#like i don't go around asking binary trans ppl to explain why they use binary pronouns without them getting to say wtf that's obnoxious af

[nightcolorz]

I'm so sorry I don't mean to be rude or coming for you or anything but can I ask a question? Didn't you have a post about gender recently and you said the amc iwtv show was about gay MEN? So why are you tagging Louis art with female terms? Again, I'm so sorry, I just don't understand and I think I'm probably missing something. I'm trying to learn more about gender things but it's very confusing for me. Thank you for your time 💚

dont apologize anon ur not being rude! I'm not rlly sure how to explain this, I'm gonna try my best 😭 so sorry if this is only more confusing. At least the way I see it, AMC iwtv and the tvc books handle gender very differently. Tvc vampires r described as not rlly having genders bcus of there vampirism and lack of alignment with humanity and mortal concepts of the gender binary. The way Anne rice saw it was since their genitals no longer work they r no longer male or female and so since they r so disconnected from the societal expectations around gender along with this bcus of how gender roles r always changing and vampires r outside of time, they r essentially gender neutral. The amc show (at least of now) doesn't seem to be going this route, although it does play around with gender norms and stuff, the vampires do seem to be cis men essentially (obvs ppl can have there head cannons and my read doesn't invalidate any trans reads of AMC iwtv that exist). But since they do just have cis normative sex with each other, vampirism doesn't rlly change there sexualities or gender expression, and they do identify and present gender the way gay men would, I don't see the amc vamps as particularly gender less the way the tvc vamps r. I made a post about this B4 that summarizes my thoughts much better then this or the post ur referring to (which was kinda crap which is why I deleted it 😭).

But anyways, I call Louis she/her pronouns on art (specifically Kate @loelett art love u babe) bcus Kate and I rlly like this aspect of the books, and since we talk about the gender fluidity in tvc a lot we've started using she he and they pronouns interchangeably for the vamps (mostly Louis cus Louis is Kate's fav character so we talk about him the most lol). When I call Louis she/her pronouns or feminine terms it's not cuz I see him as a woman or perceive him as particularly feminine, it's more cuz I see him as genderless so using any pronouns for him is natural to me. I usually call Louis she her when I'm especially excited about him 😭 idk maybe bcus of the cultural association with she/her + feminity and softness/loveliness and affection (like the way u call a boat she/her y'know? Or a beloved car), or maybe bcus most of my close loved ones r women so using she her is natural when it comes to compliments and affectionate terms for me. Anyways I hope this makes sense or clears things up, tbh I am very surprised that ppl I'm not friends with even perceive my blog at all sometimes so I never considered how I may have been confusing ppl 😭

#Tvc #Asks

[doppelnatur]

just a random person - not sure that “it” person was being obnoxious? maybe just a little confused?? idk

If I went into a trans mans inbox and went

so your pronoun is ""he""?

you really wouldn't be saying this would you..

#ask #anon #like I'm sorry for being fucking tired of ppl contesting my right to use it pronouns #what the fuck else would this be other than them being obnoxious. #confused... there was no question here. and if there was that would honestly be WORSE #like i don't go around asking binary trans ppl to explain why they use binary pronouns without them getting to say wtf that's obnoxious af #there's no way i can interpret this that's not a micro aggression #the speech markers around it the question at all.... like

[normal-thoughts-official]

i'm not trans but i want to write trans magnus, what are ig the dos and don'ts? (only if you dont mind <3)

i don't mind! happy to reply to those. altho i'll be real, there's a lot of stuff, so it's a bit hard, which is why i'd say that my first tip is to have a sensitivity reader (even better if it's multiple). i even offer to do that, more trans magnus content is what i want! so i'd tell you to consider that

i'm going to make a list, but i ask you that first of all, you try to understand the reasons why i'm saying what i'm saying (i'm trying to outline them as clearly as possible) instead of just taking it as a checklist of what you're supposed to write or not. the most important thing is that you understand why certain things are/can be harmful, and approach them accordingly. there is rarely ever going to be a rule like "EVERY SINGLE TIME YOU DO THIS THAT'S TRANSPHOBIC". it depends a lot on the story and how you do it

