Why the desire to pass?

[sherri]

I like you Sherri!! You talk my language.

Why thank you sweetie!

I like the term transgender as the umbrella. I always delineated it like this:

1. Transgender - One who does not conform to the gender norms of the larger society.
2. Crossdresser - Wears some or all the clothing of the opposite gender. Also falls under the term transgendner.
3. Transvestite - Wears the clothes and assumes the appearance of the opposite gender. Also falls under the terms transgendner and crossdresser.
4. Transsexual - Assumes the dress, appearance, and physiology (to some degree) of the opposite gender. Also falls under the terms transgendner, crossdresser, and transvestite.

Is this a good delineation?

Hmm, well it's pretty close. In the parlance of academia and behavioral scientists, I think the terms crossdresser and transvestite are used interchangeably. I suppose the term crossdresser would be more appropriate for someone who only wears panties or skirts or whatever, whereas transvestites nearly always go for full emulation, but the latter term doesn't seem to be very popular with TGs these days, I presume because of the negative connotations associated with its use in general society. So crossdresser is prolly more PC, and TG even better (imo). And while a transsexual is a form of transgender, I regard TS as distinct from CD and TV, both in character and degree.

But none of that matters much to me. I'll answer to just about anything ... except sir.