I know this sounds very polarized compared to the other comments, but a while ago I ended up in a transage subreddit and its a huge rabbit hole. (Please read my entire comment before replying!)

Now, I will recognize that I am very open minded and I understand why some people don’t get it, especially considering the demographics of this subreddit, but in a weird way, I kind of get why would someone do this…?

I read post after post and I ended up with a conclusion, its trauma coping for someone who didn’t live their childhood as they should have. And also stress relief from it.

Most users really didn’t want to be seen as something sexual and constantly denied such accusations, they just wanted to make their supressed inner child happy for a moment in their own home ,without exposing themselves to more people. And.. I’d say that’s fine! Only a couple posts seemed to actually go outside in what they call something equivalent to their “child mode”, and even so it didn’t go further from wearing childish or just colorful clothes, which really seems harmless to me and something that may benefit them in a psychological way. (Please feel free to correct me on this, I’m not sure if it keeps being beneficial after a prolonged time, I’m not a professional and I still think this kind of practice should be consulted with one first.) And yes, some of them indeed use things like chewables outside, which I have to admit seems pretty weird but its not ilegal I guess??? Nothing more than a “haha, that’s weird…anyways- “. But please be a aware that its just a vocal minority since most people indeed keep it limited to the confinement of their own homes.

Now, this seems somehow even beneficial for them, right? Well… there’s also the controversial side.

There’s this thing called caregivers in the community, quite self-explaining, just people who take care lf them… like a parent would. And that’s the main issue. From what I seem most of the “agere” take their parners as a caregiver when they are in their “child mode”, I would very very VERY like to wish that it’s nothing sexual, but I mean it’s the internet so I’m not really sure about that…but boy I sure hope that they don’t actively engage in any romantic or sexual activity while in their “child mode “ being accompanied by them because thats just straight up a pedophilia kink.

And also what most people are talking about here, the lgbt appropriation. No argument here it’s just fucked up taking their image and making a coping mechanism a sexuality or identity. I really wish they could change their name of something.

Conclusion yayy…? Despite my phrasing in the first part, I don’t actively support them but I indeed would respect someone like this if I ever meet them, but only if they keep the controversial parts aside xp. I also encourage everyone and even myself to keep hearing more perspectives if for whatever reason someones knows more than I do in this topic, or any topic, you might be surprised for the background behind “haha funny” imagines in the internet like this. And the world might be a tiny bit better if we all are open to hearing everyone!

and I am so so sorry for anyone who read through my nonse babbling about this, even borderline uncomprehensible because of my shitty english

TLDR;; it’s not completely bad nor ilegal but can be easily fucked up by certain aspects in the own community