Artist Creates Insightful Comics To Foster Acceptance Of Transgender Experiences (30 Pics)
Interview With ArtistSophie Labelle is a French-Canadian transgender cartoonist, activist, writer, and public speaker. She is best known for her webcomics "Assigned Male" and "Serious Trans Vibes" which address issues related to gender identity, transgender experiences, and LGBTQ+ themes.
Labelle has many fans worldwide, and she's often invited to different events to talk about her work. People appreciate that her comics help normalize being transgender. Scroll down to see her latest creations! If you want to see more of Labelle's work, the best way to read her comics is on Webtoon!
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Fun fact: In 2013 Princeton University did a study on trans kids, there were 317 kids involved in the study. After 5 years, only 2.5 percent of the study had returned to their birth gender. So, it's not a phase, support trans youth.
Didn't an even smaller percentage of that number actually want to fo that while the others didn't have enough support? Or am I thinking about it overall?
Load More Replies...Ah, so it's ok for you to shove your beliefs down our gullets, but not ok for the rest of us to demand you leave lgbtq+ youth alone and let them be themselves? What a sick little monkey you are.
Load More Replies...You have absolutely no idea what you're talking about. Leave lgbtq+ youth alone, you ignorant, sadistic monster.
Load More Replies...Bored Panda reached out to Labelle to delve deeper into her world and creative journey. We were eager to unravel the roots of her passion for making comics. "I’ve been drawing comics since I was 7," shared the artist. "With my brother and a friend, we had a 'comic club'. Our comics were popular all over town, and since I was getting a lot of bullying because of my gender expression, it became my main motivation to get up in the morning. It was especially true when I was treated for depression at 8 because gender dysphoria was unbearable. Art became my main mode of expression."
I love the healthy portrayal of trans people and gender experimentation. You’re allowed to try different things to figure stuff out!
I just noticed that this comic and the "Be careful who you hate, it could be someone you love" seem to be occurring at the same time, it's an interesting detail :)
Hmm. I have some mixed opinions on this. Of course kids should be allowed to transition when they’re old enough, but I don’t think parents should jump to conclusions when they’re still really young. I have the same thoughts about religion, I’m fine with people choosing to believe in god on their own, but parents forcing it on them since birth is messed up. lol I know I’m gunna get at least 25 downvotes for expressing my opinion :)
I am with you on this one... personally I feel a lot is missing from this conversation. it is not JUST about the pronouns. Why do they want to be a girl? I remember as a child wanting to be a boy because going to the bathroom would be so mucheasier ( ( was 6 I think). I allowed my kid to express themselves the way they wanted - it has still taken them many years and is still not sure where they want to be on the spectrum. I say let them sit in the middle for a bit and when they are that young - let them play with both - a king one day and a queen the next.
Load More Replies...Yes I"ve always thought it's idiotic how it's socially accepted for girls to wear pants but not boys to wear dresses and skirts.
Labelle told us that during her teenage years, after openly expressing her identity, she discovered a supportive community of people who identified as queer, trans, and gender non-conforming. Just like she always had, Labelle began creating comics centered around the experiences and humor within her circle of friends. "I didn't have to imagine an audience, because my comics were always meant to be shared among the people around me."
This is one of the things I don't get about anti-trans rhetoric - why do other people feel like they need to know about an individuals genitals or hormones? If you aren't providing medical care, or dating them, why do you need to know the shape of their private bits? Isn't the basic etiquette of private bits that *we keep them private*? We don't show them to people, touch others with them, let other people touch ours, or publicly touch or talk about our own without consent. We don't stare at other people's private areas, even when clothed, or publicly discuss them. Doing that is wrong and creepy, so why does a stranger need to involve themselves in whats under someone's underpants?
The only time you should talk about them is when it's informative, and rather important, Blume on YouTube does it to help knowledge go around about Intersex individuals and for there to be less harm n'stuff done to them since it's completely biological. Or like when it's ED class at school, that's important.
Load More Replies...I'm not against calling a child by its birth gender, but I don't see an issue with neutral genders either, Freddy. You are fighting an enemy that isn't there, no harm is to be found here.
I believe Freddy is enjoying himself. Personally I prefer crochet.
