Bleeding Profoundly

“If your chromosomes say XY, you’re male” - Or does it?

Reblogged from uglastefania

uglastefania:

My boyfriend told me today that he had an “discussion” today in school about transpeople, specifically transsexual people. You see, here in Iceland there is an old, very outdated and rather rude word called “kynskiptingur” which can roughly be translated at “sex-switcher.” Furthermore, there is an old word for the gender reassignment surgery which is “kynskiptiaðgerð” or “sex change operation.”

But the correct terms are indeed “kynleiðrétting” and “transfólk” instead of “kynskiptiaðgerð” and “kynskiptingur.”

So, when he was in school, someone in the group he was in used the wrong word over the GRS, and he politely corrected him and told him it was “kynleiðrétting” and not “kynskiptiaðgerð.”

The guy answers him, rather frustrated and like he clearly knows what he’s talking about with: “Transpeople are always the sex they are born as because their sex chromosomes say XY or XX - male or female.”

Again, my boyfriend tries to reason with him and says they are the gender they feel they are. But the guy doesn’t listen so he gives up on him over the chromsome discussion. 

This discussion frustrates me terribly. And sadly, this seems to be the view of many self proclaimed experts on transsexual people. And I do not use the term “self proclaimed” in any sense of humour as the people who are often most against trans*people for some “reasons” have no idea whatsoever what they are talking about. And it’s so mind-numbing to read comments from these people knowing that they are so wrong on so many levels. 

The “arugments” people have when it comes down to chromosones is that you are always the sex your chromosomes say you are. For example, a person with XY chromosomes is always male and a person with XX is always female, no matter if they go through a transition and feel they are not the gender they were assigned with at birth. 

Firstly, I would like to announce that there are not only two versions of sex chromosomes. There are many different variables, such as XXY, XXX, XYY.
Saying that there are only XY and XX is completely ignoring a big group of people, for example those who fall under the category of intersex (for further information on intersex, I’d recommend this: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Intersex). Saying there are only males and females is said out of clear ignorance about genetics and the incredible variance of it. 

Secondly, your chromosomes do not make you who you are and/or determine your future forever. For example, a person born with a corneal blindless, is genetically blind. However, with our advanced health care system and the progress of science, individuals with corneal blindness can have a surgery to fix this so they are no longer blind - Alas, they are still genetically blind, but they can still see. They fixed the flaw they were born with, in the same way transsexual people who undergo GRS are fixing the flaw they were born with. Their genetics may say one thing, but their mind, their body, their soul, says otherwise. 

We are so much more than just a pile of chromosomes. Ignoring everything else is simply ridiculous. A person is built out of their mind, their personality, their ability to feel, their ability to live, their ability to think for themselves. I do not act and think based on what chromosomes I might or might not have. Just because genetically I might act shy, I can overcome this shyness. Just because genetically it’s easier for me to grow long hair doesn’t mean I want long hair. I am a person, and I can think for myself. I am not controlled by some chromosomes in my body that I will never even see. That I can never even grasp. Overlooking everything based on one set of chromosomes is the most one sided argument you can find, and therefore, absolutely ridiculous and simply wrong. 

Please, I beg of you. Know the facts, think, let people decide who they are. Stop stating something you have never in your life actually taken time research or read about. Stop deciding for us what is right for us. Stop telling us who we are.

It’s honestly kind of tacky. And annoying.

I decide who I am. Not my chromosomes. Not my genitals. Not you. 

I. 
 

ummm so i can’t afford my hormone prescription and i am like officially out.

Reblogged from fracturedrefuge

fracturedrefuge:

dizzzypie:

life-in-neon:

dizzzypie:

can anyone throw a few bucks my way? I gotta figure out how to work my paypal, but it would be much appreciated if you could.

Signal boost for a cool person in need.

hey to anyone asking i don’t know how to do a link, but my paypal email is ninoshotnessie@hotmail.com

Guys, Nnyno is my baby girl.  If you could help or signal boost, that would be amazing.

