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y'all, let's take a minute to talk about Twitch tags, especially as an LGBTQIA+ streamer. Tags are a "discovery tool" and are either automatically applied by Twitch (e.g. game genres based on the category you use), or manually added by the streamer (e.g. VR or first playthrough)
There has been a lot of conversation around some specific tags recently. The LGBTQIA+ tag, and a tag that doesn't exist but people want - trans. Let's talk about the LGBTQIA+ tag first.
Before I get into anything more deeply, please repeat after me: the "A" in LGBTQIA+ is for ASEXUAL/AROMANTIC and IS NOT FOR ALLY. Ahem. Apparently, there are still a lot of people who don't know this.
The most glaring issue with this tag is its ambiguity. Twitch itself defines it as
For streams in which the streamer chooses to identify as a member or ally of the LGBTQIA+ community
For streams in which the streamer chooses to identify as a member or ally of the LGBTQIA+ community
Let's state the obvious: there should be no need to tag your stream as an ally. The LGBTQIA+ community should not need to be grateful that people will respect them and treat them as equals to cis, straight folk. That should go without saying. But of course, it doesn't.
It's frustrating - most LGBTQIA+ people using the tag to find content are looking for other LGBTQIA+ people to relate to, places where their struggles will be understood. Sometimes, finding a place where you won't suffer from abuse is a relief, but sometimes it's disappointing.
If a person truly is an ally, there are better things they could be doing than taking up this space. e.g. Lobby Twitch for an "LGBTQIA+ ally" tag for people to indicate that their space is safe for LGBTQIA+ folks but their voices aren't centred in that space.
Even better, allies could acknowledge that respect for LGBTQIA+ people isn't the default state, & work towards changing that. Educating communities, including strictly upholding rules of conduct in chat, moderating for LGBTQIA+ people, reporting comments & users who are abusive.
Help us ensure Twitch is held accountable to their stated rules and code of conduct and their commitment to diversity. It's much harder to ignore the straight, cis people saying it - for a start, there are a lot more of them.
Of course, when any policing of usage starts, people begin to take it upon themselves. Even now, some people face marginalisation even within the LGBTQIA+ community. particularly bisexual people in hetero-passing relationships, and anyone on the Ace spectrum.
The fact that allies use the tag muddies the water and makes people feel like they need to ask about streamers' "credentials" and whether they are using the tag "legitimately" or not. And that can be really fucking tiring and disheartening.
So, we have to be able to toe the line between needing the support of non-LGBTQIA+ people and not necessarily wanting to have them in all our spaces.
To be extremely reductive, look at it like this: if there was a "Black" tag for Black creators to find and uplift each other, you wouldn't use that tag if you were non-Black just to show you're not a racist.
In my opinion, I don't think anyone who isn't LGBTQIA+ should be using that tag. Being an ally shouldn't be special, it should be the bare minimum.
Now, speaking of "if Twitch had a tag...", let's talk about a tag they don't have. Twitch does not have a "trans" tag. For nearly two years (since March 4th 2019), there has been a request on their "user voice" pages for a trans tag. https://twitch.uservoice.com/forums/310210-discover-browsing-and-searching/suggestions/37011022-trans-tag-request
Even before the user voice page was a thing, there were numerous other requests for it. It's the most upvoted request that hasn't had any action come of it and surpasses the next most upvoted request but about 5x the number of votes.
What would a trans tag do for people? A common argument against having a trans tag is that all the other LGBTQIA+ identities make do with the umbrella tag; if we make a trans tag won't we need a gay/lesbian/asexual... etc... The short answer here is: No. There are a few reasons:
Trans folk face lots of discrimination even within the LGBTQIA+ community, to the point where I now explicitly say when I get raided that my stream is a safe place for trans people. A trans tag would ensure trans folks would no longer have to risk entering an unsafe space.
Trans ppl are so under-represented that it's hard to find people to connect with. The LGBTQIA+ tag is dominated by others, and it's difficult to find trans people to connect. A trans tag would help. It's vital for trans folk to be able to find each other - lifesaving sometimes
Why hasn't Twitch added the tag? Now that is a very good question. Twitch say that they are concerned that a trans tag might bring harassment to trans creators and that there might be a better solution than a tag. I have... a number of problems with this.
Twitch is straight-up acknowledging the harassment problem on their platform while continuing to do nothing about it. Read @negaoryx's thread on this. https://twitter.com/negaoryx/status/1353109188709212160 - this is contra to their claims about a trans tag and their "concern" it could draw abusive behaviour.
Twitch regularly put their most marginalised users in front of hate-filled audiences. E.g, the PogChamp emotes. Twitch removed the original image because that creator turned out the be a terrible person, and replaced it with a rotating cast of faces including Black creators.
They offered no additional support, and they became easy targets for hate. Same goes for Black History Month, with Twitch centring Black folks on their front page, again with no additional protection. They are essentially enabling mass harassment of these marginalised people.
They are fully aware of this. Marginalised creators have their own methods to keep safe. Twitch does not care about inviting hate.
Also, trans creators are asking for this tag. If the community were genuinely concerned about inviting harassment then why would they be so adamant about the tag? Twitch has, on multiple occasions, shown that it is utterly uninterested in listening to what its users are saying.
The whole stance is a strange one anyway when you consider that in 2018, Twitch had user-created "communities" and trans creators found it extremely useful both for themselves to find creators to collaborate with, and for viewers who were seeking out people to connect with.
On top of all this, as I stated at the top of the thead, tags are optional! If a trans creator is concerned they will receive more harassment due to being trans, or if they aren't comfortable with using the tag for any reason, they can simply not use it.
There's no reason for it to not be there for the people who want to use it. Instead of either Twitch moderating better, or allowing creators to handle it themselves (which they have to do anyway), they have simply removed the option and in so doing, make trans people feel erased.
Some people counter with the "trans panic" problem. If there was a trans tag and a trans creator decided not to use it, would they incite harassment? This is a bad faith argument and with better protection and moderation in place, this wouldn't be a concern even if it was valid.
I believe this is a very important issue to raise awareness of. At the very least, Twitch needs to be held accountable. It can't get away with refusing to put a spotlight on trans creators with a feigned concern that they demonstrably don't actively engage with.
I encourage you to find out actions you can take as suggested by Twitch Trans Action https://transtwitch.isnice.be/
Read the experiences of some other trans voices on Twitch. https://www.dexerto.com/entertainment/trans-streamers-twitch-miabyte-elle-rows-mstrssfox-1494525/
Go and upvote the user voice request. https://twitch.uservoice.com/forums/310210-discover-browsing-and-searching/suggestions/37011022-trans-tag-request
Amplify and support trans voices. and If you enjoyed this thread, check out my Patreon, where it originally appeared and where I'm gonna share more, similar content. http://patreon.com/shanodin
