#Also they're both trans

[waitingongravity]

Realized mid-conversation with a friend that these two would get along really well actually.

[autisticburnham]

Book🤝Gray🤝Not crewmembers, just kinda there because they're dating a crewmember

[biggest-gaudiest-patronuses]

historical drama/sitcom where two gay best friends (woman and man) get lavender married--and proceed to spend the Fancy European Honeymoon their parents paid for acting as each other's wingman

[copperpipes]

Same shit, different flavors.

[fexjam]

Old married couple on their day off

[antiterf]

Tired of people applying concepts of gender and gender hierarchy specifically made for cis people to trans people and thinking we're the problem when we point out that it doesn't fit.

[wildflowercryptid]

felt like doodling some sinnoh redesigns today! ( i sketched the cheryl one on a notepad at work. )

[existennialmemes]

If you're visiting family for Easter, and they won't respect your gender, remind them that Jesus's chromosomes are canonically XX, as he inherited all of his human DNA from Mary.

Unless of course they think that Mary was actually a child-bearing XY cis woman, which is also a delightful and realistic possibility. So either Jesus is Trans or Mary is Intersex.

Or it could also be both!

Happy Easter Day of Trans Visibility!

Further reading on that if you're interested:

[thefunniestguy]

i usually only post my renga shit but. i am an enjoyer of matchablossom

[picnokinesis]

Thoughts on Different Types of Representation in Doctor Who (and how fandom responds to it)

So I watched Rogue last night and - okay first, oh my days, absolutely ADORED it, this is definitely my favourite episode of this season, it was just so much FUN and it hooked me right from the start. And then the queerness! I was actually thinking to myself whilst watching it how wonderful it was because it felt like a queer story in a way that wasn't like, showboating about how progressive it was? [editorial aside: this is not comparing it to anything in particular, just a general observation]. The characters were just queer, within this wild and wonderful sci-fi story, but also their queerness wasn't the Only Character Trait they had and their story didn't resolve around their queerness, but their queerness was crucial to the plot in a way that was just lovely to see - and as a writer myself, it's personally the way I love to see our stories being told.

But then I made the mistake of going into the tag - always a foolish thing to do, because for some reason everyone loves to praise this era by criticising the previous era (as if it hasn't been criticised enough...like we know most of y'all hate Chris Chibnall for committing no worse crimes than Moffat and RTD before him...we know). And I found a couple of folks talking about how this episode alone did more for queer representation than the entirety of thirteen's era, whiiiiich at first really Peeved Me Off - like didn't these people understand how important Yaz's arc (especially Eve of the Daleks) was to a LOT of people? But then I was like 'well actually this is interesting', right? Because I think there's two very different kinds of representation going on here - and they're both very important in different ways, but one tends to get lauded as brilliant rep and one always gets put down as not good enough, or even bad rep. And what's the main difference? Whether the characters have a gay kiss or not.

So I just thought I'd share some of my thoughts and feelings on this, and why I think both these kinds of rep are equally important! To be clear from the get-go though - this is definitely not me ragging on anyone who likes more about one than the other (in fact, I think everyone likes one more than the other). This is merely a personal essay about it and the frustrations that comes when people in general do lift one up over the other. I'm gonna put it under the cut though, because it might get a bit long!

So, back when Eve of the Daleks aired, I remember having a lot of conversations about the representation in that episode - in particular with a very good friend of mine, who is a lesbian. And we realised that when it came to rep, we both actually wanted pretty different things. I'm aroace and genderfluid, and so a lot of what I saw in how thirteen was written - especially in terms of her gender (or lack thereof), and also her apparent lack of attraction (at least, in how I read it) was just incredibly affirming to me. I've never EVER seen a character on screen that I could see myself in both in terms of sexuality and gender. Whereas my friend saw things quite differently - thirteen was a lesbian, and they wanted to see that kiss between these two characters, because for them too, it was so rare to see that, and, in their words, they wanted to have their cake and eat it too. And we both realised that the reason that queer representation can feel so intense and important is, simply, because there isn't enough of it. We're all desperately reaching for the same small portion - and none of it is ever going to please everyone, or resonate with everyone. The stakes are too high.

