Crossdressing and politics link?

[FireFoxAngel]

I'm not starting anything political in terms of one side vs. the other, but I'd been thinking lately if there was any major "divide" between political preferences and the acceptance of crossdressing? I recognize myself as an independent with conservative values, but lean left on other issues. I like to think I'm pretty much in the center. Anyways, the people I've come out to tend to lean more left than right. One friend I told, a hardcore conservative, was less understanding and supportive than my more liberal friends.

Does anyone else have any experiences like this? Just curious if anyone has seen anything completely opposite or similar to my experience?

**Not meant for political banter!** :)

[sheidelmeidel]

One friend I told, a hardcore conservative, was less understanding and supportive than my more liberal friends.

I'm sure that statistically it would break down the way you say, but I think it is an interesting point.

Did your friend give a reason for not being supportive? It might not have to do with politics itself. People who are conservative politically might be more likely to have religious beliefs and/or backgrounds that influence them.

There are lots of different types of conservatives and there are also libertarians who might be conservative in many of their political views, but have no problem at all with CD'ing.



:2c:

[AlisonRenee]

Conservatives aligned with the religious right twenty years ago, for the purpose of forming a large enough voting bloc to influence elections. That allegiance may not be true for all conservatives. However, the religious right is stridently opposed to homosexuality based on their interpretation of the Bible, so I'm hard pressed to expect much acceptance of crossdressing from them. I don't think most would be willing to separate homosexuality and crossdressing.

I realize that there are several ladies here with conservative views and my intent is not to offend - just my observation.

[Frédérique]

I'm not starting anything political in terms of one side vs. the other, but I'd been thinking lately if there was any major "divide" between political preferences and the acceptance of crossdressing?

If you’re talking about the two-party system in this country, I can sum it up for you – one party is in touch with the senses, and the other party isn’t*. Period. Case closed!:hmph:

I’m going to go way out on a limb and say the former party is a little more sympathetic to the idea of crossdressing, but, like all political “feelings,” this is based solely on retaining one’s grip on power, to the exclusion of any real compassion. Also, I need to say that the parties compromise their positons (in regards to touchy-feeliness) now and then, and they rely on each other for survival...

*I’m an artist, so I should know. That’s “artist” as in, “How about some meaningful funding and support for a struggling artist?” Hello?

[brittanny]

well I am very much a right wing conservative and I crossdress but I also agree that people affiliated with my party are much less accccepting than liberals

[Teri Jean]

I too sit on the fence so to speak and I found it does have its' advantages and draw backs. One you are making a more informed decission rather than a blanket decission and two is it will leave a lot of splinters in your tush. Ouch! LOL. Other than that I would say the majority of the support comes from the left side.

Teri

[windycissy]

My guess is that the more out you are, the more lilkely you are to be liberal. There are a lot of closeted gays on the conservative side of the spectrum, and that probably holds true for crossdressers also...

[Karren H]

I'm an independent but very conservative... I just don't like the two party system... Personally I think there's more of a corleation between alien abductions and crossdressing than politics..

[Maddie22]

I love and hate politics...My favorite president ever was George Washington, he was the only president to not affiliate with a party, and warned that the parties are dangerous for the country.

I agree with most that the general right is religious and conservative in the civil policies. While the general left tends to be more accepting of differences.

I personaly am very conservative fiscaly, but I could care less about religion, and I am very liberal to social/civil rights.

I'm more of a libertarian, but even that political party does not represent everything I am.

So I guess in a sense, like I am in college, a GDI...God Damn Independent.

[Fab Karen]

You'd have to be deeply closeted & not viewing any media to not be aware most republicans don't take kindly to our kind ( whether tg or gay/bi ) to put it mildly.

[trannie T]

I am a Republican in recovery. I can not support any candidate who is opposed to my interests and values.

[Toni_Lynn]

I am a registered democrat leaning toward socialism. (In the last US Presidential election I voted for neither Obama or McCain, or Ralph Nader,
Bob Barr, Chuck Baldwin, or Cynthia McKinney) That places me politically left. However, morally I am strongly conservative. That said, I have no stomach for the religious right who have perverted what it means to be morally conservative.

In Europe, I guess I'd be a Social Democrat or Liberal. In Canada, I'd be a Liberal or NDP.

