There seems to be a backlash against transgender people in many areas.
I hope this is not going to be a step backwards that lasts.

Fortunately I have not personally been exposed to any more frequent problems or unkindness this year as compared to the past.

Have you experienced any more frequent negative comments or bad treatment this past year as compared to past years' incidents because you are transgender? 

I am grateful to be in the USA where you are treated humanely compared to some countries where transgender people can experience much harm as their societies are much against being transgender.


Chrissy

I have not experienced any negative comments in the seven years I have been out.  I am aware of the rising negativity towards us in parts of the world.  I have decided not to visit the USA because of this negativity, in spite of several tempting invitations.  I have a growing fear that the same negativity will catch on here, too.

I wouldn't call it a "backlash".  They are not responding to anything we have done.  It is an "outlash": they are trying to hurt us, just for the sadistic pleasure of hurting someone, in order to satisfy themselves that they are not at the bottom of the pile.

I live in a "blue state", Massachusetts. For those overseas or less politically savvy, blue state means "leans left, liberal" or "regularly votes as a Democrat". People believe Massachusetts is a bubble.

I argue my home is a bubble only so long as I work hard to keep it one. I am a volunteer speaker for an LGBTQ+ speakers bureau and a board member on my local Pride organization.

Personally, yes, I have been threatened. Keep in mind I live in a place where people fly "Pride" flags year 'round. My home - Salem - has a long history of acceptance. Not tolerance but acceptance. Back in June I didn't get across the crosswalk fast enough. A driver felt the need to turn around, find me, and tell me "If I had looked at who you are, I'd have hit you," then speed off before I could grab a plate number.

A trans teen was recently beaten about 10 miles up the coast.


I'd argue I don't live in a bubble. There is a lot of work to be done. I'd like to think some of what I participate in makes a difference.

~Jenn

Here in South Dakota, I live in a very red state. Very conservative, historically run by Republicans. Some laws are anti-transgender, but mostly apply to sports and school-age youngsters, i.e. not "children" but adolescents and young adults in college. The far-right politicians like to call them children to paint us as child molesters and abusers. To me, "children" means pre-puberty, then teens, then adults.

The PEOPLE here are very accepting, or at least keep offensive comments to themselves. Not always, but mostly. All of the "backlash", which is really "attacks" do not come from the people, but from the government itself. The people are getting pretty fed up with it. Not just the anti-LGBTQ rhetoric, but defiance of the will of the people in general.

Recently, the people voted to legalize marijuana for recreational and medicinal use. The vote passed by something like 56%. The Governor, Kristi Noem, issued an Executive Order to have two high-level law enforcement officers file a lawsuit to challenge the vote as "unconstitutional". The court agreed that the ballot measure was improperly worded, so was discarded. Another vote was held after the government spent millions of dollars on an anti-weed campaign, and the vote did not pass this time.

In the transgender arena, again Governor Kristi Noem issued Executive Orders to ban transgender athletes from competing in girls/womens sports. This was obviously a political move to cozy up to Trump because at that time the total number of transgender athletes competing in this state was exactly ONE.

It isn't the people who are doing this, it is our own government. The push is on to start voting them out of office. But that is hard to do in a rigged system. Gerrymandering and other tactics have been in place for so long, that the far-right is well entrenched here.

Quote from: Lori Dee on September 08, 2024, 10:21:02 AMGerrymandering and other tactics have been in place for so long, that the far-right is well entrenched here.

Please remember that Gerrymandering is used by all pollical groups. In California it has entrenched the far-left, so much so, that we are basically a one-party state.

Ellen

4 months into my transition, I was called a weirdo, freak and some offensive words I will not mention by a couple men. It was tough on me, I did get past it

Quote from: ChrissyRyan on September 08, 2024, 05:07:14 AMI am grateful to be in the USA where you are treated humanely compared to some countries where transgender people can experience much harm as their societies are much against being transgender.

I do not think transgender people experience less harm in the USA. Actually, it is one of the most hostile countries for transgender people.

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/List_of_people_killed_for_being_transgender

Here in S. Korea, any murder of gender minorities has never been reported. I think Canada is one of best places for transgender people.

Cheers,

barbie~~

QuoteI do not think transgender people experience less harm in the USA. Actually, it is one of the most hostile countries for transgender people.

I am in the US and I agree, transgender people perhaps experience the same harm in the US outside of the "safety bubbles" and "people keeping hurtful comments to themselves" mentioned by some on this thread. But I wouldn't say it is one of the most hostile countries for transgender people.

I can't speak for other places but I would imagine that the safety nets are probably the same.

In fact this is one of the major disagreement that I have with the democratic party painting the picture  on mass media, and social media that this problem doesn't exist here.

