Men who dress nearly like women - Eddie Izzard

I can't get my head around the reason why these " men wanting to be women " still use their male Christian names and not those of a woman if that's what they're wanting to be.

I remember reading an interesting interview with him many years ago wherein he identified as being a transvestite half-way to being a woman. What he exactly meant by that and how he identifies today, I don't know.

I don't think he's mockingly parodying women - as far as I can remember when he did televised stage shows, he would sometimes have on a skirt and wear lipstick.

I can't explain him to you so that you 'get' him, as don't know myself. I would say that I don't find him a threat or damaging to women.

The only person who knows why Eddie Izzard dresses the way he does is Eddie Izzard.

He’s a very successful comedian and delivers his routines in multiple languages, has achieved amazing sporting feats, is a wonderful writer and an immensely talented actor - a little bit more than ‘friendly‘ and ‘does good works’! I admire him a great deal.

There was a discussion over Christmas on another forum I'm on about someone saying that drag queens are actually equivalent to minstrels blacking up. I'm not saying that Eddie Izzard is a drag queen as I think he is something different. It did get me thinking though, with all the Ru Paul Drag Queen stuff that is on at the moment and I think that yes, as I woman, I do find it a bit offensive that men are dressing up as some sort of parody of, or over-the-top version of a woman....

I m not sure as I ve never read up on him but I just presumed he liked dressing as a lady but didn’t want to be one but I don’t know as I ve never really found him interesting enough to venture into finding out
I think he’s respectful so doubt he would be mocking

P.S. I agree with SirChenjin - I really admire Eddie Izzard and was particularly impressed with all the work he did with young people in the lead up to the Brexit referendum.

There's plenty of information available online on the history of cross-dressing that might provide some insight-

Grayson Perry ?

He's transgender but I'm not sure that he is gay as he has dated women.
He's described himself as a "lesbian trapped in a man's body", which to me says that he likes women.
I suppose he just feels comfortable dressed as a woman, I don't think he's doing it as a mocking parody of women.

People should wear what they feel happy and comfortable in. We fought to wear trousers but men can't wear womens clothes? Equality works both ways x

I watched an interview once where he described himself as a lesbian trapped in a man’s body. So he is attracted to women (he was married at the time, no idea if he is still) but likes to dress as a woman.

I find it hard to understand, but then it doesn't matter what others think.
Its harmless.

So many weirdos about nowadays but as you say he is harmless. One comes into our local coffee shop but never speaks. It is a bit sad that they isolate themselves like that.

Straight men saying they are lesbians not at all offensive.

Who is a weirdo?

"so many weirdos about nowadays but as you say he is harmless....."
Eddie Izzard, a weirdo?!
He's a real talent, very bright and interesting. If he wants to dress as a woman, what's the problem.
He and Grayson Perry are heroic people.

I've seen Eddie Izzard live he is the most amazingly funny comedian. He dresses how he chooses which is his right. I remember him saying that he changed his make up when he was earning enough to employ a make up artist. I believe he likes women, but quite honestly I don't know or care. he certainly isn't parodying anyone and some of the clothes he has worn for performances are fantastic. He's a good human being who has brought joy to millions of people, leave him alone

I think it’s pretty disingenuous to call him a weirdo what you wear may be weird to others kircubbin a bit judgemental in your language

If someone from the past could see modern women in their jeans riding astride fast motorbikes instead of sitting in a long ful skirt, side-saddle on a quiet mare, they would probably think, "What wierdos!" On the other hand, quite a lot of those women in their hampering clothes and complicated hairstyles might have thought, "How I envy them the freedom to wear what they like instead of following convention."

But in the main these men who want to dress like women do not do any such thing.

I know very few, if any, women who dress like that.

I remember when Eddie ran all those marathons!

I am not sure which "any such thing" you are replying to, Callistemon.

If it was to my post, just before yours, the convention that most men follow is the trousers-and-shirt or trousers-and-T-shirt one. They are ridiculed for departing from it in much the same way that women were ridiculed and shouted after for wearing practical bloomers for riding a bicycle. If that is what they are comfortable wearing, it should be accepted as OK until men have equality to dress as they liked and no-one even notices.

Eddie and Grayson both enjoy flamboyant, eccentric frocks. In fact, I may join them!

Dressing in women's clothing as part of a sexual/gender statement doesn't come from the same motives as wishing to wear a skirt just because they like to Eddie Izzard and Grayson Perry are quite happy to be men, with wives and children. They are also happy to wear clothes which traditionally are worn by women in our culture

any such thing ie dress like any women I know

Which is exactly what I said.

Women who tend to think they dress like women do not dress like any women I know. Not even on an evening out.

Perhaps the women you know do dress like that Elegran - flamboyantly with a lot of sequins, glitter, too much makeup.