The Cross-Dressing Straw Man
On 30, Oct 2012
By Brynn Tannehill
http://outservemag.com/2012/10/the-cross-dressing-straw-man/When the issue of transgender service comes up, those opposed to it often jump straight to the practice of cross-dressing or drag (which are often conflated). Drag queens are usually gay men who wear heavy makeup and outrageous costumes for the performance purposes, and are generally trying to be "campy." Cross-dressers are usually heterosexual men who do it for reasons of personal expression. Transsexuals wear clothing appropriate to the gender they live in day to day.
The people who raise this flag automatically assume that people who cross-dress or do drag will insist on wearing whatever they want on base or on duty. Other accusations include the idea that people will switch between men's uniforms and women's uniforms indiscriminately.
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The assumption is that if transgender individuals are allowed to serve openly, you will end up with drag queens flouncing around at morning formation like a pancake-makeup coated Monty Python sketch comedy routine. People assume individuals will exploit the situation to show up for duty wearing whatever they want. The belief is they will make a mockery of good order and discipline.
