LGBTAitP Part 25: Doing away with titles

[SiuiS]

The inverse poses an intruiging question as well - what would a straight person do if they were magically turned gay for a day? Would they embrace it or would they worry themselves silly?

For me, I'm all about embracing....

Assuming they only change what springs attraction, and nothing else, they would just have the same response as they would to someone else being gay, from "darn" to a deep self loathing.
Assuming a change of preferred gender and a sudden understanding d the topic (or just not caring) then I think it would be eye opening, but would have a lot d clashes with machismo. On both sides, as women who suddenly woke up not liking men could be just as much measured by macho stereotypes as men who wake up not liking women.

Okay guys. For everyone here who isn't heteronormative, if you could choose to wake up tomorrow feeling like any straight cis person of your sex, would you?

I'm curious because I'm wondering how much people's identities compare to the burden many in society place on LGBTers. I'm also curious how much people would hate the idea of losing free will, but that's another thing.

I don't know.
I've always felt sex was a suit I couldn't change, the hand I was dealt and I'll just hope for better next time. So my being 'manly' was mostly conscious choice. I can't be a woman like I want so I may as well be good at what I'm stuck with, you know?

That was all before puberty though. I've thought about this question in various incarnations and I really don't know. I assume the part of me that cares about being feminine would be the feminine side; that is, I would wake up a cismale who also was okay with that. In which case I would be okay after the fact, regardless of how I felt about transitioning beforehand.

If that wasn't the case, I think I would feel hollow. Like I was an incomplete puzzle? It a strange sensation. Soulless. So I guess I will go with "no", but I will wheedle at these mystic men to perhaps offer me tw chance to wake up tomorrow as a cisfemale, with matching birth certificate and all. That would really ease things along, if you'd be so kind

[Mina Kobold]

Okay guys. For everyone here who isn't heteronormative, if you could choose to wake up tomorrow feeling like any straight cis person of your sex, would you?

I'm curious because I'm wondering how much people's identities compare to the burden many in society place on LGBTers. I'm also curious how much people would hate the idea of losing free will, but that's another thing.

Before I make my eloquent and well-worded reply, I will have to warn readers that these are mere subjective opinions that express the value and meaning of certain things to me. They are not indicative of my opinion of their effect to others or their value to society. IE, if I find a colour meh for me, it can be yay for you. [/disclaimerMonocle]

Now for my reply: Eeeeeeew! Icky ick ick no! Gross! >_<

I would give up free will for not dying after a short human life, though... But would that not be an act of free will? O_o

...

@_o Ow, my poor paradox-intolerant brain. >_<

[Astrella]

Before I make my eloquent and well-worded reply, I will have to warn readers that these are mere subjective opinions that express the value and meaning of certain things to me. They are not indicative of my opinion of their effect to others or their value to society. IE, if I find a colour meh for me, it can be yay for you. [/disclaimerMonocle]

Now for my reply: Eeeeeeew! Icky ick ick no! Gross! >_<

I would give up free will for not dying after a short human life, though... But would that not be an act of free will? O_o

...

@_o Ow, my poor paradox-intolerant brain. >_<

Can I just add that you are one awesome Kobold?

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Iunno, my queerness has influenced who I am partly, who I'm friends with, what opinions I hold, what I know and all that. That person wouldn't be me I feel because the change wouldn't be a thing that came from myself. (not that getting rid of dysphoria wouldn't be a nice thing... )

[KenderWizard]

Okay guys. For everyone here who isn't heteronormative, if you could choose to wake up tomorrow feeling like any straight cis person of your sex, would you?

I'm curious because I'm wondering how much people's identities compare to the burden many in society place on LGBTers. I'm also curious how much people would hate the idea of losing free will, but that's another thing.

No, but then, I've got it easy. It'd be harder for me (discrimination, no marriage, hard to get children) if I was in a relationship with a woman instead of with a man, but then, I'd love her so I wouldn't want to change. So, still no.

Actually, I kind of feel like I'm in the shallow end of the LGBT+ pool! I am cis and I can pass as straight.

