#but outright community separatism is killing a LOT of that nuance

[shrimpmandan]

Ngl I always find it interesting to talk to non-LGBT/non-discourse involved people about LGBT discourse and inter-community politics because there’s very much a noticeable dissonance of “well, this thing doesn’t affect me, so why does it affect you? Why are you bothered by this?” while simultaneously acknowledging that they aren’t involved in the community, and/or community politics.

It’s very easy (and arguably fairly rational) to say people should be able to identify however they want, but it often comes at the cost of ignoring science or incidentally bigoted history. Autistic people being scapegoated by an allistic to “justify” the existence of MOGAI, pansexuality existing as a “replacement” label for bisexuality since either the 1920s or 1930s, the very definition and criteria of gender dysphoria being willfully ignored or changed when the term is already highly inclusive of a variety of different trans experiences, how “gender is all fake bullshit!” can help one trans person and harm another, all of the varying and complex opinions people have on various slurs being reclaimed, I could honestly go on. LGBT people are highly variable in the opinions they can hold and this has been a universal constant truth. The age of the internet has definitely made these politics and discourse more accessible-- as well as opening the door for a whole host of misinformation-- but to act as if community in-fighting and discourse is a recent invention would just be absurd. The issue will always come down to when community politics and discourse distracts from fighting for our actual, tangible rights. If you prioritize identity politics and label discourse over actual people being killed or our rights being under direct threat, then you genuinely need to re-evaluate those priorities. It should also go without saying that other people are not mandated to engage with you and staying in your lane and being reasonably amicable towards things you don’t understand or simply fundamentally disagree with is the mature option in the vast majority of cases.

I have VERY strong opinions about biphobia and bi history, the ableist history of MOGAI, misinformation about gender dysphoria, and the scientific/neurological basis of gender in general. All that can be discussed WITHOUT going out of your way to attack random internet users hoping that they’ll engage you in a discussion you aren’t entitled to. You’re allowed to be frustrated with other members of your own community, but that frustration should never take priority over the rage you should feel towards the bigots in positions of power, nor your ability to evaluate if arguing with a random teen on the internet over their identity is worth it. Trust me LGBT discourse and politics would be so much more fucking productive if it wasn’t a dick measuring contest over who the “real” bigots of the LGBT community are and instigating random strangers, as opposed to, oh I dunno. Posting actual sources pertaining to community history and being open to other perspectives as opposed to being rude and accusatory towards each other? Just a thought.