#shut up you aren't oppressed

[hatred-rage-and-repression]

Yt people shouldn't use tumblr <3

#shut up you aren't oppressed #yt privilege #yt people #white privilege #white people #white imperialism #yt imperialism #anti usa #anti eu #anti positivity #anti inclusionism #narcissistic abuse #borderline abuse #western hypocrisy #western privilege

[xxlovelynovaxx]

[Img ID: post reading "it doesnt matter if we're feminine or masculine or androgynous. they'll want us dead anyway. THIS POST IS ABOUT TRANS MEN AND TRANSMASCULINE PEOPLE. DO NOT DERAIL. MAKE YOUR OWN POST." /end ID]

I think actually we've reached terminal selfishness and self-centeredness when "look basic transphobia. THIS IS ONLY ABOUT SOME TRANS PEOPLE. MAKE YOUR OWN POST" is considered acceptable behavior, like

1 this is the reblogging posts site. if you don't want it "derailed", turn off reblogs

2 it's not "derailing" to talk about experiencing the exact same type of oppression for the exact same reasons. like, this is tagged transandrophobia. y'know, the word coined to talk about oppression UNIQUE TO or MORE TYPICALLY EXPERIENCED by trans men and mascs? Like I know we're all super sensitive to "it's just transphobia" because bad faith actors use it to shut us up about our own oppression, but even if transandrophobia is ANY transphobia experienced by transmascs, this one is SO not unique and SO universal that calling other trans people "derailing" for daring to acknowledge they experience it is honestly transphobic itself

3. Are you being transmisogynistic or exorsexist it both? Do you find it offensive that a group even more erased than transmascs (trans people who are neither transfem nor transmasc) might "take the spotlight" by experiencing the same pain as you? Are you just mad that transfems suffer from hypervisibility (a key factor in transmisogyny, no less) that you're wrongly viewing as some sort of privilege?

Like this is the logical end conclusion of exclusion, separatism, and the idea that it's immoral or even just dickish to talk about SHARED experiences of oppression. Even those who aren't convinced that there's no overlap and oppression fits into neat little boxes based on your actual identity (and that people with multiple identities experience each oppression as discrete separate forms of violence OR a new unique form of oppression that no one else ever does) are like "I have the right to shut people out of a discussion of their own pain and trauma just because *I* experienced it for THIS reason

Like, I draw the line at someone saying anything more exclusionary than "oh I didn't name all groups that experience this because this was a more personal vent post, but please share your experiences because this isn't exclusive to us".

Idk I can't even articulate what's so gross and off-putting about this. But whatever, this intersex transneufemmasc is making their own post so they aren't (implied) transandrophobic by, idk, being transmasc but also other things and experiencing this same thing based on those other identities, or acknowledging that those other identities share these experiences in the absence of transmasculinity.

Also, nontransmasculine/non-trans-men experience transandrophobia, you fucking asshole. Transneutral, abinary/atrinary, neutrois, maverique, and other trans people that are seen as transmasc by bigots experience no material differences in the oppression they face. Their experiences are almost identical to yours - except they have to either be misgendered to be acknowledged or get erased. What functional difference do you think there is between an afab person pursuing what you forcibly label a "masculine" transition facing this exact shit, and you, other than that they respect your gender and you don't return the favor. Or you do, only to shut them out of a conversation that they have less of a voice in than you do.

That's just fucking transphobia. Fuck off.

If you're being so defensive over past trauma you bite people BEFORE you know they're unsafe, maybe you need to get a fucking grip.

#cw discourse #the logical end course of “no ME MINE ONLY MY OPPRESSION NO TOUCHY GO HAVE YOUR OWN CONVO SOMEWHERE ELSE” #is the total destruction of any community #like sorry actually it's impossible to do community building if you're gonna throw a tantrum about SHARED TRAUMA #fuck off #I do not have the energy to extend any good faith rn tbh #I'm so fucking tired of the experience of being multiple things and being shut out of all involved communities for being multiple #only with sometimes 'well you ARE x so you're allowed I GUESS but NEVER TALK ABOUT BEING y' #like x and y aren't inextricably intertwined #I am not transfem. and transmasc. and transneutral. I am transneufemmasc. #I know I sometimes only include some for convenience but like. the truth is I will always be all those things #so I have a right to speak #and I just KNOW they would consider it derailing to even talk about how I experience it as a TRANSneufemMASC #because they don't actually mean it's about trans men and mascs #they mean it's about people who are EXCLUSIVELY trans men and mascs #well actually it's about just them but they can't pretend it's praxis to tell other people it's derailing to join the conversation #if they just say 'this is about me. other people shut up' #funny enough if it just said 'personal vent post. please make a new post if you want to talk about your experiences' #I'd respect that FAR more

[therevengeoffrankenstein]

😒

#myevilposts #sighing so loud. #g-d i'm so pissed off. i hate misandrists soooo much i especially hate when they deny that that's what they are. #or act like they are somehow valid bc one (1) man was abusive towards them. #like honey my mom was both physically and mentally abusive to me and i don't hate women. it's very easy to not be a dick actually. #once again. what they should actually be angry about is the systemic issue of the patriarchy or their single abusive man. #not men as a whole. like it's so easy. #it's actually so easy to just hate shitty men and not men as a whole. btw. #also i can't believe people think my struggles to be included in discussions about pregnancy due to uninclusive language #(which is very very much a trans issue.) isn't real just because i'm a man. #honey. i have a womb. i can in theory get pregnant. i don't want to be misgendered and excluded from a conversation #that literally fucking applies to me and is important to my physical and mental health and well being. just because i'm a man. #i am being oppressed in this situation. that is what transandrophobia is. #like is the fact that people are calling pregnancy and abortion 'women's issues' and i'm like 'hey. those things apply to me #and i'm a trans man. please use inclusive language that doesn't misgender and/or exclude me.' and people are #like 'ugh shut up you're literally a man. you should deal with being excluded from this conversation. #that literally fucking applies to you and being misgendered by our language.' actually like progressive? #like do you think it's progressive to say that me getting misgendered and excluded from a conversation due to #cisnormativity is fine. because oh i'm a man. men aren't ever treated like shit ever. #when i am quite literally being shat on for being a man in this situation. despite it literally including me. #transphobia tw #like don't you all literally see that what you're saying is that misgendering is ok just because i'm a man? #and that my having to deal with pregnancy and abortion is invalid? just because i'm a man. and acting like that's a progressive thing #to say??? like literally stoppp. you are literally telling me. who is trans. and being oppressed bc i am trans. #that the transphobia that is specifically targeting me. bc i am trans. isn't real. bc i am a trans MAN specifically. #and like yes. i experience transandrophobia in real life. it is not just an 'online' issue bc no form of transphobia is.

[miraculouslumination]

People who are like “kink is fine at pride!! Just don’t wear provocative/scantily clad/revealing clothes in front of kids!”

