#the importance of supporting everyone’s identities within the queer community | Explore Tumblr Posts and Blogs

jaggedteeth · 2 years

Text

as the u.s. tour comes to a close, i want to take a moment to talk about a phenomenon i’ve seen taking place within mcr internet fan spaces these last few months, my thoughts on it, and how i think it relates back to digital media literacy.

(before we start, i want to make it clear that i’m just some guy and i am definitely not the most qualified person to talk about this, but i think some of the things in this post really, really need to be said. my hope is not necessarily to change your mind or to “get you on my side,” but to encourage you to think critically and independently, even during your daily scroll on social media.)

————

so, what is this ominous phenomenon i’m talking about? i’m referring to some of the comments i’ve seen mcr fans make regarding gerard’s gender—specifically the public, speculative, and seemingly unironic ones that attempt to put a label or a semblance of a label on his gender nonconformity.

(i think now’s a good time to mention you should read this entire post before engaging with or commenting on it. stay with me. we’re in this together.)

here is a post that i think does a good job of explaining this a little more in-depth for anyone who’s out of the loop.

regardless of my personal opinions on all of this, i understand why it’s happening. much of mcr’s fanbase is trans and/or non-binary, and seeking out representation from familiar, comforting figures is not out of the ordinary. i don’t think anyone involved means harm, and this isn’t a callout post. i’m just adding to a discussion i think has been largely one-sided up until recently.

————

what is the point of me making this post? to put it bluntly, i disagree with how much of the discussion around gerard’s gender identity and expression is being conducted.

(again, please stay with me.)

what is it, specifically, that i disagree with? is it the celebration of gerard’s gender nonconformity? is it the possibility they might not identify, partially or wholly, with their gender assigned at birth? is it the joy their gender expression has inspired in many mcr fans?

no. it’s none of those things; not even close. i can’t even put into words how i, a gender nonconforming trans man, felt when gerard wore his cheerleader dress in nashville. it was a special moment and i was so happy to see him happy.

but something that bothers me about the “gender wars” narrative is the idea that anyone who’s not all-in is, if not an outright transphobe, someone with deep-rooted biases they need to work through. i haven’t seen this from everyone, but it’s floated around here and there.

nuance in conversations like this is incredibly important. the human experience is rarely black and white. and i believe the notion that it must be, especially when it comes to topics such as queer identity, largely stems from closed-mindedness and fear, conscious or unconscious.

i have certainly witnessed people online assert that gerard must be cis, and there’s no way he can’t be cis, implying if he ever identified as anything other than cis that would be bad and gross and weird. i strongly disagree with that viewpoint because it’s transphobic and gerard is a real person who none of us know personally who can do whatever the fuck he wants. in the same way, i disagree with the viewpoint that gerard must be trans, and there’s no way he can’t be trans, implying anyone who disagrees is a transphobe who refuses to pay attention. because gerard is a real person who none of us know personally who can do whatever the fuck he wants.

i’m aware gerard has also made comments in the past about his journey with gender identity, the connection he feels to women and femininity, and even his experimentation with drag while he was in college. he’s said he should be referred to with either he/him or they/them pronouns, he’s an earnest supporter of the trans community, and he’s historically rejected the sexist shithead rock-dude stereotype.

i’m not here to downplay any of those things, nor am i trying to invalidate anyone who has taken comfort in or identified with those things. just a couple of points i would like you to think about, though:

some cis people also question their gender identity and/or use multiple sets of pronouns for a multitude of reasons (i’m not saying gerard has to be cis, i’m just giving you an extra viewpoint to chew on);

i’ve personally met plenty of men or male-aligned people who strongly identify with women and femininity. i strongly identify with women and femininity and i’m still 100% a trans man and will throw anyone who tries to tell me otherwise directly into the sun (again, i’m not saying gerard must be a man or male-aligned);

gender nonconformity and transness are complex, nuanced topics. labels can be useful, but they are not a be-all-end-all;

and i’m going to be blunt here—assuming and/or declaring someone is transfem when they haven’t publicly referred to themselves as such, just because they are comfortable discussing their own femininity and sometimes have a feminine presentation and feminine mannerisms, is basically an upgraded form of gender essentialism and completely disregards the existence and experiences of amab cis-passing queer people and gender nonconforming people. i understand it’s a tough pill to swallow, but intent doesn’t always equal impact, and just because someone may not see it that way doesn’t mean that’s not what they’re doing.

even if gerard is transfem, he’s still a real person who has a right to privacy and autonomy, and he never has to publicly label himself if he doesn’t want to. no one is entitled to seek out the details of his identity, but least of all us, a bunch of strangers on the internet who will probably never have a full conversation with him.

not one of us is an “authority” or “expert” on gerard way or my chemical romance. we can learn about the band’s history and public personas or laugh at the funny, quirky parts of their lore or cry when we think about how far they’ve come in the public eye, but what gives us the right to dig into every tiny crevice of gerard’s work and interactions and public existence searching for “clues” as to whether or not he’s trans? what gives us the right to label his gender identity for him—a process that is incredibly personal? i know “parasocial” is basically just another hollow internet buzzword at this point, but let’s not forget the very real consequences that parasocial relationships can certainly have.

do i think it would be fucking awesome if gerard came out as trans tomorrow? absolutely. do i also think it’s fucking awesome that they’re an older gnc person? that so many queer people have discovered and accepted themselves in part because of them? that they now exude joy onstage and bravely dress and act the way they do? one million times yes. and we can celebrate those real, concrete, factual things without tinhatting, overstepping boundaries, or jumping to conclusions. if they were to come out as trans tomorrow, that wouldn’t invalidate any of my arguments or make the behavior i’m critiquing acceptable, because the point isn’t about whether or not gerard is trans, the point is about how some of mcr’s fanbase is treating them.

gerard has uplifted and respected us time and time again without even knowing us as individuals. so i want you to take a moment to sincerely reflect and ask yourself this question: where is our respect for him?

————

alright. i’m glad you’re still here. let’s talk about what can actually be done about this.

i think a lot of this problem boils down to a lack of critical thinking. yes, that’s thrown around a lot as a clapback on this website, but i don’t mean it as an insult. we’re all guilty of not thinking critically, myself included. especially in the age of the internet, it’s impossible to be perfect all the time, when we’re bombarded with information from every angle.

this is why learning about and consistently practicing media literacy is so important. it’s something i’m passionate about because i’ve seen firsthand, time and time again, how it can make or break a person and their worldview, to the point that i spent hours writing about it for my upper-level journalism courses (before i dropped out lol) and worked for two semesters as an editor for a college newspaper.

if these conversations about gerard were happening in private group chats between friends who already know one another, my opinions on the topic itself would still stand, but it wouldn’t be any of my business and i obviously wouldn’t think to write an entire post about it. but everything changes when these discussions are had on a public platform with little regard for nuance.

