--- title: "Meaning & Key Takeaway of: The basic building blocks of being trans…" description: "\"The basic building blocks of being trans are not 'other' to other people: the desire to be recognised by the people that you love as you want to be rec..." image: "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/049/torrey-peters-6000_building_the-basic-building-blocks-of-being-trans_913702.jpg" --- # The basic building blocks of being trans are not 'other'… ![“The basic building blocks of being trans are not 'other' to other people: the desire to be recognised by the people that you love as you want to be recognised. The ability to speak what you want without shame. Making active decisions in your life to present and perform how you want to be seen…” quote by Torrey Peters](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/049/torrey-peters-6000_building_the-basic-building-blocks-of-being-trans_913702.jpg) [Download](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/049/torrey-peters-6000_building_the-basic-building-blocks-of-being-trans_913702.jpg) [Open image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/049/torrey-peters-6000_building_the-basic-building-blocks-of-being-trans_913702.jpg) > “The basic building blocks of being trans are not 'other' to other people: the desire to be recognised by the people that you love as you want to be recognised. The ability to speak what you want without shame. Making active decisions in your life to present and perform how you want to be seen. These are things that everybody does.” [Torrey Peters](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/torrey-peters/) ## About This Quote This interpretation was drafted with AI assistance. It is one reading of the quote, not the author's own explanation. Recognition and authentic self‑expression are fundamental human needs, not exclusive to trans people; everyone seeks love and shame‑free voice. **In simple terms:** Everyone wants love and to speak without shame. Key Takeaway Seek authentic self‑expression and supportive relationships. Themes identity acceptance love self‑expression Mood hopeful reflective Type inspirational personal When to use this quote - family gatherings - workplace meetings - public speaking - dating - online communities Key Concepts gender social validation psychology Questions to Reflect On - How can you create spaces where you feel safe to be seen? - What barriers prevent you from speaking your truth? A Different Perspective Social stigma can still suppress authentic expression despite personal desire. ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ No ratings yet [Blocks Trans](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/blocks-trans-1360382/) [Building](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/building/) [Building blocks](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/building-blocks/) [Desire](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/desire/) [Gender](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/gender/) [Life](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/life/) [Love](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/love/) [People Desire](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/people-desire/) [Recognised People](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/recognised-people-1360383/) [Shame](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/shame/) [Trans People](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/trans-people/) [Want Recognised](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/want-recognised-467358/) ## Related quotes > [I always want to be recognised for the work I do and not the company I keep.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jessica-mulroney/i-always-want-to-be-recognised-for-the-work-i-do-and-not-the-company/) [Jessica Mulroney](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jessica-mulroney/) > [As far as cinema is concerned, I want to do something huge. I want to be recognised everywhere I go.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/sudeep/as-far-as-cinema-is-concerned-i-want-to-do-something-huge-i-want-to/) [Sudeep](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/sudeep/) > [I could have done a lot of things on TV, but I don't want to be recognised in the street. I'm not ready to…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/sylvie-guillem/i-could-have-done-a-lot-of-things-on-tv-but-i-don-t-want-to-be/) [Sylvie Guillem](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/sylvie-guillem/) > [I want to be recognised as a great fighter; and not just in England.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ricky-hatton/i-want-to-be-recognised-as-a-great-fighter-and-not-just-in-england/) [Ricky Hatton](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ricky-hatton/) > [I don't really even go out that much now except to walk my dogs, because I don't want to be recognised.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/sia-furler/i-don-t-really-even-go-out-that-much-now-except-to-walk-my-dogs/) [Sia Furler](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/sia-furler/) > [People with disabilities want to be recognised for what they can do, not what they can't do.