Okay then I guess kids can’t go to beaches anymore. I guess kids can’t go to pools anymore. I guess kids can’t go clothes shopping anymore. I guess kids can’t go fucking anywhere anymore because guess what. People wear “provocative” and “scantly clad” things all the damn time. I was out at a natural science park yesterday, VERY popular with young kids and school field trips, and I saw a few people wearing very “revealing” clothing. They were just walking around, minding their own damn business. But, since they’re Scantily Clad, I guess the kids need to leave immediately lest their eyes be seared forever with the image of Slight Boobies or Hints of Ass.

#Jean rambles #Like oh my fucking god y'all are so desperate #To reinvent ways of being queerphobic #Kink belongs at pride #Cry about it and shut up and stay home #Also if you're like BUT THAT'S DIFFERENT BECAUSE THE PERSON IS JUST EXISTING!! #THEY'RE AREN'T MAKING A SCENE OF IT!!! #Then I don't know how to tell you that in a way #Wearing ''revealing'' clothing is almost no less of a political statement against oppression #Than a leather daddy or some guy in boxers and a puppy mask is #Y'all are no different than conservative default settings dads who are creepily involved in what their daughters wear #I don't know I'm tired and y'all just need to be quiet #If it makes you uncomfortable then just don't go make your own event or whatever #Stop making your own personal problems into issues for everyone else

[stag-beetle-and-skeleton-bloom]

God what is it with boomer/movement shooter fans on twitter and never shutting the fuck up about titanfall 2

#le ramblings #So many fuckers will see like #a clip of movement tech from any shooter that isn't like quake or titanfall #WOW? YOU ENJOY OLDWR MOVEMENT SHOOTERS? COOL. STOP FUCKING ACTING LIKE #and them immediately go into rage at the very idea that kids dig into movement tech in games that aren't the ones these fucking boomers #played when they were like #in college or something #“The children yearn for titanfall 2” “These kids wanna play quake so bad” #“Where were these youngfucks before titanfall 2 died” “Sadly we oppressed boomer shooter players must act like these kids clearly had a han #in the downfall of our humble and storied arena shooters.“ #SHUT THE FUCK UP!!!!!!!! GOD. #HOW HARD IS IT FOR YOU TO JUST. ENJOY YOUR OWN GAME??? EVEN IF THE POPULATION'S NOT THAT GREAT? #OH? YOU LIKE OLDER SHOOTERS? KEEP FUCKING ENJOYING THEM EVEN IF THEIR POPULATION'S NOT THAT GREAT ANYMORE #god #just stop acting like 14-16 year olds posting their clips of like #cod or fortnite movement #is the source of the downfall of all of arena fpses #rant

[everhoods]

I live in like hippie country and I will say: white people will do anything to feel oppressed

#jesse.txt #There's so much stupid discourse here from the younger ones #Like do you genuinely belive that by wearing the clothes that are socially acceptable here and just being an average Joe #That you're fighting oppression somehow??? #And there's stupid tiktoks from these people talking about how they aren't fake just #Fucking SHUT UP man. Just SHUT UP. #Sorry if this is incoherent it's just the trials and tribulations of living here

[nothorses]

The rule of thumb is not "listen to marginalized people about everyone's experiences", it's "listen to marginalized people about their own oppression".

It's not "listen to the most marginalized person in the room", it's "listen to the people who have actually had the experiences being discussed, instead of assuming what those experiences are like".

It's not "stop having an opinion, shut the fuck up, and absorb uncritically whatever a marginalized person has most recently told you", it's "everyone knows their own experiences best, just like you know your's, and it's important to listen to different perspectives in order to truly understand the problem".

Marginalized people don't know everything, and certainly aren't a monolith. The whole point of that idea is just to get people to listen to each other. If all of us are doing that, and genuinely trying to understand others without making assumptions or abandoning critical thought entirely, we'll get there in the end.

[genderkoolaid]

ultimately a feminism that is genuinely trans-centric (meaning not that trans people are treated as the most oppressed, but rather that trans people are moved from being peripheral and optional to central and necessary) is a feminism that looks radically different from the one widely known. making feminism trans-inclusive means fundamentally re-shaping it. intersectionality should not be comfortable, it should not be easy to slip in groups you've never considered before, because that means you aren't actually questioning anything. and questions and discomfort is growth. trans people and trans experiences SHOULD unsettle feminism! so that it can meaningful grow and change! and that is why it is so vital that we never shut up about transmasculinity in feminism. we need to point out how transmasculinity unsettles cissexist frameworks and how feminism fails transmasculine people by refusing to meaningfully change how gender is understood. feminism is not a hobby it's not supposed to be nice and comforting and easy to swallow. let yourself be challenged and discomfited by the contradiction cisfeminism forces transmasculinity to be.

#m.

[xxgoblin-dumplingxx]

Hi, would you write about a self conscious reader who is going through a crisis with accepting herself and reveals that to jason todd in an emotional state like the dramatic “i hate myself” thing. Kinda having a moment like that myself and i need to read something that i can identify with

Your door was shut when Jason got there. He could feel the emotional angst leaking through the door. It slid over him like ooze. Over his skin and down his throat.

But he forced himself to breathe. Like last night. If he focused, he could find the edges of what he was feeling and push your influence back. You weren't focused on him.

He exhaled slowly and knocked, waiting. "Y/N? It's Jason" No one was in the hall but somehow it felt like everyone was in the hall. The trouble with living in a house of nosey bitches.

A solenoid disengaged and he pushed the handle. Letting himself inside, leaving the door cracked. Mostly so you didn't feel trapped.

As soon as he stepped into the room, the atmosphere was crushing. Oppressive. A sensation of being cold and humid. Self hatred, grief, and shame. And he can feel you trying desperately to pull those feelings under the surface. Wrestle them into submission.

Sweat prickling on your forehead from the effort.

"You should probably go," you manage.

Jason winces and takes a deep breath, forcing himself into a state of calm. Remembering how he deals with scared little kids and abuse victims. "What can I do?" he asked softly, moving closer. Below you, out your window you're watching everyone else. In the sun and playing outside. Shaking off the night-terrors you'd given them and the stress of patrol with water guns and slips and slides- a home made water park around the pool. Christ. It's no wonder you hate yourself.

"I'm fine. I just. I just-" Your voice is rough with unshed tears and when you break off, resting your head against the glass, Jason smiles a little.

"Fucked up, insecure, neurotic, and emotional," he chuckled. "We've all been there. You're just a little more obvious about it."

You make a soft miserable noise and he shakes his head, "No one wants you to stay away, "he murmured, changing tack. "Bruce gives us nightmares all the time. Ask Dick about his party hard days some time. His nudes got "leaked" once as a distraction when I was a kid and all the girls had them. It was gross."

When you huff a soft laugh, he nods towards your book shelf, "Not a lot of heavy lifting going on there," he teased, referencing the romances and young adult novels- a fair number of children's classics he noticed.

