Self expression and sharing the experience of wearing clothes not normally associated with males.
Crossdressers Seán Leslie and Ross Tallon talk to Bibi Baskin about their experience in Irish society.
Seán Leslie from County Monaghan liked dressing up in girls' clothes as a small child, but stopped when he was around ten years old because he was embarrassed about it. More than three decades later and following a relationship breakdown he thought about wearing women’s clothes again and decided,
To hell with it, let's just do it all the time.
A heterosexual, he says his girlfriends don't mind. A practising Roman Catholic Seán Leslie has consulted with priests on several occasions about crossdressing, the consistent reply is that it is morally ambiguous.
His mother singer Agnes Bernelle is in the studio audience supports Seán, and was unfazed by the news of him cross dressing in private,
It's really nothing to worry about.
She admits that getting used to Seán dressing as a woman in public took her slightly longer. She was not aware of the emotional pain that many crossdressers go through before they come out.
Only recently she had a visit from a man who crossdresses in private. Unable to talk to his mother about it, he was going though a very difficult time,
Weeping his heart out saying he was going to kill himself. It was heartbreaking.
Ross Tallon who is a model agent also dresses as a woman on a daily basis,
I have fun, I enjoy it.
Originally from Granard in County Longford, he is not bothered by what people there think about him,
What can I say? It’s me.
'Thank Friday It's Bibi' broadcast on 5 June 1992. The presenter is Bibi Baskin.
'Thank Friday It's Bibi' was a summer chat show presented by Bibi Baskin. It ran from 5 June 1992 to 31 July 1992 and followed on from her previous show 'Bibi' with a few key differences: it was live and included international guests as well as Irish. There was a new set and production team, with Julie Parsons replacing Justin Nelson as producer.