[Astrella]

Actually, I kind of feel like I'm in the shallow end of the LGBT+ pool! I am cis and I can pass as straight.

Don't worry; there's plenty of harmful stereotypes and erasure to compensate for that!

[Astrella]

Actually, I kind of feel like I'm in the shallow end of the LGBT+ pool! I am cis and I can pass as straight.

Don't worry; there's plenty of harmful stereotypes and erasure to compensate for that!

Edit: Some good trans*-related news from Scotland.

[Zale]

Okay guys. For everyone here who isn't heteronormative, if you could choose to wake up tomorrow feeling like any straight cis person of your sex, would you?

I'm curious because I'm wondering how much people's identities compare to the burden many in society place on LGBTers. I'm also curious how much people would hate the idea of losing free will, but that's another thing.

That would be terribly inconvenient.

Since I've just almost gotten used to being gay now.

Becoming straight would mean having to start back over.

I'm far to lazy to deal with that.

[Lycunadari]

Okay guys. For everyone here who isn't heteronormative, if you could choose to wake up tomorrow feeling like any straight cis person of your sex, would you?

I'm curious because I'm wondering how much people's identities compare to the burden many in society place on LGBTers. I'm also curious how much people would hate the idea of losing free will, but that's another thing.

No, I wouldn't. Losing the ability to love women would be sad. I'm happy I can (theoretically) love everyone.

[Mina Kobold]

Can I just add that you are one awesome Kobold?

Well, uhm, Thanks.

Actually, I kind of feel like I'm in the shallow end of the LGBT+ pool! I am cis and I can pass as straight.

If the LGBT+ (the bestest blood-type!) pool is like the water parks I know, then you have all the colourful sculptures and springs in the shallow end! Those are really fun! ^_^

Huh? Why is my logic-sense telling me it is a metaphor? Is there no LGBT+ pool? Oh noes! O_O

Don't worry; there's plenty of harmful stereotypes and erasure to compensate for that!

Edit: Some good trans*-related news from Scotland.

Eep! Those are bad indeed. ;_;

Re: Scottrans* amazingness: Those are great news for Scotland and the Scottish LGBTA+ peeps. I hope much more amazing progress follows.

[The Succubus]

No, but then, I've got it easy. It'd be harder for me (discrimination, no marriage, hard to get children) if I was in a relationship with a woman instead of with a man, but then, I'd love her so I wouldn't want to change. So, still no.

Actually, I kind of feel like I'm in the shallow end of the LGBT+ pool! I am cis and I can pass as straight.

Some of us don't even get to go swimming in the rainbow pool but instead wander up and down along the edge (occasionally wondering whether to dive in or not).

Really should go swimming again.

[Mono Vertigo]

Some of us don't even get to go swimming in the rainbow pool but instead wander up and down along the edge (occasionally wondering whether to dive in or not).

Yeah, I always do that too, because I'm not fond of swimming. And I have a love-hate relationship with water. No, actually, it's just a plain old hate relationship, where I avoid it carefully, and it doesn't try to drown me, and we all live happily separately.
... wait, were we talking about metaphoric pools?
... whaddanow, my comment still works on a metaphoric level. Seems to happen to me a lot. *shrugs*

[KenderWizard]

Don't worry; there's plenty of harmful stereotypes and erasure to compensate for that!

Phew! ... Wait. Aww...

If the LGBT+ (the bestest blood-type!) pool is like the water parks I know, then you have all the colourful sculptures and springs in the shallow end! Those are really fun! ^_^

Good point! I wonder what sculptures are in this metaphor... Exciting LGBT+ related experiences?

Some of us don't even get to go swimming in the rainbow pool but instead wander up and down along the edge (occasionally wondering whether to dive in or not).

Really should go swimming again.

Yeah, this is kind of making me want to go swimming too!

Yeah, I always do that too, because I'm not fond of swimming. And I have a love-hate relationship with water. No, actually, it's just a plain old hate relationship, where I avoid it carefully, and it doesn't try to drown me, and we all live happily separately.
... wait, were we talking about metaphoric pools?
... whaddanow, my comment still works on a metaphoric level. Seems to happen to me a lot. *shrugs*

... I think your metaphorical pool is different than mine. In mine, it's the people who are both heteronormative and gendernormative who are outside the pool, on the flat alternating tiles of cis and straight. I think asexual people would be on floaty chairs! On the water, not in the water.