"I like happy endings," you murmur. "I don't- I just get overwhelmed. I get tired of being a monster."

Jason nodded. He didn't want to tease you for your books anymore. "You're not a monster, Y/N," he whispered. He'd spent a lot of time watching you. You offered kindness in a hundred different ways. Doing little things to help Alfred. Taking odd shifts for Barbara. Refilling Tim's water. Stocking gear. Taking time to just chill with Cass... he'd probably missed a lot of details. But a monster wouldn't do that.

"I feel like one. All the time. I feel like I'd be better off dead. Like if they would have been too late-"

"If they would have been too late, it would have been for nothing," Jason said, wiping tears off your cheeks tenderly as he knelt to cradle your face in his hands. "Those bastards that hurt you are monsters. You were a baby."

You don't meet his eyes but he can feel pain. A deep fissure that never healed. Like a wound that needed packed and never got it. Rotting and festering this whole time. Inflamed and ready to send you recoiling at the lightest touch. "Got a favorite happy ending?" he asked. "I'll read it to you if you want-"

"Aren't you an Austen snob?"

"Please. As if I could get away without reading at least a couple of Alfred's trashy Romance novels. Some of them are charming... a couple are even pretty decent writing. As long as they don't spend too much time describing the dude's cock."

#jason todd #jason todd x reader #ask answered #minors dni #reader insert #science experiment!reverse

[boredom-reigns]

You know, as frustrating as aro discourse existing in 2024 is, it's kinda made me think of stuff.

Primarily, how seeing some non-aspec people's responses to aromanticism really highlight how some just don't understand or don't try to understand what the aromantic experience is like.

It's easy to brush off aromantics. It's easy for them to say "oh but you're straight-passing anyway" and then say that there's no reason for aromantics to cling to the lgbtq+ community—to cling to any community at all.

But you know? I feel like what a lot of non-aspecs don't get is just how fucking alienating being aspec is.

Hell, before I even identified as aromantic, I just felt so disconnected from society because I couldn't fall in love. I remember just feeling something was so wrong about me because everyone was talking about falling in love and having crushes and the media everywhere says you need to find The One and get married and that romance is a requirement for a happily ever after. And it’s not like I didn't know gay people existed! I knew! Because I tried to check if I was gay or bi or pan—I tried so hard to get attracted to people, and I just never did.

There's just that specific feeling of loneliness... wondering if somehow you were broken in some way. And that fear of thinking you'll never be happy because society promotes the idea that romance is True Love. That it is the best relationship you can have in your life. That you will never get a happy ending and that you will die alone.

Discovering that aromanticism is a thing made me feel normal. It told me I'm not broken—that other people like me existed. And that's why the community is important to me. Because the feeling of thinking something is wrong with you is something I don't want others to feel. The more people know and discuss aromanticism, the less people have to experience the negative emotions that I and other aromantics felt.

And aromanticism just doesn't feel alienating in the cishetallo society. It's can be so fucking isolating being in the lgbtq+ community too. Th

Because this is a place that's supposed to accept anybody who diverges from the societal norm of cishetallo. But no, we're either rejected, excluded, or treated invisible. People don't bother to listen to aspec experiences. People would say they support aspec people but then turn around and spout aphobic rhetoric.

So then this ngl, it's honestly kinda predictable that this discourse pops up and people go "oh aspec people are queer but—" NO BUTS! Aspec people are queer. Cishetaro and cishetaces are queer. No ifs and buts.

Why is the aspec identity inherently considered less priority than the cishet identity? Aspec isn't some secondary label—it's a part of who we are. An aromantic heterosexual still diverges from the norm. They have experiences that heteroromantic heterosexuals would never understand. They are still hit with amatonormativity and heteronormativity.

And at that point, yeah, I get it. Those arophobes probably think it's easy to ignore being aromantic in day-to-day life. I've seen people assume we just put on the label, then don't have society tell us we're wrong for being who we are. That we don't need a community.

To that, I say: listen to aromantic people. Listen to their experiences. Try to understand what it's like to live in our shoes.

But also—queerness isn't about oppression. The lgbtq+ community exists so people who aren't part of the "normal" in regards to gender and sexuality can find a safe space. So that people wouldn't feel alone and broken and realize that there's more people like them than they think. So that we can break these societal norms that just harm all of us.

Basically, my god, shut up. We're queer, we're here, and we're aromantic.

#aromantic #aromanticism #aro #lgbtq+ #lgbtqia #lol this got rambly and all over the place but yeah

[babsaros]

hey. when cis society is oppressing a trans man, what he is experiencing is. In Fact. misogyny. i'm sorry i know none of us like to be reminded of our agab, and it hurts whenever people perceive you as the wrong gender. but a cis person hate-criming, assaulting, verbally abusing, etc, a trans man is not doing "transandrophobia" because they do not perceive him as a man.

they perceive him as a woman failing at her gender, as a woman who has been seduced and lied to and manipulated because women are so easily led astray, just like it says in the bible. they perceive him as a woman who has been mutilated. they perceive him as a dyke that needs to be fixed. if they are hate-criming him because they *do* perceive him as a man, because he passes well enough they aren't thinking he could be trans, then they're doing so out of homophobia, perceiving him as a gay man, a pervert, a sissy, a danger to children. OR, they are being transphobic but specifically because they think he might be transfeminine instead. when cis society oppresses a trans woman, they are able to do it on multiple levels at once. She's a woman failing at her gender, a dyke that needs to be fixed. Or she's an evil and grotesque crossdressing pervert, a rude caricature, a danger to polite society. she will never be doing enough to escape oppression entirely, no matter if she gets every surgery she can and wears makeup every day and passes perfectly, because she lives under a patriarchy, and she's a woman, so she lives in a panopticon, and HAVING to get surgery and wear make-up to be respected IS oppression, especially if the alternative is being hate-crimed.

trans women (and trans men who pass) are not experiencing "transandrophobia" when a 'queer women and nbs" event turns them away at the door for being too masculine. they are. IN FACT!! experiencing the byproducts of misogyny in a patriarchy!!! where the terfs and coward cis women running those events and occupying those spaces have been taught (sometimes through experience, sometimes by men, sometimes by women) throughout life that men = stronger and more dangerous than women ALWAYS. That they need to protect themselves at all times and always be vigilant. That men and women can't be friends without sexual tension (and so as queer women the mere existence of what they perceive as a "man" is a threat). That women need a separate sports league because they can't possibly compete with someone who has even a little bit "extra" (an unquantifiable amount actually because there isn't a standard range) testosterone. That women should cook and men should fix cars. i promise you, i promise i promise i promise. it's misogyny. like!!! you don't say cis gay men experiences "androphobia", bc that's not a thing!! you sound like fucking mens rights activists guys please! you don't say a black man experiences "misandrynoir"!! because living in a patriarchy fundamentally means men do not experience oppression based on their gender. its not happening. shut the fuck up. stop walking us back to 2014 can we please take a step forward and stop bitching about this. there are genuine issues in the world and i'm frankly sick of people who should be smarter than that needing to be gently hand-held through this fucking explanation for the millionth time and still stomping their feet.