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/karni-liddell/people-with-disabilities-want-to-be-recognised-for-what-they-can-do/) [Karni Liddell](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/karni-liddell/) > [The only place I want to be recognised is the red carpet or an actor, where I am in my professional capacity. Otherwise I…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/richa-chadha/the-only-place-i-want-to-be-recognised-is-the-red-carpet-or-an-actor/) [Richa Chadha](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/richa-chadha/) > [The expectation that trans people must go away to medically transition strikes me as a burden. People have to work, to live their lives,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/torrey-peters/the-expectation-that-trans-people-must-go-away-to-medically/) [Torrey Peters](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/torrey-peters/) > [When I say that I'm trans, what I'm essentially saying is that I'm standing in solidarity. I feel an affinity with other trans people.…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/torrey-peters/when-i-say-that-i-m-trans-what-i-m-essentially-saying-is-that-i-m/) [Torrey Peters](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/torrey-peters/) > [Our genders are in negotiation with other people. I'm like, 'I want to be seen this way, and so I'm going to take on…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/torrey-peters/our-genders-are-in-negotiation-with-other-people-i-m-like-i-want-to/) [Torrey Peters](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/torrey-peters/) > [Certainly, not all trans people like my writing.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/torrey-peters/certainly-not-all-trans-people-like-my-writing/) [Torrey Peters](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/torrey-peters/) > [We all get a body, then we say how we want that body to be interpreted by the world, and it's a negotiation. It's…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/torrey-peters/we-all-get-a-body-then-we-say-how-we-want-that-body-to-be-interpreted/) [Torrey Peters](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/torrey-peters/) > [The things trans people feel are things cis people feel.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/torrey-peters/the-things-trans-people-feel-are-things-cis-people-feel/) [Torrey Peters](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/torrey-peters/) > [Things like debates over which bathrooms trans people use; it is incredibly undignified to have to stage your Human Rights Campaign about where you…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/torrey-peters/things-like-debates-over-which-bathrooms-trans-people-use-it-is/) [Torrey Peters](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/torrey-peters/) > [I see what I want of Love... I see horses making the meadow dance, fifty guitars sighing, and a swarm of bees suckling the…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/mahmoud-darwish/i-see-what-i-want-of-love-i-see-horses-making-the-meadow-dance-fifty/) [Mahmoud Darwish](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/mahmoud-darwish/) ## More by Torrey Peters > [The premise of any discussion I have is not to debate my humanity. I refuse to engage on that level. It makes for a…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/torrey-peters/the-premise-of-any-discussion-i-have-is-not-to-debate-my-humanity-i/) [Torrey Peters](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/torrey-peters/) > [People don't care about facts anyway; in my country, we have 'alternative facts.' But if you can make somebody feel something - and oftentimes…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/torrey-peters/people-don-t-care-about-facts-anyway-in-my-country-we-have/) [Torrey Peters](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/torrey-peters/) > [The fact that someone like me can exist terrifies some people. Because: 'What if you had control of your body and you got to…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/torrey-peters/the-fact-that-someone-like-me-can-exist-terrifies-some-people-because/) [Torrey Peters](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/torrey-peters/) > [Certainly, not all trans people like my writing.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/torrey-peters/certainly-not-all-trans-people-like-my-writing/) [Torrey Peters](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/torrey-peters/) > [Karl Ove Knausgaard is one of my literary heroes. This distresses many of my female, queer, and trans friends: Torrey, you have every woman…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/torrey-peters/karl-ove-knausgaard-is-one-of-my-literary-heroes-this-distresses-many/) [Torrey Peters](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/torrey-peters/) > [I have a lot of sympathy for people who detransition.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/torrey-peters/i-have-a-lot-of-sympathy-for-people-who-detransition/) [Torrey Peters](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/torrey-peters/) > [I think hanging out is the best incubation for cultural creation.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/torrey-peters/i-think-hanging-out-is-the-best-incubation-for-cultural-creation/) [Torrey Peters](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/torrey-peters/) > [At certain moments in my life, I have stumbled upon a beauty so extreme, I have stepped back in alarm. There are some people…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/torrey-peters/at-certain-moments-in-my-life-i-have-stumbled-upon-a-beauty-so/) [Torrey Peters](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/torrey-peters/) > [I'm obsessed with this book 'Independent People,' by Halldor Laxness.