Oh Look, a Trans Woman. So What?

October is Halloween month, the transition month between the living and the dead. Yet, I don’t want to talk about that. Lately, my mind has been jumping around.

The massive impact GTA 6 is having on industry release dates. Very few cultural moments bring us together. With GTA expected to be a bright spot. The gaming industry has been full of flops. Attention has been on older titles over new ones.

Completely different kind of transition that seems to dominate the headlines constantly. A tiny minority the focus has been on.

I wanted to discuss why trans issues and mainly, women have become such a focus in society. You think their voice would be driving it? Nope, it is cisgender people. Mainly men are thinking and talking about it. Old joke men think about the Roman Empire once a day. Turns out they are thinking about something else. Animated by it.

Why is this specific minority stuck in people’s minds all the time? Culture wars show you just how shallow things have become. Drifting towards the attention economy and how toxic the information ecosystem is. Clicks, therefore eyeballs matter. Along with a deeply unhealthy media space due to a failing business model caused by tech companies.

I guess the obsession comes down to one single fact: men rule society, or at least have an oversized influence on it. Anything that could be perceived as a threat to that structure is treated as a problem. Masculinity is toxic and vulnerable. And so many men seem threatened by 0.5% of the population or less. Why? Due to them having a penis.

But there is something weird happening here, which is this intense fascination with trans women. I think that fascination speaks volumes about how these critics view women overall. Great lens on porn, how trans folks are seen along with treated with women. For some men gender and sexuality coming together they don’t understand it. Forced to ask questions. It is about a feeling that they are losing control. When that is not the case.

Also a complete misunderstanding of trans folks. Due to being such a minority, the likelihood you would meet one is low. I admit I can be awkward, but when somebody says to me “I prefer her or she or them” I will use it. The thing is they are no different from me or you.

I prefer if you shorten my name or use this name instead of a given name. Gender is largely a social construct and I think that is what confuses people. Most people don’t think about it. So therefore it feels alien and weird.

Given the focus is from cis people and not trans people, it becomes unbalanced. Only hearing one negative voice. It reminds me after the deep dive from pride month. How they used to talk about gay people or lesbians. Powerful people talking about others and trying to dehumanize them.

An afterthought here is trans men. Well, not even that. They are completely missing from it all. That I think speaks volumes really.

Also if you have a problem with trans folks I think you have a much smaller problem in your pants you need to deal with. One that is impacting your life.

I would rather trans people have access to the healthcare they want like the rest of us. Wait times should be reduced and gender care given without fuss. The regret rate is super low compared to knee surgery. Which should tell you something.

For me, I don’t really care or think about it all that much. Oh look, there is a trans woman, so what? Still a woman, just a different type. If they, or anybody really, have a preferred pronoun or name, I just use it. It might take a bit of extra effort, but it is exactly what I would want others to do for me.

Trans people are not the reason why my train or bus is late. Anybody focusing on these issues is exploiting them. They don’t have anything else to say. Exploiting a minority for views and gain. Sowing doubt and hatred.

If anything I respect people who are trans. It is such a big step to take. Painful experience not being in the body you want. I feel empathy for that.

As for non binary folks who fall under the trans umbrella they too should be supported. Should be given agency themselves to decide. They should be given the space, privacy, and respect they deserve.

If this is how you treat people, you certainly don’t share the same values as me.

I do think a fight back needs to happen. With trans voices being heard and the thin end of the wedge being pushed back against. Because some of the lines and statements are repeats of what the LGBTQ community had before we won the argument.

Trans brothers and sisters need our support. The fight for equality is not over. Together we can show we have existed forever and we are not going back into the closet. All because you feel threatened by a minority who just want to exist in peace.