, please click here:

Thanks folks! :)

[neopronounhaven]

pronouns? oh actually i use amateurnouns im worried if i make a job out of it ill lose the enjoyment

[neopronounhaven]

I started a new remote job last week, and I'm the only genderqueer person at the company (and the first person who uses neo pronouns that anyone on my team has ever met, apparently).

So far:

Manager carefully wrote down spelling and pronunciation of my pronouns and told everyone on the team to respect them.

Coworker apologized privately for misgendering me (I hadn't told her yet) and said she will practice.

Guy on another team valiantly tried to use my pronouns and ended up saying something like zirzs-zhizz (I DM'd him and thanked him for trying and linked him to a practice site).

Teammate told me he has written out my pronouns and how to use them in a sentence and literally taped it to his monitor so he can practice.

Teammate also referred to me as compañere after I linked to a comic about gender-neutral endings in Spanish (whole team except me + 1 other person speaks Spanish as first language and they held all meetings in Spanish before the two of us started).

I am so stoked that people are actually trying. 💜🤍💚

[neopronounhaven]

by the way, the US trans survey goes online the 19th, and you can take it on their website! i highly recommend taking it if you are trans, over 16, and live in the united states!

[neopronounhaven]

TRANS PEOPLE.

The US is doing a trans survey which is being released on the 19th of October (12 days away).

A LOT of the statistics about trans people are from 2015. Between that time and now, I've seen an fucking EXPLOSION in the trans community.

It's important to have up-to-date and a large sample size of statistics, so sign up below to be notified when it drops:

[neopronounhaven]

i wish there was more it/its positivity that wasn't just "hell yeah look at you go funky little goblins/otherwordly beings/freaks/objects"

[neopronounhaven]

Go here to comment ^ reblog to help spread the word!

[neopronounhaven]

something i feel like queer ppl have been steadily forgetting over the last ten years or so is that “genderqueer” isn’t a specific nonbinary term, or even a synonym for nonbinary - it’s an umbrella term that encompasses nonbinariness and more. 

any flavour of trans (yes including “binary trans”)? you can call yourself genderqueer. fem, butch, androgynous, drag artist, crossdresser, or in any other way gnc? you can also use genderqueer. detrans but not in a radfem death cult kind of way? you too can be genderqueer. “i guess i’m basically cis but my other queer identity impacts my gender in a way that’s hard to put into words-” genderqueer!

it’s entirely acceptable and normal to be genderqueer but not nonbinary or genderqueer but not trans. it means literally nothing but “i’ve got a gender that’s queer” and it fucking rules we should use it so much more

[neopronounhaven]

Most of this is from my personal genealogical research, not someone already well known that’s widely written about for you to find. That’s why you can’t find any other results, because there aren’t any other people that have written about them extensively on the internet, as far as I know. I learned about them from a brief mention on nonbinary wiki then researched them myself with my own resources (I do this kind of genealogy/history research as part of my work and studies).

So, unfortunately I can’t point you towards particular articles/books to read about them. I plan on someday writing a piece with extensive sources, and maybe putting it on nonbinary wiki or somewhere else, but for now here are some links where you can find the articles I shared (I’ll note which ones are paywalled):

https://sandyfackler.advantage-preservation.com/viewer/?k=randolph%20milbourne&i=f&d=01011843-12311911&m=between&ord=k1&fn=the_cyclone_and_fayette_republican_usa_ohio_washington_19020522_english_4&df=1&dt=10

https://sandyfackler.advantage-preservation.com/viewer/?k=randolph%20milbourne&i=f&d=01011843-12311911&m=between&ord=k1&fn=the_cyclone_and_fayette_republican_usa_ohio_washington_19021225_english_8&df=1&dt=10

https://sandyfackler.advantage-preservation.com/viewer/?k=r%20f%20milbourne&i=f&d=01011843-12311911&m=between&ord=k1&fn=the_cyclone_and_fayette_republican_usa_ohio_washington_19030430_english_5&df=1&dt=10

