content/trigger warning: transphobia/discrimination, police brutality
I'm an agender person. That means I don't identify with any gender. Shouldn't be a big deal, right? Well, to many people, it is.
My therapist doesn't believe there's such a thing as agender - she believes that there are only two genders: male and female. She also said that I have "sexual identity disorder". It made me feel invalidated, like my gender wasn't real.
Unfortunately, my situation's not unique. Many trans and gender nonconforming people have had to jump through hoops to get the proper health care they need. Just check out the Twitter hashtag #TransHealthFail. You'll see what I'm talking about.
It's crucial for transgender people to get the health care they need because it's vital for their well-being.
Kayden Clarke was an Autistic trans man who had a service dog and was often seen with him on his videos. Kayden wanted to start hormone replacement therapy - testosterone - but his therapist told him he couldn't start HRT until his Autism was "fixed".
That statement sent Kayden into an emotional tailspin. In one of his Youtube videos, he talked about how Arizona, his home state, had one of the worst mental health systems in the country.
One day Kayden was having a crisis, so a relative called the police to check on him. The police say that Kayden brandished them with a knife, so they shot him and killed him.
While covering the story of Kayden's death, various media outlets misgendered and deadnamed him. This is bad because the rest of the country will know who he really was - a young man with a big heart.
To prevent other tragedies like Kayden's, we have to make sure trans and gender variant people are getting the proper healthcare. It is critical to our safety and well-being.
Showing posts with label gender identity. Show all posts
Showing posts with label gender identity. Show all posts
Monday, June 6, 2016
Tuesday, May 31, 2016
10 Things Not to Say to a Genderqueer/Nonbinary Person
content/trigger warning: really disparaging remarks and other things that shouldn't be said.
If you're nonbinary or genderqueer, chances are you've heard binary people say some shitty things to you about your gender. Here are some common remarks that nonbinary people often hear:
1. "Your gender isn't real/your gender is bullshit."
How would you feel if I told you that your gender wasn't real or was bullshit? Pretty lousy, right? Well, when you tell a nonbinary person that their gender isn't real, it invalidates their feelings and their experiences. I don't knock you for your gender, so don't knock me for mine.
2. "What bathroom do you use?"
That's a very personal question. Some of us feel comfortable using gendered restrooms, others feel more comfortable using gender-neutral restrooms, especially if we don't "pass" as any gender. Bottom line: don't ask us this question because it's very rude.
3. "What's in your pants?"
Magic! Just kidding! But seriously, it's just plain rude to ask a person what genitals they have because they're private parts. You don't need to know what my nether regions are, OK?
4. "When are you gonna really transition?"
Not all nonbinary people take hormones or undergo surgery to transition. Some people are happy without those things. Some people don't even change their name or pronouns, and that's OK. Trans people should be allowed to transition in any way they please.
5. "But the Bible says..."
Yes, God created male and female people, ("So God created in his own image, in the image of God he created them; male and female he created them." - Genesis 1:27 NIV), but He also created intersex and nonbinary individuals as well. And besides, when God sent His son Jesus Christ to die for our sins, we have all been redeemed. ("There is neither Jew nor Gentile, neither slave nor free, nor is there male or female, for you are all one in Christ Jesus." Galatians 3:28, NIV). OK, I'm a Christian, so naturally I'm gonna quote Scripture, but the Bible does not condemn trans individuals. Plain and simple.
6. "You can like this/wear that and still be a boy/girl."
Gender expression is different from gender identity. Gender expression is how one expresses their idea of being a boy, girl or nonbinary. Gender identity is how a person feels about their gender. If a person tells you that they're a particular gender, then they are that gender. Please don't dismiss that person's feelings.
7. "Why can't you just be gay?"
Being gay (or bi) and being trans are two totally different things. Sexuality is who you want to go to bed with. Gender identity is who you want to go to bed as. Some trans people are gay, bi or asexual. Others aren't. Make sense?
8. "It's just a phase."
Argh...just ARGH! Being genderqueer or nonbinary is not a phase, for Pete's sake! It's simply how some people are. Is being cis "just a phase"? Of course not! So don't tell me my gender is just a phase, we clear?
9. "Just pick one, already!"
I can't choose either boy or girl because I don't identify as either one. I'm agender - please respect that.
10. "'They' isn't a pronoun."
Um, yes, it is. Just because you don't think they/them/their is a valid pronoun doesn't mean it is invalid. My pronouns are they/them/their. Please respect them.
If you're nonbinary or genderqueer, chances are you've heard binary people say some shitty things to you about your gender. Here are some common remarks that nonbinary people often hear:
1. "Your gender isn't real/your gender is bullshit."
How would you feel if I told you that your gender wasn't real or was bullshit? Pretty lousy, right? Well, when you tell a nonbinary person that their gender isn't real, it invalidates their feelings and their experiences. I don't knock you for your gender, so don't knock me for mine.
2. "What bathroom do you use?"
That's a very personal question. Some of us feel comfortable using gendered restrooms, others feel more comfortable using gender-neutral restrooms, especially if we don't "pass" as any gender. Bottom line: don't ask us this question because it's very rude.
3. "What's in your pants?"
Magic! Just kidding! But seriously, it's just plain rude to ask a person what genitals they have because they're private parts. You don't need to know what my nether regions are, OK?
4. "When are you gonna really transition?"
Not all nonbinary people take hormones or undergo surgery to transition. Some people are happy without those things. Some people don't even change their name or pronouns, and that's OK. Trans people should be allowed to transition in any way they please.
5. "But the Bible says..."
Yes, God created male and female people, ("So God created in his own image, in the image of God he created them; male and female he created them." - Genesis 1:27 NIV), but He also created intersex and nonbinary individuals as well. And besides, when God sent His son Jesus Christ to die for our sins, we have all been redeemed. ("There is neither Jew nor Gentile, neither slave nor free, nor is there male or female, for you are all one in Christ Jesus." Galatians 3:28, NIV). OK, I'm a Christian, so naturally I'm gonna quote Scripture, but the Bible does not condemn trans individuals. Plain and simple.
6. "You can like this/wear that and still be a boy/girl."
Gender expression is different from gender identity. Gender expression is how one expresses their idea of being a boy, girl or nonbinary. Gender identity is how a person feels about their gender. If a person tells you that they're a particular gender, then they are that gender. Please don't dismiss that person's feelings.
7. "Why can't you just be gay?"
Being gay (or bi) and being trans are two totally different things. Sexuality is who you want to go to bed with. Gender identity is who you want to go to bed as. Some trans people are gay, bi or asexual. Others aren't. Make sense?
8. "It's just a phase."
Argh...just ARGH! Being genderqueer or nonbinary is not a phase, for Pete's sake! It's simply how some people are. Is being cis "just a phase"? Of course not! So don't tell me my gender is just a phase, we clear?
9. "Just pick one, already!"
I can't choose either boy or girl because I don't identify as either one. I'm agender - please respect that.
10. "'They' isn't a pronoun."
Um, yes, it is. Just because you don't think they/them/their is a valid pronoun doesn't mean it is invalid. My pronouns are they/them/their. Please respect them.
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