The costs of trans visibility
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The costs of trans visibility

Yesterday, Dylan Mulvaney broke her silence: https://www.tiktok.com/@dylanmulvaney/vi....

For context, this is a trans influencer who built a 10 million strong following on TikTok. She took a brand deal with budweiser to post an ad on an instagram, and the anti-trans right went absolutely ballistic, calling for a boycott, condemning the company, and to some perhaps unknowable degree it influenced that Budweiser sales dropped by a 1/4 and

. Dylan speaks more personally about the effect of the hatred on her.

What strikes me about this story is that it is just about visibility. This isn't inclusion in sports or gender-affirming care for minors, it was just that a trans person was visible. This wasn't even visibility in a TV commerical that a poor right-winger is forced to see, it was an ad on her own instagram page. We're all in our own social media algorithm influenced bubbles, but from my vantage point it really has seemed that in the last year or so things have just gotten worse for trans people and the backlash to even minor visibility is growing.

We need to do better.

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30 June 2023 at 04:48 PM
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6827 Replies

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by checkraisdraw k

You're arguing against a ghost here. Many people would call me a transmedicalist because I believe you need a diagnosis, to go through talk therapy, etc, before you start transitioning. I don't believe in gender affirmation as a form of treatment. I believe we need to be honest with people about the potential negative side effects of the procedures and medications that they are being prescribed.
.

That’s not what transmedicalism is. Transmedicalism is centering being trans as a medical condition, and adherents may reject that someone without gender dysphoria and who may not desire medical transition counts as trans. A lot of the discussion ITT occurs through a transmedicalist lens. But rejecting transmedicalism isn’t advocating for medical treatments without a diagnosis!


by uke_master k

That’s not what transmedicalism is. Transmedicalism is centering being trans as a medical condition, and adherents may reject that someone without gender dysphoria and who may not desire medical transition counts as trans. A lot of the discussion ITT occurs through a transmedicalist lens. But rejecting transmedicalism isn’t advocating for medical treatments without a diagnosis!

I fully reject transmedicalism because I don't want to pay for transitions


by uke_master k

Professions is great, but the general positive and great message about accepting people who are different and being proud of who you are and that you can be whoever you want is much much broader than just doctors vs lawyers. These are all really positive values. I think that shouldn’t be watered down by “but if you grow up to be different in a way one adult political tribe abhors, that one is not ok”.

You responded to Montreal who referred to 5-7 year olds being lied to. Your response was ''I would tell them they can be anything they want to be''. Well you're wrong. The 7 year old boy can't be a girl. How we're still arguing this is absolutely beyond me.


by uke_master k

That’s not what transmedicalism is. Transmedicalism is centering being trans as a medical condition, and adherents may reject that someone without gender dysphoria and who may not desire medical transition counts as trans. A lot of the discussion ITT occurs through a transmedicalist lens. But rejecting transmedicalism isn’t advocating for medical treatments without a diagnosis!

Oh yeah for sure, but I’ve been accused of transmedicalism in the past for wanting a scientific, medical basis for transitioning and for rejecting xenogenders.


by checkraisdraw k

Oh yeah for sure, but I’ve been accused of transmedicalism in the past for wanting a scientific, medical basis for transitioning and for rejecting xenogenders.

Does your notion of transition include social transition, as in you need a medical note before socially transitioning?

Do you think people without gender dysphoria can be trans?


by uke_master k

Does your notion of transition include social transition, as in you need a medical note before socially transitioning?

Do you think people without gender dysphoria can be trans?

No and in theory yes though it’s rare. I didn’t call myself a transmedicalist though I said others have called me that.


by uke_master k


Do you think people without gender dysphoria can be trans?

As far as I understand it, gender dysphoria isn't the feeling that one isn't the gender that matches their sex, but the distress caused by that feeling.


by checkraisdraw k

No and in theory yes though it’s rare. I didn’t call myself a transmedicalist though I said others have called me that.

Ok. I can see why, your certainly emphasizing medical aspects of being trans in your engagement of the issue, but I don’t think you’ve quite stated the transmedical position precisely, at least from what I’ve seen.


by checkraisdraw k

No and in theory yes though it’s rare. I didn’t call myself a transmedicalist though I said others have called me that.

