Your Guide To Navigating Legal Challenges As a Crossdresser

As an experienced crossdresser, I’d love to tell you that the world is your oyster and that you shouldn’t be afraid to embrace your journey.

However, I can’t do this without educating you on the dark side of this journey that many crossdressers fail.

Unfortunately, even in 2023, not everyone is as open-minded as us; some go out of their way to make crossdressers’ lives difficult.

That’s why you need to know your rights just in case you find yourself in this situation.

In this blog post, I’ll walk you through how you can empower yourself by knowing the legal challenges you might face and how to handle them like a queen.

Your Rights Matter and Why You Should Know Them

Here’s why it’s important for you to be aware of your rights as a crossdresser.

Protection From Discrimination

Knowing your rights can help you set boundaries and know that you shouldn’t be treated differently just because you crossdress.

Luckily, the U.S. has laws that will protect you from discrimination.

Some of these laws include

Title VII of the Civil Rights Act of 1964

Title IX of the Education Amendments of 1972

The Affordable Care Act (ACA),

The Fair Housing Act5

Executive Order 13672

Office of Federal Contract Compliance Programs (OFCCP) Regulations

Equal Employment Opportunity Commission (EEOC) Guidelines

Equal Opportunities

By understanding your rights, you can check and make sure that you have equal rights to a job opportunity and healthcare without being denied because you crossdress.

Your Safety

If you ever find yourself in a situation where someone harasses you because you’ve crossdressed, knowing your rights can help you seek help from the police if necessary.

This quick thinking can protect you from physical violence.

Advocate for Others

Once you know your rights, you can become an advocate for other crossdressers.

This way, you can educate them on their rights and raise awareness of the importance of gender expression.

So, if you’re looking for a job, want to rent an apartment, or just go out in public, knowing your rights can give you the extra boost of confidence you need.

Changing Your Name and Your Legal Identity

Let’s move on to something a bit more fun.

Since most crossdressers have a crossdressing name, have you ever thought about changing your legal name to your crossdressing name?

If you haven’t, here are some reasons why it might be a good idea.

Identity Expression: If you’re struggling to separate your cross-dressing lifestyle from your normal one and you’d like to merge the two, changing your name can help you fully embrace your cross-dressing identity.

However, if you want to keep your cross-dressing lifestyle private, you don’t have to legally change your name.

Instead, create a fabulous cross-dressing name that matches your style and identity.

A New Start:  If you’re moving states and want a fresh state, a new name can go a long way to give you peace of mind. Especially if you want to avoid people from your past and ensure they can’t track you down.

Legal Recognition: If you don’t want the hassle of switching between two names every time, you can simply embrace your crossdressing name as your legal one.

This means that your new name will reflect on your ID, passport, driver’s license, and even mortgage.

If you’ve never considered changing your name, don’t feel pressured immediately.

It’s a huge step, and you should only change your name when you are 100% sure that you want to.

Here are the steps you can take to change your name and legal identity:

Research Your State Laws: Different states have different requirements when it comes to changing your name.

So, do some research to see what your state’s laws are.

Luckily, you can easily find this information on Google

Get Your Documents: These include your birth certificate and government ID.

You’ll also need proof of residency so you can use your lease agreement to show your current address.

File the Petition: Now the fun begins; it’s time to file the petition to request a name change in court.

The court will give you a form where you’ll be asked to fill in your legal name and the new name that you want.

The form will also have a separate section where you can share your reason for changing your name.

Pay the Filing Fee: After filling out the form, you’ll need to pay a filing fee, which varies depending on your state.

If you can’t meet this fee, you can request a fee waiver from the court.

Update Your Documents: Once the court approves your petition, you can go ahead and update your driver’s license, passport, social security card, and government Identification card.

Reporting Discrimination and Hate Crimes

Let’s now move on to a subject that, although it is a bitter pill to swallow, is important.

I’m talking about discrimination and hate crimes.

But don’t worry; you now know your rights and have ways to fight back if you ever face these issues.

If you’re ever a victim, here’s what you can do:

Document the Incident

Just like you would send screenshots as receipts when you’re dishing the latest gossip to a friend, do the same and keep a record when you face hate crimes.

This way, you can stand up for yourself and clap back with legal action if needed.

Write down when it happened and who was involved.

If you can, take photos and videos, too, as evidence.

Call-in Legal Backup

If someone violates your rights, it’s time to call in backup and speak with a legal expert.

Talk to a lawyer who represents crossdressers or members of the LGBTQ+ Community and ask for their advice on how to prosecute.

Report to Authorities

When you report a hate crime, you’re not just looking out for yourself, but you’re also preventing the person from discriminating against other crossdressers.

You can do this by filing a complaint with the police or calling your state’s human rights commission.

If they don’t give you the help you need, go ahead and contact organizations that focus on fighting discrimination against LGBTQ+ and gender-diverse individuals.

Some great ones are the Human Rights Campaign (HRC), Log Cabin Republicans, and PFLAG.

Getting the Right Healthcare as a Crossdresser

If I’m being honest, I might be a hypochondriac because I’m obsessed with taking care of my health.

Because I learnt that doing this can give me more time with the people I love.

If you’re like me and you need inclusive healthcare services without dealing with sneers, stares, and judgment, here’s what you can do:

Ask Around: If you have other cross-dresser friends, ask them for recommendations.

You can also join a crossdressing community on platforms like Reddit and ask them for recommendations.

Research: Use Google to find clinics near you that mention that they provide gender diversity services.

Call To Confirm: Once you find a good clinic, call the doctor’s office and ask if they’re open to crossdressers.

This way, you’ll communicate your needs before you walk in for the treatment.

Meet and Greet: After calling, schedule a 30-minute appointment with the doctor to see if you feel comfortable around them and to get the vibe of the entire clinic.

Legal Considerations As You Travel as a Crossdresser

Now that we’ve covered most of the legal stuff, let’s talk about something more exciting: traveling as a crossdresser.

Before you start packing your fabulous vacation clothes and strutting to the airport with your favorite heels, there’s some important info you need to know about traveling as a crossdresser.

You see, every country and city has its own laws and ideas about how people should express themselves.

Some major cities that are welcoming to crossdressers are:

Berlin in Germany

Manchester in the UK

London in the UK

Lisbon in Portugal

Brighton in England

Paris in France

Stockholm in Sweden

Dublin in Ireland

Mykonos in Greece

Amsterdam in the Netherlands

Cologne in Germany

Copenhagen in Denmark

However, other cities like Dubai in the United Arab Emirates have stricter rules and can even prosecute crossdressers even if you’re a foreigner.

To avoid any legal complications, I recommend that you do a little research on the local laws of where you’re going.

If you can, please avoid crossdressing in public when you’re in countries with strict rules.

This doesn’t mean that you’re hiding your identity, but you’re prioritizing your safety.

Conclusion

I like to tell my fellow crossdressers that knowledge is power.

And as much as we’d like to let things like sneers roll off our backs, we need to know our rights and what to do when we face discrimination.

Plus, you’re not alone.

Remember that you can find and connect with other crossdressers online who know exactly what you’re going through.

They can be your support group and help you fight for your rights if you need to.

So stay confident, stay fabulous, and know that I’m rooting for you.