Talk:Tooru Mutsuki/@comment-31190419-20170226033102/@comment-31190419-20170227084110

Things aren't as simple as "if you're lying to yourself about your natural tendencies you aren't trans, and thus you deserve cisgender pronouns". A lot of people take trans identities despite some of their natural tendencies, and do what you would call lying to one's self, yet still find comfort in their trans identities.

The key here is respecting the fundamental principle that the individual, rather than outside observers, should be able to decide their own identity. No matter what struggles Mutsuki or many other trans people face, when their adopted identities don't fit like a glove, as long as they want to keep living as a [gender], the least thing we can do is be mindful of their decision. Mutsuki is probably a more accurate depiction of a trans person than most because you can see his struggles, as he doesn't just adopt a trans identity with complete ease. Yet as far as we know, he still wants to be seen as male by the vast majority of the outside world, as it provides him comfort and protection. And that is not a choice that we should be taking away from real people. If Mutsuki decides to choose to live as a girl in the future, then by all means, she is a she. But that choice has to be expressed by the character.