Trans Rape Fears

So, let's talk about rape for a minute. I know it's not a pleasant topic, but it's one that is often ignored around trans issues. Trans folks are far more likely than straights to be victims of sexual assault. And that's really awful. 

As I've said to a few people, I can't say that I really understand what goes on in straight guys heads a lot of the time. The reasoning just seems alien. For some reason, though, when Mr. Alpha Straight Dude realizes that he has been “tricked” into being attacked to an individual with similar chromosomes to his, he often responds with violence. And not just violence, but sexual violence.

Now, I could toss up some theories like, dude is trying to prove that he's still sexually dominate even though he became aroused by another individual with a wang, something along those lines, but seriously, I don't get it. 

But it happens. Big, strong girl that I am, I get scared of rape sometimes. Yeah, laugh it up, but you trying showering with a bunch of tired, angry, bored young men after you've been on hormones for me than year. Yeah, I have little trouble passing as male, but I have little trouble passing as female either. I have breasts. I have hips. My curves certainly aren't anything like some women's out there, but hey, they exist. It's not something that I can hide, especially in the shower. My main defense is the taboo against male on male arousal. is simply to never put myself in a position where my comrades could see me a female. 

But yeah, it can be scary.

But see, it's not just about me. Focus On The Family, that pseudo-scientific, pseudo-christian bullshit factory, the one constantly pumping out it's offal from Colorado, last week they sent out a letter warning of Obama's plans to push laws through that would allow men to use women's bathroom. 

“OMG,” says stupid Evangelicals, “Men are going to try to rape women in those bathroom!” they said in terrified voices, “When did Obama become so pro-bath room rape? Why doesn't he have women's best interests in mind? Is it the Muslim thing? Oh God!”

You see, the legislation that Focus On The Family's letter is talking about? It isn't talking about men. It's talking about letting trans people use the bathroom correct for their gender. 

Now, dear reader, you might be saying, “But Combat Queer, what does it matter what bathroom trans folks use?”

Going back to the beginning, trans folks are at risk of being raped. It isn't fair for them to be forced into situations where they are a) forced to out themselves by going into the gender-incorrect bathroom, b) forced to trespass in a “man's area,” thereby increasing the chances of pissing off some Alpha Straight Dude, and c) forcing them into a small, enclosed area with potential pissed-off Alpha Straight Dudes. It isn't healthy, it isn't safe, it isn't fair.

Now, I first heard of Focus On The Family's letter threw one of my officers. He was making a big joke of the idea of trans people. According to this officer, the only reason trans people exist is so that they can disguise themselves as women, sneak into women's bathrooms, and rape the young women within.

So yeah, this is bullshit. It's all based on the idea that trans women aren't really women, that trans women are rapists, and that trans women have rights to safety or protection. 

Comments

[whatsername]

It's a fucked up irony I think. That cis-people's fears of their own rape could reasonably enable the rape of others. Sometimes we (cis-folks) are fucking stupid.

[formerCombatQueer]

the bathroom question. always the bathroom. can't people just pee in peace.

and yet, this *always* rears its head every time trans people appear. there are years of data with no such incidents, but fear wins over fact.

again, and again, and again.

and the irony of it is that the trans person is the one most likely to be raped.