They deserve it. It seems like so many transphobes only want to recognize the existence of detransitioners to use them as a transphobic tool to support their close-minded worldview.
It honestly must be very scary for pro-trans detransitioners to speak on their experiences. They’ll get right-wing asshats pulling a “told you so” on them and also those same righties attempting to use them to push an agenda.
Not only that, but we need to support them. Going through detransition, even not considering the social issues that one might have in doing that, is a really tough thing, and I think we should acknowledge it.
Everyone should be completely free to explore their gender and sexuality as they see fit. Questioning one’s situation should be seen as good. And if in the end of that questioning the answer is “I’m cis” or “I’m straight” then that’s totally fine too. And shouldn’t be seen as a problem. It doesn’t mean queer identities are invalid.
There’s also the fact that many detransitioners do so because of social for familial pressure, not because they aren’t actually trans. If you come out as trans, and your entire family and friend group decided to shun you, or your work isn’t supportive, etc., and you face massive amounts of hate and ostracism, you might decide that going back into the closet is the way to go so you don’t have to deal with that.
It’s all a nightmare of a situation that shouldn’t have to exist
I also heard that some people detransition after finding out they are nonbinary. One of my high school teachers has a friend who is a trans woman who stopped taking hormones because it changed her body more than she was comfortable with. I wouldn’t be surprised if there are detransitioners who detransition because they realize that medical transitioning wasn’t right for them.
And that’s not really “de” it’s just stopping where you’re comfortable at. Which is exactly what everyone should be doing anyway. “De” implies feeling like you completely made a mistake and want to undo what was done, simply stopping hormones doesn’t necessarily accomplish that and non-binary is a totally valid identity
It makes me so sad that so many detransitioners are being used as “proof” that trans people aren’t valid or that it’s an agenda
It really strikes me as odd that some people think “transition wasn’t right for me, so therefore, it’s right for nobody!” is a valid argument.
I’d go as far to say that I find it so hard to believe that this argument is upheld in good faith to a point where I think most people who assert it know it makes no sense but feel the need to grasp at any straws they can to be transphobic.
It’s almost as if something called a “case-by-case basis” exists, but these people refuse to acknowledge it.
I even brought up the amount of satisfied post-transition trans people with my grandfather who has an obsession with sending me articles by transphobic detransitioners (so he can use the whole “take it from someone who actually did it: transition is wrong!” argument), to which he responds:
Any trans person who says their satisfied with their lives post-transition is “lying” to not get targeted by the “liberal media”.
What gets me the most about people like my grandparents is that he simultaneously believes that transphobes like him are a silent majority to a point where he argues that everyone “secretly” agrees with his views on trans people, but he also wants to showcase a victim complex saying that people with his views are massively shunned by society when he expresses said views.
Make it make sense.
Yeah, it’s like it was with the abortion debate too. These people don’t care about de-tranisitioners. They use them as political pawns, and it’s gross.
Agreed. I have not seen this discussed very much.
Absolutely. Personal identity is a journey and you never know if you’re at your final destination.
It’s so sad how it’s used as a tool by transphobes. Arguably worse, is that creates an environment where people are scared to acknowledge it in fear of being invalidated.
The best thing we can do is continue to build positivity and support for people, wherever their journey takes them.
The anti trans detransitioners are just repackaging anti choice arguments.
