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James Charles and Transphobic Validity
In light of Pride Month and in honouring the radical Stonewall Riots in 1969 that occurred over 50 years ago, I feel it is necessary to discuss the overly passive concept of asserting validity, particularly in regards to transgender (trans) people and the related communities.
It is without a doubt that since the Sexual Revolution in the 1960s, the LGBTQ+ communities within North America and Europe have made tremendous strides, ranging from the legalization of same-sex marriage nationwide, to allowing trans people to transition easier in various parts of the world.
More specifically and recently, the trans community has overcome several hurdles. This includes allowing trans individuals to utilize whichever bathroom they feel comfortable using in certain places to providing tools and support for those currently undergoing a transition.
Alongside these developments, the notions of being perceived as ‘valid’ have also come about within various LGBTQ+ communities and beyond. But what does it mean to be ‘valid’? Has the concept of validity lost a lot of meaning in light of the progress made by the various communities at hand?
Here is a key and crucial example: James Charles, social media icon and makeup artist, has consistently been put in the spotlight for his transphobia.
