Continuing this series, I’ve decided to expand its scope to include more perspectives from queer, gender nonconforming, and questioning youth. I might further expand it to include adults as well later, but I felt that these interviews needed to have a slightly larger scope, so as to include the full picture of life in America for queer youth. Today I interviewed a closeted trans girl from Connecticut, @ThunderDaSnek on Aka Thunder twitter, and @TOASTEROWO6510 aka Spark on twitter, a gay boy from Florida. Both have given me permission to post their links to their twitter profiles. Both are also involved in the furry community, with one being a therian, an identity we have not discussed here before. Enjoy the interviews!
Ok so what name and pronouns would you like to be referred to as?
Thunder: She/her, and my name is Thunder.
How old are you?
Thunder: 15
Where do you live?
Thunder: Connecticut
How do you identify as well?
Thunder: Trans, pansexual, and therian
Are you out to anyone in real life about that or just online?
Thunder: I’ve only told 2 of my irl friends that I’m trans.
How’d they receive it? Are they supportive?
Thunder: Yeah they’re both supportive.
I’m assuming then you’re mostly not out at school?
Thunder: Not at all.
Do you plan to come out to your parents any time soon? How do you think they would react?
Thunder: I’m gonna be honest I don’t plan on coming out to my family until I’m at least 18 with stable income, so just in case if they do kick me out I’ll have a plan b.
That’s fair, it’s a common refrain I’ve heard from a lot of people.
How is your home and school life in general?
Thunder: My school is fine for the most part, same with my home.
Do you have any plans for college or are you still trying to decide what you want to do?
Thunder: I’ve been confused on what I want to do after high school for the longest time, my parents keep telling me that I should go to college but I genuinely don’t want to.
Why don’t you want to go to college? Do you think it just won’t be a good fit?
Thunder: I mean I already don’t like going to school as it is, why would I want to spend 4 years in college learning something I may or may not do?
That’s a fair point, plus the debt.
So you just wanna go straight into the workforce?
Thunder: Probably? I’m not too sure yet.
That’s ok, you got time to decide.
Are you a part of any clubs or anything at school?
Thunder: No, I’ve never really been a part of anything at school, band never interested me, nor did chorus or any of the clubs at my school.
Any other after school activities you enjoy?
Thunder: I mean most of the time I either just play games or draw when I come home from school, but as for actual after school activities like clubs, I’m not really involved in anything.
What kind of games do you like to play?
Thunder: Action-adventure, racing, rpg’s, open world, exploration, platformers, puzzle, sci-fi, fantasy, fighting, etc.
Let’s just say I play a large variety of games.
Nice! What’s your favorite right now
Thunder: Ooh, difficult choice to be honest, but if I had to give a top 5 it would be this:
1. Devil May Cry 5 Special Edition
2. Mario Kart 8 Deluxe
3. Mortal Kombat 1
4. Star Wars Jedi Survivor
5. Sonic The Hedgehog
Oooo I need to play Jedi survivor. Do you play with friends?
Thunder: Sometimes, but not often as I prefer playing single player games.
Have people generally been kind and accepting to you in the gaming community?
Thunder: For the most part yes, cause I can’t seem to recall any negativity.
That’s good. So you’re a part of the furry community, how did you get involved in that?
Thunder: I honestly think I joined the furry community purely out of curiosity, like either 2021 or 2022, I joined my first furry discord server and was originally just a supporter, but I then became a furry myself probably due to being basicly surrounded by them.
Has your experience been mostly positive in the fandom?
Thunder: Ehhhh somewhat, I’ve already had 2 pedophiles target me, as well as one transphobe and even got a very concerning anonymous message a while back.
[Warning: the following message may be disturbing to some individuals. If you do not want to see attempted child grooming do not read this DM]
That is not good. From what I’ve seen it tends to be that while there are a lot of minors in the community, there is not a safe place for you guys to be yourselves. A lot of online communities are like this, but I feel there needs to be somewhere where you don’t have to worry about pedos, and unfortunately twitter isn’t it.
Thunder: What do you suggest?
Honestly I have no clue, maybe a heavily moderated discord server could work? It’d take a lot of effort but it might be worth it. Either way, I’m sorry you had to deal with that, those people are the dregs of this community.
Thunder: My only problem with that is every time I’ve tried to setup a Discord server, I quickly forget about it and it dies because of that.
Fair, it’d have to have a pretty good mod team. But that’s just one idea.
So you said you are a therian? Would you mind explaining that?
