You’re a 6’9” bisexual woman looking for action. Your search has led you from NBA locker rooms to WNBA locker rooms to the grave of the 8’11” Robert Wadlow, the tallest man ever (you’ve considered necrophilia but have nearly abandoned the idea). One day as you cuddle with your pet newt while flipping channels, you stumble across an interview with Miss Tall International. Apparently, she was selected from her particular tall club to compete in a nation-wide beauty pageant on behalf of Tall Clubs International (TCI). Once you’ve satisfied yourself, you investigate TCI online and realize that a whole community of friendly tall people from all across the country would love to meet you.
TCI is a non-profit social organization with over sixty member clubs and 3,000 members across America and Canada. Male members must be at least 6’2”while females must be at least 5’10“. All must be over 21 years old. The stated purpose of the organization is ”to promote tall awareness among tall men and women, and in the community.“ Various social gatherings, such as house parties and walk-a-thons, are combined with opportunities for travel to unite tall people and create camaraderie amongst a stratum of society that can often feel alienated. At the annual convention, members vote on a Miss Tall International, who will serve as the official public representative and goodwill ambassador of TCI for the next year.
Kae Sumner was responsible for initiating the first tall club. As a woman over six feet tall, Kae was illustrating dwarfs for Disney in 1938 when she decided to write an article about the problems faced by tall people. Her L.A. Times article entitled ”Six-foot-three (what will it be?)“ generated some interest among tallies. The first tall shindig drew nine people, but a larger community soon developed, leading to the California Tip Toppers Club. In 1940, Robert Ripley invited Kae to speak about the organization on a broadcast of ”Believe it or Not.“ This and other forms of publicity garnered attention and created solidarity among the emerging member clubs. Successful campaigns by the club forced businesses to provide larger-sized clothing, shoes, and bedding. Most clubs were inactive during World War II, but in 1948, 14 U.S. clubs and one Canadian club collaborated to make the American Affiliation of Tall Clubs, renamed Tall Clubs International in 1967. Grace Tattu (6’0”) became the first Miss Tall International in 1947, starting the tradition that remains a significant source of publicity and pride for TCI.
Currently, TCI provides scholarships of up to $1000 to students under 21 who are attending their first year of college and meet the height requirements. The organization also supports research on Marfan Syndrome, a hereditary condition prevalent among tall, thin people in which connective tissue becomes defective. The disease can affect tendons, ligaments, cartilage, and heart valves, often leading to heart problems.
Whether you’re a 6’9” bisexual or just a 6’3” dude craving a delicious schmoozing session with tall people, TCI can accommodate. As Kae Sumner, founder of TCI, may once have said, ”People make fun of me for being a tall woman. To these people I point out the height requirement that they don’t meet to join TCI. They usually get huffy and I always feel tickled that I’m a member of an exclusive club. You see, that’s the thing about TCI—it’ll tickle you, not to the point where you can’t breathe and want to body-slam whoever’s tickling you, but to the point where you feel titillated and on positive terms with your tickler. Being in TCI is like being tickled, but only in this particular way. I love being tickled in this way and I’d love to tickle YOU in this way too. Ladies and gentlemen, [she starts a drum roll on her lap and licks her lips] we’ve got a tickling fest on our hands. Dig in.“
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