“misinformation,” or the unintentional spread of false information—not to be confused with disinformation, where the person spreading it knows what they’re saying isn’t true—might not be a totally accurate descriptor for some of what’s going on here, honestly. none of us can prove what gerard is thinking or feeling. but based on what we do know, what he’s publicly and concretely shared with us, i think it’s as close as we can get. a lot of the posts i’ve seen don’t read to me as “hehe funny celebrity headcanon that’s obviously just for fun.” or even “i relate to this person’s art and/or publicized experiences, but i understand i don’t know them and at least some of that is just projection.” rather, they seem to make invasive leaps and use inaccurate vocabulary while simultaneously taking themselves very, very seriously, and that concerns me more than if a random tumblr user was just trolling to start fandom drama or something.

to put things into perspective, this is why every single one of my journalism professors drilled it into my head that you have to get your news from multiple sources. those sources must have differing perspectives and you need to look at every single one with a critical eye, no matter how trustworthy they may seem (listen, i get it’s way more complicated than that and i could go off on a whole other tangent about the glaring problems with mainstream news media in the united states and not in a cringefail right-wing way, but this is an mcr blog, so let’s just focus on the basic principle here).

obviously, i don’t think anyone should engage with transphobes unless it’s for the sake of making stronger counter-arguments, because their beliefs are provably harmful and false. but someone making good-faith criticisms of speculating about a stranger who has not publicly come out as trans and/or non-binary is markedly different. i’m not the only person who’s written something like this, and i encourage everyone to seek out similar posts and think about the points they’re making, even if you don’t agree with every single one of them.

this speculative commentary on gerard’s identity has spread like wildfire and created a polarizing echo chamber, from what i’ve seen. i understand why. but it’s still deeply worrying to me. seeing as this is primarily happening on tumblr, i’m concerned less because i think gerard will ever see or care about these posts (that’s obviously still important, though), and more because of what this says about how people in mcr fanspaces view celebrities they feel strongly about and engage with information they see online at large.

please do research on digital media literacy, and please use reputable sources with authority on journalism and communications to do so. don’t take what you see on social media at face value. don’t trust any one social media user to feed you commentary or shape your viewpoints, and that includes me. read with a critical eye. think about the possible implications and intentions behind the words other people use, big or small, and why those might be there. be aware of your own biases and blindspots. remember that you’ll never be perfect, not even close. and while you’re at it, learn more about the experiences of gnc people, and the experiences of queer people of all different ages, backgrounds, cultures, races, identities, perspectives, lived experiences, etcetera. if you can, engage in diverse irl lgbtq+ spaces. they put things into perspective in a way the internet never will.

but i still use tumblr in 2022, so what do i know?

————

if there’s anything you think i overlooked or misconstrued in this post, tell me! i want this to be a living, breathing conversation, not a monologue. these are important issues and they deserve our time and attention. thank you so much for reading.

#terfs and truscum don't fucking touch this post btw you're not welcome in this conversation or anywhere near my blog #tumblr like fucked up the spacing between words for some reason but man idc anymore i've already been working on this for way too long #mcr #my chemical romance #gerard way

413 notes · View notes

hellomynameisbisexual · 10 months

Text

Biphobia from gay people, also known as "gay biphobia" or "biphobia within the gay community," is a real issue that bisexual individuals often encounter. Despite both groups facing discrimination based on their sexual orientation, some gay individuals may hold prejudiced views towards bisexual individuals. Here are some common manifestations of biphobia from gay people:

1. Invalidation of Bisexual Identity: Bisexual individuals may experience their identity being questioned or invalidated by some gay individuals. This can manifest as claims that bisexuality isn't real or that bisexual individuals are just confused or experimenting.

2. "Not Gay Enough" or "Not Queer Enough" Attitudes: Bisexual individuals may feel pressure to conform to a binary understanding of sexuality within the LGBTQ+ community, leading to the perception that they are not "gay enough" or "queer enough" to belong.

3. Stereotyping: Bisexual individuals might face stereotypes within the gay community, such as being seen as promiscuous, incapable of monogamy, or simply going through a phase.

4. Exclusion or Tokenization: In some cases, bisexual individuals might be excluded from gay spaces or events, or they might be tokenized as a curiosity rather than fully accepted as part of the community.

5. Assumption of Preference: Similar to the broader society, bisexual individuals in the gay community may experience the assumption that they have a preference for one gender over the other.

6. Dating Challenges: Bisexual individuals may encounter challenges in dating within the gay community, as some potential partners might harbor biphobic beliefs.

It's important to recognize that biphobia from gay people does not represent the views of all gay individuals. Many gay individuals are supportive allies and embrace the diversity of the LGBTQ+ community. However, biphobia remains a problem that needs to be addressed and challenged to create a more inclusive and understanding community for everyone.

Promoting education, open dialogue, and empathy within the LGBTQ+ community can help reduce biphobia and foster an environment where all sexual orientations are respected and accepted. Bisexual visibility and representation within LGBTQ+ organizations and spaces are also essential steps in combatting biphobia. Remember that solidarity within the LGBTQ+ community is vital in the fight for equality and acceptance for all its members.

111 notes · View notes

scribefindegil · 11 months

Note

The Ace experience of feeling kind of within the LGBTQ community but mostly out of it…I’ve just never spoke about being Ace with anyone without being met with pity or “oh that’s fixable you just need the right guy or girl”

Hi anon, I'm so sorry that this has been your experience. It's terrible that ace people still face this kind of dismissal even from the ones who are supposed to be part of our community, but I promise that there are people out there who will accept you.

We belong here. We have always belonged here. And there *are* people, within the queer community and without, who understand this and will support us for who we are. I understand how exhausting it can be to feel like you don't belong, and how much it hurts to be told that your identity is something you need to fix. I've lost friends over this in the past, and it's hard.

But I've also found people who made me feel safe and welcome in the queer community. My extremely ace qpp works in a queer archive and everyone there understands that ace history is just as important as any other group's. I love talking with my bi and poly friends about the ways our experiences overlap (and also talking to people whose experiences with marginalization are completely different from my own and learning to understand each other better). I struggled for a long time with being ace, but I've come to really love it and take pride in my identity. We're not tragedies and we don't need fixing.

Sending love and solidarity to you, anon. I hope you're able to surround yourself with better people. And as a fellow ace: we're here, we're queer, and we aren't going anywhere.

#conversations #ace stuff #aphobia #clown on this post and i will vaporize you with my mind

51 notes · View notes

marmakar · 5 months

Text

Russian court bans 'LGBT movement' as 'extremist'

Let me explain. I think that many people lack a full understanding of this situation and the law that has come into force. I’ll try to explain as a person of Russia from Siberia, using information from independent media (which, by the way, are recognized as foreign agents, one more point).

Quote: “So now LGBTQ people who are open about their sexual identity will be considered extremists - and judged for it? Yes, this is more than likely, lawyers interviewed by Meduza are sure. Here is what a lawyer who wished to remain anonymous says about this: The Supreme Court interprets the concept of “participation in the activities of an extremist organization” broadly - as “the commission by a person of deliberate actions aimed at achieving the goals of an extremist organization.” In fact, after the court’s decision, any public LGBT activism can be qualified as participation in the activities of an extremist organization.”

That is, if theoretically (in Russia) you are involved in anything related to LGBT (funds, any help, psychological support, etc.), then you are considered an extremist. Being open about your sexual orientation, being open activist queer, or not hiding it is also considered extremism. Drawing or reposting art with LGBT characters is also considered extremism. Even if you post avatars with LGBTQ+ flags on social networks, this is also regarded as extremism. In fact, anything associated with public expressions of support for LGBT people will be considered extremist. However, it is important to understand how this works in Russia.

In Russia, fines and prison sentences of up to several years are provided for extremism. Judicial practice often entails severe penalties, even for minor violations, including imprisonment and large fines, as well as the blocking of all bank accounts, and a person does not have the right to issue a power of attorney to a notary or enter into an inheritance.

Quote: “Are queer people in Russia now extremists? The short answer is no, but queer people are facing a lot of threats to be persecuted for their public activities. The fact that the Supreme Court upheld the claim of the Ministry of Justice does not mean that in Russia it will become legal to hold queer people accountable for private manifestations of their lives, explains a lawyer for the LGBT rights organization “Coming Out” (included by the Russian authorities in the register of “foreign agents” ) Ksenia Mikhailova. Nevertheless, it is clear that queer people in Russia are now confused by the wording of the law and are worried about their own safety, says Mikhailova: “People need to know and understand: just because they are LGBTQ+ people does not mean that they are extremists . And even if they openly talk about it somewhere, this does not mean that someone will immediately be able to accuse them of extremism within the framework of Russian legislation, which is strangely applied.”

