This thread ties into Sarah's thread on photos of passable crossdressers. Reading through that made me think about what a short time it's been that that's even been possible, and how common it is now. It's as though it's always been as available as it is now.
We, along with the rest of the planet, have instant access to all things related to crossdressing. Youtube, Flickr, Reddit, etc.. One could certainly get the impression that crossdressing is very common and accepted. I'm not suggesting that acceptance is universal, but it is accepted and even admired in certain circles. It appears that those who are young and pretty are quite well accepted and admired. Look at Youtube videos of Gigigorgeous or Johnluuu, to name only two of no telling how many. Look around and see how that's bled over into mainstream life.
I graduated from high school in 1976. Nobody would admit to being gay back then. From what I hear from teachers and parents of high school age kids, gay is no big deal now. Neither is it a big deal for boys to look like girls. In most cases, but not all, it's a step away from full-on crossdressing, but just think of how many feminine boys you see at the mall these days. I know if I see them where I live and travel that everybody sees them. Girl's jeans, fitted tops, long flat-ironed hair, earrings. Occasionally nail polish and makeup. One difference between them and most of us? They're not alone. They're with other girls. Mainstream kids.
How long has it been, for instance, since it became common to see male makeup artists at department stores. 5 years? Then the next step was male makeup artists wearing very subtle makeup. Now I know of a couple of male makeup artists that wear as much makeup as any of the girls, and feminine clothes, too (not skirts and dresses, but feminine).
Last prom season I was at a restaurant where several couples were having their prom dates. One of the boys had had his below-shoulder-length hair done in ringlet curls. I was sitting to the side of him and could never get a good enough look to tell if he was wearing makeup, but some of the conversations I overheard led me to believe he was. It wasn't obvious, though.
The article someone linked to on here in the media section is another example. This boy didn't get his DL photo done wearing makeup, but he wore makeup and girl's clothes every day with no problems. Every year you hear about boys going to the prom in dresses. It happened not far from me last year in a very small school.
Point is, at least for the young and pretty, it appears that the battle is largely won. I'm well aware that there are pockets of deep resistance and hatred. There always will be. But look how far we've come in just a very short time? It's a lot different now than even five years ago. Who knows where we could be in the next five.
Originally Posted by Sara Jessica
It is a commonly held belief that young and pretty or good looking equals "nice, congenial, self confident and so on" and this is not even related to CDing. All you have to do is look who gets ahead much easier in the world "the beautiful people (boys and girls both). If you are young and good looking you are more likely to get a job offer over someone older, less fit, less pretty/handsome (this is supported in the employment literature). I believe what you may be seeing is an artefact of that misconception . . . young pretty CDing, feminine boys or whatnot are likely easier to accept to the vanilla world than an old beat up dude like myself in women's clothing. Where the young pretty CDs are more likely to be seen as daring gender bending shock troops, I am more likely to seen as a "sad old guy with a weird take on life" 
Does this equal greater acceptance of TG folks perhaps a little but more so "understanding" and "tolerance" in those seen as "doing a good job looking like a girl". Desirae makes a solid argument that while these young pretty boys are out and about and seen by all with no issue they are also that, young. It is highly unlikely any adult is going to make fun of them or lay hands on unless they want to go to jail. However, what we don't see is how they are accepted by their contemporaries at school. Are they truly accepted by all or bullied/harassed beyond belief? 
