ME: I don't believe it's something anyone had the ability to agree or disagree with. It's not a choice. This is who someone is. No one else has the right to have an opinion on who someone else is. People who have grown up where their body matches their identity are privileged. As with any privilege they (myself included) will never understand what it's like to be in the wrong body. This isn't something that had sides, or opinions. I read a statistic that 1 in 2000 people a year are born intersex. That's more common than being jewish. A fact most people don't talk about when talking about gender issues. This is a way someone is born. Like their hair color, or skin color. No one has a right to have an opinion on those things, why this? That's like saying, if we promote black acceptance we need to realize the other side? Um.... no we don't.
P.s. you don't need to be inter sex to be trans. So before people misconstrue what I am saying... Which they will. Its just to highlight that there is a whole world people who have an opinion about this, dont even know. On another token, it also is common for those who are born intersex to be forced into a gender that possibly does not match their own. There are some studies showing that SOME people who identify of trans people who are born somewhere on the intersex spectrum. But if you look into research about genetics people are born this way. Its not to far of a stretch that all people of gender variations are born this way.
To be honest(Her name) this seems to me like when we used to think it was okay to enslave people by the color of their skin. Feeling power over another group of people, and power to alienate them, is wrong. Alienating them by talking about it like it's a choice is a step in the wrong direction.
HER: And...I am pretty sure that Caitlin opened the door for ll this attention by even doing the cover photo and article. No one forced that on her. So it appears that she does not mind the conversations swirling, and the thoughts and ideas that follow.
ME: I think attention versus discussion about legitimacy are different. Trans youth commit suicide everyday. If being on a cover of a magazine gives youth hope that they can survive this struggle, more power to them. If you watch the interview with Katie couric, Caitlyn, Bruce at the time, makes that important connection.
Originally Posted by stefan37
). The reality is, some days I identify as a woman and some days I identify as a man. Because I came out so openly in the military and have challenged the existing TG policy as not being inclusive enough, I have become an "accidental activist" of sorts. However, it was motivated by a need to have the right to express who I am. If it helps others after me then so be it and I am happy to "breach that gap" but that is where it ends for me. I will be quite visible at work and there will be no doubt I am a guy (the kid is not pretty and is not fooling anyone 
). When I first realized I was TG I linked into the local trans community and at my first support group meetings I was set upon by a very angry TS individual who basically implied I knew nothing and should just stay at home because I was not pretty enough and it only draws attention to her 
. . . "Say what, not pretty enough and here I thought I looked like Charlize Theron". That was my first and last meeting I ever attended. Now I get she was not representative of the TS community but it did put me off and from that point, I just decided to socialize in the Vanilla world vice the community and that is where I have been since. I am not saying the community does not do great things in my local area (and they do) but again, my choice.
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