Load More Replies...this is my first question to anyone like that. Why are you concerned or interested in their genitals? Then I ask if they are a pedophile or a degenerate sexual deviant who wants to see a strangers private parts. Its either one or the other. There is no normal reason to be obsessed with what a stranger has in their pants. Especially children. I can only assume they are a pedo or pervert. Usually shuts the conversation right down.
Years ago, a young kid asked me "Is that a boy or a girl?" I answered, "We think probably a girl, but we're not sure yet." The kid shrugged and kept playing with her. It simply wasn't a big deal.
I mean, why shame the stranger? It’s societal norm for two genders, not a big deal.
The illustration appears to be depicting single occupancy bathrooms; which would also be a safe haven for those with Inflammatory Bowel Diseases, Ileostomies, Colostomies, side effects from chemo, social anxiety, etc., etc.
Believe me, I've been through so many rounds of chemo I've lost count in the last 6 years and having a bathroom like this would be AMAZING! God, you have no idea how many times over the years I've been mistaken for being bulimic and lectured by complete strangers.
Load More Replies...Also talk about prisons. If anti-Trans bigots are soooooooooo concerned about Trans women and cis women placed together, then WHY aren't they calling for a separate Trans Only prison? Why do they demand Trans women be placed with cis males where they will face verbal and physical abuse, assault, rape, and murder? Because the anti-Trans bigots WANT Trans women to face verbal and physical abuse, assault, rape, and murder.
I think it would be better to keep the rapists and murderers away from everyone else.
Load More Replies...I don't like sharing toilets with men as invariably there will be puddles of urine all over the floor when they miss and also there have been issues of men hiding cameras in public toilets so they can perve at women and unisex toilets allow them greater access. I don't see why trans women can't just use women's toilets. Safer for everyone isn't it?
Hmmm... if boys are prepared to bully boys in toilets, are they going to be more restrained if it's just them and a girl? Whilst it may suit some people, there are an awful lot of people, particularly females, who do not want to be in certain spaces (toilets, changing rooms) with biological males.
I'm cisgender female and have no problem with transgender women (who were assigned male at birth) in the same restroom/changing room with me. A transgender woman is a woman - who is in the bathroom to GO to the bathroom, not to do something weird to me.
Load More Replies...I think part of the problem is money. Schools and businesses don't want to shell out money to install unisex bathrooms with private stalls, so they just want to remain with what's in place now. Schools that are on a limited budget can't use ANY of their funding to install additional or convert their bathrooms. The wealthier school districts can afford the cost, but districts like the ones that I attended, even back in the 90's, were so short of funding that my school was built for 500 students and instead we had 850 students. I had 65 kids in my Economics class and we had to use the auditorium because we couldn't fit into ANY classrooms. They spent half of our class just taking attendance, let alone having time to actually teach us. My point is that although it would be nice to have those types of bathrooms sometimes it's not financially possible. My district just built 2 new high schools to replace the old ones, before that the newest school was already 50 years old and we are the poorest district in the state, because we are in the poverty level, so there are no additional funds for improvement.
@Freddy I bet you wish it was, it would mean that you could no longer sexually harass anyone.
I get the feeling adding that to existing structures would cost quite a bit overall.
"I've experienced firsthand how threatening it is for transphobes to encounter art meant to empower trans people and celebrate gender and sexual diversity. I once had to leave my home after being doxxed, facing a neo-Nazi demonstration against an all-ages talk I gave at a public library, an anti-trans MP labeling me as a threat to Great Britain, and having my books placed on banned lists in Texas. And that's not even mentioning the online hate – I often receive death threats several times a day!
Of course, I wouldn't still be doing it if there weren't positive experiences to counterbalance all that. I met my husband while on a public speaking tour in Finland, and now that's where I live! I also receive numerous messages from people using my comics as a means to initiate difficult discussions with friends or family, or even to come out. Gender journeys can often be chaotic, and many people have told me that my comics help them find the words to express their experiences, which is the best compliment I could receive."
Exactly. It hurts nobody to let kids, or anyone, explore who they are, and we deserve to be able to do that without hate.
I'd dearly love to know how much "indoctrination" was going on in the 70s. Transition is NOT new. And it's been happening since far more dangerous times.
