Party Like It's 2009!

It began as a reason to party. A community forced to keep its head down, challenged to find a reason to celebrate, and driven to change, had few reasons to mark the early setting sun that obliged others to bring out the decorations and the champagne. In the early 1980s, gender identity was as obscure as the idea of sending information from one desktop computer to another. Sure there were those of us closeted in our basement, tapping a 300-baud modem to connect to a large mainframe in Columbus, Ohio, and experience this weird thrill called email. But there were fewer of us who could think of going to a classy formal party dressed as in our dreams. “It was time for everyone to celebrate,” recalls Ingersoll Gender Center founder Marsha Botzer. Celebrate we did. The little party that began in a small attic space, developed into more than a celebration. Snowball, Ingersoll’s annual Gender Gala became the non-profit organization’s primary fund raiser. This year’s party is scheduled for December 12 at the beautiful Metropolitan Café on Capitol Hill. As usual, Snowball features a diversity of entertainment, greeting old friends, and celebration of those who have helped Ingersoll reach its current state of success. Again, this year’s celebration fills a need to celebrate good times when all around us there is challenge. However, in view of the world’s economic situation, ticket prices this year are at a record low level of just $9. (Tickets may be purchased at the door) Over the coming month, as Snowball gets closer we will explore the history of this very special party in this space — and Snowball’s importance to the growth of the nation’s longest running local gender identity support organization. We’ll give you some history, and some details of the unique folks — community members, politicians, and celebrities — who have been honored for their significant work. The past year has been an important one for Ingersoll as it refashions itself once again as an independent organization with unique recognition from Olympia to Washington, DC. Ingersoll is once again an IRS 501-C3 organization and prepared to move in new directions. None of us will ever have to again walk with our heads to the ground, hoping to remain quietly obscure. Ingersoll has been here for decades, and the past year — economic setback and all — has been a reason for all of us to celebrate. Let’s party like it’s 2009!