--- title: "Meaning & Key Takeaway of: It's OK not to understand the whole trans…" description: "\"It's OK not to understand the whole trans thing. That's alright. My dad didn't understand it. I still don't know everything. What's important is you so..." image: "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/b03/nicole-maines-12524_dad_it-s-ok-not-to-understand-the-whole-tran_770657.jpg" --- # It's OK not to understand the whole trans thing. That's… ![“It's OK not to understand the whole trans thing. That's alright. My dad didn't understand it. I still don't know everything. What's important is you sort of educate yourself on your own time, but you have to respect it on everyone else's time. Because no one should have to wait for equality.” quote by Nicole Maines](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/b03/nicole-maines-12524_dad_it-s-ok-not-to-understand-the-whole-tran_770657.jpg) [Download](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/b03/nicole-maines-12524_dad_it-s-ok-not-to-understand-the-whole-tran_770657.jpg) [Open image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/b03/nicole-maines-12524_dad_it-s-ok-not-to-understand-the-whole-tran_770657.jpg) > “It's OK not to understand the whole trans thing. That's alright. My dad didn't understand it. I still don't know everything. What's important is you sort of educate yourself on your own time, but you have to respect it on everyone else's time. Because no one should have to wait for equality.” [Nicole Maines](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/nicole-maines/) ## About This Quote This interpretation was drafted with AI assistance. It is one reading of the quote, not the author's own explanation. Understanding the whole trans experience isn’t required; personal learning at your own pace is fine, but you must respect others’ time and not delay equality for anyone. **In simple terms:** You can learn gradually, but don’t hold up equality. Key Takeaway Learn at your pace, respect others’ time. Themes equality learning respect Mood thoughtful determined Type advocational reflective When to use this quote - personal growth - advocacy - community discussions - policy work Key Concepts self‑education social justice time management Questions to Reflect On - How can you balance personal learning with supporting others? - What actions show respect for others’ time? A Different Perspective Progress may stall if people wait for others to educate them first. ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ No ratings yet [Dad](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/dad/) [Educate Yourself](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/educate-yourself/) [Equality](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/equality/) [Gender](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/gender/) [Respect](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/respect/) [Time](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/time/) ## Related quotes > [I like you, ok? I more than like you, I'm head over heels for you. Ok? 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Continue to educate yourself and seek out wisdom, adding new skills and experiences that will make…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/charles-conrad/best-investment-you-can-make-is-in-yourself-continue-to-educate/) Charles Conrad > [Educate yourself, learn about what refugees face when they don't have homes, after they have lost everything.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/khaled-hosseini/educate-yourself-learn-about-what-refugees-face-when-they-don-t-have/) [Khaled Hosseini](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/khaled-hosseini/) > [Once you educate yourself, you're left with choices.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/yvon-chouinard/once-you-educate-yourself-you-re-left-with-choices/) [Yvon Chouinard](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/yvon-chouinard/) > [“The cycles of dysfunction and mental illness did not have to carry over from generation to generation. You just had to educate yourself. Erika”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/liane-moriarty/the-cycles-of-dysfunction-and-mental-illness-did-not-have-to-carry/) [Liane Moriarty](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/liane-moriarty/) ## More by Nicole Maines > [There are infinite combinations that people can experience, because no two people are alike, and no two people's identities should be expected to be…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/nicole-maines/there-are-infinite-combinations-that-people-can-experience-because-no/) [Nicole Maines](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/nicole-maines/) > [For a number of years at my public elementary school in rural Maine, I was treated like all the other girls in school. That…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/nicole-maines/for-a-number-of-years-at-my-public-elementary-school-in-rural-maine-i/) [Nicole Maines](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/nicole-maines/) > [When I was first trying to explain to my parents that I was really a girl, my father didn't know what to do. He…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/nicole-maines/when-i-was-first-trying-to-explain-to-my-parents-that-i-was-really-a/) [Nicole Maines](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/nicole-maines/) > [I did a guest episode of 'Royal Pains,' and then right after that, 'Supergirl' happened, and I was like, 'How did I get here?'…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/nicole-maines/i-did-a-guest-episode-of-royal-pains-and-then-right-after-that/) [Nicole Maines](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/nicole-maines/) > [Historically, we have seen cis men play trans women and vice versa. 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Well, I didn't know 'trans' because I didn't know there was a…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/nicole-maines/i-knew-that-i-was-trans-when-i-was-three-years-old-well-i-didn-t-know/) [Nicole Maines](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/nicole-maines/) > [My family knew that they loved me, and whatever this 'I want to be a girl' business was, it certainly wasn't about to change…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/nicole-maines/my-family-knew-that-they-loved-me-and-whatever-this-i-want-to-be-a/) [Nicole Maines](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/nicole-maines/) > [I hope I can help convince people there that being transgender is not a big deal and that we are just average people trying…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/nicole-maines/i-hope-i-can-help-convince-people-there-that-being-transgender-is-not/) [Nicole Maines](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/nicole-maines/) > [I know from first-hand experience that separating transgender students from their peers can cause many to leave school, hide who they are, or even…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/nicole-maines/i-know-from-first-hand-experience-that-separating-transgender/) [Nicole Maines](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/nicole-maines/) > [Children are a lot smarter than we give them credit for.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/nicole-maines/children-are-a-lot-smarter-than-we-give-them-credit-for/) [Nicole Maines](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/nicole-maines/) > [What I'm really excited for is to see the evolution of trans characters and see more diverse stories be told, so that every time…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/nicole-maines/what-i-m-really-excited-for-is-to-see-the-evolution-of-trans/) [Nicole Maines](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/nicole-maines/) [Explore all 54 Nicole Maines quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/nicole-maines/) ## More Dad quotes > [Grandma, please. 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