The Magnolias Are In Bloom
Added 2020-05-14 23:02:24 +0000 UTCEdit: I'm so sorry if it felt like I was scolding y'all! You all are fine, I was just sharing my thoughts.
So I've been listening to a lot of transgender youtubers discuss their feelings on transgender media, around the same time I informed that Magnolia May is a trans girl.
I meant for that bit of information to be very casual. I was surprised by the amount of people that took it as some huge revelation, and the many that asked for Magnolia's "story". Story, story, story, what's her story? How'd her transition go? Did she get surgery? Use magic? How does she have breasts? Can't we please get her story?
And I'm just.....kinda uncomfortable?
For one, I'm a (mostly) cis lady. It's not really my place to tell stories about transitioning. I've blundered doing that in the past (sharing Prima Donna's deadname, referring to her in the past as a "he").
Secondly, the more I listened to actual trans folk, the more I began to understand certain individuals discomfort with being reduced to their trans-ness, as though that's all there is to their identity. Cis people are often fascinated by trans people and ask them many potentially invasive questions, largely focusing on who they "used to" be. These sorts of questions can undermine who the person currently is. Questions about Magnolia's past, her anatomy, her "journey".....to me, this all kinda feels more like making Magnolia a TRANS character, not a trans CHARACTER, y'know?
And I know I'm guilty of reducing a character to their trans-ness. I did that with Prima Donna, she features in very little art aside from her one big "debut" illustration, where Sweetie Belle comforts her. I didn't do much with Prima since, and I think she's thus cemented in my audience's heads as that one trans character, not that fully-realized character that is also trans.
And I want to do better. I don't want to write some hokey Hallmark story, or a sob story. I wanted Magnolia's trans-ness to be a casual thing, because trans people exist, casually among us, going about their days, blending right into the general population. Magnolia is a feisty southern belle that likes wildflowers and new spring piglets, and she's also a trans lady. There was a strange, brief stretch of her childhood when everypony thought she was a boy, until she politely but firmly corrected them. Rarity and Applejack took her into the hills of Sweet Apple Acres, and together they watched the clouds roll by, ate dandelion sandwiches, and set to work thinking up a new name. The magnolias happened to be in bloom, and the rest is history~
Comments
Maybe its just because I fell in love with Prima Donna but I really wish we could see her and her relationship with Magnolia. I know you didn't want to reduce her to her trans-ness but seeing her encouraging and motivating Prima to be herself would be nice. I could see Prima choosing to go to Magnolia when she's first discovering these feelings maybe not even knowing that Magnolia had transitioned
Cam
2020-05-26 19:43:14 +0000 UTCI get that, thanks for sharing. :) If you like to give any suggestions for what sort of Magnolia content you'd like to see, I'm all ears~
Lopoddity
2020-05-21 19:00:52 +0000 UTCThere's just one aspect of having Magnolia be trans that feels a bit awkward. Prima Donna was the first trans character, and she's Magnolia's biological cousin. Magnolia has a "best frenemies" thing going on with Belle Velour, also trans*. It just feels like the trans characters are oddly clustered together. It's like Six Degrees of Kevin Bacon, but there's only one degree between people. And Kevin Bacon is trans in this scenario. It's 2 in the morning, I'm probably not explaining myself well. *Actually, maybe I'm an idiot who remembers things wrong, and Belle Velour is actually genderfluid.
Dragon Turtle
2020-05-21 07:16:57 +0000 UTCI think I'm one of the people who asked whether we'd see more about Maggie's past in relation to her gender identity... But I'm also trans, myself. Heh. I think my reasoning behind wanting to know is I just enjoy reading about someone's story with gender. We don't really get much of it in 'official' media outside of sad, horrible stories, so exploring it in a safe place surrounded by colourful horses is just something I like. uwu As a trans person, I get not wanting to be reduced to The Trans One, but it's also part of who I am and I like exploring it, just like any other part of me, from time to time. But that's just me!! We're all different. Yeehaw.
Nimbose
2020-05-21 00:23:17 +0000 UTC*ugly sobbing*
Lopoddity
2020-05-16 19:03:17 +0000 UTCHow dare >0 And btw sweetheart, I think you're a bit hard on yourself at times :) <3 We all start somewhere, make mistakes, and grow along the way. You've always been very passionate about giving everyone a voice and showing as much representation as you can, and you DO do it in a way where no one ever feels like a token character. They are wonderfully fleshed and rounded and just PEOPLE who happen to be a certain way. Their sexuality or gender or quirks may be an important part of what makes them THEM but it's not the defining trait of their personality. I have seen many people latch on to your characters because there is something about them that they can relate to, or reminds them of themselves, or someone they love, and there is such a sweet joy in that.