Wow, I really want to go swimming!

[Mono Vertigo]

Aww yeah, floaty chairs, I like that much better than standing around the pool.
Until I want to leave the pool. Then I'll flail, panic, and waste three hours paddling veeeery carefully back to the edge.
(No, we've definitely left the metaphor here.)

Speaking of pools, BF hasn't gone back since last time.
... we haven't jogged in a while either.
Dammit, he's overworking and I'm slacking off! Again!

[Asta Kask]

The inverse poses an intruiging question as well - what would a straight person do if they were magically turned gay for a day? Would they embrace it or would they worry themselves silly?

For me, I'm all about embracing....

I love women too much to consider homosexuality. Bisexuality on the other hand... and quite frankly, being trans seems a massive pain as things are now so no thanks.

[Castaras]

If I woke up one day to find I was bisexual or lesbian, I'd shrug and carry on with life. The latter would make things a bit complicated with my friend w/ benefits, but otherwise it'd make little difference to life in general.

If I woke up to find myself with a male body, then the first thing I'd do is fap, and the second is find a girl to have sex with. Curiosity's sake, I know what it's all like from the female side of things, but the male side of things is an alien concept.

[The Succubus]

Would be pretty much the same for me if I woke up with a female body - I'd be interested in finding out the....mechanics....of it with regard to intimacy. Purely for scientific purposes of course, which raises all manner of questions about my inner scientist.

I don't think I'd want it longer than a day though - that business with the blood looks painful, awkward and highly stressy.

EDIT: I'm worried now. Having said this, by standard comedy rules, I'm going to wake up in the body of a petite young lady with amazingly thick glasses....

.....and Cassie's going to wake up in charge of me.

[Mono Vertigo]

Well, I for one wouldn't be interested at all.
Afghdhs, bits I'm not used to and that I'm going to have to use, eeek.
Boyfriend would surely find it more interesting than I do, though, being bi and all.

[Astrella]

Trust me, having the "other" bits is not all that it's made out to.

[Mono Vertigo]

I do trust you on that subject.
I imagine it would be less immediately dramatic for me to have been born trans instead of waking up with a changed body, since at least I would have had the time and experience to know how these bits function.

(Not that the latter case happens often, admittedly...
I did read, several years ago, about the case of a young Indian woman who was, putting things simply, wishing very hard they were a man, for evident social reasons, though I wouldn't rule out their gender identity either. They woke up with male genitals eventually, and they were very happy about that, and their equally happy mother claimed it was a divine act.
Now, the article had been vague. Maybe that person was actually physically intersex and undiagnosed as such. Maybe it was a hoax.

Note: I'm using they here because I honestly don't know how that person defines themself, and wanting to appear male just to avoid oppression alone doesn't make one male.)

[Serpentine]

If I woke up one day to find I was bisexual or lesbian, I'd shrug and carry on with life. The latter would make things a bit complicated with my friend w/ benefits, but otherwise it'd make little difference to life in general.

If I woke up to find myself with a male body, then the first thing I'd do is fap, and the second is find a girl to have sex with. Curiosity's sake, I know what it's all like from the female side of things, but the male side of things is an alien concept.

Pretty much the same for me (without the fwb bit...), except I must admit I'd probably be kinda embarrassed to admit the gay bit to some of my family, particularly my mum. I'm not entirely sure why, except that it sorta feels like the same sort of embarrassment as if I had to tell her I have sex.
Assuming the non-cis bit went in the form of my body changing, it'd also be pretty much the same thing. "*Wiggle wiggle wiggle* Hmmm... *touch* *play* ....hey, open-minded lady* friends of mine! ;D" Also a great deal of "omg how the eff did that happen?!" and "no one will believe me!" and so on. After that, in the long term... I don't know. I'd imagine I'd settle in and deal with it, but I'd be very interested to see if I don't.
If it were the other way round, if one day I woke up and my brain was all "wrong wrong wrong this is wrong!", then... I dunno. It'd suck, I guess :/ It'd certainly be an interesting experience...