There is one important clarification in this situation. This does not mean that everyone who belongs to the queer community will be considered extremists and sent to prison - such a practice has not yet been approved in Russia. In practice, it is more like a win-win lottery in which everyone participates. If you are in Russia and one day you are approached by a representative of the FSB or someone who wants to file a denunciation, then this can happen without any problems. In addition to fines and blocking of accounts due to accusations of extremism, a criminal sentence may also be imposed. Currently, there are almost no acquittals in Russia. If you've ever seen films that depict KGB men from the USSR (often distorted stereotypes), then I will say that there is a certain amount of truth here, except that now there is no physical elimination. Instead - repression, repression and more repression.

It is also important to note that in addition to the presence of a homophobic atmosphere, the queer community in Russia is deprived of basic rights: they are not able to marry, adopt children and have other rights. Recently, the country considered the issue of banning transgender transition; the law was adopted.

It is not so easy to organize a rally or a single picket - since a significant part of the Russian budget is allocated to law enforcement agencies, which makes it possible to instantly suppress any peaceful protests. This has several purposes:

Intimidation of the population.

Replenishment of the country's budget through fines (the 2024 budget will be spent on SVO).

Censorship and repression to maintain “stability” in the country.

Conducting an election campaign to strengthen the positions of the current regime and power.

Personal note: I am NOT an LGBT activist. I am closed queer person in a country with homophobic attitudes. (If you are interested in my personal story or want to support me, let me know and I will publish a new personal post). I enjoy creating and drawing LGBT+ content and characters. That's all. The need to write such messages is caused by catastrophic laws and a complete misunderstanding of the situation. I used to think that if I didn’t become a famous artist, I would go into politics. I hope this doesn't happen. I do not support any wars or “imperialist values” that the government talks about. Please be safe. Peace for everyone.

#post #lgbt #lgbtq #lgbtq+

20 notes · View notes

skyepixels · 1 year

Text

So, What Do We Do Now Guys?

I'll admit, I'm a bit lost at the moment. I'm seeing people decide what they want to do that they feel is best for the fandom and its creator, and I am inclined to agree with all sides here. Some are deciding to put the topic down and not post for a while until things cool off. Some are deciding to continue with their creations to help move forward past this and create a sense of normalcy back into the fandom. Others are angry and are validly expressing their anger about the situation. Some people are still discovering it all as we speak!

As I said in my previous post, it is also personal to me. Welcome Home has become a starting point for my ability to engage with a fandom, something I have personally denied myself for years on this platform out of the awareness and understanding of how fandoms (and the internet as a whole!) work. Yes, I missed out on the Onceler fandom, the Undertale fandom, the Supernatural fandom, the FNAF fandom, all of it. I know and speak of the old ways! Mwahaha!

In all seriousness though, I don't often engage with fandoms because, in my mind, I develop deep relationships with the concepts and ideas of my chosen media, and sharing my love for something with the world is terrifying. This fandom I have chosen to engage with has become one of the most intense and complex fanbases I've seen thus far, so I cannot even imagine what @partycoffin is going through.

But guys... Home is on Fire. And the fire is spreading. It's passion, its love, it's intimacy, it's anger, it's betrayal, it's every emotion you can ever imagine in a rainbow-fueled escapade, and it's burning fast.

I do not want to see this beautiful creation die, and as long as Clown wishes to keep going, I want to work to make things better, under their wishes and guidance.

Because to me, Welcome Home represents a chance to create something inclusive and beautiful for both new and old generations of internet users. I see it as the first concept to genuinely depict authentic LGBTQ+ and neurodivergent characters in an animated, horror-themed space, allowing people to find safe spaces with these characters to express their identities and creativity with the world. What I hope for from this fandom is that we can help create safe spaces for @partycoffin and everyone who wants to protect and enjoy their work. Give them and us a Home that is filled with a positive, loving community that supports one another. Give them the anonymity and safety they need to feel at home within themselves to do as they see fit. Most of all, it's important to remember that Welcome Home means something to them, to its creator, and the power to move and change this fandom is in their puppet-shaped hands.

Everything in my previous post still stands, and there is no one right answer to this. That will come in time. But my suggestion right now? Choose what you think is best for yourself because that is what you can control.

And for me? I want to create and love people's art expressing my relationship with it because fandoms, to me, are about finding meaning in people's work that helps shape and influence who you are. My small, unpolished art is my expression of wanting home when I never felt like I had one, to find a place to belong and feel safe to express my neurodivergent, queer self, and to not feel alone. While I may not post much from here on after, I want to continue moving forward and see this through.

(I will gladly take this post down if any of this is out of line. I just wish to help people in any way I can. ^_^)

#welcome home #welcome home arg #welcome home fandom #welcome home theory #welcome home wally #partycoffin #skyepixels #I'm so nervous about sharing my thoughts; it's terrifying! But it's even more terrifying to do nothing.#welcome home puppet show

65 notes · View notes

religion-is-a-mental-illness · 1 year

Text

By: Christina Buttons

Published: Mar 30, 2023

When discussing and debating transgender issues, many people have a tendency to conflate terms that are related but have separate meanings. The two most common misconceptions involve attributing the actions of some gender activists to the entire population of transgender or transsexual people and conflating a set of radical beliefs about gender identity, commonly called “gender ideology,” with a psychiatric condition known as gender dysphoria.

These mistakes are most often due to ignorance regarding the differences and an overgeneralization about a group of people based on the actions of some individuals within that group. In gender-critical discourse, the worst and most extreme examples the transgender community has to offer frequently dominate our social media timelines, but this is not a representative sample of the millions of people who identify as transgender globally.

This is further perpetuated by an algorithm bias filling our timelines with outlier events presented to us as if they were the norm, and the media multiplier effect, which is the tendency of media coverage to amplify certain messages or ideas, often at the expense of others.

Accuracy is essential not only for effectively communicating your ideas, but also for avoiding the pitfall of identity politics, which involves assigning blame or attributing specific characteristics to entire populations of people. This is especially common in debates surrounding transgender issues due to the highly contentious and volatile nature of the discourse.

To avoid these errors, it is crucial to learn the distinctions between gender ideology and gender dysphoria, and between gender activists and transgender or transsexual people. But first, we have to define the terms and explore the nature of belief.

* * *

Gender Ideology and the nature of belief

An ideology is a set of beliefs that shape an individual's or group's worldview.

The difference between a belief and a fact is that a belief is a subjective interpretation or conviction about something that may or may not be supported by evidence or experience, while a fact is an objective aspect of reality that can be verified through direct observation or measurement.

Religions can also be considered ideologies or belief systems. For example, concepts such as God, the soul, and the afterlife are not directly observable or measurable in the way that the properties of matter or energy are, but people may believe in them anyway. Faith refers to a belief or trust in something or someone without empirical proof or evidence.

Gender ideology is a set of beliefs about sex and gender that in recent years have become widespread and mainstream, despite a lack of empirical evidence to support them.

This belief system is derived from a postmodern social theory that emerged in university Humanities departments in the 1990s called Queer Theory. Postmodern philosophy explicitly rejects the scientific pursuit of objective truth, and the scholarship produced by postmodernism has been widely criticized as frivolous and unscientific.

Here are some common examples of ideological beliefs about gender:

Both gender and biological sex are “fluid.”

