Transvestigation (aportmanteau oftransgender andinvestigation) is aconspiracy theory that asserts that many celebrities and other prominent individuals aretransgender (or, conversely, that some openly transgender celebrities arecisgender).^[1] Proponents claim to be able to determine theassigned sex of individuals, primarily through photographic and video evidence. The methodology used by "transvestigators" adhering to this theory is subject topareidolia and often suffers fromconfirmation bias.^[2][3]

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

In the aftermath of theboxing controversy at the 2024 Olympic Games, the term gained renewed attention in light of accusations againstImane Khelif andLin Yu-ting.^[10][11][12]

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 byHollywood and music industry elites or secret organizations such as theNew World Order andIlluminati.^[13][14]GLAAD considers the movement to be an expression oftransphobia.^[1] The theories have gained considerable popularity on the social media platformX.^[15]

Brigitte Macron, thespouse 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]

A number of prominent celebrities have been claimed to be secretly transgender, includingTaylor Swift,Lady Gaga, andMargot Robbie.^[4][2] Athletes accused of being trans includeSerena Williams andKatie Ledecky.^[6][1][7]Kyle Rittenhouse has been accused of being atrans man, with the claim partly motivated by his criticism ofDonald Trump.^[16][17] FormerFirst LadyMichelle Obama has frequently been accused of being atrans woman, which Noah Berlatsky of thePacific 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]

Look uptransvestigation in Wiktionary, the free dictionary.

• 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

• LGBTQ-related conspiracy theories
• Transphobia
• Pareidolia
• 2020s anti-LGBTQ movement in the United States

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• Short description matches Wikidata
• Use mdy dates from July 2024
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