PORT ANGELES — Men paying women the compliment of imitation will begin arriving in town today for the weeklong Esprit 2010 convention.
About 110 people are registered for the annual gathering of cross-dressers and their significant others — called “the Pacific Northwest’s premiere transgender convention” — at the Red Lion Hotel in Port Angeles, said Karen Williams, secretary of the Emerald City Social Club of Seattle, one of the sponsors of the convention.
Attendees will have their pick of a variety of events including tours of Hurricane Ridge and area wineries, parties and dances, shopping — in Port Angeles, Port Townsend and Victoria — a pool tournament and classes ranging from medical procedures to legal issues to fashion tips such as how to walk in high heels.
This will be the 21st year of the Esprit convention in Port Angeles. People will begin to gather today, and the last will leave next Sunday.
Attendees are drawn by “the water, the mountains, the scenery — and it turns out that the people are fabulous in Port Angeles,” Williams said.
“We have friends all over town.”
Nasty Habits, the popular trans-gender band, will be back, performing from 9 p.m. to 1 a.m. Thursday, Friday and Saturday at the Bar N9ne Pizzeria & Lounge, which opened last week at 229 W. First St., formerly the site of the Lyre’s Club.
The public is invited to enjoy the band’s ’80s dance music as well the annual Esprit talent show Friday night and a dance gala Saturday night.
The theme for the talent show, which will be at 8 p.m. at the Elks Naval Lodge, 131 E. First St., Port Angeles, is “Star Trans: The Next Genderation.”
“You’ll see Willma Stiletto playing Captain Jane T. Skirt of the USS Genderprize taking on the more difficult challenges that the universe can throw at her — like, ‘what sex should I be?'” said the Esprit website at www.espritconf.com/index.php.
Saturday’s dance will feature the Seattle-based classic rock and roll band, The Fabulous Boomers, from 9 p.m. to 1 a.m. at the Red Lion Hotel, 221 N. Lincoln St.
Admission to both the fashion show and the dance will be $5 at the door. Proceeds will be donated to Volunteer Hospice of Clallam County, a longtime charity of the Esprit organization.
On Thursday, woman can join Esprit attendees during the Girls Night Out organized by businesses in downtown Port Angeles.
Stores will stay open until 8 p.m., said Barb Frederick, Port Angeles Downtown Association director, and a fashion show with a disc jockey is set at 6 p.m. at the Conrad Dyar Memorial Fountain at First and Laurel streets.
“It’s an event that is open to the public,” Frederick said. “We scheduled it during Esprit so they can join in.
“They always have a great time.”
Stores will have specials, such as a makeup artist at work at Sterling Impressions, address, refreshments and raffles.
“We always love to have Esprit in town,” Frederick said. “They are so much fun.”
The keynote speakers during a special luncheon will be Seattle Police Department Assistant Chief Dick Reed and Detective Kim Boguki.
Suzanne Adams, the chair of the Esprit convention, arranged the speakers, Williams said.
Adams, who once worked as a police chief, is now on the Seattle Chief of Police Advisory Committee for Sexual Minorities and the Seattle Police Firearms Review Board.
“We were looking for a keynote speaker and she got these two people to come and talk with us,” Williams said.
“One of the concerns we have in the transgender community is . . . if you are cross-dressing, people worry about what happens for minor violations, such as a tail light being out — will police treat me with respect?” Williams said.
“Of course they do. But new people coming out don’t always know. It will be reassuring.”
Also planned is a pool tournament on Monday, talks from doctors who perform feminization surgery, classes on makeup and fashion, a slumber party and events for wives and other significant others of cross-dressers.
“A high proportion of people are married,” said Williams, an electrical engineer who has been married for 30 years.
“As far as sexual orientation is concerned, a lot of people who are coming to Esprit are straight,” Williams said.
“Gay people is a whole different community. That’s the drag queen community. For the most part, we’re not drag queens.
“We don’t mix so well.”
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Managing Editor/News Leah Leach can be reached at 360-417-3531 or leah.leach@peninsuladailynews.com.