Trans Issues in Politics & the Manosphere with Our Friend, Sophia

10/01/24 • 43 min

Misinformation spread by politicians and other influential public figures, the growing polarization among young people, and widespread political cynicism are key elements contributing to our increasingly divisive political landscape.

In today's episode, our dear friend Sophia Alexander shares her perspective on the US political landscape just a few months before the 2024 elections. Sophia is a former US Navy Electronic Warfare Specialist and is politically active in her local community. Despite her impressive achievements as a Navy veteran and student leader, she struggled with her gender identity for years. Embracing her true self was a pivotal moment in her life, leading to self-acceptance and empowering her to advocate for others.

You'll hear Sophia's thoughts on Republicans' strategies to derail the transgender movement by unearthing old and divisive issues like bathroom bills and trans athletes, and the influence of media and talking heads from dark corners of the internet in promoting these kinds of discussions. Sophia also addresses fear-mongering tactics used to scare the common folk about trans issues, the manosphere's selective appetite when it comes to addressing mental health issues, the myths about "mutilating children" often overused by the far right to confuse people, and much more.

Make sure to tune in for next month’s episode with Sophia to learn more about her life, including beginning and stopping her transition multiple times because of external pressures and expectations.

In This Episode, You Will Learn:

A bit about Sophia's background (1:20)
Transgender issues and political distractions (6:20)
Why Republicans are so attached to transgender issues (13:40)
Sophia addresses the myths around detransitioners (15:50)
How cynicism on political issues and misinformation impact young people (19:00)
Sophia explains why local politics and community engagement are crucial (26:50)
Protect the kids. Sophia talks about why the far right loves that type of rhetoric (31:30)

Connect with Jackie and Bridget:

Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

In This Episode, You Will Learn:

A bit about Sophia's background (1:20)
Transgender issues and political distractions (6:20)
Why Republicans are so attached to transgender issues (13:40)
Sophia addresses the myths around detransitioners (15:50)
How cynicism on political issues and misinformation impact young people (19:00)
Sophia explains why local politics and community engagement are crucial (26:50)
Protect the kids. Sophia talks about why the far right loves that type of rhetoric (31:30)

Connect with Jackie and Bridget:

Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Previous Episode

Transition: A Beautiful Book of Poetry by Our Friend, Alicia Arballo

Imagine keeping who you really are hidden for 62 years, knowing deep inside that you are not the person that others see. Can you feel the pain of what it would be like to be unable to live as your true self because you could lose everything?

On today’s episode, we welcome back our dear friend, Alicia Arballo, who was kind enough to be our guest on episodes 18 and 19 two years ago. Having transitioned at 62 years old, Alicia has taught us and many others so much about what it was like to have the courage to finally let the world know that she’s a woman.

We’re thrilled to share with you that Alicia has published a moving, beautiful book of poetry called Transition. Her poignant poems about the heartbreaking realities of coming out as transgender and the euphoria of living authentically moved us deeply and we couldn’t wait to talk with Alicia about them.

We’re also incredibly grateful to Alicia for being willing to read us a few of her poems, which we know can be very emotional, and we invite you to share that emotional journey with us, as there is so much to learn from it.

Alicia is a natural storyteller who has been writing poetry since she was a little girl, yet it wasn't until her transition that she felt the urge to share the feelings, sensations, challenges, and joys of her journey with us all.

In This Episode, You Will Learn:

About Alicia's passion for telling stories (5:10)
"Christine." The importance of representation (12:50)
"Checkout Counter." Daily, trivial moments for some, unforgettable for others (17:50)
"Joyce." The anxiety and relief of showing up as we really are (29:20)
"Dead name." The pain of rejection (34:00)

Resources:

Get a copy of Alicia Arballo's book, Transition

Connect with Jackie and Bridget:

Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Next Episode

Sophia's Life Story and Being Transgender in the Navy

Gender-affirming care saves lives. It'll be hard to think about anything else once you've listened to today's episode. Fear, isolation, self-harm, self-hatred, and frustration are some of the feelings many trans people feel all the time, and it only gets better when they can come out.

In our last episode, Sophia Alexander shared her thoughts on the manosphere and the political landscape in America. Today, she opens up in the most vulnerable, genuine, inspiring, and brave way to share her story and how she came to embrace her trans identity.

You'll hear about Sophia's difficult childhood, growing up surrounded by violence against LGBTQ people in a traditional family and an even more conventional society, and lacking not only the support from like-minded people but also the resources to reach them. You'll also hear about the dark places Sophia has gone to, the ways that coming out and transitioning improved her mental health, her thoughts on what the future looks like for trans people in the military, and much more.

In This Episode, You Will Learn: