Since Dr. Powers opened up the autogynephelia (AGP) floodgates: even if that theory explains why some people want to transition (I am skeptical that it does, for reasons I’ll get into), it’s still not a reason to deny access to transition healthcare.

AGP is a theory by Dr. Ray Blanchard that some trans women transition because they are aroused by the idea of themselves as a woman. I do not believe theories of transness written by cis men that don’t bother to include trans men, non-binary people, or bisexual trans people (hi).

This theory is mildly reductive and extremely insulting, and it’s been mostly discredited because of what it doesn’t explain above and also for the rather obvious reason that being trans is not a sexual orientation.

It is normal for healthy people to feel good about their bodies. People pretending to be a man when they are actually a woman will naturally struggle with arousal, and find it easier after transitioning. But some people (Dr Blanchard) pathologize trans people feeling themselves.

This theory has done so much damage to our community by giving medical credence to media portrayals of trans women as creepy perverts. The number one thing I hear from people questioning their gender in my DMs is “but what if it’s just a fetish? What if I’m a pervert?”

Questioning your gender does not make you a pervert. But even if it did, enjoying sex is not a bad thing. A fetish has that harms no one is not a bad thing. It’s normal and natural. Biological, even.

People do things that arouse them all the time. Some people find taking their partner’s last name arousing. Some people find being tied up arousing. Some people find being gay arousing. Some people would like all three of those things at once!

There’s nothing now particularly arousing about brushing my teeth *as a woman.* But not having to pretend to be a man anymore initially produced a weird flood of emotions. Sometimes I felt bursts of joy. Sometimes I sobbed with relief. Other things were mixed in there.

Which is just all to say: who are we to judge why someone wants to make some change to their appearance or presentation? I’m tired of pathologizing trans identities, period. “They might like it in THAT way” is not a reason to prevent people transitioning.

And furthermore, any framework that prevents people from transitioning because you do not personally support their reasons takes for granted that being cis is the natural state of nature and being trans is artificial and that is incorrect and harmful.

Trans people are a natural part of the diversity of the human species. You don’t have to understand us to acknowledge that.