Am I easily confused or is this a confusing article?

[IfIWasABirdIdFlyIn2ACeilingFan]

[[www.huffingtonpost.com/entry/nonbinary-period-menstruation_us_5b75ac1fe4b0182d49b1c2ed

I am a nonbinary trans menstruator

What does this mean? My understanding of non binary means they do not subscribe to gender stereotypes associated with either males or females. Fine. But then how are they a trans person? What are they transitioning to if they don’t recognise gender?

Though I now can name these increasing anxieties as “dysphoria,” a term used to describe the common experience trans people often feel because our bodies do not match our gender,

Ok, but this person identifies as non binary- so how can their body not match their gender if they don’t have one?

On the flip side, using the men’s restroom means that I have to pray that I’m not already leaking when I walk in there and figure out the best ways to keep myself safe while discreetly tending to my period.

I would be interested in knowing why they feel the need to take extra measures to keep themselves safe in the men’s bathrooms. What is the risk they are talking about that doesn’t exist in the women’s bathrooms?

OP - It appears you have cut the Gordian knot

Unpopular opinion here. The writer did state that they did or do try using the women's toilet to use disposal facilities but were "ushered out" by other users. That must suck.

They must be the first trans person ushered out of a women's loo ever. I would be too scared to do that myself. Cf. The flasher in the Soho gym.

Or it didn't happen.

OP you are only allowed to be agender if you accept gender ideology. If you are agender and reject the religious idea of gendered souls then you are a terfy bigot, I believe.

I had to google that heresy!

They did say that gold, I wonder what they would do if they were “ushered out” of the Male toilets too. I wonder how many times that happened in the ladies toilets.

Yes I’ve definitely been called that not! But it was accompanied with being told I was cisgender whether I believed it or not

@IfIWasABird

Well, the argument would be that there is a modern word-phrase that makes it clear, and that's 'cis woman'. Never mind that 'cis woman' apparently means exactly what 'woman' used to be understood to mean, and 'woman' now has no distinct meaning at all.

It's short for I'm an attention seeking twit.

I told DH I was non binary 30 mins ago.

He's agreed to self affirm me and take notes on the difference.

Apparently I'm basically still the same but already have a slight stench of entitlement. He's going to monitor it for scientific purposes.

For my part I feel fab. I'm free of the shackles of womanhood well apart from my pesky period involving cramps and very sore non breast things - can I call them chbreasts ?

Unpopular opinion here. The writer did state that they did or do try using the women's toilet to use disposal facilities but were "ushered out" by other users. That must suck.

Especially as, judging by their photo, they would easily pass as female.

It's strange that transpeople who don't pass as female claim that they use women's loos without comment, yet some females who look like they could pass as women claim that they are told to leave.

I suspect the women with the young daughters doing the alleged ushering out are doing it with staring and glaring not actual words.

Given how similar that person's appearance is to many lesbians I know, I would bet a coffee on hostile attitudes being down to homophobia and if more of a stare, then just interest in a non-conforming person (especially if done by a child).

Maybe it is the children being ushered out rapidly as they start asking awkward questions within earshot of the clearly uncomfortable gender non-conforming person.

My breasts feel like incongruous growths that do not belong on my body

Try being a 34GG. My breasts get in the way, bras cost a fortune and hurt no matter who fits them, clothing options are ridiculously limited, any kind of exercise is uncomfortable or outright painful, and they feel like some kind of cruel practical joke instead of functioning body parts. The way men treat me because of my huge breasts is appalling and I've still got a scar from when, after my rape, I slashed my left breast with a razor blade. Enby snowflakes aren't the only people who hate their bodies and hate how people (usually men) treat them because of said bodies. As the author has hinted with their comments about the men's loos, you can't identify out of being female and vulnerable to rape, and yet they lack the insight to join the dots and realise that their principal problem, as a female person, is male violence and by deliberately trying to resemble a male they compromise their own access to female-only safe spaces.

This author is complaining about how menstrual products are all pastels and pink and butterflies, well guess what, I was objecting to the pinkification of female-specific items before you were born. You can't even buy safety boots to fit women that don't have pink on. As for pad packaging causing dysphoria, come back when some of the pad brands bring you out in a vulval rash and then we can talk about limited sanpro choices.

In short, I see the author's self-created problems and I raise them my externally-iimposed ones.

As the author has hinted with their comments about the men's loos, you can't identify out of being female and vulnerable to rape, and yet they lack the insight to join the dots and realise that their principal problem, as a female person, is male violence and by deliberately trying to resemble a male they compromise their own access to female-only safe spaces.

