While this is true, I am tired of cis people defending us as a means to an end. I’m tired of this constantly being brought up that if they take away our rights, they will also take away other rights. Our rights have value too. How about defending us because we’re humans and we don’t deserve this, instead of defending us just to protect your own ass?
Because that’s how we end up with people who are willing to defend our rights but are not actually willing to do anything more than that. They’re not defending our right, they’re defending the status quo, they don’t want to improve things. That gives you the all too typical issue of cisgender people who come to our events and constantly get deeply uncomfortable the second we remind them that they’re part of the problem and so on.
A lot of our so-called allies are only allied to themselves.
There was a meme the other day that was text over a screenshot of final fantasy tactics. It was like
Trans person: “are you helping us because they’ll come after you next?”
Protagonist: “I’m helping you because they’re coming after you now”
I liked that one.
100% agree but there’s an old saying about most people needing skin in the game before acting.
I think a generous interpretation of this comic could be that trans’ rights are everyone’s rights. Without them, no one has any.I feel like in these times any ally is an ally - we can’t afford to lose them. It sucks, though. I agree with you, and that’s why when we have a new ally, I want to let them take it in, and then explain step by step inasmuch the time allows us to.
Someone does not turn a fascist overnight. They step for step radicalise and break bonds. To undo that, every strategy we can use is valid. Whether that’s reaching out to others, striking, protesting, helping others hide or get medicine, etc. We need to self organise and be self sufficent, so that we can build up.
Joining a party, donating to it, having an urban farm (or even just a few plants), going off grid and getting energy from water, wind, sun. Giving food and receiving books and other goods. i sometimes thought about making a voluntary tracker for how often people give (and making society more equitable overall), as a way for encouraging gift economy stuff, but i’m not sure.
I’ve for example been thinking of helping cis women go to abortion clinics, trying to support cis guys into getting therapy and off social media (with mutual agreements), etc. I hate it but maybe they will see us more as people and less as tools then, because there’s more interaction, and understand we’re not just there to help but also just nice ppl.
Trans rights are human rights. Not because I fear of a near future that directly impacts me or my loved ones, but because I’m not a fucking monster. It should be the absolute baseline of human empathy.
That said, there are FAR too many people indirectly in the Trump bubble that might hate him but also “don’t approve of LGBTQ lifestyle choices”. They may be misguided, stupid, fundamentally broken or just evil. But still capable of thinking pragmatically at some level and THIS might just resonate with them.
It sucks, but that’s what “ally” means. Historically nations have regularly been allies in one war and enemies in the next.
i think the “good ally” trope is nice and even usefull in that it might make us safer to have more and better alllies. but i take what i get. i won’t wait for the perfect allies only.
You make a very good point
