The Paper | Calendar | |Businesses | Attractions | Nightlife | Resources | Gay Links | Home The Paper - September/October 1998 Queens Unite: Transgender News A new organization designed to help transgender people is hoping to find support in Monterey County. Queens Unite, a new program started by Marcus Kelly and sponsored by the Monterey County AIDS Project's Man-2-Man Program, will reach out to pre- and post-operative transgender men and women. Filling a Void "When I moved to Salinas six monmths ago," said Kelly, "I knew nothing about the community out here. And then I started seeing that no one was targeting the transgender community for [HIV] education and prevention." Kelly submitted a proposal to MCAP Executive Director Cajetan Luna, who supported Kelly's plan. The new group will hold "Transgender 101" programs and speak to community groups about transgender issues. Queens Unite will also hold regular support group meetings and has already started an outreach and education program at Franco's Norma Jean in Castroville and the L'amour bookstore in Salinas according to Kelly, who has been a female impersonator for 10 years. Kelly hopes to expand the Queens Unite program through grants. You can reach Kelly for information about Queens Unite by calling the Monterey County AIDS Project at 831/772-8200.