*One step at a time, guys. You'll have your chance later.

[Asta Kask]

Elephants have a prehensile penis. I am jealous.

[Mono Vertigo]

Asta, the thing hanging in front of the elephant is not a penis. It's called a trunk. Common mistake.

... oh wait you aren't joking.
Okay, I learnt enough weird facts for today, see ya later y'all.

[supernerd]

Okay guys. For everyone here who isn't heteronormative, if you could choose to wake up tomorrow feeling like any straight cis person of your sex, would you?

Well golly, golly! I wouldn't, because that would mean all my gayness has been washed from every part of me, including my past actions and memory. To give up my affinity to penis and repulsion to vaginas(boobs are fine as long as no one is shoving them in my face), would mean I have to forfeit several learned personality traits, a few bad, but many good, and many friendships, if I erased my gayness I would never have joined this thread and I would never have been able to talk about some of the biggest changes for some of my closest friends (ie some of my female friends, I think 2 bisexuals and 2 lesbians) and help each other. I guess you can say I've become too sentimental about what my gayness has opened up for me, so I don't think I'll ever be able to let it go.

[Thufir]

*One step at a time, guys. You'll have your chance later.

For me, if I woke up as a woman, yes, there would be the immediate exploration of my new anatomy. Moving from that directly to finding an interested man/woman to have sex with would be the ideal, but practically speaking there'd probably be intermediate stages like calling a female friend (if it happened right now, probably Serp) and asking foor her help getting generally sorted out, maybe getting bras and stuff.
As to the "Hey, open-minded friends of mine" stage, a bunch of the people I would think of might be ruled out due to being in relationships (in some cases with each other).

If I woke up a different sexuality... it'd be confusing. Both for me and for some of my friends, since flirting and such tends to be a thing. Though I suppose in the long run it wouldn't make such a massive difference. Well, if I became asexual that'd be a pretty big difference.

[Asta Kask]

Assuming the non-cis bit went in the form of my body changing, it'd also be pretty much the same thing. "*Wiggle wiggle wiggle* Hmmm... *touch* *play* ....hey, open-minded lady* friends of mine! ;D" Also a great deal of "omg how the eff did that happen?!" and "no one will believe me!" and so on. After that, in the long term... I don't know. I'd imagine I'd settle in and deal with it, but I'd be very interested to see if I don't.

*One step at a time, guys. You'll have your chance later.

You would have some pretty epic manboobs.

[Serpentine]

Do not want!

[Lix Lorn]

If I woke up one day to find I was bisexual or lesbian, I'd shrug and carry on with life. The latter would make things a bit complicated with my friend w/ benefits, but otherwise it'd make little difference to life in general.

If I woke up to find myself with a male body, then the first thing I'd do is fap, and the second is find a girl to have sex with. Curiosity's sake, I know what it's all like from the female side of things, but the male side of things is an alien concept.

...huh.
Apparently, despite having met Cassie, I still see her as being sorta innocent.
APPARENTLY NOT THEN

Do not want!

Silly Asta. She'd have to be as hot as she is now, so... lithe and muscly without being over-buff, tall...

[KenderWizard]

Oh, if we're also answering what we'd do if we woke up as the opposite physical sex... Lady-bits are confusing enough, I don't want man-bits. ... Although masturbation seems much more straightforward, so that'd be a plus. Also, I think my partner would be pretty cut up about it. The only bit I'd like is being able to have male privilege in nerd spaces and on the streets. But I don't think it'd be worth it!

[Mystic Muse]

If I woke up as a girl, I'd be really, really, really, really happy, so long as I could explain it's me and I wasn't kidnapped or anything.

[Astrella]

If I woke up as a girl, I'd be really, really, really, really happy, so long as I could explain it's me and I wasn't kidnapped or anything.

*nod*
I just wasn't sure if the question meant I'd be a cis guy or a cis girl in that case. :s

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Some thoughts on trans and sexism related terminology.