I was born in 1965 and I was aware of trans people before my teens. This episode of The Love Boat, which for several years was in the Top 10 TV shows in the US, where a former roommate of Gopher's had GRS after college, and as the show plays out, Gopher keeps trying to engage her in convo, saying things like " I could swear I know you from somewhere". Towards the end of the episode, Gopher and the Capt are talking as the capt hears Gophers upset and some bigotry, so baits him into making it clear, then explains why it's wrong and how he should support his friend no matter what! https://www.imdb.com/title/tt0636683/?ref_=ttep_ep15&fbclid=IwAR1BQ3eQEVK5APPHA4EPfweXWe_8AEL0Szuv5WtWqwccCzUDLb7v1wDH26w
Load More Replies...This one made me cry (slightly), I hope I get a chance to see a world like this.
THIS. And it applies to other things than being queer too. Being neurodivergent, from a non-traditional home, various mental illnesses… it’s not that it’s a new thing or “trend,” people are just actually allowed to say that now without (as much) horrific abuse.
I'm 53 and only discovered I'm autistic in the last few years. When I was a kid, we didn't have an understanding of autism that included people like me. Learning this about myself has been amazingly helpful to me. I am so happy for younger people that have the tools to understand themselves *now* instead of going through literally decades of life wondering "WTF is wrong with me?"
Load More Replies...In 1924, the lie was told "there are no left handed kids". When parents and schools stopped beating and abusing children, the rate of left handed people went from 1% to 10%. The same goes for LGBTQIA people. We have ALWAYS existed, but kept silent by the violence of bigots.
Not to mention there have been trans people for pretty much all of human history. But the Nazis burned the libraries and institute of sexual studies in order to repress that information. So if you think trans people are a new 'trend' or that there is anything wrong with being trans, guess what that means?
@Freddy ...Wow, and you're gonna prove that how? ...that's right, you can't, especially when we have proof in the form of humans.
Load More Replies...Labelle expressed that over the years, she has noticed that some people who aren't transgender tend to make transgender issues more complicated than they need to be. She believes that accepting and appreciating diversity and authenticity doesn't mean you have to be an expert in the complexities of gender or have a deep knowledge of endocrinology. "I have made a lot of comics meant to spare trans people from being constantly bombarded with questions. Trans people just want to live their lives without having to justify their existence – our existence shouldn’t require justifying. And I think people really need to make peace with the fact that human gender is chaotic, fluid, diverse, and surprising and that understanding who you are is a life-long quest for everyone, trans or not.
Trans and gender non-conforming people’s rights are currently under attack in a multitude of countries, states, provinces. Chances are that you have a local association or group in your town or city, and that they desperately need volunteers for all types of things. I encourage everyone to reach out to them and participate in any way they can. Getting involved is the best way to learn!"
YESSS!! Also I’m totally using the “HRT is older than…” in the future :D
The surgical regret for knee replacement, stomach stapling, plastic surgery, organ transplant, etc. averages about 15-20%. The "surgical regret" for Trans people is less than 1%. Why are anti-Trans bigots obsessed with the one that has the highest rate of positive outcome?
it makes me so happy to see other trans people thriving and living their best lives <3
don't worry, one day you and everyone else will too ❤
Load More Replies...I am probably just confused, but if you are doing so well being the gender you want to be that I can't tell the difference, wouldn't that be a compliment? I am all for people being who they want to be, but I am on the spectrum, so maybe I am interpreting the wording wrong? I remember when I had to have " black lives matter" vs "all lives matter" spelled out to me because I had this problem interpreting it the way it was meant. Is this the same idea?
Hi, that's a reasonable question and I hope I can help you. (I am also on the spectrum.) First of all, you have to understand that the idea of "passing" is invalid. Essentially there is no one way to be a given gender, no matter if you're cis or trans. Think of it this way: how many cis men *don't* strive to be "manly men that grunt." What's the correct way for them to be masculine? Is a cis woman that likes to work on cars, an activity that many view as a masculine coded hobby, still doing her gender well? (Answer: Yes, she is.) Expanding on that, some of us, including many cis gendered people, will never meet that criteria. It gets even more unlikely when you start considering those of us who aren't part of the binary -- neither men nor women. How do I perform as a non-binary person? (For the record, I prefer maintaining a feminine presentation, but my gender is still not female.) I hope that helps a little!
