[Just_G]

Originally Posted by atomiczombie

I think this is a great discussion to have. I guess for me being "silenced" isn't the word that resonates with me. For me, it is "invisible." I feel invisible a lot. I feel invisible when people assume that because I ID as male, that I take up too much space and alienate female ID'd people. I read posts where masculine /transmasculine people are lumped together and talked about, and blanket statements are made about them. Then I hear people saying, this is our discussion, and although we talk about you, you don't have a right to be a part of this discussion. Ouch.

What I want people to know about me is: I am a sweet guy who respects everyone's right to proclaim who they are and speak their truth. I believe that everyone deserves to be respected and listened to and taken seriously. I believe that I do my very best every day to be respectful and kind and a good listener, and to give everyone the space and voice that they feel they need and deserve. I am not someone who ignores someone else's point of view and assumes that I know it all and have nothing to learn. I am very aware that there is a lot that I need to learn, and I try very hard to listen to people and understand where they are coming from.

When someone doesn't see this about me, when someone assumes I won't understand, when someone lumps me in with other people who are disrespectful just because my gender identity might be similar, I feel invisible. I feel just as invisible as when someone calls me "ma'am" or "miss." It feels just as icky, and maybe more since it comes from within the community I love and feel at home in.

What makes YOU (the collective you) feel invisible? I want to know what everyone else feels, and what they would like people like me to know about them.

Thanks for starting this thread Superfemme.

AZ, you hit the nail on the head here....I don't like being lumped into a certain group because of how I id. I don't like the idea of having to say "that's not fair", because it sounds so third gradish, so I say nothing at all. I remain invisible.

I am also not so great with words when trying to say what is in my head sometimes and feel like I am not explaining myself all that well. Some of the discussions can get pretty deep, and sometimes language is used that I don't fully understand or comprehend. (I am a smart guy, so I am not saying this to put myself down, I just know my reading comprehension skills and vocabulary is not what some people's are). It can be very frustrating.

I am glad you started this thread Superfemme!