One of the reasons

One of the reasons I feel we are living in more confusing times regarding gender expression and identity has to do with the traditionally puritanical views of the West. So while for the longest time some people would have wanted to have much more freedom on the expression side, society frowned so dramatically that it forced shame and guilt on them. Ray the detransitioner, as young as he is, felt social stigma and preferred to identify as "trans" to the point of transitioning rather than be happy being seen as a gender non-conforming male. It took him 8 years of HRT and full time living to come to that realization.

Ray is not alone and I have now seen quite a number of related narratives from detransitioners.

What we used to call transsexualism occurs in smaller proportions compared to the overall gender variant population and it is a subset of people whose dysphoria is so virulent and persistent that it must be treated with medical transition. I can acknowledge this without being a strict transmedicalist.

So in essence we are now living with the result of not loosening the reins on gender expression (especially for natal males) where people feel more inclined to be safe identifying as "trans" than simply admitting that cross gender expression forms part of their personality and desires; something which gender dysphoria need not be a prerequisite for.

My point is that we call ourselves whatever we like but, in the end and much more importantly, do what works for us without fear of reprisal.