--- title: "Meaning & Key Takeaway of: When I say that I'm trans, what I'm…" description: "\"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. It doesn't mean ..." image: "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/d94/torrey-peters-6000_choices_when-i-say-that-i-m-trans-what-i-m-essen_3036253.jpg" --- # When I say that I'm trans, what I'm essentially saying is… ![“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. It doesn't mean that everything we've experienced is the same. It doesn't mean that we have decided to make the same choices.” quote by Torrey Peters](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/d94/torrey-peters-6000_choices_when-i-say-that-i-m-trans-what-i-m-essen_3036253.jpg) [Download](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/d94/torrey-peters-6000_choices_when-i-say-that-i-m-trans-what-i-m-essen_3036253.jpg) [Open image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/d94/torrey-peters-6000_choices_when-i-say-that-i-m-trans-what-i-m-essen_3036253.jpg) > “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. It doesn't mean that everything we've experienced is the same. It doesn't mean that we have decided to make the same choices.” [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. Being trans is an act of solidarity and shared identity, not a claim of identical experiences or choices. **In simple terms:** Trans identity is about solidarity, not sameness. Key Takeaway Support trans community while respecting individual differences. Themes identity solidarity diversity Mood empathetic thoughtful Type activist personal When to use this quote - activism - support groups - public speaking - education Key Concepts gender studies social justice personal narrative Questions to Reflect On - How can allies honor both shared identity and individual stories? - What does solidarity look like in everyday actions? A Different Perspective Solidarity does not erase personal agency or unique experiences. ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ No ratings yet [Choices](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/choices/) [Gender](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/gender/) [People](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/people/) [Solidarity](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/solidarity/) ## Related quotes > [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/) > [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/) > [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/) > [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 basic building blocks of being trans are not 'other' to other people: the desire to be recognised by the people that you love…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/torrey-peters/the-basic-building-blocks-of-being-trans-are-not-other-to-other/) [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/) > [Speaking to a lot of trans people, and I know from my own experience, when you transition, our greatest fear is rejection from people…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/rebecca-root/speaking-to-a-lot-of-trans-people-and-i-know-from-my-own-experience/) [Rebecca Root](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/rebecca-root/) > [Instead of focusing on what the law says about trans people, which is really what the law is saying about itself as a protector…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/dean-spade/instead-of-focusing-on-what-the-law-says-about-trans-people-which-is/) [Dean Spade](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/dean-spade/) > [Many people don't have trans people in their lives. They don't have that experience to know that they're just normal people who not only…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jeff-varner/many-people-don-t-have-trans-people-in-their-lives-they-don-t-have/) [Jeff Varner](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jeff-varner/) > [We have to learn to be allies to each other. We are in a deficit of financial and social capital, and TransTech aims to…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/angelica-ross/we-have-to-learn-to-be-allies-to-each-other-we-are-in-a-deficit-of/) [Angelica Ross](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/angelica-ross/) > [We still live in a country where there's disproportionate violence faced by our community, especially trans people and trans people of color. I think…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/sasha-velour/we-still-live-in-a-country-where-there-s-disproportionate-violence/) [Sasha Velour](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/sasha-velour/) > [“The misconception of equating ease of life with “passing” must be dismantled in our culture. The work begins by each of us recognizing that…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/janet-mock/the-misconception-of-equating-ease-of-life-with-passing-must-be/) [Janet Mock](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/janet-mock/) > [I think one of the biggest misconceptions is that only gender non-conforming, non-binary, or trans people have a gender identity. But the truth is,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/asia-kate-dillon/i-think-one-of-the-biggest-misconceptions-is-that-only-gender-non/) [Asia Kate Dillon](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/asia-kate-dillon/) > [It bothers me so much that people have gone out of their way to make trans people feel less than.