In a very real sense I am beholden to no party, and will make up my own mind thank you very much

Huggles

Toni-Lynn

[docrobbysherry]

Which party would be MOST likely to think CDing is OK, after studying their bibles?:brolleyes:

All I know is; I'm voting for Sarah! Judging from her interviews, she seems so open minded and ACCEPTING, for a Republican!:devil:

[Denise Somers]

Wondered when this topic might come up. I tend to favor a strong national defense while not looking for places to interfere, very strong gun rights with no registration lists at all, to operate government at all levels on a balanced budget with no debt foreign or domestic and fund all our needs with excise taxes and a general goods and service tax. No income or capital gains taxes. And I also would strengthen our role internationally by environmental and fiscal example. But I also believe prostitution, and marijuana for personal use should be legalized. I would drastically change the legal system so that people can live their lives without worrying about the legal aspect of everything they do. It is absurd how much money is spent trying to avoid being sued. I think conservatives should embrace more people "as is" while liberals, while they would appear to be more accepting of CD's, can be quite nasty when one doesn't agree with one of their core beliefs. The right of free speech is never more precious than when it is supremely tested. Less ideology from both sides and more problem-solving is what I want..along with the unmitigated ability for Denise to enjoy our country ( or other countries) in the future. :)

[Alicia_lynn419]

Very "politically" conservative, gun rights supporter, personal accountability, fiscal responsibility, strong national defense, etc. I know lots of other "right wingers" who are totally supportive of me - but remember - not all right wingers are extreme right wing religious zealots! There is too much of a dichotomy in this country's politics - I consider myself a conservative/libertarian - not republican.... they have become democrat light.....

[AmandaM]

I am politically conservative, usually vote Republican, but consider myself a conservative Democrat originally who moved toward independent. I don't trust Republicans because they push money toward their corporate buddies and the middle/working class suffers. I don't trust Democrats cause they want to take away my guns and freedom of speech (curtail talk radio) and the middle/working class suffers. I consider the mass media to be leftist-controlled, supporting socialism, and generally anti-American. I think most churches hate me cause I crossdress. I think most politically-active gays hate me cause I'm a Christian. I consider Obama and McCain to be just like Clinton, Bush and Bush jr., globalists. The only presidents I trust are the ones on Mount Rushmore: Washington, Jefferson, Lincoln, and Roosevelt. The only other president I semi-trust is Ronald Reagan.

[NathalieX66]

I'm a swing voter... thought a true red Reagan youth bred by Kennedy parents. As for Pat Kennedy, I have met him twice because he served the district I lived in. I consider myself more aligned with the late senators John Chaffee & Claiborne Pell, which both breeds of senator are now extinct....met them too.

[Melinda G]

Liberals and Democrats tend to be more accepting of alternative lifestyles, while Republicans and conservatives tend to be more closeted and family values champions......until they get caught! Mark Foley, Larry Craig, Gov Mark Sanford, and Rudy Giuliani come to mind. :D

[tonixd]

Which party would be MOST likely to think CDing is OK, after studying their bibles?:

Technically speaking, if you are a Christian, you can say nothing against Crossdressing in and of itself. The only passage in the Bible that contains anything speaking against crossdressing is Deuteronomy 22:5 (http://www.biblegateway.com/passage/?search=Deuteronomy%2022:4-6&version=NASB).

The point is this: that is the Old Testament. Yeshua stated that not a jot nor a tittle (http://www.biblegateway.com/passage/?search=Matthew+5:18&version=KJV) (the two smallest characters in the Hebrew language) would pass away from the Old Testament law until "all [had] been accomplished." Then, on the cross, he states "it is finished (http://www.biblegateway.com/passage/?search=John+19:30&version=NIV)," thereby abolishing the Old Testament law and ushering in the era of grace.

So, for someone who claims Christianity speaks out against crossdressing as ungodly or sinful would, in effect, would also have to adhere to the entire Old Testament, or could easily be dismissed as a hypocrite.

That's just my :2c:. I'm a deist (http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Deism)now.

[JulieK1980]

Well politically I'm independant and don't agree with a two party system. However my actual political beliefs put me very far to the left.

[Susan.]

I'm a republican and fiscally conservative and moderate on social issues. The only people I'm out to are republicans, who all happen to be accepting.

