COMMUNITY VS RESPECTABILITY POLITICS

It's almost shocking how many people seem set on trying to prove they're "one of the good ones" to their oppressors by putting down others in their community- in my own circles this is most often demonstrated by adults making fun of children for having pronouns or gender identities they don't understand, or who do things they think is "cringe".

Making fun of these people won't save you. To bigots, you are the same as the kid with pup/pups pronouns who uses catgender to describe pupself. Both of you are seen as disgusting freaks that they don't want to exist. It doesn't matter if you have a "normal" sexuality or gender identity, or if you don't "make being gay part of [your] whole personality", both of you are considered abnormal enough to be targets.

They want us to in-fight. They want us to divide ourselves like this. It makes it easier to get the community if we all turn on eachother. You don't have to understand "cringe" identites. You don't have to like people like that. But we cannot let ourselves abandon these people who need a community for protection. We have to build a community where they can feel safe and just exist. A community that protects them from bigotry and hatred.

This does not apply to actual freaks/people with paraphilias. They need a different type of help.