What have I learned from my comments section? How can allies of transgender folk help?

[@TheRU_nationalist]

Although we don't really have same transgender culture here, we have some people that also are of course, being transgender I see more like a science than a choice. My son (born female) came out as transgender in 2021, your videos I'm very helpful and good for me to watch I find it easier to help him because of watching you. And I believe, as a Christian that god loves him the same way, my fears when he came out, you've helped me answer to myself. (English is not my first langue so hopefully spelling isn't too bad here) Much respect to you from Russia ❤

[@Andy_trans_education]

Hi, Thank you so much for your kind reply. I'm glad my videos are helping you to understand your son better. I know it's different all over the world, but if my travels have taught me one thing, it's that people basically want to be happy and safe. They want what's best for their family and those around them. I hope you are well in Russia! ❤️ 😊 ✌️

[@JaxWylds]

Nothing about the subject... But your video made me realize my heart has hardened a bit. Your relatable presence has made a difference. Thank you.

[@Andy_trans_education]

that's really sweet 😊 thanks for saying so - I always appreciate such comments ❤️

[@freakinfrugal5268]

Great video. I love seeing Warsaw. I had no idea how beautiful it was. I am prob 15 to 20 yrs older than you, and having grown up during the Cold War, I always envision Warsaw as this completely devastated-by-WW2 city. I see it as sad and dreary and rainy. All the people are sad and life is in black and white. I know that makes no sense. But it's lovely to see the city. I never really thought much about traveling to Eastern Europe - I mean, why would I, it's all in black and white and everyone is sad and everyone has to wear German cripple boots and potato sack dresses. But now I think I need to start saving up for a trip to Warsaw and Prague. And maybe Budapest too while I'm at it. And heck, why not Vienna as well. That would make an awesome summer trip for someone far richer than I!

[@Andy_trans_education]

Yeah come on over! I've been really lucky as I've been living in Poland on and off for about 20 years - just after they joined the EU, so I've seen the development first hand. It wasn't quite 'sack cloths and post-communist bleakness', but... actually it wasn't far off. Maybe in the next video I'll tell you about my first 6 months in Poland... basically I lived in a converted coal cellar with no heating 😆 But now I'd say it stands quite well against other less mainstream European cities. It might not have the draw of Prague (or even Krakow), but in the summer it's really nice. We have parks and a range of good restaurants, excellent public transport and amenities. I'm quite lucky to have been able to make a home here.

[@freakinfrugal5268]

@@Andy_trans_education I'd love to hear that coal cellar story!!! I have an -unheated-attic-in-Edinburgh story so I feel like I can relate!!

[@christopherwhittaker2620]

Hi, I’m a heterosexual man. But over the years I’ve “ dabbled “ with crossdressing. And I think because of this I’ve always felt supportive of trans people. I’d go as far as to say I’m a strong ally. If I see transphobia on social media I will always challenge it. And even though I’m not trans myself I can sometimes get very frustrated and even angry with people if they are being particularly nasty in their arguments as to why they disagree with the whole trans thing and not only disagree but show actual hostility and hate towards trans people. To many times I’ve been drawn into futile arguments with these haters and I’m left feeling frustrated and even angry and upset myself. I know I’m going to say something now that I know you will be fully aware of. But what I think isn’t helping trans people is this almost obsession from the right wing media regarding anything trans related. Where the right wing media push stories of kids at school being forced to watch and listen to drag queens and the media saying “ the woke left are trying to brainwash our children into becoming sexualised by trans people “ I’ve seen this particular narrative being pushed by the right wing media for several years now. That kind of rhetoric is also all over social media. But on a more positive note I do see increasing numbers of people on social media and even in mainstream media challenging that kind of exaggerated fear fuelled narrative. Not only from trans people but by people in general. So I guess what I’m trying to say in a long winded way is that I think there is growing awareness and understanding of trans people. It’s funny that I don’t really hear hardly anything about trans people unless it’s coming from the right wing media who seem to use the whole trans thing in their on going culture war nonsense. Thanks for sharing your story. Take care.

[@skyemegakitty]

Normally I hate playing an armchair psychiatrist, but I feel like like mulling over the state of America's political discourse on transgenderism can provide a decent window into the raw machinery of trans rejection. On multiple occasions I've attempted to talk to one of the countless reactionaries about the subject, specifically honing in on why they care so much about transgenderism's recent rise to prominence. They believe that transgenderism is fundamentally a choice that people make based on how they want to be treated or viewed by others. Dig further and they'll Inevitably spin a tale of how catastrophic it is that kids are learning about the subject from a "malicious contingent of radicals". This is interesting to me because if we take them at their word, their concerns do stem from empathy. A limited kind of empathy which stops at people that (under their framework of what transgenderism is) hold a belief incompatible from their own. You'll never hear them talk about a trans person as an indigenous part of any community they participate in, because they view them as The Other. When they talk about how the gender landscape has changed in US schools, its always "THEY ARE turning more and more of OUR kids trans" and never "more and more of OUR KIDS ARE coming out as trans". I think this reveals a certain level of cognitive dissonance. At some level they know that, according to their own morals, the way they talk to and about trans people is unacceptable. The only way they can spare themselves from a blow to the conscience is to systematically section them off from any part of their own identity. Their identity as American conservatives demands that they subscribe to modern egalitarianism on some level, and a key tenant of that is The Golden Rule. Treat others as you would have liked if you were in their shoes. Their only escape from this is to unperson these people they detest as unworthy of empathy by conceiving of the trans identity as either: 1. Fundamentally monstrous and thus unworthy of empathy 2. A result of their own free choices and thus game for consequences. To be clear; I do not actually believe that most anti-trans people have a solid framework for their viewpoint, these are just the symptoms that I've had to glean for lack of an honest confession. But it is my opinion that this playbook falls in line with widely known exclusion tactics that a laundry list of groups throughout history have experienced. Even if its inherent to our species that we view the different or strange with fear, I believe we owe it to our of our humanity to always stay conscious of it and shield other people from its consequences.

[@Andy_trans_education]

Hi, thanks for your comment 😊 I think it's that othering that is especially damaging as on the one hand it allows that person to justify the words and actions they engage in. It also spreads a message to those around them that this group is somehow to be treated as a separate entity. It is especially clear when dehumanising language is used - see how minorities are often labelled or characterised as 'vermin' or a 'disease'. For example "the spread of transgenderism is like an illness." In other words, we're not people; we're the infected. Something to be 'cured'. A 'quarantine' should be in effect lest this disease spread to other, weaker members of our society. Just exposing 'normal healthy' people to these ideas might infect them. Of course, no one in this equation has any agency - I'm not transgender from birth; I've been 'infected' or 'seduced' or 'brainwashed' or whathaveyou. We've seen this story play out so many times. And yet - AND YET - people are blind to this. I hope that when all this has moved as on as it can and the next witch hunt is underway, I'll have the strength of character to remain strong and critical of that narrative. I suppose we can only see in time. All the best, Andy ❤️

[@bgeek]

Don't feel sad about other people's views. I think what I learned about coming out as gay is that some people will like you, other people won't. Some people will stand by you, others won't. You can try to educate people by just being you. Other people's views are just that - their problems, not yours. Take care.

[@Andy_trans_education]

Thanks, yeah I know. I'd always been a massive 'people pleaser', and so recognising that you can't always make everyone like you was something I had to get past. It was tough, but I think I'm getting there! Have a great Sunday 😊 ❤️