Paywalled: https://www.ancestry.com/imageviewer/collections/7353/images/NEWS-OH-DE_ST.1905_04_21_0008?pId=474633224

https://chroniclingamerica.loc.gov/lccn/sn88085947/1905-05-15/ed-1/seq-3/

https://sandyfackler.advantage-preservation.com/viewer/?k=randolph%20milbourne&i=f&d=01011843-12311911&m=between&ord=k1&fn=the_cyclone-republican_usa_ohio_washington_19050511_english_1&df=1&dt=10

https://sandyfackler.advantage-preservation.com/viewer/?k=randolph%20milbourne&i=f&d=01011843-12311911&m=between&ord=k1&fn=the_cyclone-republican_usa_ohio_washington_19050601_english_8&df=1&dt=1

https://sandyfackler.advantage-preservation.com/viewer/?k=randolph%20milbourne&i=f&d=01011843-12311911&m=between&ord=k1&fn=the_ohio_state_register_usa_ohio_washington_court_house_19061214_english_1&df=21&dt=26

They can also be found in numerous census records and civil war records, but I research those with a paywalled site so unless you have access to Ancestry.com I can’t really link you to them. If you have a FamilySearch account you could find them on there. Milbourne was a veteran of the civil war though so there’s also other public soldier records on them, like this: https://www.nps.gov/civilwar/search-soldiers-detail.htm?soldierId=0E00D0BA-DC7A-DF11-BF36-B8AC6F5D926A

The main place where gender is mentioned is gonna be newspapers though. For a bit about Milbourne’s life you can also look at their mother’s obituary: https://sandyfackler.advantage-preservation.com/viewer/?k=devoss&i=f&d=01011843-12311911&m=between&ord=k1&fn=the_cyclone_and_fayette_republican_usa_ohio_washington_19000607_english_4&df=1&dt=10

Happy 179th birthday to Miss Maude Milbourne, aka Professor R. F. Milbourne, born 15 Aug 1943, who in 1905 told the local newspaper: “While physically I am a man, yet spiritually and intellectually I am neither a man nor a woman, while I feel that in form and spirit I incline more to effeminacy and am gradually taking on more of the nature of womanhood.”

Another time, the newspaper reported, “They do not know whether they are a man, woman, or a spirit, and nobody else knows what they are either.” [edited to use neutral pronouns]

Based on my research, in modern terms I think Milbourne would fit well into the definitions of transfeminine and nonbinary.

Below I’ll share some of the coolest newspaper clippings I’ve found for Prof. Milbourne.

Image description: A cropped newspaper clipping from page 4 of The Cyclone and Fayette Republican, published in Washington, Ohio on Thursday, May 22nd, 1902. It’s titled “Prof. R. F. Milbourne, the Female Impersonator, as Miss Maud Milbourne.” Below that is a grainy black and white photo of Milbourne, standing and wearing feminine clothing, including a long dress. The newspaper says:

We present herewith a good picture of Prof. Randolph Milbourne in female attire, the picture having been taken a few days ago. Prof. Milbourne has decided to give entertainments throughout the county. His first public entertainment was given a few nights ago for the local Elk's Lodge, and the report is that it made a big hit. The Professor has had a number of photographs taken representing himself in female attire, as well as in male attire in various Delsarte poses. One would not imagine in looking at the above picture that the original was a veteran of the civil war and was one of “the boys.” He has drawn a pension from the government for many years.

Image description: A newspaper clipping from page 8 of The Cyclone and Fayette Republican, published in Washington, Ohio on Thursday, December 25th, 1902. It says: “Miss Maude Milbourne, formerly Prof Randolph Milbourne, gave a rehearsal at the opera house on last Friday afternoon in the presence of the Al G Field Minstrel aggregation. He gave a number of female impersonations and ended with an A B C sermon, impersonating an old man preaching a sermon. The Professor says that one of the men belonging to the company runs a roof garden in New York City in the summer time, and that he offered him $100 a night to give his impersonations, and he prefers this offer to the Fields offer of $300 a week.”

Image description: A newspaper clipping from page 5 of The Cyclone And Fayette Republican, published in Washington, Ohio on Thursday, April 30th, 1903. It is titled, “Maude Milbourne Gives an Entertainment at Dayton,” and says:

The Dayton, Ohio, Journal, of April 27, says:

The members and friends of Diester Post No. 446 and Women’s Belief Corps were entertained on Saturday evening with a musical and elocutionary program given by Mr. R. F. Milbourne, assisted by home talent.

Considerable fun was occasioned by the printing of the programs to read, “Miss Maude Milbourne,” and showing a cut of a handsome young woman whom those not in the secret supposed was the reader of the evening when in truth it was Mr. Milbourne in stage dress.

