FediForum Has Been Canceled

2025-03-31 20:36:02

deadsuperhero@lemmy.ml

In light of recent controversy and its handling, the twice-a-year FediForum unconference for April 1st and 2nd has been canceled by its organizer.

fediverse

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2025-03-31 22:16:06

freddo

freddo@feddit.nu

I don’t understand how Kaliya’s statements can be controversial or classed as transphobia. Isn’t it in line with the definition of trans?

2025-03-31 22:38:43

Sean Tilley

deadsuperhero@lemmy.ml

Her comments cover everything from “trans women are mostly autistic boys who have been gaslit” to “there are only two sexes” to “trans people are unfit to play in their gender’s sport.” However, there are far worse comments floating around out there that talk about genital mutilation and all kinds of other heinous shit.

2025-04-01 00:00:25

Vendetta9076

Vendetta9076@sh.itjust.works

So the other stuff is clearly wrong and gross, but I’m confused by the “only two sexes” comment. Gender being a spectrum makes sense but I always thought we all pretty much agreed that biological sex was a binary function in humans. Sure there are genetic disorders that create exceptions, but aren’t those exceptions that prove the rule instead of break it?

This is a genuine question. I’m a computer guy not a biology guy.

2025-04-01 00:48:44

Lola

lola@hubzilla.monster

I don't think that the problem is saying that there are "two sexes." The problem is that many people who say that tend to assign a specific gender or stereotype to that sex. In other words, what they really mean is that "men are supposed to be one way and women are supposed to be another," with the implication that someone isn't a real man or women if they are not that stereotype. That notion dismisses the reality for people who do not conform to those stereotypes. Trans people are the most obvious expression of gender fluidity, but I think most people don't conform to society's rigid standards. They just hide behind a mask, and if they are lucky, express it in the bedroom with a trusted partner.

But, as someone who does not fit gender stereotypes, I can say that there are only four anatomical configurations that people are born with: female genitalia (vagina), male genitalia (penis), both male and female genitalia (vagina and a penis) and no sexual genitalia. Most people are the first two. It also should be noted that a person can have surgery to alter this, and that babies born with both genitalia usually have surgery shortly after birth so they only have one, not both.

So a lot of the reaction to that statement is what people are reading between the lines, and not those specific words themselves.

2025-04-01 14:38:13

Ferk

Ferk@lemmy.ml

what they really mean is that “men are supposed to be one way and women are supposed to be another,” with the implication that someone isn’t a real man or women if they are not that stereotype

I think what they often imply is that for them gender is just a way to refer to male and female sex, and not really a stereotype. If someone is female/male then in their eyes they are a woman/man regardless of what they look or how they behave, because it’s not about social stereotypes for them. Even if a man looks and behaves like a stereotypical woman, it would not stop being “a real man” because for them gender isn’t about looks, behavior or feelings of identity.

However, the trans community sees gender as something that relates to what stereotype (social construct) a person identifies with, and this makes gender independent of sex, because you can identify with a gender stereotype that does not match the stereotype that you might typically associate with your biological sex.

2025-04-01 16:17:17

Melmi

melmi@lemmy.blahaj.zone

I don’t think “identifying with social stereotypes” is really an accurate representation of what being trans is.

Sure, there are some people who transition and identify as stereotypical members of their desired gender, but there are also people who transition and are gender nonconforming after their transition, but still identify as binary trans.

Identifying with social stereotypes also doesn’t account for physical dysphoria, which is very real for a lot of trans folks. Some trans folks change little about their presentation when they transition but still want hormones and/or surgery.

2025-04-01 22:20:38

Lola

lola@hubzilla.monster

And there are also people like me. I am feminine and have male anatomy. I don't feel the need to have surgery to conform to other people's gender stereotypes. I am a feminine man. People just have to deal with the fact that not everyone conforms to society's stereotypes. And, while I respect other people's right to alter their bodies how they see fit, I don't think I should change my body just because someone says men aren't supposed to be feminine.

2025-04-02 04:52:45

Melmi

melmi@lemmy.blahaj.zone

I didn’t explicitly address that in my comment, but yeah. The trans community exists in synergy with cis GNC people like you. You can break every stereotype for your sex and still be cis, or you can fit the stereotypes for your sex but be trans, and both are just as valid as stereotypical cis or trans folks.

2025-04-02 06:39:08

Lola

lola@hubzilla.monster

@Melmi

you can fit the stereotypes for your sex but be trans

What do you mean by that? Wouldn't that mean you were born with female sexual equipment and act like a stereotypical female? I thought that was CIS. Or are you referring to someone who had surgery to change their sex?

2025-04-02 14:39:55

Melmi

melmi@lemmy.blahaj.zone

The word “stereotype” is carrying a lot of weight here and it’s sort of ambiguous what it means.

But for example, there are trans men who are feminine and wear dresses and such, and there are trans women who are masculine/butch and wear pants and suits, etc.

They’re still trans because they identify as a gender different from their sex, and any of them may pursue different forms of physical transition or not at all.

2025-04-02 16:54:41

Joe

joe@opinion.pub

@Melmi

The word “stereotype” is carrying a lot of weight here and it’s sort of ambiguous what it means.

But for example, there are trans men who are feminine and wear dresses and such, and there are trans women who are masculine/butch and wear pants and suits, etc.

They’re still trans because they identify as a gender different from their sex, and any of them may pursue different forms of physical transition or not at all.

If I am understanding this right, that would mean that anyone could simply declare a gender and be that gender. Is that correct?

So, basically, a straight person with a penis (traditionally defined as a "straight male"), who is attracted to people who have a vagina (traditionally called a "female"), and who embraces masculinity and otherwise behaves like a man, could, in theory, become a woman just because she said she was? And that would make her a trans female.