Respecting Women's Space as a transgender male

EnderD_503 · 05-28-2010, 07:36 PM

Apparently I need to rep more people before repping you again, but good topic TenderKnight. I've found myself in an unlikely situation that has this subject on my mind a lot lately, though moreso from the perspective of a male id'd butch. Despite that society perceives me as female (albeit a rather masculine one) I've always felt male, and so I find myself unsure what to do when required to enter women only spaces. Others say that such spaces are for all women or all females no matter who they are. To me, I'm none of the above, which is not easily explained in this situation and so I have no "excuse" to give to avoid the requirement. I am doing a lot of good by entering that space, but I still feel like an invader.

I'm still unsure of what to do, or what would be the more honourable choice, but I, for one, am glad this topic is being discussed. Thanks for starting this thread.

PapaC · 05-28-2010, 08:00 PM

regarding things like big events, advertised events and so on and so forth, if something is advertised as a "Women" or a "lesbian" event, I will not go to that event (well, 100% for sure wouldn't go to that event on my own). It doesn't have to say "women only". But I would attend events that specify 'trans friendly' or 'all genders' but not a specific lesbian event. It's out of respect for women's space and also for my own personal comfort level. Fact is, most generic lesbians/lesbian spaces wouldn't 'get' the whole ID thing.

As for Queer spaces, that's a no brainer as I'll always ID as queer, feel queer, and therefore belong in 'queer' space, whether I look like a straight male or not.

my .02

05-28-2010, 07:36 PM	#1
EnderD_503 Member How Do You Identify?: Queer, trans guy, butch Preferred Pronoun?: Male pronouns Relationship Status: Relationship Join Date: Apr 2010 Location: Canada Posts: 1,329 My Photo Gallery Thanks: 4,090 Thanked 3,879 Times in 1,022 Posts Rep Power: 21474853	Apparently I need to rep more people before repping you again, but good topic TenderKnight. I've found myself in an unlikely situation that has this subject on my mind a lot lately, though moreso from the perspective of a male id'd butch. Despite that society perceives me as female (albeit a rather masculine one) I've always felt male, and so I find myself unsure what to do when required to enter women only spaces. Others say that such spaces are for all women or all females no matter who they are. To me, I'm none of the above, which is not easily explained in this situation and so I have no "excuse" to give to avoid the requirement. I am doing a lot of good by entering that space, but I still feel like an invader. I'm still unsure of what to do, or what would be the more honourable choice, but I, for one, am glad this topic is being discussed. Thanks for starting this thread.

05-28-2010, 08:00 PM	#2
PapaC Member How Do You Identify?: FTM-Queer Preferred Pronoun?: He Join Date: Nov 2009 Location: west coast Posts: 214 My Photo Gallery Thanks: 412 Thanked 486 Times in 111 Posts Rep Power: 1281637	regarding things like big events, advertised events and so on and so forth, if something is advertised as a "Women" or a "lesbian" event, I will not go to that event (well, 100% for sure wouldn't go to that event on my own). It doesn't have to say "women only". But I would attend events that specify 'trans friendly' or 'all genders' but not a specific lesbian event. It's out of respect for women's space and also for my own personal comfort level. Fact is, most generic lesbians/lesbian spaces wouldn't 'get' the whole ID thing. As for Queer spaces, that's a no brainer as I'll always ID as queer, feel queer, and therefore belong in 'queer' space, whether I look like a straight male or not. my .02