"Myths about Transage Identity
With all the negative attention on the label "transage" and people identifying as transage lately, I thought it would be a good time to address common myths, misconceptions, and misinformation going around in one place.
Transage, as both a term and an identity, is not made by or for predators
In 2017, internet trolls coined the term "clovergender" as part of an (CWs: CSA mention, transphobia) [anti-gender-identity smear campaign](https://www.snopes.com/fact-check/identifying-as-clovergender/), and that campaign also referenced "transage" and "agefluid". That smear campaign has done significant damage to the online reputation of both of those terms, but nevertheless, they were in use before that campaign, and it isn't at all reflective of the reality of our community. Most transage communities - including the Discord server I run - do not accept or endorse predatory behavior.
Transage is not a term made to discredit the LGBTQ+ community
While from the state of current social knowledge, age identity seems like a fantastical concept, I can assure you that we are real people, having real dysphoric experiences - not "black propaganda", or a "psyop". Looking at the long, rich history of this subreddit should be sufficient proof of that, but failing that - simply having an earnest conversation with any of us will thoroughly demonstrate this as well!
Transage people do not aim to change their chronological ages
This is impossible. All of us wish to be socially treated as our identified ages. Most of us wish to change our biological ages, though medical technology is not sufficiently advanced to make this possible as of yet. Some of us wish for legal recognition as well, such as being protected from sexualization in the same way chronological minors are, or being required to have parents/guardians taking care of us, but this is a much more debated topic with no particular consensus at the moment.
Transage people can't be "cured" by therapy
Transage identity is an inherent part of who we are, and isn't something that can be "fixed" by simply addressing underlying complexes or traumas. Furthermore, to many of us, an attempt to do so would qualify as conversion therapy, as despite the distress associated with them, many of us genuinely like our identities, and feel them to be reflective of our values and what we want in life.
Transage identity is not inherently sexual or a fetish
It's an emotional/identity experience that covers all aspects of life. While sexual ageplay does exist, and some transage people engage in it, this isn't an inherent aspect of the identity. Also, many transage people are asexual, or have traumas that make them functionally asexual, so this particular misconception can be very upsetting for them.
Transage isn't connected with transgender or part of the LGBTQ+ umbrella
While many of us who are also transgender feel that age dysphoria and gender dysphoria feel like extremely similar experiences (hence the name "transage" feeling incredibly apt), there is no direct connection or relation between these concepts, nor is there currently any generally recognized alliance between transage and transgender communities.
Transage identity is not a monolithic movement
It's an identity. While there is a common public perception that we're all bad, and this is untrue, it is also untrue that we're all good. People who identify as transage may have any traits or qualities that other members of the population do, including negative ones. Furthermore, there isn't any inherent consensus within the transage population on political opinions or other types of social stances. Knowing one transage person does not mean knowing all, or even most. As such, we should be treated as individuals - individuals who happen to share a common identity, but wholly individuals nonetheless.
​
Thank you for reading this, and if you're coming here from other quarters of the internet - hi! I hope this helps clear up any concerns you might have, and that my words might help you become more accepting of our existence. 💖"