I guess part of my 'purpose in life' is to continue to provide some of the answers to this thread's question, as it seems to come up every other month or so.
Life is simply hard enough for some of us, that we don't need any more obstacles to basic existance. Much of the general public does not like to associate with crossdressers; it makes them uncomfortable, and no amount of our trying to 'educate' them is going to change that. I've witnessed many acts of behind the scenes homophobic behavior against gays, and know that it also happens to crossdressers. You may not see it, you may not hear it, but you will be affected by it, somehow, somewhere, if you are 'out'. Friends turn into ex-friends; and sure, you may think, well, if they feel that way, then I don't need them anyway...until they're all gone. Family too; some just suddenly stop contact with us; others, slowly stop inviting us to common social events. At work, we conveniently get left out of group activities 'by accident'. When it's time to downsize and lay someone off, they find another reason to get rid of us, never the real one. The homophobic mailman accidently misdelivers your bills once in a while, or your packages get damaged just slightly more often than those of other people. Lots of things you probably won't notice, but add up to many inconveniences and problems that you will attribute to random chance or other causes. Oh, possibly the worst? You're considered a sexual deviant by law enforcement, and should a child be missing, you'll be one of the first suspects. Ever download pictures off the net? Are you absolutely sure that every single one of them was over 18 when their picture was taken? It only takes one to get you arrested on suspician of child porn if they can somehow connect you to a internet connection in a backwater town where the concept may include much less explicit things than in your own neighborhood. Sure, you may eventually be found innocent, but that won't bring back the costs of a defense. Paranoid, you think? Nope. It happens. Or suppose you have an accident and happen to be either underdressed or crossdressed? You might be the last one of the group of people taken care of, simply because the rescue workers think less of you or because they're repulsed by you. And unless you can prove that your injuries were definitely more serious than the other people involved, you don't have a leg to stand on legally. The list of problems you invite upon yourself goes on and on. Sure, you may never notice. But this stuff goes on every single day, and it affects someone. So call me foolish, or call me a coward, but I simply don't need any more drama, or problems, in my life than I already have.
Cassandra86 wrote,No, but you're not the one we're concerned about. The rest of society may feel very, very differently.I also dont think we are perverts.
