Think You Really Understand Trans People? | Diary of a Trans Popstar

Do you think you really understand trans people? Do you think you already know everything there is to know about trans people, because the media already told you, or because you've heard it all from some source? Think again.

Being trans is not a fashion statement. Being trans is not a political movement. Being trans is not a product of some academic ideology. And being trans is certainly nothing like the sensational stories you hear too often in the media.

The truth is, much of the conversation around trans people these days is strongly colored by people with an agenda. Their agenda comes from both extremes of the political spectrum, but what they have in common is they want to paint trans people in a certain way, to justify their doctrines. As a result, there's a lot of misinformation around trans people and trans lives out there right now. You might think trans people have come a long way in terms of visibility, but unfortunately, much of it is tied with misinformation, which is actually worse than no visibility at all.

Being trans is an inborn immutable characteristic, like race or sexual orientation. However, it comes with its own set of experiences, needs and challenges. What we ask for is understanding, fair treatment, and compassionate accommodation from society. This is what we want you, society, to see.