TDoV Day 14

Day 14: Talk about traditional media. Have you been influenced by trans themes in the media? Have you had to correct misinformation about trans people that others got from the media?

In regards to trans people, the media is wrong 97% of the time.  It’s astounding the number of people who think there are only trans women, when I say I’m trans many people assume I’m mtf and I always have to correct them and say ‘No I’m actually female to male.’  It can be annoying.   With the exception of Boys Don’t Cry, trans men are hardly ever mentioned.  We have next to no awareness.  It’s frustrating. 

And there’s always the misinformation about surgery and your body.  People say all kinds of rude stuff about trans bodies and surgery.  A couple common ones:

“You have to have surgery to be trans.” Or “When are you having surgery?” You do not have to have surgery.  There is no right or wrong way to be trans.  Plus it’s rude to ask people about any medical procedures they may have had/will have.

“Have you had ‘the’ surgery?”  Which surgery are you referring to?  There is no one surgery.  For ftms there’s top surgery and a multitude of bottom surgeries. Which one are you referring to?

“Do you have a penis? Do you still have boobs?  What genitals do you have?”  Rude.  You shouldn’t be asking this to anyone but your sexual partner.