(sidenote: of course there are things that ARE always transphobic, like using men in dresses as the butt of a joke. but that's not the case for most things, and I hope this kind of very obviously transphobic trope is already understood to not be a good thing doiajdsoija)

other than that, i think the first things that come to mind are the following (i'll try to have more do's than don't's cuz i feel like giving you a path to follow is more helpful than paths NOT to):

DO research about transphobic tropes in media and make sure you understand why they are harmful. that's a great way to avoid the most glaringly obvious Bad Takes™

DO try to understand your character's identity as much as you can. are they a trans man/woman? are they nonbinary? if they are nonbinary, what do they identify with? you don't have to have a fully fleshed out identity, but at least know whether they lean more towards neutral, fluid, multiple gendered, outside of the gender binary, etc. if you want a culturally specific gender, KNOW WHICH ONE. have details. and do your research on that. i don't recommend doing that if you don't know exactly what you're talking about

DO try to incorporate the character being trans into your understanding of their backstory. did they have help from their community? what was that like? how did that influence other parts of their story? when did they realize and when did they come out? being trans is going to have an impact on a person's story, so the more you know about that, the more you can build a character that feels real, not a cis person with "trans" slapped on their forehead

however, DON'T have their entire backstory and life be about them being trans. that's not how it works with anyone. you want to understand how being trans intersects with their life, not reduce everything about them to being trans. your goal here should be to incorporate the aspects that are related to that person being trans and the ones that are not into one thing that feels cohesive, because that how it works

DO wait until it's pertinent to mention the fact that your character is trans. it's kind of *sigh* when the fic starts like "Magnus Bane (who is trans) was buying groceries". that feels like what i just mentioned in the last don't: everything revolves around him being trans. you don't want that. if it only comes up halfway through the fic, then it only comes up halfway through the fic. i actually think that's kinda rad because it really normalizes a character being trans, but it all depends on what the rest of the story is like

DO approach their transness like any other element in the story. if it's a light-hearted story, you don't have to approach their transness from an angsty perspective. that doesn't even necessarily mean u can't approach transphobia as a topic, but it's just weird when the whole fic is happy and upbeat and then suddenly there's an on-screen transphobic microaggression and the person is very sad, and then back to upbeat. if you really want to broach this topic on your light-hearted fic, you can do it in ways such as "*flops down on the couch* god, i'm exhausted. some asshat tried to pick up a fight with me today" you know? again, i'm not saying "don't talk about X or Y subject", you just don't want the tone to be completely different from the rest of your story. it feels not only like his transness is out of place (which alienates the reader) but also like just... bad writing, i guess you don't have to take that as an absolute rule, just... as with anything else you're writing, make sure that it fits the story you're telling. if it's gonna have a different tone when u mention something, know why and how you want to do it

DON'T feel obligated to approach every aspect of their identity/backstory/everything they face as a trans person. it's good that you, the author, know it, so you can even know what is or isn't important to mention. but you don't have to give the reader a whole exposé on his transness. approach what's relevant

DO include them making jokes, puns about being trans, having other trans friends, etc. it just feels more real and we do all that all the time. it's just unrealistic for a trans person to hear the word "transparent" and not crack a joke (with people they feel safe with, of course)

when you do mention them being trans, please DON'T treat it like a big deal. when the whole narrative stops so you can mention that a character is trans, it just feels like their transness is a spectacle for a cis reader. similarly, if the reader can tell that their reaction is supposed to be like "*gasp!*" it just feels like trans people aren't supposed to be seen as normal. i'm talking specifically about how the narrative treats it here, not necessarily what happens in the story. you could have a scene where the character comes out, for example, and then of course this is going to be a big deal for them. but there's that, and then there is "magnus bane put on his binder. that's right, hE IS TRANS!". a trope i wouldn't call harmful but that i particularly hate and turns me immediatelly off any story, particularly, is the thing where the character is like "I put on my binder, getting ready for school. I am trans, and anyone who has a problem with it can fight me". no one thinks about how they are trans every time they do anything that's related to their transition. that'd be exhausting. you don't brush your teeth and are like "that's right. MY TEETH NEED CLEANING! i want to avoid caries, because i am human and that might happen"

