NationStates' Transgender Thread

[Fabulous Rainicorns]

I have gotten lightheaded from using it for extended periods of time.

But really I'm just one of those little plastic horse people that's crazy enough to make saddles and bridles and halters and other things that most of you won't even have heard of, let alone have any idea what they're used for.

I've rode horses, so I've heard of all that.

I know you guys have probably heard of saddles and bridles and halters and that kind of thing that you usually use, but I meant things like skid boots and draw reins.

[Val Halla]

Hey Jay. Are you aromatic as well?

[Fabulous Rainicorns]

Hey Jay. Are you aromatic as well?

The short answer is yes, but it's a lot more complicated. I'm not attracted to anyone until I form a strong platonic bond with them, but if that attraction is reciprocated, I lose interest. I sometimes want a relationship, but that's not really possible, but kissing and handholding and hugging is icky, so I'm usually pretty good with what I have now.

[Val Halla]

Hey Jay. Are you aromatic as well?

The short answer is yes, but it's a lot more complicated. I'm not attracted to anyone until I form a strong platonic bond with them, but if that attraction is reciprocated, I lose interest. I sometimes want a relationship, but that's not really possible, but kissing and handholding and hugging is icky, so I'm usually pretty good with what I have now.

I see.

[Schwere Panzer Abieltung 502]

How's the hair coming, Nana?

[Internationalist Bastard]

So is gender fluidity considered part of transgerism, or seperate?

[Val Halla]

So is gender fluidity considered part of transgerism, or seperate?

Genderfluid people are transgender, yes.

[Internationalist Bastard]

So is gender fluidity considered part of transgerism, or seperate?

Genderfluid people are transgender, yes.

Ok, thanks for clearing that for me.

[Nature-Spirits]

Okay.

What.

The.

Fuck.

I thought my mom was starting to understand. She's been calling me her child instead of her son, she respects that I have a more feminine gender expression, she lets me have women's clothing.

But tonight, while we were watching Sense8 (great show, by the way), which of course has a character who's a trans woman, she asked me, "Do you want to be a girl?"

I paused what I was doing. I glanced away as I said, "No." It's true, after all: I don't identify as female, and I don't want to transition to a fully female role.

"So you feel okay?" she asked. "So you're okay being and living as a boy?" was the implication.

"No," I said again. That, too, is true: I've been feeling really dysphoric lately, and the need to transition weighs me down every day. There are days when I don't even want to go out the door, because not only is high school the most banal thing and its dullness just makes me depressed, but I feel like I can't be me, and I just want to lie down and cry and stay home and put on a skirt. More than that, though, I want to wear that skirt -- and anything else I want -- out into the world, and I want to be recognised as my true gender, and I want to hear people casually refer to me as "they", and I want to be able to use whatever bathroom I feel like, and I want to live as me.

Depression, anxiety, and dysphoria. What a joyous combination. I really do need to make another appointment with my shrink.

Anyway. I just.... I thought my mom was starting to understand. But I need to have a conversation with her about what I need to do. And you know what's ironic? Not too long after, she told me that I'm "courageous". I don't feel courageous. I guess it takes courage to live as a feminine man in a society where feminine men are scorned -- I've experienced the homophobia that comes with that, and it's hard to take. But I feel like a coward, because I'm too afraid to transition right away. I mean, I stand by my decision to wait until I graduate -- living as non-binary in high school would just be too difficult -- but it's because I've determined it's too difficult that I feel like a coward.

*sigh*

Please forgive my ignorance, I ask this out of genuine curiosity: How does one transition as a non-binary? What would you be transitioning to, and what does that entail?

I would encourage you to check out http://neutrois.me/ . It's a blog by a well-respected non-binary activist about their transition and related topics. My transition wouldn't be the same as theirs -- they're assigned female at birth, I'm assigned male at birth, and I'm not neutrois -- but it's a good starting point for understanding non-binary transition.

Basically, though, because there isn't a predetermined formula for non-binary transition (binary transitions aren't all the same, of course, but aside from personal choices about hormones, surgeries, etc., there is a basic recipe for one to follow), it's gonna be different for each person. It's not so much moving towards a well-defined destination as it is moving away from the starting point. The truth is, I don't know exactly what I want to look like at the end of my transition -- I just know that I'm not comfortable with my social role and my body as they are now, and that I need to change them.

I sometimes change my mind about hormones. Sometimes I want them desperately, sometimes I don't want them at all. But my discomfort with my body is enough that I'm willing to take the risk, because as it is, the discomfort I feel regarding my body is greater than any fears I have that I wouldn't like the changes. So what I plan on doing is taking low-dose HRT, and if I don't like the changes or my body's changing too quickly, I can take a break and start again later. I don't want any surgeries, but I may change my mind about that in the future, and that's okay.

[Renewed Imperial Germany]

Hey Jay. Are you aromatic as well?

The first time I read this I read "aromatic" as meaning "smells like something" and was so confused

[Nanatsu no Tsuki]

When it comes to feminism, one thing I consider is that trans women are an asset, not invaders. In which ways do you consider trans women an asset to feminism.

Honestly, I think they bring a particular viewpoint, particularly one of having to fight to be recognized as such, as women. Something I do not have to fight for because I was born into a woman's body. But their struggle mirrors that of many women. In the recognition, one that goes on in certain echelons of society, in certain cultures. The struggle to be considered equal, one that is not any different from that of transgender people.

What do you ladies, gents, and nonbinary people think?

[Vassenor]

When it comes to feminism, one thing I consider is that trans women are an asset, not invaders. In which ways do you consider trans women an asset to feminism.

