FAQS

1. What is cross dressing and transgenderism?

Basically, cross dressing and other transgendered behaviors are merely a form of personality expression. No individual is 100% masculine or feminine. We all have characteristics, traits and even body chemistry pertinent to the opposite sex. Some of us have these to a higher degree than others. A transgendered person is simply embracing that opposite sex part of their personality which is stronger and more ingrained than in most people.

This behavior is deeply rooted to their personality. Most recall very strong opposite sex urges and feelings since early childhood and for the most part, these desires stay with them their entire lives.

2. Why do transgendered people need to dress in opposite sex clothing; can’t they express their other side in ordinary ways?

Often times they do. But to fully express their secondary gender nature they are ultimately driven to "dress the part". This dual nature of transgendered (TG) persons requires that the exterior match their interior. Typical cross dressers don't need to dress all the time because the feminine aspect of their personality doesn't require 100% expression.

The short answer is - nobody knows. There has been much research on this phenomenon but with no conclusive findings. Theories of both psychological and biological causality have been forwarded and it is quite likely there are different causes for different individuals.

Lately, strong research suggests that an incorrect amount of miss-timed secretion of male hormone during stages of fetal development may create a transgendered individual - whether male or female. Biologically, nature will produce a female unless male androgens are supplied at the right times and in the right amounts. There are physiological and mental gray areas between male and female "absolutes".

Additionally, there are some theories arguing a genetic model of causality.

No. It is innate to their total person. Besides, why would someone choose a lifestyle that has traditionally been stigmatized by society?

No. Many psychological and medical therapies have been tried, but none have been shown to have a lasting effect. Hormonal, drug and behavior modification treatments may have a temporary suppressing effect but do not alleviate the condition.

The best "cure" is for a TG individual to become self-accepting and for our society to understand this behavior and appreciate the value of diverse individuals in our culture.

Frankly, most well adjusted TG persons are not interested in a cure. They enjoy their lifestyle. For many cross dressers, spending time in their other sex persona is very comfortable and stress relieving - it is like a mini vacation.

Not all TG persons have the same psychology or personality, there is a great deal of variance among them. The major types are:

Cross dressers (CD's) - Synonymous with -the clinical term "transvestite". The bulk of the gender community is made up of CD's. They are predominantly heterosexual males. Gay and bisexual males and some females make up the balance of this group but about 90% of cross dressers are straight men who marry and raise families like any other man. A CD dresses only part of the time as the opposite sex. This may be once a month or several times a week. A male CD is undetectable by society when not dressed which makes their numbers hard to ascertain, but many studies have determined that between 1 and 5% of the male population are CDs. They are distributed among all strata and demographics of society. Accurate numbers are hard to determine since nearly all are demonstrably male in their everyday lives and the vast majority are still heavily closeted.

Transsexuals (TS's) - A TS is an individual whose sexual identity and gender identity are in more opposition. That is, they have the body of one sex but the psyche of the other sex. It is common for a Male-to-Female (MtF) TS to simply explain that they are a "woman born into a man's body". Incidence of transsexualism in the population is even harder to determine than cross dressing though it is more rare. Studies do seem to indicate that MtF individuals and Female-to-male (FtM) individuals are about equal. TS's will undergo hormonal, therapeutic and surgical treatment to bring their body and psyche into agreement. The fundamental difference between a TS and a CD is that the CD is not actually interested in (although they may fantasize about) changing their sex. A TS is not considered a cross dresser since they are essentially wearing correct gender clothing.

Transgenderist - A transgenderist is someone who lives primarily in the role of the opposite sex. They may elect for some hormonal and surgical treatment to do so but they are not interested in sexual reassignment surgery (SRS). Many feel that they are members of a "third sex" and do not feel they have to choose between society's "either-or" sex roles.

Drag Queen - A term often misused to describe any man wearing female clothing. Commonly applied, it describes a gay man who occasionally dresses as a woman usually for a party, performance or special event. The effect may be an exaggerated image of a female with less emphasis on "passing". Contrary to popular belief, it is a minority - not the majority - of gay men who go in drag.