Thunder: So that’s actually something I discovered very recently. I've talked to quite a few of them and asked them a few questions, and did some research myself.
[Note to readers: in my understanding a therian is someone who identifies heavily or identifies as a type of animal. This is mostly a spiritual distinction and a matter of faith.]
What’s your conception of it as it relates to you?
Thunder: I honestly don’t know how to explain it.
That’s ok, perfectly valid.
How do you think the political climate around trans people is up there in Connecticut?
Thunder: What do you mean by political climate?
Just like stuff going on there with trans issues, if there’s any bans or protections or what the government is saying or doing.
Thunder: I honestly wish I could say something about that but I try to stay as far away from politics as possible however one thing that scares me to death is KOSA (Kids Online Safety Act) and there’s several reasons why in scared of this.
I’ve not heard of this, can you explain more?
Thunder: These screenshots should help explain it:
Ah I see
So is there anything you think that people should know about trans kids? Anything you think that being said in the media or online that you wish was being talked about more?
Thunder: That they deserve the same amount of respect as everyone else, they deserve to be able to live their lives without having to fight for the right to just exist, we’re not confused nor are we freaks, and it’s not a stage, people should learn to more widely accept anyone that falls under the trans umbrella, because for all they know one of their own family members could be a closeted transgender and they wouldn’t even know it, and I can’t ever say it enough, but trans rights are, always have been, and always will be human rights.
Anything you would like to say before we end off?
Thunder: Not really, I can’t really think of anything else, I’ve basically said everything I’ve wanted to say.
Ok, sounds good!
How would you like to be referred to in the article?
Spark: Just Spark
What pronouns would you like me to use?
Spark: He/Him
And how do you identify as?
Spark: Male
I saw you have femboy in your description, would you describe yourself as gender nonconforming?
Spark: I don’t know to be honest, I just like being more feminine. Is that gender nonconforming?
It’s not conforming to male gender roles, yes. Gender nonconformity doesn’t necessarily mean you are trans or gay or whatnot, just means you buck the norm.
Spark: Oh, ok. Thanks!
And what would you say your sexuality is?
Spark: Pansexual
Are you out as pansexual to anyone at home or at school?
Spark: My family and my whole school thinks im still gay but dont know im now pansexual (used to be gay).
I see. I honestly tell most people I’m just gay even though I’m actually trans and pan because it’s easier, I’m still very closeted about the trans part. I get simplifying stuff for people at school and at home especially if you’ve already come out.
Where do you live?
Spark: Florida!
Oh cool! I’m from Florida too, Jacksonville in particular
Spark: Odessa for me!
Are your friends and family supportive of you being gay?
Spark: Mhm! I think so at least.
How long ago did you come out?
Spark: Two years ago.
I take it that went well then?
Spark: Yeah
Are you treated well at school? Any problems?
Spark: Well at first people were making fun of me but I’m doing fine now!
Are you treated well at school? Any problems?
Spark: They just went away on their own because they got bored lmao
Well, that works!
So how would you say the current politics around gay and trans kids in Florida is? Any opinions on that?
Spark: I, uh, don't really follow politics its too stressful.
That’s ok, I know how stressful it can be.
What do you think is missing from people talking about gay kids? Is there anything you’d like people to know about you and your friends that you feel most people don’t?
Spark: That it's not really a choice what gender I'm attracted to.
That’s perfectly fair
So what are your hobbies?
Spark: I like to workout and play video games.
Got any favorite games? Favorite workouts?
Spark: I love Fallout 4 and I like to swim a lot!
Fallout 4 is good, I’m partial to new Vegas myself. Are you on the swim team?
Spark: No i just like to swim to workout but im not on a team.
Still good to be active!
Spark: I agree!
How’d you get involved in furry stuff?
Spark: Beastars helped.
Oh yeah, I still need to catch up on it. How have you been enjoying being in the community? Do you go to any cons or meetups?
Spark: Next year i wanna go to my first con! :3
Megaplex (the furry convention in Orlando) probably?
Spark: Yeah!
That’s awesome! How’s your experience in the community been so far?
Spark: Pretty good! I like it here!
Sounds good! I’ve heard a lot of kids have complaints about the community due to bad experiences, and I’m glad there’s people who enjoy it here.
Spark: Yeah! What other things do you want to ask?
I think that’s everything, anything you want to say or talk about before we end it?
Spark: Not really! But if you want to talk again I’m open! ^w^
Sounds good!
I prefer that adults not contact underage kids and ask them about their sexuality