#cw transmisogyny #cw discourse #cw transphobia #longterm tme mutual pissed me the fuck off bye #everybody else gets to read this now #if you still don't get it idk maybe go stick your head down a toilet and flush #that might help #its so fucking simple stop drinking terf koolaid #if u are transmasc and have experienced transphobia i'm really sorry that happened to you. #and if calling it 'transandrophobia' makes u feel less dysphoric then whatever fine #but its not like. a systemic issue. #pls understand that #transmisogyny is a systemic issue we should be talking about. because misogyny is a systemic problem we have not yet solved. #i hope i never have to talk about this again #lmk if i should tag it as anything else #or if i've worded anything in a way that should be corrected

[transmascissues]

a lot of people aren't going to want to hear this, but if you actually want trans men to stop "playing up" our assigned sex/"female socialization" or "walking back" on our manhood in conversations, here's what you need to do:

accept that it is possible for men (yes, 100%-men-and-nothing-but-men) to experience gendered oppression, including misogyny. accept that it is entirely possible for captial-m Men to have a lifetime worth of experiences with misogyny. accept that it is possible for men to be not just hurt by but systemically oppressed under the patriarchy. accept that being oppressed for one's gender does not require any proximity to womanhood. accept that it is possible for men to experience the things you call "women's issues". stop calling the misogyny specifically directed at us "misdirected". stop acting like our manhood somehow cancels out the oppression we've experienced. stop considering yourself more of an authority on our oppression than we are just because we're men and you're not. stop supporting activist spaces that expect men to "shut up and listen and be good allies" while everyone else task about their oppression. stop simplifying the complexities of gendered oppression to "man = privileged, woman = oppressed". you would distance yourself from your identity too if people used it to gaslight and silence you about your lived experiences.

stop acting like being a man makes someone somehow "less trans" or "less queer". learn how to view all trans people as equally trans and equally part of the community. unlearn your tendency to view manhood and masculinity as inherently less queer than other gender expressions. stop talking about how trans men are "the weakest link" or making "jokes" about how much worse we are than other people in the community or blaming us for all of its problems. stop acting like being men means we have less of a right than other trans people to speak on what it's like to be trans. you would distance yourself from your identity too if you knew that doing so would mean being more accepted by the community you rely on.

deconstruct your belief that cis manhood is the gold standard of manhood. stop telling trans men that it's transphobic for them to assert that their experience of manhood might be different from that of a cis man. stop trying to pressure trans men into never acknowledging how their transness makes their experience of manhood unique by accusing them of "misgendering themselves" or "saying trans men aren't real men". accept that trans men are not cis men and never will be cis men and are still 100% very real men anyway because cis manhood is only one type of manhood. understand that if you hear "trans men are different from cis men" and think that means "trans men aren't men", you're the one who's actually saying cis men are the only real men. you would distance yourself from your identity too if people said that claiming that identity required being exactly the same as a group you're not a part of.

get yourself a personality that isn't just talking about how much you hate men. stop telling all the men in your life how much you hate men and acting like their willingness to just take it is a measure of their moral goodness. stop making "jokes" about how trans men are "joining the enemy". stop talking about how much you wish you weren't attracted to men, or how much of a shame it is that someone else is. stop acting like womanhood and femininity are inherently pure and good and harmless while manhood and masculinity are inherently gross and evil and dangerous. stop acting like there's something inherently corruptive about existing as a man that fundamentally changes someone the second they come out as one. stop acting like it's funny to say you want to kill all of us as if there aren't countless people actively working to eliminate us. you would distance yourself from your identity too if everyone you knew spent their free time talking about how much they hate it.

help put spaces and resources into place that take trans men into consideration. stop getting mad at trans men who "call themselves men but still want access to women's spaces" and start looking at the world around you and asking why we want access to those spaces. open your eyes and realize that there is nothing out here for us, that all of the spaces and resources catered toward our experiences are marketed for everyone except us. ask yourself where the hell we're supposed to go when every clinic specializing in care for our bodies is a "women's clinic", when the only men's shelters are really just for cis men and the people advocating for "inclusive" shelters see all men as a threat to be warded off, when no one is willing to make an actual place for us and we have no choice but to just find the place that looks the least risky and hope they let us stay. put some effort into making this world more hospitable for us. you would distance yourself from your identity too if the resources you need to survive were offered for every identity but yours.

actually show trans men some fucking love for once in your life. find it in your heart to actually give a shit about trans men, to see us as real whole people who are deserving of love and community, to see our needs and feelings as worth your time and energy. care about us, care about our lives, care about our health and happiness and well-being instead of abandoning us the second we come out as men. start valuing our presence in the community and realize that we actually have a lot to offer if you could just listen to us. ask yourself why you're so comfortable leaving us to fend for ourselves in a world that wants us dead and is currently being very loud about that fact. you would distance yourself from your identity too if the community that supported you for years suddenly stopped caring about you the second you embraced it.

y'all will spend all day talking about how horrible it is that some trans men emphasize that they were assigned/raised female but nobody actually cares why so many of us do that. no one actually bothers to ask why we would put so much effort into being recognized as men but be afraid to fully claim that identity. no one wants to consider that they might be part of the problem, that they might be partially responsible for the thing they're complaining about.

if you want trans men to be able to stand firmly in our manhood and not undermine it with a million disclaimers, you have to actually put in the work to create an environment that's less hostile to trans men who do stand firmly in it.

because right now, regardless of my own personal opinions on the ways some trans men talk about their experiences as "afabs" or their "female socialization" or being "men but not like that", regardless of what issues i personally have with those kinds of statements, i can't blame them. not one fucking bit. and if you actually looked at how the world treats us - how our own community treats us - when we do fully own our manhood, you would feel the same way.

and if you aren't willing to do these things - which are literally just basic respect and care for other human beings, by the way - you don't get to complain about the ways trans men deal with how people like you treat our manhood. you can't expect a problem to disappear when you won't even acknowledge the part you might play in causing it.

