Are Queer and Trans People Selfish? Maybe a Little.
We all deserve to put ourselves forward
Self-absorbed. Selfish. Narcissistic.
If you’re trans and/or queer, you’ve likely been accused of at least one of these things or have heard complaints in the same vein because you dare to step outside and be yourself. Here’s a classic: “I just can’t stand people who make it their personality.”
Most often, comments like these are thrown out against those who choose to be loud and proud, whether during Pride or otherwise. Sometimes, it doesn’t take much to receive one. In the wrong place, mentioning you’re queer or trans can earn you such accusations.
The kneejerk and respectable response is to ignore and push the words aside. Nobody should have to waste time fielding someone who wants to silence and shame them. So long as you’re not disruptive or causing harm, anybody and everybody should be allowed to live as they please.
Yet I also sometimes wonder what underlies the accusations. To be clear, I couldn’t care less about people who just want to spew some hatred. For them, little more than surface-level homophobia and transphobia is their drive.