• Kayday@lemmy.world
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    2 months ago

    Hi, trans person here. I often describe my life before beginning to transition as an act or a job I had to perform, but wasn’t really me. Anything I did in my old role was done by me, not the character.

    In Elliot’s case, he was a dude playing a dudette, dressed up as another dudette. Whatever performance was happening on or off camera doesn’t ultimately change who the person actually is.

    • Nuke_the_whales@lemmy.world
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      2 months ago

      Last time I had to actually use it in conversation I said “Elliott page is in it back when he was Ellen Page”

      • Kayday@lemmy.world
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        2 months ago

        That’s very logical and easy to understand. Personally I wouldn’t be upset if I was Elliott, but there are many trans people who have a strong aversion to hearing their old name. Again, comes down to the audience, but a lot of folks would say something like, “before he transitioned”, rather than mentioning the old name.

        Hope I don’t sound too nitpicky, just wanted to say it in case it helps.