Comment Rules
The core rule is, you can criticize ideas, and you can criticize people who hold those ideas, but if you’re going to disrespect identities, I won’t approve your post. Calling women “boys” or “men”, men “girls” or “women,” or using neuter pronouns to describe either means your comment won’t be approved.
I will not approve comments that include transphobic concepts such as “woman-born woman,” which has strictly been used to justify discrimination, segregation, and cissexual supremacy in women’s spaces from MichFest to DV and rape shelters. Also, “biological male or female,” or “genetic male or female.”
These apply to first-time commenters, sock puppets, and anonymous commenters:
I will not approve comments that include oppressive language of any variety. I’m no more sympathetic to racism, sexism, ableism, or any other *ism than I am of transphobia.
I will not approve comments that attempt to assert “hierarchy of oppressions.” If you want to tell me that trans people don’t have it very bad because race or sex is worse, then I don’t really care what you have to say. The reverse is also true.
I won’t approve posts by known trolls, although that’s a very short list.
I won’t approve any post that asserts “cissexual” or “cisgender” is “othering,” “misogynist” or any other kind of slur. Trans people don’t have the cultural currency to other anyone on the basis of not being trans, and cis- words apply to both men and women.
I won’t approve transphobic screeds in general.
I won’t approve arguments about how my comment rules are a violation of your rights/silencing your opinion/etc. If you have a grievance with how I moderated you, you can take the discussion to this page, but you will not derail the ongoing conversation just to salve your wounded ego.
I may approve comments like this, but using this language means that I will put you on permanent moderation.
I’m fine with disagreement, I really am. But this isn’t a forum for people (cis or trans) to air their transphobic grievances with me and mine. I want trans people, first and foremost, to feel safe commenting here. I’m not always perfect in that regard, but I will err in the favor of those who are oppressed and against those who are oppressors.
For other commenters:
If you do the above, you’ll be asked to check your privilege. It’s no big thing, happens to all of us.
[...] I won’t approve your comments as long as you can’t follow these very simple guidelines. This space is not for you to spread your transphobic hate speech. Start your own blog. Troll [...]
Please Read the Comment Rules Before Posting « Questioning Transphobia
April 19, 2008 at 1:17 am
I wonder if I am on your list of “trolls”..
My ideas are considered totally too dangerous to be allowed to be seen by much of the transgender community despite my personal history on long advocacy for trans people…..I am the enigma wrapped in a dilemma for much of the trans community.
Please let me know as I will respect your wishes in this.
Rev. Mother Cathryn Platine
catkisser
July 22, 2008 at 8:27 am
Short version:
No, you’re not on the list of trolls. I disagree with so many of your arguments I can’t even begin to enumerate them here. However, as long as you respect people’s self-identification, you’re welcome to post – I’m not opposed to disagreement as long as those disagreements don’t cut across human beings and their lives.
That is, don’t be calling men “women” or women “men.” Surgical status and/or preference is not relevant.
Lisa Harney
July 22, 2008 at 2:41 pm
Hi!
I just wanted to say how much I look forward to catching up with your site on a regular basis. I work as a Marriage & Family Therapist in private practice in L.A. with a straight but very supportive non-trans psychologist supervisor, who knew very little of all things trans when I began but now she has become an advocate (in a non-condescending or ‘trendy manner). Prior to that I was employed at the L.A. Gay & Lesbian Center (their first trans therapist) for five years-they also asked me to start a Trans Division at the Center, but alas, my health issues – chronic pain – prevented me from doing so). I do individual, couples, group and family counseling. I’m also a professor at Antioch University L.A., teaching courses like Human Sexuality (required!) and serving on the Board of Directors for their LGBT Psychology Specialization, the only one of its type in the country. Additionally I lecture at universities, mental health facilities, trans events, etc. I often recommend your site to friends and clients as I find myself agreeing so often with your opinions that attempting to merely ‘explain’ your views makes less sense to me than just sending them to the source (plus I enjoy your writing style and don’t want to deny them the pleasure of same). Please keep up the good blogging. Sincerely, Jessie
Jessie Jacobson
September 2, 2008 at 9:52 am
Thanks for the kind words!
I’ve come across one of your lectures on youtube, I think.
Lisa Harney
September 2, 2008 at 10:15 am
[...] * Don’t be oppressive [...]
Comment Rules Updated « Questioning Transphobia
September 25, 2008 at 11:27 pm
[...] a comment » New clarification added to the rules, to make it explicitly clear what happened in this post should not happen. I won’t approve [...]
Comment Rules Updated « Questioning Transphobia
March 14, 2009 at 4:31 pm
[...] Also, the comment rules. [...]
Moderation Off « Questioning Transphobia
June 24, 2009 at 5:37 am