LGBTAI+ #57 Infinity: I Love You, Always Forever

[Comrade]

Also I remember your username but not your avatar. Did you change? What was your old one?

Yeah, I changed the avatar a bit ago. Old one wasn't terribly different, just much darker in colour.

[JusticeZero]

Looks kind of like Exiern? I'm not a fan of it.

Ditto. It's not really a trans comic so much as a comic that uses a trans thing as imagined by a cis person as an occasional plot point. It's not bad for that, I guess.
Someone mentioned Misfile. I don't actually agree; the author wanted to speak to gender roles, not trans issues, so the character who is effectively trans has NO apparent dysphoria. They just comment a lot and deal with gender role stuff, mostly. Honestly, some of the comments on their forum was one of the puzzle pieces *I* eventually needed; I was one of the only (if not THE only) people in a very trans and cis filled conversation to be absolutely mystified why anyone would find a surprise sex change to be more than briefly inconvenient (needing different clothes, etc.) during a discussion about how it was odd for that character to be so relatively untraumatized by the change.

[golentan]

False equivalence drives me insane.

[JusticeZero]

Had a young girl following me around demanding to know if I was a boy or a girl and not accepting my answers yesterday. Eventually it devolved to me shrugging and not responding to the glare and "....Boy!... ... Girl! ... .. Boy! ... ... Girl!"
This is reassuring, but somewhat tiresome.
Also, somebody gave me suggestions on my voice for once, yay.
In other news, the restaurant that I spent a lot of time studying at that had an somewhat high number of trans patrons and a unisex bathroom closed today. I has a sad.

[ArlEammon]

Somehow I don't think Rich Burlew would appreciate me starting an Order of the Stick Dating Service. Personally I have a thing for Neil. . . but Belkar must be pretty good looking all bare too!

[Heliomance]

So my sister's getting married next year.

Spoiler

Show

I'm a bridesmaid!

[Jormengand]

I'm a bridesmaid!

Moreover, you're a really beautiful bridesmaid.

[Lentrax]

A blushing beautiful bridesmaid.

[JNAProductions]

So my sister's getting married next year.

Spoiler

Show

I'm a bridesmaid!

*High fives for you and your sister*

That's awesome! Say congrats to your sister from all of us on the forum, wishes for a long, happy marriage, and have an amazing time at the wedding!

[Dire Moose]

Heliomance, you're really beautiful and I'm glad your sister is so accepting.

Maybe someday I might be able to look as good as you do.

[Ravens_cry]

Well, update on my sister's wedding situation. I've decided, and told her, I'm just not going. It's not worth the fuss and hassle. You look wonderful, by the way, Heliomance, and congratulations.

[Heliomance]

Gah! My eyes leak stupidly easily these days. I just teared up because I saw some chocolate covered crystallised ginger in a shop which my granddad (who died two years ago) was very fond of. Hormones have some weird effects.

[Icewraith]

Gah! My eyes leak stupidly easily these days. I just teared up because I saw some chocolate covered crystallised ginger in a shop which my granddad (who died two years ago) was very fond of. Hormones have some weird effects.

Actually, having a sudden bout of sadness when presented with an object that has a strong connection to a deceased loved one - even if it has been years - transcends hormones.

Now if this is suddenly happening a lot, and this is just an example, maybe.

[Heliomance]

Actually, having a sudden bout of sadness when presented with an object that has a strong connection to a deceased loved one - even if it has been years - transcends hormones.

Now if this is suddenly happening a lot, and this is just an example, maybe.

I'm fairly sure that a year ago, it wouldn't have made me actually cry though. I cry an awful lot more easily than I used to.

[Dire Moose]

After going out in public as female for the first time on Saturday, I have since been really confused. I really liked doing that, yet I still cannot seem to feel the kind of dysphoria about being male that most others have experienced. And the confusion and doubt about my identity has just continued to build.

