Phobia Means Fear or Aversion, Not Hate November 6, 2022
Posted by geoff in News.trackback
So we’ve been hearing the pejorative “transphobic” being used extensively over the past several years, and I’m fine with it, at least per the classical definition of “phobia.” I’ll admit that I have a phobia where trans people are concerned. Something about the mix of male and female features freaks me out at a very visceral level (I mentioned this some time ago in relation to Conchita Wurst).
I know there are trans folk who can “pass,” but in my experience they’re rare. The ones I see are easily identified, and I find them alien and unsettling (like, say, Rachel Levine).
So I would have hoped that transphobia would be treated with more empathy than it has received. I don’t particularly want to be transphobic, but it seems like it would take a lot to change that.
But that’s not the sort of effort the trans community wants to put in. They have, rather, adopted an aggressive strategy of “in-your-faceism” where they try to force you to acknowledge and accept them by parading through the media, the schools, and the streets. And that just aggravates the phobia.
So transphobic I am and it looks like transphobic I’ll always be. Until the trans community stops their campaign to traumatize and vilify transphobes and starts reaching out to them instead.
Innocent Bystanders 
I’ve been around this community since the early 1980’s and I get your argument of in-your-faceism. It worked for das gais in the late 60’s and again in the late 90’s. In the 80’s when I was in this man’s Navy, trans’ among my gay friends were revered as paranormal, and I suppose they are. I’ve always been straight and my gay friends kne/ow that, but even 30 years ago trans people were freaks to me. Guess that makes me a phobe.
I looked up phobia in several online dictionaries; some mentioned “hate,” some didn’t.
I tried walking across the golden gate bridge a few yrs ago and felt crippling acrophobia – literally couldn’t continue – but didn’t feel hate.
I found myself in a community contra-dance once with a partner who had manly stubble and I definitely was weirded out, but that wasn’t hate.
I have a good friend with a trans child and their family’s life is very difficult. For them, I feel compassion.
You’re right, it’s weird, and I know you’re not a hater.
Time for a new vocabulary.
Reblogged this on Calculus of Decay .