On Being an Angry Tranny
(Source: pixabay)
I am an angry tranny.
Yes, tranny. Not trans woman. Because when both liberals and conservatives see a trans woman getting upset over some social justice issue they are not thinking "Oh those angry trans women". They're thinking to themselves "Fucking trannies always getting their panties in a twist."
The "angry tranny" archetype was made famous in the Stonewall riot, where trans women threw the first bricks kicking off the historical fight for LGBT rights which is now a major social movement.
(Source: wikipedia commons)
Trans women, especially trans women of color, have been behind every major civil rights issue since forever. They are the original agitators. They agitate simply in virtue of existing. The refusal to obey the rules assigned to them by a cissexist patriarchical society agitates the inner gears of the gender machine, the all encompassing system of norms, uwritten rules, scripts, stereotypes, etc. that defines our existence in a human society and feeds off all human difference.
Trans women, especially trans women of color, have very good reasons to be pissed off at all kinds of fucked up shit in our society with all its destructive systems of oppression, discrimination, exploitation, corruption, prejudice, violence, and marginalization.
And it's not just gender. The whole system is corrupt - capitalism doesn't escape the ire of the angry tranny.
I wasn't always this angry. Transition slowly changed how I viewed the world. It changed my internal moral life and gave me the perspective to understand the concept of solidarity with folks living in oppressive systems. I went from literally being one the most privileged people on the planet to someone with a whole lot more to lose by remaining silent about social injustice.
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I can no longer afford to be cordial, intellectual, rarified, theoretical in my direct discourse. As an ex-academic philosopher I spent a lot of time hanging out with white cis straight males who have a tendency to treat reality like a thought experiment. They debate social issues like an intellectual debate, a game of wit and logical acumen.
The question for me used to be "Who has the most clever argument?" but now my instinct leans towards "Who is this hurting?"
It's funny how being a target of harassment, violence, hate and governmental regulation concerning what I do with my body will make you a more stringent feminist.
So many white cis people use the stereotype of the angry tranny, of the angry feminist, the angry WOC, to invalidate our experiences, our analysis, our solutions.
But until all systems of oppression are eradicated, I will remain angry, agitated, and antagonistic.
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@rachelsmantra Its very interesting info.. Wonderful post keep it up.
Perhaps your anger is a distraction from real injustices being perpetrated upon all people, not just a selected few. While your cronies may have co-agitated endlessly about social injustice some of us live it every day. Although it is not recognized by the mainstream press.
There are factions of people who continue to divide this country because they have a bigger agenda. An agenda that's difficult to imagine to those of us who have lived a life of freedom regardless of our sexual orientation. Believe it or not this is not the number one priority of life. LGBT, black white or any other person of definition.
Be angry if you want, but it won't get you nearly as far as having a little compassion for others who suffer injustices not related to your agenda.
Where in my post did I say that my anger is directed only at injustice experienced by a select few? Millions if not billions are affected by sexism, racism, homophobia, transphobia, capitalism, patriarchy, speciesism, ableism, ageism, etc. Sexism alone affects at least half this planet.
I have compassion for all sentient beings. My "agenda" is the elimination of all forms of oppression.
So tell me again about these "real injustices" my "cronies" and I are ignoring.
It is doubtful that we could agree much on any topic. If I have misunderstood you than forgive me. I agree that there are many injustices in this world. Some even preventable, others are just part of human nature.
The powers that be put the spotlight on these issues, so that the world will ignore the real ones. Who fucking cares what people do in their private lives, as long as no one is getting hurt or used or abused? Let's not talk about money and politics, cos the gays are out to get us.
Yup I’ve said it for years. How am I the big bad trans girl affecting anyone else’s life other than my own? What I do is not affecting anyone but myself.
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STOPOne of the most dismissive ways to deal with those who are angry about injustice and oppression is to call the perpetrator and 'angry person', as if anger is a permanent and unhealthy character trait. I'm therefore glad that you have recaptured the integrity of being angry in a way that's far more healthy, in my opinion, than the much more prevalent turning of blind eyes upon oppression.