Transvestigation

Transvestigation (a portmanteau of transgender and investigation) is a conspiracy theory that asserts that many celebrities and other prominent individuals are transgender (or, conversely, that some openly transgender celebrities are cisgender).^[1] Proponents claim to be able to determine the assigned sex of individuals, primarily through photographic and video evidence. The methodology used by "transvestigators" adhering to this theory is subject to pareidolia and often suffers from confirmation bias.^[2][3]

Prominent celebrities claimed to be transgender include Taylor Swift, Harry Styles, Lady Gaga, Margot Robbie, Michelle Obama, Jacinda Ardern, Jennifer Lopez, and the Kardashians.^[4][2][5] Prominent athletes claimed to be trans include Serena Williams and Katie Ledecky.^[6][1][7] Brigitte Macron, the spouse of the president of France, has filed suit against allegations that she previously identified as a man.^[8][9]

In the aftermath of the boxing controversy at the 2024 Olympic Games, the term gained renewed attention in light of accusations against Imane Khelif and Lin Yu-ting.^[10][11][12]

Conspiracy theories

The basis for transvestigation ranges from the belief that some celebrities' gender identity simply differs from their birth-assigned sex, to the belief that their transgender identity is part of an initiation ritual known as "elite gender inversion", conducted by Hollywood and music industry elites or secret organizations such as the New World Order and Illuminati.^[13][14] GLAAD considers the movement to be an expression of transphobia.^[1] The theories have gained considerable popularity on the social media platform X.^[15]

France

Brigitte Macron, the spouse of the president of France, has sought legal action against the allegation that she was born male.^[8] The conspiracy theory, which suggests that she was previously known as Jean-Michel Trogneux, has been traced to a far-right author in France, and has trended on social media.^[8]

United States

A number of prominent celebrities have been claimed to be secretly transgender, including Taylor Swift, Lady Gaga, and Margot Robbie.^[4][2] Athletes accused of being trans include Serena Williams and Katie Ledecky.^[6][1][7] Kyle Rittenhouse has been accused of being a trans man, with the claim partly motivated by his criticism of Donald Trump.^[16][17] Former First Lady Michelle Obama has frequently been accused of being a trans woman, which Noah Berlatsky of the Pacific Standard considers unsurprising, stating that "[j]ust as trans women are stereotypically caricatured as faking femininity, [B]lack women are caricatured as innately non-feminine" within the United States.^[18]

See also

• Passing (gender) – Ability to be perceived as the gender one identifies as
• Sex verification in sports
• Transmisogyny – Intersection of transphobia and misogyny, experienced by transfeminine individuals
• Transphobia – Anti-transgender prejudice
• Misogynoir – Term for misogyny toward black women
• Physiognomy – Assessment of a person's character or personality from their outer appearance