PORT ANGELES — Men paying women the compliment of imitation will begin arriving in town today for the weeklong Esprit 2012 convention.
Called “the Pacific Northwest’s premiere transgender convention,” about 100 people are registered for the annual gathering of cross-dressers.
Based at the Red Lion Hotel, Esprit will extend through next Sunday.
The convention provides a place for transgender individuals to wear their identity openly, to learn to be ladies and to live it up a little.
The Red Lion, which has hosted the event since 1990, was deep in preparations for the arrival of the Esprit participants Friday, said Vanessa Fuller, Red Lion director of sales.
Most of the events at the convention are closed to the public, including clothing exchanges, a pool tournament and classes in self-defense, religious and legal issues, cosmetics, dancing and social graces.
The Esprit conventioneers are “wonderful to be around and easy to work with,” Fuller said.
Shopping and tourism
“We could all use a little training to be a lady,” she said.
Fuller said the hotel and local businesses, including Fashion Bug and Goodwill, are working to convert storage rooms into “stores” within the hotel where the Esprit participants can shop and get their hair and nails done.
“Everything is coming along wonderfully,” Fuller said.
Guests at the convention also will be offered more typical North Olympic Peninsula tourist activities, such as a trip to Hurricane Ridge, a visit to the Port Angeles Fine Arts Center, shopping in Port Townsend and a ferry trip to Victoria.
Public events
Public events include the Esprit Talent Show and several concerts.
The talent show will begin at 8 p.m. Friday at the Elks Naval Lodge, 131 E. First St., including a 9 p.m. performance by The Boneyard Preachers, a contemporary blues group.
The Nasty Habits, a popular transgender band, will perform “edgy ’80s dance covers” at Bar N9ne, 229 W. First St., at 9 p.m. Friday and Saturday.
The Nasty Habits are not technically part of the Esprit convention but have scheduled Port Angeles performances in conjunction with the convention for several years.
Charlie Ferris will perform at 8 p.m. Saturday at the Red Lion Hotel Lounge.
For more information, visit www.espritconf.com.
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Reporter Arwyn Rice can be reached at 360-452-2345, ext. 5070, or at arwyn.rice@peninsuladailynews.com.
