Scapegoats

For so many people fear and ignorance is bliss. Medical expertise need not apply...

Appeal

Trumpism works well as a way to channel hate. When your leader hates the same things you do, he becomes more appealing. He becomes your attack dog.

This is how someone so crass and disgusting finds favor with the electorate. Human psychology's dark side is fed into via grievance. 

Trump says things openly that his base wishes they could which is how his being a dimwit can be disregarded by so many. It makes him appealing to those who felt talked down to by elites who pocketed all that money and left them behind.

What many don't notice is that he is not on their side at all.

Equal but different

I keep seeing what appears to be the conflating of different scenarios under the banner of trans which doesn't surprise me because this subject can be very confusing and complex. 

One scenario is "Most of the time I feel like a man, am comfortable that way but enjoy cross gender expression and am not otherwise conflicted". This is sometimes almost put on the same footing as people (often with deep dysphoria) who consider transition almost mandatory. I am supposing that this is for the purpose of building community and avoiding discrimination. 

The two scenarios are of course not the same thing. But that does not mean one has more value over the other. All human lives have equal value. A long time ago I noticed that the infighting among gender variant people was not constructive going back to the time of Virginia Prince with needless dogmatic battles of legitimacy between transvestites and even among transsexuals themselves. 

It is completely a futile pursuit but at the same time we don't want to lose those who need access to gender affirming care or help with avoiding a transition process they may later regret. 

Even the young transitioners I met with earlier this year had friends who were confused about what to do given this more open environment.

It is for this reason that I stopped thinking as much about umbrellas and labels and turned focus solely on who needs help with a gender issue versus who doesn't. Yes, some marriages didn't survive solely on the basis of sporadic cross gender expression, but as society evolves these cases will become exceedingly rare to non-existent as the need to conceal gender variance completely disappears. Youth is already there.

Even transitions among young people today are barely even noteworthy because most well-adjusted people just don't give a damn. The recent two in my old office are case in point.

Somehow the earth keeps revolving regardless.

Pathetic

He is right of course. The corporate media is pathetic and that kid gloves Trump interview shone a clear spotlight on the problem..

Distractions

Alberta premier Danielle Smith needs distractions from her incompetence so trans kids will do just fine. It's the right wing playbook and yes we have them too...

Eyelashes

This morning I had coffee with the sister from Vancouver who 16 years ago wanted to call the pope and have me undergo an exorcism. Of course she is embarrassed about it now and laughs. It wasn't so funny for me back then as I was starting to undergo treatment at the Montréal General gender identity clinic and my marriage was falling apart.

Now I am coming back on the bus from lunch with an ex-colleague who was telling me about yet another transgender person in my old office. This time it's someone in their late twenties going female to male. 

I ask my friend if anyone even bats an eyelash. Absolutely no one she responds.

C'est un nouveau monde.

My perch

Lunch on Sunday was terrific and it was yet another measuring post moment for me. Even a few short years ago my imposter syndrome gage might have still gone off and I would have concern about what the people in front of me might be thinking about my presentation. Women in particular can be the most exacting of observers. 

That concern is now almost entirely wiped away. 

In its place is me in all my glory; calm without any overthinking. Whether these three ladies would ever know about my transgender history becomes irrelevant which soothes the brain immeasurably. Why worry if you aren't pretending to be anyone else? I am and always have been a transgender person and will be until the day I die. 

Once the mind has settled nicely into that mode it's much harder to knock you off your perch.

Of course people can always try.

Value

How people assess the value of something is unique to them. For me it is about learning something new, being enlightened, being challenged and perhaps having my emotions stirred. I want my humanity uplifted somehow and be the better for it after the experience.

That is how I measure value and it is what I always look for.

You just wait

Kristen Welker took the softball tone I have seen others do with Trump who is an imbecile. They know he is going to lie but treat him with deference regardless. No real fact checking or confrontation. 

"For the sake of American unity will you concede the 2020 election?" My hair lights on fire. How about for the sake of truth. 

The media knows their are dealing with a toddler which is why interviews with democratic leaders tend to be tougher. You can dislike their policies but they aren't idiots. 

When confronted with the issue of tariffs he both lied and deflected with that lazy-eyed coppertone racoon face that cannot hide his lack of both intellect and honesty as he plays his invisible accordion.

You just wait.

His voters, stupid or awful?....

How dare you

To be authentic means to be unapologetic about being true to oneself with minimal compromise which can get complicated in a world which doesn't readily espouse the idea. 

If our concept of authenticity includes being rude and crass we are crossing a threshold where our behaviour impacts others negatively. But what if our authenticity is ostensibly benign? I wrestled with this question for a long time. 

When authenticity butts up against established norms it is there where we will find resistance. Even something as tepid as dancing when you aren't supposed to can solicit disfavor because standing out challenges the timidity of others who won't necessarily find joy in your liberation. You aren't supposed to challenge them to find courage since one of the biggest threat to others can be seeing someone find freedom while they remain enslaved. 

How dare you do that.

A key component of transphobia lies precisely here.

Power dynamics

There are obvious power dynamics behind human psychology. The wounded child will take on habits as compensation for unresolved issues. There are archetypes which stem from this. 

The bully archetype who was himself made to feel less than, goes about the world seeking revenge by pushing others around. Some of the people they bully may have issues regarding speaking out and tolerate the cajoling instead of pushing back against it. There is a dynamic set up where the efficacy of the behaviour is fed into. 

It's fascinating how unresolved childhood trauma carries over into adulthood where it can either be addressed or allowed to fester. Both the bully and the ideal victim are the only ones who can repair a dynamic fed by two people both with insecurity issues.