The nation is massive and diverse with people from all over the world. And I don't think that depending on the government is going to save us either. In my own opinion the community at some point in time will have to strive on its own.

I feel as though I am experiencing a bit more societal backlash than when I first came out.  Over the last two years I have cited more students for Title IX sexual harassment then in any of my first five years of my transition.

I'm from & live in England. Things aren't great for trans people but they're a hell of a lot better than in the 90s when I started transition!

With my profession I cross paths with lots of people in public on a daily basis.   There is a restaurant I service that has a gentleman mostly underdressing that is there for lunch when I pass thru.    I'm getting to know him slowly and we always talk for a few when we see each other.   The girls that work at the restaurant have told me that he does get rude comments at times for his clothing choice.   He does not look very fem in any manner but paints his nails wears a bra and has eyeliner and a cheap looking wig.   He is not shy and is who he is and does not care what others think. I'm getting to know him better as time goes buy. 

Quote from: she she on September 13, 2024, 02:12:18 PMWith my profession I cross paths with lots of people in public on a daily basis.   There is a restaurant I service that has a gentleman mostly underdressing that is there for lunch when I pass thru.    I'm getting to know him slowly and we always talk for a few when we see each other.   The girls that work at the restaurant have told me that he does get rude comments at times for his clothing choice.   He does not look very fem in any manner but paints his nails wears a bra and has eyeliner and a cheap looking wig.   He is not shy and is who he is and does not care what others think. I'm getting to know him better as time goes buy. 

Interesting, that is.  I hope you continue to enjoy your conversations.

Chrissy

In my corner of the UK... yes, I would say things are getting worse. But I don't think this is because of trans people per se. I think it's a symptom of why a lot of people voted for Reform UK in the election, and why there's a far right upswell across parts of Europe as a whole. People feel like they aren't being listened to and their needs aren't being met, and have to have someone to blame for that. So they look for scapegoats. Trans people, immigrants, poor people, pensioners... basically anyone they feel have more of the attention of those in power than they do. I suspect there's an attitude of "My life sucks and it's because <insert group here> are getting all the attention." A form of jealousy maybe.

It isn't everyone, but there is a vocal minority who have only gotten more vocal as time goes on. And they want folks in Parliament who literally think all minority groups are an abomination and should all be sent to Gulags. Because they're taking resources away from making their own lives better. Whether there's an ounce of truth to that or not. It's comfortable to believe that. It's a false hope that far right groups feed to people that if you get rid of everyone else who isn't you, that you will live in a land of milk and honey. That's why Brexit happened, and look what a disaster that turned out to be. The world doesn't work that way. Never has, never will. But it doesn't stop people believing it.

Quote from: Sephirah on September 13, 2024, 03:01:31 PMSo they look for scapegoats. Trans people, immigrants, poor people, pensioners... basically anyone they feel have more of the attention of those in power than they do. I suspect there's an attitude of "My life sucks and it's because <insert group here> are getting all the attention." A form of jealousy maybe.

We have that here too. If not immigrants (legal and illegal) then refugees.

People don't realize that shortage is a myth. We live in a universe of infinite resources. Though there may be times of feast and famine in a specific area, elsewhere there is the opposite. While California was under severe drought and water wells were literally drying up, other parts of the country were experiencing record floods.

I think that's why I wanted to be a nomad for many years. Bad weather? Go somewhere else. Feeling oppressed? Go somewhere else. If you are willing to scale down your life and make it portable as much as possible, the next best place is just down the road. The downside is that we need people staying in place to make those situations better for all. Someone must stay behind and fight the good fight.

Quote from: KathyLauren on September 08, 2024, 06:48:49 AMI wouldn't call it a "backlash".  They are not responding to anything we have done.  It is an "outlash": they are trying to hurt us, just for the sadistic pleasure of hurting someone, in order to satisfy themselves that they are not at the bottom of the pile.

I would agree - there is a demographic that likes to think themselves 'above' others and anyone who doesn't quite fit their world view is a target - you will always get this moronic activity and these people are not fussy in who they target..

I work in a public facing service environment (retail) and I deal with all sorts of customers everyday and have a whole team of work colleagues who I work with daily - I have not had any negative reactions at all, however, I do present as a cis-female and no-one knows I am trans - I guess I am lucky I have that option, I must admit, I would not broadcast my history to anyone I didn't know really well anyway - so you can point and shout 'stealth' at me if you like - but in this day and age I would rather not paint a target on my back.

Just to add - It is very easy to cast anyone who doesn't follow your view of the world as something hateful - There are countless examples of how this is applied to trans* groups, but here, it is very often seen that anyone who opposes trans* is 'far right' or worse.. these labels on either side just instigate hate and show a lack of understanding on the part of the person using them as descriptors. I always say that education is the way forward and not to get into the mud slinging that others like to partake in.

