Storify is shutting down in May and has informed users that we have to migrate our content elsewhere if we wish to save it. This is one of my old threads.
[Content Note: Transphobia]
If you're worried about "trans" kids who might be cis more than you're worried about "cis" kids who might be trans, yes, you're transphobic. Because you're not worried about making sure everyone has a safe path to body affirmation. You're only worried about cis kids.
That's if we take you at your word that you're only worried about cis kids. A cynic might note ur "worry" manifests as barriers to trans ppl. "I want to make life harder for trans people in order to protect cis people" can definitely be your rallying cry but it's a transphobic one.
Maybe it's just me, but "some people regret transition" sounds like the transphobe version of "some people regret abortion". Real talk here. Cards on the table for my cis friends. Tweet storm incoming. Take shelter and break out the umbrellas.
If you follow me, you've probably read my tweets about chronic pain and how hard it is to get my opioids. If you can understand why it's ableist to make pain pills harder to get for chronic pain sufferers because "think of the abled people!", then you can understand why it's transphobic to make transition care harder to get for trans people because "think of the cis people!"
If you follow me, you've probably read my tweets about oranges and #orangegate and disability access to food. If you can understand why it's ableist to make food harder for disabled people to access because "think of the children!", then you can understand why it's transphobic to make transition care harder to get for trans people because "think of the cis children!"
If you follow me, you're probably aware of my work to transcribe the testimony around the Texas HB2 abortion bill. If you can understand why it's anti-choice to make abortion harder to access because some women regret abortion, then you can understand why it's transphobic to make transition care harder to access because some people regret transition.
Pregnancy and puberty both seriously impact the body. Forcing children to go through either against their will is not a "neutral" choice. It is not necessarily anti-choice to wish to help women who regret abortion. But "Women Regret Abortion" IS a common anti-choice dogwhistle.
"I care about children!" isn't necessarily transphobic, but a lot of people are using Caring About Children to promote transphobic agendas. Because, AGAIN, denying transition access to trans children on the chance that a few cis kids might slip through is not a "neutral" choice.
@ElliotWake: And FYI, transition regret rate is VERY low and often due to OTHER people's reactions and lack of support.
TRUTH. I suspect it's comparable to the VERY low regret rate for abortion (less than 5%), much of which is prejudice-driven. (I.e., the 5% of women who regret abortion more often regret being subjected to anti-choice bigotry, which is not the same.)
IF you are genuinely concerned about cis children transitioning, there are better ways to approach it than erecting barriers to transition. (Though, again, as @ElliotWake points out, it is important to remember this is a VERY small number being inflated to push transphobia.)
If you want to help healthcare in ways that don't dovetail with transphobia, consider:
- making transition care free to access.
- changing the environment of patient/doctor relationship so that patients aren't viewed with suspicion ("drug-seekers").
- changing the environment of patient/doctor relationship so that patients are allowed to explore doubt without being denied care.
- accepting exploration of gender in ways that allow people to determine what is right for them. Use the pronouns they want, when they want.
- accepting exploration of gender in ways that allow people to determine what is right for them. Bathroom access, clothes, etc.
- accepting trans people. Period. Don't give them any REASON to regret coming out as trans.
- accepting that if trans people keep telling you something is transphobic, IT MIGHT BE and MAYBE YOU SHOULD STOP and RE-EXAMINE.
Simple stuff like that. That's not a comprehensive list, but I think it's a good start.
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