[ SECRET POST #2769 ]

[case]

⌈ Secret Post #2769 ⌋

Warning: Some secrets are NOT worksafe and may contain SPOILERS.

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Notes:

Secrets Left to Post: 03 pages, 064 secrets from Secret Submission Post #396.
Secrets Not Posted: [ 0 - broken links ], [ 0 - not!secrets ], [ 0 - not!fandom ], [ 0 - too big ], [ 0 - repeat ].
Current Secret Submissions Post: here.
Suggestions, comments, and concerns should go here.

Comments

I hear the siren call of the trans headcanon wank!

[gondremark]

Headcanoning a character as trans the way Tumblr tends to do it (Bob baked a cake that one time, so clearly Bob, who cearly identifies as a cis man in canon, is a dfab trans demigirl sparklekin who uses goldfish/goldfishs/goldfishself pronouns ouo [insert emoji here]) is ridiculous and horrible and embarrassing and demonstrates a misunderstanding of what trans means (it can also get fetishy and squicky really fast). Usually these headcanons come not from someone's reading of a character, but from a desire to show off and earn brownie points for the fashionable topic of the moment.

That said, I don't take issue at all with well contrived AUs or headcanons that understand characters as trans and that deal with the topic in a reasonable and plausible manner. These headcanons are much less likely to fall apart if they understand the gender that the character presents as in the canon as the person's real gender (what they transitioned to) and don't point to a character who refers to her or himself as one gender and say "nope, Fictional Bob's wrong about his gender and I know better".

An example of a reasonable trans headcanon is thinking of Watson (from Doyle's stories) as a tans man. Since we hear very little about his childhood and never actually meet any of his relatives who would have known him before any social transition and never see him in a state of undress that would give anything away, all this headcanon does is invent a backstory for Watson in place of a backstory that Doyle never gave us. What this headcanon does not try to do is insist that such and such a character is "really" such and such a gender because of certain behaviours or tastes.

short version: some fandoms are insane, tumblr is insane, be careful when interpreting a character as trans that you're not basing this interpretation on gender stereotypes.

Re: I hear the siren call of the trans headcanon wank!

[(Anonymous)]

Based on the illustrations in the Strand, I'd be interested to know how trans Watson managed to grow such a fine mustache in the days before hormone therapy.

Re: I hear the siren call of the trans headcanon wank!

[gondremark]

Willpower! Or, ummm, felt!

Actually, now I think of it, did Doyle ever specifically mention his moustache? It's been a while since I went down that particular rabbit hole and I don't remember how I dealt with this one, or if it even came up.

Re: I hear the siren call of the trans headcanon wank!

[tweedisgood]

In CHAS, the Police are looking for the burglars who broke into Milverton's house:

"He was a middle-sized, strongly built man–square jaw, thick neck, moustache, a mask over his eyes.”

“That’s rather vague,” said Sherlock Holmes. “Why, it might be a description of Watson!”

“It’s true,” said the inspector, with amusement. “It might be a description of Watson.”


Also, Holmes and Watson go to the Turkish Baths together; although folk wore towels in public areas in the baths, afaik the changing rooms weren't cubicled. A trans Watson would have problems.

Re: I hear the siren call of the trans headcanon wank!

[(Anonymous)]

A trans Holmes would be slightly easier. Unlike Watson, he never in the army, hospitalized, or publicly romantically entangled. He's also an eccentric genius, so any "strange habits" in the baths or elsewhere could be written off as personality quirks. Watson, on the other hand, is ridiculously "respectable middle class," so unexpected behavior is more likely to be remarked upon. There's still the height and the freakish strength, but that's handwaveable.

Re: I hear the siren call of the trans headcanon wank!

[tweedisgood]

I've seen that done more often, certainly.

OTOH Dr James Barry managed an entire career in the Navy without giving him/herself away (jury seems to be out as to how Barry self-identified).

Ha, Watson uses Holmes as his "respectability litmus test" - I'm not like him, so I'm normal :-)

Re: I hear the siren call of the trans headcanon wank!

[(Anonymous)]

Correction, in the Army. Just did a lot of sailing to places :-)

Re: I hear the siren call of the trans headcanon wank!

[(Anonymous)]

...Now I'm picturing Watson being outed Mulan-style after being wounded at Maiwand.