The program consisted of numerous fine musical selections, after which Mr. Milbourne gave a demonstration of delsarte including posing and sword manipulations. Then changing his costume and appearing in what was supposed to be “male characters,” the earstwhile young lady appeared in the rule of an Irishman lately arrived in this country, and also as a burlesque college professor. During the intermissions Mr. Donald McDonald entertained the audience with playing old war tunes upon the Jews harp, accompanied on the piano by Mr. Huber.

“The committee of ladies from the Relief Corps and the comrades of Diester Post received many compliments upon the entertainment provided.”

Image description: A newspaper clipping from the Democratic Standard of Coshocton, Ohio, published 21 April 1905. The article is titled, “Man Prefers to Dress Himself in Female Garb,” and says:

Washington, C. H., Ohio, April 17. Randolph Milbourne, of this city, has ust written to Attorney General Ellis for an opinion on a very peculiar question. A few days ago Milbourne was arrested and reprimanded by the Mayor for appearing on the streets in female attire. He claimed that he had as good a right to wear the dress of a woman as Dr. Mary Walker has to wear the garb of a man, and he wants to know from the Attorney General if his position is not well taken for the Attorney General to work, and his answer is awaited with interest. Mr. Milbourne says that if the Attorney General gives it as his opinion that he can go upon the streets dressed as a woman he proposes to do so, as he wears female attire because he thinks it becomes him much better than men’s clothing, and he feels more comfortable in skirts.

Image description: A cropped newspaper article from The Spokane Press published May 15, 1905, titled “Ohio Man Wears Woman’s Garb in Spite of Courts.”

Washington Courthouse, O., May 13—Randolph Milbourne, who was arrested here a few days ago for appearing on the streets dressed in female attire, has not received an answer to the letter he wrote Attorney General Wade Ellis asking his opinion as to whether he can not continue to wear women’s clothes on the streets without violating the law.

Milbourne asserts that the law does not touch his case, as he desires to wear female attire because it better suits his form, and he feels more comfortable when thus dressed than when he Is dressed as a man. He says he never did like to wear men’s clothing, and for years he has been wearing the garb of a woman about his hobe, where he lived alone.

Mr. Milbourne says: “It has been my intention for a long time to discard men’s clothing and dress only in female garb. For years I have worn ladles’ garments about my home and I feel much better than when dressed as a man. While physically I am a man, yet spiritually and intellectually I am neither a man nor a woman, while I feel that in form and spirit I incline more to effeminacy and am gradually taking on more of the nature of womanhood.

“There is today too much attention paid to the kind of clothing a person wears. In New Testament times men and women dressed alike, in long, flowing robes, and now I am arrested for wearing garments in vogue in those days. Why should I be arrested for wearing clothing of my choice when I am doing it because I think it is my duty to do so?

“Dr. Mary Walker, a woman of Washington, D. C. chose to wear men’s clothing because she thought them better suited to her profession, holding that in the sickroom men’s clothing does not stir up the dust of the floors as women’s skirts do, and hence should be worn by her. Dr. Mary Walker was arrested for wearing men’s clothing. She pleaded her own case and won ln the courts.

“If Dr. Walker can lawfully wear men’s clothing upon the streets of American cities, why should not I be allowed to wear women’s garments if I prefer to do so? Another thing, my form is better gutted for female dress than for male attire, and I never feel comfortable in men’s clothing, while I am at perfect ease when dressed as a woman. For 10 years I have worn a woman’s corset, and could scarcely live without It.

“If the authorities insist upon preventing me from wearing the attire of a woman it is my intention to petition the legislature at its forthcoming session for the special privilege to wear female attire.

“I am 61 years old, and for three years fought for the Union, serving the last year as drum major ln the Veteran Reserve corps at Detroit barracks, having been transferred from the Eighty-first Ohio, and no one will go further than I will to stand by the law of the land.”

Image description: A newspaper clipping from page 1 of The Cyclone-Republican, published in Washington, Ohio on Thursday, May 11th, 1905. It says:

A most remarkable feature of the Beal local option contested election case last Friday was the testimony of Prof. Randolph Milbourne, the female impersonator, who was arrested not long ago for appearing on the streets dressed in female attire. The drys claim that a large number of voters did not vote at the local option election, and that this fact, coupled with the fact that the returns show the largest vote ever polled in the city, indicates that there were many illegal votes cast. Prof. Milbourne did not vote, and he was called to testify this fact. He said he had been a resident of this city for many years, but at the last election he did not vote. Asked by Mr. Jones, attorney for the wets why he did not vote, he said that it was because he was not sure as to whether or not he had the legal right to vote at a general election as he was in doubt as to whether he was a man or a woman.

