I don't want to be identified by what body parts I have or don't have.

[Hekate]

213. Hi, EarlG

Just wanted to drop in to say my post #206 says it about the best I can express: Respect is a two-way street.

As a formerly straight but apparently now cis woman, I have run into some of this stuff here, e.g. the proposed deletion of the word “woman” to prove how inclusive we are. (I have not known how to respond and on the whole have avoided interaction until I feel my vocabulary has caught up.)

But as several posters in this thread have vehemently denied that any such thing has occurred, I started to get a sensation of gaslighting. Every time I returned to this thread throughout the day, it had grown larger — and now feels like something toxic is going on.

There are posters I have reason to believe are well-intentioned and trying to grapple with an unfamiliar and difficult issue — but have been accused of terrible intentions. And DU itself is being accused of what? Apparently so much transphobia that all the trans people have left. Yes, someone said that, or at least it sure looked like it to my tired eyes. — That’s an accusation DU does not deserve, and that’s what I mean by toxic. Respect, as I and a few others have said, is a two-way street.

As I am responding to you openly in the midst of this donnybrook, others will no doubt feel compelled to reply. That’s okay. It’s almost 2 a.m. now, and I am exiting.

As always, thank you for all you do for this community.