Labels and Myths: Part 1

I don’t really like the various “labels” which people insist on giving to members of the T community.

Nor do I particularly like the myths which perpetually seem to swirl surround us.

Some of the confusion and misconceptions which surround the T community were recently, yet again, brought home to me when I was commissioned to write some articles for a start up web-site which aims to attract the attention of the various “letters” in the LGBT acronym. In the initial briefing and discussions with the site’s promoters, I found myself having to explain the nuances and differences between the various people who shelter under the “T umbrella”, so as the said promoters could try to understand why the T community is so fragmented and has not been able to present a cohesive force in pushing for our rights.

Additionally, I was asked to try and debunk some of the myths and commonly held views from those both within and from outside of the LGBT fraternity about T’s.

The end result? I became even more confused myself. 🙂

As has been said many times before, ideally, we in the T community need a strong, collective voice — a co-ordinated effort, a concerted push for our rights.

I can but dream I guess…

In any event, in order to help with my articles, I compiled a short list of just some of the labels we have to contend with…. and realized that my dream seems as far away as ever!

Still, here we go with a look at the list, grouped neatly into three of the key labels, namely crossdresser, transvestite, transsexual:

Crossdresser: well, what is a crossdresser? A good a description as any, in my view, is: a person who wears some or all of the clothes of the opposite gender. Why? Well we don’t know for sure, but we do know there are many types and sub-types… such as:

Fetish crossdresser: one who wears only, say, women’s underwear or a corset or stockings and suspenders etc for some form of gratification…

Secret crossdresser: dresses only in private when he can, maybe in wife’s/girlfriend’s clothes; snatches at the chance whenever it arises

Crossdresser with girlfriend or wife who knows but doesn’t appreciate the “artistic traits” of our crossdresser, and he is confined indoors or to only covertly meeting those with similar interests

Crossdresser with girlfriend or wife who knows and who is comfortable with it, even attending meetings, events with their spouse

One key, common characteristic, from my general observation, is that most crossdressers are happy to change back to male mode after a certain time dressed as a female, and seemingly don’t having any desire to transition; hence I differentiate them from the next common label, Transvestite.

Aaah, yes, the Transvestite: a tricky one. What really defines or differentiates a transvestite from a crossdresser? My view: someone who dresses completely as a woman (clothes, wigs make-up), goes about and about and tries to “pass’’; may harbor the feelings of wanting to be female but, for various reasons cannot ever transition. However, some might do some minor cosmetic surgeries (ie nose or eyelid alterations) to look more feminine, or undertake beautification treatments such as IPL or laser hair removal or eyebrow shaping.

But… hold on, within this label we also seem to have, amongst others,:

Transvestites who when “dressed” (or not) still prefer only women as their bed partner

Transvestites who prefer women when in male mode but, put them in a dress … and they’ll occasionally have sex with other men or other Transvestites — and, usually, they’ll swear blind that they are not gay… hmmm

Transvestites who are gay: quite clear, right?

And finally, Transsexuals… those people who have wholly or partly transitioned — partly meaning, in the case of both a M to F or F to M, either top or bottom surgery — and live full time in their preferred gender, having taken hormones or testosterone as the case may be.

Transsexuals may differ in their outlook and sexual orientation as much as any of the aforementioned cross dressers and transvestites so we have those who, post-transition, still prefer partners opposite to their birth gender (ie a M to F still prefers women), whilst others apparently change their orientation (ie F to M now prefers women)….

I can go on and on (some people say I do 🙂 ) but my point is that if we from within the community continually find it hard to define and explain ourselves “internally,” how on earth can we do so to outsiders… ?

Answers on a postcard please!

Despite Chris’s plea for postcards we suggest you use the comment field below to express your opinion. You must be logged in to comment.

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Tags: crossdressing, featured, labels, opinion, Transgender, Transsexual

Category: Transgender Opinion