Crossdresser or Transvestite?

[Charlotte7]

I prefer the word crossdresser, but that preference doesn't stop us here celebrating our Tranniversary in late September which is the date that I came out to her all those years ago. Truth to tell, it's a great opportunity for me to slip something grand on, and then have a good feed and a nice bottle

[DaisyLawrence]

In relation to my biological sex I crossdress so am a crossdresser (I am an English speaker so have no desire to use the latin alternative to a perfectly good English word so transvestite is history, literally).

In relation to my gender identity I am NOT a crossdresser. I am a dresser insofar as I don't go around naked. Now as it happens my clothes are generally purchased from ranges designed for biological women BUT that is irrelevant. My biological sex is also irrelevant because you are not going to see me naked so the only things that matter are my clothing and my gender identity and on that understanding I am not a crossdresser at all (or a transvestite) I am simply another person. No labels needed.

I'm not saying this subject comes up a LOT but is anyone else getting a sense of deja vu?

[Dede_M]

Thanks all.

Was not expecting an answer but opinions.

I’ll repeat my apology from the opening post about my suspicions that this is a popular subject and support the call to make it a sticky.

[Roxanne Lanyon]

Sweet girls, this conversation is turning into a vortex of meanings, all going down into the sea! Do we need to come up with another word, to further confuse matters? Honies, I am a crossdresser. It is what I was called back in the 60's when I began, and , dear ladies, it is what I am now! And, for the life of me, Roxanne loves it!

"My Soul is Feminine"

Roxanne Lanyon

[LilSissyStevie]

The term transvestite was coined by sexologist and pioneer LGBT activist Magnus Hirschfeld in the early 20th Century. I guess he thought it was better than the common epithets hurled at men wearing dresses.

[Patience]

Maybe we should start referring to it as the "T" word?

[Barbara Jo]

Transvestite and cross dresser both mean the same exact thing of course .
I have always said, ( half joking and the other half seriously ) that a cross dresser is just someone who will not admit that they are a transvestite .
Remember what Shakespeare said about that rose.

Anyway, neither term applies to a TS.

[Debs]

Accept what you are, don't try to mold yourself around other peoples thoughts, make them see you, as for gender, let it evolve around you, don't try to push it in any direction, it will change with time

[GeorgeA]

I was a transvestite until I joined here and became a crossdresser, as it seems to be preferred here. Now I'm a MIAD and agree with Daisy's definition. It's a very sensible comment.

[IleneD]

Ummmmm......... YES

[Hell on Heels]

Hell-o Dede,
It’s good to know that you weren’t expecting an answer. If you were, I imagine you might be quite confused right about now. Honestly it’s up to you to decide for yourself which term you may prefer (if either?), and it doesn’t appear that anyone is really gonna give a hoot if you refer to yourself as one or the other. (or a fire truck for that matter!)
One thing to consider though...I really have know idea how you found your way to this forum, but you may have noticed it is titled Crossdressers.com, and you decided to become a member. Soooo???

And Daisy, I thought you said “I’m an English speaker”, and then you throw a deja vu at us. What the Hell? Parlez-vous français aussi bien que l'anglais?

Much Love,
Kristyn

[Kitty Sue]

I like both. But when I am feeling sexy and a little frisky I prefer if the man I am with refers to me as his little "tranny or transvestite."

[Periwinkle]

Lots of people similar to me on the internet call themselves femboys, so I mainly use that or crossdresser if I choose to even explain what I do.

[HollyGreene]

They mean the same thing.
"Trans" is Latin for "across".
"Vestis" is Latin for "garment".