The error-ridden "WPATH Files" spend 37,000 words telling you what to think. Nowhere is this more obvious than where the authors experience dismay over "suspicious" happiness of trans people.
Erin - your deep analysis and exposure of errors and misrepresentations in the WPATH files is, of course, deeply appreciated by all trans people and their allies, friends and family!
"Despite the suspicion and almost mocking portrayal of the joy gender transition provides to transgender individuals, those who oppose our care will consistently find that our happiness is enduring."
Thank you, Erin. I can't imagine a better way to say it.
My transition was the best decision of my life. My confidence and happiness as a trans man cannot be extinguished. We'll always fight to thrive.
Interesting that even though i was first introduced to the concept of 'happiness that cannot be extinguished' when i identified as a Christian, I never actually experienced it until I realised I was trans (I haven't even done anything apart from socially transition ONLINE)
I sometimes find myself thinking that reason the religiously (especially Christian right) motivated kind of transphobe feels the way they do is simple jealousy that a trans person can find the same simple joy of being in themselves that they need to rely on Jesus for.
Best of luck if there are further steps you want to take, but above all be safe.
Best thing I ever embraced in my life, man. I've had many happy moments in my life, but this one topped the cake by a long shot. The only regret I have is how messed-up people are about it. That's not even a regret, because I couldn't be happier about myself. Wishing you well, sir!
I transitioned in 1993. Something I've often heard is, "Oh! I just can't imagine doing that!".
The problem being that, because they are not trans, they can't relate to it in any way, and, to them, if they can't relate to it, anyone who does must be crazy.
All too often the background in their minds when they are trying to, "figure it out", is a comparative study. Using their own feelings as "normal".
People like that simply can't imagine others having distinctly different feelings and experiences....
> People like that simply can't imagine others having distinctly different feelings and experiences....
That's exactly it.
Early in my transition, I used to describe my pre-transition existence as being half of a life. Now I realize that was vastly understating it. It's not just that transitioning relieves dysphoria; it's that it allows you to live your life honestly [*]. Something that the transphobes will never understand.
[*] As KingRay says in reply, "authentically" might be better wording.
I'd rather say 'authentically'. I honestly didn't know until I knew, and after fighting it for 4 years. What would've been dishonest was continue to live the life of a woman when I KNEW I was a man.
This is the crux. Unhappy people who strictly deprive themselves of all opportunities for authentic joy can't stand trans people's freedom and happiness. If they weren't making so much trouble, I'd feel bad for them.
Thank you Erin for your personal testimony. I appreciate all the mentoring you have provided me but I am especially moved and grateful for your clarity.
I'm also ready and willing to be your mom, Michele. And that also goes for anyone out there who needs one. I'm so so incredibly proud of my son for coming out to me at age 16, for staying strong, for continuing to be authentically himself in a world that would much rather him hide. Stay strong, y'all.
Michele, I'm your mom now and I'm SO PROUD OF YOU!! You keep living as you because you deserve to be happy and the world needs that light shining inside you. I'm sending you a huge hug and cheering you on!!!
My egg cracked after watching Barbie (2023), which lifted the remaining batch of gender-related trauma I had which made me evaluate my lot in life and made me want to be a woman.
Right?! They're trying so hard to play the game, but they just can't seem to wrap their shriveled little minds around the idea that the "skirt go spinny" card can beat the "ban your healthcare" card. What did they think trans folks did to affirm ourselves before modern medicine caught up with us?
...𝘶𝘮. Way to miss the point by landing on it, y'all!
I mean, forgive me for the bold leap of logic here, but "being happy" seems an awful lot to me like "an improvement in 'actual life situations.'" Exactly like, in point of fact. Shocking, perhaps, to a conservative who thinks that misery is the natural human condition, but it's true: being happy 𝘪𝘴 pretty widely regarded as being better than 𝘯𝘰𝘵 being happy. Being happy, I find, improves 𝘮𝘰𝘴𝘵 life situations. Perhaps they'd understand that if they tried it once in a while.
"Nowhere is this more obvious than where the authors experience dismay over "suspicious" happiness of trans people." <-- Now that's some grade A cognitive dissonance on their part right there! DAMN!
This is fanaticism: I know better than you and I must save you from yourselves, at any cost. See many examples such as the Crusades, Protestants vs Catholics in Europe. Nothing deters fanaticism, everything a fanatic finds is just further proof. E.g. if they say they're all so happy, then that is suspicious.
They claim we're a cult, but we have no religious leader. It is they who act like fanatics.
I’d be even happier if they stopped trying to ban my healthcare
If we're unhappy then it means we regret transitioning. If we're happy then it means we're not being authentic. There's no way to win.
Because both scenarios mean we exist, which bothers their fragile minds.
Absurd!
You can't win.
You can't win by cheating.
You're not allowed to quit.
Erin - your deep analysis and exposure of errors and misrepresentations in the WPATH files is, of course, deeply appreciated by all trans people and their allies, friends and family!
"Despite the suspicion and almost mocking portrayal of the joy gender transition provides to transgender individuals, those who oppose our care will consistently find that our happiness is enduring."
Thank you, Erin. I can't imagine a better way to say it.
My transition was the best decision of my life. My confidence and happiness as a trans man cannot be extinguished. We'll always fight to thrive.
Interesting that even though i was first introduced to the concept of 'happiness that cannot be extinguished' when i identified as a Christian, I never actually experienced it until I realised I was trans (I haven't even done anything apart from socially transition ONLINE)
I sometimes find myself thinking that reason the religiously (especially Christian right) motivated kind of transphobe feels the way they do is simple jealousy that a trans person can find the same simple joy of being in themselves that they need to rely on Jesus for.
