#anti-gatekeeping

[womensrightsstegosaurus]

Good morning

This is your daily reminded that bigotry, terfery, queerphobia, racism, sexism, gatekeeping, plague-rattery and general awfulness to people who don't deserve it makes the perpetrator subhuman scum. If they wish to be considered a person, they must renounce these beliefs and those behaviours.* For everyone who has ever been affected by such behaviours, I really hope you have a great day, and that people like that never even look in your direction again. You deserve so much better than that, and know that the majority of everyone not only likes you, but is here for you. *This does not include "bigotry" against pedophiles, incest-positive people or people who genuinely do awful things. Go after them as much as you want

[shoelace-and-friends]

Some gatekeeper's mom somewhere: *On the verge of tears* Honey, PLEASE. I've checked eight times. There are NO cishet aces hiding under your bed. Can you let your father and I go back to bed now?

Gatekeeper: ...But were there trenders?

[rotationalsymmetry]

Nobody asked me, but I would define disability very broadly.

Mental illness? Of course.

Learning disability or intellectual disability? It’s in the name.

Infertility? It’s keeping you from doing something that’s important to you that “normal” people can do, right? It’s a disability.

Near-sightedness? A disability that is surprisingly well accommodated in the modern world.

Now, of course needing corrective lenses is completely different than, say, my “I used to be able to work” CFS. But that’s OK. Whatever that thing is that makes me run late even when I’m trying really hard and that means I tend to have unopened mail from six months ago (probably ADHD but who knows), is also very different from my CFS. And my CFS is very different from anything that involves needing full time wheelchair use, or being blind, or any number of other disabilities. Disabilities are very different from each other and can vary dramatically in terms of impairment and social stigma.

Someone with one type of disability not having any automatic insight into what it’s like to have other types of disabilities, is normal and part of how this thing works. Cross-disability advocates have to work hard to learn about each other’s issues.

At least in the US, the ADA considers disfigurement to be in the same category as disability and it’s legally protected (you can’t refuse to hire or promote someone because they have facial scarring or are missing a hand but can still do their job), even though disfigurement isn’t necessarily an impairment at all. The way people react to it is enough to make it a disability.

Pregnancy, while often a good thing, is also a disability in the broad sense, because it can mess with your ability to do things and because people can be ableist jerks about it at work etc. So calling something a disability doesn’t even mean you think it’s a bad thing that you wish you didn’t have — it is something that involves impairment and/or can be a reason people discriminate against you.

So saying ADHD and autism fall under disability, doesn’t automatically mean saying they’re bad or wanting a cure.

Something something “social model of disability” something something: most people can’t easily climb 12 flights of stairs at one time, so large buildings have elevators, but most people can easily climb one flight of stairs, so most single family houses and many businesses do have a single flight of stairs (or a couple steps) that’s the only entrance. Most of the modern world is constructed around some people’s needs and not others, and it doesn’t have to be this way.

(I’m still relatively new to all this, so there may well be some important concepts I’m missing.)

Anyways: people whose disability has a relatively low impact on their lives are still disabled. People whose disability is central to their lives and the way they interact with other people, are still people.

[radical-love-outreach]

Looking For Mods/Contributers!

If you are an a trans individual who regularly addresses anti-trans discourse online (or would like to), an ex-terf, or in general any person who's life journey has carried them all the way from transphobic beliefs to trans allyship or activism - please consider applying!

-What is our mission?

To provided a space specifically for de-radicalization and for education on the every day reality of trans identity and issues. We want to create a place where questions can be answered and connections can be made. A place that is a refuge from the toxic echo chamber that can be radfem discourse, where hate and misinformation is perpetuated... Our idea is similar in tone to Life After Hate which provides similar spaces for the de-radicalization of white nationalists.

- What is your role?

We are all born ignorant and will remain ignorant in many areas until the day we leave this world. However! That just means we are perpetual Learners.

Your role as a mod is to guide that learning process as it pertains to trans identity and lgbt+ activism.

You will help answer questions, comments, and messages addressed to our group's blog. However, no mod will be made to answer a question, comment, or message that they do not wish to.

As may be expected - fascilitating a page filled with "discourse" will likely mean many comments (and etc.) that are written unkindly or with inflammatory purpose. Each mod will have the chance to address any one of these comments should they like to... And should no one like to, that particular person will simply have their question or comment ignored until they can re-phrase it less antagonistically. As mods, you are human beings volunteering your time and emotional energy - and as such you will only ever be asked to expend as much as you are willing.

- Time Commitment?

Only as much as you would like. Because of the emotional nature of outreach we prefer quality over quantity. Please do not feel that applying will require you to exhaust yourself or your patience. You are free to tackle comments and questions anytime you are charged and ready to go!

- Requirements?

There are no experience requirements. If you've never tried engaging with people over lgbt+ topics, discourse, or outreach - that's okay! What we need are people capable of tackling heated debates with necessary candor and information. We hope all our mods have different backgrounds so as to tackle the issues presented from multiple perspectives.