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/adam-rippon/it-bothers-me-so-much-that-people-have-gone-out-of-their-way-to-make/) [Adam Rippon](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/adam-rippon/) ## 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 Choices quotes > [Of all the people who have affected my life and influenced the choices I've made, none has been more important than my father. I…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/teddy-atlas/of-all-the-people-who-have-affected-my-life-and-influenced-the/) [Teddy Atlas](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/teddy-atlas/) > [“Don’t allow anyone to pressure you into taking a job in a field that doesn’t feel right in your gut. You are the one…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/alison-james/don-t-allow-anyone-to-pressure-you-into-taking-a-job-in-a-field-that/) Alison James > [When you have a choice, choose happy!](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/pancho-barnes/when-you-have-a-choice-choose-happy/) Pancho Barnes > [By making conscious choices in our behavior and where we focus our attention, we can transform our experience of our body, decrease our biological…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/deepak-chopra/by-making-conscious-choices-in-our-behavior-and-where-we-focus-our/) [Deepak Chopra](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/deepak-chopra/) > [Movies have power. Power to impact society and the choices we make. I want to entertain, but I also want to say something to…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/gina-prince-bythewood/movies-have-power-power-to-impact-society-and-the-choices-we-make-i/) [Gina Prince-Bythewood](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/gina-prince-bythewood/) > [If you have a different mindset, you will have a different outcome: if you make different choices from your peers, your life will then…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jack-ma/if-you-have-a-different-mindset-you-will-have-a-different-outcome-if/) [Jack Ma](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jack-ma/) > [Personally, I prefer contemporary films, but the market calls for more period choices, especially since China opened up a cinema market in Hong Kong.…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/donnie-yen/personally-i-prefer-contemporary-films-but-the-market-calls-for-more/) [Donnie Yen](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/donnie-yen/) > [Clarissa," he said, "here with the vampire, I see. When things have settled a bit, we really must discuss you choice in pets..](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/cassandra-clare/clarissa-he-said-here-with-the-vampire-i-see-when-things-have-settled/) [Cassandra Clare](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/cassandra-clare/) > [Change is inevitable but personal growth is a choice.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/bob-proctor/change-is-inevitable-but-personal-growth-is-a-choice/) [Bob Proctor](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/bob-proctor/) > [Time hath not yet so dried this blood of mine, Nor age so eat up my invention, Nor fortune made such havoc of my…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/william-shakespeare/time-hath-not-yet-so-dried-this-blood-of-mine-nor-age-so-eat-up-my/) [William Shakespeare](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/william-shakespeare/) > [If you choose to draw from the inner well of free will, then you can make choices that are outside your current karmic patterns.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/frederick-lenz/if-you-choose-to-draw-from-the-inner-well-of-free-will-then-you-can/) [Frederick Lenz](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/frederick-lenz/) > [Act always so as to increase the number of choices](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/heinz-von-foerster/act-always-so-as-to-increase-the-number-of-choices/) [Heinz von Foerster](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/heinz-von-foerster/) > [Give me a platter of choice finnan haddie, freshly cooked in its bath of water and milk, add melted butter, a slice or two…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/craig-claiborne/give-me-a-platter-of-choice-finnan-haddie-freshly-cooked-in-its-bath/) [Craig Claiborne](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/craig-claiborne/) > [I don't know that any woman could ever not think about that at some point - even making the choice not to do it…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/naomi-watts/i-don-t-know-that-any-woman-could-ever-not-think-about-that-at-some/) [Naomi Watts](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/naomi-watts/) > [In this choice of inheritance we have given to our frame of polity the image of a relation in blood; binding up the constitution…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/edmund-burke/in-this-choice-of-inheritance-we-have-given-to-our-frame-of-polity/) [Edmund Burke](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/edmund-burke/) [Browse all 11,466 Choices quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/choices/) ```json { "@context": "https://schema.org", "@graph": [ { "@type": "Quotation", "text": "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. It doesn't mean that everything we've experienced is the same. It doesn't mean that we have decided to make the same choices.", "creator": { "@type": "Person", "name": "Torrey Peters" }, "isPartOf": { "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#website" }, "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/torrey-peters/when-i-say-that-i-m-trans-what-i-m-essentially-saying-is-that-i-m/", "about": { "@type": "Thing", "name": "Choices" }, "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/torrey-peters/when-i-say-that-i-m-trans-what-i-m-essentially-saying-is-that-i-m/#quotation", "image": { "@type": "ImageObject", "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/d94/torrey-peters-6000_choices_when-i-say-that-i-m-trans-what-i-m-essen_3036253.jpg", "contentUrl": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/d94/torrey-peters-6000_choices_when-i-say-that-i-m-trans-what-i-m-essen_3036253.jpg", "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/d94/torrey-peters-6000_choices_when-i-say-that-i-m-trans-what-i-m-essen_3036253.jpg", "width": 1080, "height": 1080, "caption": "“When I say that I'm trans, what I'm essentially saying is that I'm standing in solidarity. I feel an…” — 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": "When I say that I'm trans,...", "item": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/torrey-peters/when-i-say-that-i-m-trans-what-i-m-essentially-saying-is-that-i-m/" } ], "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/torrey-peters/when-i-say-that-i-m-trans-what-i-m-essentially-saying-is-that-i-m/#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 } } ] } ```