Load More Replies...Is it the same if you congratulate someone on their makeup job when you know they haven't been doing it since they were a teen. Like they're new to it, it is a new skill?
It's okay to compliment someone on makeup, clothing, styles etc. It's when people compliment on body attributes or mention how well someone "passes" that it's troublesome. Trans people don't have to "pass" to be valid men or women, it's not an exam.
Load More Replies...Once had a normally open minded neighbor b***h about kids changing their gender identity/pronouns, and/or sexual identity, back & forth day after day. He argued that "it doesn't work that way - you can't go back and forth." I pointed out that maybe HE couldn't but, clearly kids could - because they were!
@Freddy they said him, don't know wtf you're talking about.
Load More Replies...Ah yes, force young people to be miserable because you don't understand biology. Great plan, champ.
Load More Replies...I do it to protect my friends and anyone else who is affected, I don't want them to feel like no one is standing up for them.
THIS!! This is the whole reason why I will always be open about being Trans. I welcome people to ask me questions. I've spoken with parents or Trans kids. I have even had the great privilege of watching a Trans kid grow happily, in the gender that they know themself to be.
I love how everyone is just bullying the one transphobe on this site this is amazing I wish real life was like this
Wait, do the people who just transitioned call themselves "baby trans"? No problem with it, I just didn't know.
"baby" being appended to any lgbtq+ stripe is just an affectionate way we refer to young lgbtq+ and newly-out folk. Babys gays, baby trans and so on.
Load More Replies...This is very affirming to me. I have a genetic disease that causes me to get injured very easily (break bones, dislocate and sprain joints, etc) so I can't really safely bind and I also have enough health issues that I hesitate to get top surgery. I probably will at some point but it's a big decision.
And ALL trans people in the world are people, just like people who are cisgender!
Freddy isn't in this comment section because he's the guy in the comic.
"Don't look at them. They're *transphobes* who think they're *right* or something. *Gross*. Can't even take the subway without this *degeneracy* being shoved in our *face*. That's how these *groomers* recruit."
I think you'll find the most disagreement about the bottom left panel. There's still a lot of disagreement about the age at which children are mature enough to make that sort of decision. It's definitely not transphobia, it's protecting children from making a decision that they may regret later, which is all part of parenting - similar to not letting them have tattoos or piercings (I know it's different, but it's the same process of concern).
Yes protecting children by forcing them to undergo irreversible, potentially traumatizing bodily changes. Puberty blockers are totally reversible- there’s no reason to ban them. Edit: just to be clear I’m referring to puberty :)
Load More Replies...My Best friend Is trans and i love her so much and Will always support her guy, girl, at whatever she pleases, she was a guy but It wasnt safe For her, and teaches said these things to her
It's incredibly commonly spouted nonsense from people who don't know a thing about biology.
Load More Replies...Laughter is really the only way to respond to this. Because you’re not going to change their minds, and if you don’t laugh, then you have to cry.
If they discover the trans community, Great!!!!!!!! If they find out their trans, Awesome!!!!!! If they find out their still cisgender, Perfect!!!!!!!!
Meanwhile in Michigan... https://www.foxnews.com/media/michigan-parents-sue-school-district-claim-it-modified-documents-conceal-daughters-transition :(
I got kicked out bc i had a teacher thought that my parentals had the "right to know"
There’s no “not transphobic.” You have to be an ally, otherwise you’re complacent. And you don’t have to lead marches or anything- just be respectful, learn, ask (POLITE!) questions, and listen.
<.< I mean, this honestly makes sense, unfortunately medical care in the US is a hot mess so it'll never happen here unless that magically changes.
We need to stop patting people on the back for doing the bare minimum. And raising a queer kid wouldn’t be much different from raising anyone else if it weren’t for queerphobic people and laws.
I got called an "ally" just for going to a gay wedding, and I was like, "No! That shouldn't be enough to make me an ally!" Also, from knowing several parents of trans kids, I 100% agree that raising a trans kid shouldn't/doesn't need to be a big deal. Tell them "Some people are that way, and if you are that way, that's a fine way to be." Collect a heartfelt hug. Make a mental note to talk about pronoun options when they show interest, and puberty blockers when appropriate. If they want to use a different name, go with it - we'd do that for cis kids, why not trans kids? When relevant, let people know that they don't like to be called things like "sir" or "bud" or "dude." Keep the teacher in the loop. Be careful not to impose default hairstyle and clothing preferences. Apparently, being a parent of a preteen trans kid is actually really easy, as long as you live in a place without lots of transphobia.