Both gender and biological sex are a social construct.

Biological sex is not binary but best represented as a “spectrum.”

Biological sex and/or gender is “assigned at birth” rather than observed and recorded.

Everyone has a “gender identity” determined by male and female stereotypes.

One can literally be “born in the wrong body” or have a “gender identity” that is misaligned with the body.

Being “trans” is innate and biological, similar to being gay.

“Gender identity” is akin to “brain sex” or “neurological sex” which can and should override one’s biological sex.

One can literally become the opposite sex through self-designation or chemical and surgical interventions.

Children who do not conform to the stereotypes associated with their sex are transgender and should be socially and medically affirmed as such.

A vast variety of gender identities exist including nonbinary and genderfluid.

Any criticism of these beliefs is akin to “violence” or “genocide” of the trans community.

These claims are all verifiably false, but people choose to believe them anyway, likely because they have been given false information or perceive that these beliefs align with their values. These beliefs are also heavily promoted by large and influential Civil Rights and Gay Rights organizations, which pivoted to championing “trans rights” after gay marriage was legalized federally in 2015.

Beliefs and ideas can be infectious and can spread rapidly, especially in the age of the Internet, which become strengthened with widespread adoption. Gender ideology, when dressed up as a social justice and human rights movement, is particularly attractive to people.

When we talk about gender ideology, we are talking about beliefs that have to do with gender, “gender identity,” and biological sex that are untrue, but are nonetheless held fervently and have great significance to people. This is because people become emotionally invested in their beliefs, and find ways to rationalize them.

As Michael Shermer said in his classic book, Why People Believe Weird Things, “Smart people believe weird things because they are skilled at defending beliefs they arrived at for nonsmart reasons.”

Anybody can hold ideological beliefs about gender, including non-transgender people, who often call themselves “allies.” When speaking about someone who holds ideological beliefs about gender, we often refer to them as gender ideologues or proponents of gender ideology.

Another important reminder is that beliefs are not necessarily fixed. People change their minds all the time when they’re exposed to new information, usually when the source is perceived to be neutral and trustworthy. This is because people tend to be more receptive to ideas that do not cause them to feel defensive.

Gender Dysphoria

Gender dysphoria is a psychiatric condition marked by persistent distress with one’s biological sex and an intensely held desire to be perceived as the opposite sex. Historically, gender dysphoria was a rare condition that affected roughly 1 in 10,000 males and 1 in 30,000 females. As of 2022, the number of people aged 13 and up who identify as transgender in the United States is closer to 1 in 167.

This is because, in recent years, the significance of gender dysphoria as a meaningful diagnosis has been deemphasized in favor of a broader definition of what it means to be transgender, or “gender diverse,” which is now defined as an “umbrella term” that includes mere nonconformity to sex-based stereotypes, and is open for anybody to self-identify into.

Contrary to popular belief, being transgender is not innate or biological. There is no brain, blood, or other objective test that distinguishes a trans-identified person from someone who does not identify as trans.

Due to the prevalence of gender ideology in mainstream culture, there are many different reasons why someone might identify as transgender. Transgender identities can be influenced socially, induced by trauma or internalized homophobia, confused for autistic traits or psychiatric disorders, confounded by same-sex attraction, or some combination of all these. There is also evidence that some adult-onset transgender identities are adopted as part of a paraphilia, including autogynephilia and autoandrophilia.

For many, gender dysphoria is a condition that causes individuals great distress. We should show compassion towards these people because they often suffer from comorbidities such as depression and anxiety. Sometimes gender dysphoria resolves on its own or can be confused with other conditions. Like beliefs, feelings of gender dysphoria are also not necessarily fixed, as we know from detransitioners and research on desistance in children. But for some adults, their distress is alleviated by presenting as the opposite sex and they can lead happy lives. The bottom line is, the experience of having gender dysphoria or being transgender is very individualized and sometimes but not always ideologically influenced.

We also know that the experience of gender dysphoria existed long before the emergence of gender ideology. The first documented cases of individuals who underwent medical interventions to appear as the opposite sex were described in the mid-20th century.

As depicted in the Venn diagram, holding ideological beliefs about gender is not dependent on having gender dysphoria, and having gender dysphoria is not dependent on holding ideological beliefs about gender.

Being transgender or transsexual, as some prefer to be called, is not a monolithic experience and includes diverse points of view. While a majority of transgender people would probably identify as politically left-leaning, there are many transsexuals who hold right-leaning or libertarian views and are critical of transgender activism that promotes radical ideological beliefs.

A group formed by transsexuals at the Gender Dysphoria Alliance is working to reclaim the narrative on gender dysphoria as a meaningful diagnosis from transgender activists who wish to eradicate it and other so-called “barriers” to medical transition services.

There are many transsexuals who do not deny their biology but choose to present in a way that makes them feel most comfortable, and they do not make requirements of anyone to call them by their preferred pronouns. They also fully agree that children are too young to understand and consent to the irreversible, life-altering effects of medical transition. It seems likely that more transsexuals who share these beliefs would speak up if they weren’t treated so cruelly by people on all sides of the debate.

There are 1.64 million people who identify as transgender in the United States alone, and millions more globally. Most of them are not interested in disrupting society by erasing sex in law; they are just trying to integrate into society.

A vocal minority who operate heavily on social media and promote ideological beliefs about gender should be referred to as gender activists, as they may or may not be transgender themselves.

It is important to direct criticism where it belongs – to gender ideology and to the specific actions of individual gender activists, not to transgender people as a whole. By making these distinctions, you can ensure that your ideas are conveyed accurately and effectively without stereotyping an entire group.

"large and influential Civil Rights and Gay Rights organizations"

^ former Civil Rights and Gay Rights organizations. Organizations like the ACLU now call for censorship of speech and opacity of policy, while organizations like HRC, Stonewall and LGBT Consortium now demonize same-sex attraction.

This is what I've been saying. Gender ideology and gender activists do not represent people with the very real disorder, gender dysphoria. Gender ideology colonized, took over, deleted gender dysphoria entirely, and is now wearing "trans" like a Face/Off mask.

https://www.hrc.org/resources/glossary-of-terms

Transgender | An umbrella term for people whose gender identity and/or expression is different from cultural expectations based on the sex they were assigned at birth.

(i.e. anyone who is not a stereotype.)

So not only do these organizations not represent lesbian, gay or bisexual people any more, they don't even represent people like Buck Angel any more either.

Opposing gender cultists isn't "anti-trans." It's opposing a ideology that's playing games with people's - particularly children's - bodies, minds and lives for political purposes. You can't support people with gender dysphoria without opposing gender ideology, because the latter has invaded and corrupted the language, the healthcare (including mental health) services, and importantly, the societal empathy and trust that people with gender dysphoria used to have and rely upon.

BTW, don't miss the gender ideology beliefs listed above which contradict each other as much as religious beliefs about gods.

#Christina Buttons #gender ideology #queer theory #gender activists #gender cult #genderwang #religion is a mental illness

36 notes · View notes

desi-lgbt-fest · 2 years

Note

gonna be mad on the ask box for a sec as a trans person because i'm at my wit's end now.

sushmita sen, a cis woman will play the role of shreegauri sawant, a trans woman who played a very important role in aids & hiv awareness in india in her biopic.

like is it too hard to find trans actors to play trans roles??? or are they only available when one wants to make fun of them & use them for a cheap laugh???

and i'm sick of the whole 'they're using famous actors to market this for the mass audience' excuse. it is actively taking roles away from trans people which does little for the community in & of itself. they are not even gonna donate the profit or their earnings or their loads worth of money to a single charity to help trans people. trans people are not seeing themselves represented, it's only for the cishets to pat themselves on the back for doing a 'challenging role' no matter how many platitudes of 'i'm so grateful to play her' & blah blah blah they say. i'm so fucking sick of it. first with vaani kapoor & now this.

it's like they only want to see a trans person on screen if it is played by a cis person especially because it creates an illusion as if being trans is all an act and i'm just so so so tired of it istg.

