I was reading a book (Resource guide to coming out for gay, lesbian, bisexual and transgender Americans) and one section they stated this:
"Cross-dressers identify as their gender at birth but sometimes dress in clothing of the opposite gender. Transvestite is a psychiatric term describing men and women who cross-dress for sexual gratification."
I know in my journey it started out to be much more of a sexual gratification thing (transvestite), but as time passed it's become more of my female part expressing itself (cross-dresser). I can still get turned on pretty quickly if I'm dressed and the mood goes in that direction. It's kind of like the sexual arousal is just below the surface and at the slightest hint in that direction and things can happen quickly.
Actually the more I think about this it's evolved more over the years than I had originally thought. Initially I came to CDing like many of us, at a very early age. First time at 5 years old, second at 9 year old, third at 13. All of these were before I knew what sex was. It was purely me meeting my feminine side and enjoying the association with female clothes. Then I hit puberty and it became very much sexual, likely because of my sex drive ramped up significantly. Now in my older years as the sex drive recedes a little, the feminine side has taken the forefront.
Do you identify as a cross-dresser or transvestite based on the definition above?
Has it changed over the years?