On Pokemon Go & Being Trans
On Friday I posted my usual transy column, which was about why Pokemon Go gives me a reason to go outside and face transmisogyny from the world. You can read it here. Over the weekend, I had a couple experiences that reinforced this:
+ I spent Saturday night at my good friend @soidanae‘s place, because bedbugs have kicked me out of my apartment for several weeks. We said our goodbyes on Sunday morning, and I left to go find a bus home, booting up the game as I left. I stood under a grocery store awning to see my screen better, sizing up the neighborhood’s gym situation. While I stood there, a large masculine fellow exited the store and addressed me with an obviously suggestive “How you doin’.” I suspected being polite but quietly dismissive was the best path forward, so I said “Hi,” and looked back down at my screen. He stopped. “OH! That’s a dude,” he said, no longer addressing me but speaking in a normal voice from five feet away. “Shit,” he marveled, and continued walking.
Significantly more anxious and sad than I had been a few minutes before, I left the “safety” of the awning’s shade and chased down a lure that had just dropped by a church. It yielded a Gastly, which I considered to be of religious significance. I then met several pleasant folks who were also camping out there, and talked strategy. My spirits quickly recharged, and I proceeded to my bus feeling more confident in humanity.
+ Later that evening, before heading over to another friend’s to crash, I strolled over to another lure in my neighborhood. There’s a nice ledge on which to sit right outside the PokeStop, so I sat down and waited for the ‘mons to roll in. A few Caterpies later, I heard a shriek from the two girls sitting ten feet away, also waiting on things to catch. “It’s BACK!” cried the younger of the pair. “Ponyta’s back!”
Eager to up my candy count, I abandoned the lure and followed them in search of my beloved infernohorse. I caught up with them and we began our hunt together, each of our enthusiasm levels compounded by the presence of the other two. Unfortunately, Ponyta decided to spawn directly under a PokeStop, making the capture difficult--but not impossible. I managed it quickly, but the girls took longer...which prompted the elder to remark “he got it.”
Suddenly, I felt deflated. Our adventure was no longer three girls going pony-hunting, but a boy with tits accompanying two young ladies. They were nice, still, and I excused myself soon after rather than press the issue and out myself.
My column is partially correct, still; Pokemon Go makes these little injuries into acceptable losses. I still want to level up and expand my team so everyone in the neighborhood knows that trans girl on Team Mystic (my tag is Transamus so it’s pretty obvious) is a force to be reckoned with. But the hurt’s still there, and even the siren song of my favorite video game franchise doesn’t make it better.
blakekathryn
kianamaiart
titsay
germansingergirl
pixelskylines
turnnoffyourmind
prguitarman
stormborns