Milbourne's testimony created considerable interest in the court room, and after he had testified he was seen by the writer, and asked farther regarding his unusual position. He said that he did not know whether he would try to vote again or not, as he had been told that his vote will be challenged if he attempts it, but that he might try to vote again just to test the case. He says that he does not know whether he is a man, woman, or a spirit, and nobody else knows which he is.

Image description: A newspaper clipping from page 8 of The Cyclone-Republican, published in Washington, Ohio on Thursday, June 1st, 1905. It’s titled, “Prof. Milbourne Recieves a Letter from a Follower in Iowa,” and says:

Prof. Randolph Milbourne the female impersonator recently recieved the following letter from a follower in Iowa. We quote the letter as it was written:

Keokuk Iowa May 22 05.

Mr Randolph Milbourne

Sir havi seen an acount in a Paper that you are adictet to Female atier and as I am One Ove your Folowers as I to have ben Wering Female atier and will ware it as Long as I Live But I have Only Ware it at home I have ben Wering it Far the Last ten years and I Find it Ever so mutch mare Comfertabe then male garmeuts I hope you Will Be succesfull and Be Premited to Ware Female atier as I am Very mutch interested in you and would like to farespond With you.

Yours truly

A J Reimer

1125 main St, Keokuk Iowa

Interpreted Transcript of Letter:

Sir, having seen an account in a paper that you are addicted to female atire and as I am one of your followers as I, too, have been wearing female atire and will wear it as long as I live, but I have only wore it at home. I have been wearing it for the last ten years and I find it ever so much more comfortable than male garments I hope you will be successful and be permitted to wear female attire as I am very much interested in you and would like to [farespond?] with you.

Image description: A newspaper clipping from page 1 of The Ohio State Register, published in Washington Court House, Ohio on Friday, December 14th, 1906. It says:

“Dress Reform Convention” to be Held in This City.

For some weeks past mention has been made by the press of the unusual convention that it claims will be held in this city, ere the winter is over.

It seems that the idea originated with Major Randolph Milbourne, of this city, who has distinguished himself from the rest of the masculine persuasion by appearing on the street, dressed in female attire.

The convention will be held in the interest of “dress reform”, and Dr. Mary Walker, of New York, Mr. Marks, of Washington state, and dress reformers' from Kentucky, Indiana, Pennsylvania and many other states are to be honored with invitations to meet here.

There has been no little talk about this convention, and already a number of spectators have signified their desire of seeing the men and women who are dissatisfied with the present way in which they are compelled to dress.

Should this convention prove to be a reality, the exhibition of duds suitable to the tastes of martyrs of this class, will doubtless be worth going miles to see.

[neopronounhaven]

I already corrected it but it’d been reblogged. It was 1843, I’d accidentally wrote 9 instead of 8! You got one of the reblogs that is uncorrected.

Happy 179th birthday to Miss Maude Milbourne, aka Professor R. F. Milbourne, born 15 Aug 1943, who in 1905 told the local newspaper: “While physically I am a man, yet spiritually and intellectually I am neither a man nor a woman, while I feel that in form and spirit I incline more to effeminacy and am gradually taking on more of the nature of womanhood.”

Another time, the newspaper reported, “They do not know whether they are a man, woman, or a spirit, and nobody else knows what they are either.” [edited to use neutral pronouns]

Based on my research, in modern terms I think Milbourne would fit well into the definitions of transfeminine and nonbinary.

Below I’ll share some of the coolest newspaper clippings I’ve found for Prof. Milbourne.

Image description: A cropped newspaper clipping from page 4 of The Cyclone and Fayette Republican, published in Washington, Ohio on Thursday, May 22nd, 1902. It’s titled “Prof. R. F. Milbourne, the Female Impersonator, as Miss Maud Milbourne.” Below that is a grainy black and white photo of Milbourne, standing and wearing feminine clothing, including a long dress. The newspaper says:

We present herewith a good picture of Prof. Randolph Milbourne in female attire, the picture having been taken a few days ago. Prof. Milbourne has decided to give entertainments throughout the county. His first public entertainment was given a few nights ago for the local Elk's Lodge, and the report is that it made a big hit. The Professor has had a number of photographs taken representing himself in female attire, as well as in male attire in various Delsarte poses. One would not imagine in looking at the above picture that the original was a veteran of the civil war and was one of “the boys.” He has drawn a pension from the government for many years.