DO try to think of every element of how they express their transness in relation to that character. you don't have to outline the reasons in the story (that'd be exhausting) but don't just go "well, magnus is trans, therefore he wears a binder and a packer, wants surgery, and [list of Transmasculine Traits™]". WOULD magnus want a binder? WOULD he want a packer? remember that those things are all choices, not a checklist that determine whether or not you're trans. each trans person is an individual, and thus each trans person's relationship with their transness and how they express it is different. so treat your character as such

DON'T make him being trans something that is only used for sad things!!!!!! again, i'm not saying "you can't approach transphobia", but if him being trans only comes up when it's to bring Bad Things His Way, it just feels like being trans = bad for you. know what i mean? try to mention it in neutral or positive ways more than you do in negative ways. a few things that i think are positive: you get to choose your own name, you get to rethink every bit of how you want to express yourself instead of just following a script, you get a lot of friends who Get It, you have the jokes about all the guys named Skylar, the flag is cute, transitioning feels so good! every new thing is a discovery. coming out as trans and transitioning is very liberating, it feels like you are so much more real. sex feels a lot less like a scripted ordeal when you have a completely different relationship with your body, i feel like trans ppl naturally communicate a lot more about sex and explore a lot more of different ways to touch their bodies even when they don't necessarily have genital dysphoria. the puns and jokes are also a nice bonus. the slang is so fucking funny. you learn a lot about your body and hormones and the such just from having friends who hormonize and looked up every detail. as for neutral things, just being like "magnus put on his binder" is a neutral thing. it's just a part of his life! when you only remember that a character is trans because they are going through violence, it just makes people scared of being trans

and i guess those are the most important pointers? just, don't make trans identity a whump thing and remember that not every trans person is the same, build that character just like you do any other. if anyone wants to add more stuff, feel free to! i have a tendency to forget to mention or explain certain things (like "don't make trans ppl the butt of a joke") because to me they are obvious and i forget that they aren't obvious outside of trans circles. i have very few cis friends (that's something that makes a difference too) so ya know. diajsda

another tip i think can be helpful is, if you're uncertain whether or not something sounds natural, try to imagine that instead of talking about a trans character, you're talking about a person who wants to be a mechanic. when you're building a character who wants to be a mechanic, that can be part of a super angsty backstory about how they lost their parents in a car crash due to a car malfuction... or not. it can have relevance to a certain point of the story, or not. it can fit naturally into this part, or it can feel like you just really want the reader to know that the person wants to be a mechanic. it can be integral to the plot, or it can be just another thing about that character. you know? that sounds kinda lame, but i think it's a good way to try to think about what you're writing without all the pre-conceptions and pressure not to Fuck Up Your Representation. idk, something to try out and consider whether or not works for you

if you have any questions, let me know! and ask other trans ppl about their perspectives too, i'm just one person. if you want a sensitivity reader, i'd really be super happy to help :) just DM me, or whatever you feel more comfortable with

#ask #anonymous #societal issues #idk how to tag this lol #sh #trans magnus bane #long post

[epic-games-official]

Thanks for answering my ask about biological sex. I saw an intersex person's post earlier she said intersex ppl don't have different chromosomes than X or Y or different gametes than ovum or sperm so like that makes sense too I guess I don't understand why bio sex is now fake instead of just complicated??? sex=/=gender why does this matter to being trans we're trans we're not intersex

Yea, I’m happy to give a detailed explanation of this.

There is an estimate that about 1.7% of the population is intersex. However, a very large portion of that number (1.5/1.7 = 88%) is from a condition called “late-onset congenital adrenal hyperplasia,” which involves a mutation on one of the chromosomes (not X or Y, can’t remember which but I think it was 12 or 5?) that causes issues with translation of the enzyme 21-hydroxylase. (look at this pic) Because of the lower concentration of the enzyme in the adrenal glands, the reactant 17 alpha hydroxyprogesterone builds up, which inevitably goes along a different pathway to become testosterone. In the end, the person has an excess of androgens. In the early-onset cases, this happened extensively during prenatal development, and the baby often has ambiguous genitalia, as well as severe health problems related to salt wasting. In the late-onset case, the child will just go through puberty a little earlier (beginning to grow hair around 7 or 8 years old) and be hairier and shorter. In boys they might also have a bigger dick. In girls, about 10% will be infertile. 

