i think its brave to ask
I hope people answer you in a thoughtful way.
this subject is new to me and ive been off MN for ags and when i came back trans threads were everywhere.
so heres my take on it from a very basic level.
its not about trans people - its about womens rights. Trans people i am told do not want a third way - they either want to be classed as male or female.
women have protection under law - we do not get the same opportunties and access that men do. there is a proposal to change the definition of a woman to include those who self identify as a woman. this leaves the door open for many misuses and protections of women
for instance someone could id as a woman having not undergone any surgery, counselling or support or the couple of years it takes to get a certificte - they just elect to be a woman. if i go to the doctor and for many many many reasons ask that i be seen by a woman. that would include someone who self id as a woman.
in a company men could self id as a woman and the company reach their equality targets having put no measures in place.
funds for research into women’s medical issues, or domestic abuse of women by men, or projects to get women into STEM will be eroded.< thanks to nosquirel for that example>
sports women will not be able to compete on an equal playing field
a woman in an abusive relationship who may need a refuge - which at the moment has the right o only employ women could employ someone who self IDs as a woman - therefore the chance to put abused women at further risk, but at the very least no matter what the intention of the person who self IDs as a woman, that refuge would not feel like a safe place for women who are abused
a young teen girl buying her first bra could be assisted by someone who self IDs and who has not undergone surgery and doesn't want to, someone who self IDs as they can use this to abuse their position
A Muslim woman who can only participate in certain women only activities, will not be able to participate on religous grounds
an elderly woman who would rather have a woman wash her after an episode of incontinence...
there was aslo a thread about the guides trans policy recently. Parents would not be told if their daughter was on a camping trip with a teenager who self ID as a woman.
Now, i agree with you op, that in reading the threads, it seems massivley anti-trans. However, if you read the feminism section - it does come across anti male a lot of the time - to me at least.
but on this occasion the inclusivity of self identifying does erode the rights and protections that women have.
andd yes - this still leaves you and others stuck in the middle with no solution. i am a very solution orientated person, i am a very lefty loony inclusive person and i want to find a solution - to pitch one at least but if the trans community are saying that people should be able to self ID as a women this affects the existing women. and if trans people are saying that there isn't a thirs option, that they will only accept being accepted as either M or F - there is no solution.
so the fire and the fury that you read SHOULD be becuase womens rights are being eroded - however i agree with you the sentiment behind a lot of threads is very anti penis.