@Bombzero Oh yeah, forgot to mention I prefer the use of female pronouns online, just for future reference : )
@Goombageek
1. In general people don't. But seriously, its hard being a minority in this homogenised world. I don't like playing the oppressed card so I'll leave it there.
2. Yep, thats how everyone I feel should be. I have two mantras in life, both connected. I'm fine with anyone believing/thinking/doing what they want so long as they're overall happy with it but so long as their happiness isn't stopping other people from achieving it. And not forcing anyone to think differently, I like to show evidence for what ever I'm doing and let them make up their minds for themselves.
3. Unfortunately activism for any cause is going to piss of someone somewhere. I consider myself a trans activist and pissing off the majority is what I like most. It means I must be doing something right
Just me being me pisses the majority off. I try not to talk down or act superior over anyone. I talk to them as any individual as fairly and polite as possible to challenge their ideas and misconceptions about topics about situations I want to improve.
4. Yeah, its a serious problem that minority (and majority) groups have to be aware of. Its that classic thing of people of the same world outlook will tend to congregate together and exclude people who don't think the same way as them. This usually leads to hostility (as seen in this thread) when discussions arise, both sides will be so firmly entrenched in their own way of thinking that they exclude the possibility that they may be wrong. However, when you mention the idea of people wanting to be accepted think of it from the other side of the fence, when you're in the minority. You come face to face with the constant pressure to conform to the majority will whether it good or bad. This pressure is passive and active all the time. You have subtle reminders of what 'normal' should be. You can't step a foot out of the door without someone reminding you with a stare or a gawping mouth at how you look or act. You're being judged negatively for not fitting within the persons, and by extension societies, purviews of how you should look and act. It raises the question of "Why should I conform so someone else can be happier about themselves?" and "what reaction will happen when I challenge this person about this?". It isn't fair on the individual being judged so negatively about who they are or pressured to conform to have to change themselves so much that they lose sight of being an individual. It's an extremely subjective thing, but for me that pressure was so great that it reduced me to a ball of tears most nights, contemplating suicide as a means of escaping it. Some interesting statistics for you. 83% of trans people have considered suicide. 1/3rd have attempted it. You tell me if thats a fair result of being treated in society the way we are.
So yeah... I'm an activist because I detest the way people like me are treated by others at large. I speak out at every opportunity I see someone not being fair to gender and sexual minorities. Because honestly, its suprising how hurtful people can be when they don't realise what they're saying. And yes, this requires CONSTANT reminding. And unfortunately its going to take a lot more pissing off of people and society to get those equal rights I and my fellow trans* deserve. If you're lucky to be part of a majority that isn't oppressed (yay!) and you do want to help, then by all means I'm happy to have you on board we always need more people to help us shout for equal treatment. But remember, you haven't experienced things the way we have and most likely will never. We get this. We're no better or worse for it. Just don't get hurt when we exclude you from certain topics. We're not trying to exclude you, it's just we gotta have our own time with ourselves to talk about these things.