• What is a Transvestite?

A Transvestite is a person who obtains personal satisfaction and piece of mind by wearing the clothing of the opposite sex. In this article we refer to Transvestites as Crossdressers.The word transvestitism is derived from the Latin trans (across) and vestire (dressing).

Crossdressing is not new. It has been around since men and women started dressing differently. In general it has been frowned upon by society and is not practiced openly. Because of this the general public has little understanding of Transvestitism.

• What causes Crossdressing?

Crossdressing does not alter one's sexual preference. The early theories of Freud and Havelock Ellis are no longer accepted. Statistics show that homosexuality is not related to Crossdressing.

There is no single cause of Crossdressing. There are many theories but none have been proven conclusively. It is not caught, taught or inherited; it is not anyone's fault; it is not chosen. Usually it is unrelated to what a parent did or didn't do. Due to the lack of any definite cause, it is unlikely that there is any "cure" for Crossdressing.

• Is it legal?

In mainland Australia, Crossdressing is quite legal and crossdressing by itself does not break any laws. Crossdressing is not considered immoral by many theologians, provided there is no source of harm to others and that the practice does not obsess the Crossdresser.

• Misconceptions

The majority of people have only been faced with Crossdressing in the form of horror or suspense films (where we are sinister or paranoid) or comedy (where we are stupid), or perhaps at a drag show. They may read reports of transvestite prostitutes or of peoplewho dress as a disguise to commit robberies.

All these exist (just as there are prostitutes and robbers who do not crossdress), but they form no part of organized crossdressing.

• Who are Crossdressers?

Contrary to popular belief, most crossdressers are heterosexual men, often happily married and responsible members of society. Crossdressers are not perverts, but just wish to dress and appear in a manner they find comfortable. They can be anyone - a husband, parent, brother, son, nephew or cousin. They can be married with children, have a mortgage, a job and all the normal pressures of day to day living - just like you!

Many husbands keep their crossdressing a secret from their wives and families because they fear rejection and isolation. This causes tension and stress. Society also fears the Crossdresser because it does not understand him.

• What can be done?

There is no effective cure for transvestitism; however, crossdressing can be handled or managed better by the Crossdresser and his family.

Partners and close friends of crossdressers learn that transvestitism is a condition of life, and that it's not going to go away. The Crossdresser is unlikely to outgrow his desire to crossdress and cannot change his condition, although it's likely that he has tried.

The first step to coping with crossdressing is self acceptance. Accepting the situation can result in a happier crossdresser and mean a reduction of stress and tension for all concerned.

One technique of coping is management. The crossdresser continues to indulge themselves in dressing, but not in an obsessive or secretive manner as before. Their partner may assist them in this. In this way, the crossdressing becomes another bond between them, rather than a barrier.

The only way to circumvent fear and suspicion from the public is to educate them, but this is a long process and requires exposure to real crossdressers, not a cliché. Public speaking helps towards this end.