Have just outed myself on Facebook

[tinabloodysparkle]

Eek, just outed myself as GC on Facebook. Can I get some support please?

The idea is more scary than the reality. I think I've been unfriended and blocked by an acquaintance who is a transwoman and that's it.

I'm struggling with my Facebook to be honest.
Someone I've been friends with for decades is transitioning and had a hissy fit over some delayed treatment the other day.
I just can't bring myself to give a shit when I've known people die due to delayed diagnosis of serious illnesses.
I also can't bring myself to bring it up on Facebook as I'm not ready To lose friends.

Congratulations OP!
I haven't had the courage yet. If I did, I'd have to customise the post to exclude FB friends whom I know to be parents of trans people and those who are close friends of trans people, as I don't want to upset them pointlessly. But that feels a bit dishonest, so I haven't. I was tempted to post about 'Jacinta' but thought it might come across as goady. When I commented on someone else's thread to the effect it was biology that made women a caste (giving examples of selective abortion, FGM, rape, pregnancy etc) I was warned to watch my language.

I'm getting close to breaking point though. I may just post something about the self-id consultation.

I posted about Jacinta and got a good response. I will be sharing the consultation over the weekend. Fuck it.

I've been out for a while now, it is scary at first but it gets easier.
Most posts get no response at all..
A couple have had some comments from both sides.
I posted about Karen White specifically asking people to engage and got a few comments that led to some interesting conversation and points.
Plus I think comments keep things at the top of the feed so the more the better.
One person has private messaged me saying they agree and will fill in the consultation.

"I post on Facebook and no-one normally responds. I take comfort in the fact that people are reading though, even if they're too scared to comment"

I outed myself on FB yonks ago and never get any response of any kind to my sharing of WPUK, WNTT or FPFW. I either don't actually have any friends or they're too shit-scared to comment. I hope it's the latter! Whatever, I'll keep going because I need to for my own well-being

I've been out on social media for quite a while. I know trans identifying people and have a friend whose son identifies as trans. I'm always careful to only post calm and measured pieces. I'm never rude or gratuitous but don't shy away from stating what I believe. I look at it like a religion. My good friends who believe in god have no problem with me thinking it's sky fairy nonsense.

I have lost a couple of friends and gained a couple of new ones and have had DM evidence that quite a few people who unthinkingly believed TWAW now do not due to articles and arguments I have posted.

I know not everybody can do this. But nearly everybody can. It is not scary out here. It is liberating.

Just remember the Pink News survey that showed only 18 % of people support self ID.

When you tell people that nearly all TW keep their penis they are amazed and they rethink their stance.

To quote Shakespeare: "There is a tide in the affairs of women, which taken at the flood, leads on to fortune. Omitted, all the voyage of their life is bound in shallows and in miseries. On such a full sea are we now afloat."

Well done OP! You have just inspired me to do the same. I am mostly a lurker on the FWR board but am shocked by what I am reading. I think most of my fb friends actually would have no idea about what 'self ID' even is let alone what it could lead to.
I wonder if I'll get any comments?!

I’m also out on Facebook but my GC posts are largely ignored, only recently have two or three people commented (on the transitioning /guides issues) and their position has been GC. I have to be very careful how I word things though due to my line of work.

I also have a trans friend, and am very mindful of their feelings and also am genuinely supportive of their transition. I try always to post measured pieces but once shared a quite inflammatory post because I was wild with rage! It certainly caused debate but I took it down later because I knew it wasn't compassionate. So I try to balance my fierce concern with kindness, which I think we're all trying to do.

Oh fuck I’ve done it. The photo of the Liverpool poster (woman noun adult human female) is now my Facebook cover picture and I’ve commented that it was taken down because transactivists complained it was transphobic.

I am gonna get totally fucked over for this. But I don’t care. Enough is fucking enough.

(Sorry every second word is fuck, but I’m fucking terrified.)

Well done Fig. That's the one I put as my profile pic last night for all of 5 seconds before I panicked and took it off again.

Well done

Well done Fig, let us know how it goes - mine had no response and am breathing easier now!

I posted on fb about the 'woman' poster. Several women friends posted hesitant, coded messages that really suggested to me that we're all, if not outright gender critical, then certainly highly sceptical. I think most people are just too scared to say anything out loud.

I've just peeped over the parapet on facebook too and seem to ahve been told there are more than two sexes and what about intersex individuals?
I feel a bit alone in my GC-ness unless I'm on here. I may email close friends to test the waters...

Still don't feel I can post openly because of work, but am definitely hitting like a lot more, and I think some of the groups will come up. Threads like these make me smile ruefully because I'm willing to bet I actually know some of you and am liking your posts. You may even be the people who radicalised me!

I've recently done it after being out for a wee while on twitter. Way scarier than I expected but like you, I felt I had to be a fraction as brave as the amazing women putting themselves on the line for this.

The good thing is that it's put me in touch with a few other GC ladies locally and we plan to meet up and plan some local activism

Thanks, tina.

Reason I’m worried is half my friends are gay and, when I’ve gently tried to introduce a gender critical viewpoint, they’ve looked at me as if I’m nuts. They remember me fighting for equality for lesbians and gay men, equal marriage, and I think assume the transgender issue is just more of the same thing.

Next week I’m having dinner with a group of lesbian friends. I’m hoping I can win there with a “did you know you’re transphobic if you don’t like dick” speech. Fingers crossed.

Is anyone on the Last Leg unofficial fb page. People were commenting about the recent This Morning interview. I started writing something then chickened out and deleted it.

Has anyone had conversations with dh’s about it? My dh thinks i’m Talking a load of rubbish and just doesn’t get it.

fig I would take heart from the fact that your gay friends know you're not narrow minded or homophobic - by being who you are, their ally, and also questioning this legislation you'll be giving them something to think about. You can focus on the way that young people who might be attracted to the sane sex are being told they're bloody trans instead of being allowed to find out if they're gay!

My lesbian friends are absolutely appalled by what's happening

Isn't this bloody astonishing? That so many women are having to speak in code and meet in secret? I never thought I'd be so scared of speaking my mind, but misogynist men have managed it

Bloody hell, I did it last night too (admittedly by commenting on a post made by a friend who has somewhat surprised me by recently 'coming out' as GC, rather than on my own page, but small steps).

Must be something in the water...

Thank you so much, Belonger, for the confidence boost. I really appreciate it. 😘

Yay good work! I’m sharing fair play for women stuff- and it gets no likes from
My friends but I’m hoppng they are reading some of the info and maybe just getting a bit of info.