ABSTRACT
In recent times the western world has become more familiar with transgender people than ever before. Celebrities such as Chas Bono, Kristen Beck and Caitlin Jenner have made people realize that anyone can or might turn out to be transgender. In addition, television shows like Transparent and I Am Cait have also introduced the subject and made many aware of the existence of transsexual people. This is not really new. It goes back to the sensationalist television drama of Jerry Springer (Yes!!! This beautiful young lady, the girl of your dreams, is really a man!!! [Cue screams.]), to the gentler US television hosts Merv Griffin (who legend has it, was himself a cross-dresser) and also Barbara Walters who seemed genuinely supportive. I am not going to pursue this historical line; I will, however, make one important point. In all this media celebration, if you will, of all things transgender, the cross-dresser (CD) is completely left behind. The general public believes that “transgender” is equivalent to “transsexual”.