However, for the purposes of not "thowing" other identities "under the bus" in order to try and make complicated truths more simple we are asking that each mod be supportive (not necessarily knowlegeable) of:

Lgbtqia+ / Mogai identities

Gender Non-dysphoric and Euphoric experiences

Neo-pronouns and singular they

Nonbinary identities, including indiginous divisions of gender

Aspec (ace and aromantic identities) (which, yes, is included with the first bulletin but just needs to be re-enphasized)

Intersex folk both trans and cis.

As well as understand that language and labels are complex, and people's relationships to them are complex - and people's internal experiences are complex... In the process of trying to break down the main barriers to transphobia we wish to do so hollistically and without excluding other queer people's lives.

What we need most is a mod with an open mind willing to ask questions about terms or labels they may not understand without making assumptions and escalating personal ire against their peers. (As that's how a lot of transphobes got to where they are to begin with - by grudges maintained by assumption). We are looking to be a cooperative, philosophical, and gentle group. ❤

Please reblog to help get our project out there and consider applying!

(Update: please apply via commenting on this post. Or if you are shy you can still send us an Ask. Thank you!)

[babbles-of-the-bicorn]

List of questions to ask yourself when you are questioning your gender or gender presentation: NOTE! YOU DO NOT HAVE TO ANSWER ANY NUMBER OF THESE A SPECIFIC WAY FOR YOUR IDENTITY TO BE VALID I JUST THINK THEY MIGHT BE HELPFUL TO MYSELF AND OTHERS TO ORGANIZE OUR THOUGHTS AND PREFERENCES! DONT EVEN THINK ABOUT GATEKEEPING ON MY POST!

Try to answer these questions honestly and only for yourself — your friends and family don’t get to have a say in these questions.

Am I uncomfortable with certain parts/aspects of my body, face, hair, or voice? If so, which ones? Am I consistently uncomfortable with these things or is it only sometimes? If I am not uncomfortable per se, is there some way I would prefer these parts of myself to be that would make me much happier?

What is my ideal mode of dress? What styles and types of clothing do I think are cool? What functions do I want my clothes to serve? Do I need or want to update my wardrobe so that it reflects my preferences?

Am I completely comfortable with people using the name and pronouns I have now/ were given at birth? Would I be comfortable if they used a different name/pronouns? Would I be equally comfortable, more comfortable, or less comfortable with different pronouns or a different name? Why?

Is there a specific label that resonates with me? Are there labels that don’t? (it’s okay if you don’t like any labels by the way)

Please add more if you see this post!

[yessoupy]

Am I the Wrong Kind of Gay? - Arc Digital

Hell no. Nobody is the wrong kind of gay.

A very nice counter to the awful TNR piece from yesterday

[sjbattleangel]

Shout-Out and Signal Boast

Attention all lovers of fantasy, whimsy, comedy, social justice and imagination! Yes, that means you as well, my lovely munchkins: @emi-wayne-blr @readingnerd22​ @afrlbatgirl @in-vino-veritas-in-aqua-sanitas @dianarox22 @naughtybodypillow​ @notmaryread @marisamaribel @valtharr @hopeful-sprinkles @butterflyblew1986 @between-stars-and-waves @xmistresstitaniax @paulsebert​ @blackbolt56​ @fire3quackers​ @davincishell​ @echo-adler​ and many others. This my pal, the one and only “Wizard of Snark!”

My dear Wiz is an aspiring reviewer, content creator and comedian who wants to bring fun and positivity in the Nerdsphere through his reviews and other content while defending it against those who want to plunge it into complete darkness. (i.e. the bigots of Comics/Gamergate) However, if he’s going to do all those wonderful things, he needs the money to make more content and have a safe wellbeing.  So please, toss a coin to your Wizard, oh valley of plenty..

https://www.patreon.com/guardiansofwhimsy

[shoelace-and-friends]

13 Pillars of Truscum ideology:

1. High-level misogyny 

2. Adopting toxic masculinity for approval (if transmasc) 

3. Strong self-hatred that is taken out on others

4. Self-worth that is mainly reliant on cisgender approval

5. Lack of experience in LGBT+ spaces outside of the internet 

6. Conservative views that have not been fully unlearned from the environment that they grew up in 

7. Clinging onto traditional gender roles and following them to the letter; rules are more lax for cis people

8. Racism and ableism *There are poc and disabled truscum, but they are in the minority

9. Exorsexism by the majority 

10.  Reliance on false, outdated science while rejecting newer research and information 

11. Hostility towards people who are questioning their gender identity 

12.  Treatment and level of respect towards others based on how well the  person passes 

13. A willingness to tolerate oppression or even copy bigoted rhetoric from more privileged peers (transphobia from cis, racism from whites, ableism from ableists, etc) for the sake of gaining approval