That being said it should be a given that progressives, ie democrats should be more accepting.

I would only add that people should make judgements based on personal contact and not watching Hannity or Olbermann or what you read on the internet or in the newspaper.

[txrobinm]

in some states I'd be a conservative, but in Texas I'm a centrist. I vote for the candidate, not the party. Lately I've voted Democratic as I see the Republicans going all-out for big business, and that's not always good. But my ballots usually wind up mixed. Kind of like my closet!

[AKAMichelle]

I am a stanch conservative and have voted for very few Democrats in my lifetime. That is one of the things which my wife can't understand. How I can be a Republican and a cd'er at the same time. Lately I have become so disgusted with Republicans that I am considering becoming a Libertarian. It is almost embarrassing to be a Republican since they act so much like Democrats spending our money with no concern for what they are doing to this country. The world is just going MAD!

I find it interesting that there are others who are Republicans and cd'ers as well. I thought I was the only one especially since everybody I have met so far has been a Democrat who crossdresses.

[SuzanneBender]

Politically speaking I am the most liberal conservative you will ever meet. I know it sounds like an oxymoron but what do you expect from someone that can't decide whether to wear a suit or a dress to work. Ben Franklin warned us about the dangers of party men and his words still ring true today. I try not to affiliate with a party and try to look at each issue on its own merits. I feel about politics much like I feel about gender.

I know a lot of diehard Republicans and Democrats. I know that bigoted pigs are not bound by party lines and I also know that many will tell you anything you want to hear to get your groups vote. All that aside, the majority of the Democrats have taken the lead on the hate crimes bill, the repeal of DOMA, and the lifting of Don't Ask Don't tell. The majority of the Republicans cater to their more fundamental constituents and attempt to block these reforms. Unfortunately, most of them on both sides of the isle have no backbone and vote no before they vote yes on the issues. This allows them to straddle the fence when it comes election time.

[RobynB]

AKA Michelle, you are not alone.

[susan2010]

I'm fairly liberal and usually vote for Democrats
The Republican Party seems to be made up of three fairly distinct groups:
1. Libertarian, fiscal conservative: least government, less spending, less taxes. In general, this group should at least tolerate crossdressers and LGBT people.
2. The pro-business: this group is mostly out for preserving privelege and increasing wealth. Usually claim to want to reduce regulation, but mostly want regulation and policies to favor their particular interests. Will switch to the Dems when in their interests. Only interested in moral issues when they can make alliances; otherwise only interests are financial.
3. (mostly) religious right: interest is in imposing their view of morality on everyone else thru the force of law. Want to give more power to the government if the government agrees with them. Typically believe that crossdressing and gay behavior is sinful and should be illegal.

I know these are generalizations (Max Weber might call them "ideal types"), and that most people would really have a mix of these beliefs (even if self-contradicting), but this is how I see the Republicans now, and these contradictions are tearing them apart.

[JiveTurkeyOnRye]

As someone who considers himself a progressive (or a liberal, which has been spun into a dirty word) both in economics and social issues, I do think that people's acceptance of this has less to do with one's politics and more with why one has their political positions.

For example, many people who are registered, die-hard democrats are so not because of their open mindedness to social change, but because of their steadfast loyalty to labor issues and working class economics. This group represents a significant portion of the Democratic party, and they are frankly just as likely to be socially conservative as a large number of people who consider Rush Limbaugh to be a savant.

Where as on the other side, there are plenty of people who vote republican based on feelings of fiscal conservatism, but whom are totally open to liberal social issues and could be totally accepting of crossdressers.

[Cindi Johnson]

As a girl who doesn't believe ancient, incoherent books should dictate my life (whether Bible, Koran, or Mayan Calendar), I definitely won't get into bed with the GOP. Currently I'm 95% Democrat; I'll be 100% Democrat the day Obama pulls our troops out of these damn wars Bush started.

Look, when you're out and about town, shopping or sipping coffee at Starbucks, nicely dressed in a cute top and jean skirt , enjoying that wonderful sense of exhilaration and freedom which only one of us can comprehend, then you're either a Democrat or you're schizophrenic.

