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A great example of how to handle a trans character:

1. Deadname is left as jibberish to prevent its use by assholes

2. Deadname does not hold power over the character

in reply to 💜 Dr. Blight ❤️

Toby Inkster :verified:
Toby Inkster :verified:
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One thing I notice is that the scribble isn't just a random scribble each time; it's the exact same scribble.
in reply to 💜 Dr. Blight ❤️

🌳 The Grove 🌳
🌳 The Grove 🌳
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wait yay actually been wanting to write a manga/doujin with a character where I can communicate my struggles with my family before up and yeeting, and def a big part of that was thinking this would be an interesting way to handle deadnaming/pronouns/other bits of misgendering as my brain kinda shuts down when I hear it…

Super glad it’s also already a thing; def extra ready to approach that project :3

in reply to 🌳 The Grove 🌳

🌳 The Grove 🌳
🌳 The Grove 🌳
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(and omg also feck yeah with same wavelength with those panels and what I understand as Chineseness with that whole interaction plus nonbinary stuffs… literally a “they just like me, they just like me fr” moment omg)
in reply to 💜 Dr. Blight ❤️

Party Animal
Party Animal
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my favorite way to handle a character's deadname is still Spitfire, where it's only even alluded to in a flashback, and only the bare minimum context necessary for the reader to realize that a character tricked a Fey into stealing their deadname and giving them a new one.
in reply to 💜 Dr. Blight ❤️

Beatrix
Beatrix
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somehow that ugly scribble also expresses how it feels to hear your deadname…
Unknown parent

💜 Dr. Blight ❤️
💜 Dr. Blight ❤️
• •
@leto issue 2
@Leto
in reply to 💜 Dr. Blight ❤️

GreenSkyOverMe (Monika)
GreenSkyOverMe (Monika)
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Image description:
Table with Asian food, 5 people.
Father: YOUR MOTHER'S RIGHT, unreadable scribble, AFTER ALL THESE YEARS, OUR PRAYERS WERE ANSWERED.
WE FINALLY HAVE OUR LITTLE GIRL BACK.
Main character stares.
Uncle (?): XANTHE…
Sibling: WHO'S XANTHE?
Uncle: THAT'S THEM RIGHT THERE
Sibling: THEN WHY DO MA AND BA KEEP CALLING THEM same unreadable scribble?
Main character gets up, notices magic, says: НАН. BINDING TALISMANS. I REMEMBER THESE. I SHOULD HAVE EXPECTED YOU'D PULL
in reply to 💜 Dr. Blight ❤️

John Shirley
John Shirley
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works for me. but why does John Constantine look like he's about 16, despite some beard.
in reply to 💜 Dr. Blight ❤️

Elliot
Elliot
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very good. Deadname also clear, like a token, but doesn’t need to be known by anyone. It’s clear what’s going on to everyone. I think this is very clever.
in reply to 💜 Dr. Blight ❤️

lj·rk
lj·rk
• •

That's awesome! I'm currently brain storming about a trans coming out story in a fantasy setting myself. I'm not sure how to handle that yet since part of the story is about a period where 1 is out and the other person ain't, and I initially drafted it to be some twist. OTOH, I feel conflicted about using "being trans" as a twist while normalizing deadnaming for the story's sake obviously.

Not sure how to approach that, but maybe I'll try to re-work it into a flash back, spoiling that part and instead go with the gibberish thing here as well.

in reply to 💜 Dr. Blight ❤️

katy ✨
katy ✨
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The Queer as Folk remake did this great too. Anytime Ruthie was "referred to" as her dead name, it was censored.
in reply to 💜 Dr. Blight ❤️

Bryy Miller
Bryy Miller
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that's so cool, and such a great way to narratively show abusive parents.
in reply to 💜 Dr. Blight ❤️

SallyStrange
SallyStrange
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Images: they are pages from a comic book.
1. Shows a young person sitting down to a dinner table with John Constantine and their parents and sibling. The father deadnames them, Constantine says "Xanthe..." warningly, confusing the sib.
2. Magical energy encircles a standing Constantine & Xanthe, who says, "Hah. Binding talismans... should have known you'd try this, Ma. But this was written for [deadname scribble], that's not me," as they slash thru the bindings with a knife. #Alt4You
#ALT4you
This entry was edited (1 year ago)
in reply to 💜 Dr. Blight ❤️

FinalOverdrive
FinalOverdrive
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It is fine to have the deadname there, as that can add dramatic tension, but given the current environment...necessary.

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