I feel like I need to get this off my chest…

I started transitioning 5 years ago and at this point, I 100% pass, except for voice and a very slight beard shadow (that for some reason no one but me notices).

I feel completely scared about Lesbian spaces, and Cis women in particular. The few times I went out there (which was in the first 2 years of my transition), I’ve had horrible experiences.

It ranges from a few agonizing glances you get occasionally, up to outright comments about “this is a women only space btw”.

I’ve also often noticed how cis lesbians seem to treat me differently when it comes to romantical and sexual interest. The moment it’s revealed that I’m trans, things seem to shift. “Oh, I’ve never tried this”, “oh, that’s interesting, kinda”, quite often there’s the question about bottom surgery (“this might be a bit intimate to ask, but…”), and sometimes even outright ghosting or immediate disinterest.

I feel like this is the last, and yet hardest mountain to climb, to the point where I just feel too frustrated to even try, accepting the fact that, well… I will probably always remain a trans woman, and won’t fit in to those societies that I so heavily relate to when I can keep my pseudonimity.

And yeah, T4T is a thing, it’s pretty much the only thing I got going at this point…

Can anyone relate? Has anyone managed to overcome this hurdle?

  • AdaM
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    1 year ago

    Unfortunately, the only people who aren’t going to treat you like a novelty are people that you aren’t a novelty to, and we are a novelty to most cis people, even the supportive ones

    I don’t think there is an easy answer to this :/

  • Nora
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    101 year ago

    Keep looking. You just gotta find the right WLW spaces that foster a good atmosphere.

    Last summer I was apart of a group called the beaver lodge, and it was great. I never felt excluded everyone was awesome and we had a lot of good times.

    You ran into some terfs and insensitive people. There are better people just around the corner.

  • @yellowflame8818
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    61 year ago

    You aren’t alone

    Having said that I have found that spaces that not only say they support trans people, but actually demonstrate it in some way are a lot more comfortable. Also I guess the feeling has faded a bit over time, for me at least, idk why, different culture where I am now to my home country I guess

  • temeela [she/them]
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    1 year ago

    Transphobia in lesbian spaces is there I’m afraid, I feel like it is somewhat there, even if in a ““non-malignant”” kind of way, in any space with cis people just by virtue of societal values and a long list of etceteras. Best advice I can give, if possible find a space that is explicitly trans-inclusive, not just LGBTQ, but Trans in particular, you’ll have more of a chance of lesbians there being more open and experienced being around trans people, not a silver bullet by any means, but it’ll be a bit better.

    So yeah, trust me can relate, we are all together climbing this mountain, just make sure you stop from time to time to rest at some safe spaces, we’ll provide some needed break and some virtual hugs and support, best of luck to you in the climb sister!

  • Emily (she/her)
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    51 year ago

    I think a lot of trans women struggle to take up room in women’s spaces, whether that be because of internalised or external bigotry. I usually seek out explicitly trans, or pro-trans, spaces.

  • @[email protected]
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    41 year ago

    I was in a relationship before I started transitioning, but I relate a lot. Not just as transfem, but also because I’m bi. I’ve never had my gender questioned, but I have most certainly had similar experiences with monosexuals(people who’s only attracted to a single gender) due to my sexuality, nearly regardless of which dating space I’ve been in.

  • @[email protected]M
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    1 year ago

    I experience a lot less of this fear, or at least how I experience it has changed a lot. For me a core part of the fear/discomfort was related to imposter syndrome and my inability to feel completely confident in my womanhood and my identity as a queer woman. Bottom surgery was a very big part of ridding myself of that imposter syndrome. My dysphoria used to make me feel completely invalidated, and that led to feeling like there was something preventing me from accepting my womanhood. It obviously won’t be the same for everyone, and I don’t think that most people would need bottom surgery to feel comfortable in women’s spaces online and in person. But I personally do not feel that same discomfort in women’s spaces anymore. When I meet with bigotry there I feel angry more than afraid. I just in general have a lot more confidence in myself and my womanhood.

    • @[email protected]OP
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      61 year ago

      It might be imposter syndrome, now that you mention it… Funnily enough, with my bottom done 4 years ago, I also feel completely happy with my transistion and I honestly don’t even feel dysphoria anymore (except for rare instances), but yeah… this issue persists.

      It kinda feels like entering these spaces makes me realize just where the differences between me as a trans woman and cis women are, those small little things that transition can’t easily or properly fix

  • riwo
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    11 year ago

    ngl cis ppl and cis lesbians in particular treating trans ppl or trans fems badly or weird is a problem with them and not with us. it sucks they are like that but this shouldn’t be a reason to change and try to appeal to their weird, transphobia rooted perspective.

    • @[email protected]OP
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      31 year ago

      Yeah, I feel you, but given that we can’t change society overnight, this ultimately becomes a circumstance we have to deal with, unfortunately :/