Is America Ready For A Transvestite President?

My intention with this blog is to rationally examine the phenomena of transvestitism and the implications or non-implications of cross dressing in the Presidential bid of Rudy Giuliani. I am not stating that the former Mayor of New York has these tendencies as only a trained mental health professional can accurately diagnose this disorder. My aim is to counter assertions in the conservative blogosphere that this diagnosis, if indeed true, would play no significant role in his functioning in the office of the Presidency. Just as most open-minded U.S. citizens would not discount a candidate based on their religion, race, or social background, neither should the voting public allow a preconceived notion of cross-dressing to influence their decision in the voting booth.

In my opinion, Americans have only a cursory understanding of transvestitism. According to The Diagnostic and Statistical Manual of the A.P.A. two criteria must be present in order to have transvestic fetishism - 1.) A heterosexual male has recurrent, intense sexually arousing fantasies, sexual urges, or behaviors involving cross dressing and 2.) These fantasies, urges or behaviors cause clinically significant distress or impairment in social, occupational, or other important areas of functioning. The transvestic phenomenon ranges from occasional solitary wearing of female clothes to extensive involvement in the transvestite subculture. Motivation for cross dressing may change over time, temporarily or permanently with sexual arousal diminishing or disappearing. In such instances, the cross dressing becomes an antidote to anxiety or depression or contributes to a sense of peace and calm.

This blogger is aware of four instances where Mayor Giuliani has cross-dressed in public. (In March of 1997 he appeared in full drag, a la Victor/Victoria with Julie Andrews. Later that year he appeared as an Italian grandmother on Saturday Night Live. Another year he appeared onstage with the Rockettes in fishnet stockings and there is a video floating around the internet starring Donald Trump and a platinum haired woman who looks suspiciously like Rudy). It is obvious that each of these occasions was done in jest. It takes a man very secure in himself to appear in public in a dress. If anything we should congratulate his courage.

Dressing in drag is an honored comic institution in Great Britain where Monty Python and Dame Edna have ruled the “telly” airwaves for years. No one thinks anything of it. The common image America has of transvestitism is of Corporal Klinger in the old 1970’s sitcom MASH. Today, the comic genius of Eddie Izzard shines through his full make-up and platform shoes and he slips easily into conventional acting roles. In short, everyone gets the joke and no one cares.

There is nothing wrong with cross-dressing. It hurts no one. (An associate feature of transvestitism maybe sexual masochism but that will have to wait for another blog). I believe cross dressing is actually a healthier and safer way to deal with stress than other forms of Presidential anxiety reduction. (Think: a gin soaked Nixon sloshing around the White House during Watergate).

Is America ready for a transvestite President? I say yes.