#just saw yet another bit of socialization discourse and im so tired of the back and forth that i gave in and decided to Post About It #people love to notice trans men doing a thing and get mad at the thing without ever wondering why the thing happens in the first place #it's honestly incredibly dehumanizing #because it treats us like one dimensional things with no motivation other than Do Bad Man Things #instead of as whole complex people whose actions are motivated by complicated mental processes #transandrophobia #transandromisia #transmisandry #virilmisia #virilphobia #anti transmasculinity #trans men #transmascs

[genderqueerdykes]

transphobes who are obsessed and fixated on gender who project their obsessions and fixations on to the trans community are hilarious- they say that we can't go without thinking about or mentioning our genders but then bring up theirs unprovoked. "I'm a man i can't do that," "of course i like that I'm a woman," "you can't do that to me I'm a man," "women can't wear that," "men aren't weak like that," "women can't participate in that," etc. etc. etc. etc.

these people are literally so obsessed with gender they can't separate themselves from it and yet they project. even if a trans person is obsessed with gender it's better than obsessing over other's genders to oppress them and prevent them from living freely any day. a trans person who can't shut up about how they love being trans is infinitely better than someone who can't shut up about how other people shouldn't be able to do things for arbitrary reasons

#trans #transgender #lgbt #lgbtqia #trans issues #transgender issues #queer #transmasculine #transmasc #transfeminine #transfem #transfemme #trans woman #trans women #nonbinary #ftm #trans man #enby #genderqueer #genderfluid #our writing #transphobia

[0w0tsuki]

It really is disheartening to see how desperate transmisandry bros are committed to find SOME WAY, ANY WAY to call transfems who disagree with them TERFs. Like when it first started off it was lazy, dismissive, and just showed that they really had no idea what they were talking about. But then they doubled down and kept attempting to rebrand to try and spin it as progressive. Like it's this Holy Grail of trans andro theory that if they unlock it then they will be able to win all arguments forever and be able to shove any Transfem they don't like out of being able to describe her own oppression.

Like first it was drudging up the term beaddel from nearly a decade. A long dead group of "the one time a group of transfems were genuinely being awful" and mystifying them to warn about secretive "trans lesbian separatists" (literally a term based on "lesbian separatist". A term coined in the SCUM TERF manifesto) trying to sell you "radfem koolaid"

Then they thought "well it might work if we changed the E to an I" and started saying that any transfems using TME/TMA terminology were sex essentialists (even though it's not. Cis men and women are also TME) and "TIRF's" when literally no self respecting trans woman calls themselves that. The few people that do identify with the term TIRF are TME'S who think the trans people who are made with them "don't know how to read" instead of you know, recognizing their ideology is still rooted in bio essentialism.

Then they tried various tactics of redefining TERF. From "all trans people are equally targeted by TERFs and it does harm to say their primary target is trans women" (They see trans men as lost little girls and they want them to detransition and be "saved". They see trans women as violent predators, a threat to women by virtue of existing, and want us DEAD. These are not the same) to "actually their bigotry stems from a hatred of men!" (Actually most TERFs are trad wives. They constantly ally themselves with anti feminist movements. And one of their most prolific members posie parker infamously asked "fathers with gun" to walk into women's restrooms to kill trans women)

Then it was trying to delineate radfeminism from TERFism. Even though just referring to themselves as "radfem", just the same as "gender critical" was a part of a rebranding effort by TERFs themselves when the term TERF got widely recognized as a member of a bigoted hate group. Any "cis radfems who aren't TERFs" that they talk about are just TERFs who think the term is a slur. But that doesn't matter to transmisandry bros because it allows them to hold those terms as two separate things and more importantly as "something separate from TERF but functionally the same to label trans women as"

And now apparently it's "radical transfeminism"? Which come on. You aren't even trying at this point. It's honestly sickening how devoted the group that sells itself as being for "TransUnity" and "stopping the infighting" is so determined to find a term that will allow them to shut out and exclude any Transfem they don't like.

#transmisoginy #terf painting #Transandrophobia truthers

[cherubiyeon]

the kids aren't alright | le sserafim huh yunjin x female reader

it's your best friend's birthday, though your dad doesn't allow you to go out tonight. no worries though, your best friend seems to just have a plan b, it seems.

✩ warnings. non!idol au, high school!au, best friend! yunjin, hurt comfort, slight angst at start, your dad's shit, mention of food, one-sided love, dialogue heavy

✩ word count. ~3.7k words

✩ playing. the kids aren't alright [fall out boy]

"dad, i really need to go to yunjin's birthday party tonight!"

in the dimly lit living room, a single lamp cast elongated, eerie shadows that seemed to encroach upon them. y/n felt the intensity of her father's anger emanating from him, making the room feel even more oppressive.

summoning her courage, she took a deep breath and persisted, "i understand your concerns, but yunjin is my best friend. this party means the world to her, and i can't imagine not being there."

her father's response was stern and unyielding, his voice laced with frustration. "i've already said no, y/n! you're staying home tonight, and you'll be studying."

downstairs, her father's voice roared like an impending storm, an avalanche of anger and disappointment crashing upon her. y/n's pulse quickened with every word, each syllable a verbal assault on her resolve. his rage clawed at the edges of her sanctuary, a relentless force determined to breach the haven she had painstakingly built.

"dad, please, just listen—" y/n implored, her voice a trembling mix of desperation and hope.

but her father's anger remained unyielding, a relentless tempest that refused to be tamed. "you're not leaving this house tonight, y/n! you hear me?"

tears welled up in y/n's eyes as the crushing weight of her dreams clashed with the unrelenting aggression of her father. with a heavy heart, she turned away, ascending the creaking wooden staircase. each step felt like a reluctant retreat, a painful acknowledgment of the battle she faced, yet her spirit remained unbroken, determined to find a way to break free.

minutes stretched like hours, and just as y/n felt her world closing in, she knew she needed a breath of fresh air. she wiped her tears, her resolve steadying as she walked upstairs to her room. each step was heavy with a mix of frustration and determination.

the memory of her father's voice still lingered as she entered her room, the remnants of his anger casting a shadow over her. the evening sun had now completely disappeared, and the room was enveloped in the soft, cool glow of the moonlight. she sat on the edge of her bed, her heart still racing, her mind a whirlwind of conflicting emotions.

battling the sting of tears, she squeezed her eyes shut, her heart hammering in her chest in sync with the storm that raged outside her room. the silence that followed was deafening, an eerie hush that hung in the air like an unspoken verdict after the tempestuous trial that had just taken place.

as the echoes of her father's rage slowly faded, a muffled tap on her windowpane sliced through the heavy silence, making her jump. her heart raced, the fear of facing another confrontation gripping her. with hesitant steps, y/n approached the window, her breath held in a mixture of trepidation and intrigue.

hesitatingly, she pulled back the curtain, her eyes widening in surprise. "... yunjin?" she breathed, her voice a fragile mix of astonishment and relief as she opened the window.

outside, yunjin's presence was a burst of energy against the encroaching night, her hazel-brown hair adorned with leaves and twigs, an unexpected consequence of her journey to reach y/n. despite the makeshift forest crown, her grin was wide, bordering on awkward, as if she had been caught in the act of some secret adventure.

"hey there," yunjin greeted, her voice carrying a blend of mischief. she swiped at a stray leaf clinging to her hair, her eyes shining with anticipation as she climbed up to the room.

y/n's surprise melted into a mixture of confusion and amusement. "you're... you're at my window?" she stammered, disbelief coloring her words.

yunjin's grin widened, unabashed. "who needs doors when you've got windows, right?" she quipped, her eyes sparkling with a playful glint.

y/n laughed, the tension from earlier melting away with each chuckle. "you're something else, yunjin," she teased, her heart warming at the sight of her friend as she closed the window.

