Before we get into the nitty gritty, I want to start out this week's discussion by thanking you all for participating in the group reading thus far. I have been trying get this off the ground for a while and it's nice to finally see it take off and more specifically see it be used for educational purposes following a community-wide struggle session on trans issues. I never would have anticipated such immense pushback from the community on such a minor issue; I saw a lot of misconceptions, hate, and outright refusal to listen to and understand those affected by the matter.

Seeing it all unfold in real-time was very surreal and alienating and I suspect a lot of other trans people here felt that way too. But like your stereotypical Christian who turns to the Bible in times of confliction and confusion, I looked to comrade Leslie Feinberg for guidance and found a few little passages that really stood out to me on the matter of the struggle sessions:

  1. "Together, I believe we can forge a coalition that can fight on behalf of your oppression as well as mine. Together, we can raise each other's grievances and win the kind of significant change we all long for. But the foundation of unity is understanding." (pg. 6)
  2. "Misconceptions have been a barrier between our communities. In order to have any real dialogue, it means we must all listen carefully to each other." (pg. 22)
  3. "None of us can ever be free while others are still in chains. That's the truth underlying the need for solidarity. Trans liberation is inextricably linked to other movements for equality and justice." (pg. 48)
  4. "Revealing the need for solidarity takes patient education." (pg. 50)

While the response was alienating, seeing cis folks participating has been very reassuring that there are people here willing to listen to the struggles of trans people, challenge their own misconceptions on trans issues, and strive to be better allies to help fight on our behalf. And I'm grateful for the trans folks who are willing to participate in this and have a dialogue with anyone who is seeking to better understand our lived experiences. I truly appreciate everyone involved with this educational session. You're all based as fuck. O7

Now that all the mushy gushy shit is outta the way, drop as many quotes, thoughts, comments, concerns, ah-ha moments as you like in the comments and shoot to be actively commenting on other people's notes throughout the day as well.

This thread will be featured for 24 hours then will remain pinned in !transenby_liberation for the remainder of the week until next Saturday. Rinse and repeat.

original thread
pdf download
epub download

  • marxisthayaca [he/him,they/them]15•4 years ago

    And if you do not identify as transgender or transsexual or intersexual, your life is diminished by our oppression as well. Your own choices as a man or woman are sharply curtailed. Your individual journey to express yourself is shunted into one of two deeply carved ruts and the social baggafe you are handed is already packed. So the defense of each individual’s right to vote their own body, and to explore the path of self expression, enhances your own freedom to discover about yourself and your potentialities.”

    I can’t count the number of times I’ve heard people claim gender or sexuality can only be expressed in hyper specific ways, but later hear these exact people upset about how they are criticised on their lack of a characteristic or trait, how they get humiliated or are in the closet about a sexual preference or act or their love of something or their hobbies. Keeping identities gated and separate punishes anyone who strays outside the lines in an attempt to make those outside the ruts stand out more and get pushed back in line (phrased really well on page 30-31).

    Not to sound like a humble brag, but I have been a pretty involved parent, so much so that I attended my wife’s baby shower (even my wife told it was traditionally a woman’s only thing) and was sort of the “host” thanking people, helping them located, announcing when we’d move to new games, etc.

    My wife was told so many times that I wasn’t like “most guys”, “my husband wouldn’t do this”. Same thing happened when we started going out on dates, and she’d tell her coworker friends, they were...impressed, and a little jelly?

    It feels nice. But you also can’t help but feel for the poor guys who don’t know what they are missing, or that refuse to be more involved in their own families because caring is seen as a feminine act.