THREAD: Seeing @jk_rowling bring attention to detransition has been interesting and refreshing, but the responses she and many detransitioners have received are eternally frustrating. 1/12

I’m a detrans woman. I'm well aware that detransitioners are a minority among people who transition. I understand that magnifying our experiences is often done so with blatantly transphobic intentions. I understand that detransition stories make trans people uncomfortable. 2/12

What I don't understand is how simply discussing detransition as a phenomenon is bigoted. This is not just about JK's thread. Countless trans people have told detransitioners to shut up and sit down because we were "never trans" and we "should have known better". 3/12

Detrans people were part of the trans community until we weren't, and honestly, it doesn't matter why we left or disidentified. We still lived as trans people; we have that shared experience. I am still a trans ally. 4/12

Me speaking about my own lived experience and concerns does not invalidate trans people. I have never gone out of my way to invalidate individuals or disrespect their identities. And somehow, I'm still a huge TERF/transphobe for my transition having a different outcome. 5/12

To those saying that I should shut up because my story will be weaponized anyways: I used to think this too. And I stayed quiet. But I am NOT the problem. The people that co-opt my story are, and to place the blame on me for talking about MY life is ridiculous. 6/12

What frustrates me the most is seeing tons of people who have NEVER experienced dysphoria parrot trite claims used to dismiss detransitioners. The low detrans rate (based on incredibly flawed surveying), the claim that we all detransitioned because of lack of support, etc. 7/12

Regardless of whether or not any of these stats/claims are true, they are used to IGNORE and DISCREDIT us. Cis people who have no personal investment in transition listen to these dominant narratives, and are told that anything that counters it is "transphobic". 8/12

I am sick of being told that I can't talk about my pain or trauma because it is "harmful"/"problematic". I am tired of being told by trans and cis people alike that it is all my fault, or that the cause of my detransition can be pinpointed with, "you were just confused" 9/12

Trans identity and transition are SO much more complicated, but no one will ever know that if they close themselves off from being curious and well-informed, often in the name of blind allyship. 10/12

Cis people don't tell trans people how to interpret their pain. It's none of their business. Why are they telling US? Trans people are defended for being at a higher suicide risk. Was MY suicidality in detransition not enough reason to speak honestly about MY experiences? 11/12

I still recognize the complexity of the situation, of someone with such a large platform bringing these issues to light. Truthfully, I don't know quite how to feel about it. I'm exhausted, and quite frankly, relieved that someone in the public eye is even mentioning us. 12/12