I think something Else that's relevant to the conversation about trans viktor art (and gnc trans masc art in general), is that there has been a Very Long history of gnc trans men being put down as not being Real. visible hips, long hair, dresses, make up, colorful hair, colorful clothes, etc being presented as traits that make trans mascs not Count as "real men"
visible gender nonconformity has Never been respected, full stop. there are some spaces where it's more common, because there are more trans and queer people in those spaces. but there has never been a reality where visibly feminine men or visibly masculine women are the norm.
and this only gets more complicated in trans spaces. because Yes, it IS a stereotype for trans people to be visibly gnc. this fact IS used to degrade, other, and fetishize us. it's Also true that many trans people Are gnc, and they embrace these traits While Knowing how they're seen because of them.
many gnc trans people find joy in their presentation Because they don't have access to transition. and many gnc trans people who DO transition are faced with open contempt and disgust because of it. their presentation not "passing," either by circumstance or choice or both, putting a target on their back.
and these trans people who can't conform or wouldn't be happy doing so have historically been scapegoated. treated with contempt even from within trans spaces because people are afraid of Being them. of being seen as lesser than, of being mocked or fetishized or othered out of association.
so often times when many young trans people latch on to characters with visibly gnc traits, men with hips or women with shoulders, it's not because of stereotypes they believe in but because they're TREATED like walking stereotypes.
people flock to these depictions of feminine trans mascs or masculine trans fems or trans neutral people who break boxes Because there IS so much negativity pointed at these presentations. because it IS difficult to find spaces that treat them with respect and dignity.
so ! when we have situations where visibly gnc characters are popularly depicted as trans, followed by the Backlash where it's insisted that that's bigoted because it's clearly a transphobic stereotype, it's Uncomfortable.
the underlying assumption is that it's only popular to depict viktor as trans, with visible hips or long hair or in dresses, because people don't Really see people with those traits as men. or don't see trans men as being "Real" men.
and this response is a defense mechanism, people who've experienced transphobia being (Understandably) hyper-vigilant. but it's still ultimately harmful towards gnc trans people.
there's Also a reason why people seek out trans characters who look like Them. to find euphoria and joy in Their traits being treated as desirable, being treated with respect, being depicted to be Loved, not mocked. and it's deeply disappointing that whenever gnc trans people Try to be visible, this backlash always follows.
gender nonconformity shouldn't be treated as a litmus test for bigotry and fetishization. All trans presentations Can be fetishized and demonized and mocked, because transphobes are transphobic. what matters is the Intent behind the depiction, and if you assume intent based on a trans character's presentation that Says Something about that presentation.
there Should be more (and more Varied) trans rep, more body types and more skin types and more presentations. but there shouldn't be LESS of any particular trans rep either. there shouldn't be LESS gender nonconformity.
bigots don't want trans people to be gender conforming Or gender nonconforming. they don't want trans people of Any body type or any presentation, because they don't want trans people to exist At All.
that's why All honest depictions of trans people are important. there is no version of trans people that are over represented, because there will always be trans people who feel seen and loved Because of that representation.
we need to Unclench and let trans characters be non-conforming, because non-conforming trans people deserve to be visible Period.
I want to close this off by sharing the story of another creator, who leaned into this kind of othering from within trans spaces and learned from it [Link]
