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

Re: Being supportive is understanding the language

[qvalentine.livejournal.com]

What is interesting to me is that my first transgender FTM friend that I knew no longer looked at all female to anyone and identified as male, and to know him first among many was an interesting outlook for me. Kale actually had to tell me he was FTM, and he wanted me to know because he was interested in my response and because he wanted to be the first to tell me. I think my experience being friends with Kale colored the way I see gender transitions forever. I'm glad you had this discussion, because it brought to light some of the feelings that I have had and made me understand why I think the way I do about this subject. I'm so thankful that I live in a world in which people can all be so different, and I'm glad that I can be optimistic that the world is getting better at understanding how beautiful those differences are instead of trying to make everyone the same.