None of the repeating trends regarding dysphoria seem to hold true for me. Many report that they're uncomfortable looking at themselves in photos or mirrors, yet I keep detailed photographic records of most of the things I do to share with family and friends. Although I might wish to see a more feminine me in the mirror (and doing so makes me feel really happy), looking at my naked body doesn't make me particularly uncomfortable. I don't hate my genitals and if I transitioned I would probably stay non-op.

The three things I have felt bad about are all suspect as well. I do not like having body hair and am constantly shaving it off? Well, there are plenty of men who prefer not to have body hair as well. I hated the loss of my soprano voice when I was 14 and want it back? I'm sure plenty of young male singers must feel the same way. I really wish I had breasts? OK, that desire is certainly typical of a trans woman, yet most of my thoughts on that have had a sexual component (particularly my early desires when I was 13) and maybe I just want my own pair so I can play with them.

Pronouns did not bother me until after I started questioning my identity. And yes, I do not like being referred to as he/him while she/her makes me really happy, but again that didn't really happen until I started questioning.

The bottom line is, though I really like the idea of being a woman and enjoy becoming one whenever I can (and not in a sexual sense; it just feels nice), I do not feel really bad about being a man. So I have to wonder why I want to be female. Is it because I think women look sexy and I want to become one myself, perhaps? Or do I like roleplaying different characters so much that I want to be someone else for a time? If I really were trans I would actually have serious problems being a man, but I don't.

So the question remains: Why do I want this?

Also, keep in mind that even if the answer is negative and/or offensive, don't let that hold you back from giving it. I only want the truth, no matter how unpleasant it is.

[Jormengand]

I only want the truth, no matter how unpleasant it is.

The truth? The truth is that anyone who says they can give you a straight answer is selling something.

[Rain Dragon]

If I really were trans I would actually have serious problems being a man, but I don't.

Except, it's really important to note that not all trans people experience dysphoria.

Sorry for the very short post, I've not got much time.

I hope everyone has great holidays!

[Lentrax]

Can't answer that question for you. Self discovery is rarely solved by someone else.

But I can tell you that I am sure in my identity, but I don't experience dysphoria. I feel disgusted by what I see when I look at myself, but it isn't really tied to my gender.

I just know.

I know it doesn't really help you, but its my experience, so I am adding it for the conversation.

[Alegast]

Hi, new here. I wish you all a happy Xmas - or magical day if you don't believe in religion (like me).

As for what am I? I don't really know... seriously. I have my own theory that I'm asexual, but some people thinks I'm demisexual (a word I didn't know it existed until this year). Very well, that is all. I hope I can get along with all here.

[Athedia]

Hi, new here. I wish you all a happy Xmas - or magical day if you don't believe in religion (like me).

As for what am I? I don't really know... seriously. I have my own theory that I'm asexual, but some people thinks I'm demisexual (a word I didn't know it existed until this year). Very well, that is all. I hope I can get along with all here.

Yo! I would like to welcome you. Demi and ace have a little bit of a fuzzy boundary, but if you have any questions drop me a PM. Trust me, I have had plenty of experience talking about it.

[CWater]

Hi, new here. I wish you all a happy Xmas - or magical day if you don't believe in religion (like me).

As for what am I? I don't really know... seriously. I have my own theory that I'm asexual, but some people thinks I'm demisexual (a word I didn't know it existed until this year). Very well, that is all. I hope I can get along with all here.

Welcome! Both to the thread and the confused ace/demi club! ^^

[golentan]

Good news for some of us!

[Heliomance]

Happy Christmas my queers! Hope you're all having a wonderful time, without any family woes!

[AGD]

Hello, does anyone remember the story about my 6 year old cousine. It is half a year old, so here the quick version.

My 6 year old female assigned at birth Cousine identified as male. She wanted to be called by boys names, introduced herself as a boy to new people and managed it, to look very convincing with her haircut and her clothes.

