These are just some observations I am making about the discourse in this thread.
It seems that some folks, the admin of this site included, view this site as an umbrella for a very broad spectrum of people who identify as part of the femme/butch/trans/queer/lesbian/gay/inter-sexed/and even questioning community. I think I fall in to this particular group. Maybe it's my lifelong work in politics and always trying to build a bigger tent of acceptance in many different communities across society that makes me proud to be able to traverse in this online community and generally feel acceptance and tolerance -- more so than I do in my offline life, frankly.
It seems that there are some folks on this site, such as Kobi, whom I admire so much for speaking her truth and for putting it out there. These folks, it seems, want to find that comfortable space in a larger community and who have very specific things they are seeking in that space.
Truth be told, I think this site serves both. What I find comforting about this space is that it is run by two of the more open-minded and accepting people I know. There are no rules of identity here. Which is one of the things I like. But I do think there are rules related to respecting each other's i.d. I've not always found that to be the case in online communities similar to this one. And there are some online communities that don't speak to diversity at all, and I could not be a member of those communities because of that.
I am saddened that some people expressed they don't feel comfortable in some "zones" on this site. I tend to walk between two zones here -- butch and trans. I cannot fully embrace one as much as I embrace the other because for personal and career reasons I choose not to fully transition. Nonetheless, I have not been derided or made to feel uncomfortable by any FTM on this site.
I do believe there is room for all on this site. I think we can work together as a community to self-police issues such as respect, acceptance and making people feel welcomed and valued. I feel the site owners already do a fine job of that, and it is incumbent upon all of us to share in that mission.
Jake
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