Logan often likes to use an analogy like "otherkin is similar to transgender, like trans-species".
Being transgender is identifying as/with a gender that doesn't match what your body was at birth. Some people choose this identity, some people feel this identity in one way or another; gender dysphoria or gender euphoria. But somehow they end up identifying as/with a different gender, and that's transgender.
Being otherkin is identifying as/with a species that doesn't match what your body was at birth... and some people choose this identity, and some people find it in one way or another... species dysphoria or species euphoria... and somehow they end up identifying as/with a different species... hmm.
Honestly... they're similar enough—virtually identical except for the actual part of identity they concern—that people who are against freedom of identity will usually just attack both. This is often part of many transphobes' beliefs... "you are a man! you must identify male!" so it follows "you are a human! you must identify human!".
I think it would actually be really nice to find some extension of "gender" that includes an entire self-image rather than only... well, gender itself. Common arguments against otherkinity are usually along the lines of "you can't just identify as a different species, species is a property of the body!"
...well, biological sex is also a property of the body, but gender still exists. So why is there no equivalent for species? Don't even try to bring up gender roles, that's not why~ The only correct answer, in my opinion, is... "there should be an equivalent for species".
So yeah... freedom of identity. That's what they're really against.
Species dysphoria suuuucks...
I belong no where, and trust no one.
People i thought i could trust turned out not so trustworthy.
