Alt Text: an image of Agent Smith from The Matrix with the following text superimposed, “1999 was described as being the peak of human civilization in ‘The Matrix’ and I laughed because that obviously wouldn’t age well and then the next 25 years happened and I realized that yeah maybe the machines had a point.”

  • explodicle@sh.itjust.worksEnglish
    16·
    22 hours ago

    Question for the trans folk here: which time period was harder for you? Hostile ignorance or hostile attention?

    • WhiteRabbit_33@lemmy.world
      191·
      19 hours ago

      During hostile ignorance:

      • I had to leave the state I grew up in to get into a place I could access medical care, get away from an unaccepting family, and get into a place I wasn’t afraid of being attacked while transitioning (being visibly trans till HRT kicked in).
      • Trans panic was seen as more of a valid defence back then for killing trans people.
      • I think we were seen as more of a curiosity/fetish than people, but that’s debatable since that’s definitely still an issue.
      • People were more afraid of being visibly trans and finding community outside of forums was harder.
      • I was certain I’d lose my job when I inevitably had to come out and had prepared for it by saving up enough to get me through finding another job. I was amazed when that didn’t happen and most of the company accepted me. I still had to deal with harassment that nowadays would probably get those people fired.

      During hostile attention:

      • I had to leave my home due to the state no longer ignoring us and focusing on passing laws to make our lives more difficult.
      • I know a ton of trans people and have a stronger support network. Finding others is easier now.
      • Medical care is easier to get now if you aren’t living in one of the states currently trying to ban HRT.
      • Parents seem a little more accepting but it’s still divisive
      • I’m less afraid of the average person fucking with me in most areas of the US
      • I’m afraid of government attempts to round myself or loved ones up into camps within the next few years.

      Generally, I prefer the visibility and broader social acceptance we have now. More people know about us, so more people hate us but way more people accept us. I see it as how being gay was in the aughts. More people were out and it was less of a big deal even though there was still a lot of hate crimes against gay people. Now it’s way more accepted outside of ultra conservative areas. I’m hoping we are more accepted within a decade instead of being rounded up and killed en masse.

    • KittyCat@lemmy.world
      9·
      22 hours ago

      It probably would depend on if they pass or not. If you fully pass 15-20 years ago probably was much easier in some regards.