Glossary

Crossdresser (CD): One who wears articles of clothing usually associated with the opposite sex. Although some women do crossdress, the phenomenon, at least as far as societal interest is concerned, is more common in the male population.
Transvestite (TV): An older term used to describe a crossdresser. The word "transvestite" derives from "trans", which means cross, and "vestment", which means clothing. Most crossdressers today prefer the term "crossdresser" simply because "transvestite" seems to imply a personality or psychological disorder. In other words, "crossdresser" sounds friendlier.
Transsexual (TS): One who believes that his or her actual biological or "born" gender is opposite the one it should have been. A male transsexual, then, honestly and deeply believes that he is a "woman trapped in a male's body."
Typically, the transsexual derives no "thrill", erotic or otherwise, from merely wearing the clothing associated with the opposite biological gender. To the "male to female" transsexual, for example, the wearing of female clothing is normal and appropriate for the real gender.
Pre-op TS: A transsexual who has not yet undergone the surgery required to complete the physical change of sex process. A pre-op ts may, however, be in a transition period in which he or she is living full-time as a member of the "opposite sex" and taking prescribed medication (hormones) to partially facilitate the physical sex change.
Post-op TS: A transsexual who has completed the physical change of sex process, including required surgical procedures.
Sex Reassignment Surgery (SRS):The surgery required to complete the physical change of sex process.
Transgender (TG):A recently coined word meaning "cross-gender" and often used to describe both crossdressers and transsexuals.
Passing : Being able to function in public situations as a member of the gender he or she is attempting to emulate. As a male crossdresser, I enjoy doing this very much!
MtF: Male to female crossdresser or transsexual.
FtM: Female to male crossdresser or transsexual.
GG: Genetic girl or genetic gender. A wife, mother or girlfriend, for example.

Other definitions:
TV - A transvestite. Literally, one who enjoys wearing the clothing of the opposite gender. While most TVs are young males, men do not have any exclusive claim to the kink. There are females (other that butch lesbians) who dress up as men, as well. The defining point that makes someone a TV is that the cross dress for the thrill that doing so gives them. It turns them on to see themselves transformed from their birth gender to a creature of their desire. Sometimes, it is hard to decide just where to draw the line. For instance, a guy may start wearing his lady's undies at her urging. She's having him do this to keep his mind on her. She knows he'll come home from the office hotter than a pistol, and she knows he won't be dropping his pants with any of the secretaries. Now, if he starts liking the feeling of those silky panties rubbing against his manhood, does he, at that moment, become a transvestite? How about id he decides a pair of her panty hose will add to his appreciation? We don't have the answers. We just point out that labels are probably needed for communication about people, but they have their weaknesses in describing the depth and breadth of human experience.

TS - A transsexual. Someone who strongly wishes to be the opposite sex. They may or may not cross dress. What they are wearing is not what puts them in this category. TSs are individuals who feel profound gender identity confusion. Usually, this crisis has its onset in very early childhood, leading many to speculate that these individuals are mistakes of nature. By the time they reach adulthood, they are deeply uncomfortable with their biologic gender. Many seek surgical modification of their external organs (genitalia, breasts, etc.,) to bring their appearance more in line with the gender of their choice. These individuals tend to dislike the secondary sex characteristics of their birth gender when they see them in themselves, although they may find them attractive in a mate. Transsexualism, like transvestitism, is primarily a male phenomenon. Yet there are quite enough female TSs to rule against any sweeping generalizations. In a culture that values males highly, and vests the bulk of power and finances in their hands, the fact that a large percentage of transsexuals are males is indeed interesting. Why is this? If our culture were more gender neutral, would equal numbers of little boys and little girls drift into transsexualism? We really don't know.

Queen - A queen is a homosexual male who dresses like a female in order to attract male sexual partners. Unlike the transsexual (who also may look for sexual fulfillment in the arms of a man) the queen is generally perfectly happy with the type of genitalia provided him by birth. Like their more macho cousins, they may wish they were more generously endowed, but they seldom express the transsexual's desire to donate the family jewels to science.

Diesel Dyke - A diesel dyke is the lesbian counterpart of the queen. This is a woman who adopts the outer mannerisms and garb of a male in order to attract female sexual partners. Unlike the female TS, the dyke is plainly a woman when in bed with her quarry. The sexual play between a dyke and her lover is often no different from that of any other lesbian couple.