Transgender person here. Whilst I don’t agree with all of the language you’ve used (and much of this conflict manifests in language), I appreciate the approach you’ve taken on a complicated and contested matter. When it comes to a way ahead, I suggest at least two things are missing: evidence (about early transition, about reality of self-ID in other countries etc.), and transgender voices in mainstream media. There’s a lot of shouting going on over our heads, less genuine engagement with us.
I think what you put out here is mostly fair/balanced. Although I think you're a bit dismissive once you get towards the end about trans people and what they're up against. The attack on us is just brutal. Some of the issues can be solved but they don't want to even attempt to acknowledge problems and actually have a debate. If there is a debate we're never invited by the way. They don't want things solved. They (the religious right and conservatives) want things to remain contentious and with sharp edges. Compromise forget. They won't even give US Congresswoman McBride (DE) a bathroom in the House Chambers in Washington DC. To conduct business. One measly unisex bathroom would be very easy too quickly construct. And this would certainly be dignifying. But they won't do it. On purpose. So that is what you're dealing with. Things like the bathroom issue could be solved or at least moving along with solutions if that's what they wanted. But nobody wants that. Except trans people. And the idea that cisgender women are in great danger is just not something I've seen ever. The safety issue is largely a philosophical debate let's be honest here. Take away trans women and you're still going to have (cis heteronormative male) sexual predators and violators overwhelmingly dominate as they always have.
[Is there some cross-dressing hideous perv guy out there somewhere lurking near women's bathrooms with a dress, and a wig, and hairy legs? I guess sure somewhere, but it ain't me and I need the world to treat me with some respect and fairness as I come full circle with my gender identity. Because I really am trans.
[and I'm not trashing cross-dressing men per se if that's what they want to do in their homes privately, on YouTube, or perhaps and even venture out to clubs, etc. That's not my point here; further, as I write I'm falling into the trap that my trans sisters would be critical of which is over explaining and apologizing defensively as I make my points].
As a trans femme and transitioning person still, I'm under pressure from cis Men who size me up and give me that laser beam sexual stare from afar even if I'm pumping gasoline into my truck ⛽ (a couple weeks ago 2 at once --- I was like Jesus). Wanting to be left alone. Nobody gives a damn about trans women being in danger. We are expendable freaks with no rights. So let's be honest about that. We have no place in society and that's the way they are designing it.
But again pretty good effort here. Mostly a thumbs up on characterizing both sides honestly.
Imagine being condemned, ridiculed, oppressed simply for being exactly the way you were born. You have no control over how you were born and yet you are now a weaponized and criminalized person and even though you are a citizen, your own Government has abandoned you.
Anyone in America can be this person. This 10 part Audio Docuseries is for everyone who is tired of the political chess game that makes humans pawn pieces on the board.
Victims that are weaponized, criminalized and oppressed and all by design.
While I process the content, may I query your subtitle? This doesn’t feel like a ‘culture’ war from where I’m sitting. It’s ontological. It’s about being. ‘Culture’ is too close to ‘lifestyle’ for my liking, a bit Sunday Supplement, and that indeed (‘the transgender lifestyle’) is one of the pejorative terms sometimes used to dismiss the condition of transness.
And if it is a ‘culture war’ (which it may be, and I’m just mistaken) in what sense is it the ‘ultimate’ one? Do you mean it’s the epitome, the very paradigm of culture wars? Or is it the Big One, the grand finale, the culture war to end culture wars (if only)?
In the meantime, let me tell you, it feels deeply weird to be the subject of ‘debate’, let alone ‘war’. It doesn’t seem ten minutes since the trans ‘debate’ went something like:
“So what do you think about transgenderism?”
“Are you going to eat that chicken leg, or can I have it?”
Transgender person here. Whilst I don’t agree with all of the language you’ve used (and much of this conflict manifests in language), I appreciate the approach you’ve taken on a complicated and contested matter. When it comes to a way ahead, I suggest at least two things are missing: evidence (about early transition, about reality of self-ID in other countries etc.), and transgender voices in mainstream media. There’s a lot of shouting going on over our heads, less genuine engagement with us.
Thank you for that.
I think what you put out here is mostly fair/balanced. Although I think you're a bit dismissive once you get towards the end about trans people and what they're up against. The attack on us is just brutal. Some of the issues can be solved but they don't want to even attempt to acknowledge problems and actually have a debate. If there is a debate we're never invited by the way. They don't want things solved. They (the religious right and conservatives) want things to remain contentious and with sharp edges. Compromise forget. They won't even give US Congresswoman McBride (DE) a bathroom in the House Chambers in Washington DC. To conduct business. One measly unisex bathroom would be very easy too quickly construct. And this would certainly be dignifying. But they won't do it. On purpose. So that is what you're dealing with. Things like the bathroom issue could be solved or at least moving along with solutions if that's what they wanted. But nobody wants that. Except trans people. And the idea that cisgender women are in great danger is just not something I've seen ever. The safety issue is largely a philosophical debate let's be honest here. Take away trans women and you're still going to have (cis heteronormative male) sexual predators and violators overwhelmingly dominate as they always have.
[Is there some cross-dressing hideous perv guy out there somewhere lurking near women's bathrooms with a dress, and a wig, and hairy legs? I guess sure somewhere, but it ain't me and I need the world to treat me with some respect and fairness as I come full circle with my gender identity. Because I really am trans.
[and I'm not trashing cross-dressing men per se if that's what they want to do in their homes privately, on YouTube, or perhaps and even venture out to clubs, etc. That's not my point here; further, as I write I'm falling into the trap that my trans sisters would be critical of which is over explaining and apologizing defensively as I make my points].
As a trans femme and transitioning person still, I'm under pressure from cis Men who size me up and give me that laser beam sexual stare from afar even if I'm pumping gasoline into my truck ⛽ (a couple weeks ago 2 at once --- I was like Jesus). Wanting to be left alone. Nobody gives a damn about trans women being in danger. We are expendable freaks with no rights. So let's be honest about that. We have no place in society and that's the way they are designing it.
But again pretty good effort here. Mostly a thumbs up on characterizing both sides honestly.
Imagine being condemned, ridiculed, oppressed simply for being exactly the way you were born. You have no control over how you were born and yet you are now a weaponized and criminalized person and even though you are a citizen, your own Government has abandoned you.
Anyone in America can be this person. This 10 part Audio Docuseries is for everyone who is tired of the political chess game that makes humans pawn pieces on the board.
Victims that are weaponized, criminalized and oppressed and all by design.
LISTEN NOW
EPISODE 1 - AN INCONVENIENT BIOLOGY
https://garettstone.substack.com/podcast
Food for thought, thank you. You’ve been busy!
While I process the content, may I query your subtitle? This doesn’t feel like a ‘culture’ war from where I’m sitting. It’s ontological. It’s about being. ‘Culture’ is too close to ‘lifestyle’ for my liking, a bit Sunday Supplement, and that indeed (‘the transgender lifestyle’) is one of the pejorative terms sometimes used to dismiss the condition of transness.
And if it is a ‘culture war’ (which it may be, and I’m just mistaken) in what sense is it the ‘ultimate’ one? Do you mean it’s the epitome, the very paradigm of culture wars? Or is it the Big One, the grand finale, the culture war to end culture wars (if only)?
In the meantime, let me tell you, it feels deeply weird to be the subject of ‘debate’, let alone ‘war’. It doesn’t seem ten minutes since the trans ‘debate’ went something like:
“So what do you think about transgenderism?”
“Are you going to eat that chicken leg, or can I have it?”