# Is it illegal anywhere to impersonate a woman? **URL:** \ **Category:** Factual Questions\ **Created:** [August 2, 2012, 12:51am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/is-it-illegal-anywhere-to-impersonate-a-woman/630129 "2012-08-02T00:51:34Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 6\ **Page:** 2
**Author:** ![Lamia](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/l/8e7dd6/32.png) [@Lamia](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Lamia)\ **Post date:** [August 3, 2012, 12:31am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/is-it-illegal-anywhere-to-impersonate-a-woman/630129/21 "2012-08-03T00:31:07Z")
In Randy Shilts’s book about Harvey Milk, _The Mayor of Castro Street_, it’s mentioned that San Francisco gay bars were often raided by the police in the '50s and '60s and there could be legal problems for men who were dressed as women. One thing some of these men did to protect themselves was wear a badge or nametag saying “I am a man” while otherwise dressed in full drag. I don’t remember if the book said this actually worked, but it was supposed to provide a defense against charges that the man in question was trying to trick anyone. ---
**Author:** ![alphaboi867](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/alphaboi867/32/3898_2.png) [@alphaboi867](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/alphaboi867)\ **Post date:** [August 3, 2012, 3:32am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/is-it-illegal-anywhere-to-impersonate-a-woman/630129/22 "2012-08-03T03:32:49Z")
> [@md2000](#): > > Joan of Arc was convicted of heresy for wearing men’s clothing (contrary to some Bible rule), among other things. According to Wikipedia, execution for heresy required a repeat offense, so when she put mens’ clothing back on again after some English lord tried to rape her in prison, she was doubly guilty. She was burned at the stake for this. Her guards stole her clothes and left a set of men’s clothes in her cell. It was either wear those or go naked. This was then used as a pretext to execute her for relapse. > [@robert\_columbia](#): > > I remember watching a cartoon (not sure if it was a movie or a tv show, but I believe it was Disney), where an anthropomorphic male cartoon character was arrested for wearing a Scottish kilt, as the cop considered that to be crossdressing (because it’s a skirt, duh), so it seems that the cartoon acknowledged the idea that crossdressing could be construed as a crime. It was an episode of **Ducktales** and that poor recently arrived immigrant was none other than a young Scrooge McDuck. IIRC the judge turned out to be of Scottish descent and was less than amused at the cop. ---
**Author:** ![listedmia](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/l/e0b2c6/32.png) [@listedmia](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/listedmia)\ **Post date:** [August 3, 2012, 8:03am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/is-it-illegal-anywhere-to-impersonate-a-woman/630129/23 "2012-08-03T08:03:11Z")
> [@aruvqan](#): > > :dubious: > Now perhaps in one small area of the country like Alabama or someplace it was illegal, but we are talking New York State in the 1960s for my mother. I’ve read this in a couple of gay-oriented books. It could very well be old lesbians exaggerating, or maybe just a few overenthusiastic police officers. ---
**Author:** ![jtur88](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/j/e9c0ed/32.png) [@jtur88](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/jtur88)\ **Post date:** [August 3, 2012, 2:06pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/is-it-illegal-anywhere-to-impersonate-a-woman/630129/24 "2012-08-03T14:06:38Z")
In general, impersonation is illegal if done with fraudulent intent, which means for the purpose of gain that one would otherwise not be entitled to. Merely impersonating a women in order to be perceived socially as a woman would not be illegal, but could cross the line of done to gain access to something that is provided for women only, such as free admission or drinks on ladies night. Technically, then, a female impersonation could be fraudulent, if intending to gain favor from a person who would not have offered such favor to a man. In short, impersonation per se is not illegal, unless it crosses a line into intent to defraud. Even impersonation of a police officer would need to be at least credible, and would not extend to a stripper dancing in a faux policeman’s uniform. I would think any local laws that loosen that definition would be struck down as unconstitutional First Amendment violations, at least in the USA. As for “anywhere”, your mileage may vary. ---
**Author:** ![md2000](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/73ab20/32.png) [@md2000](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/md2000)\ **Post date:** [August 4, 2012, 5:22am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/is-it-illegal-anywhere-to-impersonate-a-woman/630129/25 "2012-08-04T05:22:45Z")
> [@alphaboi867](#): > > Her guards stole her clothes and left a set of men’s clothes in her cell. It was either wear those or go naked. This was then used as a pretext to execute her for relapse. The British were the ones who invented the railroad- so no surprise. > [@Mr\_Downtown](#): > > [A reference](http://fashionlawwiki.pbworks.com/w/page/11611171/Cross-Dressing%20and%20the%20Law) where citations outweigh anecdotes. Odd they are refering almost exclusively to city ordinances. ---
**Author:** ![Floater](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/f/dc4da7/32.png) [@Floater](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Floater)\ **Post date:** [August 6, 2012, 11:33am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/is-it-illegal-anywhere-to-impersonate-a-woman/630129/26 "2012-08-06T11:33:23Z")
As far as I know cross-dressing is illegal in Tasmania. [Previous page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/is-it-illegal-anywhere-to-impersonate-a-woman/630129.md?page=1)