The quarterfinals motion for this year's Debatable IV is about gender! Many trans people find their appearance a point of scrutiny in the public. All many of them want is to be treated like any other cis-person and to blend into everyone instead of being stared at. Some people "pass" for being cisgender, but most do not. The term "passing" might be problematic, implying that trans women are not really women and that trans men are not really men. Nevertheless, there is now a concept of "cis-passing privilege" that many trans individuals are aspiring for in the hopes that when they get that privilege, they will be able to lead normal lives.

 

This motion is about whether the trans community should accept or reject this trend. It reads: THBT the transgender community should outright reject the notion that transpeople must aspire for cis-passing privilege. We'd like to thank Hez Casasola for giving us some of their time and for contributing this motion.

 

00:00 Introduction2:16 What is cis-passing privilege?3:10 What does the pursuit of cis-passing privilege look like?4:36 What are the main issues of the debate?5:37 Framing for Government Bench8:32 Arguments for OG11:37 Arguments for CG15:35 What does it mean for the trans community to reject a notion that may empower some individuals? 19:00 What has the trans community achieved in empowering trans individuals who wish to pass as cis?20:21 Framing for Opposition Bench21:50 Arguments for OO24:04 Arguments for CO27:09 Advice for those who are going through gender-related struggles