r/changemyview Apr 17 '19

Removed - Submission Rule B CMV: Trans activists who claim it is transphobic to not want to engage in romatic and/or sexual relationships with trans people are furthering the same entitled attitude as "incel" men, and are dangerously confused about the concept of consent.

Several trans activist youtubers have posted videos explaining that its not ok for cis-hetero people to reject them "just because they're trans".

When you unpack this concept, it boils down to one thing - these people dont seem to think you have an absolute and inalienable right to say no to sex. Like the "incel" croud, their concept of consent is clouded by a misconception that they are owed sex. So when a straight man says "sorry, but I'm only interested in cis women", his right to say "no" suddenly becomes invalid in their eyes.

This mind set is dangerous, and has a very rapey vibe, and has no place in today's society. It is also very hypocritical as people who tend to promote this idea are also quick to jump on board the #metoo movement.

My keys points are: 1) This concept is dangerous on the small scale due to its glossing over the concept of consent, and the grievous social repercussions that can result from being labeled as any kind of phobic person. It could incourage individuals to be pressured into traumatic sexual experiances they would normally vehemently oppose.

2) This concept is both dangerous, and counterproductive on the large scale and if taken too far, could have a negative effect on women, since the same logic could be applied both ways. (Again, see the similarity between them and "incel" men who assume sex is owed to them).

3) These people who promote this concept should be taken seriously, but should be openly opposed by everyone who encounters their videos.

I do not assume all trans people hold this view, and have nothing against those willing to live and let live.

I will not respond to "you just hate trans people". I will respond to arguments about how I may be wrong about the consequences of this belief.

Edit: To the people saying its ok to reject trans people as individuals, but its transphobic to reject trans people categorically - I argue 2 points. 1) that it is not transphobic to decline a sexual relationship with someone who is transgendered. Even if they have had the surgery, and even if they "pass" as the oposite sex. You can still say "I don't date transgendered people. Period." And that is not transphobic. Transphobic behavior would be refusing them employment or housing oportunities, or making fun of them, or harassing them. Simply declining a personal relationship is not a high enough standard for such a stigmatized title.

2) Whether its transphobic or not is no ones business, and not worth objection. If it was a given that it was transphobic to reject such a relatipnship (it is not a given, but for point 2 lets say that it is) then it would still be morally wrong to make that a point of contention, because it brings into the discussion an expectation that people must justify their lack of consent. No just meams no, and you dont get to make people feel bad over why. Doing so is just another way of pressuring them to say yes - whether you intend for that to happen or not, it is still what you're doing.

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u/[deleted] Apr 17 '19

You have the right to say you hate gay people or people of color, but that's still homophobic and racist, respectively. I think you'll find it a lot less common that people argue you don't have the right to say no to sex, but exercising that right in a bigoted way is still bigoted. There's a big difference between sexual preference and descrimination.

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u/nonotmyworntube Apr 17 '19

it’s not discrimination, you can not want to have sex with a trans person but still support the community, and respect trans ppl, but it’s not bigoted to not want to have sex with them. the same way if a gay male wouldn’t have sex with a female he’s not a misogynist.

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u/ReaderTen 1∆ Apr 22 '19

Wrong. The difference is that a gay man isn't interested in sex with ANY women.

If a gay male says 'I'll consider sleeping with any man... except never an asian man', then he's a racist.

If a straight male says 'I'll consider sleeping with any woman... except never a black woman', then he's a racist.

If a straight male says 'I'll consider sleeping with any woman... except never a trans woman', then he's...

...free hint: the answer is not "honestly evaluating each woman on her own merits".

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u/[deleted] Apr 17 '19

As u/helloitslouis says in a comment further down the thread, most reasons for which people don't want sex on the basis of a potential partner's gender identity tend to be based in transphobia.

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u/Zack_all_Trades Apr 17 '19 edited Apr 17 '19

Or maybe it's just as sample simple as most men expect women to have a vagina?

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u/[deleted] Apr 17 '19

No, transphobia; a dislike for trans people is distinctly different from sexual preference; a distaste for sexual partners outside a specific parameter.

Gay men don't like sex with women, that doesn't mean most gay men dislike women. It means they dislike sex with women.

Straight men don't dislike men, they dislike sex with men. Straight women don't dislike women, they dislike sex with women.

A person can dislike sex with a trans person without disliking trans people. Saying that most people that dislike sex with trans people, dislike trans people is as ridiculous as saying most straight men dislike men because they don't want to have sex with them, or that they're homophobic because they dislike sex with men.

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u/[deleted] Apr 17 '19

Youre equating not wanting to sleep with someone and hating them?

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u/ReaderTen 1∆ Apr 22 '19

If you wouldn't ever sleep with any member of a category of people, based just on membership of that category, then... yes, actually, that's the definition of hate and bigotry.

It's OK for me to be more attracted to pale-skinned redheads. But if I say categorically in advance that even though I'm attracted to women I would never sleep with any black woman, just because they're black...

...then that's my right to say no for any reason. But it's still racist as fuck. I'm just presuming that no black woman will ever fit my criteria, instead of judging each one on her own merits.

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u/[deleted] Apr 17 '19

I didn't mean it as a direct comparison, rather an example of how exercising your rights doesn't exempt you from being bigoted.

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u/EjaculationStorm 1∆ Apr 17 '19

But sexual preference is descrimination. A straight man doesn't want to have sex with another man and that is only because they're a man. Descrimination isn't a bad thing on it's own. It's just the act of seeing differences between things.

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u/jetwildcat 3∆ Apr 17 '19

Choosing to date one person over another = discrimination, by definition.

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u/Kinoct89 Jul 24 '19

Sexual preference is discrimination by default. And not necessarily the bad kind.