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/torrey-peters/i-m-obsessed-with-this-book-independent-people-by-halldor-laxness/) [Torrey Peters](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/torrey-peters/) > [It's not just unexpected for other people. It's very unexpected for myself. But I think that's like a really good place to write from,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/torrey-peters/it-s-not-just-unexpected-for-other-people-it-s-very-unexpected-for/) [Torrey Peters](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/torrey-peters/) > [When I'm open to beauty's true power, I believe it changes me for the better.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/torrey-peters/when-i-m-open-to-beauty-s-true-power-i-believe-it-changes-me-for-the/) [Torrey Peters](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/torrey-peters/) > [People are going to make mistakes no matter what because that's what being human is.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/torrey-peters/people-are-going-to-make-mistakes-no-matter-what-because-that-s-what/) [Torrey Peters](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/torrey-peters/) > [I mean, I don't relate to characters who are perfect. If someone offers up somebody as a role model, I'm going to be like,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/torrey-peters/i-mean-i-don-t-relate-to-characters-who-are-perfect-if-someone-offers/) [Torrey Peters](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/torrey-peters/) > [At the time that 'Detransition, Baby' came out, I was really resistant to having anybody say that I was representing trans women. Because there…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/torrey-peters/at-the-time-that-detransition-baby-came-out-i-was-really-resistant-to/) [Torrey Peters](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/torrey-peters/) > [I'm from the Midwest, and I was raised a boy. If you told my 17-year-old self that when you turn 40, you're going to…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/torrey-peters/i-m-from-the-midwest-and-i-was-raised-a-boy-if-you-told-my-17-year/) [Torrey Peters](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/torrey-peters/) [Explore all 100 Torrey Peters quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/torrey-peters/) ## More Building quotes > [You, of Canada, are building a magnificent record of achievement. My country rejoices in it.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/dwight-d-eisenhower/you-of-canada-are-building-a-magnificent-record-of-achievement-my/) [Dwight D. Eisenhower](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/dwight-d-eisenhower/) > [One of the things the United States does well is building coalitions. What the U.S. knows is that if you don't have a coalition…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/shimon-peres/one-of-the-things-the-united-states-does-well-is-building-coalitions/) [Shimon Peres](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/shimon-peres/) > [Surely, if Mother Nature had been consulted, she would never have consented to building a city in New Orleans.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/mortimer-zuckerman/surely-if-mother-nature-had-been-consulted-she-would-never-have/) [Mortimer Zuckerman](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/mortimer-zuckerman/) > [Believing with you that religion is a matter which lies solely between man and his God, that he owes account to none other for…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/thomas-jefferson/believing-with-you-that-religion-is-a-matter-which-lies-solely/) [Thomas Jefferson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/thomas-jefferson/) > [Peace is an ongoing process. It begins with the first step and it does not end. We, all of us alive today, are the…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/david-krieger/peace-is-an-ongoing-process-it-begins-with-the-first-step-and-it-does/) [David Krieger](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/david-krieger/) > [I've done so many other projects where you're in a room with a reader and you're acting your lines out: 'We have to get…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jim-cummings/i-ve-done-so-many-other-projects-where-you-re-in-a-room-with-a-reader/) [Jim Cummings](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jim-cummings/) > [Absolutely, you can improve and become better at toughness. It's a talent, but it can be acquired, too. I think of it like building…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jim-harbaugh/absolutely-you-can-improve-and-become-better-at-toughness-it-s-a/) [Jim Harbaugh](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jim-harbaugh/) > [ T\]he church is not a place. It's not a building. It's not a preaching point. It's not a spiritual service provider. It's a people… ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/mark-dever/t-he-church-is-not-a-place-it-s-not-a-building-it-s-not-a-preaching/) [Mark Dever](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/mark-dever/) > [I'd like to play Ian Paisley, actually. I'd need building up, though he's very frail now.