Cross-Dressers: One Step Forward, Two Steps Back

October 8th, 2010. By AbiK

Wanna know why cross-dressers continue to fight an uphill battle for acceptance? It’s because of situations like this. Just ask Dayanara Fernandez.

See, a while back, we posted about American Eagle Outfitters agreeing to ditch their rule about cross-dressers. The rule basically banned cross-dressed attire from showing up on AE employees at work. Like it or not, it was a step toward “mainstreaming”, if you will, and recognizing cross-dressers as a group that should not be discriminated against. Baby steps on a long road, but still.

But now, we hear Dayanara’s story. Apparently she had been a guest at the Deerfield, IL Hyatt hotel last June. And, as a hotel guest typically does at some point during their stay, she went back to her room. Only she must’ve felt like she’d just dropped in on scene straight out of Goldilocks and the Three Bears when she realized “someone’s been in my room…and he’s still here!”

Indeed he was—the “he” being a Hyatt employee. And, he was wearing her panties, skirt and high-heeled shoes, according to the complaint that was subsequently filed. He was also arrested and pleaded guilty to disorderly conduct, according to cnn.com.

Now, maybe Dayanara had packed a really hot wardrobe—I don’t know. And it really doesn’t matter. But here’s a guy who’s in her hotel room wearing her panties. Yes, that would qualify as “cross dressing”. And where I have a problem with this—aside from the fact that he’s broken into her room—is that given the challenges cross-dressers have in finding acceptance, why do it? Why not show some restraint and just go cross-dress in private somewhere where you’re not at risk of being caught, having your story splattered across the media, thereby perpetuating a culture of discrmination?

And don’t even try to give me the argument that it’s the culture of non-acceptance that drives the behavior. That argument is right up there with those who defend the take-no-responsibility drug addict who steals to get a hit as someone who’s a “victim” of his addiction.

Note to cross-dressers, and everyone else for that matter—breaking into someone’s hotel room is not going to put you in the best light in the general public.

There are plenty of cross-dressers out there—both publicly and privately—who are upstanding, productive and wonderful people who don’t break the law. It’s a shame one individual, based on his actions, has to drive progress for cross-dressers back a few steps after achieving a step or two forward.

Tags: Cross-Dresser, Dayanara Fernandez, Discrimination, Hyatt

This was posted on Friday, October 8th, 2010 at 2:00 pm and is filed under Discrimination, Emerging Issues . Feel free to respond, or trackback. Read our comments policy.