Tim Cestnick

A general problem with trans activism is the notion that (in over-simplified terms) "female brain in male body" is the same thing as "female brain in female body" and should be treated as such, without distinction. A trans woman (or trans man) should absolutely not be bullied, ostracized, refused a job, condemned, harassed, denied housing, and so forth. I'll happily treat them with respect & friendship. They also deserve our compassion for how much they may need to feel that they are in the "female brain in female body" category. But, they must recognize that they are not in that category. They don't get to co-opt and insist the word "woman" refer them when it doesn't, nor is it reasonable to be offended if the word "woman" is used specifically for "female brain in female body". And a word can take on multiple definitions, such as one which encompasses "vintage" womanhood, and one which is more expansive, and nobody need be offended or confused. Most importantly, they cannot insist that other people see and treat them as indistinguishable from "female brain in female body". If their individual genetics left them stuck as a "female brain in a male body", that is unfortunate, but definitely not the same thing as the former.