Load More Replies...@Freddy Oh I'm sure you're used to it by now, just because it happens to you or you do it to someone else (probably even more likely) doesn't make it normal.
Because a platypus is a mammal that lays eggs. It's different and it's magnificent.
Load More Replies...I absolutely support trans rights and visibility, but water polo? not sure about water polo.
I'd dearly love to know how much "indoctrination" was going on in the 70s. Transition is NOT new. And it's been happening since far more dangerous times.
Freddy,why are you even here if you are going to comment on everything,get down votes and then get banned?This post is literally about trans rights like wtf
I don’t want to die; I don’t want my friends to die; I don’t want my classmates to die; I don’t want a child I’ve never met to die; I don’t want ANYONE to die needlessly, because of hatred. We all deserve to live.
Well said. I want you to live as well :) You and everyone else who is trans, nonbinary, genderfluid, or gender-neutral <3 I don't want ANYONE to die because of hatred for their race, religion, skin color, or gender/lack thereof. I HATE hate.
Load More Replies...It’s scary to think sometimes that if I was just born in the wrong country, I could die because of who I am
I'm cis myself, but a queer woman and the amount of hate is so damn unreasonable. Why do trans/homophobes exist? We've done literally nothing wrong but exist and it makes me so angry.
My area is super transphobic. I used to go to a queer community support center quite a bit, and about a year ago some other trans people that I knew of through the center were murdered at a queer club. I didn't know them, but it's scary to think about and heartbreaking. You may know the tragedy from the news. It was a shooting at Club Q in Colorado Springs, Colorado. :(
Everyone deserves love, acceptance, and freedom of (non-hateful) expression.
Replying to Freddy: and_a_touch_of_the_'tism said non-hateful freedom of expression. Yours is hateful, so you don't deserve freedom of expression on this topic.
Load More Replies...As a man i understand how much pressure boys have to endure when showing emotions but a man showing emotions does not mean he is trans, please try to keep this topic away from the discussion.And just to be clear I am not against trans people i believe that everyone has the right to live their lives however they want as long as you don't affect others but this kind of stuff doesn't free men it only causes more issues for them, like now i have worry that if i show too much emotion people are going to think i am trans and even though i don't hate them a lot of people around me do.
I think this is a misunderstanding, boys can feel emotions and still be boys, this comic is just trying to address sexism because of how much sexism overlaps with transphobia and homophobia.
Load More Replies...THIS. Having to fight for every little thing that everyone else can take for granted isn’t living. Let people exist, in peace, as themselves. It’s hurting nobody- unlike the hate spewed by far too many. Also, if you haven’t been already, please downvote and report Freddy.
I have been he really needs therapy or a hug cuz that much hate if it's real is not good for anyone
Load More Replies...Gotta love it he's a a*****e but he's nice to me and that's all that matters people are really blind sometimes
Exactly! Change the wording to a race/religion/etc. Sadly, same stupid thinking.
Load More Replies...I saw a “transphobe bingo” the other day like this. I wish I could attach photos, it’s hilarious.
Do you mean from the YouTuber The Click? He occasionally does bingos like this by collecting the most outlandish stuff to be found on Reddit.
Load More Replies...This, on the day that Florida's republican party chairman (and cisgender heterosexual male) Christian Ziegler resigned from his position. Because he raped a woman.
I love playing “watch the transphobe melt down over something completely f*****g inconsequential”
Oh yes Freddy - so many times a biological male took the spotlights from a woman. You'd think the women of the world would all want to be men.
Load More Replies...I’ve heard of owls, raccoons, and pigeons in a trench coat, but spiders is a new one for me 😂
And here we see in real life a troll a sad pathetic person who can only hurt others to make themselves feel better aka Freddy seriously get some therapy or a hug or something 😂
One of my friends back in the day made me a "Flaming Hetro" T-shirt. Still have it
Load More Replies...As a token cis, I'm here to offer hugs to anyone who needs them :D (or anyone who wants one!) I'll be your sister if your actual sister doesn't support you!