So essentially, the idea that “most intersex people don’t have different X or Y chromosomes” come from the inclusion of LOCAH in that statistic, where they make up 88% of the statistic. Yet, hardly anyone would ever consider LOCAH to be a form of intersexuality, except perhaps in the 5% of cases where it caused infertility. Otherwise it just seems like genetic variation in the population.

There are other forms of intersexuality that are caused by things other than different combinations of X or Y chromosomes, so I’m glad this is brought up. It’s actually sometimes argued that scientists shot themselves in the foot a bit by naming those chromosomes differently and calling them the “sex chromosomes.” In reality, those two chromosomes mostly code for biological sex, but they are not solely responsible. I’ve explained above how another chromosome codes for an enzyme responsible for conversion between hormones in the body. There are more of those, and there is a handful of forms of intersexuality with similar causes. 

On the topic of “what is biological sex?” I’ll repeat what I said in that answer - there isn’t really a clear, single, satisfying definition, just the same as there is still no clear definition of “life.” The current definition of “life” has many flaws to it, and is still highly disputed. Same goes for sex.

Most sexually dimorphic traits exist along a bimodal distribution, like so:

Where on the left, you have most men falling within some range, on the right, you have most women falling within some range. But of course, you do have some women on the left and some men on the right. This is true for height, voice, etc.

This is even true for genitalia! That’s precisely what is meant when people say “ambiguous genitalia.”

Here is something called the Prader Scale, which shows you the degree of virilization that an XX female can have on her genitalia. At some point, she will basically have a non-functioning penis.

Here we have a case of a woman with predominantly XY genes in her body being able to give birth. What this should demonstrate is how it is not always going to be straightforward that XX will allow for typical female fertility and XY for typical male.

Also, I really disagree with the line of reasoning some people use, that because these are rare cases they don’t count. Sure, you can have a model that works 99% of the time. But if it doesn’t work 100% of the time, it isn’t a completely accurate description of reality; it’s just an approximate model. This is fine for the Layman discussing these things, but it isn’t for the scientist who is trying to be precise. For scientists, these exceptions disprove the rule.

So what I think makes sense is the following:

* You can define a binary in terms of gamete production and fertility for the sake of reproductive models. These models certainly have their uses in some fields of science.

* However, when describing the biophysical reality of sexual development, it benefits you to take a systems biology approach. This means considering sex to be the combination of multiple factors - genes, what hormones are present & at what ages, what hormonal receptors are present (does the person have an insensitivity?), has the person had anything done to artificially change aspects of their sex, such as SRS or HRT?, etc.

What the latter description means for trans people is that it’s impossible with current medical science to change your sex completely from one end of the spectrum to the other, but it is possible to medically induce androgyny. The silver lining is that one can do this in such a way that socially they appear to be completely on the other end of things, so they “pass” and everyone can just think of them as being that gender for simplicity’s sake.

So tl;dr I agree with you that sex is just more complicated, but not non-existent. Although I think “sex does not exist” or “sex is a social construct” is a linguistically messy way of attempting to say the same thing (that it’s more complicated). So I think the issue is more that they are trying to say something but they aren’t phrasing it correctly, which demonstrates a lack of clear understanding of the topic. You aren’t wrong for criticizing this.

Lastly, on that point “sex =/= gender,” I want to just say that the word “gender” is really ill-defined. Before the 1950′s, it was used exclusively for nouns in foreign languages. In the 50′s, sexologist John Money began using it to mean.. well, a weird mixture of ‘gender identity’ and ‘gender roles’ (he didn’t separate them well, because, y’know, 50′s values). Over time the word took on multiple adaptations within academia. 

Feminists use it to mean ‘gender roles/expression,’ hence Judith Butler’s idea that “gender is socially constructed.” If you read on that idea, the discussion pretty much always surrounds nature vs nurture of gender roles. 

Psychologists and trans activists use the word ‘gender’ to mean ‘gender identity.’ 

Biologists and, to be honest, most of society use the word to be synonymous with ‘sex.’ This is pretty much why trans people so often get obnoxious responses to saying like, them: “I’m female to male transgender, my gender is male” response: “But you have a vagina!!!1″ The person responding obviously defines the word to mean ‘sex’ (because that is how it was used in the middle & high school biology classrooms!).

tl;dr All around there’s a lot of confusion and everything is a mess. 8) 

#long post #Anonymous