Signal Boost!

I’d toss you some money myself, but I’m literally running at below zero coins at the moment due to an absurd 6-8 week waiting rule for having disability kick in (which in my case has evolved into 4 months with no income..)

(Source: jizzzyrichardpignoodles)

That “don’t compare being trans to being otherkin” anon can go away. >(

Reblogged from transkinfolk

transkinfolk:

firstrisingvibes:

I’m also trans and otherkin, as you of course already know. And I do equate them fairly often, because they are pretty friggin’ close.

• Stigma!
• You can’t tell what someone is by looking at them.
• You can’t tell what you are by looking at the mirror.
• You have to give a lot of thought to everything regarding your identity in order to realize what you are.
• Both trans and otherkin people may get dysphoria. They may also not get dysphoria. Or get it only sometimes. Or, if one is both trans and ‘kin, they may also get dysphoric over one thing.
• Incidentally, dysphoria isn’t a word unique to trans experiences. Look it up.
• You have to come out over and over again, and you will always encounter people who will tell you that you’re just confused.

I would make this list longer but I’m tired and upset at that anon and don’t particularly want to take over your blog. But augh. Seriously. Both being trans and being otherkin can be (crudely) explained as “having a body and a mind that don’t necessarily match.” I don’t see what the bloody difference is.

(All the love to you, Cydne!)

-Artemis

—-

Thanks :)

This covers a lot of points when people bring up the otherkin appropriation stuff, especially the fact that it’s kind of difficult to appropriate a word from yourself, not to mention the fact that dysphoria is seen in a ton of things other than the gender way.

I got linked to this post on account of me being, well, both a trans man and otherkin.

Now, here’s the thing, I find it offensive to compare being otherkin to being trans, and I’m both!
This isn’t because I find being otherkin offensive, far from it, otherwise I wouldn’t actually openly admit to being otherkin, but because I feel it does two things.

1. Trivializes and undermines Trans people’s struggle for their rights to being themselves, presenting as themselves, and doing what they can to make their bodies something they can live with.

Let me explain before you jump at this.
I can prove, quite easily, that human beings exist. I can prove, quite easily, that men and women exist. I can provide links and documentation to studies of the human brain, chromosomal anomalies, hormonal anomalies, other genetic anomalies, etc, etc, etc, that all provide trustworthy, peer reviewed, physical evidence that there are people out there that do not fit into the neat little categories of “xx = female, xy = male, end of story”, what I can not however, is prove that there’s a single human being on the face of this planet which is documented and proven to be not entirely human.
I, as a trans person, want the right to be referred to by the gender I identify with, a gender I can prove exists. I, as a trans person, want to have equal human rights to all other human beings, without some archaic focus on my genital status or who I choose to marry or so on.
In the battle of trans people for human rights a lot of the opposition have pressed the point of delusion. That all trans people are crazy because men can’t be women and women can’t be men. “What’ll they think of next? Will they demand to be acknowledged as cats and dogs?”

An here we come to the very point of this first problem.

My kintype is something that doesn’t exist on the face of this planet.
I sincerely identify as such, after years of doubt and skepticism and extremely carefully conducted forms of external verification which yielded the sort of result that still sends chills down my spine. (In short, I have more reliable reason to trust my belief than any other otherkin I’ve ever met.)
On the face of this planet, my kintype does not have any rights.
It’s not a native species, it’s not an “animal” even in the strictest sense, and it’s certainly not human.
If I were to strive to live as my kintype, then I would be a threat.
If I insisted on being treated as my kintype and was able to have my way, I’d surely be shot on the spot!
I would be, in every sense of the word, rejecting any and all claim to human rights, by insisting on being treated as my kintype.

Trans people have worked hard towards being allowed to just be human beings, treated as human beings, with dignity. To be able to have access to some of the most basic human rights out there. 
Notice the repeated word there.
Human.

