Support available for crossdressers

Dear Annie: I’m a 24-year-old male who has been crossdressing since the age of 8. It started with collecting my own bras and panties, and now I have an entire wardrobe of women’s clothing.

Because I currently live on my own, I change out of my male clothes into my female ones as soon as I come home from work. I’ve also had very serious thoughts and dreams about being a woman.

This is confusing to me, and I want to know whether there is someone I can talk to about these feelings. I’m way too scared to come out to family or friends because of what they would think. – Lost in Ottawa

Dear Ottawa: Crossdressing is not as uncommon as you might think, and there are many reasons. Some people crossdress to disguise themselves, be more comfortable, act a part or because it is attractive to a partner (e.g., women who wear a man’s dress shirt to bed). That type of crossdressing is fairly common and socially acceptable.

For others, there is a sexual component or a release of tension, along with a compulsion to wear clothing of the opposite gender. This type of crossdressing can be more difficult for family members or partners to accept. You can find support and information through The Society for the Second Self (tri-ess.org) and the International Foundation for Gender Education (ifge.org).