"how else would i make a grand entrance?" yunjin joked, her tone light.

the absurdity of the situation broke the tension that had enveloped the room, a laughter-inducing rupture in the gravity of the moment. y/n found herself chuckling despite herself, a warm sense of familiarity settling in.

"but seriously, how did you even get up here?" y/n asked, her curiosity piqued by the daring feat.

yunjin shrugged, her grin now tinged with a touch of sheepishness. "let's just say i navigated a few trees, a couple of branches, and maybe stumbled a bit. but here i am, unscathed." she brushed a few lingering leaves from her hair, a playful glint in her eyes.

"you're unbelievable, you know that?" y/n sighed, her voice laced with affection. she watched as yunjin patted off the small leaves on her clothes.

yunjin feigned offense, placing a hand over her heart dramatically. "unbelievably charming? i know."

y/n's laughter subsided, her gaze meeting yunjin's in a moment of unspoken connection. "maybe," she replied, a mixture of earnestness and fondness coloring her words.

the room seemed to hold its breath after their laughter subsided, an electric current of emotion buzzing between y/n and yunjin. yunjin's eyes, warm and perceptive, noticed the redness and puffiness of y/n's eyes, the traces of a struggle that was all too familiar.

"hey," yunjin began, her voice gentle, "are you okay? what happened?"

y/n swallowed hard, struggling to find the right words. she hadn't meant for yunjin to see her like this, to witness the cracks in the facade she so often wore. "it's just... family stuff," she mumbled, avoiding yunjin's gaze.

yunjin's expression transformed from concern to something more complex, a mix of emotions that flickered across her face like shadows. "y/n, you can't keep brushing things off like this. if something's wrong, you can talk to me."

y/n's heart ached at the sincerity in yunjin's words. she wished she could share everything, but the weight of her struggles felt too heavy to burden her friend with.

"i know, yunjin," y/n replied softly, her voice tinged with gratitude. "i'm just... dealing with things."

yunjin's eyes bore into y/n's, a silent plea for honesty. "is it because of your dad?"

y/n looked away, her throat tightening. "yeah," she admitted, her voice barely above a whisper.

a sudden fire ignited in yunjin's eyes, her fists clenching in a mixture of anger and protectiveness. "y/n, no one should make you feel like this. if he's hurting you, i swear i'll—"

y/n's heart swelled at yunjin's fierce loyalty, but she couldn't let her friend bear the burden of her battles. "no, yunjin, it's not like that. i promise."

yunjin's anger faded, replaced by a soft determination. "well, you don't have to go through this alone."

y/n managed a small smile through the tears. "you really care about me, huh?"

yunjin's grin was bittersweet, as if happiness and sadness were warring for dominance on her face. "of course i do, y/n. you mean everything to me."

y/n's heart skipped a beat at yunjin's heartfelt words. there was an intensity in her friend's gaze, a depth of emotion that y/n couldn't quite put her finger on. she felt a rush of warmth, a sense of being cherished that went beyond their usual friendship. but y/n quickly brushed aside the thought, unsure if she was just reading too much into things. after all, yunjin was her best friend, and their connection had always been strong.

"yeah, you're pretty amazing too," y/n replied, a genuine smile tugging at her lips.

yunjin's gaze held a thousand unspoken words as she pulled y/n into a tight embrace. y/n felt the warmth of yunjin's body, the comfort of her presence, and for a moment, everything else faded away. it was as if the world had stopped spinning just for them.

"i'm lucky to have you as my best friend," y/n said, her voice muffled against yunjin's shoulder.

yunjin held her even tighter, her embrace a mixture of happiness and aching sadness that y/n couldn't quite decipher. in that moment, y/n felt the depth of their connection, the way yunjin had been a constant in her life, a source of unwavering strength and comfort.

but as they clung to each other, yunjin's heart carried an unspoken burden. she couldn't help but wonder if y/n would ever truly understand the depth of her feelings, the silent longing she had harbored for so long. in that embrace, yunjin found both solace and a bittersweet ache, a love that remained unvoiced, an unfulfilled wish that danced in the shadow of their friendship.

though, y/n suddenly realized that something important was happening today— it was yunjin's birthday. a mixture of guilt and excitement surged within her, and she gently pulled away from their hug, a small smile playing on her lips.

"wait, yunjin," y/n said softly, her eyes lighting up with realization. she reached under her bed and retrieved a carefully wrapped package, her fingers trembling with a blend of nervousness and anticipation. "...i have something for you."

yunjin's eyes widened with surprise, a delighted curiosity dancing in her gaze. "for me?" she asked, her voice filled with genuine surprise.

y/n nodded, a shy smile gracing her lips as she extended the gift toward yunjin. "yeah. happy birthday, yunjin."

yunjin accepted the gift with a mixture of excitement and gratitude, her fingers carefully unwrapping the paper to reveal a small box beneath. her heart fluttered with a sense of anticipation, and she looked up at y/n with an affectionate smile. "you didn't have to get me anything, you know."

y/n's smile widened, but a hint of mischief danced in her eyes. "oh, but i did. you see, i spent my allowance for the month at that festival we went to last week." she chuckled, her tone light and playful.

yunjin's eyes lit up with understanding and fondness. "ah, so that's why you were so eager to try all those different foods and play all those games."

y/n's cheeks flushed with a sheepish grin. "yeah, guilty as charged. but i wanted to make your birthday special."

with a gentle laugh, yunjin opened the small box to find a delicate crochet pattern inside. her eyes widened in surprise, and she looked at y/n in awe. "is this...?"

y/n nodded, her heart racing with a blend of nervous anticipation and hope. "it's a.... i don't know, crochet guitar keychain. i mean, you love to play guitar and if i had more money i would have bought you a real one but uh... i put it together myself, though it's not flawless, but..."

yunjin's eyes brightened with a mixture of surprise and amusement. "a crochet guitar pattern? that's so uniquely thoughtful, y/n." she chuckled softly, a playful glint in her eyes. "and here i was thinking you were giving me a crash course in musical instruments."

y/n's cheeks flushed with a mixture of embarrassment and amusement. "oh gosh, no. i know you're the one with the guitar skills. i can barely strum a chord."

yunjin's laughter was warm and genuine, a melody that resonated in the room. "well, i appreciate the sentiment, really. i promise i won't hold it against you if my guitar sounds a bit... thread-like."

y/n chuckled and rolled her eyes at the pun, the tension from earlier melting away in the comfort of their easy banter. "i'm just glad you like it. i wanted to give you something meaningful."

yunjin's gaze held a soft intensity as she met y/n's eyes. "you always know how to make things meaningful, y/n. that's one of the things i admire about you."

a flush of warmth spread across y/n's cheeks, her heart fluttering at yunjin's words. "you're making me blush, yunjin."

yunjin's grin was infectious as she reached out to playfully nudge y/n's shoulder. "well, get used to it, because i'll keep saying it if i have to."

y/n rolled her eyes in mock exasperation, though her heart danced with happiness. "you're impossible."

yunjin's laughter filled the room once more, a sound that felt like a soothing melody in the midst of the night. "and you're amazing."

as their laughter subsided, a comfortable silence settled between them, punctuated by the soft rustling of leaves outside the window. y/n glanced at the crochet pattern in yunjin's hands, yunjin's fingers tracing the delicate lines.

