The title of this recording is "Snapshot 2000 - Mary". It is described as: Mary talks about coming out and first sexual experience. It was recorded in Philadelphia, United States of America on the 5th February 2000. The duration of the recording is 7 minutes, but this may not reflect the actual length of the event. A list of correctly spelt content keywords and tags can be found at the end of this document. A brief description of the recording is: In this podcast Mary talks about coming out and first sexual experience. The content in the recording covers the 1940s decade. A brief summary of the recording is: This abstract centers around the personal narrative of an individual reflecting on their journey with gender identity and sexual orientation from the 1940s through to the year 2000. In a podcast recording titled "Snapshot 2000 - Mary," the speaker shares their experiences, discussing the delayed awakening of their feelings toward their gender identity and sexuality that were not acted upon until their forties. Starting the journey in Philadelphia, a city not particularly known for its openness toward transvestite or transsexual activities at the time, the individual recounts a life initially conforming to societal norms and expectations. However, in 1994, the speaker began exploring their identity further by attending social events dressed according to their gender expression preference. This engagement with their community and activities marked a significant shift toward freedom of expression and self-acceptance for the speaker. Despite financial constraints that prevented the speaker from undergoing gender confirmation surgery, they found joy in living authentically and connecting with their identity. The podcast reveals that the individual was married during their initial exploration of gender identity, an exploration that began with the assistance of their former spouse. As the individual's journey progressed, they navigated both acceptance and rejection from people in their personal and professional life. Workplace dynamics are highlighted through their experiences as a school bus driver in Philadelphia, where they are often mistaken for a woman, a misinterpretation they do not correct. Family relationships also play a role in the speaker's narrative. Their father, having passed away in the 1970s, and their sister, now deceased as well, had differing levels of engagement with their gender identity. While the speaker’s sister knew about their gender expression, they were not fully comfortable with it, requesting not to witness it firsthand, yet advising care and enjoyment. The individual's journey is also marked by a transformation in terms of public perception. Initially not passable, over time, they reached a point where most people treat them just as they identify when they are out in public. Despite some capability for others to detect a difference, the speaker gains confidence and navigating social interactions with grace. Within the social context of their experiences, the speaker discusses the desire to find community and support, emphasizing the importance of safety and enjoyment in their social life. They candidly speak of going out to have a good time with friends, in environments that cater to those with a trans experience, without particularly seeking romantic or serious relationships. The podcast ends with insights and advice for others who might be considering coming out. The speaker advises seeking support from those with a similar experience and emphasizes the natural progression from initial nervousness to comfort and self-assurance. The full transcription of the recording follows.  It includes timestamps every thirty seconds in the format [HH:MM:SS].  The transcription begins:  My feelings were kind of dormant since I had been a teenager. I'm now in my fifties and not really any kind of action was taken until I was in my early forties and I just felt it. Maybe I am a little different, and I should start possibly putting it into action. I basically was, uh, [00:00:30] just a male and the, uh, American society, which in some areas, it is not too right. I mean, not too open to different types actions by their citizens. I live in Philadelphia, and we don't There's not too much, uh, transvestite transsexual activity here. That [00:01:00] is, uh, meeting places or what not. So I was just basically inside until about 1994 and then I started going out and going to clubs and dances and dinner and movies and all kinds of stuff trusts the lady. Um, I just you know, I appreciate being three as what you too. That's why I That's why I [00:01:30] that's your basic coverage. Trans state in America. You know, I just I just like to, um, express my from an inside in this way. As far as the operation goes, I'm not in a position financially to be able to do it. And I'm having [00:02:00] too much fun away I with with the life of man. So I don't have any desire really to change my structure already? Definitely. Well, I was married at the time and a friend of mine, a friend of ours, One of my former wife kind of got me started dressing in her underwear and stuff, [00:02:30] and that's basically how it started and just walked up to, I guess where I am today, Uh, I'm no longer, but, uh, I think I'm happier now. Anyway, at first, I wasn't really that passable, and they sort of reacted. Some reacted like, Oh, like So what? You know, those made [00:03:00] remarks and all kinds of stuff like that. But I just ignored him and just said, Well, you know, if that's the way they feel, that's the way they feel And most people nowadays cannot tell. I mean, there are some that that just have a sense for it and just, uh, know that there's something different about this person. But most people just treat me just like a lady when I out. In fact, [00:03:30] I've been a mistake for a lady dressed as a male. So So cause I'm a I'm a school bus driver here in Philadelphia, and I were ear arranged to work every day at work or something else. And I've been taken by not my kids on my route, but my kids on I've taken on trips. I was being a lady, you know, I don't say anything. [00:04:00] I just say no. Hey, if they think it's a lady driving a bus, then it's a lady driving a bus. You know, I'm kind of thin out on on top as far as hair goes, so I wear. I do wear a hat, I wear a cowboy hat as well, and I just basically, just don't try to correct on anybody. And the people that know my co workers know I trust [00:04:30] I've been to three the last three Christmas boys of contrast as a lady. Er they don't most of them don't see them. Some of them makes night remark on, but most of them aren't except my life. My outside was always, always being You do what you wanna do. My wife. When I was married, at first she accepted it, and then she rejected [00:05:00] it so I don't know exactly what the story was there and as far as the rest of my family. No. My father has been deceased since 1970 and my mother never did. Now my sister, she is deceased now, too. And my sister does know that I dress, but has not really accepted it. I mean, she [00:05:30] accepts the lifestyle as far as me being a female in appearance, but she doesn't really want me to dress in front of her, which I have not done by her request. But she just tells me to be careful and just have fun and be careful. That's all we try to try to. Usually when I go out, I go out with friends. [00:06:00] It's always in a trans site, and we usually just go out to clubs or whatever. We may meet some people, but nothing really serious has come out of that so far. No, we just we just go out and have a good time. We don't try to, uh, don't we try to get picked up, but once in a while we do meet people. [00:06:30] You should come out when you feel when you feel you are confident enough to be able to do it without being. You're gonna be nervous at first. They just come out and and just that natural. How should we get some advice first from another transvestite or transsexual and just come out naturally. [00:07:00] Just you got me nervous at first. But then don't be so nervous to the shows. I don't know whether it's kind of hard for me to give advice, because I'm not exactly that type of person. The full transcription of the recording ends. A list of keywords/tags describing the recording follow. These tags contain the correct spellings of names and places which may have been incorrectly spelt earlier in the document. The tags are seperated by a semi-colon: 1940s ; Christmas ; People ; Philadelphia ; Russia ; Snapshot 2000 ; Stuff ; United States of America ; actions ; advice ; bisexual ; bus ; change ; clubs ; coming out ; cowboy ; drag ; family ; fat ; fun ; gender identity ; growing up ; hair ; hat ; lifestyle ; mary ; other ; school ; sexuality ; structure ; time ; top ; transgender ; transvestite ; treat ; underwear ; voice ; women ; work ; writing. The original recording can be heard at this website https://www.pridenz.com/snapshot_2000_mary.html. The master recording is also archived at the Alexander Turnbull Library in Wellington, New Zealand.  For more details visit their website https://tiaki.natlib.govt.nz/#details=ecatalogue.1089403. Please note that this document may contain errors or omissions - you should always refer back to the original recording to confirm content.