Labels
Home Glossary Disclaimer Site map	I was reluctant to include a page on labels, for a variety of reasons. Firstly, I think they're unhelpful in understanding a person's lifestyle; a male could wake up next to a woman in the morning, wear her clothes down the street in the afternoon, and then spend a romantic evening with another male that night. Secondly, they're unhelpful because they divide what should be a united community. The alternative-lifestyle community is small enough as it is, without further subdivision. Having said that, I understand that we need consistently understood terms to describe ourselves and our interests to others within the community, so this web site uses these definitions for the terms below. Please note that the definitions used below differ from those used on the Seahorse Club's glossary page. crossdresser: a person who dresses in the clothing of the opposite gender, without using makeup or adopting full feminine mannerisms. Often (erroneously) used interchangeably with transvestite. Many CDs do not dress fully, for various reasons including guilt and lack of opportunity. transvestite: a person who dresses in the clothing of the opposite gender, and who takes on the looks and mannerisms of their adopted gender. Generally done on a temporary basis. Often (erroneously) used interchangeably with crossdresser. [Note: because they are used interchangeably by many people, the terms crossdresser and/or transvestite could refer to anyone from a hirsute, bearded gentleman wearing his wife's panties, through to a thoroughly feminine and convincing transvestite] transsexual: a person who has, or is in the process of, changing genders permanently, full-time, and legally. They may be further described as pre-operative or post-operative. I have the greatest respect for the courage of transsexual people; this must surely be one of the hardest things anyone can ever do. The difference between a crossdresser, a transvestite, and a transsexual was once described to me thus: a crossdresser strives to dress as a woman; a transvestite strives to be mistaken for a woman; while a transsexual strives to actually be a woman. transgender: catch-all term relating to crossdressers, transvestites, and transsexuals. However, in contexts where crossdressers and transvestites were described separately, I have also seen this term used specifically to describe transsexuals. Catch-all terms relating to crossdressers, transvestites, and transsexuals include: - tranny - tgirl - ladyboy - shemale (although more often applied specifically to transsexuals) - chick with a dick - the phrase 'slut with nuts' also conveys its meaning in a less elegant but somewhat more direct way. Other terms There are frequent cases where I have used terms with slightly different interchangeably. These include: - 'fetish' and 'BDSM', and - 'fetish' and 'gothic' I apologise to anyone offended by the use of inappropriate terminology.		See also: Glossary External links: Abode nightclub Abode inclusively refers to 'female form', 'male form', 'mixed groups', etc Seahorse Club TG definitions Renee Reyes Really good discussion of labels from a US transsexual