I can relate my club and I had a conversation about this a while back. I'll remind you we're all queers there. So, it wasn't exactly unreasonable to believe that everyone would agree that what Bollywood is pulling is a shit move. To my absolute surprise a good friend of mine didn't think there was anything wrong with this. (She's hella supportive and everything AND she's queer too, pretty open about it) It took a lot of back and forth within our friend circle for her to realise that it WAS actually pretty ignorant and messed up that this was happening.

The problem with cis people (even those who are queer and haven't EVER questioned their gender identity) is that they often tend to take the idea of our identity to be something... innate. Something that can be ignored. (Even if they do this subconsciously) A lot of the time in their head we are what we look like. And that shit KILLS.

So when Bollywood does this kind of stuff? It's just playing into that concious or sub concious ignorance. It's a fucking vicious cycle. And most of the time they aren't willing to break that cycle, wether intentionally or not.

So yeah, i get it. Your anger is very valid and it deserves to be heard, so don't apologise for letting it out in a place that's safe.

-Mod Raissa

#asks #anon asks #as you can tell i also have a lot of feelings about this #trans woman #Poor rep #Fuck Bollywood #As a genderqueer guy i get it #And most of the people around me find that label weird but I LIKE IT #and that's all that matters #mod raissa

7 notes · View notes

f1ghtsoftly · 1 year

Text

Statement of Purpose? My political lines? My don’t doxx me e-plea?

I think what really interests me now is application, ok-I’m convinced of most of the radical feminist analysis but how do we marry that to the left? How do we force left wing parties to accept our program and/or be effective on our own?

Because of the stigmatization of “radical feminism” in left spaces this blog is mostly anonymous unfortunately. Tumblr has always been a space where I feel I can be most myself so you will definitely see personal, aesthetic and historical content but the meat of this blog is a theoretical and historical exploration of how to get women’s issues on the docket. If we even can.

About me:

I am a Marxist Feminist with two degrees in American history a BA and an MA. I am also a lesbian. I was radicalized into feminism at age 20 after hearing a lecture on “queering ecosocialism” after receiving news that a former gay acquaintance had recently passed from drug addiction and sex work. The dichotomy between true lived gay and lesbian life experiences and the use of “queer” as a political and literary device made me sick, sad and angry and I took to the internet and found that there were a good deal of lesbians who felt the same way.

While I studied American history, I’m not an academic and this work is not peer reviewed. I will do my best to be transparent about my source material and get access to scholarly sources when I can so that you have the most knowledge to make an informed decision about my writing. I welcome substantive feedback, particularly since I have not been trained in political theory, economics or philosophy even though I read widely. Unfortunately, writing about gender and feminism in the candid way I want is difficult in the academy right now for both financial and political reasons. Some people can learn to handle mass harassment but, I am but a rat, I try to avoid it where I can. Getting mass harassment on a poverty salary is a type of vulnerability I’m not really willing to take on.

While Marxism isn’t the only lens I view politics from, it’s a really important one to disclose. I am not affiliated with the Democratic party outside of generally supporting everyone to vote fascists out of office but even then, I think fascism will be rooted out through the education and uplift of the people generally, not through Democratic party politics.

This means that I focus on building grassroots power through unions and collectives over voting for specific candidates and I believe that the very structure of US society will continue to negatively impact regular working people no matter what party is in power. The only solution is the broad restricting of our economy and society which regular people can accomplish by coming together and solving problems in their community and within our country and world. I draw upon a robust historical tradition of trade unionism in the United States and in my home countries if Italy and The Republic of Ireland (so yes, I am whiter than snow ahaha).

Many radical feminists have a left liberal framework, I aim to spend a good deal of time writing about how many radical feminists were socialists affiliated with Mao and expelling some myths that both the Sexist Marxist Left and the Liberal American Feminist Left. I do this with the intent of creating a cohesive left wing vision that offers liberation for all under one banner-my intent is not to fold women into a male dominated left. Anti-Imperialism and Anti Racism is an equally important struggle and it’s one I engage in through a vigorous anti imperialist and anti fascist line but I do not speak from experience. Given the current culture on the far left, I do not engage with individuals whose only claim to argumentative superiority is identity based, you have to tell me why your ideas and perspective is better, life experience and feelings count.

Given that I’m white and catholic and grew up in a rural area. Racial issues can be a blind spot for me, I’ve done a great deal of academic and personal work to remediate this from studying the African Diaspora and Indigenous American culture, philosophy and statecraft in the Caribbean, Brazil, Quebec/New York and the Pacific Northwest to living, working and learning from people of color with vastly different life experiences from me. I’m happy to accept feedback and to promote feminists of color even if we have theoretical disagreements because I recognize that the personal experience of the colonized individual is a distinctly valuable resource in crafting strategies to destroy it but I do not believe there is a singular “woc perspective” and am very sharply critical of liberals who prioritize anti racism in the United States over imperial struggle abroad.

What I do not partake in is abusive cancellation campaigns. While there are a lot of bad actors in all types of politics I don’t think harassment is an effective strategy to encourage good behavior. I believe in good faith engagement and good emotional boundaries. If the content on this blog upsets you you’re 100% free to write a post detailing why you think that and offering improvements and solutions but I will block you if you harass me, call me a fascist without evidence or mischaracterize me. I have enabled abusers and abusive behavior under the guise of idpol in the past but will no longer.

#asks #about me

1 note · View note

thefanficmonster · 2 years

Note

Hello Vy! I hope you're doing well! Since the Pride Month slowly comes to its end, i'd like to share some of my thoughts with you about the LGBTQ community, if you don't mind.

This is actually a good thing that the LGBTQ community exists because now people of different sexualities can finally find their safe place. They can finally feel that they are loved, cared for, understood and accepted. Now they know for sure that they are not alone, that there is a huge amount of people like them all over the world. These are all incredibly wonderful things.

But it's very unpleasant to realize that within the community itself some people still remain unaccepted. I am talking about the non-acceptance of asexual folks. Being misunderstood and rejected by straights they experience the same things from the side of queer people. It feels like asexuals cannot find their safe haven anywhere. Neither inside of the community nor outside of it. I am an asexual myself and know that many people like me have heard just a bunch of foolish phrases like: you don't want to have sex with anyone?! you probably haven't met the right person yet…What the hell? In this case, i can say the same nonsense to some, for example, lesbian: so you like women, don't you? you just haven't met the right man yet or you're simply dissapointed in men. But that's not true. You are a lesbian because you were born that way.

Sexuality is something innate. No one chooses their sexuality just like no one chooses the color of their eyes or hair. But still, we always have this choice: either we begin to hide our true self and live in fear and suffer from it, or we can accept ourselves completely and live freely and happily. For this, goddammit, the LGBTQ community really exists! For helping every person with some different sexuality to fully embrace the skin they are in and let them know that they are not alone, to let them feel that this community of people is their safe space and here they are safe, loved, accepted and understood.

I wish all people in the LGBT community become a little bit more kind, patient and understanding to each other! I hope it is possible.

Happy Pride Month!

Hi dear Margaret! I'm so honored to have received this heartfelt, raw and honest message from you.