Honestly, I think they bring a particular viewpoint, particularly one of having to fight to be recognized as such, as women. Something I do not have to fight for because I was born into a woman's body. But their struggle mirrors that of many women. In the recognition, one that goes on in certain echelons of society, in certain cultures. The struggle to be considered equal, one that is not any different from that of transgender people.

What do you ladies, gents, and nonbinary people think?

I just want to not be treated as a man who wants to invade places so I can rape women.

[Val Halla]

When it comes to feminism, one thing I consider is that trans women are an asset, not invaders. In which ways do you consider trans women an asset to feminism.

Honestly, I think they bring a particular viewpoint, particularly one of having to fight to be recognized as such, as women. Something I do not have to fight for because I was born into a woman's body. But their struggle mirrors that of many women. In the recognition, one that goes on in certain echelons of society, in certain cultures. The struggle to be considered equal, one that is not any different from that of transgender people.

What do you ladies, gents, and nonbinary people think?

I think TERFs are massive hypocrites. Complaining about women being objectified but focusing so much on what's between a woman's legs. Pathetic.

[Nanatsu no Tsuki]

When it comes to feminism, one thing I consider is that trans women are an asset, not invaders. In which ways do you consider trans women an asset to feminism.

Honestly, I think they bring a particular viewpoint, particularly one of having to fight to be recognized as such, as women. Something I do not have to fight for because I was born into a woman's body. But their struggle mirrors that of many women. In the recognition, one that goes on in certain echelons of society, in certain cultures. The struggle to be considered equal, one that is not any different from that of transgender people.

What do you ladies, gents, and nonbinary people think?

I just want to not be treated as a man who wants to invade places so I can rape women.

You aren't a man intent on raping women. You're a woman.

When it comes to feminism, one thing I consider is that trans women are an asset, not invaders. In which ways do you consider trans women an asset to feminism.

Honestly, I think they bring a particular viewpoint, particularly one of having to fight to be recognized as such, as women. Something I do not have to fight for because I was born into a woman's body. But their struggle mirrors that of many women. In the recognition, one that goes on in certain echelons of society, in certain cultures. The struggle to be considered equal, one that is not any different from that of transgender people.

What do you ladies, gents, and nonbinary people think?

I think TERFs are massive hypocrites. Complaining about women being objectified but focusing so much on what's between a woman's legs. Pathetic.

Ignoring TERFs, who are the low of the lowest in the cesspool, what do you think you bring, as a trans woman, to feminism?

[Renewed Imperial Germany]

When it comes to feminism, one thing I consider is that trans women are an asset, not invaders. In which ways do you consider trans women an asset to feminism.

Honestly, I think they bring a particular viewpoint, particularly one of having to fight to be recognized as such, as women. Something I do not have to fight for because I was born into a woman's body. But their struggle mirrors that of many women. In the recognition, one that goes on in certain echelons of society, in certain cultures. The struggle to be considered equal, one that is not any different from that of transgender people.

What do you ladies, gents, and nonbinary people think?

I just want to not be treated as a man who wants to invade places so I can rape women.

Mike Huckabee actually once implied that trans people are basically just rapists. I believe his words were basically "like... if they said to me i could have been in the girls locker room when I was a teen I would have said I was a girl." I, personally, wouldn't talk about sex crimes I wanted to commit as a child if I was trying to argue a point, but that's the least idiotic part of that statement.

[Val Halla]

I just want to not be treated as a man who wants to invade places so I can rape women.

You aren't a man intent on raping women. You're a woman.

I think TERFs are massive hypocrites. Complaining about women being objectified but focusing so much on what's between a woman's legs. Pathetic.

Ignoring TERFs, who are the low of the lowest in the cesspool, what do you think you bring, as a trans woman, to feminism?

Just another opinion, which we all are.

[Nanatsu no Tsuki]

You aren't a man intent on raping women. You're a woman.



Ignoring TERFs, who are the low of the lowest in the cesspool, what do you think you bring, as a trans woman, to feminism?

Just another opinion, which we all are.

And what is that opinion?

[Val Halla]

Just another opinion, which we all are.

And what is that opinion?

My posts in the feminist thread are based on that. I'm not part of any hivemind.

[Renewed Imperial Germany]

Just for the record, I refuse to call TERFs feminists. From now on I'm using the arconym "TERD" - Trans-Exclusionary Radical Dumbass

[Nanatsu no Tsuki]

And what is that opinion?

My posts in the feminist thread are based on that. I'm not part of any hivemind.

No one is part of a hivemind.

[Val Halla]

My posts in the feminist thread are based on that. I'm not part of any hivemind.

No one is part of a hivemind.

I just bring my opinion, my being transgender has little to do with it. Shit, I have spoken about my dislike of Caitlyn Jenner before.

[Renewed Imperial Germany]

New Flag

[Dumb Ideologies]

My experience as a transperson has a pretty big impact on my perspective on feminism, especially on issues to do with the importance of overlapping and complex forms of discrimination, the falsity of the man = oppressor, woman = oppressed binary, the distinction between gender roles and gender identity. In all honesty, my experience has led me to conclude that - outside of a fairly narrow range of topics that have already largely been dealt with - feminism is pretty unimpressive.

[Nanatsu no Tsuki]

My experience as a transperson has a pretty big impact on my perspective on feminism, especially on issues to do with the importance of overlapping and complex forms of discrimination, the falsity of the man = oppressor, woman = oppressed binary, the distinction between gender roles and gender identity. In all honesty, my experience has led me to conclude that - outside of a fairly narrow range of topics that have already largely been dealt with - feminism is pretty unimpressive.

Honestly, with how rabid TERF is as an offshoot, I can't blame you for finding certain areas of feminism to be unimpressive.

[Vassenor]

You aren't a man intent on raping women. You're a woman.

Just wish I didn't have such a hard time feeling like it these days.