I would like to reinforce what Devlyn has said. "Drag queen," "drag king," and "crossdresser" are
not pejorative terms. These are alternative gender identities and presentations. They are part of our community, and no less or more authentic, than any other member here.
It seems the source of discontent comes some of our MtF transsexual members, from the comparison to another segment of the community. The OP ask, "Is being called a 'female impersonator' a (sic) insult?" The answer is, "No." It is, instead, a teachable moment.
I think we all understand that most, if not all MtF transsexuals, feel that they are women. It is also true, that many drag queens (aka "female impersonators") are gay men.
Drag queens are performers - usually gay men, sometimes transgendered women - who dress in drag, clothing associated with the female gender, usually highly exaggerated versions thereof. Drag queens often do drag to perform, singing or lip-synching and dancing, participating in events such as gay pride parades, cabarets, discotheques, and other celebrations and venues.
Female-bodied people who perform in usually exaggerated men's clothes and personae are called drag kings, though this term has a wider meaning than drag queen.
Drag is a part of Western gay culture - drag queens fought at the Stonewall riots in June 1969, and drag shows are traditional at pride parades. Prominent drag queens in the lesbigay community of a city often serve as official or unofficial spokespersons, fundraisers, chroniclers, or community leaders.
Non-western cultures have traditions similar to drag, often existing among their GLBT communities; the western notion of drag is also becoming more common in non-western GLBT communities. - from our own Wiki entry for
drag queenThe comparison does not mean the MtF is inauthentic. It more than likely means the commenter is ignorant. A male-to-female transitioner, if confronted with that comparison, should take the opportunity, for themselves and their sisters, to educate the ignorant.
If someone were to called me a fa**ot, or c**ksu**er, I would recognize those as truly pejorative and insulting. If someone asked I were gay, I would explain the difference between my orientation and others (as appropriate). Threatening to fight them would simply reinforce negative stereotypes we see and hear everyday. If you diminish one part of our community, you diminish the entire community.
It is not right for any of us to demean other members of our community.
Drag queens are often rejected by parts of the transgender community - especially, but not exclusively, by many transsexual women - because those people are afraid that they might be stereotyped as Drag Queens, too, which they are not.... Some members of the lesbigay community also disdain drag queens. Some are distressed by the participation of drag queens in pride parades, believing that this projects a harmful image of the lesbigay community and impedes acceptance. However, others see this point of view as intolerant of the diversity in the community, and still others simply regard drag as traditional fun that need not be politically analyzed. (ibid)
It is the policy of this website to promote diversity and tolerance. I expect our members to take that to heart.
