Thank you for addressing this topic. I think you hit the nail on the head when you outlined who you think is reading our stories. In my very first story, my link was picked up and posted on twitter by some TEFRS citing my work as “A classic case of AutoGynophila.” It took me a while to recover from that hate before I was willing to write again. I am a little bolder now, though, and will take it on when I see it.

I have to take issue, though, with your underlying theme that Trans people should only write about the struggle Post transition. I don’t wish to be combative merely provide another thought on this. I see where people could adopt the “nothing wrong here” attitude from a happy narrative, but for every one of those reading is ten people who think trans people are going to be miserable and commit suicide after they have been transitioned and out for a while. For those people, a happy narrative makes them listen to and reconsider that there are trans people who live perfectly happy lives if they are left alone to be themselves.

There are tons of sad, angry, and hopeless stories about post-transition out there. One, in particular, I read from a trans columnist at the New York times. Her story reads, “I am depressed. I am more depressed after transitioning. I am getting my vaginoplasty but have no idea why because I still will be miserable” That is her account, and I respect her account up to the point where she makes the audacious claim that most trans people feel that way.

Here is what I am saying. Yes, there should be no prescribed narrative. Instead, we should make room for all versions. Our stories are our accounts of what our lives have been like. Our writing is our soapbox, our platform to the world. We should each use those as we see fit to further our cause and our freedoms as a class of society.

Ultimately though, your point “One Solution does not fit all,” and I agree 100% with that. Keep writing great stuff. I enjoy reading it, and as you said, I am part of your audience 😊