My heart actually skipped a beat when I saw SGW appear in my inbox. I hope this means more articles will be forthcoming on a more regular schedule. What’s being done to the trans community is the same thing the Nazis did to the Jews. With no rational argument to present against a population, demonize them and denigrate them with lies and slurs. I witnessed this on a personal scale when I got my ears pierced this past December. Sadly my predicament is to present as male to the outside world. Days passed and I curiously noticed that noone else noticed the small stud earrings I wore. But once it was noticed, I was called names (not very nice either) including by my wife as if I would back down and remove them, never to wear again. Once I made it clear verbally and by action that the earrings were here to stay, the name calling stopped although there are a couple people who treat me differently and I have to push back against them. I’m happy to say that my earring collection is even now expanding.
I so look forward to reading this, Zoe. I've been thinking about you and I hope you're holding up in these mad and sad times. Thank you for all your time and skill and effort that you share so selflessly.
Með elska to you and B__. (That's "With love" in Icelandic. :-) )
Hopefully will have the last gender affirming surgery I've known I needed since I was a kid next week.
Its weird because every job decision I've made so far was to get access to healthcare as quickly as possible and now that pressure to get health care coverage might be eased. I no longer need to work for any company that will give me health insurance.
I don't know where I fit in for Clean Hands, Dirty Hands, but its something Im looking forward to thinking about more in recovery.
It is so good to see an article from SGW. The section about deradicalizing bigots by slow exposure over time really is what I'm striving for on my end. My job requires a lot of customer service, and my customers have gotten to see me change first hand over the last year. A lot of them ask if I'm new, I smile and say "no, I've always been here." I put my best face forward even with the most surly of customers, and I know I cannot change all of them, but I hope I can at least change the minds of a few. Love you girl, so good to hear from you 💗
Always impressed by your writings. You really know how to effectively communicate difficult subjects in a straightforward manner without diluting the message. I try to be as visible as I can through my art so I can hopefully persuade people of our humanity. We will not be erased. 🏳️⚧️✊
Welcome back! So much to think about but a functional framework from which to organize and understand. I know you've always been right here. As you state, your articles continue to draw readers.
I very much appreciate the very timely gift you are giving us, the gift of a plan of resistance and hope.
Little late to the party, but wanted to just stop by and say thank you for sharing this. I find it amazing that even when you are talking to experts your language is understandable and approachable. Truly an inspiration to us all.
American Academic English is my own, personal white whale. I loathe it to a degree I can barely even describe, and as such I use plain language in my own research.
Hello again Zoe! I hope you're doing well and taking care of yourself in these trying times. I've got a bit of news from my journey.
It's been rough going but I've slowly putting some feelers out and coming out to friends. They've responded well so far, even if my brain keeps making me go over all of the info I compiled to "make absolutely sure" (wow I hate my way of thinking sometimes). I'm not out yet to my family, worried how they may react (probably well, but my anxiety is spiking due to recent events).
Thank you again for the immense help in my time of confusion and fear.
Good luck and Greetings from the Mni Sóta Makoce (Or, Where the Waters Reflect the Clouds, our new MN state motto!)
How did I miss this notification?! Substack betrayed me. I’m so happy to see you back, no matter your schedule moving forward. There’s a hope still, even in this toxic environment we have in the world. I’m terrified, everybody’s scared, but little things like seeing this essay make it bearable.❤️
...should have also mentioned, I really like the way you summed up the entire point of the "How HRT Rewrites Your DNA" article as being at heart the argument that "HRT really does change a person’s sex at every level, from bone marrow to hair." Quite evident when you state it plainly, but it's /good/ to hear it stated that way. Especially in an environment where science is more often used to support a position of sex absolutism and sex as thus "scientifically" defined is used as a proxy to deny gender recognition.
