Apparently my post about the weight loss watch my parents gave me for Christmas has caused a huge uproar. I truly thought people would understand, but then again I tend to be way too optimistic. I started to feel sorry that I had submitted it, but then I realized: I have no reason to be sorry. How I feel is nothing to apologize for. How you behave? Well, if I were you, I would definitely be apologizing right now.

And since a lot of you didn’t seem to get the point, I’ll be charitable this holiday season and break it down for you: what my mother gave me was not a gift. It was a calculated attempt to force me into becoming something I am not and will never be. What she did was no different than giving a gay woman an expensive subscription to a Christian dating website, or giving a transman a bunch of expensive makeup and feminine clothes. These are not gifts. These are attempts to shame people into being what you want them to be, disguised in a way that also guilts and shames the “recipient” into “behaving” the way you think they should. It’s a double edged sword and it’s done purposely to give the “recipient” NO WAY OUT.

If you think what happened to me is acceptable, then you are no better than anyone else who bullies and shames anyone else who isn’t your idea of “normal” into behaving how YOU think they should. And that makes you disgusting.

Thank you to those of you who understood and who defended me and my submission. Thank you for being strong enough to stand up to the bullies and demand basic respect. Honestly, if not for you, I would’ve given up a very long time ago.