I, for one, have had very little real life exposure to the LGBTQ+ community IRL because of the area I live in but from what I've gotten the chance to experience online, I can say that this is one of the most wonderful things I've ever been a part of - a community with no other intentions than to make everyone feel confident in themselves and valid. To remind everyone that they are loved no matter how cruel the world can be and how disheartening things can get.

But unfortunately, this time last year, my inbox got a fair amount of anti-asexuality propaganda messages that enraged me. I never thought (had never heard of this phenomenon before that. I apologize for my at the time ignorance) that the community that is meant to be inclusive of everyone would be so avid to excluding people and gaslight them as well as undermine their emotions and identity.

I myself am not asexual but I stand by all my friends, fans and mutuals who are and who have experienced slander like this. I'm so sorry you have to face this sort of judgement and misconception from the very community that is supposed to be accepting and welcoming for everyone.

I hope things will change in the future but until then just remember that you're not alone. That for every acephobe out there, there are 10 people who support, love and care about you and believe that you are nothing if not loved, important and VALID.

Asexuals, aromantics and all the all the people who fall under the ace aro umbrella have always belonged and will always belong in the LGBTQ+ community.

~ Vy 💌

2 notes · View notes

peakstories · 2 years

Text

Common Questions and Information

What is peak trans?

Peak trans is the moment where you you begin to see the logical inconsistencies and cognitive dissonance within the trans movement which makes you realise that you can no longer (fully) support the trans movement.

The full, long definition which I like is this:

The moment when you realise that the trans movement is misogynistic, homophobic (and especially lesbophobic), full of autogynepiles, based on sexist stereotypes, full of circular reasoning, silencing (and attacking) those who disagree with them, silencing women who are affected by laws they wish to be put in place, ignoring science/statistics which go against their beliefs, based on beliefs rather than science and statistics, ignoring what people in their community are doing (as being trans is more important), and denying what other people in their own community are saying (because they’re not saying it). It’s the moment when you turn around and say ‘I cannot support this movement anymore’ because of all the reasons listed above.

But this definition from Urban Dictionary is also pretty good:

When the threshold of cognitive dissonance that the trans ideology requires of someone exceeds the limits of a person’s willing suspension of disbelief, and that person’s eyes open to where they can no longer agree with the narrative.

Who is this blog for?

This blog is open to everyone, regardless of if you are reading because you agree or hate-reading or just trying to understand other people’s side, my blog is open to you. I will only block people who harass me or attack people from the stories/on my posts.

What are TIM, TIF, and TRA?

TIM = Trans Identified Male (aka trans woman)

TIF = Trans Identified Female (aka trans man)

We use these acronyms in order to refer to trans people by their sex which makes things less complicated.

TRA = Trans Rights Activist. Basically a shorthand for anyone who unquestionably supports trans rights

Do you have trigger warnings?

There are two:

Trauma and Mental Illness

Eating Disorders

I am not the best at tagging so I may have missed some (which you can point out to me if you want to) but I try to make sure that they’re all tagged appropriately.

Where do most of these stories come from?

Many used to come from the subreddit r/GenderCritical and some from r/GenderCriticalGuys before the subreddits were banned by Reddit for ‘promoting hate’.

Some now come from the new Gender Critical group on SaidIt while others come from Spinster. Many are simply direct submissions.

How do you decide which stories I post?

I post all stories unless they have asked for their story to not be shared on different platforms or the story is riddled with slurs/obviously a troll. The moderators of r/GC, and now s/GC are very strict and good at removing those stories before I come across them, otherwise it’s just my own judgement on them.

What is ’peak queer’ and ’peak libfem’?

Much like peak trans, peak queer and peak libfem are reaching a point where you can no longer support these movement.

Peak queer, or peak TQ+, is no longer being able to support the micro identities which are often associated with trans activism such as pansexual/romantic, demisexual/romantic, allosexual/romantic, and omnisexual/romantic. Realising that many of these things are unnecessary identities for normal, human behaviour which exist because everyone wants to think that their feelings are special or unique.

Peak libfem is no longer being able to support the so-called ’feminist activism’ (really just conforming to patriarchal standards) which libfems support including sex-positivity/sex work is work, supporting make-up (culture), the massive support of trans activism at the expense of women’s rights, and calling everything a (free) choice so feminist.

What is a trans widow?

Trans widow is a term for people, although mainly women, who have married someone who later came out as trans which causes the end of their relationship. Their trans partner changes so much (including personality, likes/dislikes, the way they act, style, etc) in the process of transitioning/figuring out their gender identity that they become a completely different person. These changes mean that the person they originally fell in love with and married is effectively dead which gives them the name trans widows.

There’s a really good TEDTalk by a trans widow on the subject. There’s also an organisation called Trans Widow Voices to help support and raise awareness of trans widows.

List of Tags

Submissions and Tags: Stories which were submitted directly to this blog or which we reblog as we were tagged. (Links will eventually be added)

GC Reddit: Stories from Gender Critical Reddit (RIP r/GenderCritical)

GC Saidit: Stories from Gender Critical SaidIt

Spinster: Stories from Spinster

WoC Stories: Stories written by women of colour

Racism: Stories about racism by TRAs

TIMs: Stories with a TIM in (see above for definition)

TIFs: Stories with a TIF in (see above for definition)

Non Binary: Stories with someone who identities or used to identify as non-binary

Libfems: Stories which contain libfems, that is trans allies (especially allied women) who are not allies themselves and who also support choice feminism (eg: women can choose whatever they want with no analysis as to why women choose certain actions and why it could be harmful to them)

Peak TQ+: Stories about people reaching peak TQ+ or peak queer (see above for definition)

Peak Libfem: Stories about people reaching peak libfem (see above for definition)

Trans Widow: storiees by trans widows (see above for definition)

Misogyny: Stories containing some misogyny towards women

Internalised Misogyny: Stories about women dealing with their own internalised misogyny

Female Socialisation: Stories which include how women have been socialised a certain way, how TIMs don’t exhibit these signs, or denying that TIMs have not experienced this socialisation since they’re male

Silencing of Women: Stories which includes TRAs activly silencing women on certain issues

Female Spaces and Services: Stories which include female-specific spaces and services, normally being invaded by TIMs

Female Sports: Stories including TIMs in female sports

Male Privilege and Behaviour: Stories which include men (especially TIMs) acting with male privilege, showing typical male entitlement, overt misogyny and misunderstanding over what it is to be a woman, making male threats (ie: rape threats or anything about how they’re bigger/stronger/have a dick), etc

Stereotypes: Stories which show that TRAs really see gender as conforming to a specific set of stereotypes.

Homophobia: Stories containing homophobia (including fetishisation of gay people)

Lesbophobia: Stories containing lesbophobia (including fetishisation of lesbians)

Conversion Therapy Rhetoric: Stories containing conversion therapy rhetoric. Lesbians must like dick, gay men must like pussy, etc.

Internalised Homophobia: Stories about people dealing with their internalised homophobia

AGPs: Stories about autogynephilia which is men who get aroused at the idea of being a woman

Trans Obsession: Stories which contain people completely obsessing either over themselves being trans or trans stuff, to the point it appears to dominate their life or at least dominates how they interact with others

Trans Entitlement: Stories showing trans people/their allies seeming to be entitled to certain things (including sex, certain spaces, etc)

Trans People in Their Own Words: Stories which show someone peaking at least in part due to actual things actual trans people have directly said to them

Trans Harassment: Times trans people and/or their allies have harass people

Trans Violence: Times trans people and/or their allies have been violent, including harassment with a lot of threats of violence

Trans Abusers: Stories containing trans people who are/were abusive

Trans Children: Stories containing trans children

Cult Tactics: Times when TRAs use the same tactics cults have used to keep people in line.

