I think it's widely known that with controversial topics, you don't read the comments unless you have a tough skin when it comes to negativity or you are innocent enough to believe the comments are all going to be positive. Comment sections are littered with trolls and people inconsiderate of hurt feelings. It's just how our society works when it comes to digital media. If it's digital than it's not real; it's not tangible, therefore it can't hurt someone. Well, that's just not true.
After reading through countless articles and their comments sections I thought perhaps it's a lack of education. Maybe these people just haven't had someone say "No, you're wrong," but then continue on to explain why they're wrong. Or perhaps these commenters are simply transphobic and it has nothing to do with a lack of education. Either way, here are a few of the most crude comments and an explanation of why they are just plain wrong.
Comment One: "Trans people are just gay males not wanting to be gay, who want to feel a penis in their vagina."
Let’s forget for one second that this is just plain inflammatory and jump into the facts, such as how it greatly downplays the vast amount of contemplation, planning, and execution that comes with being transgender. It is not something those transitioning enter into lightly, nor because they simply don't want to be seen as gay. Sexuality and gender identity, although grouped together in many circumstances are two completely different things. This accusation greatly downplays the journey to transitioning and is an ignorant insult not only to the trans community, but also gay males as well. Many trans people have feelings of being in the wrong body from a very early age. When they choose to accept or pursue these feelings is up to them completely, in combination with their parents, if the realization comes before age 18.
Second, this completely disregards the people transitioning from male to female (mtf), who are interested in a romantic relationship with a woman or a trans partner.
This comment or accusation also generalizes that all trans people are having sexual reassignment surgery (SRS), which is not something every trans person chooses to do.
Lastly, and quite obviously, this disregards people who are transitioning female to male (ftm), as though transmen do not even register.
Comment Two: “All people transitioning from their birth gender are mutilating their bodies with unnecessary surgeries.”
Lets start with a little lesson. People are very open with asking trans people about surgeries, without thinking what it is they are actually asking. Here is a good indicator you are asking a trans person something inappropriate; would you ask someone who is not trans the same question? Would you walk up to someone and ask "Do you have a vagina? Are your boobs real?" Or, would you walk up to a any man off the street and comment on whether or not he has a penis?
No? Ok, well don't ask someone who is trans those questions either.
Now that we've had that little lesson, here is another one: Not all people who transition, have surgery. And if they choose to have surgery, it is not your concern.
SRS is a huge step that many people are not completely comfortable with taking, while many others feel it is needed to complete their personal transition. There are hundreds of reasons why a trans person would take that step, or not take that step. It is an individuals choice. That does not make a transman or woman any less of the gender he or she identifies with and that does not make them any more of the gender they were born into. A person's choice is a person's choice.
When it comes down to surgeries that deal with a transition, it is up to an individual to decide what is right for them. Each person makes the decision for themselves. It is not about mutilating their body, but helping them feel more comfortable in their own skin.
Another question to ask yourself and reflect upon is: Why do you care what is beneath their clothes? What does it have to do with you?
If trans surgeries make you uncomfortable, than perhaps you're thinking of someone else's genitalia too much.
Comment Three: “People who are trans are predators who use their identified gender to prey on women and children in the bathroom.”
Let me start by explaining something simple. Trans people are also just known as people. Most people go into public restrooms for the same reasons: to pee, fix their hair or makeup, wash their hands, etc.
People can enter a restroom for all sorts of reasons. Most of the time, it's simply to use the restroom for what it was intended for. Since ,as of now, laws are not in place to prohibit trans people from using the restroom of their identified gender, they are using the restroom they feel most comfortable in using. There has not been an issue with trans people using their preferred restroom. If there was a problem; if there was a massive issue with trans people attacking non-trans people in public bathrooms, we would be hearing about it.
Now that we've got that established, lets move on.
If someone is already going to be breaking the law by raping or assaulting another person, how is putting a law in place forcing trans people to use the restroom associated with their birth gender, going to stop that from happening? The fact is; rapists are rapists. People looking to assault someone, are going to do so. A restroom door with a female or male symbol is not going to stop a law-breaking individual from entering, no matter what gender. Simply being trans has absolutely nothing to do with breaking laws.
It takes a great deal of courage for a trans person to use their identified genders restroom, especially in the beginning when one may be more androgynous in their appearance. So, when a trans person goes into a public restroom, the majority of the time they are going in to use the restroom and for no other reason. They will also hopefully wash their hands, maybe mess with their hair, but then they will leave. They will not linger in a restroom any more than a non-trans person. Especially in the beginning when there is a fear of entering an unknown restroom. They are also afraid of assault, abuse and accusations.
Current laws being discussed that would force trans people to use the restroom associated with their birth seem counterproductive in the safety department. Based on the intolerance I see in comment sections, I can pretty much guarantee the number of trans people assaulted will be far greater and worse if forced to use their birth gendered restroom than of trans people hurting non-trans people.
Are you still not sure? Do you still not get why it is a bad idea to ban trans people from the restroom of their identified gender? Look up the hashtag #wejustneedtopee and then tell me how comfortable you would feel to have a transman in the ladies bathroom or a transwomen in the mens bathroom? Many trans people look exactly the gender they identify with. How comfortable would a woman be if a person walked into the bathroom looking like a man, ripped like a bodybuilder, with fully grown facial hair? Yet they were forced to use the ladies restroom because the part of them you couldn't see, the part hidden behind pants and underwear, dictated which restroom they could use?
Comment Four: “Transwomen are just feminine men and transmen are just masculine girls who are confused. This is a phase which will pass.”
When a person makes the decision to transition, it is not a quick decision where they can walk into a pharmacy, grab something off the shelf and begin.
There are very feminine non-trans male men. There are very masculine non-trans females. It is not the same thing as someone who is trans.
From a young age there may be signs or indications that many children do not yet grasp or maybe they don't live in a community where transitioning is talked about, therefore they don't really understand what they are experiencing yet. Or maybe the feelings and thoughts don't develop until later in life. But, eventually there is a realization. From that point on there are many decisions to be made. Are they ready to transition? If so, are they going to move forward with hormone replacement therapy (HRT) or try to transition without hormones? Are surgeries something they want to consider or is that not how they want to proceed? There is also the coming out process and then beginning to live as the gender the person identifies as being. Not to mention, many doctors (not all) require a note from a mental health counselor before beginning any form of treatment.
All of these steps do not happen overnight. There is much thought and consideration in each and every decision. It is not something someone enters into lightly, and it is not something an individual would do because of a "phase."
It is something someone would do in order to make their life more fulfilling and in order to feel comfortable in the world. It is something someone does because it is what they need to do in order to feel their best self.
Want to help bring awareness and support to the trans community? Look up The Origami Swan Project on facebook, instagram or Twitter and consider participating in the project or head over to www.ChelseaThompto.com and look under the current projects tab! #theorigamiswanproject
