> But being trans is not defined by external validation [...]
Did i say so?
My observations and your 'definitions' are different.
> Like I said, I was simplifying, and specifically the simplification erased some identities.
Language is inherently symbolic and thus an simplification (an reduction).
This makes "Identity erasure" an very toxic concept - you are guilty of it because there wasn't a way to comply with it in the first place.
> The same person is still trans if they eventually become a passing woman.
Wow. You can't say that - that's really rude and a offense to transitioned people.
They are a woman - becoming so was the whole purpose of transitioning.
You should know that.
> and it entirely contradicts how the trans people I know define their transness.
If that's so, fine. The trans people i know don't even "define" themselves, because here people aren't obsessed with self-identity as in the US.
They only want to be accepted as Women.
> [...] they don't perceive themselves as either strictly a man or a woman. This is where you get various non-binary trans identities.
Only in identity politics.
In the outside world you get people that don't conform to various gender expectations, and the majority of them does not need to make up their mind around that being an identity.
They "can be".
> Education and normalization does more to protect LGBT people than staying silent.
Yes, but then do it correctly.
Identity politics as it is now has resulted in a large number of "shit liberals say"-outrage-memes.
People are making fun of self-identifying because it is so absurd - does "I sexually identify as an Apache Attack Helicopter" ring a bell for you?
I'm sure you have good intentions for LGBT people, but if you unironically argue with concepts like self-identification or identity erasure, people will be driven off.
I'm driven off.
Its neither how things work in practice nor how we will get LGBT acceptance in the future.
> "identity politics" (which, to be clear is a phrase I still don't understand the meaning of)
In the US, identity politics is the most vocal view on LGBT issues.
Its core feature is the strong emphasis on self-identity and that it must be 'respected'.
How the latter happens in detail is subject to being abused as leverage to control other people.
Its only a power play if you see through it, and it rejects the normal-ness of LGBT people, segregating people into groups.
Contrast it to the other parts of the LGBT community, where people are like, normal people.
And happen to have transitioned or a having partner of the same sex.
That's as normal as chewing gum.
Nothing 'special' that needs any kind of extra things to be respected.
Just personal life choices.