HRT and transition: Stories about people who have gone through or are going through some kind of medical transition from puberty blockers to HRT to surgeries

Detransition: Stories by or about someone who has detransitions

Biology is a TERF: Stories which contain TRAs not understanding or denying biology which includes: denying that sex matters in any way, ignoring sex based issues, complete misunderstand or even abuse of intersex disorders, etc

Eating Disorders: Trigger warning tag for mentions of eating disorders

Trauma and Mental Illness: Trigger warning tag for mentions of trauma (eg: severe abuse, rape, etc) or mental illness.

2 notes · View notes

hellomynameisbisexual · 9 months

Text

THE 5 SECRET STRENGTHS OF BISEXUALS

There is strength and power in the bisexual+ community.

*** This is a repost for a guest post I originally did for the Bay Area Bisexual Network ***

If you’ve read many articles or research on bisexuality and mental health, you’ve heard all about the “stresses” and “risk factors” for bi+ folks. But if you’re reading this article, it means that you’re connected with BABN, and you probably know from your own experience the strength and power of the bi+ community.

I know that strength and power, too. I’m Dr. Lindsey Brooks, a San Francisco psychologist and proud member of the bi+ community. In this and upcoming guest blogs for BABN, I’m excited to share the positive psychological aspects and strengths of our community for a change.

And yes, I promise, there are many.

For example, coming out as bisexual is shown by recent research to be associated with improved relationships, a feeling of living more authentically, and improved mental health (Brownfield et al., 2018).

I see this reflected in my own work with bi+ clients: The stronger you feel within your own identity, the more you can genuinely connect with others. This connection has powerful benefits for a sense of happiness and belonging. (It’s also important to note that not everyone has the privilege and safety to come out, and not sharing your identity may also be an equally important choice for your mental health.)

In my work with the bi+ community over the past decade, I have witnessed many strengths of the bi+ experience. Here are some of my favorite strengths of being bisexual, based on my experience with bi+ clients and supported by recent research (Scales et al., 2010).

Self-awareness. Recent research suggests that bisexuals make up more than half of the LGB community (Gates, 2011), but have less visibility than their LG counterparts in our culture and society. In the journey of becoming self-aware, it may take time and introspection to first understand that bisexuality even exists, much less understand your own bisexuality. Making sense of your attractions across the gender spectrum can take time. During this reflection time, you can gain more clarity not only on your sexuality, but on who you are as a person. What a wonderful bonus gift of a bisexual identity!

Strong sense of self. Being bisexual in a binary world often means dealing with people who invalidate, erase, or simply refuse to believe your identity. This can be very painful! And, it also gives you practice at reaffirming for yourself, over and over, that you know who you are. You learn to provide yourself that unconditional love and acceptance. Over time, this can build a powerful inner strength and sense of self-love.

Infinite capacity for empathy. The bi+ experience creates a great amount of space to empathize with a wide range of life experiences, including multiple marginalized groups from cultural, sexual, and gender diverse communities. Perhaps it’s the experience of relationships with people across the gender spectrum, or the experience of feeling “in between,” that allows for this empathy to grow. I find this deep empathy benefits bisexual folks both personally and professionally in so many ways.

Positioned to be an ally and advocate. As a bi+ person, you are more likely to move in and out of different community spaces. Perhaps you have queer, straight, and bi+ communities you move within. This gives you opportunity to be a bridge between these communities. You can speak up and advocate when you hear biphobia in the straight or gay community. You can speak up and advocate when you hear homophobia, transphobia, racism, or sexism in any community. As a trusted part of more than one community, your voice can carry weight and influence that others may not have access to.

Write your own script. There is no societal script for what it means to be bisexual. This gives you space to write your own script, and to create relationships and make life choices that work for you. This makes room to break gender expectations, explore what relationship boundaries work for you and your partner(s), and live by your values. You get to define your own life in a way that fosters creativity and joy!

What are your strengths as a bisexual person? I’d love to hear people talking about this at your next BABN get-together!

*** This is a repost for a guest post I originally did for the Bay Area Bisexual Network. See original article here:

https://www.bayareabisexualnetwork.org/blog/guest-blogger-the-5-secret-strengths-of-bisexuals

References:

Brownfield, Jenna M., Brown, Chris, Jeevanba, Sathya Baanu, VanMattson, Sarah B. Psychology of Sexual Orientation and Gender Diversity, Vol 5(2), Jun 2018, 220-232

Gates, G. J. (2011). How many people are lesbian, gay, bisexual, and

transgender? Retrieved from https://williamsinstitute.law.ucla.edu/wp-content/uploads/Gates-How-Many-People-LGBT-Apr-2011.pdf

Scales Rostosky, S., Riggle, E. D., Pascale-Hague, D., & McCants, L. E. (2010). The positive aspects of a bisexual self-identification. Psychology and Sexuality, 1, 131–144. http://dx.doi.org/10.1080/19419899.2010.484595

40 notes · View notes

gaymessriku · 3 months

Text

Old issue at this point, but the American reception to Dragona Joestar really is emblematic of the remaking of the gender binary into a 'woke' version. As presented in the manga, Dragona is called Jodio's brother and uses he/him pronouns. He also has a stereotypically feminine appearance and has canonically had surgeries to achieve this.

It is of course important to understand this in the context of Araki's treatment of women in past chapters. And he has in fact repeated these tropes with Dragona. However, especially with any knowledge of how gender is seen in Japan, there is no reason to view his pronouns and presentation as unintended or inherently transphobic.

I have seen person after person use she/her or they/them when referring to him, not due to any textual support but their own confusion and discomfort. Dragona may be a binary trans woman, or a gnc man, or whatever the fuck his heart desires. That is irrelevant to his pronouns. The idea that he cannot possibly use or like he/him due to his presentation is incredibly restrictive and disrespectful.

Viewing pronouns as inherently tied to gender or presentation only rebrands transphobic ideas of gender being inherently tied to sex. It implies an inherent scale between 2 points of male and female which are tied to certain appearances and behaviors, and everyone falling somewhere on it. E.G. the idea of having to be a masc or fem aligned nonbinary, or stereotypically feminine traits in men causing jokes about how they're secretly trans women and don't realize it yet.

This is harmful to not only the people who fall outside these categories but also those who are comfortable within them. It perpetuates stereotypes in queer spaces that cause fear and ostracization. And it is completely ahistorical to the movement as a whole. Accepting gender as a construct means both acknowledging the utility and weight of its signifiers in a personal and societal context, while also releasing yourself and others from the obligations thereof.

A trans man and a butch lesbian can look or act exactly the same and that makes them no less different or authentic in their existence. Promoting men wearing skirts or makeup while simultaneously viewing them as less their gender is hypocritical and still presents maleness as a default that femininity and womanhood is an aberration or change to. Saying you support trans people and gender nonconformity is incongruous with assigning certain traits to certain genders.

It is of course entirely possible that Araki has some level of misunderstanding or ill intent in his representation of Dragona. It is also possible that his identity or pronouns will change over the course of the manga. However, as currently presented, that is what he wants and is comfortable with. As a reader, in the same way you wouldn't misgender someone who doesn't fit your standards for presentation in real life it should also be applied to characters. This is not a matter of personal headcanon but the material as it is presented.

I'm not attributing intent or malice to those who do this. It is very much not about accusations of queerphobia or inciting self flagellation. This is about explaining how these actions are harmful and what they perpetuate. It is an invitation to think about how you view these categories and apply them to the world, even subconsciously.

