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Kane (Ariadne) Outreach Institute of Gender Studies
Collection
SC.AK
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Table of contents
Contributing Institution:
Special Collections & Archives
Title: Ariadne Kane Outreach Institute for Gender Studies Collection
Creator:
Kane-Demaios, J. Ari, 1936-
Identifier/Call Number: SC.AK
Extent:
6.38 linear feet
Extent:
5.53 Gigabytes
Date (inclusive): 1974-2001
Abstract: Joseph Ariadne "Ari" Kane-Demaios is
the founder of the Outreach Institute for Gender Studies. Originally named Joseph DeMaios,
he officially came out as Ariadne "Ari" Kane in 1971. The
Ari Kane
Outreach Institute for Gender Studies Collection
contains various documents, audio
and video tapes, photographs, and awards. These items were collected by, as well as given
to, Kane chronicling the work conducted by her institute and the annual coordination of
Fantasia Fair, which is considered to be the longest running annual event for crossdressers,
transgenders, and transsexuals in the world.
Language of Material:
English
Joseph Ariadne "Ari" Kane-Demaios (1936-) was born and raised in New York City. Ari is
touted by Playboy magazine as the very definition of an Androgyny, meaning that Ari is
comfortable portraying both genders in society. During his childhood, DeMaios cross-dressed
just one time, which his parents found out about, prompting him to cease all gender
experimentation until later in life. DeMaios went on to receive a Bachelor's of Science
degree in Biophysics, Mathematics and Chemistry at City College, New York in 1958 before
commencing graduate work at New York University and the University of Buffalo. From
1966-1968, DeMaios taught overseas at St. Stephen's School in Rome and at the American
College of Switzerland in Leysin. During this time, DeMaios was able to cross-dress again
for Fastnacht in Munich and Mardi Gras in Naples. DeMaios eventually quit teaching, returned
to the U.S., and went into designing. He later opened a travel agency, in addition to
working as an educational consultant and realtor.
In 1971, DeMaios became the leader of the Boston Gamma chapter of Tri-Sigma and officially
came out as Ariadne "Ari" Kane. The chapter was later renamed the Cherrystone Club. In 1974,
the event known as Fantasia Fair aka Fan/Fair was conceived by Ari and several other members
of the Cherrystone Club including Betty Ann Lind, Betsy Shaw, and Linda Franklin. The first
fair was officially held in 1975 in Provincetown, Massachusetts. Fan/Fair offered
individuals, particularly cross-dressers, transvestites, and transsexuals a safe place to
express themselves. The Outreach Institute for Gender Studies, founded by Ari, was the main
coordinator and overseer of the fair until March of 2001 when its Board of Directors decided
to hand over management to Real Life Experiences, Inc., headed by Dallas Denny. The fair has
played host to a number of events including the Fan/Fair Follies, the Fantasia Fashion Show,
and an awards banquet. In addition to these events, the fair has continuously featured
various workshops and seminars designed to help attendees embrace gender experimentation and
succeed in their overall lives. These workshops include, but are not limited to, hair and
make-up tutorials, gender theory, and even special programs tailored to spouses and
partners.
In conjunction with the opening of Fantasia Fair, Ari founded the Human Outreach and
Achievement Institute, later renamed the Outreach Institute for Gender Studies in 1996.
Through her work with the institute, Ari wrote numerous articles, attended various
conferences, and coordinated workshops in order to stress the importance of sex and gender
studies. From her work with the American Association of Sex Educators, Counselors, and
Therapists, to the Society for the Scientific Study of Sexuality, and the International
Foundation for Gender Education, Ari continuously gained attention and appreciation for her
work. Ari was even asked to appear in 1980 on the Phil Donahue Show and the David Suskind
Show in 1982. Furthermore, she founded the Theseus Counseling and Consulting Service in 1985
in order to offer counseling, instruction, and health care resources specializing in gender
and/or sex related services.
Joseph Ariadne "Ari" Kane-Demaios is the founder of the Outreach Institute for Gender
Studies and was the main coordinator for Fantasia Fair aka Fan/Fair from 1975-2001, as well
as a sex and gender studies educator and activist. The materials within the
Ariadne Kane Outreach Institute for Gender Studies Collection
chronicle Ari's outreach work via the Institute, in addition to documents and audio and
visual tapes collected from Fan/Fair. The collection is separated into two series:
Fantasia Fair (1977-2001) and
Sex and Gender
Education
(1974-2001).
Series I,
Fantasia Fair, documents the planning, preparation,
and execution of Fantasia Fair, the longest running annual event for crossdressers,
transgenders, and transsexuals in the world. This series includes correspondence, pamphlets,
and newsletters, photographs, audio and video tapes, and is arranged alphabetically.
Series II,
Sex and Gender Education, documents the activities
of organizations, conventions, and of public outreach programs in which Kane was involved,
including the Outreach Institute for Gender Studies, the American Association of Sex
Educators, Counselors, and Therapists, the Society for the Scientific Study of Sexuality,
and the International Foundation for Gender Education. This series includes documents and
specialty items, such as trophies and plaques, and is arranged alphabetically.
Series I: Fantasia Fair, 1977-2001
Series II: Sex and Gender Education, 1974-2001
The collection is open for research use.
Copyright for unpublished materials authored or otherwise produced by the creator(s) of
this collection has not been transferred to California State University, Northridge.
Copyright status for other materials is unknown. Transmission or reproduction of materials
protected by U.S. Copyright Law (Title 17, U.S.C.) beyond that allowed by fair use requires
the written permission of the copyright owners. Works not in the public domain cannot be
commercially exploited without permission of the copyright owners. Responsibility for any
use rests exclusively with the user.
Immediate Source of Acquisition
Ariadne Kane.
For information about citing items in this collection consult the appropriate style
manual, or see the
Citing Archival
Materials
guide.
Sarah E. Witherspoon, 2018
Subjects and Indexing Terms
Audiovisual materials
Ephemera
Documents