"it's not much, yunjin," y/n said, her voice tinged with a mixture of humility and hope. "but i really hoped you'd like it."

yunjin's gaze softened as she looked at y/n. "you have no idea how much this means to me, y/n. it's not about what it is, but about the thought and effort you put into it."

y/n's smile was genuine, a reflection of the warmth she felt inside. "well, then i'm glad i put in the effort."

without warning, yunjin enveloped y/n in a tight hug, a gesture that spoke volumes about her gratitude and affection. "you're the best, you know that?"

y/n's arms instinctively wrapped around yunjin, a rush of contentment flooding her senses. "i'm just happy to see you happy, yunjin."

yunjin's heart swelled with affection as she looked at y/n, her best friend who always managed to surprise her with her thoughtfulness. "it's more than special, y/n. it's perfect."

y/n's cheeks flushed with a mixture of happiness and relief. "you really think so?"

yunjin's response was immediate and sincere. "absolutely. and you know what? i don't need anything else. this is the best birthday gift i've ever received." before y/n could say anything more, yunjin enveloped her in a tight, heartfelt hug. "thank you, y/n. i really, truly love it."

y/n's arms wrapped around yunjin, and she felt a sense of contentment settle within her. "i'm so glad you like it, yunjin."

as the moon's glow continued to weave a tapestry of light and shadows in y/n's room, yunjin's eyes sparkled with a mix of fondness and mischief. "you know, i wish i could stay over, but my parents would probably have a search party out for me by morning."

y/n laughed, the sound a melody that filled the air with a sense of ease. "yeah, you disappearing would probably cause quite a commotion."

yunjin's grin widened. "oh, definitely. i can already imagine the headlines: 'local teen vanishes, blame falls on sneaky friend.'"

y/n playfully rolled her eyes. "and who's the sneaky friend in that scenario?"

yunjin winked. "obviously, it's you. you're the one luring innocent teens into your little lair."

they shared a laugh, the familiarity of their banter a comforting embrace in itself. "well, i promise i won't keep you hostage in my lair," y/n teased. "but before you go, you better promise to bring me some of the amazing food from your birthday party tomorrow."

yunjin's expression turned thoughtful for a moment before she grinned mischievously. "deal. i'll be the delivery girl, and we can have a mini feast at lunch."

y/n's eyes lit up at the idea. "perfect. you know the way to my heart is through food."

yunjin chuckled. "noted. food it is."

y/n's smile turned soft, a mixture of warmth and affection as she looked at her friend. "yunjin, thank you for coming tonight. you made a not-so-great day so much better."

yunjin's eyes gleamed with a warmth that matched y/n's. "and thanks for best birthday gift, seriously."

their smiles held a shared understanding, a testament to the support they offered each other through life's ups and downs. "have a good night, yunjin," y/n said, her voice gentle. y/n's eyes glimmered as she met yunjin's gaze, a touch of sentiment in her smile. "and a final happy birthday, yunjin."

yunjin's heart swelled with gratitude, her emotions bubbling to the surface. "good night, y/n. and remember, if your dad is acting up again..."

yunjin's brow furrowed in concern, but before she could finish her sentence, y/n leaned in and placed a gentle kiss on her cheek. yunjin froze, her eyes widening in surprise, her cheeks turning a shade of pink that was illuminated by the moonlight filtering through the window.

y/n pulled back with a playful grin, her heart racing but her expression casual. "well, you'll know what to do."

yunjin's lips parted as if she wanted to say something, but no words came out. y/n's grin only widened, and she winked before turning to open back te window again, allowing the night breeze to flow into the room.

yunjin's voice was a mixture of flustered and amused as she finally found her words. "you... you're something else, y/n."

y/n laughed softly, her heart dancing with both nerves and satisfaction. "i'll take that as a compliment."

yunjin's gaze held a mix of emotions – surprise, happiness, and a touch of something more. "thank you for tonight, y/n. and for the unexpected second birthday gift."

as y/n watched yunjin prepare to leave through the window, she felt a sense of contentment settle within her. "anytime, yunjin. have a great night, and remember, i'll be eagerly waiting for the food tomorrow."

yunjin's smile was a luminous beam in the moonlight. "you got it. and, y/n..."

y/n raised an eyebrow, her curiosity piqued. "yes?"

yunjin hesitated for a brief moment before her smile returned, brighter than ever. "this little keychain might just be the best birthday gift i've received in my whole life."

y/n's heart skipped a beat at yunjin's words, her mind racing with a mixture of excitement and curiosity. "i'm glad you liked it," she replied, her voice soft.

yunjin's expression held a touch of playfulness as she leaned against the window frame. "oh, trust me, i loved it. though you might have caught me a bit off-guard with that kiss."

a flush of embarrassment warmed y/n's cheeks, but her grin was unapologetic. "consider it a spontaneous bonus."

yunjin's laughter was a music that danced through the night air, and her eyes held a mixture of amusement and affection as she met y/n's gaze. "you're really weird, you know that?"

y/n's grin became a bit mischievous as she gazed at yunjin. "you know, sometimes a bit of spur-of-the-moment action adds some excitement, doesn't it?"

yunjin's smile softened, her gaze holding a lingering warmth. "definitely not."

as they stood by the window, a comfortable silence settled between them, the moonlight casting a gentle glow over their faces. yunjin's mind, though still a bit flustered from the unexpected kiss, was filled with a newfound sense of determination. she couldn't ignore the fluttering feeling in her chest, the way her heart raced in y/n's presence.

she promised herself that in the near future, she would make her own move. she had cherished their friendship for so long, and now, with the added realization of her deeper feelings, yunjin knew it was time to be brave. she would let y/n know, in her own way, that the bond they shared meant more.

as their quiet moment lingered, yunjin finally spoke, her voice a blend of sincerity and anticipation. "y/n, have a wonderful night. and just so you know, if your dad gives you any trouble, don't hesitate to call me."

y/n's gaze held a soft appreciation, her heart warmed by yunjin's unwavering support. "thank you, yunjin. you're the coolest but also the weirdest friend."

before either of them could say more, y/n leaned in and planted a gentle kiss on yunjin's cheek once more. this time, yunjin didn't freeze – she felt a warmth spread from the point of contact, a sensation that lingered even after y/n pulled away.

y/n's grin was playful, her eyes dancing with mischief. "just returning the favor."

yunjin's lips parted as if she wanted to say something, but instead, she found herself lost in the moment, a blend of emotions swirling within her. she finally managed to regain her composure, her voice soft but genuine. "good night, y/n. and thank you, again, for everything."

y/n's smile was a final farewell, a promise of another day to come. "sleep well, yunjin. and happy birthday, once more."

as yunjin disappeared from the windowpane, her heart was a whirlwind of emotions – flustered from the unexpectedness of the evening, but also filled with a hopeful anticipation of what the future might hold. the small, spontaneous kiss might have been an unplanned gift, but it had ignited a spark within her.

with a contented sigh, yunjin carried the memory of that night with her, knowing that her feelings for y/n were something to be cherished and explored, even if it meant stepping into uncharted territory. and as she made her way home, the stars overhead seemed to twinkle with their own sense of excitement, as if the universe itself was rooting for them.

as yunjin walked away from y/n's house, her heart was all over the place. she couldn't help but replay the whole evening in her head like a movie – the surprise kiss, y/n's eyes, and their silly banter. it was like a rom-com but with her and y/n as the lead character.

