QUEER WORD
TRANSVESTIGATORS

What it means:

Transvestigators are individuals who engage in transvestigations - a conspiracy theory-driven practice where they scrutinise celebrities and public figures to ‘prove’ they are secretly transgender.

This pseudo-scientific approach often involves analysing physical features and behaviours based on rigid, stereotypical gender norms.

Let's Use It In A Sentence:

Jake will never get back the five hours he wasted, baffled but unable to stop watching YouTube videos from transvestigators arguing that Beyoncé's clavicles are somehow definitive proof of her transness.

A Little Bit of History:

Remember when Lady Gaga first exploded onto the scene, and rumours circulated that she might secretly be a trans woman?

It was the early internet era - wild, chaotic, and full of conspiracy theories like ‘Paul from The Wonder Years grew up to become Marilyn Manson.’

These rumours were often fleeting, buzz-generating blips before everyone moved on to the next shiny object.

Fast forward through algorithmic rabbit holes and the boom of social media influencers, and you'd hope we’d grown out of these awkward teenage years.

Right? RIGHT?

The Rise of Modern Transvestigation Conspiracy Theories

Unfortunately, not quite.

In recent months, there’s been a surge in online personalities—mostly right-wingers (shocking, I know)—promoting transvestigation conspiracy theories.
They speculate wildly about the gender of celebrities like Michelle Obama, Taylor Swift, and Serena Williams.

They've even targeted The Statue of Liberty. Yes, really.

These trans conspiracy theories thrive on social media platforms that prioritise outrage and clickbait over facts or… oh, I don’t know… basic human decency.

Why It Matters: The Harm Behind Transvestigations

At first glance, it might seem harmless.

Who cares if some weirdo podcast host is ranting nonsense from his basement?

But this trend isn't just weird internet culture - it’s dangerous. Here's why:

1. Implying That Being Trans Is Shameful

At the core of transvestigation theories is the idea that being trans is something to hide, something shameful.

This fuels distrust, not just of the celebrities being targeted, but of all trans and non-binary people.

2. Reinforcing Harmful Gender Stereotypes

Transvestigators rely on outdated, toxic ideas about what a ‘real’ man or woman should look like.

It’s like playing an aggressively un-fun game of gender bingo based on body parts and voice pitch.

This hurts everyone - trans folks, non-binary folks, and cis people who don't happen to conform to rigid gender expectations.

3. Disproportionate Targeting of Marginalised Communities

Most chillingly, there's a clear pattern in who gets scrutinised.

Black women, particularly successful Black women, are disproportionately targeted.

This isn’t random—it's the toxic intersection of transphobia and racism, suggesting that Black women's femininity must be questioned and dissected.

What Can We Do About Transvestigators and Trans Conspiracy Theories?

It’s easy to laugh at the absurdity of transvestigation videos and TikToks.

But dismissing them outright ignores the real harm they cause.

We need to stay critical, call out the transphobia baked into these ‘theories,’ and support the visibility and humanity of trans and non-binary people at every opportunity.

I'd love to hear your thoughts:

• Are you seeing transvestigators show up in your corner of the internet?

• How do you think we can push back against this harmful trend?