Me: Hey, (non disclosed social media), this person has started to leave really mean comments on my posts. Can you do something about it?
Social media: Mmm, no it doesn’t seem like this violates any guidelines
Me: Hey, (non disclosed social media), this person is now leaving very hateful comments and has been harassing me for a few days, can you do something about it?
Social media: No, they’re not doing anything wrong at all, have you tried blocking them?
Me: Hey, (non disclosed social media), this person is now sending me and my mutuals death threats and hate crime threats, which is clearly hate speech against lgbt people, can you PLEASE do something about it?
Social media: Mmm, fine I GUESS this violates our guidelines
Me: Hey, (non disclosed social media), taking down these comments did absolutely nothing, they’re still harassing me and sending threats along with making hateful posts about me wishing harm and sending people after me, along with stalking my other accounts on different platforms, can you please do something about this?
Social media: Okay, this definitely violates our guidelines, we’ll take the comments and posts down
Me: Hey, (non disclosed social media), this didn’t do anything and they’re still harassing me, can you ban them? They’ve had multiple violations in a row
Social media: No, there doesn’t seem to be any violations here. Can’t ban them.
Me:… okay, well I’m going to make a post bringing awareness to this where I will, very justifiably, be just a tiny bit less than nice about it
Social media: NO WHAT THE FUCK??? THIS IS HARASSMENT AND BULLYING. THIS IS HATE SPEECH AND THREATS. CAREFUL, ONE MORE STEP IN THE WRONG DIRECTION AND YOU’RE BANNED BUDDY!
while I've been opening up more, allowing myself to be vulnerable and rejecting shame, I still find it extremely difficult, if not impossible, as a chubby trans man, to imagine someone loving me. The lack of media and artistic representation of trans men being loved is not insignificant to this. I cannot name a single book, movie, tv show, song, or other form of media (except visual art such as paintings) that explicitly depicts a trans man experiencing love. If there is clearly a lack of romantic sentiment towards trans men, why should I think I would be privy to such experiences? Why would I look at myself, someone who I am trying so hard not to hate, and think another person could look at me and see someone worth their heart?