Watson

I've locked horns with the RadFems I follow/am followed by on here a few times, which is fine. Disagreement is good - it beats living in an echo chamber. Because even when we disagree, I know they fight for women and girls - including detrans. That's all that matters to me. 4/8

Because it matters to me that detrans women and girls are supported, it matters to me that detrans men and boys are, too. Hearing from a suicidal detrans man who feels he has nowhere to turn to will break your fucking heart. He won't go to Radfem spaces for support. 5/8

I guess that's why I sometimes engage in the aforementioned horn-locking with RadFems. I understand their anger towards men, I really do. I've suffered my fair share at their hands, I assure you. I live with those experiences every day. 6/8

But when I think about detransition - which is what I'm personally focused on bringing awareness to - I think of the men and women. I want to help the men and the women equally. It's perfectly fine if others just want to focus on one or the other, but I don't. 7/8

What I'm saying is, as grateful as I am to the feminists who've offered me support, I don't call myself a feminist because I believe that label belongs to women fighting for females. I want to fight for detransitioners, male and female. I hope that clears up where I stand. 8/8

I agree. I’m always on the lookout for information that could’ve helped a friend of mine. Where are all the men supporting each other in these times? I rarely see men publicly detransition, or men supporting their returning brothers. How do we encourage them to speak up?

That is the key question. The detrans men I've spoken to refuse to publicly discuss their detransition (I've never asked any of them to, as that's not my place). I wouldn't know what men to turn to if I were a detrans man. I suppose that's why they largely suffer in silence.

Maybe we can ask what’s stopping them and try to help foster the conditions in which they might feel more comfortable opening up. Maybe a stronger sense of community, or just time. I think starting a group where they can speak freely with other detrans men might be a start point.