9 Comments

This is a beautiful articulation of an utterly heartbreaking state of affairs Stephen.

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“ heterosexual people who are trans and who identify as gay” - “identity as” doesn’t convey the lie, these people are pretending to be the other sex, and being homophobes in the process by blatantly saying they are gay

This whole “identity “ and identification is just pretending/lying/mental illness/redefining women & taking over their protection, privacy, sports etc

By using this nice neutral word we give them cover.

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This is wonderful Stephen. I was trying to remember what it was that 'peak transed' me about 3 years ago the other day and this has made me remember that it was this completely. I am not gay and do not presume for a minute to understand how any gay person feels, but I am outraged on your behalf. Thank you for such a beautiful piece of writing.

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Yes, it is a beautifully succinct piece of writing. I was just thinking that I wished I could write a half as good explanation of the effect this movement has on those of us who are bisexual, but tbh, the implicit bi erasure doesn't bother me nearly as much as heterosexual men who feel entitled to identify as "lesbian".

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So nice of you to say

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Thank you for such a brave and heart felt words. They help me understand a bit better what’s going on.

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Coz it is unbelievably confusing in any rational terms - you nailed it in this paragraph:

Why bring this up now? The @Ire_LGBAlliance launched recently. They have been immediately denounced, with vitriol that has to be seen to be believed. Some of the loudest calls have come from heterosexual people who are trans and who identify as gay. There are scores of other straight people in the replies offering their support. Heterosexual people supporting other heterosexual people in their denunciation of same-sex attracted people who have the temerity to say that gay people are homosexual. Mother of God.

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This is like straights gate-crashing the Post-Mardi Gras parade in Sydney, pretending to be gay for a night. All the fun and frisson, without the oppression, fear of bashings, bullying as a child, sniggering in the workplace and the generations of fighting back against homophobic (real homophobia) laws.

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How about the fact that they bullied Arielle Scarcella (the only actual lesbian invited) out of appearing at the only so-called lesbian event last time? It made me feel almost ashamed to be Australian.

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