So then, when there wasn't this dramatic romantic ending to Yaz's story, when there was no queer kiss, I was very sad for my friend, who didn't get that representation, but so painfully relieved for myself - because I got mine. So then it sucked a lot to see a lot of people getting really angry that this wasn't queer representation, that this was even homophobic - I even had someone tell me that aromantic representation in this regard was always going to be homophobic, because no-one would ever write it to be aro rep, and would instead only ever write it to avoid writing a gay kiss. And the thing that got me the most was that, REGARDLESS of whether they kissed or not, regardless of how you read either of the characters, there was one thing that was certain:

Yaz was queer. In text. Her emotional plotline centred around her realising that she was attracted to the Doctor (who was presenting as a woman - although, again, I don't think she really identified as such). The fact that she and the Doctor didn't get together by the end does not erase that fact.

They didn't kiss - but so what? Are queer people only queer when they're kissing someone of the same gender, or having gay sex? Are queer people not queer in their day to day lives, when they're not doing any of those things? Are queer people not queer when they're not dating? Are queer people not queer when they're trans, when they're ace, when they're aro, when their queerness doesn't resolve around attraction to the same gender?

And, to be honest, I think a lot of my feelings around this stem from the sort of exclusionist rhetoric that we saw a LOT of towards the ace/aro community back in 2012 that we still see now, that we're seeing towards the trans community now, that we're still seeing towards bi people, for pete's sake. It's this in-community infighting, pushing each other down to try and get up to the top, to keep all the "resources" for "the people who really need it", and it causes a serious amount of harm - but the truth is (and to bring this back to doctor who) that it all comes back to what me and my friend were discussing. We're all scared, all desperate to be seen - and when we are seen, it's the most incredible experience and the idea of losing that (or having someone else undermine it) feels inexpressibly awful. Having the thirteenth doctor...I suddenly realised this is what all the straight cis white dudes get all the time. She was like me, and that was indescribable. And then losing her - and having RTD not even be able to have a man wear her clothes because he was too worried about what the tabloids would say to be able to show a gnc person on tv...and then constantly described her as The Woman Doctor for the next entire episode - that hurt. A lot.

I've spoken to other friends who felt so seen in the character of Yaz - those people who realised they were queer later in life, those who fall in love with people and it doesn't end up going anywhere, those who don't get the whirlwind queer romances that people often call 'good representation'. Myself and many of my aspec friends have felt so seen in thirteen's almost entirely romance-less arc, and myself and my trans/genderqueer friends felt very seen in the way that thirteen's character would have been exactly the same if she'd been a man - the only difference was how the other characters around her interacted with her. Gender was something that happened to her. And when I watch episodes like Rogue, even though I don't relate to that representation, I just feel overwhelmed with joy because I know how important it will be to others that I care about. I think my sadness then comes from the fact that the way Thirteen and Yaz were written are just as important to me and many people that I know, but because they didn't kiss, it's not considered queer enough. Am I not queer enough, then? Are my friends not queer enough?

We need more episodes like Rogue, like The Parting of Ways, like Praxeus, like The Doctor Falls, because they are unquestionably and unapologetically queer, in a way that can't be avoided. We also need more episodes like Eve of the Daleks, like The Haunting of the Villa Diodati, like the rest of thirteen's era where the representation is an undercurrent throughout the whole story - but also undeniable, in a way that Yaz's story arc is, even if it doesn't end in a kiss, even if it doesn't end neatly and happily. Personally, I definitely would love to see more stories focused on aromanticism and on transness (especially ones that are written by trans people for trans people, rather than by cis people for cis people), but that's probably going to be down to people like me and other writers that I know actually getting into the script writing industry - and that depends on the people who are already there letting us in. One thing that I've always appreciated about Chibnall is that, after leaving Doctor Who, he began a programme for training up new showrunners with ITV, because: "showrunners are the gatekeepers and too many of the gatekeepers look like me."

Anyway, I probably have more thoughts that I've forgotten, but that's generally the gist of it. I think the more we fight over whether rep is 'good' or 'bad', relating to whether we see ourselves in it or not (rather than 'is this genuinely harmful or unhelpful', which I think is a more crucial question) the more the waters get muddied. We have different needs and wants, and no single episode is going to represent every facet of our community. But each episode, each story like this is a step in the right direction - and even rep that isn't perfect (I have thoughts about The Star Beast, for example) is still extremely positive and important, and definitely something that should be celebrated, even as we keep looking to the future for what we would like to see done differently, done better. And some day, I hope, there'll be so much queer rep, it'll be so normal, that those stakes won't feel so high anymore. It won't feel like everything hangs on how a certain show or storyline or episode is written. We'll all be seen. And that will be absolutely fantastic.

