Raising a roof for trannies in trouble

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by RANYA KARIFILLY

She may look like a woman, talk like a woman, walk like a woman--in effect, be a woman--but if she hasn't undergone a pricey operation to remove a piece of hanging flesh from between her legs, many women's shelters may turn her away.

CACTUS and its offshoot, the Action Santé Travesti(e)s et Transexuel(le)s du Québec, are holding a fundraiser to aid transsexuals and transgenders without shelter at Cléopatra's this Thursday night.

Viviane, the coordinator for the ASTTQ says, "The focus will be on understanding transsexuality as a health issue and not as a question of identity." She hopes that door-slamming health groups will come to the show so they can hear the message that pre-operative transsexual and transgendered women, whether escaping conjugal violence or trying to throw a drug habit, still need a roof over their heads until they get back on their feet. "Shelters have no clear policy on transsexual and transgendered women. They deal with them on a case-to-case basis," explains Viviane.

Five bucks at the door will go directly to transsexuals and transgenders in need of shelter, providing them with a hotel room for at least a day or two. In return, expect to be dazzled by song 'n' dance performed by the Cléo Revue and numerous other artists. For more info call CACTUS at 847-0067. Cabaret Cléopatra, 1230 St-Laurent, second floor. Doors open at 10 p.m., Thursday,

Aug. 26. Showtimes 11 p.m. and 1 a.m.

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