My heart actually skipped a beat when I saw SGW appear in my inbox. I hope this means more articles will be forthcoming on a more regular schedule. What’s being done to the trans community is the same thing the Nazis did to the Jews. With no rational argument to present against a population, demonize them and denigrate them with lies and slurs. I witnessed this on a personal scale when I got my ears pierced this past December. Sadly my predicament is to present as male to the outside world. Days passed and I curiously noticed that noone else noticed the small stud earrings I wore. But once it was noticed, I was called names (not very nice either) including by my wife as if I would back down and remove them, never to wear again. Once I made it clear verbally and by action that the earrings were here to stay, the name calling stopped although there are a couple people who treat me differently and I have to push back against them. I’m happy to say that my earring collection is even now expanding.
I so look forward to reading this, Zoe. I've been thinking about you and I hope you're holding up in these mad and sad times. Thank you for all your time and skill and effort that you share so selflessly.
Með elska to you and B__. (That's "With love" in Icelandic. :-) )
Hopefully will have the last gender affirming surgery I've known I needed since I was a kid next week.
Its weird because every job decision I've made so far was to get access to healthcare as quickly as possible and now that pressure to get health care coverage might be eased. I no longer need to work for any company that will give me health insurance.
I don't know where I fit in for Clean Hands, Dirty Hands, but its something Im looking forward to thinking about more in recovery.
Thank you for all you do.
It is so good to see an article from SGW. The section about deradicalizing bigots by slow exposure over time really is what I'm striving for on my end. My job requires a lot of customer service, and my customers have gotten to see me change first hand over the last year. A lot of them ask if I'm new, I smile and say "no, I've always been here." I put my best face forward even with the most surly of customers, and I know I cannot change all of them, but I hope I can at least change the minds of a few. Love you girl, so good to hear from you 💗
Always impressed by your writings. You really know how to effectively communicate difficult subjects in a straightforward manner without diluting the message. I try to be as visible as I can through my art so I can hopefully persuade people of our humanity. We will not be erased. 🏳️⚧️✊
I've missed you so much! Thank you for your amazing work.
Welcome back! So much to think about but a functional framework from which to organize and understand. I know you've always been right here. As you state, your articles continue to draw readers.
I very much appreciate the very timely gift you are giving us, the gift of a plan of resistance and hope.
Thank you!
Thank you! And the hiatus remains--this was an accessibility aid for a conference presentation, but I figured yall would enjoy it too.
Little late to the party, but wanted to just stop by and say thank you for sharing this. I find it amazing that even when you are talking to experts your language is understandable and approachable. Truly an inspiration to us all.
American Academic English is my own, personal white whale. I loathe it to a degree I can barely even describe, and as such I use plain language in my own research.
Unfortunately, this has cost me, in my career.
Hello again Zoe! I hope you're doing well and taking care of yourself in these trying times. I've got a bit of news from my journey.
It's been rough going but I've slowly putting some feelers out and coming out to friends. They've responded well so far, even if my brain keeps making me go over all of the info I compiled to "make absolutely sure" (wow I hate my way of thinking sometimes). I'm not out yet to my family, worried how they may react (probably well, but my anxiety is spiking due to recent events).
Thank you again for the immense help in my time of confusion and fear.
Good luck and Greetings from the Mni Sóta Makoce (Or, Where the Waters Reflect the Clouds, our new MN state motto!)
That's wonderful to hear! I'm really glad to hear that it's been going so well.
How did I miss this notification?! Substack betrayed me. I’m so happy to see you back, no matter your schedule moving forward. There’s a hope still, even in this toxic environment we have in the world. I’m terrified, everybody’s scared, but little things like seeing this essay make it bearable.❤️
As I said elsewhere, I'm still on hiatus—this was an accessibility aid for a conference presentation.
Even if it was just an aid to a presentation and not a full return to writing, I was just glad to see you’re still out and about.
Keep taking all the time that you need - but we're happy to read what you're up to in the interrim. ;)
...should have also mentioned, I really like the way you summed up the entire point of the "How HRT Rewrites Your DNA" article as being at heart the argument that "HRT really does change a person’s sex at every level, from bone marrow to hair." Quite evident when you state it plainly, but it's /good/ to hear it stated that way. Especially in an environment where science is more often used to support a position of sex absolutism and sex as thus "scientifically" defined is used as a proxy to deny gender recognition.