Casa Susanna: Secret Cross-Dressing Community of the 1960s – Photography
Table of Contents
Unearthing a Lost history of Community and Self-Discovery
A groundbreaking exhibition at the metropolitan museum of Art is shedding light on Casa Susanna,a clandestine retreat in the Catskill Mountains that served as a vital sanctuary for transgender women and cross-dressers in the mid-20th century.The exhibition, curated by Dr. Jennifer Fineman, draws from a remarkable collection of photographs and ephemera that offer a poignant glimpse into the lives of individuals who navigated societal prejudice and sought solace and self-expression.
The Power of Visibility: Photographs as Affirmation
The heart of the exhibition lies in the intimate photographs taken at Casa Susanna between the 1950s and 1960s. These images capture moments of joy, camaraderie, and profound self-acceptance among individuals who, in the wider world, frequently enough faced ostracization and legal persecution.
“Seeing photos of themselves dressed en femme was profoundly important for these people,” explained Dr. Fineman. “They talked about this in the magazine and in other places. It was seeing an image of themselves as a woman that reflected back their desired identity to them.”
These photographs served as more than just visual records; they were powerful affirmations of identity in an era that offered little public validation for transgender and gender-nonconforming individuals. The casual poses and genuine smiles captured in the images belie the underlying yearning for freedom and the courage it took to embrace their true selves.
Challenging Myths and Rectifying History
Casa Susanna directly confronts persistent myths surrounding transgender identities, particularly the notion that they are a recent phenomenon. The exhibition also serves as a stark counterpoint to recent ancient revisionism, such as claims that the U.S. lacks a meaningful history of discrimination against transgender people.
“At the time ther were masquerade laws, so these people could be arrested for cross-dressing in public,” Dr. Fineman noted. “They had to be very careful, even going outside of their homes. There are accounts in the magazine of them being arrested, which involved horrible humiliation and mistreatment at the hands of the police. They could even be sent to mental institutions for what was essentially conversion therapy.”
The existence of Casa Susanna and its associated publication,Transvestia,demonstrates a rich and often overlooked history of transgender community building and activism long before the modern transgender rights movement gained widespread recognition.
The Role of Supportive Partners
A surprising and heartwarming aspect of the Casa Susanna community was the involvement of supportive wives. Many of these women accompanied their spouses to the retreats, offering emotional support and even contributing to Transvestia.
“Wives would come with them to these retreats and help them create their look,” said Dr. Fineman. ”One picture that I really love that shows a couple wearing matching dresses that they obviously had had made.That was something really surprising.”
One such wife, Avis, penned a heartfelt column in Transvestia in 1965, detailing her journey of understanding her spouse’s identity. Her contribution offers a profound testament to the depth of commitment and love within these relationships.
Legacies and Continued Recognition
Some prominent figures from the Casa Susanna community,like Virginia Prince,the founder and editor of Transvestia,eventually transitioned and lived openly as women. Prince, for example, lived openly as herself from 1968 until her death in 2009. Several individuals who were part of this historical community are still alive today and are expected to participate in a panel discussion at the Met in September.
The museum will also host a screening of Sébastien Lifshitz’s acclaimed 2022 PBS documentary, Casa Susanna, further amplifying the stories and experiences of this vital community.
Dr.Fineman views the exhibition as a crucial act of inclusion and a vital effort to reclaim lost history. In an era where transgender lives are frequently enough marginalized or erased, museums play a critical role in ensuring visibility and fostering understanding.
“I hope this offers trans people a larger sense of affirmation and understanding,” she concluded. “We have a role to make these pictures and history visible.”
The Casa Susanna exhibition at the Metropolitan Museum of Art is a powerful reminder of the resilience, courage, and enduring spirit of transgender individuals who forged community and sought self-acceptance against formidable odds.It is an essential contribution to understanding the complex and rich tapestry of LGBTQ+ history in America.