The harmful DNI lists on TH - the sexualization of trans people
Hey, sort of a vent, but also a huge problem I’ve noticed. This definitely doesn’t stem from toyhouse, but it’s something I’m seeing far too often on this platform.
A problem I’ve seen time and time again on the internet is the harmful sexualization & harassment towards certain trans people, particularly feminine representing boys. It’s a shame how this is still an ongoing issue in 2026, especially on an art platform, full of online artists. The art community is largely queer, due to the nature of how art works, and its purpose of self expression. It’s crazy to me that in a community as diverse as the art community, especially on a platform that has a lot of alternative & furry representation, still has transphobia problems.
The toyhouse community is pretty well known for being pro-lgbtq+ as well, and yet, I still see this far too often.
Today while reviewing the terms of service for a character I had just obtained, I noticed that they stuck their DNI & blacklist in there. Upon reading, they had grouped together pedophiles with feminine representing boys, labelled as “femboys”. I get that this word is sexualized in general nowadays with the uprising of bullying & “cringe culture”.. but are we serious right now? It is fine to say that the STEREOTYPES that some people are pushing of femboys are cringe. It is not fine to group femboys with literal pedophiles. I’m sure this seems more like a problem to me as someone who is very close to people who fit this label, but as a trans person myself, it upsets me how this stereotype is being pushed, while simultaneously not creating a new label for these people to use that is “less problematic”. I understand some trans people feel that “femboys” are “sexualizing trans people to begin with”.. But it’s a genuine label. People have used this label to identify with for years before it became a stereotype on the internet. If these people can’t label themselves as femboys, then what other terms can they use? What alternative is there?
There’s been discrimination against feminine representing boys for a long, long time, and it still persists today. I understand that it is everywhere. I understand that transphobia is still on the news.. but this is on Toyhouse. An art site that’s supposed to be a safe space for LGBTQ+ artists. Art is diverse.
To stop the stereotyping and harmful bullying requires us to be progressive, starting with communities where people who fit this label are not far and few in-between. Just speak to someone who represents this way, and you’ll see that they are a normal person, just like any other trans person. It’s not that hard to access this group of people in a community as diverse as this. There is no excuse. Grouping trans people with pedophiles is incredibly harmful, no matter the scale, especially within a community that is supposed to be a safe space.
It’s a shame because the character I obtained from this person is beautiful, but safe to say I will never directly support them again as long as they have this harmful mindset. Let me be clear: this is not a callout post. This is not drama. This is something I’ve seen that doesn’t align with my values and has been making me uncomfortable. This post is to hopefully shift the opinions of people who have this mindset, and to resonate with others who share the same values. I don’t think that saying we shouldn’t be sexualizing and harassing trans people on a diverse platform is a crazy stance to have!