Poll: Knowing a Transgender Person Decreases Transphobia

[Carolyn Marie]

https://www.lgbtqnation.com/2023/07/polling-shows-that-knowing-a-trans-person-decreases-transphobia/

 

Nothing new or unexpected in these results.  i've seen it first hand in my own life and transition.

 

Carolyn Marie

[VickySGV]

My now fortyish + kids always used to call this sort of finding MOTO -- Master Of The Obvious!!

[Ivy]

4 hours ago, VickySGV said:

MOTO -- Master Of The Obvious!!

Yeah.     For some people, realizing we are human beings changes things.  Others are still just hateful.

[Charlize]

So many folks don't even know they know a trans person.  So many of us simply live our lives and folks don't realize or care to come to grips with the idea that i know a trans person.  Most of us don't advertise.

 

Hugs,

 

Charlize

[KathyLauren]

This is why I won't "go stealth".  I think I am a more effective advocate for us if people know (or assume) I am trans.  I know not everyone has this luxury, but the more people who can be open, the better off we all are.

 

My own internal transphobia collapsed when I met a trans woman for the first time.  I didn't really "meet" her as such: she was a giving a science talk and I was in the audience.  It was the first time I had knowingly been in the same room as a trans person. 

 

She wasn't doing anything trans-y.  She was just being a scientist discussing her research.  And that made a huge impression on me, that trans people could be just ordinary people doing ordinary things.  I started doing my own research on being trans, something I was semi-aware of denying for years, and within a year, I was out to my wife.

 

I am glad to see this effect being documented and publicized.

[Ivy]

33 minutes ago, KathyLauren said:

This is why I won't "go stealth". 

I don't know if I even could.  But I also believe that being seen can be a good thing.  As a guy I was not prominent, but somewhat known in town.  Now I am also pretty visible when I'm out.  I see people I used to work with sometimes.  A few people were curious when I came out.  I'm glad to talk about it with those who ask in good faith.  Now, people are kinda used to me.  

I do sometimes worry that politics might turn people against me though.  It's so stupid.  Someone you've know for years is now a dangerous fiend?  But I'm still here, same me.

 

Perhaps if I had known a trans person in real life, my own internalized transphobia would have collapsed sooner.  I'm sure it would have.  Maybe being seen can help others.

[Madison_1990]

Being stealth has actually been an issue I've been struggling with recently.

 

Yes, losing my boyfriend who didn't know I was TG was tough, but that's partly because I thought life would be easier if I was stealth.  I can count the number of people in this area who know that about me on one hand.

 

But I also see there is a benefit to being truthful about being transgender, especially in this era of us being attacked so viciously as less than human and not deserving of any rights or considerations.  I have actually been in touch with a local support group about how to deal with this and how I can help the group, and have considered being more open about my being transgendered to those I think I can trust.

 

it's really tough though because I know there is so much unjustified bias and hatred out there right now being driven by people like Ron DeSantis.

[Ashley0616]

I would like to believe that part is true but seeing things from my family they could care less about trans rights. My Dad would vote against it just out of spite. Even my ex doesn't think highly of him. I showed her what he posted on my Facebook. Then again I can't honestly say that I love him either. I guess it's what happens when you come from a family so red it's darker than crimson. 

[Ashley0616]

1 hour ago, Madison_1990 said:

Yes, losing my boyfriend who didn't know I was TG was tough, but that's partly because I thought life would be easier if I was stealth.  I can count the number of people in this area who know that about me on one hand.

If you need someone to talk to I'm a good listener.