MONSTERS, a Queer Trans Reclaiming | Beebee Hives
# Let’s Talk About Monsters: A Reflection on Fear and Transformation
## The Nature of Monsters
Hey drones, it’s your queen, Beebee Hives! Buzz buzz, bitches. All my life, I’ve been told I was a monster. But since I got prescribed the royal jelly, and my body’s started changing… lately, all I can think about are monsters. What is a monster? A monster is fear, fear that has been given a form. Assumed to bee malevolent, it does not beehave. It lives in the shadowy places, feeding on the things we try not to think or talk about, and it is always hungry. Truth bee told, if we are not able to beehold the things that scare us and have a relationship with them, we will never be able to escape them, and thus we will beecome that which we fear. Our monsters will never buzz off, but we can make them our allies. So… let’s talk about monsters!
## Monsters in Popular Culture
The horror genre plays in our most basic need: security. Will you wake up in the morning, or will a haunted doll strangle you in your sleep? Trans people are seen as monsters because our very existence calls into question the solidity of « normal. » When cis people see us, they can’t help but recognize an alternative to the gender restrictive worldview they never consciously chose. And that terrifies them. It’s no coincidence how often popular media equates gender non-conformity with evil. In horror, what are the classic archetypes? Possession, vampires, and zombies. These are all about the fear of externalized corruption.
## The Real-Life Horrors Faced by Trans People
Similarly, transphobes play up the dogma of “rapid onset gender dysphoria,” this idea that transness is contagious, in order to pass or justify laws that harm us. Or they cast us as predators who shouldn’t be allowed in public bathrooms, even though trans people are significantly more likely to be victims of harm than perpetrators of it. The statistics are staggering, with high rates of physical attacks, sexual assaults, and suicidal thoughts among the trans community. The discrimination and violence disproportionately affect trans people of color, with Black trans women facing particularly high rates of murder and HIV.
## Personal Reflection: Confronting Fear and Identity
As a young child, I was drawn to horror. I loved its danger: the idea that I was entering a mirror dimension where everything, every surface, every person, became a magnet for my fear. The fear of the unknown and the fear of confronting my true identity haunted me. I struggled with my gender identity and the fear of being seen as a monster. The journey to self-acceptance was filled with challenges and moments of fear, but ultimately led to a deeper understanding of myself and the power of transformation.
## Embracing Change and Confronting Monsters
There’s a real charm to the idea that things don’t change. If things don’t change, life is easy, people are either good or they’re bad, and your gender is your sex assigned at birth. But change is inevitable and necessary for growth. Just like in Les Misérables, where Javert’s refusal to accept change ultimately leads to his demise, many people struggle with embracing change and confronting their fears. Change can be scary, but it is essential for personal growth and transformation.
In conclusion, monsters are not just creatures of fiction; they are manifestations of our deepest fears and insecurities. By confronting our monsters and embracing change, we can overcome our fears and transform into our true selves. Remember, the scariest monsters are often those that reside within us, waiting to be acknowledged and accepted. So let’s face our monsters head-on and unleash the power of transformation.
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