Where Richard Becomes Bianca:Inside Miss Vera's Finishing School

When it comes to gender and sexuality, the nation is much more accepting of differences than it used to be. But, crossdressing is still something a lot of people find hard to wrap their heads around. The idea of a woman in a flannel shirt and jeans is commonplace, but a man in a dress can still be a head-turner.

For the past 25 years, a finishing school in Manhattan has helped men get in touch with their inner woman. Miss Vera’s Finishing School for Boys Who Want to be Girls bills itself as the world’s first crossdressing academy. Some students are transgender and go on to fully transition into the opposite sex. But, many of Miss Vera’s students identify as traditionally straight men. And many are married. Miss Vera is also the author of three books on the subject:

• Miss Vera’s Cross Gender Fun for All (Greenery, 2016)
• Miss Vera’s Cross Dress For Success (Villard, 2002)
• Miss Vera’s Finishing School for Boys Who Want to Be Girls (Doubleday, 1997)

WFUV's George Bodarky spent time with Miss Vera, one of her students and his wife.

***NOTE*** We withheld the true full names of Richard and Leigh upon their request to protect their anonymity.