Transgenderism

[brandon_g]

My 2 cents in this is the same I take with most societal issues in general. Society is scared and blind to anything outside of the 'normal', they will refuse to accept it for as long as possible. They did with civil rights and racism, they'll do it with transgender people and gays, lesbians, etc. I am one for choices, if they want to dress that way they can, it's their life. No one else is hurt from it! WHO CARES SOCIETY? I always have gone by my personal point of view of society, I am not going to try to fit in with society, if society fits in with me fine, if not, I don't much care, I am who am I and I dont care about much else. People in general put so much emphasive on what others think of them, which can be very stressful. First of all I think someone should just be themselves and not go to huge lengths to fit in. I don't and I feel my life is much better that way! If society fits with me, fine, if not all well.

I will say that I am happy things have gotten this far, as far as getting awareness and legal stuff out there. A person in my class is transgender, he is very smart and cool... He will put you in your place too if you want to bully him too. No one in the school except for the occasional ignorant kid judges him on anything, because they probably put in thier place along time ago. Good for him! That is what more people need to do... Stand up to that bully... Call him out in front of his friends, stand up to him/her.

This will take time for the blind, narrow minded society to accept, but like civil rights and race, they will get over it and learn to live with it. Trans gender people have a will made of steel and should be given a medal, standing up against society is not easy, but by doing it your doing your part a to make the world better place. Point: Don't let blind narrow minded society dictate who you are, be YOURSELF, if society don't like it... TOUGH!

[Corey]

The only issue I could possibly find people have with transsexualism is the religious argument, which Neo addressed. Other than, "ew that's icky," which isn't a rational nor respectful argument, I'm don't know why anyone would argue against transsexualism. Though, humans have always frowned upon non-procreative sex, whether it be in the form of homosexuality, transsexualism, or fetishism. Many still oppose oral sex and sodomy, even among heterosexual couples.

I think the problem lies in ignorance, as many people associate gender and sex, when they're, in reality, two different things. Sex is biological, while gender is a human construct. Sex is binary and gender is not. Sex is physical, while gender is mental. Though, one similarity between assigned sex and gender is that they aren't choices. I've done little research into the origins of transgenderism (if this were a thread about homosexuality, then class would be in session), and I'm not even sure if there's been comprehensive studies of scientific standard conducted on the topic, but I'm rather certain that gender dysphoria is no more a choice than something like clinical depression.

As for "cisphobia," I've rarely ever seen true, non-satirical "cisphobia," and I frequent Tumblr. I think that it's an attempt to make a jab at the majority due to persecution of the minority, which is understandable, but not an appropriate response.

I've actually never told anyone this, but there have been times when I felt like I should have been born female. Not strongly enough that I could ever have acted on it, but it was still there, and there was at least one time that I was pretty seriously convinced. Am I happy how I am? Mostly. But I still can't help but wonder from time to time what it would have been like if I was born female. Well, the point of my saying this is that, although I realize what I felt wasn't really what real transgender people feel, I think I at least have a vague idea as to what they feel.

Haha, I'm pretty sure most people feel this way, just a lot of people won't admit it. I personally think my life would be 1000x easier if I were born female. I could more acceptably indulge in my make-up fascination and like boys (being gay is very frustrating when no hot, romantic gays live within a 32345843274320985 mile radius). I'm lucky though, in the sense that I could just be a drag queen (which is more fun than being a girl would be imo). The difference between curiosity and transsexualism is how you identify mentally. :)

[[Desolate Divine]]

I don't have a problem with transgenderism, when done properly. What I mean by that is this:

I have two close transgender friends.

One of them treats their gender as an aspect of their identity. Chances are if someone said "Hey do you know xxxxxx?", someone would say "I think so. Isn't he that guy who, plays guitar/does sound engineering/likes dancing etc"
One of them lets their gender consume their whole identity. 90% of what they post online is about the fact they are non binary in gender. One of my close friends is friends with this person on facebook and agrees with me. Based on what they post on facebook, this friend of mine can determine nothing about them other than the fact that they are transgender. Chances are if someone said "Hey do you know xxxx?", someone would say "Are they that transgender person?" as opposed to "I think so, they like Pokemon/is a hairdresser/into gothic clothing aren't they?". I mean, I would rather refer to me as "that musician guy" or "that guy who likes pokemon" instead of "That Cysgender guy." This leads into my next point.

One of them has never even mentioned being transgender. Within weeks of knowing him, myself and my classmates simply knew. He became 'one of the guys'. And we all accepted that.
The other tends to force their gender identity down other peoples throats, and honestly, I just find it irritating. I find my religion to be a massive aspect of my identity, but I don't shove it down people throats. All I ask is that others don't shove their beliefs down mine.

One of them doesn't expect everyone else to change for him. He makes people want to change by being a really nice person. People would want to change to stay friends with him.
The other expects the world to change for them, in a sense that if anyone even accidentally slips up with pronouns, they will bite their head off. I guess that I have always gone by the mindset "Don't be an effort." I feel like my presence shouldn't make people work any harder, and vice versa.

One of them is an example of someone treating their gender identity maturely.
The other isn't.

Essentially, I have no problem with transgenderism, as long as they are mature about it.

On a slightly related note, the whole Caitlyn Jenner things irks me, but not because of the gender thing. More the fact that the media are trying to portray a 65 year old as a sexualized 25 year old. I dunno, I guess I just find it slightly perverted. I guess that they wouldn't do that with a 65 year old cysgender woman, so why do it with Caitlyn. But I guess that is just the media/Kardashians doing what they do best.