Its a mixed up, muddled up, shook up world

[raybear]

I need to come out about something. I really, really dislike the use of the word "tranny/trannie". I'm not even talking about that Project Runway dude. I'm talking about my friends and neighbors.

I'm more okay if its used to describe some sort of event/space/concept that is about being intentionally provocative, like "Trannyshack" in SF. I'm not okay with it being used a general noun or descriptor of a category of people, e.g. "you could come, its full of trannies!!" or even things like "tranny yoga class" or "tranny dance night." Even if this is supposedly being used as a positive selling point. If a trans person uses it self-referentially, I don't notice as much, since I respect any homos right to call themselves a fag, a dyke, a lesbian, a queer, etc. But non-trans people saying it really gives me the willies the most. Its like all the gross fetish buttons get lit up on my emotional switchboard.

So, I'm curious to know what others think.

[Poll #1226144]

Please don't be shy about checking any box, as all of them are things I've thought myself while pondering this question.

Comments

[riverafire.livejournal.com]

I picked "kinda justified..." and "a reaction to insensitive and flippant..." as my short answer. My long answer is that naming is a matter of individual choice that I don't believe requires any justification. I identify as a queer black woman, and you would not believe how many people have argued that it is problematic that I identify as such. Getting stuck in specific categories bugs me enough, but if conversation demands that I pick a self-referent, I'll be damned if anyone else gets to define what that is. Personally, I wish it was as simple as just being me and letting my social/emotional/sexual interactions unfold as they will. But alas, people are so often very enamored of their categories.