Aisling

🎯 There isn't pressure on random people to take HRT, but there is very much pressure on trans people to "if you're gonna do it, go all the way" and at least look like one of the two acceptable models of human.

I think one of the things that comes up here is a lot of trans people have experienced our families trying to sort of negotiate us down - okay, fine, we'll call you that name but just promise us you won't change your body.

But that's not what they actually want, they just want to put the brakes on and figure they'll start with the "most extreme demand" and then see if they can get you to give up on the whole idea. They're not saying "be a more respectable kind of trans," they're saying "be someone who it's easier for us to pressure out of transness entirely."

note the stunning lack of conservative news articles presenting "Trans Teen Only Transitions Socially, Declines Medical Interventions" as a success story

I think another thing about "it's OK to be trans and not take hormones" is that it's reassurance for people who can't take or access hormones for whatever reason. My bf has a severe fear of needles that has stopped him from getting flu shots never mind doing regular T injections, so this kind of reassurance that he is not failing at being trans even if he never manages to take hormones is still important for people like him. And then yeah, there's all sorts of reasons a person might not be able access hormones like not being able to afford them, being on waiting lists for years, or having bigoted family or work situations.