I’m sure you fully understood the point I was trying to make in writing this article, but perhaps further elaboration may be beneficial. It had little to do with what “normal” is and everything to do with the fact that I am an intelligent, functional, well rounded, “with-it” individual who’s feminine expression does not bring with it the (arguably) negative traits that have been witnessed in other crossdressers that my friend has known personally. If all one witnesses is negative attributes or behaviors in a particular type of person (such as a crossdresser), then it is understandable, how one may expect to see such negative traits in others. Transgenderism, in its various forms, is still quite a mystery to many (including many crossdressers themselves). My being a very sensible, well rounded person who also happened to be trans, equated to the observation that, to my friend, I am “normal” rather than “having problematic issues”, or “not normal”. Again, I fully understand your frustration with “normal” and how society treats the concept there of, but in this case, it’s just a matter of semantics. :) Admittedly you, I, and many others hate the term “normal” but sometimes it’s just easier/simpler to express thoughts by using such terminology in context of those thoughts.

I agree, if ALL trans folk (who are still in the closet, in full or in part) were to come out of the closet, and society could finally witness just how many of us there really are, it might greatly quicken elimination of the negative social stigma attached and the unfair classification of it being “not normal”. Football players, police, rocket scientists, doctors, teachers, animal trainers, entrepreneurs, high-paid business executives, celebrities, etc. – the list is truly endless. Trans folk occupy just about every facet of life, both the positive and negative, just like any other generalized group of the population. It is unlikely there will be a great big “come out” day anytime soon, though. It is currently impossible to stage such a thing, and good or bad, some people will simply want to remain in the closet for their own personal reasons.

Aside from the bastard that was caught in women’s clothing after raping a 14 year old, most such molesters are completely “normal” looking.

As are most thieves, murderers, crooked business people, and so on.

What is it the neighbors of the mass murderer say. “he was such a quiet man” “He seemed perfectly normal to me” and so on.

People who have screwed me out of money have been wearing a suit and tie.

I love it how in our media we are encouraged to strike out on our own, do our own thing and so on and so forth. Think for yourself, think critically, and yet very few actually do, and those that do are eyed with suspicion.

It makes not one bit of sense.

As far as the CD’s exposing body parts. On my flickr site there are pics I call “risque”. In a couple I am in hose and bra, and shoes, and that is it. The poses are not much different than what you would see in a fashion mag, or in the pantyhose aisle. There is another restricted set where I am getting into my disco jeans. I did my absolute best to keep it tasteful, but still felt I may be transgressing a barrier, hence my making them restricted.

That being said. When I see the absolute garbage that some CDers put out, or even just what “normal” people put out as moderate, I don’t feel so bad.

I cannot tell you how many people have made me contacts that have no profile pic, or profile, but have plenty of pics of their junk.

YEUCK!!!!

I barely like seeing women’s privates, I KNOW I don’t want to see some dude’s block and tackle!!!

These dufases give us unusual people a bad image.

On a similar note, I cringe at what society considers “normal”. It is either so dull your mind numbs, or it is just so offensive your mind explodes with rage. LOL

What we need is for all CDers to all at once come out of the closet. Just hit the world in mass numbers. I think the Norms would be shocked at how many of us there are, and oh my god we are not molesters, rapists, or thieves.

It would be cool to see some heads explode.

“It was reported that when police came to arrest him, he was found wearing a dress and women’s underwear.”

Ok, ok, obviously this guy’s a perv. But somehow, methinks that this has nothing to do with wearing a dress, and now the obvious corollary in peoples’ minds will be: “Guys who wear dresses are after my teenage daughters.” This is precisely the kind of exposure that we as crossdressers need.

It’s now irrelevant to the entirety of society as to whether or not this guy was a genuine crossdresser or not (*and by this, I just mean whether or not he does it regularly, or has the same “urges” the rest of us do). All that matters is that guys who wear dresses are clearly perverts and we need to be feared and ostracized further.

I think here though that we’re forgetting the way that so many of even our sisters and brothers act towards people within our own groups, too, though. Too often we have passable transgendered picking on non-passable ones as if they’re doing some sort of damage to the rest of the group.

While I’ve had my own opinions about people who seem to be mentally ill, the ones with full beards and a flower print dress who insist on being called “Sir” for example, I generally say anyone who actually tries should be given a modicum of respect.