( I am asking all Trans folks to comment on this. I really don't know enough about what is going on here.)
"Unfortunately, most liberal 'allies' don’t know the difference between actual diverse trans people, and the misogynist activists that claim to speak for them. Most liberals don’t tolerate any critique these days, let alone cartoon critique, which is graphic and funny; nothing pisses off ideologues like humor, the ultimate 'disrespect'."
https://mimiandeunice.com/2018/11/07/the-jenndra-identitty-comics/
Thanks this was close to my thinking, But I know so little of the trans experience that I had to ask.
I'm always VERY happy and on hand to chat about any questions you might have, and to suggest resources from many capable trans voices who exist in the broader realm of the internet, too.
Which isn't to say that the many lovely trans people on CoSo might not be on hand, either: just here to help shoulder the load. It is a LOT of emotional labour to field questions that remind a person how many others are out there making it harder simply to exist.
Definitely glad you asked, though!
Again thanks:
The last thing in the world I want, is to add to the burden of being trans. I would understand completely if my query was ignored.
One other facet of the piece you linked is that it tends to drag discourse down to crude basics, when the reality is that most trans activists today are fighting a wide array of legislative, medical, and media discourse that routinely sidelines actual trans voices.
Erin Reed had a piece last week that perfectly embodies the more intricate state of the discourse, if you'd like a taste of where most activist energy is *actually* being poured these days. Cheers!
https://www.erininthemorning.com/p/cass-met-with-desantis-pick-over
To offer some grace: she probably HAS had a weird encounter or two on social media with some rando who's said something shitty, like claiming a lesbian isn't allowed to refuse to date someone with a penis. The 'net is filled with a lot of shitty people, and people who argue in shitty ways.
But the dishonest elision here is that those randos represent dominant trans discourse, which is filled with many wonderful people who put out tremendously thoughtful work. Erin Reed for starters.
@corlin
It’s a minefield out there and to be honest, I’m unfamiliar with all the ways people are identifying themselves these days, and always wary of offending someone.
I’ve long said that identity and sexuality are fluid and known only to that person themselves. But that does mean we either have to disclose more than we’d like or avoid certain topics altogether. I appreciate people who don’t take offense at my attempts to get it right.
@corlin As an outside observer: I have noticed a great deal of toxicity in the transgender debate on both sides - albeit with differing presentations.
It has gotten to the point where many scientists and medical professionals are deeply hesitant to even engage with - let alone study - any aspect of the matter, for fear of one side or the other breaking out the torches and pitchforks if they perceive things are even slightly not going their way.
And all over a tiny, tiny minority of society.
@corlin The following comes from ME and I do not claim to speak for anyone else.
When people claim 'transACTIVISTS' are misogynistic, like that disgusting link says, I want to hit them over the head with a brick. The people who claim this are the ones who feel that trans women are trying to steal womanhood or eliminate women's rights.
The trans activists I know aren't misogynists. They fight for their rights and the rights of all women. They just have to fight harder be recognized first.
@corlin I have never encountered a trans woman that tries to deny rights or existence to cis women. It's just not how we roll. (In fairness, there are probably some.) Things that affect cis women, affect us. Directly or indirectly.
Believing trans activists are misogynists only happens when you believe they aren't women and therefore are 'other than'.
We're women. We just got there using MapQuest. 🤣
Thank you for your reply.
As I said before I have little real world understanding of the modern trans experience. The thing is most of us don't. And it should not be the burden of the trans community to explain it to us.
@corlin But the willingness to understand and learn should never be met with deaf ears.
@corlin Claiming trans activists are misogynists but "actual diverse trans people" who don't speak is a TERF talking point, used to justify the elimination of our rights while trying to claim the center (See: JK Rowling, Matt Taibbi, and others.)
Are there some unpleasant or difficult trans people out there? Sure. But in this person's mind, because I speak up, I'd be a misogynist "demanding" access to "women's spaces."
Because in the end, to her, trans women are not women.
And that's bigotry.
@lenaoflune
Thank you for the reply.
This is as I expected. But I was not sure. And why I asked.
@corlin Happy to help provide some clarity and confirmation for you. I've been mostly on mobile and so missed the ask, thus my late reply >.>
One thing I've found is that if I see something and it feels sketchy, it probably is. Also, anyone who boils people down to their genitalia (which are mutable anyway...) is not going to be a friend to equity.
@corlin Oh! I should note that the mutability of genitalia doesn't even require surgical intervention. Hormones have some notable effects on them! I'm happy to share more on that under a CW if you or anyone else is interested.
@corlin
I'm going to jump in first, Corlin, because a lot of trans folks are asked to explain hate about them whenever it shows up online, which can be exhausting.
This person conflates having a penis with being a fake trying to infiltrate feminized spaces. She's presented a straw man of what actual dominant trans discourse looks like, and also reduces contemporary feminism to a wrongheaded claim that "if only" there were spaces where XX people didn't have to see penises, they'd be safe.
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