Even though we've been around for as long as Humanity's been around, I believe it's because of celebrity transgender people that mainstream cis people in the US and other countries have come to realize that we not only exist, but are coming to realize that we are not the "perverts" so many politicians claim we are. Of course, the old guard still like to think that we are, since they don't understand our dysphoria over being born in the wrong body, or perhaps we scare them (maybe because some are still in denial). Thus they create things like bathroom laws in order to "scare the general ignorant cis public" into getting votes, or whatever other wrong reasons they come up with to try and get us back in the closet. The problem with that negative way of thinking is that many of us will not go quietly back into the closet.
Or perhaps, it was simply our time, with advancements in surgical techniques and HRT to come forth and be seen.
Or a million other reasons.
Either way, I am glad that we can be seen, even if it means that we have to fight in order to be recognized as existing.
Ryuichi
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