Forums » Smalltalk » Anger (Rant, LGBTQA+ Ally venting)

I am furious. outraged, insulted. Basically all of those put together would make something similar of what I'm feeling right now.

As a supporter of the LGBTQA+ community, there's a lot of things that affect me, one of those is my friend Ryan, a FtM transgender who suffers from dysphoria, and anxiety, probably even depression. Someone made a meme about a shirt that says 'There are more than two genders' with the choice at the bottom saying 'male' 'female' if you want to get the shirt, and a little stick figure and that's fine. What's not fine is how someone in the comment section said a bunch of things that I don't care about but were totally racist about it, but at the bottom, the thing that made me angry was... something along the like's of:

'Even fake things like "Gender dysphoria"-- and I'm cutting it off at there. That, right there hit a sour spot. I care deeply about Ryan, and I know he has rough patches with his dysphoria, so this basically just called every single transgender, non-binary and/or anything that can have dysphoria FAKE. Does the depression seem fake? Is the fact that he hates his body and hates being called a girl a JOKE to you?? I Just--- ARGHHH. I can't keep this to myself.

On top of that his parents don't support him so he has to deal with that, and the fact that they basically stopped helping him financially (he's a minor like me, my age) and basically disowned him. I wanted to help him so bad! I can only wait here grumpily untill I turn eighteen so I can go to the U.S. and slap his parents. I only know him online, but I still care. I wish I could be there for him and help him through his rough patches.

Sorry I had to rant.

Right on. It's annoying when people declare something legitimate or not legitimate, real or not real, when they themselves have not experienced it. Sometimes people think that because they have not experienced something, it's not real, but that's just not the case.

That outrages me as well. It's just not fair for people to discount another person's experience. They don't know what your friend is feeling, and many other people as well. Regardless of what other people's opinions are on gender, you can't discount another person's pain. That's not how emotions work. Dysphoria is real. The whole spectrum of genders is real. And parents should love their children regardless. It sounds like you're a good friend though and the best you can really do is support your friend and share your experience.

You support is appreciated, but don't forget that this anger is exactly what so many of these nasty folks want. They want you angry and stressed, frustrated and busying yourself on that.

Don't let them win.

If it's reasonable to do something about it, do so. Maybe that's publicly correcting them (but don't get pulled into a pointless discussion!), not for them, but for the benefit of those you want to know they're supported. Maybe it's calling out a person who's in a position of power. Maybe it's just reporting the comment if you are able to.

If there's not a reasonable action though, breathe and deny the idiot their goal. That way, you can focus your energy more productively.

Om man, didn't think people would actually answer! Thank you for your kind words, I really appreciate them, as for the thing, I was just... angry for a bit, and the website it's on has the option to report the comment, but it says that "If you don't agree with the person and they aren't actually breaking any rules, then don't report it" I don't know why or how it's not breaking any rules but it isn't according to the rules set on the website. Which means that things like Rasism, Sexism and Insulting things are on there, despite the fact I usually ignirore them.