Long 🧵👇🏼
1/18. Internally revealed” makes it sound like a spiritual experience, as in the revealing of God, Christ or Faith
I have never had faith, but I did wonder why, if those exist, they were not revealed to my mother, who died in terror having never received faith. …
1/18. Internally revealed” makes it sound like a spiritual experience, as in the revealing of God, Christ or Faith
I have never had faith, but I did wonder why, if those exist, they were not revealed to my mother, who died in terror having never received faith. …
https://twitter.com/berkswell/status/1985753754763722957
2. Of course I know why, & it is that those things are fanciful myths revealed, if at all, & experienced as ‘real’ through spiritual experiences as described so well by William Temple
I understand why some trans people will talk of a revealing of an inner essence - the …
I understand why some trans people will talk of a revealing of an inner essence - the …
3. … language of spiritual revelation serves well to explain the otherwise inexplicable
Other trans people , such as Jan Morris, use the trope of travel from one experience of, or place, life to another
Others will talk of a ‘break through’ experience, such as a …
Other trans people , such as Jan Morris, use the trope of travel from one experience of, or place, life to another
Others will talk of a ‘break through’ experience, such as a …
4. … car crash, serious illness, or near-death experience forcing them to finally think the unthinkable & accept it as ‘truth’
A problem arises because,as we have seen in this discussion, the idea that any of us are not an acceptable version , or will not accept being a …
A problem arises because,as we have seen in this discussion, the idea that any of us are not an acceptable version , or will not accept being a …
5. … version, of the social pathway assigned to us, by a label given at the time of birth, has for far too long referred to as a mental illness, or worse, some sort of sexual perversion
As a young child I found the inability of others, especially Father Christmas, …
As a young child I found the inability of others, especially Father Christmas, …
6. … to see what was plainly obvious to me, ie. that I was a boy, incomprehensible
It was as if people were blind. I later discovered they were not as blind as they made out
In 1975, my ‘sex change’ seemed to produce a sigh of relief - not just from my parents - who had …
It was as if people were blind. I later discovered they were not as blind as they made out
In 1975, my ‘sex change’ seemed to produce a sigh of relief - not just from my parents - who had …
7. … sought advice from a. Consultant paediatrician when I was 5, but from former school teachers, the church minister etc who all could see it coming, & to whom it made sense.
When age 10, I already knew but I also knew I was meant to pretend to be a girl. I did have a …
When age 10, I already knew but I also knew I was meant to pretend to be a girl. I did have a …
8. … form of spiritual revelation. It was school sports day, & as they called out the names of those running in the boy’s race, I experienced my flash of light on the road o Damascus. I realised I was always going to be in the wrong race.
My teenage years were spent …
My teenage years were spent …
9. … searching for the cure, a way to accept being in the wrong race
My reading through every medical book never found it. Nor did being a girl guide, or being allowed to enjoy the activities I had an affinity to. Nor did having boyfriends, or girlfriends.
Gay liberation …
My reading through every medical book never found it. Nor did being a girl guide, or being allowed to enjoy the activities I had an affinity to. Nor did having boyfriends, or girlfriends.
Gay liberation …
10. … & feminism provided political homes, but not a home where I could relax & just be myself.
Everyday, even when amongst women who accepted me as a ‘butch’ I felt daunting - the hard work of performing a play, learning my lines diligently, in order to avoid discovery.. …
Everyday, even when amongst women who accepted me as a ‘butch’ I felt daunting - the hard work of performing a play, learning my lines diligently, in order to avoid discovery.. …
11. My life was unmoored, I had no doubts at all, that if there was a God, this was one of their sickest jokes; that God made me, a man, destined to live as if a woman.
Whilst I accept others want biology & social categories to be simple
I understand how mad I must sound …
Whilst I accept others want biology & social categories to be simple
I understand how mad I must sound …
12. … to those whose ground is tethered to simple versions of life. Trans people are the earthquake rattling their foundations
I struggle to understand why they cannot see:
- beauty in the amazing complexities of the world we humans. & nature have built …
I struggle to understand why they cannot see:
- beauty in the amazing complexities of the world we humans. & nature have built …
14. - that transition & gender reassignment was the ‘cure’ for me. I was no longer depressed, seeing no purpose to continuing being continually unhappy. I found my self being
- how social & societal changes are a reason for the growth in numbers of T people. Whether it was …
- how social & societal changes are a reason for the growth in numbers of T people. Whether it was …
15. … obtaining job security (1997) or better parental understanding (early 2000s), or positive media representation, or peer group acceptance, i forecast an initial exponential growth in numbers - it was obvious the once hidden would appear. It would lead to many more …
16. … to feel safe enough to develop as the person they are. And that growth would eventually settle - as it is doing
I do not feel any need to justify or explain my existence. I simply do my best to live a good life as a decent human being, yet there is an increasing body ..
I do not feel any need to justify or explain my existence. I simply do my best to live a good life as a decent human being, yet there is an increasing body ..
17. … of science confirming our being, but as yet the data is insufficient to reach a conclusive aetiology
As a human rights lawyer, aetiology is irrelevant - what matters is l we are born into our human rights, one of which is the right to personal autonomy & development …
As a human rights lawyer, aetiology is irrelevant - what matters is l we are born into our human rights, one of which is the right to personal autonomy & development …
18. As a trans person, aetiology is irrelevant, I exist & have done so since my first awareness of self.
Trans people have existed in all societies studied, across geography & across time, & will continue to do so despite the efforts push us back into our closets
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Trans people have existed in all societies studied, across geography & across time, & will continue to do so despite the efforts push us back into our closets
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