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/liam-neeson/i-d-like-to-play-ian-paisley-actually-i-d-need-building-up-though-he/) [Liam Neeson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/liam-neeson/) > [Death is but an aspect of life, and the destruction of one material form is but a prelude to building up of another.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anonymous/death-is-but-an-aspect-of-life-and-the-destruction-of-one-material/) [Anonymous](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anonymous/) > [Some architects have a preconceived notion of what a building should be](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/curtis-w-fentress/some-architects-have-a-preconceived-notion-of-what-a-building-should/) [Curtis W. Fentress](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/curtis-w-fentress/) > [As for the forces, electromagnetism and gravity we experience in everyday life. But the weak and strong forces are beyond our ordinary experience. So…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/edward-witten/as-for-the-forces-electromagnetism-and-gravity-we-experience-in/) [Edward Witten](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/edward-witten/) > [I'm 30. I'm about to hit my prime now. I need to act and keep building.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/dillian-whyte/i-m-30-i-m-about-to-hit-my-prime-now-i-need-to-act-and-keep-building/) [Dillian Whyte](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/dillian-whyte/) > [The essential functions of the mind consist in understanding and in inventing, in other words, in building up structures by structuring reality.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jean-piaget/the-essential-functions-of-the-mind-consist-in-understanding-and-in/) [Jean Piaget](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jean-piaget/) > [Practically every time I speak up at a school conference, a political event, or my apartment building association's annual meeting, I'm met with a…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/pamela-druckerman/practically-every-time-i-speak-up-at-a-school-conference-a-political/) [Pamela Druckerman](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/pamela-druckerman/) [Browse all 5,974 Building quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/building/) ```json { "@context": "https://schema.org", "@graph": [ { "@type": "Quotation", "text": "The basic building blocks of being trans are not 'other' to other people: the desire to be recognised by the people that you love as you want to be recognised. The ability to speak what you want without shame. Making active decisions in your life to present and perform how you want to be seen. These are things that everybody does.", "creator": { "@type": "Person", "name": "Torrey Peters" }, "isPartOf": { "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#website" }, "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/torrey-peters/the-basic-building-blocks-of-being-trans-are-not-other-to-other/", "about": { "@type": "Thing", "name": "Building" }, "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/torrey-peters/the-basic-building-blocks-of-being-trans-are-not-other-to-other/#quotation", "image": { "@type": "ImageObject", "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/049/torrey-peters-6000_building_the-basic-building-blocks-of-being-trans_913702.jpg", "contentUrl": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/049/torrey-peters-6000_building_the-basic-building-blocks-of-being-trans_913702.jpg", "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/049/torrey-peters-6000_building_the-basic-building-blocks-of-being-trans_913702.jpg", "width": 1080, "height": 1080, "caption": "“The basic building blocks of being trans are not 'other' to other people: the desire to be recognised by the…” — Torrey Peters", "creditText": "SMS4Smile Quotes", "creator": { "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#organization" } } }, { "@type": "BreadcrumbList", "itemListElement": [ { "@type": "ListItem", "position": 1, "name": "Home", "item": "https://sms4smile.com/" }, { "@type": "ListItem", "position": 2, "name": "Quotes", "item": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/" }, { "@type": "ListItem", "position": 3, "name": "Torrey Peters", "item": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/torrey-peters/" }, { "@type": "ListItem", "position": 4, "name": "The basic building blocks of being...", "item": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/torrey-peters/the-basic-building-blocks-of-being-trans-are-not-other-to-other/" } ], "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/torrey-peters/the-basic-building-blocks-of-being-trans-are-not-other-to-other/#breadcrumb" }, { "@type": "WebSite", "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#website", "name": "SMS4Smile Quotes", "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/", "publisher": { "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#organization" } }, { "@type": "Organization", "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#organization", "name": "SMS4Smile Quotes", "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/", "logo": { "@type": "ImageObject", "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/wp-content/themes/sq/assets/icons/icon-512.png", "width": 512, "height": 512 } } ] } ```