(i ripped this off wikipedia real fast so sorry if it's lib)

In October 1776, the Public Universal Friend contracted an epidemic disease and was bedridden and near death with a high fever. Their family summoned a doctor from Attleboro, six miles away, and neighbors kept up a death-watch at night. The fever broke after several days. The Friend later reported that [deadname redacted] had died, receiving revelations from God through two archangels who proclaimed there was "Room, Room, Room, in the many Mansions of eternal glory for Thee and for everyone". The Friend further said that [deadname redacted]'s soul had ascended to heaven and the body had been reanimated with a new spirit charged by God with preaching his word, that of the "Publick Universal Friend", describing that name in the words of Isaiah 62:2 as "a new name which the mouth of the Lord hath named".

From that time on, the Friend refused to answer to their deadname, ignoring or chastising those who insisted on using it. When visitors asked if it was the name of the person they were addressing, the Friend simply quoted Luke 23:3 ("thou sayest it").  Identifying as neither male nor female, the Friend asked not to be referred to with gendered pronouns. Followers respected these wishes; they referred only to "the Public Universal Friend" or short forms such as "the Friend" or "P.U.F.", and many avoided gender-specific pronouns even in private diaries. When someone asked if the Friend was male or female, the preacher replied "I am that I am", saying the same thing to a man who criticized the Friend's manner of dress (adding, in the latter case, "there is nothing indecent or improper in my dress or appearance; I am not accountable to mortals").

editorial note: I think this is a very cool story and I really love hearing it. We've been around forever and we've been doing variations of this forever. It's really beautiful


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  • BountifulEggnog [she/her]
    ·
    2 days ago

    Sanity check chat, is a parent saying "you can do a b c transition things, but I don't want you doing x y z while you live here, I'm just not comfortable with that/goes against my beliefs", abusive? Like assuming its strictly transition related. I don't know what specific things are being thought of either. Personally, I'm assuming that to mean hrt/pronouns/name/clothes?

    • iridaniotter [she/her]
      ·
      2 days ago

      Yes, definitely. The parent is clearly treating the child as property, doing so in a cissexist manner, and attempting to destroy the child's sense of self. However, it's super normalized.

    • ashinadash [she/her]
      ·
      edit-2
      2 days ago

      What goes against their beliefs and why? madeline-stare If something you need goes "against their beliefs" (cultural revolution against kkkhristianity when) then I would say yes to this question.

      • BountifulEggnog [she/her]
        ·
        2 days ago

        I should confirm what is being thought of, I'm thinking just normal transition stuff as I ask for/need it. Unlimited revolution against kkkhristianity absolutely qin-shi-huangdi-fireball

        • ashinadash [she/her]
          ·
          2 days ago

          I get the sense that bro is just thinking of ways to bargain with christofascists lmao. UNLIMITED REVOLUTION qin-shi-huangdi-fireball

    • WalrusDragonOnABike [they/them]@lemmy.today
      ·
      2 days ago

      If xyz were something like "hang trans flag in window facing the street," I think I could accept fear of being hatecrime'd as sorta-kinda acceptable given how unimportant that is likely to be for the person doing it. But not respecting/allowing things like name, pronouns, presentation, and hrt would all be shitty behavior at best and definitely abusive with for minors and/or those with disabilities who are much more dependent on parents.

    • kristina [she/her]M
      ·
      edit-2
      2 days ago

      Anything relating to your body and identity is your purview, and they should be respected

      • BountifulEggnog [she/her]
        ·
        edit-2
        2 days ago

        This something my therapist has said multiple times, almost every session lately tbh. Asking like, how I'd feel if that's what my parents said. I mean I guess anything would be better then nothing, but I'm still not a fan of that.

        • Tomboymoder [she/her, pup/pup's]
          ·
          2 days ago

          I guess I would ask why ABC is fine, but not XYZ and I’d ask if I have to follow every single one of their own beliefs to live there or if it was just an excuse because they are personally uncomfortable with XYZ

          • BountifulEggnog [she/her]
            ·
            2 days ago

            I definitely don't have to follow their other beliefs, any sort of issue would literally just be because I'm trans.