(Trigger warning for slur mentions and dysphoria)

I like talking a lot on here. I feel like I'm actually communicating with people.

Am I the only one who thinks "passing" is a gross word?

I mean I've met people on tumblr who feel the same. But like out in other places I hear it a lot, and I can't help but think it's a gross word that's more hurtful than we think.

Language is and always will be a big part of any movement. And in the case of the trans rights movement, it's everything.

We are not "biologically male" or "biologcially female", because that denies who we are and how we see ourselves. No we are "assigned male/female/intersex at birth". Because, if you think about it, some doctor you've probably never met decided your sex. Because at some point the human race decided (for the most part) that there were only two sexes and intersex people needed surgical "intervention" or "correction" for them to ever be happy.

Or words like tr*nny. A term that makes most of us flinch or want to vomit. Is still a trending word that people use against us. Even within the LGBTQA+ community. (most notably by cis gay men).

Words are important. And there's one we really need to kick. Passing.

Now, on it's own and by definition, I can see why we use it. It's to know if you look like a boy/girl/genderqueer/nonbinary and will appear that way in public. And that's cool.

But, the implications the word comes with are more harmful. It implies deception, that we aren't who we say we are, that we're trying to fool cis people. And that's the problem. We're not. We ARE the gender we present as and say we are. To say we are only "passing" as that gender is to imply we are NOT that gender.

This is especially dangerous to trans women, as they are often the targets of hate crimes by cis people who say they were "lied to" or "tricked" by trans women.

I'm not "passing" when I put on my binder and t-shirts to hide my breasts, I'm just getting ready for the day. I do it for me and my dysphoria. Not for cis people. Not to "fool" or "trick" people. But for me.

We don't want there to be that constant doubt that you don't "pass" for a girl. Or "pass" for a boy. Or "pass" as nonbinary. You ARE a girl. You ARE a boy. And you ARE nonbinary.

We don't "Pass" we ARE.

I understand the use of it. But when it's in an environment with cis people, use it carefully and know its implications.

And remember that even if you don't "pass" it doesn't mean your gender identity isn't valid.

Golly I talk a lot. Someone take my keyboard from me.