Thank you! Family support is absolutely crucial, and I’m very glad she can count of the support of someone like you.
In other circumstances, I would disengage from this conversation, since I treat my gender identity as something that’s neither a secret, nor something that has any relevance whatsoever to operating blinky toys that make bleeps. It might come up as a topic in my songs, but it’s not relevant to the practice itself.
But since you’re mentioning this community being safe, having a direct interest in it, let me react:
I remember seeing on this forum a few tiresome meta-discussions about welcoming women, about adopting a “code of conduct”: this stuff is just a red flag that I’m entering a safe space for upper-middle-class performative social climbers. It conveys zero useful information whether I’m actually welcome to take part in the community, or whether I will be treated like a stranger by hypocrites who know they will be banned if they call me slurs.
And I’m French: I don’t want to be a liberal’s fashion accessory to prop up to the front lines of American civil wars that have nothing to do with me.
What matters is that acted earnestly in the community, came to the scene with a different skillset and outlook than most, but had no difficulty being treated as a peer. I didn’t face inappropriate comments, and compliments about my work don’t seem to be forced on account on my identity. If it was all cheap talk, nobody would have availed themselves of the discreet donate button, after all.
What matters is that the artist who introduced me to VCV is trans. She isn’t active in the community, and no longer advertises her identity, so I will regrettably not link to her work. She was instrumental in encouraging another LBGT person I know to create modules present in the library. (They do not broadly advertise their identity, so once again, I will not name them).
What matters is that lmao if bigots don’t realize they pulled up to the wrong neighborhood when they’re playing an instrument pioneered by Wendy Carlos. Lmao if they get into hardware and learn about the identity of the person behind of one of the most popular brands (if you know whom I’m talking about, you also know that person has been discreet about it, so no names please).
I’d like this state of affairs not to change, and for the topic not to overshadow my work.
Nah, this conveys weakness and invites trolls. If I’m to record spoken videos, I’m the kind of person who’d show my face and open up with a joke about the topic, then let idiots get shouted down in the comments section. I’d just prefer if I didn’t have to deal with it at all.
Anyway, I don’t want to suppress conversations about the topic, but if they must happen, I’d like for them to be split off my thread, so I can excuse myself if they turn into American politics and shouting contests.
Here’s a good conversation derail: have you looked at my future plans page? I’ve documented many of them! Do they inspire any reaction?