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I feel I should say something but I canโ€™t ?? :) but here we are with you telling us what we can and canโ€™t do about because someone inferred to you in a fairly harmless ( well context is everything) about what you can and canโ€™t do when in fact all they were doing was asking about a kilt ?

Relax

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Youโ€™re proving my point. There are nuanced ethnic and gender issues at play that you donโ€™t see, but as a rule of thumb, you never have a right to walk up to a stranger and demand an explanation for how theyโ€™re dressed. Just because she started with a compliment doesnโ€™t mean it wasnโ€™t a clear microagression.

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I guess we differ there :) many people come up to me and ask about my shoes or a jumper. Itโ€™s no problem for me . We all think we hold the sacred flame . I guess youโ€™ll never really know why she asked . Let the sun shine in I say :)

Gender issues? I know about gender issues ... :)

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Anyway Iโ€™m not trying to be contrary ... I suppose the opposite... just joining in to the conversation

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Yeah, we do differ. Iโ€™m transfemme and Iโ€™ve been wearing kilts with knee high womenโ€™s socks for half a decade. I get comments from people pretty much every time I leave the house. Most are nice, some are not, but itโ€™s the ones who make an effort to enter my space and begin a line of questioning who make me feel unsafe. Maybe someone who reads this will think twice before interrupting a strangerโ€™s day with their โ€œharmless questions.โ€ Trans folks deal with a hostile world every day, so it doesnโ€™t matter what your intent is or whether it wouldnโ€™t bother you. As I originally stated, a quick compliment is fine, but demanding an explanation for a strangerโ€™s appearance or dress is just not ok.

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I donโ€™t interrupt people anyway. I avoid aggression in all its manifestations... And youโ€™re preaching to the converted here . My point was something about though it can dark world for anyone .., blah blah ... let there be light... blah blah soapbox

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