How does transgender differ from transsexuals, transvestites, crossdressers, or drag performers?
A transsexual is someone whose gender identity does not match their physical body and who uses hormones or various surgeries to change their external gendered appearance. The word transvestite refers to an individual, usually a biological male, who dresses in the opposite gender’s clothing for sexual or emotional pleasure. These people are usually heterosexual, do not wear the opposite gender’s clothing all the time, and usually do not view themselves as members of the opposite gender. Another word for transvestite is crossdresser, a word which many who crossdress prefer to the term transvestite (which has negative medical connotations). Drag performers are individuals who perform in clothing associated with men or women and who emphasize gender stereotypes for entertainment or political purposes. The term transgender is a broader term, which includes individuals such as transsexuals and crossdressers, as well as other gender variant individuals.
