I think this is almost like “if a tree falls in the forest and noone hears…” but I’d say that it’s up to the individual to define one’s identity and it’s more about feeling a certain way than checking off boxes on a list. So if Sulla considers herself trans, she’s trans. And I actually think her experience of “otherness” from being a robot could enhance her want to identify as trans (based on my own experience of intersecting marginalised identities)

One of the things I love about Sulla as a character is that not only does her experience as a human-passing robot serve as an allegory for being trans, she also literally identifies as a different gender than the one assigned to her – the most basic definition of being trans. So even if she hasn’t had to endure quite the same as some trans people (could be argued that no two trans lives are the same) due to her gender specifically, her experiences and insecurities surrounding her robot identity are so relatable that no matter what, she’s still excellent trans representation.

I love Sulla a lot :’)

I reacted to this the same way as Trina did. Wow.

Hi Nat,
Sorry about how I was using the word transgender–even though I am a queer person, I am from the generation where using it in that context was still acceptable. I do pride myself on being “hip” enough not to use transsexual though. While I understand the idea of changing other people’s expectations of you, I don’t see how that applies to Sulla outside of Brendan. Since she has very little interaction with society in general (she doesn’t go to school, and I don’t even think Lucy knows of her existence), she has not had to deal with anyone besides Brendan perceiving her as a boy. Effectively, outside of Brendan, she has never had a trans experience, and since he is now on board with her as a girl, no one else has experienced her as anything but a girl. Does just the memory of Brendan’s initial perception be enough to make her trans?

Trans people sometimes don’t wanna be known as trans cause it hurts their prospects in life. Otherwise see Nat.

Your assumption is that the person the AI was grafted from was ever a guy gender identity wise. Many late transitioners struggle throughout their lives, alot have issues with denial, shame and internal transphobia that prevented them from transitioning. Family being one of them. The end result is a depresses potentially suicidal person. Gender dysphoria is not an easy thing to live with, and not always easily recognized even by the person experiencing it. Some mistake it for being gay or lesbian. Others like myself assumed that all boys really want to be girls–it is just one of those secrets your not supposed to talk about.