Best of luck if there are further steps you want to take, but above all be safe.
I hope your happiness and comfort continue. Your journey is unique and your own. 👍🤝
Best thing I ever embraced in my life, man. I've had many happy moments in my life, but this one topped the cake by a long shot. The only regret I have is how messed-up people are about it. That's not even a regret, because I couldn't be happier about myself. Wishing you well, sir!
It says a lot about people when they treat my happiness as if it's wrong or immaterial.
I transitioned in 1993. Something I've often heard is, "Oh! I just can't imagine doing that!".
The problem being that, because they are not trans, they can't relate to it in any way, and, to them, if they can't relate to it, anyone who does must be crazy.
All too often the background in their minds when they are trying to, "figure it out", is a comparative study. Using their own feelings as "normal".
People like that simply can't imagine others having distinctly different feelings and experiences....
-weezi-🙏💖🙏💜🙏🌄
> People like that simply can't imagine others having distinctly different feelings and experiences....
That's exactly it.
Early in my transition, I used to describe my pre-transition existence as being half of a life. Now I realize that was vastly understating it. It's not just that transitioning relieves dysphoria; it's that it allows you to live your life honestly [*]. Something that the transphobes will never understand.
[*] As KingRay says in reply, "authentically" might be better wording.
I'd rather say 'authentically'. I honestly didn't know until I knew, and after fighting it for 4 years. What would've been dishonest was continue to live the life of a woman when I KNEW I was a man.
"Why can't they just be unhappy like me." - Transphobes
This is the crux. Unhappy people who strictly deprive themselves of all opportunities for authentic joy can't stand trans people's freedom and happiness. If they weren't making so much trouble, I'd feel bad for them.
Thank you Erin for your personal testimony. I appreciate all the mentoring you have provided me but I am especially moved and grateful for your clarity.
I'm also ready and willing to be your mom, Michele. And that also goes for anyone out there who needs one. I'm so so incredibly proud of my son for coming out to me at age 16, for staying strong, for continuing to be authentically himself in a world that would much rather him hide. Stay strong, y'all.
Michele, I'm your mom now and I'm SO PROUD OF YOU!! You keep living as you because you deserve to be happy and the world needs that light shining inside you. I'm sending you a huge hug and cheering you on!!!
As far as being trans goes I am really fucking happy!
My egg started to crack during Trump, but I couldn't admit it until COVID. Loosing family is still the hardest part, no regrets though.
My egg cracked after watching Barbie (2023), which lifted the remaining batch of gender-related trauma I had which made me evaluate my lot in life and made me want to be a woman.
The line "why won't they just be unhappy" made me laugh out loud 🤣
Right?! They're trying so hard to play the game, but they just can't seem to wrap their shriveled little minds around the idea that the "skirt go spinny" card can beat the "ban your healthcare" card. What did they think trans folks did to affirm ourselves before modern medicine caught up with us?
Me, too.
"...𝘵𝘩𝘦 𝘮𝘢𝘫𝘰𝘳𝘪𝘵𝘺 𝘰𝘧 𝘱𝘢𝘳𝘵𝘪𝘤𝘪𝘱𝘢𝘯𝘵𝘴 𝘳𝘦𝘱𝘰𝘳𝘵𝘦𝘥 𝘣𝘦𝘪𝘯𝘨 𝘩𝘢𝘱𝘱𝘺 𝘢𝘯𝘥 𝘧𝘦𝘦𝘭𝘪𝘯𝘨 𝘯𝘰 𝘳𝘦𝘨𝘳𝘦𝘵 𝘥𝘦𝘴𝘱𝘪𝘵𝘦 𝘳𝘦𝘴𝘦𝘢𝘳𝘤𝘩𝘦𝘳𝘴 𝘯𝘰𝘵𝘪𝘯𝘨 𝘵𝘩𝘢𝘵 𝘪𝘮𝘱𝘳𝘰𝘷𝘦𝘮𝘦𝘯𝘵 𝘪𝘯 “𝘢𝘤𝘵𝘶𝘢𝘭 𝘭𝘪𝘧𝘦 𝘴𝘪𝘵𝘶𝘢𝘵𝘪𝘰𝘯𝘴 [𝘸𝘢𝘴] 𝘯𝘰𝘵 𝘢𝘭𝘸𝘢𝘺𝘴 𝘰𝘣𝘴𝘦𝘳𝘷𝘦𝘥.”"
...𝘶𝘮. Way to miss the point by landing on it, y'all!
I mean, forgive me for the bold leap of logic here, but "being happy" seems an awful lot to me like "an improvement in 'actual life situations.'" Exactly like, in point of fact. Shocking, perhaps, to a conservative who thinks that misery is the natural human condition, but it's true: being happy 𝘪𝘴 pretty widely regarded as being better than 𝘯𝘰𝘵 being happy. Being happy, I find, improves 𝘮𝘰𝘴𝘵 life situations. Perhaps they'd understand that if they tried it once in a while.
I’m definitely happier & would be even happier if they stopped coming after us.
"Nowhere is this more obvious than where the authors experience dismay over "suspicious" happiness of trans people." <-- Now that's some grade A cognitive dissonance on their part right there! DAMN!
That should go in as a textbook example of it.
No. 1 it should prove bias on behalf of the authors of the study.
Thank you, Erin, for all you’re doing. And thank you for sharing your own experience as well.
This is fanaticism: I know better than you and I must save you from yourselves, at any cost. See many examples such as the Crusades, Protestants vs Catholics in Europe. Nothing deters fanaticism, everything a fanatic finds is just further proof. E.g. if they say they're all so happy, then that is suspicious.
They claim we're a cult, but we have no religious leader. It is they who act like fanatics.