I will say though that I think it’s probably better to see a doctor before attempting social transition though. And this should especially be the instruction for parents thinking about socially transitioning their kids at a very young age.


by coordi k

Yeah, pretty wild yoou think a cordial conversation involves calling the other person homophobic and misogynistic. Then when you "thank" me after unilaterally declaring me homophobic and misogynistic I didn't take it even remotely serious. That isn't how people have cordial conversations.

You lash out at everyone an literally never have a single moment of introspection. Maybe you are just a bad person? I'm sure that never crossed your

I guess it checks out that the people calling everyone "transphobic" for stating normal facts about our species also wouldn't register their stances with the homophobia and misogyny they actually are.


by Luciom k

"Sexual preference" is used by homosexual associations here in Italy when they claim "discrimination based on sexual preferences" shouldn't exist, I think it's proper and clearly not demeaning, also because it covers bisexuality better than most other expressions, and can also cover fetishes which shouldn't be discriminated against, at least by the public sector (a person who engages in consensual BDSM with adults shouldn't lose his public

For sure. In America it can be a sensitive issue for the reasons mentioned, even for bi, but I get your distinction. I mostly hate the "genital preference" crap, especially since it seems next stop on the "corrupt meaningful language" train.

Your laws covering fetishes is interesting. I assume the law is for what they do in their personal life. I'd be curious if something like AGP counted if they dressed in "women's" clothing at work, whatever that means. Using non-consenting folks with your kink is kind of a requirement of it.

Did you see that Spanish (maybe) politician who uploaded a video of him eating feces? I kind of think that could be grounds for being fired since eating human feces kind of means you're unwell.


by Betraisefold22 k

You responded to Montreal who referred to 5-7 year olds being lied to. Your response was ''I would tell them they can be anything they want to be''. Well you're wrong. The 7 year old boy can't be a girl. How we're still arguing this is absolutely beyond me.

Well, we certainly both agree we should tell kids true things for the most part. And I suspect we agree more than you act on what the set of true things is. For instance, unlike the prior characterization of our disagreement being about biology 101 facts, I think you'd agree with probably every biological fact I've ever told my kid. So I wouldn't say "a boy can be a girl" in a biological sense like that their penis will become a vulva (I wouldn't explain sex reassignment surgeries to this age group for a range of reasons), but I might say something like that a boy with a penis might choose to live their life as a girl. They might take a girls name, they might wear dress with long hair and put on makeup, etc - that is mention more age appropriate notions of gender stereotypes that they are already aware of. Those are all true things.

Also worth noting that the children's moral about growing up to be anything they want to be isn't literally true - one can't become a lion or grow a third leg or grow a penis - but that ideal that is found in a million books everywhere is absolutely still an important message to convey to children.


by Phresh k

Did you see that Spanish (maybe) politician who uploaded a video of him eating feces? I kind of think that could be grounds for being fired since eating human feces kind of means you're unwell.

I think that if an action (done outside your job hours) isn't a crime, then you shouldn't be fired in a public job. Haven't seen the video but if Spain has similar laws as Italy it could be a criminal breach of "public decorum", in which case i can see firing being an option


by uke_master k

Well, we certainly both agree we should tell kids true things for the most part. And I suspect we agree more than you act on what the set of true things is. For instance, unlike the prior characterization of our disagreement being about biology 101 facts, I think you'd agree with probably every biological fact I've ever told my kid. So I wouldn't say "a boy can be a girl" in a biological sense like that their penis will become a vulva (I wo

Not sure about the bold, depends on which biological facts about different behavioural propensities between women and men you told your kid


by uke_master k

Well, we certainly both agree we should tell kids true things for the most part. And I suspect we agree more than you act on what the set of true things is. For instance, unlike the prior characterization of our disagreement being about biology 101 facts, I think you'd agree with probably every biological fact I've ever told my kid. So I wouldn't say "a boy can be a girl" in a biological sense like that their penis will become a vulva (I wo

Fair enough. Some of the language in here I wouldn't use but sure, I can agree to most of this.


by uke_master k

More or less. People can deny the existence of trans people as much as they like, but at least use like basic normal grammar when doing so.

