First and foremost, the view that crossdressing is unique to gays is a sterotype, and as sterotypes are want to be - is grossly inaccurate. It IS a powerful sterotype, one that is damag- ing to the crossdresser's own self-understanding, as well as to the public's understanding of the phenomenon. For, as it turns out, research has found that something like 85-90 percent of all cross- dressers are HETEROSEXUAL (in their primary sexual orienta- tion). The corollary sterotype - that all gays are into crossdressing, at least to some extent in hence patently off-the-wall as well. Second, crossdressing is common to a number of markedly behavior patterns. There are classic transvestites (TVs), drag queens, transgenderists, (pre-operative) transexuals, sado-maso- chists, and others who crossdress,and each has a different purpose in doing so. For now, it is important for you to understand the differences between "drag queens" and classic TVs.

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The "drag queen" is gay and his crossdressing tends to be other-oriented, primarily a vehicle for attracting a male sex partner (perhaps helping to ease the potential partner's guilt over being gay) and/or as a pimp on society and its sterotype of gay men. as limp-wristed effeminate types (another gross distortion). On the other hand, the classis TV is straight and his crossdressing tends to be much more self-oriented, primarily a vehicle for ex- pressing the feminine side of his personality (which he and most other men learn to bury during childhood). The "drag queen" is more apt to be out in public and, not especially into being mistaken ("passing") for a woman, is more apt to be recognized as a man. The classic TV tends to remain in the privacy of his own home or in the seclusion of a motel room, and tends to venture outside only when he feels accomplished enough at his dressing to believe he can "pass." So with most people's contact with crossdressing being via the "queen," it is not unreasonable for them to assume that all crossdressers are gay. Yet it is equally important that this asumption be de-bugged.

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This matter is personally quite important for me, as I am part of the crossdressing para-culture. Though we are not as visi- ble (yet) or as large as the gay community, we like the gays are engaged in a struggle for OUR civil rights, for public under- standing and acceptance, and for self understanding and self acceptance. Ours is a movement that is growing. On a national level, we are developing our own internal organization and strength, and hope to gradually begin going more public. In the

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