"Transtrender," or "trender," is a term often used by transphobes, radical transmedicalists, and exclusionists as a way to invalidate transgender people. "Transtrenders" are people who are assumed to be "pretending to be transgender for attention," or for some sort of "fad." This term is often directed towards:
- Transgender people who are gender nonconforming
- Transgender people who are pronoun nonconforming (especially those who use neopronouns)
- Non-binary people
- Xenic people
- Non-dysphoric transgender people
- Disabled transgender people
- Transgender individuals who don't wish to medically transition (transine)
Why this Label is Harmful
Invalidation and Assumptions
The implication that you can tell who is really transgender, versus who is not, is incredibly transphobic and invalidating. Nobody is capable of peeking into someone else's mind and fully understanding who they are and what intentions they have. You cannot determine someone's gender by observing how they look, speak, or behave. The only way you can know what someone's gender identity is if you ask them and they tell you.
Cisnormativity
The "transtrender" label is often used to push a cisnormative idea of what gender should be. People who accuse other people of being "transtrenders" often do so because their target can not, or does not want to, pass as cisgender. This encourages the belief that cisgender identity is the default and should always be strived for. This also encourages the belief that cisgender identity is inherently more important and desirable than transgender identity.
Toxicity and Danger
When people start accusing each other of being transtrenders, this creates a toxic environment. This is particularly harmful when it comes to minority groups, such as the transgender community. Transgender people already often have to deal with transphobia from cisgender people, and dealing with transphobia from other transgender people in addition to that can lead to incredible harm, and even death.
Identity Policing
Nobody should ever have the authority to take away or decide another person's identity or validity. Everyone should have the freedom to express and identify themselves in whatever way makes them most happy and comfortable.
Reclamation
Some people have reclaimed the term and have turned it into something new and positive. Rather than accusing other people of being transtrenders, people who have reclaimed the term refer to themselves as transtrenders, enjoy trendercore, are trendergender, or are trendercoric. Reclamation does not mean you get to call other people "transtrenders."
Trendercore
Trendercore is an aesthetic genre centered around bright colors, pride, self-love, happiness, validation, and inclusivity. Common themes include pride flags, neon colors, dyed hair, MOGAI, alternative aesthetics, and pronoun pins.
Trendergender
Trendergender is a xenogender which reclaims the word "transtrender." It was coined for people who are assumed to be faking being trans for attention. It's associated with gender nonconforming trans people, non-dysphoric trans people, xenic people, people who use neopronouns, etc.
Trendercoric
Trendercoric is a coric xenogender which also reclaims the word "transtrender." This term is used by people whose gender is in some way similar to and/or impacted by the aesthetic of trendercore.