Thereā€™s this rising narrative going around that if you ask specifically for a CIS partner, youā€™re a transphobe. That could be true for some people but itā€™s not fundamentally related to bigotry. Moreover, this narrative, the ā€œif you only want a CIS mate then that is prejudiceā€ is trampling on one of the most important rights a person can have: the right to choose who they want to get intimate with.

First of all, transmen are in fact men and transwomen are in fact women. Letā€™s get that out of the way. This isnā€™t a foot in the door for ā€œtrans this really isnā€™t thatā€ narratives. What this is about it is the freedom to choose who you want to be intimate with. That right is sancrosanct, it is absolutely inviolable.

And yes, thereā€™s plenty of issues that make transgender dating a special issue. If someone reveals their TG status they can be open to hate crimes and even deadly violence. However all marginalized groups are special in their own way. As a black man I donā€™t think itā€™s racist if a woman says she doesnā€™t want to date a black man. I face oppression, too. My class is special in its own way. One group isnā€™t more special than the other. None of us have the right to force ourselves upon those who donā€™t want to be intimate with us, even by omitting who we really are.

Really, if you have to deceive or hide who you are in order to date someone, do you really want to date them? I wouldnā€™t. Thatā€™s not fair to you and youā€™re denying them their right to choose who they want. What do you think will happen when the person wants a CIS mate and they discover the truth? Theyā€™re going to get pissed and dump you. Now you have to shame them into staying with you: ā€œIf you loved me for real this wouldnā€™t bother youā€ā€¦ thatā€™s not going to convince anyone. Theyā€™re either going to leave, or theyā€™ll resent you forever. Thatā€™s just how it is. You can be mad at that but thatā€™s about as effective as protesting the rising of the sun. Thereā€™s just no way to win once youā€™ve gone down that road.

ā€œI want a CIS mateā€ is not the same as ā€œtrans women are not womenā€ - one is a preference, the other is harmful prejudice. On the flip side CIS people who do date trans people shouldnā€™t be shamed for their choices either. A man should be free to date a trans woman and not catch flak about it. Trans people should be able to be openly trans and not face hate speech or threats to their well-being. This, without any exception whatsoever.

The fundamental fact is when you shame or worse abrogate peopleā€™s right to choose who they want to get intimate with, itā€™s not going to end well for you. All youā€™re going to get is people who resent being coerced or bullied to date people they donā€™t want to. And thatā€™s not something the country, or the world, will ever put up with. Except that right now, most people donā€™t imagine they can be labeled a transphobe just for wanting a CIS mate. And unpopular opinion: that should be nipped in the bud.

  • ArcaneSlime@lemmy.dbzer0.com
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    10 months ago

    would ā€œNo fat womenā€ be something you would feel comfortable putting in your bio (even if that was a deal-breaker for you)?

    Why not? Women can put ā€œno short people/manletsā€ why canā€™t I put ā€œno fatties/giantesses?ā€ I fail to see how they differ.

    • expr@programming.dev
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      10 months ago

      Neither are acceptable, especially when itā€™s propagating ugly labels. All of it is really unnecessary. Swipe left on people you arenā€™t attracted to, and if you talk to someone and find a dealbreaker, politely disengage without making them feel shitty or othered. It really isnā€™t that difficult.

      • ArcaneSlime@lemmy.dbzer0.com
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        10 months ago

        Neither are acceptable

        One is a lot more acceptable than the other by societyā€™s standards and that is exactly the problem actually.

    • ThatGirlKylie@lemmy.world
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      10 months ago

      And that makes them bigots as well. This is not a this or that. If someone says attracted to men but no short people, they are also a cunt of a person and probably not someone you want to date.

      If I am attracted to you, then it does not matter height, weight, etcā€¦

      • ArcaneSlime@lemmy.dbzer0.com
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        10 months ago

        If someone says attracted to men but no short people, they are also a cunt of a person and probably not someone you want to date.

        Well facts, thatā€™s actually what I always say. But letā€™s be honest women body shaming men is still a lot more culturally acceptable than the reverse and often people are hypocritical when it comes to this topic. You sound cool, but it is a topic that deserves to have attention brought to it, as not everyone is as cool.