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Message: <blockquote data-quote="Mercurius" data-source="post: 7437387" data-attributes="member: 59082">I'd like to make a humble attempt to bridge worlds a bit here, as I see valid views on both "sides" of this debate, and also some rather nasty and unnecessary flinging that might obfuscate underlying agreement and unity. So a few things...If Blessing of Gender makes a transgender person happy and feel acknowledged, awesome. I don't see BoG as inherenty a "trans thing," but it certainly seems to have "trans appeal." Furthermore, if I was DMing a player--transgender or not--who wanted to play a transgender character, I'd have no problem with it, unless it in some way was thematically opposed to the campaign (although it is hard for me to imagine a scenario where that would be the case).That said, I do have an issue with the idea of any type of D&D canon being forced upon my own gaming table. Thankfully that isn't happening and couldn't happen. But what is happening a bit in this thread is some assuming that those who don't want this rule at their table are doing so out of some kind of bigotry or transphobia. There are reasons that a particular DM might not want to allow it that have nothing to do with trans-phobia. It might be entirely thematic, aesthetic, and/or pragmatic. By way of example, I generally don't allow dragonborn or warforged or shardminds, et al, but it isn't because I am "dragonbornphobic" or an "anti-shardmindist"...I just don't like those races on an aesthetic level, and they generally haven't fit in with the flavor and themes of my campaign settings.On the other hand, I do think there's a subtle distinction being made by some that is worth repeating: there's a problem with linking gender identity with "real world issues" or "culture wars" that we use D&D as an escape from. Do not trans people also have the same right to escape from real world issues into fantasy, while bringing their own identity with them?  I generally prefer to play hetero male characters, so have no issue with someone wanting to play a character that aligns with their own sexual preference and/or gender identification. I do understand wanting to keep the game table clear of culture wars, but I also imagine that there are many trans folk who also want to escape from controversies around their gender identity, which to them is just the naturalness of who they are. We just need to broaden our umbrella of what "us" means, so that "we" can all play together in the fields of imagination.Are we not united in that desire for "healthy escapism," in the Tolkienian sense of the phrase? (see his "On Fairy Stories"). Don't we all love to play make-believe? And is it not equally valid for a trans person to be able to do so in a way that they feel comfortable with and enjoy?So while I don't like some of the assumptions that are being flung towards those who don't want to incorporate this in their game for whatever reason, at the very same time I don't like the idea of negating an avenue whereby someone of a marginalized group gets to play a character that aligns or appeals to their own identity, whatever that may be. Maybe we can throw the bathwater of both extremes out and retain the baby of our shared love of fantasy imagination and healthy escapism?</blockquote>

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