Radically Queer: 11/27 #transchat recap »

The first of a new regular #transchat discussion took place on Twitter today, initially discussing the concept of ‘stealth’, being out, disclosure, openness and privacy around trans* identities and histories. People with a varied range of experiences contributed, including several nonbinary and genderqueer people.

radicallyqueer:

This week we focused on the concept of “stealth,” with related topics like coming out, passing, and the relationship between gender expression and how others perceive an individual’s gender/gender identity. 

We started by trying to define “stealth,” and realized that though the term has a mostly-negative connotation for most people, it has different meanings.  ”Stealth” can be used by cis people as an accusation that implies a duty to disclose, particularly in sexual/romantic situations.  It also is used by some trans people, though, to indicate a breaking of community ties with the trans community.

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Another question that came up a lot is what “stealth” or “passing” means for non-binary people.  

queernetic I’m nonbinary. “Stealth” for me is “passing” as my assigned gender. I have no socially recognized gender to “pass” as. #transchat

quarridors #transchat I think there are two issues here, disclosing details of ones assignment at birth/medical history and being ‘out’ as transgender.

queerscholar @quarridors @Helenarth I’ve started doing this more in some circles, very out about GQ but downplaying what’s in my pants etc #transchat

quarridors @queerscholar I don’t discuss my transsexual medical history or my birth assignment, barring that I consider them to be private. #transchat

quarridors @queerscholar As a nonbinary/genderqueer person I’m still able to enjoy the benefits of being openly trans* and in the community. #transchat

whateversusan Passing, stealth, out, these are words that don’t really adapt well to nonbinary and nontraditional experiences #transchat

Some of us also expressed difficulties being “out,” even when we want to be, while others find it easier:

whateversusan @queerscholar Right, exactly. If I want to be out as gay, I kiss my wife in public. But as trans? What do I do? Drop my voice? #transchat

SmartAssJen Since I’m just starting transition & am gendered as male by others, I claim trans status to explain variant gender markers. #transchat

whateversusan @SmartAssJen I’m on the other side, I transitioned and am always gendered female. Hard to know how to be out as trans*. #transchat

quarridors #transchat I am pretty comfortably androgynous, I get a mixture of readings, people changing their mind on my gender mid-conversation etc…

melballoons @queerscholar Well, I’m seen as female b/c femme (and politically so) and I don’t want to give that up to be seen. It’s difficult #transchat

queerscholar I really WANT people to perceive my femme-ness as transgressive, but they miss the queerness of it. #transchat

whateversusan @queerscholar I am slowly starting to be more butch again now that I’m less twitchy about things! TransW butch = transgressive #transchat

quarridors #transchat I feel the most comfortable with my gender presentation when I’m widely out as transgender, rather than when I let people assume.

quarridors #transchat But as a nonbinary person I can do that without explicitly disclosing what my birth assignment or medical history were…

quarridors #transchat So I can be ‘stealth’ while also ‘out’, does that show those are totally separate things or am I a special case confusing things?

queerpup As a pretty binary FtM that “passes”, I still feel a need to be out - acknowledging my upbringing & female socialisation. #transchat

AutistLiam @queerscholar @quarridors I am lucky enough to have spaces and people who can see me as male and as trans at the same time #transchat

melballoons I do think that being “out” may bring unwanted attention to assigned gender. Could be triggering and cause dysphoria. Be mindful. #transchat

Unfortunately, policing of gender is common in the trans community, not just in the wider world:

AutumnSandeen #transchat I’ve been cyberharassed by two “women of operative history” this year for being out identified as #transgender & #transsexual.

quarridors #transchat I think that queer/trans* communities are surprisingly prone to assuming things about genderqueer people’s bodies and histories

janetmock @autumnsandeen The policing of one another’s self-identification is a disease in our community. #transchat

janetmock I’ve been criticized for using transgender/transsexual in my own identification, when in fact I grew up mahuwahine in Hawaii. #transchat

quarridors #transchat I also know people who the system & parts of the community call ‘detransitioners’ who still ID as trans* or continue to take HRT.

melballoons @auntysarah I work in a queer space where I constantly have to remind and am constantly misgendered. It’s triggers dysphoria. #transchat

And that’s just some of what we discussed during this week’s #transchat!  Check out the#transchat hashtag if you’d like to see some of the other topics that came up, including self-care and activism, trans art, and when to ask for preferred pronouns.  And join us Sunday, December 11 from 2-4 pm EST for the next #transchat on Twitter.  We’ll be discussion trans* sexuality, and possibly other topics as well—if you have topic suggestions, you can shoot them to me here or @queerscholar.  Also let me know if the time doesn’t work out, as we’re still ironing out practicalities.

Read the full summary at Radically Queer

Read all public #transchat tweets via Twitter search