Eddie Izzard: Being trans is a ‘genetic gift’
By Nick Bond
British comedian, writer and transvestite Eddie Izzard this week spoke up about the growing public awareness of trans issues, saying that it’s been “kind of groovy for everything to catch up” with him more than 20 years after he first started publicly speaking about his own transvestism.
Izzard, who describes himself as a “straight transvestite – a wannabe lesbian,” visited The Talk chat show and told co-hosts including Carnie Wilson and Sharon Osbourne that transgender people had historically been sidelined in the wider gay and lesbian rights movement.
“Gay and lesbian communities have been coming out since the 50s, and transgender people were lost in there, like the poor relations,” he said.
“It’s my genetics, it’s not a choice thing. I think all alternative sexuality is genetic – I knew when I was four. When you hear about someone who’s 35 and [realises they’re] gay, I don’t believe in that. So we’re just being truthful about this, it’s a genetic gift.
“Sometimes I’m in boy mode, then I can be in girl mode, then boy mode – it’s a superhero thing!”
Watch the full segment below: