I Totally Need a Real Title |
Somewhat unfocused ramblings |
“So I hear the T word from supposed allies. And of course, one can always hear it from haters. But I also hear it from other trans people, particularly other trans men. And that pisses me off.
Look, as a self-identified fag, I am all about reclaimed language. Taking a brutal slur and wearing it like a badge of honor is an act of tremendous power. I absolutely encourage all those who have been burned by the T word in the past to go ahead and brand themselves with it if they desire. So no, it’s not reclaimed hate-words that I have a problem with. My problem is with some of the people who think they have a right to the word ‘tranny’ at all.
Let’s clear one thing up right now: while “tranny” is undoubtedly a transphobic slur, it has not been applied to all trans people equally. As I have said before in this column, it is a word that has been primarily used against trans women, drag queens, and other male-assigned people who present in female or feminine ways. It is just not used in an equivalent way against trans male types.
I’m not saying trans guys never get called “tranny;” I did, once. It was last year at Pride, by somebody so drunk that it’s possible she thought that I was a trans woman. Incidentally, this year at Pride, two cis female friends of mine got called “fat tranny bitches” by an equally inebriated individual. (What is it with obnoxious drunks and the t-bomb?)
It’s sort of like a straight boy being called “gay.” The insult isn’t so much to him as to gay people everywhere. So it is that anyone wishing to nastily insinuate a failure of femininity can hurl the T-word at pretty much any woman, but the real recipient of the insult will always be the trans female community.”
THIS. OMFG THIS. THIS IS WHY I GET SO PISSED AT TRANS GUYS TRYING TO “RECLAIM” TRANNY. IT’S NOT YOUR FUCKING SLUR.
What Genderbitch said, really.
some appropriative wording
What Genderbitch said, really.
wonderful article...the infamous t-word written by...trans...