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I'm not linking to this transphobic article from @smh because the last thing it needs is more clicks. But we do need to talk about it because this kind of misinformation is dangerous.
There are a lot of lies about transition and what it means to be trans. Medical transition isn't easy. Trans people have to jump through too many hoops and convince too many other people just to have a say in what our bodies are like.
If you've never had to convince a stranger that you know who you are (or that people like you even exist) while knowing that if they disagree they can deny you medical treatment and control over your body then don't try to talk about how "easy" you assume transitioning is.
The idea that trans people who were assigned female at birth transition because being a girl is hard is ridiculous. Being trans doesn't stop us from being vulnerable. It doesn't let us escape oppression, it just changes some of the details some of the time.
People do not 'become trans' to rebel against our parents or because it's a 'trend'. We are trans, and being open about that fact when the people around are hostile is an act of personal courage.
The toys we play with as children say very little about who we are, and noticing that your child didn't fit whatever gender stereotype you think being trans should come with says more about your limited view of gender than anything else.
Transphobes pretend that they speak from a position of vulnerability, that their ideas are taboo and they're taking a risk by being the only ones brave enough to speak up. This is complete fantasy, and it's striking that they make these claims while being given major platforms
Trans people are held to higher standards. We have to fight harder to be heard a fraction as often. Even people who support trans rights will often turn to cis doctors, cis parents, cis celebrities, cis queer people, before listening to trans people directly.
What transphobes mean when they say that their ideas are taboo or they'll be "attacked" is that they know they can't back up their claims, they know that trans people will speak up because we always have to, and they're trying to discredit the valid criticism they know is coming.
The person who wrote this article is a cruel parent who turned to @smh to invalidate their child and their child's community. And @smh is a platform that decided that harming trans people was worth it. We have to hold platforms accountable for what they publish.
If you want to understand trans experiences listen to trans people. If you want to have more complex conversations about transness you have to get the basics right- that means not denying our rights is step one.
Invite multiple trans people to have conversations about our different approaches! I promise you there's plenty of room for complexity, nuance, and disagreement even after you rule out blatantly false and damaging stereotypes.
Cis people: if you get invited to comment on this, pass the mic to trans person this time.
For anyone who wants to support trans rights, donate to trans-led organisations http://www.ygender.org.au/donate
For anyone who wants to support trans rights, donate to trans-led organisations http://www.ygender.org.au/donate
