I do think that’s part of it, though I wouldn’t even necessarily call it closeted. A lot of very vocal transphobes are uncomfortable with finding some of us attractive.

Here we must also acknowledge the reality that one of the consequences of centuries of forcing trans people into the margins of society is a long history of trans people resorting to professions of desperation, one of which that’s become particularly associated with trans women being prostitution.

That has led to many people seeing trans woman as inherently sexualized. Add in how people and society interact. And this leads to our very existence being seen as sexually explicit. And this can lead even some people who have no gender or sexuality repression going on and have never found themselves attracted to us seeing us that way.