"i mean, seriously," she mumbled to herself, "who would've thought a little cheek kiss could send my heart into overdrive like this?"

she kicked a pebble along the path, trying to sort out her jumbled thoughts. her feelings for y/n were a mess, like a puzzle missing a few pieces. okay, maybe a lot of pieces. and she had no clue how to put them together.

"love? seriously, yunjin?" she shook her head, feeling a mixture of excitement and anxiety. "you're like the cheesy protagonist in one of those teen dramas, pining after your best friend. classic."

staring up at the stars, yunjin couldn't help but chuckle. "and now i'm having a heart-to-heart with the universe. great, just great."

but as the stars twinkled above, a strange sense of comfort washed over her. it was like they were in on the secret, like they knew something she didn't. or maybe she was just imagining things. who knew?

with a determined grin, she straightened her posture. "well, universe, i guess i'm ready for this mess. whatever it is."

walking home, she couldn't shake the dorky smile that tugged at her lips. she might not have all the answers, but she was ready to figure them out – even if it meant stumbling through a few more awkward moments and heartfelt confessions. after all, that was the messy beauty of falling in love, right?

#fanfic #kpop fanfic #kpop gg #kpop gg x reader #kpop x reader #kpop #kpop x female reader #wlw fanfic #huh yunjin #huh yunjin x reader #huh yunjin x female reader #le sserafim #le sserafim x reader

[blessedarethebinarybreakers]

Not sure if this is the right place to ask this but I gotta start somewhere. I've been learning a lot about indigenous history and activism as I work on deconstruction, and a sentiment I come across a lot is bitterness towards Christianity. I cannot emphasize enough how much I fully understand. The rough bit is that sometimes when I read their work, I get the implication that there's nothing worth saving in the Church/Christianity- that to hold on to it is to hold on to all the colonialism and white supremacy and yuck.

As a disabled trans Christian, I get that, but it still hurts. I love God and am a Christian despite everything. I want to be an ally to indigenous people, but I want to follow God this way too. I know those aren't mutually exclusive, but it feels that way sometimes. Do you have any insight for me to find peace in this regard?

Thank you.

Hey there, thanks for the question, sorry for the delay!

This is something I've also wrestled with — a question I ask myself over and over, and probably always will. I cannot offer you peace, because as Jeremiah 6:14 says, "There is no peace!" — not while our faith continues to be wielded as a weapon against so many peoples. What I can offer you are some of the thoughts that have allowed me to continue to be Christian with hope that this faith can be better than what it's long been misused for, and the resolve to do my part to make it so.

First, that Christianity isn't unique in being co-opted by colonialist powers.

Any belief system can be twisted for violence, and many have been. If Christianity didn't exist, white supremacy still would — colonialist powers would have found a different belief system to twist into justifying their evils.

That absolutely does not absolve us from reckoning with the evils that have been done in Christianity's name! This isn't about shutting down critiques of Christianity with "uh well it could have been any religion" — as things played out, Christianity is the religion responsible for so much harm, and we need to acknowledge that and listen to groups who tell us how we can make some form of reparations.

But for me at least, there is some comfort in understanding that Christianity isn't, like, inherently evil or something. Recognizing that it isn't unique even in its flaws helps me look at the problem with clearer eyes, rather than wallowing in guilt and shame, if that makes sense.

Next, that there are Indigenous Christians, and Black Christians, and other Christians of color — that oppressed peoples have found things worth cultivating within Christianity! If they can find something worthwhile in this faith, it would be arrogance for me to deny it.

For instance, even when white slaveholders edited Bibles to remove too much discussion of liberation, even when white preachers emphasized verses about slaves being obedient to their masters, many enslaved people recognized how Christian faith actually affirms their equality and the holiness of their desire for liberation.

Black Theologian Howard Thurman opens his 1949 book Jesus and the Disinherited with a question asked to him by a Hindu man who knew the harms white Christianity had done to both their peoples: “How can you, a black man, be Christian?” The long and short of Thurman’s answer is that, in spite of the pain and exploitation too often inflicted by Christians in positions of power, the oppressed have always been able to see past that misuse of the Christian message to the true message lived out by Jesus Christ: a message of liberation for all.

For more thoughts on why and how to keep being Christian in spite, in spite, in spite...I invite you to look through my #why we stay tag.

___

How I wish that Christianity had never gotten tangled up in Empire! but it did, and it still is, and because for good or ill I cannot help that my spirit is stubbornly drawn towards the Triune understanding of the Divine, the best I can do is to use my privilege and what small influence I have within Christian institutions to move us towards decolonization. What some of that's looked like on the level of my personal beliefs:

I am firmly against any form of proselytizing. I don't support evangelism financially, I speak out against it, I don't platform it. (If someone wants to hear about my faith, they'll come to me — I don't run after them. And if someone does want to have that conversation, I aim to make it a dialogue, where we are learning from each other.)

I continuously work to recognize and uproot Christian supremacy within myself — the beliefs I didn't even realize where there until I started digging. That has included challenging any inkling within myself that Christianity is the "best" or "most right" religion. (One book that's helped a lot with that is Holy Envy by Barbara Brown Taylor.)

I seek wisdom from and relationship with Christians of color. Their insights are vital to our faith, and I try to use what small influence I have to uplift them.

On that last note, here are some resources I recommend as you continue to explore these questions:

This First Nations Version of the Christian Bible is gorgeously written, and a great way to explore scripture through a Native lens.

Native by Kaitlin B. Curtice is a lovely poetic memoir that explores how one person has sought to hold both her Christian faith and Potawatomi identity within herself. (She also has a new book out that I haven't read yet but really want to!)

God is Red: A Native View of Religion by Vine Deloria Jr.

Rescuing the Gospel from the Cowboys by Richard Twiss

I haven't read any of these 4 books but they look good too

This video with advice to non-Indigenous Christians

If anyone has any resources to add, please do!

#why we stay #issues in christianity