Penny explains things, Episode 1. Anti Transgender arguments and why they are wrong.(revisit)

So, as the trans community takes a collective deep breath and prepares to enter the fray yet again, I would like to challenge those bigoted individuals calling for our death to come up with actual sound arguments and not just dust off the same old "I'm scared by all things different" and "I'm a bigot" arguments that we as transgender people hear every day. In order to push this forwards a bit I'm going to put the relevant data out there disproving the most common things I hear as to why people want to consider trans people as less then human and remove them from public life.

Anti Transgender Argument One: If we allow Transgender people into the bathroom of there choice they will attack children and rape people. We have to marginalize them because its unsafe for us and will get our children hurt!

Refutation: So, to start with this argument is now, and always has been, an appeal to emotion. As there are exactly zero cases of a Transgender person attacking anyone in a restroom. Now I'm aware of the family law centers big long list however, amusingly, it is a long list of indictments against men, but not in any way against trans people.

The person using this argument is in no way worried about children or women's safety. If they where in fact looking threw the data and genuinely concerned about something it would be trying to undo the damage to young men's souls that cause them to grow into predators and rapists. The numbers bare out that there is indeed a crisis, not one involving trans people but one involving how poorly we raise men in this culture. If you want to protect children and women stop hitting your kids, talk to your children about sexuality, stop verbally abusing them and don't teach girls to be beholden to the male gaze. These things actual have credible sources showing that they work to lower overall violence.

When this argument is used I stop it in my world immediately. There is no value to this line of thought, it is not fact based, it is gas lighting, it often degrades into an appeal to emotion that goes no where. Trans-phobic bigots, stop using this one it has no power and lacks any type of truth.

Anti Transgender Argument 2: Transgender people are Mentally ill and we shouldn't harm them by giving into their delusional state.

Refutation: This always makes me giggle! First it is argument from authority as in order to use this you must not have done any digging and simply bwant to put the person you are talking too on the defensive by sounding like you have viable information. I myself have been tripped up by this seemingly potent accusation.

Second, it is an argument based in bias, it began because there has always been a stigma around trans people, people look at us as outsiders and as the other, they react to that fear by forming justifications for those completely baseless thoughts. The Stigma of mental illness is simply not true. Body dismorphia is a symptom of being transgender, not all trans people suffer from it, nor is it considered to be abnormal to experience it. It makes complete sense to have body image issues when you are presenting as the wrong gender. This does not equal out to mentally ill.

Third, if a Transgender person seeks to remedy themselves by using hormones or surgery or both they are required to see a mental health professional and be deemed healthy before pursuing those changes to their person. This means that in practice, not even in theory, that if you have never had a mental health evaluation and you call a trans person on hormones mentally ill, you are in fact the unbalanced person in the room. The trans person you are unloading your bigoted rage on is certifiably in better mental health than you are. You should prolly drop that argument, it makes you look foolish and uneducated.

Anti Transgender Argument 3: Transgender people are a fad/conspiracy/plot/new/Russian plan/robots.

Refutation: The earliest grave found denoting a trans individual was found in Mesopotamia and dates back nearly 3000 years. Egypt has records of trans people, native cultures not tied to a binary gender system have always had and accepted trans people. We have existed for all of history and will continue to do so. If you see us around more its because we are starting to stand up for our right to exist. This is costing us lives, our murder rates are doubling lately. Not because we want to take over or harm your kids or influence your thoughts but because we are human and deserve in every single way the respect of being able to live hour life without being some side issue in a political debate.

In Closing: If you have not studied this issue and are simply relying on your gut, you are wrong. Look into it, talk to a trans person in a real way, and learn before you open your mouth. Stop allowing these right wing nutters to fill you up with nonsense. Think for yourself. Big money is going into dividing us, stop letting it.

Yes, I am a Transgender women. I am also an Ancap, an investor in crypto, a free thinker, a mother and a Mistress. Being trans is not the end all definition of me. I fear for my kids safety just like you. I am human, just like you. There is no reason that is sensible to cut off trans people and brand them sub human, in doing so you are showing the world who you are, not who I am and frankly its not great looking. Feel free to ask me questions.