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Performative Activism Isn’t Good Enough to Save Trans Lives — And We Are Running Out of Time
If you only support passing trans people, you don’t support trans people. The ONLY way to genuinely support trans people is by supporting our self-determination and autonomy. Only supporting trans people you “believe are trans” isn’t good enough, and excludes our most vulnerable.
There can be no arbitrator of who is “trans enough” that will not cause incredible harm.
This is also why the subject of what defines transness or what “causes” it must be approached with incredible caution. I personally truly believe there is a biological basis behind the trans experience. Any research done upon this basis will almost certainly be used for eugenics.
The only way true allyship to trans people can come about is to simply accept that trans people exist, believe our experiences, and give up your desire to understand the why.
Whether biologically, socially, culturally, etc, you must actively disenfranchise the part of your psyche that wants to evaluate whether someone else is “trans enough” to merit your protection, or your trans activism and allyship will only protect those you deem valid.
This seems simple enough until it’s applied. In real life, this task is quite difficult. Yes, you support trans…