Cindi Johnson

[sherri52]

I stay in the center but lean toward the side that's to my benefit at the time

[sheidelmeidel]

Reading a thread like this makes me proud to be on this site. I venture that there are very few "places" where a discussion like this would not quickly descend into name calling and personal attacks.

CD'ers by their very nature have to learn to see things from multiple perspectives (or maybe the ability to see from multiple perspectives is part of what makes us CD'ers?) and on a thread like this we see the benefit.


:thumbsup::thumbsup:

[Dana Lane]

Progressives are the one that fought 'for' the new hate crimes bill and are fighting 'for' ENDA. They are fighting for the rights for every single person on this forum (that live in the US) to be able to express themselves and to not be discriminated against. Republicans are fighting these efforts.

[JulieK1980]

And it begins......:Angry3:

I was really enjoying this thread until the last two posts.....

[Astrid Star]

Does anyone else have any experiences like this? Just curious if anyone has seen anything completely opposite or similar to my experience?


I do not want anyone to get the wrong idea but I will not discuss my views so as to not offend anyone and get banned. I will just say simply that some of my views are;

* I am a Nationalist ("far-right" views in regard to cultural integration).

* My economic views are centre-wing (corporatism), closer to the right.

* But my views on sexual-liberation are very liberterian. :hugs:

I do often have trouble when I am involved in local politics and I agree on everything with some of my more social-conservative peers, until they oppose abortion rights and gay marriage. :naughty

Astrid

[Hope]

When I was in high school, I was a member of the "young republicans" (Which now is described as anyone under about 35 I understand). I was an anomaly in California.

And then I grew up, started paying taxes, started paying for doctors, for tuition, and paying closer attention to the world. Several of my friends went to Iraq (the first time). And I decided that what I really wanted my tax dollars to go towards was protecting my civil liberties, to providing health care and housing to the indigent (if for no other reason, I may one day be among their number), to funding scientific research, to providing quality education. What I decided I didn't want to pay for was more prisons, more police, an even more embarrassingly large military, and to have my civil liberties eroded in the process. I decided I wanted to fund a war on cancer, and on poverty, and on ignorance, not on drugs, or terror, or Iraq. So I had to take a good long, hard look at my relationship with the republican party.

And then the W. happened. And the Neo-cons took over the republican party. And the same person who was once a proud member of the "young republicans" was described by one of his friends as a "bleeding heart liberal," among other things. And so I joined my brothers and sisters in the democratic party. I felt like a traitor at first, but soon realized that freedom isn't about waving a flag or economic policies, or serving in the military, but rather it is about saying what you want, loving who you want, wearing what you want, and insisting on your neighbor's right to say, love, and wear the exact opposite, especially when it makes your skin crawl and your blood pressure go up. I realized that while my new friends might be disorganized and seemingly incapable of working together, they were at least, for the most part, working for each other.

I can't imagine ever going back to the republican party in the state it is in now.

[sheidelmeidel]

I can't imagine ever going back to the republican party in the state it is in now.


So why don't you start a thread about that? It has nothing to do with this thread at all. Previously I said I was enjoying this thread. Since then it has gone into a death spiral and diverted from the question of the OP. I guess it was too good to be true - to imagine a thread about politics where people would just speak objectively about something instead of standing on a soapbox and announcing their personal political views and bashing those who disagree. The web is filled with countless sites where people do that 24/7 - is there no sanctuary left at all? :thumbsdn:

[Joanie_Shakti]

I am a registered Republican but philosophically, I am a libertarian. I think that you are going to find those intolerant to other's lifestyles in all political parties.

[Holly]

Forum rules prohibit the discussion of political ideology on this board. Your cooperation is appreciated.

[sherri]

I am a Republican in recovery.:laughing:

[sarahcross]

I would for the most part agree with you. The one person i tell everything too is liberal and she is very understanding. I am as conservative as can be. I am also extremely religious. But i am also bi. That is the only part of religion i dont understand.
Sarah <3

[Briana Blonde]

http://farm1.static.flickr.com/45/130284123_3c21c8565a.jpg

http://www.moonofalabama.org/images/giuliani1.jpg

[janis murray]

I think anyone who's a CDr would have to have some liberal views surely?

[Alice Torn]

I hope she doesn't become a crossdresser! We'd miss the skirt suits, outfits, and legs!