Heather
2020-05-16 18:15:50 +0000 UTCAw this is so cute and precious :3
Shimazun
2020-05-16 06:19:10 +0000 UTC"Sprout" is now AJ's nickname for Maggie, I'm taking it u can't stop meeeee
Lopoddity
2020-05-16 04:44:10 +0000 UTCPrecious little sprout <3 <3 <3
Heather
2020-05-16 01:10:54 +0000 UTCIt's a decision I made a year (or more? I can't remember) ago. I just decided recently to stop holding back and make my stuff more unapologetically queer! I'm just tired of holding back as not to upset bigots
Lopoddity
2020-05-16 00:02:41 +0000 UTCHas she always been trans or was this a creative decision you made recently?
Amber
2020-05-15 11:02:40 +0000 UTCEverything about this is wonderful omlllll
D
2020-05-15 06:10:33 +0000 UTCI had just figured she was really supportive of her cousin prima donna when I saw the trans bands on her. I know that you made a few mistakes with prima donna but I'd really love if you'd give her another shot at being in the spotlight again. I thought she was adorable and wanted to see her blossom into the super star she was. Also curious how young she is in comparison to say cloudburst
Cam
2020-05-15 03:12:28 +0000 UTCOh, the answer to that is simple. I'd rather not believe that a pony's birth name always coincidentally lines up with their special talent, because if that were the case, wouldn't every parent name their foal "Awesome McRichAsFuck" or "Beautiful Gorgeous Invent-A-Cure-For-Cancer"? I think ponies just name their kids whatever, and ponies may opt to change their name later on to better fit their talent/career/personality. Yes, modern families do tend to throw parties for name changes, though more traditional families may view a name change as disrespectful. A conservative baking family might not like their daughter changing her name from Sugar Sprinkle to, idk, Gluten-Free Becky. Some ponies end up only needing to make a very minor change, eg. Phoenix was named Phoenix Fire, she changed it to Phoenix Forge.
Lopoddity
2020-05-15 02:38:52 +0000 UTCThis post does make me want to ask a question I've been wondering about for awhile. Do you have any head cannons on pony names and how they're chosen by parents/individuals? Do ponies consult magic/the stars/a higher power for guidance on their offspring's name? Is it just something they think sounds nice and hope it'll suit them? Do pony babs get the opportunity to change their names at their cuteciñera (stg I almost called it a markmitsvah xD) or some other milestone? Just curious if you've ever thought about it in the pandora-verse, I love your lore dumps and world building posts ❤️
Calvin Sewell
2020-05-15 01:50:28 +0000 UTCNot at all. :) Sorry if it felt like I was scolding you
Lopoddity
2020-05-15 01:22:31 +0000 UTCGender and sexuality is a tough topic to tackle. I don't know what's right or wrong but I think the effort to show a diverse cast is worth it. I'm not trans so I wouldn't know the struggles but it's good to be compassionate and listen to feedback. I want to introduce one of my characters as trans and I'm struggling. I love her and she's really not defined by her gender but it is a part of her character. It's hard because you want to show representation and diversity but you don't want to overshare and seem insincere. I think you're very respectful however! I won't ask any questions about her transition experience and just enjoy the character for who she is. I'm sorry if my inquiry in your "Pride" photo made you uncomfortable!
MyLittleVerse
2020-05-15 00:48:04 +0000 UTCThanks so much. I mess up, but I'm tryin'!
Lopoddity
2020-05-14 23:16:09 +0000 UTCI appreciate the apology, but I wasn't trying to scold anybody, I'm sorry. I was trying to give my thoughts on the matter.
Lopoddity
2020-05-14 23:09:53 +0000 UTCI really REALLY appreciate how hard you're trying to do right by the trans community ❤️ keep moving forward, you're doing amazing and it means so much (to this trans guy at least) ❤️
Calvin Sewell
2020-05-14 23:09:31 +0000 UTCReading this description, yeah, that makes a lot of sense. I’m thinking back to the comment I made about Mags in the Pride pic from a few weeks ago, and if anything I said there was problematic, then I apologize.
SketchyBug
2020-05-14 23:06:59 +0000 UTC