Image description: A newspaper clipping from page 8 of The Cyclone and Fayette Republican, published in Washington, Ohio on Thursday, December 25th, 1902. It says: “Miss Maude Milbourne, formerly Prof Randolph Milbourne, gave a rehearsal at the opera house on last Friday afternoon in the presence of the Al G Field Minstrel aggregation. He gave a number of female impersonations and ended with an A B C sermon, impersonating an old man preaching a sermon. The Professor says that one of the men belonging to the company runs a roof garden in New York City in the summer time, and that he offered him $100 a night to give his impersonations, and he prefers this offer to the Fields offer of $300 a week.”

Image description: A newspaper clipping from page 5 of The Cyclone And Fayette Republican, published in Washington, Ohio on Thursday, April 30th, 1903. It is titled, “Maude Milbourne Gives an Entertainment at Dayton,” and says:

The Dayton, Ohio, Journal, of April 27, says:

The members and friends of Diester Post No. 446 and Women’s Belief Corps were entertained on Saturday evening with a musical and elocutionary program given by Mr. R. F. Milbourne, assisted by home talent.

Considerable fun was occasioned by the printing of the programs to read, “Miss Maude Milbourne,” and showing a cut of a handsome young woman whom those not in the secret supposed was the reader of the evening when in truth it was Mr. Milbourne in stage dress.

The program consisted of numerous fine musical selections, after which Mr. Milbourne gave a demonstration of delsarte including posing and sword manipulations. Then changing his costume and appearing in what was supposed to be “male characters,” the earstwhile young lady appeared in the rule of an Irishman lately arrived in this country, and also as a burlesque college professor. During the intermissions Mr. Donald McDonald entertained the audience with playing old war tunes upon the Jews harp, accompanied on the piano by Mr. Huber.

“The committee of ladies from the Relief Corps and the comrades of Diester Post received many compliments upon the entertainment provided.”

Image description: A newspaper clipping from the Democratic Standard of Coshocton, Ohio, published 21 April 1905. The article is titled, “Man Prefers to Dress Himself in Female Garb,” and says:

Washington, C. H., Ohio, April 17. Randolph Milbourne, of this city, has ust written to Attorney General Ellis for an opinion on a very peculiar question. A few days ago Milbourne was arrested and reprimanded by the Mayor for appearing on the streets in female attire. He claimed that he had as good a right to wear the dress of a woman as Dr. Mary Walker has to wear the garb of a man, and he wants to know from the Attorney General if his position is not well taken for the Attorney General to work, and his answer is awaited with interest. Mr. Milbourne says that if the Attorney General gives it as his opinion that he can go upon the streets dressed as a woman he proposes to do so, as he wears female attire because he thinks it becomes him much better than men’s clothing, and he feels more comfortable in skirts.

Image description: A cropped newspaper article from The Spokane Press published May 15, 1905, titled “Ohio Man Wears Woman’s Garb in Spite of Courts.”

Washington Courthouse, O., May 13—Randolph Milbourne, who was arrested here a few days ago for appearing on the streets dressed in female attire, has not received an answer to the letter he wrote Attorney General Wade Ellis asking his opinion as to whether he can not continue to wear women’s clothes on the streets without violating the law.

Milbourne asserts that the law does not touch his case, as he desires to wear female attire because it better suits his form, and he feels more comfortable when thus dressed than when he Is dressed as a man. He says he never did like to wear men’s clothing, and for years he has been wearing the garb of a woman about his hobe, where he lived alone.

Mr. Milbourne says: “It has been my intention for a long time to discard men’s clothing and dress only in female garb. For years I have worn ladles’ garments about my home and I feel much better than when dressed as a man. While physically I am a man, yet spiritually and intellectually I am neither a man nor a woman, while I feel that in form and spirit I incline more to effeminacy and am gradually taking on more of the nature of womanhood.

“There is today too much attention paid to the kind of clothing a person wears. In New Testament times men and women dressed alike, in long, flowing robes, and now I am arrested for wearing garments in vogue in those days. Why should I be arrested for wearing clothing of my choice when I am doing it because I think it is my duty to do so?