I’m glad you mentioned “Stigma!” by the by…. 
You see, there’s a reason why trans people have been fighting for these rights.
BECAUSE THEY’VE BEEN DENIED THEM!
In fact, every November the 20th there’s a transgender day of remembrance held where the people who have been brutally murdered because they didn’t present as the “correct” gender are remembered, honored, and given our respect.
Not a single Otherkin has ever been brutally murdered for being “too much of an elf” or “a fucking dragon”.
This suffering. The murders, the rapes, the systematic denial of human rights, the beatings, the abuse from doctors, policemen, teachers, lawyers, parents, etc, etc, etc, etc, etc, etc, etc,.. it’s being totally disrespected whenever otherkin start comparing themselves to the trans community. 

2. It equates things that aren’t equal, redefines terms and abuses and appropriates the experiences of others.

There is appropriation when otherkin take the experiences of trans women (for example) who are human beings born with one set of genital and chromosomal arrangement but with a clear identification with the opposite set of human genital and chromosomal arrangement and say “That’s how I feel about being an elf(again, for example) in a human body!” or try and take the words and cause and lives and experiences of trans people in general and make them their own or present them as their own or even, again, just say “me too!”
It amazes me that people can’t see where the appropriation comes in.
Human beings are things that we can document exist. Human genetic, hormonal, and chromosomal anomalies exist. It doesn’t take a scientist to take the information on these things together and realize that it’s quite possible for someone to be born with a male wired brain even if their chromosomes are XX and they’ve got fully functional “female” parts!

However, due to the simple fact that human beings are not elves (to continue using the example) and elves can not be demonstrated to exist and even if they were to exist, due to them being a different species all together, it’s unlikely that their DNA were at all compatible with that of human beings to such an extent that the two would be able to breed and produce offspring (there’s plenty reason why this is a logical presumption), so there’s no reason to believe, in any way, that a human being could be born with a fully functional human body of either sex and a brain of an elf.

No matter how certain I am, no matter how good my reasons are, no matter how definitive my research is, I can never, ever, in any way, produce any physical evidence, what so ever, to prove beyond any shadow of a doubt, that my kintype exists, let alone that I am it.
However, I can point to almost every other person in my surroundings as proof that my gender identity exists and given sufficient funds to pay for it I’m certain I could find the physical evidence that I am and always have been it.

There’s a fundamental divide between these two.

I find it incredibly frustrating that people do not see it.

If my being otherkin is a result of an anomaly of the brain then that would mean that my kintype probably is not a reality in and of itself, but a construct of my mind to accommodate the anomaly of the brain.
My gender identity can be a construct of my mind to accommodate the anomaly of my brain, but men still exist. 

I can demonstrate that the human being that is I exist and anyone I meet can clearly tell my gender.
I can not demonstrate that my kintype exists and nothing I can do would make anyone I meet be able to clearly tell my species (other than one weird ass human.)

I can prove that human beings of my gender identity exist.
I can not prove that my kintype exists.

_

Short version.
To say that being otherkin is like being trans because both deal with the mind and body not matching is like saying that religion is like science because both deal with the universe.

Just because you may have something in common does not mean that the two are “alike”, it simply means you have “something” in common. 

Otherkin have not suffered like trans people have suffered. They haven’t faced systematic, society wide persecution.
Otherkin have no physical evidence to prove that they even can exist.
Otherkin identities are rarely as stable as transgender ones. A woman knows she’s a woman and doesn’t change her mind once a week, like the celestial who used to believe they were an elf who used to believe they were a wolf who used to believe they were a cat who used to believe they were a demon who used to believe they were a fairy who used to believe they were a shark who used to believe they were a dragon who used to believe they were a… (you know what I mean, we’ve ALL met these people!)

