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This is how transpeople should be treated and respected, both by themselves and others. End of.

I love that the author calls it "Trans 101," insinuating that this should be rudimentary shit; the first things we come to terms with and accept before anything else. And it seriously is. You deserve to do what is most comfortable for you and still be treated with respect; just like any other person on this planet.

I'll admit I tend to try and work by the educational standpoint; I've chosen to try and answer any and all trans questions to the best of my ability while simultaneously being an example of trans life in general. This is what I prefer to do. However, this can get very tiring some days. And on the days I burn out, I tend to also start feeling guilty about burning out, which just makes me feel worse. Not many other identities are expected to take on bigots and the dangerously naive with such gusto and moxy, no rest required; and when we fall below godlike expectation, like all humans do, we're chastised by all parties.

Transpeople are nothing special, no more than any other identity with no more responsibility than any other identity; take that as you will. A better life for a transperson isn't going to do them much good if they're dead. Realize your boundaries and limitations, work to the best of your ability in ways that still keep you healthy, and rest when you need to. You don't need to make any excuses or pay any explanations to anybody. You're not an idiot; you know what you can handle and what you can't, what you need and what you don't, what makes you feel comfortable and what doesn't. Don't allow people to further steal your thoughts, a threat that's likely existed for you since before you even realized your identity. Continue to be in control of yourself.

I'm also so sick of people assuming me to be automatically political or using my body/identity (without my consent) as political grounds for their own gains. (Particularly those of sexual orientation. WTF?) I'm sick of being used by queer activists while they simultaneously put me down. (At least lesbian feminists rip us to pieces and insult us to hell, and aren't hypocritical about it.) By association, I'm also sick that people in general therefore assume I'm queer, either in the sexuality sense or some sort of lapse in logic in which "queer" and "trans" are interchangeable. Such usually otherwise well-educated people in diverse lifestyles blow my mind, and blow my mind even further when they give me a look of utter confusion and speechlessness when I tell them I'm not queer, probably never will be, and absolutely NO transperson is queer unless they identify as so.

I'm also just a little sick in general. No really. I woke up today with definite signs on oncoming cold or worse. My shot being only days away, I need to baby myself instead of just ignoring it like I usually do. They'll of course still give me the shot as long as I'm not "too" sick, but I also just don't want a cold messing with my first voice recording.

I think this post came off a little more angry than I meant it to be, but I'm actually quite happy about the link I received and fairly content in general. Just waitin' for my T. Watching dumb guy movies, reading novels, and otherwise killing time.