It is not a sin to be wrong. It is not a sin to not have the perfect enlightened ideas inside and out. We all have biases, and they take time to identify and account for. Part of having moral and ethical principles is recognizing your own flaws in these areas. That is always the first step to understanding and improvement.

And of course I'm not a perfect being either, so contributions, criticism, or questions are very much welcome. Community is based on shared values and identity but also the ability to keep an open mind. We all have pieces of the world and the only way to get a better picture is sharing them.

#axel.txt #no the horse disc

0 notes

drrogerjou · 3 months

Text

CASY Cultural Autism Studies (The Ethnography Project led by Dr. Dawn Prince-Hughes) Online Speaker Series is delighted to welcome Ariel Cascio, Ph.D. on Monday, February 12, 5:30 p.m. EST. Dr. Cascio will facilitate a workshop on gender identity.

There is no cost to attend, and international participants are invited to join. RSVP online though our borderless Meetup group http://tinyurl.com/yytet2v5

DESCRIPTION: This topic is important for everyone. It is especially important for CASY because autistic communities have identified and celebrated a wide range of gender identities within the autistic population. A large portion of autistic people identify with non-binary genders (which means they identify as something other than man or woman). A large portion of non-binary people identify as autistic. Autistic people like Nick Walker and Remi Yergeau have even coined the term “neuroqeer” to describe the intersection of autisticness and queerness (https://neuroqueer.com/neuroqueer-an-introduction/). In this workshop, Dr. Cascio (a non-autistic person) will share their experience identifying their own gender across their lifetime. They will invite you to share and explore your own gender identity (man, woman, non-binary, agender, and more) in a supportive space. During the session, they will ask you: When did you first become aware of your own gender? What have other people told you about your gender? Do you agree or disagree with what other people have told you? How do you describe your own gender? What defines that gender? Who has a similar gender to you? What makes you similar to them? What, if anything, does your autistic identity have to do with your gender identity? You can think about these questions before the session if you would like to. We will also talk about them at the session. If you are so moved, please bring samples of text, images, audio, video, or stories that represent what gender means to you.

BIOGRAPHY: Dr. Ariel Cascio is joining us from the ancestral, traditional, and contemporary Lands of the Anishinaabeg – Three Fires Confederacy of Ojibwe, Odawa, and Potawatomi peoples, the land also called Michigan. Ariel is an anthropologist who studies social and ethical issues around autism and neurodiversity in Europe and North America, especially Italy. Their research projects largely center on the questions “what does autism mean?” and “how do groups account for the neurological diversity of their members?” You can read their research at arielcascio.wordpress.com.

About CASY Cultural Autism Studies (The Ethnography Project led by Dr. Dawn Prince-Hughes): An 'ethnography' is an exploration of how a group of people express themselves in a cultural way. Autistic people have a growing kind of culture, and each autistic experience is a vital part of it. Dr. Dawn Prince-Hughes is an anthropologist, ethnographer, primatologist, and author who is autistic. Join her for an exploration of the importance of autistic self-expression and the culture that grows from it. Those who wish to share their content are free to do so on our private Facebook group (see below), organically contributing to a growing autistic culture.

Links to online events will also be shared on these private Facebook groups: SOCIAL CONNECTIVITY FOR AUTISM (http://tinyurl.com/mrxnxmnc) or CASY Cultural Autism Studies... The Ethnography Project (http://tinyurl.com/4ckbyut7).

CREDITS: The preparation of this material was financed under an agreement with the Connecticut Council on Developmental Disabilities (CTCDD). CASY Sparks membership, activities and events are free. CASY Sparks is sponsored in part by The Daniel Jordan Fiddle Foundation Adult Autism Research Fund, and a generous gift from the Rosen family, and the research of Dr. Roger Jou, including Simons Foundation Powering Autism Research (SPARK) Clinical Site Network - Yale University (https://www.SPARKforAutism.org/Yale).

0 notes

florasearlethirdyear · 6 months

Text

RSA: LGBTQ+ Artists

Ashley Lukashevsky:

Ashley is a talented illustrator and visual artist with a compelling mission. They use their creative skills to contribute to and strengthen various social movements, including racial justice, immigrant justice, climate justice, mental health advocacy, and LGBTQIA+ liberation. Ashley's work serves as a powerful tool for raising awareness, promoting positive change, and challenging the oppressive systems and ideologies that persist in society.

Through their art, Ashley envisions and portrays an idealized world. This world is not only a source of inspiration and hope, but it also represents a powerful form of resistance. By creating and sharing these idealized depictions, Ashley aims to dismantle the harmful systems and ideologies that obscure the path to a more just and equitable society.

Ashley uses fluid forms, retro fonts and bold colours to visualise their idealized world. This is particularly inspirational as I am at a point where Im trying to combine illustrations and type.

Spll Girl:

Spll Girl is a non binary Canadian illustrator and artist. Spll Girl's art is a unique and powerful expression of their inner world, characterized by highly emotive characters and scenes that are brought to life with vibrant colors, bold lines, patterns, and movement. This use of movement is notable within their collaboration with Nike. Their art serves as a medium through which she navigates and communicates their experiences, emotions, and perspectives.

Alex Antonescu:

Alex is a illustrator based in Bucharest, Romania, who brings a unique and vibrant perspective to their work. As a member of the LGBTQ+ community, they take pride in their queer identity, and this is beautifully reflected in their whimsical and colorful personality, which shines through in their illustrations.

What sets Alex apart is the versatile and inclusive nature of their art. One of their primary missions is to provide representation for every community and minority group with a strong sense of pride. Through their work, they create a visual celebration of diversity, ensuring that everyone's voice and identity can find a place in their illustrations. The hallmark of Alex's pieces is the explosion of color and the powerful presence they exude.

Ashton Attzzs:

Ashton Attzs, a painter and illustrator based in the UK, is marked by their distinctive style and a commitment to inclusivity. Ashton identifies as a queer and gender non-conforming artist whose work celebrates every character and ensures their visibility. Ashton's work is characterized by flat, bold, and vibrant colors.

Wednesday Holmes:

Wednesday is a multi-talented artist, designer, writer, and queer community organizer based in London. Their work is characterized by its commitment to promoting education, empathy, and kindness, with a focus on providing representation and support for the queer community. Wednesday's diverse portfolio covers a wide range of topics, including advocacy for transgender and gender-nonconforming individuals, mental health, recovery, and unity. They have collaborated with renowned brands and organizations such as Youth to the People, Lazy Oaf, Lucy and Yak, J.Crew, and many more.

I draw inspiration from Wednesday's commitment to providing representation, support, and positivity to the queer community. In my brand I aim to incorporate elements of inclusivity, joy, and empowerment.

Florence Given:

Florence Given is feminist queer illustrator and author based in the UK. Her books 'Women Don't Owe You Pretty' and 'Girl Crush' have reached worldwide fame. Florence Given's art and writings often focus on themes related to gender equality, self-acceptance, and empowerment. Her style isn't what I am aiming towards for the project but her utilization of these topics is important to observe. Her art features diverse and inclusive representations of women and gender identities. Florence Given's work typically includes bold and playful typography, striking imagery, and a strong sense of self-expression.

Rommy Torrico:

Rommy is a queer, trans, formerly undocumented chilean migrant artist. Torrico's art explores the intersectionality of various aspects of identity, including their experiences as an undocumented immigrant, a queer individual, and a nonbinary person. Their work delves into the complexities and challenges of navigating multiple marginalized identities.

Torrico is known for their portraiture, creating vivid and evocative representations of individuals within the LGBTQ+ and undocumented immigrant communities.

#unit 1 #rsa brief #specialist practice

0 notes