[tallymarksystem]

(prefacing this post with not all allistic people, and not all autistic people)

I feel like part of the reason you see so many autistic people who identify with non- or alter-humanity is because we have a fundamentally different understanding of things that society accepts as "just the way things are," especially if society made things that way in the first place and they're not any kind of universal truths or set-in-stone facts (think gender, social norms, conversation/communication rules).

Like with gender, we know that autistic people frequently have a different relationship with it than allistic people do. That's why there's so many autistic trans and gender non-conforming folks. Allistic people see boxes around that kind of thing that autistic people just don't, as much.

I think that's at least one big part of why there's so many autistic people who identify as non- or alter-human. Our brains don't always do that automatic "this is the way things are" thing that allistic brains do.

Allistic folks go "You're a human person, therefore your identity is contained within those terms," and a lot of times autistic people will go "I don't feel human in the way that I see other people experiencing human-ness. I feel a connection to something else, even with the knowledge that I physically am human. My identity cannot be contained in your terms in a way that fits comfortably for me."

Whether it's animals, concepts, objects, or whatever else, there are a lot of ways people can experience their identities that don't really mold very well to the shape of the box that allistics decided was meant to go there.

[macbethz]

RIVER: So Missy, if it's not a personal question, why did you decide to, uh, upgrade your gender? MISSY: If it's not a persona question!? You can't GET more personal. RIVER: I know, I'm incorrigible. MISSY: The answer is, I don't know. I just woke up one day even more fascinating than usual. RIVER: So it wasn't deliberate? MISSY: You've regenerated haven't you? RIVER: Yeah, a couple of times. MISSY: Then you'll know. Sometimes, it's like playing pin the tail on the donkey during an earthquake. If you come out the other side with the right number of eyes that counts as a win. RIVER: So, do you feel different from how you were? MISSY: I feel like me. I felt like me before. Silly question.

There is no official transcript for me to screenshot and be annoying about so you get the whole audio clip. She is so transgender to me. like she gets it

[dropoutfailure]

(prev anon) also for what it worth.. throwing my hat into the ring for chaser dad. love the idea of a dad being fascinated by his kid crafting their own masculinity and him being unexpectedly turned on by that. also maybe bi dad who never acknowledged his attraction towards guys but has to grapple with it when his trans son is like. Undeniably A Dude™️ and hes still hard for him

fuck yea, they're both discovering something new about themselves when they explore each other's bodies. something vulnerable to share with each other 💘

although for that particular post / poll I was thinking kinda toxic dadson, so - chaser dad is horny + pathetic + desperate for trans boy pussy. he's very into trans men from discovering ftm porn and initially panics when his son actually starts testosterone, because he didn't take him seriously at all when he first came out. dad has never fucked a trans guy before but really fucking wants to. but... that's his son. he shouldn't... he wouldn't? surely it's unrealistic, he couldn't. but maybe it's a blessing in disguise? he starts trying to repair their emotionally distant relationship and talks to his son more often, wanting to know more about his transition and changes. :) and he tries to tell himself he has no ulterior motives, but can't help being rock hard as he looks his son over - his new facial hair, his voice that's starting to change as he talks, and so much more that he can't see but really fucking wants to. he's curious about the changes in smell, body hair growth, and especially bottom growth and libido!! god he wants to suck him off and be the first to make him cum see how his son's t-dick looks at least! but yknow... that might be strange to ask... unless he can disguise it as a male bonding thing?? <- scheming

and the son can tell something is up - his dad suddenly gives him a lot of attention, but it feels off... like he's being treated like a boyfriend not a son? is that weird? but the attention feels so fulfilling! he's never been close with his dad, so he craves the affection, not to mention he's starting to get horny from the testosterone and they're both adults with needs, so might as well buy into the whole "69ing is like a normal widespread male bonding thing" even if he knows it's bs

[aru-art]

anyone else ever find voice claims so perfect u go a lil bit insane

[constellation-skirmishes]

general skywalker gets a tattoo, more at 11

[numelfanclub]

summer is ending, here's our favorite gay people 🌻