“Dr. Mary Walker, a woman of Washington, D. C. chose to wear men’s clothing because she thought them better suited to her profession, holding that in the sickroom men’s clothing does not stir up the dust of the floors as women’s skirts do, and hence should be worn by her. Dr. Mary Walker was arrested for wearing men’s clothing. She pleaded her own case and won ln the courts.

“If Dr. Walker can lawfully wear men’s clothing upon the streets of American cities, why should not I be allowed to wear women’s garments if I prefer to do so? Another thing, my form is better gutted for female dress than for male attire, and I never feel comfortable in men’s clothing, while I am at perfect ease when dressed as a woman. For 10 years I have worn a woman’s corset, and could scarcely live without It.

“If the authorities insist upon preventing me from wearing the attire of a woman it is my intention to petition the legislature at its forthcoming session for the special privilege to wear female attire.

“I am 61 years old, and for three years fought for the Union, serving the last year as drum major ln the Veteran Reserve corps at Detroit barracks, having been transferred from the Eighty-first Ohio, and no one will go further than I will to stand by the law of the land.”

Image description: A newspaper clipping from page 1 of The Cyclone-Republican, published in Washington, Ohio on Thursday, May 11th, 1905. It says:

A most remarkable feature of the Beal local option contested election case last Friday was the testimony of Prof. Randolph Milbourne, the female impersonator, who was arrested not long ago for appearing on the streets dressed in female attire. The drys claim that a large number of voters did not vote at the local option election, and that this fact, coupled with the fact that the returns show the largest vote ever polled in the city, indicates that there were many illegal votes cast. Prof. Milbourne did not vote, and he was called to testify this fact. He said he had been a resident of this city for many years, but at the last election he did not vote. Asked by Mr. Jones, attorney for the wets why he did not vote, he said that it was because he was not sure as to whether or not he had the legal right to vote at a general election as he was in doubt as to whether he was a man or a woman.

Milbourne's testimony created considerable interest in the court room, and after he had testified he was seen by the writer, and asked farther regarding his unusual position. He said that he did not know whether he would try to vote again or not, as he had been told that his vote will be challenged if he attempts it, but that he might try to vote again just to test the case. He says that he does not know whether he is a man, woman, or a spirit, and nobody else knows which he is.

Image description: A newspaper clipping from page 8 of The Cyclone-Republican, published in Washington, Ohio on Thursday, June 1st, 1905. It’s titled, “Prof. Milbourne Recieves a Letter from a Follower in Iowa,” and says:

Prof. Randolph Milbourne the female impersonator recently recieved the following letter from a follower in Iowa. We quote the letter as it was written:

Keokuk Iowa May 22 05.

Mr Randolph Milbourne

Sir havi seen an acount in a Paper that you are adictet to Female atier and as I am One Ove your Folowers as I to have ben Wering Female atier and will ware it as Long as I Live But I have Only Ware it at home I have ben Wering it Far the Last ten years and I Find it Ever so mutch mare Comfertabe then male garmeuts I hope you Will Be succesfull and Be Premited to Ware Female atier as I am Very mutch interested in you and would like to farespond With you.

Yours truly

A J Reimer

1125 main St, Keokuk Iowa

Interpreted Transcript of Letter:

Sir, having seen an account in a paper that you are addicted to female atire and as I am one of your followers as I, too, have been wearing female atire and will wear it as long as I live, but I have only wore it at home. I have been wearing it for the last ten years and I find it ever so much more comfortable than male garments I hope you will be successful and be permitted to wear female attire as I am very much interested in you and would like to [farespond?] with you.

Image description: A newspaper clipping from page 1 of The Ohio State Register, published in Washington Court House, Ohio on Friday, December 14th, 1906. It says:

“Dress Reform Convention” to be Held in This City.

For some weeks past mention has been made by the press of the unusual convention that it claims will be held in this city, ere the winter is over.

It seems that the idea originated with Major Randolph Milbourne, of this city, who has distinguished himself from the rest of the masculine persuasion by appearing on the street, dressed in female attire.

The convention will be held in the interest of “dress reform”, and Dr. Mary Walker, of New York, Mr. Marks, of Washington state, and dress reformers' from Kentucky, Indiana, Pennsylvania and many other states are to be honored with invitations to meet here.

There has been no little talk about this convention, and already a number of spectators have signified their desire of seeing the men and women who are dissatisfied with the present way in which they are compelled to dress.

Should this convention prove to be a reality, the exhibition of duds suitable to the tastes of martyrs of this class, will doubtless be worth going miles to see.