(Source: campdracula5eva)

fuck the big brother binder program

Reblogged from scar-lip-deactivated20120709

scar-lip:

mnome:

scar-lip:

i-sauntered-vaguely-downwards:

hospitaldreams:

nowisgreater:

lucypaw:

mnome:

Seriously. Firstly, the guy who runs it only offers his program to trans men. No non-binary people or butches may apply. Because obvs only trans men can get dysphoria. He’s obviously been challenged on this because he insists that he is not changing his policy no matter.

Also the requirements are fucking ridiculous.

He states flat-out that if you are TAB, you should be working 2-3 jobs before you are qualified to apply. Who the fuck is he to say someone is capable of that? I am temporarily able-bodied and yet I can barely handle my job right now, which is about 30 hours/wk. I could never try to tack on even one more little thing to my work schedule.

Any indication that makes him feel you do not need a binder = you will not receive one. So does the fact that I do not bind at home mean I do not deserve a binder? Even though I really-really prefer one out of the house? (for many reasons. A binder helps my back problems 10X as much as a bra)

Purchasing an STP gets you disqualified. Why? Because he feels that a binder should be your first purchase and that if you had enough money for anything else that you don’t deserve his program. Nevermind that some people have far more triggers around junk than chests. Or that an STP can be cheaper than a binder.

So fuck them. I have a job, yes, but I have almost no money to spend freely. And I only have one binder to work in. Hint: major fucking issue. Whateverrrr, that’s what credit cards are for..?

What. the. fuck.  Reblogging to let people know about this nonsense.

There are also questions like these on the request form:

“When did you start Testosterone Hormone Therapy (year) If not yet, when?” and “Do you one day plan to have Top Surgery, when you can afford it? If No, please explain”, which basically requires you to justify your transition choices to this guy.

I don’t know that he would disqualify someone from getting a binder because they weren’t on T and didn’t have a set date, or because they were not planning to get surgery, but the way he’s phrased his questions sure makes it sound like he will.

I know I checked this site out when I was first looking for a binder and I had no idea if I would ever be able to get on T since I had no insurance and very low income (this was before the LA Gay & Lesbian Center started offering trans services), and the phrasing discouraged me from even trying, rather than getting my hopes up and get rejected.

This makes me want to start my own binder program, cause this is bullshit. :/

I KNOW! It makes me want to start one too but… I wouldn’t know where to begin. :( But seriously, I could have used a program like this (hell I still can use a program like this) and all the fucked requirements and justification is bullshit. Way to far.

Regarding starting one:

Just put the word out, I’d imagine. Send out a request for used binders & money donations so you can afford to buy more binders/reimburse shipping to those who want to donate/need a binder but can’t afford shipping. If you can, you may want to get out a PO box so that you aren’t giving out the address where you live, just for a bit of protection.

Thanks for lifting more of the fucked up questions. I was running out the door but needed to get down some of it to start.

And I love the idea of having a new one. Actually I like the idea of it not just being for binders. I wish there was a good cyber exchange market out there for trans folks. Or that if there is, that I knew about it.

Yeah, i was thinking that, too, but wasn’t sure if there were programs out there for things like breast forms and such.

…. I would like to be in on it if there’s genuine interest in starting an international “trans exchange” program where people can donate what they can spare and apply for what they need… 

I’d love to see that include tips on trans friendly services (doctors, hairdressers, salons, etc) categorized by country, region, and so on.

No forum though. Just “information and resources”.

Forums…. may lead to a place where infighting and bickering and “I need/deserve this more than you do” type behaviour, and by eliminating forums we make sure that all donations of information, resources, (and perhaps money, down the line) as well as applications and so on remain anonymous for everyone involved….

To be honest… it’s kinda been something I’ve wanted to do for a while now… 
I just, don’t have the time, energy, physical strength, or money, to do on my own…

I don’t “own” the idea, by which I mean that the value of the idea is greater than any one human being’s claim to it, in my opinion!
So, even if this gets created and I’m unable to help work on it, I’ll do whatever I can to support it never the less! 

(Source: manic-depressed-pixi-dream-bitch)