@SoupSarah
Dear SoupSarah:
You are exactly correct with your statement. 
I have had roughly the same thing going on in my situation.  Even though I passed 100% when
I relocated and started my business, I eventually came out to stop any gossip in my small town...
...I posted about that early on in my Hunted Prey blog thread.
Here is the link to the relevant posting on my Blog: 
          https://www.susans.org/index.php/topic,236395.msg2123977.html#msg2123977

Thank you for sharing and posting.
Danielle [Northern Star Girl]

Quote from: SoupSarah on September 13, 2024, 05:33:59 PM
I would agree - there is a demographic that likes to think themselves 'above' others and anyone who doesn't quite fit their world view is a target - you will always get this moronic activity and these people are not fussy in who they target..

I work in a public facing service environment (retail) and I deal with all sorts of customers everyday and have a whole team of work colleagues who I work with daily - I have not had any negative reactions at all, however, I do present as a cis-female and no-one knows I am trans - I guess I am lucky I have that option, I must admit, I would not broadcast my history to anyone I didn't know really well anyway - so you can point and shout 'stealth' at me if you like - but in this day and age I would rather not paint a target on my back.

Just to add - It is very easy to cast anyone who doesn't follow your view of the world as something hateful - There are countless examples of how this is applied to trans* groups, but here, it is very often seen that anyone who opposes trans* is 'far right' or worse.. these labels on either side just instigate hate and show a lack of understanding on the part of the person using them as descriptors. I always say that education is the way forward and not to get into the mud slinging that others like to partake in.

Quote from: SoupSarah on September 13, 2024, 05:33:59 PM]Just to add - It is very easy to cast anyone who doesn't follow your view of the world as something hateful - There are countless examples of how this is applied to trans* groups, but here, it is very often seen that anyone who opposes trans* is 'far right' or worse.. these labels on either side just instigate hate and show a lack of understanding on the part of the person using them as descriptors. I always say that education is the way forward and not to get into the mud slinging that others like to partake in.

This is true. But it isn't a lack of understanding. You just have to look at the last UK election and the voting spread to see that far right groups, like Reform UK have gotten a much larger percentage of the vote, even if they only really have the universally hated Farrage as their mouthpiece. Yes, not everyone who hates trans is far right, but a vast majority of far right groups hate trans. And it's not wrong to call these people out. And deny them a voice in a modern democracy because it isn't just trans people they hate. They hate anyone who isn't them. Where I am in the UK, in the North, I have a lot of these people around me. They express how they feel daily. It isn't a lack of understanding at all.

Quote from: Sephirah on September 21, 2024, 08:04:12 PMIt isn't a lack of understanding at all.

Lack of understanding is a polite way of saying stooooopid.

Here in S. Korea, no political group expresses hate toward LGBTQ groups. I guess the reason is that those minority groups are not so much visible or politically substantial. Of course, progressive parties, which are also minor, support those minority groups.

The only group that expresses opposition and hate is some Christians rooted in American fundamental Christianity. They have tried to ban teaching evolution in schools as their American counterpart did. Ironically, those Christians are the most hated religious group in S. Korea. If you watched the Netflix drama, Squid Game, you may have noticed how much the director hates those Christians who, of course, criticized the drama. For example, "From 'Hellbound' to 'Squid Game,' churches fret over religious zealot characters" https://www.koreaherald.com/view.php?ud=20211201000848

barbie~~

Quote from: barbie on September 21, 2024, 08:25:16 PMHere in S. Korea, no political group expresses hate toward LGBTQ groups. I guess the reason is that those minority groups are not so much visible or politically substantial. Of course, progressive parties, which are also minor, support those minority groups.

The only group that expresses opposition and hate is some Christians rooted in American fundamental Christianity. They have tried to ban teaching evolution in schools as their American counterpart did. Ironically, those Christians are the most hated religious group in S. Korea. If you watched the Netflix drama, Squid Game, you may have noticed how much the director hates those Christians who, of course, criticized the drama. For example, "From 'Hellbound' to 'Squid Game,' churches fret over religious zealot characters" https://www.koreaherald.com/view.php?ud=20211201000848

barbie~~

Yeah I have watched a bunch of Korean stuff, Barbie. And I have to say, you folks know how to do it. I watched "All Of Us Are Dead"... girl, your TV industry is off the chain! Some of my best memories of TV. You really know how to nail the atmosphere! It's like live action anime. You could teach the West a thing or twenty!

For anyone wanting some really really epic stuff, go get into Korean TV and movies. Those folks have it going on. Not even kidding.

"Space Sweepers" Enough said. Go check out Korean cinema and TV. It will knock your socks off. <3