This blog post is also published as a Wiki article.

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The History and Legacy of the Eunuch Archive (EA)

The Eunuch Archive (EA) has been a cornerstone of the eunuch and nullification community for decades, providing a safe space for individuals to explore their identity, connect with others, and access resources. This page offers an overview of its history, contributions, and eventual closure.

Founding and Early Development

• Origins: The EA began in 1996 as a personal project by Bboy, who hosted eunuch-themed fiction on a simple personal server. Initially, it had no login system, just a header and a list of stories.
• Growth: Over time, the site expanded to include message boards, chat rooms, personal ads, and forums, evolving into a central hub for discussion and resources.

Hosting Evolution

• Initially hosted on Bboy’s personal server.
• Later supported by BME (Body Modification Ezine) under Shannon Larratt before eventually becoming independent after Larratt’s divorce and change of BME ownership.
• Underwent ownership change when Bboy unexpectedly died in the mid-2000’s.
• Split into separate platforms: the Eunuch Archive (eunuch.org) for forums, discussions, chat room (on a separate server), and, briefly, a personal ad section, with the Fiction Archive for stories, hosted separately on eunuchworld.org.
• Any media hosting (images, videos, audio) was banned, with the exception of user avatars and the personals branch of the site.

Key Features and Contributions

1. Fiction Archive

• Initially the EA’s sole focus, the fiction archive served as a therapeutic outlet for many, allowing users to explore their desires and personal traumas through storytelling.
• The archive was edited and expanded over the years, with strict guidelines introduced to manage content, eventually hosting over 10,000 stories.

2. Forums and Community Support

• The forums became a space for discussions on real-world topics like osteoporosis, depression, and both chemical and surgical options.
• Users frequently expressed that the site helped them feel less isolated, with common sentiments like, “I thought I was the only one!”
• Discussion of ‘cutters’ (people performing medical procedures, such as castration, without a valid medical license) was banned.

3. Research and Advocacy

• The EA was instrumental in surveys that informed the Standards of Care version 8, of the World Professional Association for Transgender Health (SOC-8) for eunuchs, providing valuable insights into the community’s needs and mindset.
• Prominent advocates like Richard Wassersug and Thomas W. Johnson used the platform for studies they published in medical journals that highlight the medical, psychological and social challenges faced by eunuchs.

Challenges and Controversies

Content Moderation

• Strict policies were introduced to ban inappropriate discussions on the forums.
• Stricter guidelines were put in place for stories involving minor-aged (<18 years old) characters.
• The EA faced criticism from external parties despite its efforts to maintain legality and ethical standards, particularly after external surveys linked the archive to sensitive topics, and critics either failed to recognize, or chose to ignore, that the Fiction Archive was just that – FICTION.

Financial Sustainability

• For years, the EA was funded out of pocket by administrators and later supported by member donations.
• A reliance on a single large donor (which was politely declined) towards the end highlighted the challenges of maintaining independent community spaces.

Community Dynamics

• Burnout among administrators contributed to the decision to shut down the site. Health issues brought on by the aging Staff also contributed to the decision to shut down the site.
• Abuse directed at administrators and moderators over the years took a significant toll.

Closure and Legacy

Reasons for Closure

• After ~28 years of operation, the EA team decided to close the site due to financial challenges, administrative burnout, and a decline in forum activity.
• Repeated failures in finding professional IT support to modernize the site also contributed to the decision to close the site.
• Failure to find younger persons to take over the site to ensure its continuance.
• It was decided that with the publication of the SOC-8, that the EA had accomplished its most important goals.
• The Fiction Archive is being preserved by the Kinsey Institute, ensuring that this critical piece of community history remains accessible for future study.

Future of the Eunuch Archive

Forums will become a read-only archive, preserving discussions and resources while disabling new posts, private messaging, or email functionality.

Impact:

• The EA has been credited with saving lives by preventing self-harm and providing accurate information to those exploring their identity.
• It played a pivotal role in fostering community connections and advancing understanding of eunuchism as a valid self/gender identity.

Reflections from the Founders

On the Community

• “Nature loves diversity; unfortunately, society hates it,” a quote from Jesus A., encapsulates the struggle and resilience of the eunuch community.
• The EA’s administrators emphasized their gratitude for the countless users who found solace and self-acceptance through the platform.

On the Future

• Administrators hope younger members of the community will take up the mantle, continuing to provide spaces for connection and support.

Credits

This article was only possible through the help of Paolo and Tom of the Eunuch Archive; we give them our thanks for this and the archive itself.

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Personal Notes

The Eunuch Archive was an important support in my early days coming to terms with how I felt about myself and my body.

It might have had some difficulties and some controversies, but I cannot doubt that it has saved many lives and created a space for people to connect.

There are lessons here for any community resource:

• They must be bigger than any one administrator or contributor, otherwise their life is tied to the life and energies of that person.
• Community resources need active community engagement to sustain them – think of paying forward the help received by taking part in making sure that .resources that helped are available to help to others.