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Trans identities are complex
It is interesting posting articles about trans issues and seeing the range of responses I receive. Most of my commenters are on the side of trans rights, while on other platforms such as Reddit and Twitter things are more nuanced. This is especially true for the trans folk who engage with my writing, where often there is a neutral or negative take on the ideas and concepts I put forward. As with all things I never write form a position of absolute authority, academic or moral, and I always take on board the critique I receive. What is interesting for me is that it is often younger trans folk who are the most critical of my ideas, most likely to feel comfortable telling me I am wrong or to go fuck myself. It happens often enough that it made me rethink my approach to trans issues, especially in the way I frame and talk about them to a wider audience.
Any writer needs to find an audience for their work, especially if they wish to be paid for it. This means that my personal approach to writing has had to adapt and evolve to better frame my ideas to the audience I have cultivated. One of the areas that I have adapted my thinking is the complex nature of trans identities, namely that no two trans people see the world in the same way, and that to be trans is both a singular experience and one that has bridges to others who have a similar understanding of self. Often these complexities are compounded…