They are three totally separate issues. Your sexual identity is your biological sex, a male or female body. Your gender identity is what is in your mind - a sense of being male or female or in the case of many TG people, having a dual-gender nature. Simply put, your sex ID is what's between your legs and your gender ID is what's between your ears. For most people, their sex ID and their gender ID. For TG people, there is at least some variance between the two. Sexual orientation is simply what sex you are attracted to for physical and relationship partnering and is basically unrelated to your sense of gender.

No. Transgender behavior has been around since the dawn of civilization. There are records of males and females crossing over throughout history and in virtually every culture. It is simply a naturally occurring part of all societies. In many cultures such as native American and eastern countries, a Transgendered person was thought to be a blessing to the family, tribe or society as they were considered to have a higher spiritual nature

We are hearing lot about dressing now because it is simply in the media a lot. Americans are at once fascinated by sexuality and still suppressed by it. Sexuality occurs in many facets of our daily life such as advertising, movies, etc. But it occurs so little in meaningful ways such as in communication between married couples and good societal discourse. Because people who don't fit society's sexual molds create curiosity, they also create high ratings. Frankly, much media attention has only perpetuated the myths about Transgendered people. They are often used for comic-relief and shown for shock value and controversy. The image of an outlandish "drag queen" talking about hustling guys is a disservice to the gender community. A TG sex worker no more represents transgender people than a female prostitute represents the majority of women. The general public lacks a positive depiction of Transgendered people because societal pressure prohibits most bankers, attorneys, truck drivers, police officers, engineers, ministers and construction workers from coming out.

No on both counts. Transgenderism is a behavior and not an illness, mental or otherwise. They are not suffering from Multi-Personality disorder or Schizophrenia. The behavior is simply an expression of who they are; it is as intrinsically harmless as having blue eyes.

Transgendered people are not sexual deviants. This behavior is unconnected to exhibitionism, child molestation or any other sexual behavior, coercive or non-coercive. All sexual behaviors statistically cut across all aspects of society. It is possible for a transgendered person to be an exhibitionist, but it is less likely since nature has already selected them once, and inherent sexual behaviors tend not to "strike twice".

A distinction must be made between coercive and non-coercive sexual activity. American society largely views any sexual conduct that is not strictly mainstream to be "deviant", interpreted - "bad". Coercive sexual practices such as exhibitionism, voyeurism, molestation, rape and even obscene phone callers create unwilling victims with their behavior.

On the other hand, non-coercive sexual behaviors such as cross dressing and fetishism are benign activities that do not create victims.

No. Since most cross dressers are heterosexuals, they tend to marry heterosexual women. Sometimes woman may wonder if she is a lesbian when she discovers her partner is a cross dresser, but this is simply not the case.

Chances are you may know one or more TG persons and simply not realize it. You may have a family member and not realize they are transgendered. Since they usually keep their behavior very secret due to the negative societal stigma, you may never discover this aspect of a friend or family member, especially if they are a cross dresser.

However, if you do, bear in mind that they are the same person they always were. You have Just learned about-one other facet of their personality. Rejecting someone for an innocent behavior can do great personal damage to their sense of self-worth. Like you, their feelings of self esteem can be-quite fragile.

Our society has determined that TG behavior is inappropriate. Everyone of us, including the transgendered, have been programmed literally since birth regarding proper gender roles and behavior. Consequently, many TG people bear the load of needless guilt and shame. This is what causes the most significant problems for a transgendered person. Finding a good, support group is important for them.

Counseling will only help them cope with personal conflicts about their behavior and societal expectations. It is not a "cure" oriented therapy. It is generally understood in the helping professions that transgendered behavior is not a particular individual's problem - it is a societal one in how it views the behavior.

If a TG seeks therapy, they are best served by someone who has both a background and experience with gender issues.

Simple. They use the one which is most appropriate for their appearance. They do not have illicit or prurient reasons for being in there. The visit is purely for taking care of business.

Generally no, cross dressers do not "graduate" into Tran sexuality. The gender psyche between them is quite different. However, sometimes a person who thinks they are simply a TV may, after becoming more self-aware of their gender, determine that they are truly TS. The opposite can also happen where a person who thinks they are TS may indeed come to realize they are a "garden variety" crossdresser

Discerning between the two and the possibility of being a transgenderist can be difficult. Another value of a support group is that it allows an individual to "compare notes" with others and helps them to discern their true gender foundation.

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