Very good point!

I've not read the thread properly, but (having been inspired by seeing 'genderfuck')I think I've worked out a gender identifier which might suit many MNers:
GenderFOTTFSOFAWYGTFOSM

BD 👏

Great observation between physical reality and internal angst.

Using the word angst but really mean self indulgent, egotistical and narcissistic delusion.

When I run out of products, I have to go looking for a pad, tampon or even a cup that’s not awash in the traditionally feminine coding of pinks, purples and flowers

The most famous tampon brand , Tampax, is blue/green and has never had flowers on it. Kotex is very dark purple and/ or black with white. Some of the packaging on google images on Kotex actually looks masculine to me. Lillets are in multiple primary / fluorescent colours including blue, yellow and green. Own brand value brands are usually plain white wrappers.

When I run out of products, I have to go looking for a pad, tampon or even a cup that’s not awash in the traditionally feminine coding of pinks, purples and flowers

Lucky that traditional gender coding of pinks, purples and flowers doesn't bother any 'cis-women' because everyone knows we all just love that sort of shit.

Lucky that traditional gender coding of pinks, purples and flowers doesn't bother any 'cis-women' because everyone knows we all just love that sort of shit

Yes.

Surely all this 'there are 70 genders'= I feel different from you? I have my own thoughts, feelings and personality. No Shit Sherlock

Don’t believe she was asked to leave the ladies. Nope. Except for the very faint possibility that she waltzed in and yelled about being a non binary man but absolutely not a woman and how awful/humiliating/ transphobic/ unfair not to have gender neutral toilets blah blah blah and some woman who just wanted to pee in peace got bored listening to the me-me-me diatribe and said ‘fuck off to the men’s then love’
Huh. Maybe I do believe it after all. Huh. I might even have said it myself. Who knew. Not transphobic, just tired of listening to narcs.

Lucky that traditional gender coding of pinks, purples and flowers doesn't bother any 'cis-women' because everyone knows we all just love that sort of shit

The snowflake enby needs this product

Great video, and so right. I like contrast with the water aid plea at the end. Perhaps that's something Cass could think about.

In some ways I have sympathy with Cass, as a young persons experiencing the downsides of being female and wanting to opt out. The trouble is that as they have found you can't opt out of your body, or at least not without taking extreme action that they apparently are uncomfortable with / dislike the side effects of (what a surprise that taking male hormones might fuck up your periods, especially when the usual way to try and reduce the impact of periods is to take female hormones). Maybe when Cass grows up a bit more they can become a feminist and direct their energies at the world for how it treats women rather than trying a losing fight with reality.

Gah! I despise people like this. Essentially they hate the fact that some people are considered more marginalized (because of disability, race, culture, poverty, age, illness etc) so they find a way to be the most special oppressed person ever. Then demands lots of sympathy and validation by writing at length about their very private pain complete with a load of pictures ("look at me! Tell me I'm special! Tell me despite all my advantages I have a much worse time than anyone you've ever met!").

1. That's a woman. I've seen beauty queens who look more masculine. Use the sodding ladies.
2. women don't want to be around men when dealing with periods nor in situations when they are vulnerable to attack by men. Well, doh! Now have a think about how that might be avoided.
3. If the worst thing about sanitary products is the colour of the wrapping and not the fact that poverty means you can't afford them and have to skip school, you really, really need to reassess your value system.

Cass Bliss is a nonbinary trans educator with a passion for the creative. A storyteller at heart, Cass uses art, music, writing, and comics to raise awareness for unique issues facing the trans and nonbinary community, from trans-exclusive sex education and gendered periods to medical transitioning and transphobia. After publishing the first-ever period coloring book called “The Adventures of Toni the Tampon” and launching a viral campaign called #BleedingWhileTrans, Cass earned the moniker “The Period Prince” and established themselves as one of the leading experts in trans-inclusive period activism.

Maybe Cass needs to find a proper job, instead of trying to promote herself as another 'leading expert'. Jesus wept.

Ffs

"Trans-exclusive sex education" Give me strength.

People who select "non binary" as a label to attach to themselves really must be lacking in finding anything else to make themselves more boring interesting.

Periods, like toilet provision, are sexed not gendered. HTH.

one of the leading experts in trans-inclusive period activism

I’m entertained by the thought that the trans-inclusive period activism movement is extensive enough to not only contain experts, but within that a higher echelon of “leading experts”. One wonders what they have a higher degree of expertise in. Optimal sanitary product colour palettes?