Ky Schevers

I'd suggest abuse in trans affirming spaces maybe isn't the cause of such transphobic extremism, internalized cis supremacy or something else adjacent to it probably is.

They put up with or ignore abuse in transphobic scenes because overall they get their social needs met better in those spaces. Not saying this to defend those communities but just to say what I've seen. Often the belonging comes first and then the ideology follows.

I agree with almost all of that. But I'd also ask what it is in a transphobic scene more effectively meets someone's needs, that a trans affirming community doesn't?

That is a hard question to answer and depends on the person. And who they're relating to. Sometimes the first sympathetic ear they come across happens to be a rad fem who draws them in. Sometimes people want permission to hate others because they're so angry about being hurt.

Not all the needs being met are necessarily positve. Getting permission to act out can be a big draw for some. These spaces can also offer people a strong sense of identity. Lot of people go into lesbian feminism/separatism for that reason.

Sure, but that is likely also true of all hate groups. Someone willing to embrace hate of a minority group as an identity—I feel hesitant to frame that as being independent of the hate itself. Influenced by more than just the hate, sure. That I'd 100% agree with.

I feel like in our society there's a rush to humanize transphobes that many would write off as bigotry if it were pointed at any other hate group.

Ah, gotcha. No, I think transphobic groups should be seen and treated as hate groups. Not trying to excuse them, not at all. Only trying to share what I've observed so that people can understand and resist them better.