I read your piece, loved it, went back and read the Chu piece in Intelligencer which I had not seen, loved *it*, then came back and reread your piece, and loved it even more. What a powerhouse couple of writers you are! This project of reclaiming sex as part of the conversation rather than clinging to gender identity as the only rationale for trans medical rights (with a wary eye cast toward the increasingly vocal NYT and liberal essentialists) seems overdue and *very* necessary. Thank you so much for taking it on!
I've thought for a long time that it doesn't matter why trans and queer people exist, it only matters that we do. Attempts to ferret out the Why of our existence are generally pursued by those who wish we didn't exist.
I read the Intelligencer article and was so pleased to discover that this idea holds water, that it really is useful. Call me a transhumanist now, I suppose! And thank you so much for the insights.
Your discussion of the conflict between freedom and ideologies imposing a “true self” on behalf of others makes me think of the documentary “The Transformation” (directed by Susana Aikin and Carlos Aparicio). Have you seen it? It was released in 1995 but feels extremely prescient in our current context re: debates over regret and detransition and what Chu writes about as a theft of freedom and possibility.
I read your piece, loved it, went back and read the Chu piece in Intelligencer which I had not seen, loved *it*, then came back and reread your piece, and loved it even more. What a powerhouse couple of writers you are! This project of reclaiming sex as part of the conversation rather than clinging to gender identity as the only rationale for trans medical rights (with a wary eye cast toward the increasingly vocal NYT and liberal essentialists) seems overdue and *very* necessary. Thank you so much for taking it on!
I've thought for a long time that it doesn't matter why trans and queer people exist, it only matters that we do. Attempts to ferret out the Why of our existence are generally pursued by those who wish we didn't exist.
I read the Intelligencer article and was so pleased to discover that this idea holds water, that it really is useful. Call me a transhumanist now, I suppose! And thank you so much for the insights.
I know you're busy-busy-busy, but puh-lease write more!!!
Your discussion of the conflict between freedom and ideologies imposing a “true self” on behalf of others makes me think of the documentary “The Transformation” (directed by Susana Aikin and Carlos Aparicio). Have you seen it? It was released in 1995 but feels extremely prescient in our current context re: debates over regret and detransition and what Chu writes about as a theft of freedom and possibility.