Klingons might be violent assholes, but they are progressive violent assholes with honor!
I can say Iāve actually had that conversation, almost but not quite, word for word! I have several friends that dress up as Klingons in the Chicago convention circuit. I had been away from conventions for several years and had changed my name (and gender presentation) in the meantime, so it was quite amusing when a friend and I did pretty much exactly that interaction and yes, she was dressed in full Klingon kit at the time!
20 Likes
Excellent!!! QAPLA!!! 
13 Likes
14 Likes
You know, I hadnāt heard trans women referred to as dolls until this shirt started trending. And I have to admit Iām not entirely comfortable with that name. Maybe itās just me, but a doll is an inanimate object, often used to play dress up, and it just doesnāt resonate with me. Iām not saying itās wrong for others to use or embrace, but I really donāt like it.
16 Likes
It has some pretty significant historical meaning, coming out of the ballroom scene in the 80s, IIRC. Iām not a fan either, but hellā¦ Iāll take support even if itās a bit uncomfortable.
14 Likes
Yeah I didnāt do a deep dive, but I looked into some, and it looks like thereās also a connection to trans women who want to conform to societyās feminine ideal. I think that latter definition was kind of niche and isnāt relevant anymore, but it adds to the reasons why Iām not entirely comfortable with it. But yes, I do appreciate the current sentiment.
13 Likes
I donāt like the ādollā nomenclature either. It seems to give off a particular kind of definition or image of trans identity, regardless if that is purposeful or not. However if the shirt gives higher awareness and visibility to the plight of trans people i suppose thatās a net benefit (still donāt love it tho).
11 Likes
Question for the community from a staight cis guy who is trying to not be an asshole. Had some trans and gay relatives in for a wedding and a conversation started up about the word ātranssexualā vs ātransgender.ā My AFAB nephewās opinion was that transgender could be anyone who is not comfortable with their assigned gender, transsexual was someone who had medically or sugically transitioned. My AMAB daughter was not comfortable with the term for either. I remarked that this sounded like medicalization of transness. He said that it was an ongoing discussion in the community. Iām just trying not to be an ass, and only really associate ātranssexualā with Rocky Horror. Any advice?
15 Likes
At one time, ātranssexualā was the only term for gender nonconforming people that actually had a medical definition, and that definition referred to people who were in the process of medically transitioning from one gender to another. Based on our current understanding of, well, everything gender related, itās a very narrow and limiting term, so itās use has fallen out of favor, even in situations where it technically applies.
15 Likes
Transgender isnāt understood in the community or the public to not include people receiving gender confirming medical care; in my experience.
There was some discord in the community years ago on tg vs ts. With a segment seeking surgery wanting to disassociate themselves from the tg label when it became more used. Iām sure some of that continues; but itās not very prevalent lately. Unless youngsters are reviving that.
I think it was mostly trans women who had or were seeking bottom surgery who wanted that distinction way back when.
Edit:
Iām old enough that the discussion was tv vs ts when coming out.
15 Likes
I use both, though I do feel transsexual more accurately describes my own journey. My gender has never changed, trying to be a guy always felt alien to me. In my own view, Iām not transitioning my gender. Iām simply doing what Iām able to make my body match my gender.
That being said, I mostly just use the shortened ātransā.
13 Likes
I think thatās pretty common these days. Thatās what I use most of the time, too.
15 Likes
Thatās what i am used to as well. I was a little startled at using transsexual, but also straight dude, no vote. Thanks for your input and education, all!
15 Likes
Transsexual is more often used by older trans people who came up when that term was the only really known one, and itās become part of their identity. Itās also often used by transmedicalists to distance themselves from the modern transgender community which tends to value their diversity instead of assimilating into cishet culture like the transmeds.
Though, as @womanhood_deferred mentions, itās pretty personal. So while someone using that word to describe themselves raises some flags for me, it takes more context before I know if theyāre questionable or not.
11 Likes
WANT! (Actually, I want like three or four of them; I know a couple punks who would gladly put those on their jackets.)
(I know, late to the party, etc.)
As far as the dolls shirt and transsexual vs transgender? Juryās still out, at least internally. (I still have at least one facet thatās adamant about being asexual, the demon core refuses to discuss gender period, and the others are all over the place.)
12 Likes
(I could start an entire thread about how my internal mental machinery works vs how the external gestalt presents, but thatās something I keep very, very private.)
12 Likes
I prefer transsexual. I have some bad experiences with with gendered stereotypes, gendered gatekeeping, etc. And if we abolished gender, and created a gray jumpsuit utopia, so everyone socially transitions to their own unique place as they figure themselves out, then I think Iād still need to medically transition.
12 Likes
18 Likes