The female-impersonators: : A sequel to the autobiography of an androgyne and an account of some of the author's experiences during his six years' career as instinctive female-impersonator in New York's underworld

In Short

This book functions as both a personal memoir and a sociological defense of the "androgyne"—a term the author uses for those who feel naturally drawn to female expression and identity. Detailing his decades-long life as a "female-impersonator" in the New York City underworld, the author chronicles his search for companionship, his encounters with violence, and his struggle against a society that labels his innate nature as "depraved." It remains a vital document for its singular, unapologetic perspective on the history of gender non-conformity and the psychological toll of social isolation.

The Story

The narrative begins with the author’s youth, characterized by a profound, agonizing disconnect between his internal self and the expectations of his puritanical upbringing. Raised in a professional family, he describes his early childhood as a period of "fairie-ism," followed by a turbulent adolescence defined by religious fervor and secret acts of rebellion, such as dressing in stolen female clothing. Recognizing that his home town offers no sanctuary for his nature, he moves to New York City at age twenty, seeking the anonymity of a massive metropolis.

Once in New York, the author fully embraces his identity, adopting the persona "Jennie June" to navigate the city’s nightlife. He seeks out the company of "ultra-virile" men, whom he identifies as the natural counterparts to his own feminine sensibility. These relationships are the core of his life, providing him with intimacy, though he acknowledges the inherent dangers of his chosen path. He describes a life lived in dual worlds: by day, he is a professional, often successful in business; by night, he enters the "underworld" of resorts and back alleys, where he engages in female impersonation sprees.

The story is punctuated by the fragility of his existence. He recounts numerous instances of being robbed, blackmailed, or physically threatened by the very men he seeks. Despite these dangers, he refuses to conform, viewing his identity not as a moral failing but as a biological reality. The narrative darkens as he reflects on the fate of his associates, noting how many have met tragic, violent ends. He documents, with detached, clinical precision, newspaper accounts of murdered androgynes, arguing that these deaths are the direct consequence of a society that refuses to acknowledge the existence of "intermediate" types of human beings.

Toward the end of the narrative, the author reflects on his aging process and his continued reliance on religious faith as a means of enduring the "cup of anguish" he has been forced to drink. He concludes with a plea for enlightenment, asserting that his life, while perilous and often lonely, has been lived with integrity. He argues that if society would only permit the truth of human sexual diversity to be studied and accepted, the violence and desperation that plague people like him could be mitigated. He does not offer a fairy-tale ending; rather, he presents his own survival as a hard-won victory of self-knowledge over a world that demands his erasure.

How It Unfolds

The childhood struggle The author describes his early years as a battle between an innate, irrepressible feminine instinct and the harsh moral mandates of his surroundings. He portrays his teenage self as a "God-intoxicated youth" who, failing to pray away his nature, begins to explore his identity through secret, private rituals.

The migration to the city Seeking refuge from the constraints of his home town, the author relocates to New York City to live in anonymity. This shift allows him to balance a professional life with his nocturnal identity as a female-impersonator, providing the freedom he needs to express himself.

The underworld life The author enters the vibrant but dangerous subculture of New York’s resorts, where he finds a community of like-minded individuals. He details the specific, often grueling methods of maintaining his appearance, such as the use of depilatory waxes, and describes his complex relationships with the men he calls his "idols."

The violence of prejudice The narrative shifts to the persistent threats the author faces, including frequent robberies and constant blackmail. He frames these encounters not as individual criminal acts but as inevitable results of a society that criminalizes his very existence, forcing him into illegal shadows where he cannot seek police protection.

The call for awareness The book concludes with a systematic, if idiosyncratic, argument for the legitimacy of the "third sex." By presenting the deaths of his peers as martyrs to public ignorance, the author challenges the reader to look past religious and social taboos to recognize the humanity of those who do not fit into the binary.

The People

The author, known as Ralph Werther or Jennie June, serves as the central consciousness—an intellectual, deeply religious, and observant figure who wishes to be understood as a natural, albeit "abnormal," human being. His primary struggle is the lack of a place in the social order for his identity. The men he pursues, often referred to as "idols" or "soul-mates," are predominantly described as "ultra-virile." These figures are characterized by their physical strength and, frequently, their penchant for criminality or exploitation. They are the obstacles to his safety, yet they remain his primary desire. Throughout the book, the author also references figures like the fictionalized "Angelo—Phyllis" and other unnamed "fairies" who inhabit his circle, each representing a different facet of the struggle—some finding fleeting happiness, others succumbing to the violence that the author views as the ultimate outcome of social rejection. These figures collectively highlight the spectrum of the "third sex" and the varying degrees of success or tragedy their lives encompass.

In Its Own Voice

The author describes the painful, hidden nature of his life and the necessity of his self-imposed secrecy:

“I have given a trusted idol a key to enter my own apartment whenever he felt like it.”

He explains the brutal, often dangerous reality of existing outside societal norms:

“The thievishly inclined regularly preying on androgynes because knowing the latter are themselves outlaws and thus unable to complain to the police.”

He challenges the moral superiority of those who condemn him, framing his existence as a matter of nature rather than choice:

“Any one who can suggest the latter segregation is unable to see farther away than the end of his nose.”

What It's Really About

At its heart, the book is a plea for the recognition of human diversity. The author argues that humanity is not divided into two rigid poles but exists on a spectrum that includes "androgynes" who are as much a part of the natural order as any other. He confronts the "Dark Ages" morality that labels such people as "sodomites," contending that their lives are not inherently immoral but are made so by a society that refuses to acknowledge their existence. The underlying question is whether a civilization can truly call itself "thinking" or "Christian" while it continues to "rob and spoil" those who are born different. It is a document of profound, quiet defiance against the erasure of a person’s truth.

Why Read It Today

Readers interested in the history of gender and sexuality will find this volume deeply compelling for its raw, unfiltered voice. It is not an easy read; the author’s prose is heavily influenced by the intellectual styles of the early twentieth century, and he possesses a worldview shaped by profound isolation and religious fatalism. You will encounter perspectives on "nature" and "virility" that reflect the scientific and social limitations of 1922, and the author’s tendency to catalogue his own hardships with a mixture of clinical detachment and intense emotional pain can be jarring.

However, the book stays with you because it captures the specific texture of an life lived in the margins of New York a century ago. The author is remarkably honest about his flaws, his blackmailers, and his own internal contradictions. For those who can navigate the period-specific language and the sometimes-dense sociological theorizing, the book offers a rare, intimate look at the courage required to persist in a world that denies your right to exist. It is a work of historical importance that serves as a testament to the endurance of the human spirit in the face of systemic misunderstanding.