Trans the gay away Qatari addition

[KatMcBundleFace]

Today we hear of a Qatari princess escaping to the UK because they are "in the wrong body"

They wrote: “I am born a female but was male on the inside. Being gay in Qatar is considered punishable by law and death. Qatar is extremely strict in Sharia.”

This is what homophobia creates.
So sick of all.

www.thetimes.co.uk/article/d573b556-78b6-11ed-8f77-a37cd0bbbd4a?shareToken=a025663f9fd1865f6ff777a0b95d1e57

I read and re-read this. It does seem to say that this is a same-sex attracted female who's been transed because being gay is unacceptable but it's not as clear as it could be.

I half-wondered if Stonewall would take this up but couldn't see anything. Then wondered if they're keeping quiet because it shows the "trans the gay away" idea that they ignore. But then, those that ignore this would find a way to use it to say "this is why we need an inclusive ban" and gloss over the homophobia of transing the gay away, anyway.

This also seems to be about not wanting to be forced into the female subservient role enforced within this culture. The princess speaks of not wanting to be married off to cousins or restricted from travelling without a male family member.

I can completely understand why any female born into that culture would long to be a man.

This happened back in 2015, before gender identity had become such a huge thing for the west. The account given is extreme, but really very similar to the biographies of many adult trans people. Homophobic, deeply sexist family and wider culture is an incredibly common factor.

I think many women would feel the same if they were in this princess's position. In the UK, if becoming a transman genuinely conferred upon women all the privileges of being born a UK male, I think you'd get a huge number of women late 30s onwards transitioning. Unpaid care of children and parents, maternity discrimination, menopause and loss of social capital mark this period as very different for women than men. But most women of this age are also experienced enough to know that none of that would magically disappear with declaration of special identity.

I've always thought there's a strong element of 'Do it to Julia!' among women who identify as men or non-binary etc.. They look at how terrible and dehumanizing the world is for women, at how limiting and demeaning the rules are, but conclude that their humanity and intelligence and desire for something different means that therefore they are not a woman.

She said she wanted to transition because homosexuality is illegal in Qatar. But as she's in the uk now, she's in no danger. I wonder if she still presents as a man? Maybe she does in order to escape detection from her family.

Transgender ideology's homophobic basis, of course, plays right into the hands of homophobic nations.

You'd think it would be a connection that was setting off alarms. But no.

I agree, but I don't think it's on a conscious level. Having internalised sexist and homophobic norms about what it is to be a woman (female-bodied), and what is "normal" sexuality, I think they genuinely believe themselves to be Not-woman, and therefore also Not-gay.

They are wrong, obviously, but I don't think it's done with the conscious intent to throw other women under the bus to save themselves. They genuinely believe all other women are the sexist caricatures they have been raised to see, and therefore genuinely don't recognise their frustrations and lack of being "seen" is because of society's sexism, not something different about themselves.

Hi, some really interesting theories here, my friend (subject of the article) was aware of their feeling of being trapped in the wrong body way before puberty and long before they were aware of the cultural male privilege in the Middle East. It wasn't until much later that they gained access to the internet and discovered they there were other people in the same situation.

While I'm sure your friend knows their own mind, we absorb cultural norms from the moment we are born.

Just as we acquire language, we acquire culture. By the time we are aware enough to question it or even consciously notice it we are already steeped in it.

Hello,
I'm sorry your friend has gender dysphoria. I think the term "trapped in the wrong body" isn't particularly helpful here. We all have one body and we can identify with whatever gender stereotypes we wish.

As a young girl I very much identified with the stereotypes of masculinity and saw feminity as weak. As I aged I realised that it's all actually very sexist and women can be brave, bold, strong leaders etc.

It's interesting how many people discover that they are "trans" through the Internet though. I wonder if your friend had met butch lesbians instead, if this would have made a difference. It may or may not, but homosexuality being illegal in Qatar surely must make a difference?

Surely, even from a young age, you see men and women in different roles in Qatar???? Especially in the ruling elite? Even if you don't realise its the patriarchy in action?

She’s a lesbian in a culture that doesn’t accept lesbianism so it’s probably more natural for her to think of herself as a man in a woman’s body. This is the logic in Iran after all. Probably a similar sort of logic in the Gulf … and wouldn’t necessarily be considered un-Islamic since she still likely considers herself Muslim

Surely there's enough information in that article to identify the person? Isn't that dangerous?
@SheikhQ your friend will definitely have been aware of male privilege even though they lacked the ability to name it. In fact this is an experience many girls in the West will recognise- I certainly remember coming across feminism or the first time and thinking -aha- that's it! If you add to that same sex attraction (which many people report being aware of pre puberty) but no concept of homosexuality then 'born in the wrong body' could be a natural conclusion.
I'm glad your friend is safe and hope they remain so. I hope they are able to live a happy life without damaging their body.

Thank you for your concern but I assure you there isn't enough info in the article to identify my friend. It's worth noting that terms like "trapped in the wrong body" and making reference to being gay have a different meaning in the ME, English isn't my friends 1st language and Gay is used as a term that covers Trans over there. I too have many questions about Trans, is it mental health? is is not wanting to be gay? is it wanting male privilege? Who knows? it could be all of the above, but what I am sure of is that every person that identifies as trans is different and it's highly likely that their reason for doing so is too.

that's interesting that 'trans' and 'gay' are covered by the same word
if you were to provide a direct translation of the word, what would it be? Or do you mean that there was an existing word for gay (did it apply to men as well as women?) and then trans was included in that word more recently?

No not a translation, the word Gay is used for gender and sexuality in the ME, it's not a subject that is widely spoken about in the same was as it is in the west

what I am sure of is that every person that identifies as trans is different and it's highly likely that their reason for doing so is too.

This I totally agree with, that's why the whole "acceptance without exception, define trans privileges and protections based on the most fragile, then bestow them wholesale on anyone who self ids, ban any questioning of why a damaged person may be drawn towards a trans identity" is so horribly damaging to society, to women and to many trans identifying people.

In this case there is no desire for Trans privileges, just a life without fear and to be themselves. (whatever that may be)

I'm speaking of the movement, not your friend. By denying the possibility that different people may come to feel a cross gender identity for different reasons, it appropriates society's laudable desire to protect the vulnerable and turns it into a weapon for subjugation and domination.

I think the point being missed by this recent article is, why have the UK Gov recognised that my friend is at risk in Qatar due to their LGBT status yet they don't see a risk to British LGBT people traveling to Qatar for the World Cup? Seems to me that the UK is scared to stand up to Qatar or call it out for it's disgraceful human rights.

Of cause they are. All about the money isn't it?