Normal grammar as you define it. Okay Sparky.


by Didace k

Normal grammar as you define it. Okay Sparky.

No, normal grammar as every mainstream article talking about trans issues use it. I don’t bug people for not using strange esoteric useage only found in some fringe corner of the internet, I just point out when they screw up basic stuff like confusing adjectives and nouns.


by Betraisefold22 k

Aah the good old ''if you don't care about ALL problems in the world you're not allowed to care about THIS problem''.

You're allowed to care about whatever the **** you want to care about, just like I am allowed to point out the rank hypocrisy of citing the "staggering" numbers of children having gender affirming surgery and ignoring the actual staggering numbers of children having cosmetic breast augmentation surgery.


by craig1120 k

If these teen girls were told that breast augmentation would resolve their suicidal ideation, we would all see that as bogus right?

Nobody tells trans children that proper care will CURE suicidal ideation.

We do point out the evidence that shows that suicidal ideation goes down with proper care.

Shocker, I know.


by hole in wan k


The numbers of youth showing the dysphoria is "just a phase" (or however you want to phrase it) is extremely high.

Show your evidence here, please


by master3004 k

Nobody tells trans children that proper care will CURE suicidal ideation.

We do point out the evidence that shows that suicidal ideation goes down with proper care.

Shocker, I know.

Is gender affirmation an effective treatment for suicidal ideation?


by uke_master k

Also worth noting that the children's moral about growing up to be anything they want to be isn't literally true - one can't become a lion or grow a third leg or grow a penis - but that ideal that is found in a million books everywhere is absolutely still an important message to convey to children.

Absolutely. It’s important to encourage children to identify with the dreamer.


by master3004 k

You're allowed to care about whatever the **** you want to care about, just like I am allowed to point out the rank hypocrisy of citing the "staggering" numbers of children having gender affirming surgery and ignoring the actual staggering numbers of children having cosmetic breast augmentation surgery.

Again, since clearly you missed the point. You're in a thread about TRANS issues. Not the ''Minors having cosmetic breast augmentation surgery'' thread. Saying I don't care about it because it's not being discussed here is just stupid. You know this.

But just to put your mind at ease. I'd like for minors to not have breast surgery either. You good now?


by master3004 k

You're allowed to care about whatever the **** you want to care about, just like I am allowed to point out the rank hypocrisy of citing the "staggering" numbers of children having gender affirming surgery and ignoring the actual staggering numbers of children having cosmetic breast augmentation surgery.

you're also playing with fire here

overwhelming majority of cosmetic surgeries for minors is corrective (well at least it used to be but now with 4% of total cosmetic surgeries being performed on teens that's likely no longer true)

car accidents, genetic defects, etc are all a major cause for cosmetic surgery on minors


yes, there are some that are purely elective

but for example, the 4 people i know who had cosmetic surgery before the age of 18 were 2x cleft palette, 1x nose job after getting hit with a discus, 1x boob job due to a genetic defect that caused one side to be drastically different in size and shape than the other


it's undoubtedly on the rise for purely elective stuff and while i would never allow my children to undergo that while they are children if it were not in the category of the examples above, at the same time, that is a far more benign surgery than any that are gender reaffirming

a woman wanting larger & shapelier breasts is unlikely to be a phase, will not prevent nursing of children in the future, & if they have regrets later, is a much simpler process to undo

none of that can be said for a transman undergoing top surgery where surgeons are not "amplifying" what is already there but instead removing wholesale


by craig1120 k

Is gender affirmation an effective treatment for suicidal ideation?

Only in those who's suicidal ideation is based around having an unconfirmed gender status.

https://www.sciencedirect.com/science/ar...

This study seems to show a correlation and there are many others. Certainly something to consider


by master3004 k

We do point out the evidence that shows that suicidal ideation goes down with proper care.

if you have such studies, would be nice to share them, because every study shared in the thread thus far with a sample size of more than lol always shows the opposite that there's no difference whatsoever, in some studies it's actually worse

notably, in countries where gender reassignment doesn't happen, there is no difference in suicide rates

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