TeenHelp - View Single Post - How can we improve TeenHelp for ours trans community?

Edit avatar

So, full disclosure: I asked Rob to delete my posts.

I want to say that my feelings and opinions reflect exactly what Holly said immediately above my post here. I’d like to believe I am understanding in that I would never treat a Trans+ individual negatively; and I can’t claim to know the extent or truly understand what they’ve gone through historically and in the present time. I always use correct the pronouns when I learn of them and if it’s never explicitly stated, I ask as uncomfortable as that may be I don’t want to offend.

As Holly said, I’m also more about the personal, intimate stories. I want to understand and hear about the first-hand account from Trans+ folks. I want to be directed towards the correct resources so I can better understand different topics in regards to transphobia and Trans+ rights.

Here’s the thing, let’s make it personal to me. You can advocate for Deaf people all you want! But unless you were born Deaf or raise a Deaf child (whilst not forcing them to go under a brutal procedure for Cochlear Implants) immersed in their community; you would never be able to understand the struggles I’ve had to endure; what the struggle is that Deaf folks continue to endure in an aural world.

I can educate you on how Cochlear Implants can be harmful towards minors, why it’d be a better idea until that child is of age to make an informed decision by themselves, why language immersion — such as American Sign Language — is more important than forcing them to communicate in spoken English; but you’ll still not understand that feeling of ostracization and discrimination, you’ll never feel the burden I do.

I think it's of much more value to hear from Trans+ folks than from allies such as myself and Holly.