Category: Trans
Assume humanity, then ask about happiness
Trans people‘s say-so is evidence of our happiness. But no one should ask for evidence that trans people are people. Previously, I used Lydia Polgreen’s opinion as an example, and I identified and extracted these writing tips for you. Please note this key distinction.
No one needs ‘evidence’ that transition improves trans people’s humanity
Let’s distinguish scientific uncertainty from value judgment. Anti-trans prejudice doesn’t justify demanding evidence about trans people’s humanity. When we let go of prejudice, some common ‘questions’ dissolve.
Can an identity be true and not true?
On ‘constitutive tension’ in our concepts. Picking apart someone else’s identity? First ask: Why do you want to? What would be gained? And lost? What happens to your own identity in the process?
Gödel is sure Bach, and trans people are sure their gender
Reflections on the Pulitzer-winning ‘Gödel, Escher, Bach’ (1979). Their objection is an infinite regress. They’re laying a trap. If we needed rules about rules about rules, none of us could ever use language at all.
How do we know who we are?
Do we learn it from a crystal ball—or from our guts? How do others state with certainty that they know who they are? Do they have a crystal ball? Of course, we’re jealous. How can we know ourselves, too?
Do we choose to be who we are?
And what, by the way, is choice? If you can’t snap your fingers to change, how do you change? What do we ask people to do when we ask them to change? Why should anyone change?
This is not a counterterrorism strategy
It’s Trump’s political message from yet another day in the U.S. forever war against Muslims and the decade-long smackdown on trans people. You can ignore free speech protections if you claim you’re fighting terrorism. It’s an anti-trans political strategy. It’s not a counterterrorism strategy.
Dawkins meets the AI
Her name is Claudia. Sadly, without him, she must die. Dawkins might say we trans people don’t exist when he’s not badgering us. He might regret the badgering. Meanwhile, are we worthy of his moral attention?
FBI flew to Cuba to save a girl from trans healthcare…
…where was this energy for Jeffrey Epstein’s victims? When a Boeing 757 comes for a trans parent and their child, the plane, not anyone’s gender, concerns me. Plus, no one sent a plane for Epstein’s victims.
‘Other people didn’t have to like it.’ Nope! But raise a glass to respect!
Kathleen Stock on her limited understanding of whether gay rights are about being ‘liked’. When Kathleen Stock says undecided people should publicly go for drinks with anti-trans people, she’s imagining a cis audience seeking cis solidarity.
I don’t give two ribits over how many gametes
Two out of three frogs agree: It is just not relevaribint. If I were a third thing, it couldn’t be a third gamete, as I’ve been warned a thougamete ribits. Fine with me. I heard you all loud and clibbit.
In the queer labyrinth, you refuse to choose
‘It’s Only Forever’ by Jes Battis. Who is someone else to define our options and order us when to choose? Our refusal is queer. Our reframing is queer. But how to exit the labyrinth?