I can be a weird uncle if anyone needs a weird uncle to support them.
Load More Replies...I have a friend who is male, but crossplays at conventions. The number of times he's been hit on by guys not realizing...
I’m not sure if it was the right way to go about it, we were never told if my colleague had asked for an announcement, but I remember my department calling a meeting one day. We were told a colleague who had been presenting male had chosen to be her true self, would be coming to work dressed appropriately, her name and we were asked (not told) to honour and respect her bravery. As Gen-X, I darn near cried to see/hear the acceptance in that room. Pretty much everyone took a moment over the next few days to quietly tell her individually how proud we were to welcome her new identity. After that, well, she was (so far as I know) treated the same way as CIS-female peers. If she wore a particularly nice shirt/skirt/scarf… whatever, we’d react as normal; “I love that… where did you get it?”. However, I must be honest; it wasn’t easy or completely smooth. There were “water cooler” conversations where we tried to figure out, “what’s the right balance here?” We didn’t want to make her uncomfortable by going over the top. We didn’t want to ignore such an important milestone but, at the same time, when was the last time you vocally supported a cis person for being themselves? I think I’m an ally, I certainly want to be one, but I’m never going to fully comprehend living in the wrong skin. It’s not fair, it’s actually a completely unreasonable request, but if you’re trans, please tell me how acceptance looks/feels to you.
trans masc here, for me its just people calling me as a guy instead of a "trans guy" the ability to tell people im a guy and them not looking at me weird. being able to just not bring it up because its not relevent
Load More Replies...I'm going to be downvoted, still, I'll ask: how does anyone know their gender identity before puberty? Most of my family members and friends had no built-in gender as a child, but developed later, during puberty. (Also, they are cis.) I still don't know whether I have a gender identity or not. I mean, I am a female human being and I have never wanted to change that; however, I do not follow any behavioral pattern based on gender. (I am a middle-aged aroace working in a field where one is not expected to perform 'femininity' or 'masculinity'.)
So a significant amount of people are like you and me, and have no strong internal sense of gender. We just go along with whatever we're labelled because we don't care. But a significant amount of people do have a strong internal sense. Women who get upset at being called "sir" or men who feel threatened at the idea of boys with painted fingernails are probably in this group, they strongly identify as their born gender and it's painful to be misgendered. Trans people are exactly the same except that they identify as the gender opposite to the one they were assigned at birth. Sometimes that is dysmorphia (being extremely uncomfortable in your body) but sometimes it's just a strong feeling of "wrongness", again, pain at being misgendered. I can't explain it better because I don't feel that strong sense, but after doing a lot of reading on the topic that is what I've understood.
Load More Replies...There was a lot of confusing terminology for me here. As a straight person, I've never thought about how some other people may see the world and how the world might see them. It's all new for me.
Allies like you are precious and thank you for taking the effort to care and understand. You can reply with questions if you want.
Load More Replies...Hello, this is a question not a comment on the comics (although they are AMAZING!), I'm straight but I support the LGBTQIA+ community, and I wanted to ask a question to all the Bored Panda's, would it be okay if I were to hang a Rainbow flag/Ally flag outside my house or in my room? I've wanted to know but my town doesn't have a large LGBT+ community, so I just asked Bored Panda. Thank you, and have a wonderful week!
Why were you downvoted? Yeesh. I'd say, YES. Visibility is important you never know when some queer or trans kid might walk past and think "at least someone in this town is accepting" and just feel better. Also you might find out that you have a friend who's been afraid to tell you their truth, and seeing you be open about being an ally might give them someone safe in their life! I was afraid for many years to go to pride parades because I was "just an ally" but when I finally realized that actually I'm bi and I went to one, literally nobody was policing anything, nobody cared if you were queer or if you were an ally, it was just happiness at being alive and being able to be open and handing out free beaded necklaces and little flags and candy. A celebration of life. I can't speak for everybody but I'm sure that more people will appreciate the gesture than might be upset at it.
Load More Replies...As an ally of LGBTQA+ (Both things the A stand for), I don't understand the perspective, but I can understand the hate, as I have been there to witness it. Don't let anybody tell you what to do, everyone.
