shades, originally uploaded by A_Holden.

Submitted by Link, the model.

Someone wrote…

My friends don’t understand my abhorrence for public restrooms. I guess when you don’t get glared at just for going to pee, you don’t really know what it’s like.

What’s your experience?

And what are you thinking about gender right now?

You can call me… anytime.

I identify as… the Ps and Qs of the acronyms.

As far as third-person pronouns go, … I prefer those that are gender neutral.

I’m attracted to… others based not upon sex or gender, but rather who they truly are once the institutional boxes and labels placed upon them by both themselves, others, and socio-culture are removed. The possibilities for love are limitless once such hindering factors are removed.

When people talk about me, I want them to… not to make any assumptions, be they correct or not. I do not want anyone to automatically assume I identify as hetero just as I do not want to be assumed to not be. I also want them to be curious and to want to ask questions.

I want people to understand… polyamory and pansexuality. That I do not identify perhaps as they might. That I am not going to rob them of their morals and steal their lovers or be attracted to them just because I do not create obstacles for myself in whom I allow myself to be attracted to. Pansexuality does not mean I am attracted to everyone, and polyamory does not mean that I want to have relationships with everyone.

» Define yourself. «

, originally uploaded by /***\.

Andi asks…

How am I supposed to explain to a friend that I never wanted to date him but rather BE him? At times it can be too confusing to tell the difference between attraction as a partner or a role model. I don’t know how long I can handle the one-sided flirting.

Please post your response in the comments below.

» Ask Genderfork «

My Doctor, originally uploaded by nuchtchas.

Submitted by Eric, the model and photographer.

You can call me… Jesse.

I identify as… trans-masculine, genderqueer, dyke who’s still figuring myself out.

As far as third-person pronouns go, … either one is fine, or just Jesse. People usually use female ones unless I correct them and that’s okay, but male can be nice, especially when I’m trying to look masculine.

I’m attracted to… girls! I like feminine girls, but intelligence, humor, kindness, understanding and flexibility are especially important to me in a lover or even a friend.

When people talk about me, I want them to… look me in the eye, respect me, ask me if they have questions, and not feel embarrassed. I would rather someone ask me about myself than hear something incorrect from someone else. I try to be as open as possible to different opinions and perceptions, but I don’t want to be invisible. I want people to see and hear me, even if they don’t necessarily understand me.

I want people to understand… that it’s not just gender assumptions that need to be challenged! But it would be nice if people could understand that how I see myself is constantly changing, so I don’t expect everyone to keep up with me all the time, but an effort would be nice.

About Jesse
I’m a freshman in college at a school in Indiana. I am very into Shakespeare studies, Latin and looking up random facts on wikipedia. I really like stumbleupon, especially when I’m trying to avoid doing work, and I listen to all sorts of music (especially embarrassing 90′s pop/rock). I want to go into early childhood special education, and I love working with kids. My favorite foods are definitely popcorn and smoothies (preferably at the same time). Still figuring myself out in terms of gender, and trying to be okay with my everchanging identity.

» Define yourself. «

DSC_0045, originally uploaded by attheorkestar.

K asks…

I am going to be living in the Indian subcontinent and I was wondering if I wonder if I could declare myself as a sadhin. Does anybody know about the legalities etc. of this?

Please post your response in the comments below.

» Ask Genderfork «

Submitted by Amelia, the model and photographer.

submitted by Mel, the model and photographer.

“The photo is a self-portrait, which I shot during a really hard time in my life. It speaks to the pain and depression I was experiencing at the time. Now, the photo reminds me of all the things I have to be grateful for in life.”

You can call me… Yaasmeen, Yaas, Yaashole, Yaasmeenass, Yao-Ming, or any other clever nickname you come up with.

I identify as… femmagress, femme, pansexual, agnostic, vegetarian… vagitarian.

As far as third-person pronouns go, … Feminine pronouns, please. But I could care less…

I’m attracted to… androgynous/butch women, gorgeous men, men that used to be woman, women that used to be men. It doesn’t matter to me, I love em all! Humor, kindness, and intelligence. :-*

When people talk about me, I want them to… acknowledge my maturity and resiliency. Be comfortable enough to ask me or tell me anything. Not make assumptions. Laugh with or even at me. :)

I want people to understand… I can be one of the most beautiful people they’ve ever met and that neither my physical appearance nor sexuality defines me. I’m comfortable with myself and I love me inside and out. Can’t handle that? Sounds like a personal issue.

About Yaasmeen
Today is a beautiful day. Tomorrow will follow suit if I allow it.

» Define yourself. «

Tag!, originally uploaded by Jamy447.

Someone wrote…

My girlfriend tells me that she likes me as “female.” She doesn’t want to date a boy. I wonder if this is helping me to accept myself as female, or if it’s just damaging my true transsexual identity.

What’s your experience?

And what are you thinking about gender right now?

You can call me… Tchy, Tatiana, or Jared.

I identify as… something different every day. I have never wanted to be genderless, but sometimes I’m a girl, sometimes I’m a boy, and sometimes I’m something in between. Most often, I’m androgynous. Some days I cross-dress. That can mean wearing a skirt or a pair of cargos.

As far as third-person pronouns go, … usually I let people get away with “she” and “her”–they’re no more or less correct than he, ze, or anything else.

I’m attracted to… anyone. I love androgyny, I love feminine women, I love masculine men. I love boys who look like girls and girls who look like boys. I love butches and femmes, transmen and transwomen, bois, dykes, and fags. If you cross-dress, I’ll probably be interested. The world is full of beautiful people; I don’t care what sex or gender you may or may not have.

When people talk about me, I want them to… question. I want people to be unsure about what pronoun to use. I want people to mistake me for a man. I want people to mistake me for a woman. I want people to see my androgyny and love me for it—or feel threatened by it. I want to be more man than you’ll ever be, and more woman than you’ll ever get—or vice versa.

I want people to understand… that they cannot know me by looking at me. No matter what they think they know about me, based on my body or my presentation—they are wrong. I don’t want to be a man, but that doesn’t mean I want to be treated like a woman. I am here to fuck with your ideas of how the world works.

» Define yourself. «

Jesse, originally uploaded by WeAreTheYouth.

A reader asks…

I’m going bald for charity in a few days and I’m currently looking for a job. Is it cowardly to be scared to death about looks from my future interviewers and employers? I want to do social work and work with people. Am I supposed to be afraid of being unemployed because my image would not suit the social norm?

Please post your response in the comments below.

» Ask Genderfork «

Submitted by mouse, the model.