Do you know how I know that the whole “If you don’t educate me how will I learn” thing is a load of crap?
Because, um, well, who the hell do you think educated me?
Do you think trans people are born knowing this stuff? Or that there’s some kind of magic database that we get a password to at the time that we come out?
No. We have to do our own damn research. Often in secret, perhaps on a shared computer, obsessively erasing our browser history every fifteen minutes. We don’t get to ask for help, or demand that other people educate us. For us, at a certain point, such a move would be dangerous.
We learn because we care. If you care, you can learn too.You do not need us to walk you through it.
I had to do it myself. So did the vast majority of other trans people.
And so can you.
It’s a big internet out there, and yes, while internet access is a privilege, it’s a privilege that is getting more accessible to more people all the time. Anyone reading this clearly has it already. Don’t take it for granted. Put it to work.
Go google something.
September 19th, 2011 at 8:58 am
I have been educating myself and reading your blog is one of the ways I do it. Thanks.
September 19th, 2011 at 5:56 pm
“I had to do it myself. So did the vast majority of other trans people.”
Yep. And not to overgeneralize my own experience, but I for one didn’t develop my identity and integrate myself into the trans community by cornering them one by one, pitting their stories against each other’s, peppering them with questions about minutia … I found people who were already speaking out of willingness to speak, and listening to their experiences with silent respect.
September 19th, 2011 at 7:55 pm
listened*
September 20th, 2011 at 6:58 am
[...] because to be honest, I think it comes off as really rude). So, I noticed that Asher posted this blog about educating yourself about transgender issues, and it got me [...]
September 20th, 2011 at 5:01 pm
listening and learning right this minute. cuz its my job.
September 21st, 2011 at 3:07 pm
I have nothing to add except: FUCK YEAH.