So, That Makes You a Cross Dresser, Right?

The One and Only RuPaul

Over the weekend, while Dan and I were snowed in, we watched a lot of Netflix.  (And, some Youtube.)  In all of the viewing that we did, I got a few answers to questions that I had. Namely, what is the difference between a Cross Dresser, a Drag Queen, a Transgender, and a Transvestite?  Because all in all, they all have similar elements to them.

The only thing that really ties all of the above together, is the fact that someone is wearing the clothing of the opposite gender. The reasoning, though, is what makes them different.

I'll go in the order of least amount of research for finding the definitions.

Drag Queen/Drag King: In either case, a man or woman dresses up as a member of the opposite sex, for performance/entertainment purposes. The clothing helps create a character. And, the costume does not mean that the person wearing it wants to actually be the opposite sex.

Transgender/Transsexual: This is probably the easiest for me to explain, (and hardest to understand in my head), and I don't really even have to look it up, only because I know at least two people who identify as transpeople. A transgendered person, is a person who feels that they were born of the wrong gender, and is likely to seek medical attention to correct their physical gender to match that of their mental gender.

Cross Dressing: According to urban dictionary, a cross dresser is a man (generally heterosexual) who wears women's clothes. According to wikipedia, just the act of putting on the clothing of the opposite sex is the definition. And, it's the overall name for the entire category of all people who dress gender opposite.

Transvestite: Anyone who has seen Rocky Horror Picture Show, has some idea of what a transvestite is. A transvestite, again, according to Wiki, is a person who dresses in the clothing of the opposite gender, for some kind of sexual gratification.

What does all this really mean? To me, not much. It's just a bunch of words, really. But, to people who fall into some of these categories, they mean a whole hell of a lot. Just because you're a drag queen, does not mean that you're a transwoman.  And, being a transwoman, doesn't make you a transvestite.  RuPaul, for example is a Drag Queen, but not a tranny (short for transgendered person).

For clarification, transwoman is a male to female gender reassignment, and, likewise, a transman, is a female to male.

Carmen Carerra, before and after

There are always exceptions to the rule, though.  Carmen Carerra, and Monica Beverly Hillz, both contestants on RuPaul's Drag Race, come to mind. Carmen Carerra came to the show as a male, for his season, but now, lives as a woman, and is gorgeous.  And, Monica Beverly Hillz, is currently on Drag Race, and just came out as a transwoman.

As I said before, transgender is very difficult for me to fathom. I just cannot make it ever make sense in my mind, how a person could just give up their identity that they were born with, to create a brand new identity, that will stick with them for the rest of their lives.I just wonder, if you were uncomfortable with a penis before because you felt like you were  really a woman, what makes you think that once you become a woman that you're going to be totally happy without it?  And, by all means, if you or anyone you know, can help me understand it, please explain it to me?  The goal here is for me to educate myself, as much as anyone else who reads this, instead of airing what may appear to be prejudices.