I saw her today on christmas the first time since then and thought, I give an update. She still looked the same, but when we build a playmobile castle together, I wanted an update, so I asked her about her gender, as subtle as I could manage, so that I wouldn't push her one way or another.

I: "Do you want to be a knight."
Her: "No, I want to be a "burgfräulein"(maybe Maiden would be a good translation)."
I: "Didn't you tell me, that you are a boy."
Her: "Häh, what are you talking about."

(Hence the female pronomes. If she would still identify as male, I would have used male pronomes in this post)

Later, I had this short conversation with her mother(my aunt) on dinner.

I: "My Cousine wants to be a "burgfräulein". That was surprising to me."
Aunt: "I've said, that this is just a phase."

She hasn't said that to me, but propably to my mom, who has propably told her from some of my guesses. I've never talked with my Aunt directly about that, because I don't really know, what she would say to that.

I am propably a bit overly paranoid, but my alarm bells ringed by the word "just a phase". Even if my cousine is a Cis-Girl the wish to be a "burgfräulein" doesn't really sounds like the tomboy, that she is. Maybe my aunt said something to my cousine to "make it clear, that she is a girl" or something like that?

Well, I can't really do anything now and maybe it was just a phase and I am overreacting. I think, I'll relax first and maybe ask my cousine some questions, when she is 9 or so, to see at what she'll identify then.

[Dire Moose]

I'm having a good time. My 6-year-old cousin opened her presents this morning and liked the toy dinosaurs and dinosaur book I got her. I'm getting my other cousins some dinosaurs too, and the two oldest kids are each getting lightsabers. We'll all be meeting for a Christmas dinner and opening presents together this evening, and Shadowscale will be there as well once she's done at her family's get-together.

As far as acceptance goes, my family knows I'm bi and is OK with it. They don't know that I'm questioning my gender identity yet, and I'm not sure how they'd react if they did. I have no plans to tell them about that until I'm more certain of where I identify. They've been very accepting of Shadowscale though, so I'd like to consider that a hopeful sign.

As far as what I identify as now, I can't really consider myself either gender for sure, and I present as whichever one I feel best fits me in any given situation. Pronouns are whichever ones are suited to my presentation.

Also, I'm going to a trans support group tomorrow for the first time (as female); maybe I can air some of my thoughts there.

[AGD]

Good news for some of us!

Wow, It can't be that long until we live in a Sci-Fi-World.

So how long until we've access to immediate shape shifting. That would be awesome for Trans, absolutely amazing for genderfluid people and pretty neat for crossdreamers like me.

[golentan]

Wow, It can't be that long until we live in a Sci-Fi-World.

So how long until we've access to immediate shape shifting. That would be awesome for Trans, absolutely amazing for genderfluid people and pretty neat for crossdreamers like me.

We already live in a sci fi world. Your pocket contains more computing power than put people in orbit, your food has been genetically engineered to survive better, your car is 5 years tops from driving itself to work for you and likely already has voice commands, people can now print objects including some forms of food as 3D sculptures at home, and flights of metal assassins patrol the sky on the far side of the earth from their masters. When most sci fi classics were being written humanity hadn't left the earths atmosphere/low orbit. When the first Star Wars movie screened there were basically no such thing as computer graphics. A century ago automobiles were less common than horses. A hologram of a dead musician has performed numerous times in the past few years.

[goto124]

But where are the jetpacks?

[golentan]

But where are the jetpacks?

Do you mean a rocket pack, or would a flyboard satisfy that and the itch for the infamous hoverboard? Also, if you're just looking for personal flight, may I recommend the Solotrek XFV and similar things to scratch that itch?

[Ravens_cry]

A hologram of a dead musician has performed numerous times in the past few years.

The 'hologram' is by far the oldest item on the list, being a teched up Pepper's ghost, a technique first described 431 years ago, and popularized by the eponymous John Henry Pepper 153 years ago.
Still, yeah, we live in the future. It's got its quirks, but it's also pretty awesome.