Is acephobia/aphobia, the fear of aromantic and asexual people, a real thing?

There is an interesting discussion about the fear and persecution of asexual and aromantic people over at Crossdream Life.

Aromantic pride flag.

HyperLayne writes:

"If crime is motivated by confused, disgusted, violent aggressive desire to "fix" or "straighten up" a person, I'd say it is a hate crime...

It is based in beliefs, that you should not have autonomy to change your social role, cannot break out from the traditionalist life script. It's a part of rigid thinking, that says you shouldn't have premarital sex, shouldn't have sex with members of the same sex, cannot change your gender role, but you have to be sinful, you have to feel shame, you have to need a priest, you have to want sex beyond wanting to have kids, you have to want to get married and you have to make babies and have to struggle with your marriage and must want to commit infidelity, and you likely will and they'll you ask forgiveness and you and your spouse will have to make sacrifices for the sake of marriage and kids, and your love will only get stronger for it... " 

There is More Than Just One Trans Narrative

"Am I trans enough?" "Am I really transgender?" "Is it only a fetish?" Even if the LGBTQA culture has become increasingly supportive of variance, both as regards sexuality and gender identity, the old "woman trapped in a man's body narrative" remains strong. 

For some that narrative makes perfect sense. For others it does not, or – at least – it feels only partly true.

Over at Crossdream Life, Lost has gathered and presented a selection of life stories that tells us that there is more than just one transgender narrative.

If you are one of those questioning your gender identity or you have close ones who do, you might find much of interest here.

Go to "There is More Than Just One Trans Narrative" on Crossdream Life. 

Image: Midjourney AI

Selected gender discussions from Crossdream Life

Crossdream Life is a discussion forum for all kinds of gender variance, from cis people who break gender boundaries on the one hand to trans women and trans men on the other.

There is a lot of content over there, and it is not always easy to track down good discussions you have not read. This is why we have gathered a few discussion threads that may be of help to you right now.

A Transgender Typology and Unification Theory

Koloa has presented a very interesting alternative approach to talk about trangender identities and lives that avoid the kind of pathologization we find in many other models.

Are we just protecting cis people and the binary again?

A discussion about the gender binary, gender identity and gender expression.

Surveys debunks the "autogynephilia" theory

 

The Crossdreamer blog presents several extensive online surveys that proves beyond any doubt that the "autogynephilia" theory of Ray Blanchard is wrong. They have been carried out by bloggers and activists.

Not that you need these surveys to draw that conclusion. Peer reviewed science says the same. Still, some more nails in the coffin might be helpful.

What these surveys show is that erotic embodiment and crossgender fantasies  are found in all relevant sections of the population.

Read "Blanchard debunked: Surveys show that all kinds of people experience "autogynephilia""

Is there an English word that captures the overall concept behind masculine and feminine?

We use terms like "feminine" and "masculine" without thinking about how to define them. They are clearly associated with terms like "female" and "male", but since we find "femininity" in men and "masculinity" in women, there is clearly no one to one relationship.

Then there is the fact that what is considered "masculine" and "feminine" varies from culture to culture and from epoch to epoch.

Is there an English language term that captures the whole feminine/masculine spectrum?

This is the topic for a discussion over at Crossdream Life. 

Painting of King Louis XIV of France with red high heels.  

Is there such a thing as a "female brain"?

Over at CDL there is an interesting discussion on the nature of the human brain. Some argue that there is such a thing as a "female" brain and that trans women have such a brain. Others argue that the brain represents a complex mix of stereotypical male and female traits, so that it does not make much sense to talk about "female" and "male" brains.

More about this here.

See also: In defense of the sex binary.