Who are some trans people you get along with/admire?

submitted by quickbeam from self.GenderCritical

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[–][deleted] 23 insightful - 1 fun23 insightful - 0 fun24 insightful - 1 fun -  (1 child)

I think most of us are not against trans people, more like we are seeing the movement from a broad perspective and we're not going to ignore what we're seeing nor agree with all the rhetoric that's pushed nor respect someone's misogynistic fantasies or whatever else.

For example, you mentioned your non-binary friends. I can't agree that non-binary means anything, in fact my earnest research into understanding non-binary identities--so I could be a better ally--was part of how I fell down the whole damn rabbit hole to begin with and peaked. But the people who identify themselves as non-binary or anything else are no less human with their own personalities and merit. To me this has become like religion. Not sure if that's a great analogy. But I don't discount the entire person or their humanity just because I don't agree with their religion.

To answer your question, I appreciate Miranda Yardley!!

Also, I agree with you on productive dialogue, and I like your invitation to discuss individuals we respect. I have my doubts that's possible when this has all been forced into such extreme polarization with the "kill all TERFs" and "everything is transphobia" attitudes. I feel like I was radicalized myself in reaction, and now I'm trying to be more balanced without compromising truth, reality, women's rights, greater good, etc.

[–]quickbeam[S] 3 insightful - 1 fun3 insightful - 0 fun4 insightful - 1 fun -  (0 children)

I've been a vegan for some time and I know I personally got sick of being associated with vegans whose activism was extreme to the point of hating other people or being insensitive to feminism. People would sometimes expect me to yell at them just because I was ordering a veggie burger, which was pretty weird. Because of that I realize that all activist groups, beliefs and identities contain a multitude of voices. Even on this thread you can see gender critical people who seem to actually hate trans people (as we're told we all do) as well as people who have mixed views or mostly positive views. My view is mostly positive because I'm operating under the assumption that most trans/non-binary people are like the people I've met in real life rather than the loudest voices being amplified. I also assume that if some subset of these people are mentally ill, mental illness is a condition we should have compassion for rather than hate on.

As to your point on whether it's possible to have productive dialogue - I think it is always possible to control how I engage in dialogue, and the mindset with which I approach other people. It's up to the other party how to respond. But my rule of thumb for myself is to engage in kind and/or neutral discussion even or especially when I disagree with someone and disengage from the discussion when it's clear it's no longer possible. I have found great success with this approach in terms of my own mental well-being and at times with finding points of connection and agreement with others.