I absolutely love Sophie Labelle. She has a webcomic on WEBTOON with some of her older work, more PSA/four-panel stories like these, and storylines with characters that develop over time :)
I’m not sure if it was the right way to go about it, we were never told if my colleague had asked for an announcement, but I remember my department calling a meeting one day. We were told a colleague who had been presenting male had chosen to be her true self, would be coming to work dressed appropriately, her name and we were asked (not told) to honour and respect her bravery. As Gen-X, I darn near cried to see/hear the acceptance in that room. Pretty much everyone took a moment over the next few days to quietly tell her individually how proud we were to welcome her new identity. After that, well, she was (so far as I know) treated the same way as CIS-female peers. If she wore a particularly nice shirt/skirt/scarf… whatever, we’d react as normal; “I love that… where did you get it?”. However, I must be honest; it wasn’t easy or completely smooth. There were “water cooler” conversations where we tried to figure out, “what’s the right balance here?” We didn’t want to make her uncomfortable by going over the top. We didn’t want to ignore such an important milestone but, at the same time, when was the last time you vocally supported a cis person for being themselves? I think I’m an ally, I certainly want to be one, but I’m never going to fully comprehend living in the wrong skin. It’s not fair, it’s actually a completely unreasonable request, but if you’re trans, please tell me how acceptance looks/feels to you.
trans masc here, for me its just people calling me as a guy instead of a "trans guy" the ability to tell people im a guy and them not looking at me weird. being able to just not bring it up because its not relevent
Load More Replies...I'm going to be downvoted, still, I'll ask: how does anyone know their gender identity before puberty? Most of my family members and friends had no built-in gender as a child, but developed later, during puberty. (Also, they are cis.) I still don't know whether I have a gender identity or not. I mean, I am a female human being and I have never wanted to change that; however, I do not follow any behavioral pattern based on gender. (I am a middle-aged aroace working in a field where one is not expected to perform 'femininity' or 'masculinity'.)
So a significant amount of people are like you and me, and have no strong internal sense of gender. We just go along with whatever we're labelled because we don't care. But a significant amount of people do have a strong internal sense. Women who get upset at being called "sir" or men who feel threatened at the idea of boys with painted fingernails are probably in this group, they strongly identify as their born gender and it's painful to be misgendered. Trans people are exactly the same except that they identify as the gender opposite to the one they were assigned at birth. Sometimes that is dysmorphia (being extremely uncomfortable in your body) but sometimes it's just a strong feeling of "wrongness", again, pain at being misgendered. I can't explain it better because I don't feel that strong sense, but after doing a lot of reading on the topic that is what I've understood.
Load More Replies...There was a lot of confusing terminology for me here. As a straight person, I've never thought about how some other people may see the world and how the world might see them. It's all new for me.
Allies like you are precious and thank you for taking the effort to care and understand. You can reply with questions if you want.
Load More Replies...Hello, this is a question not a comment on the comics (although they are AMAZING!), I'm straight but I support the LGBTQIA+ community, and I wanted to ask a question to all the Bored Panda's, would it be okay if I were to hang a Rainbow flag/Ally flag outside my house or in my room? I've wanted to know but my town doesn't have a large LGBT+ community, so I just asked Bored Panda. Thank you, and have a wonderful week!
Why were you downvoted? Yeesh. I'd say, YES. Visibility is important you never know when some queer or trans kid might walk past and think "at least someone in this town is accepting" and just feel better. Also you might find out that you have a friend who's been afraid to tell you their truth, and seeing you be open about being an ally might give them someone safe in their life! I was afraid for many years to go to pride parades because I was "just an ally" but when I finally realized that actually I'm bi and I went to one, literally nobody was policing anything, nobody cared if you were queer or if you were an ally, it was just happiness at being alive and being able to be open and handing out free beaded necklaces and little flags and candy. A celebration of life. I can't speak for everybody but I'm sure that more people will appreciate the gesture than might be upset at it.
Load More Replies...As an ally of LGBTQA+ (Both things the A stand for), I don't understand the perspective, but I can understand the hate, as I have been there to witness it. Don't let anybody tell you what to do, everyone.
I absolutely love Sophie Labelle. She has a webcomic on WEBTOON with some of her older work, more PSA/four-panel stories like these, and storylines with characters that develop over time :)
