I’m a liberal but I find this post on a gay blog to be a good example of the media landscape bubble. Notice how it’s completely presented as a foregone conclusion that what Rowling said was indeed transphobic, no question. And then read her point of view. No gray area? This particular phenomenon is not unique to or even worse on the left, but it’s disgusting nonetheless the absolute insistence on political orthodoxy, which is the precise opposite of open-minded discussion that allows for personal change and growth. You can’t simply insist someone agree with you. It doesn’t work and has potentially devastating consequences when there is eventually a backlash.

I mean people have attacked RuPaul for being transphobic, FFS. At that point you are just looking for a reason to be offended and are letting your rage cloud your reasoning.

There is a huge issue with how the media and social media have handled this stuff for a while now. People are literally banned from twitter if they say that trans women are still of the male sex, actually not people, men are actually not banned for doing so, just women. Women have the right to ask that they still have sex protections in prisons and in sports without it being transphobic, but somehow we are at a place in society where women are not allowed to have a say in things that directly effect us. I am proud of JK Rowling for saying something because most women cannot speak up for fear of being doxxed and feel their voices are being taken away. Also Martina Navratilova spoke up against trans women being allowed to play in sports leagues against females and was similarly labeled transphobic for having a valid opinion. This is all just a way to shut down conversation and silence women, it’s pretty scary.

Have you read those tweets? They are not transphobic.

I agree, I don’t see them as particularly transphobic. Rather they are a response to what many of us see as a counterproductive hypercorrection. I agree with the intent but not the tactics or shaming anyone who doesn’t blindly go along with the latest thinking and nomenclature, which changes weekly it seems.

I think we need to reclaim the right to not have an opinion.

Talking about trans issues is difficult. While we may have developed a better vocab about women’s issues and race issues lately, what makes it difficult is that trans issues involve gender — which we think we are already comfortable with.

Instead of rushing to the defense of Rowling, or blaming the media landscape for this polarization — have you read through why many trans organizations have criticized Rowling’s comments? Part of the challenge is that this cycle happens again and again — it can seem sometimes that there’s a PC police or liberal orthodoxy, but if you take time to find the critiques you’ll find that these conversations and discussions have been going on for some time. You’re just now hearing them.

Welcome aboard. Now listen to those trans voices and then form your opinion.

BA1 i think that’s the point OP is making here... the media presents these thoughts/tweets in such a biased way. I read those tweets and i would agree with her. I’m liberal too but i also believe we’re taking things too far if we cant say women menstruate. I’m a woman too btw. Now are all our conversations and letters and emails supposed to go from Ladies and gentlemen, to ladies, those who identify as ladies, gents, those who identify as gents, those who identify as both, those who identify as neither.... smh... when did it become wrong to say ‘women’ go thru periods. Next we can’t say women give birth either?
How is everything so easily classed as racist/ _____phobic these days.

My replies to other people’s comments have disappeared on my end. Is this just a glitch on my end or am I being actively censored? I really hope it’s just a glitch 😟

It’s more the language/thought police aspect of this that some of us find off-putting I think. I don’t think policing words, even among well meaning but perhaps less than perfect allies, is the right place to start to gain greater acceptance. And how long the conservation has been going on doesn’t really factor in being able to say it’s over. The matter has all been decided and now everyone get onboard with asking for people’s pronouns.

There was nothing transphobic with what she said...