L’Oreal Paris, originally uploaded by memorae.

young break, originally uploaded by GB Gitana-Woolf.

Someone wrote…

It drives me crazy that my usually feminine presentation leads to people questioning if I am sufficiently queer… I identify so strongly as radically, deeply queer, and it hurts so much when I feel rejected by my community for not being dykey enough.

What’s your experience?

And what are you thinking about gender right now?

You can call me… Ishmael. Just kidding. Chelsea, Kitty, or Dolly all work for me.

I identify as… Gay, straight, nothing, everything, asexual, pansexual, polysexual. I am simply a human being who is most days neither, some days both, and occasionally one or the other with varying sexual preferences.

As far as third-person pronouns go, … I accept both feminine and neutral ones. (She, her, Ze, Her) But for some strange reason, unless I’m a man that day, masculine pronouns rub me the wrong way.

I’m attracted to… Men who are like women and Women who are like men. Metrosexuals, transgender, transexual, androgyne, intersex.

As Proust so accurately puts it, in women I adore frankness and comradeship and in men, feminine charm.

And to further this, I love wit and long, serious conversations about absolutely nothing.

When people talk about me, I want them to… be absolutely truthful. When you tell me the whole truth I know I can trust you and therefore give you all of me.

I want people to understand… that I am simply and above all else, a human. I breathe as other humans do. I fall ill as other humans do. I sleep as other humans do. I wear a mask as other humans do. I have feelings as other humans do. I bleed as other humans do. To label me by the clothes I wear, the color I dye my hair, the make-up I put on my face would be to mark me inaccurately.

About Chelsea
I am a very small young “lady” with a rather morbid sense of humor. I have a great amount of pride in my personality as well as my artwork. I am an aspiring artist who strives for the best in criticism. I am an avid reader, devouring numerous books in a week. I have an addiction to tea and interesting conversation.

» Define yourself. «

Willkommen, originally uploaded by exoskeletoncabaret.

B/D recommends…

Fariba Tabrizi seeks asylum in Germany from persecution due to sexual identity in Iran. A fellow refugee commits suicide, so Fariba assumes his identity. Jasmin Tabatabai gives a wonderful performance as Fariba. You can watch Unveiled instantly on Netflix.

» Recommend something. «

Dax asks…

My mother is demanding that I shave my legs even though I told her firmly that I love my legs as they are. She was hurt and refused to talk to me for the rest of the night. I’m afraid of distancing myself from her because of my gender identity, but I also don’t want to change myself just to please her. Is there anyway to help her understand without pushing her away?

Please post your response in the comments below.

» Ask Genderfork «

4, originally uploaded by roxy_diamond.

Someone wrote…

I don’t wear men’s clothing anymore. My wardrobe is now comprised of hand-me-downs from my girlfriends.

What’s your experience?

And what are you thinking about gender right now?

You can call me… Logan.

I identify as… genderqueer, queer.

As far as third-person pronouns go, … I use: they, them, their, theirs…

I’m attracted to… femininity, flair, honesty, humility, intelligence, kindness, loyalty, openness, passion, personality, queerness, sensitivity, strength, talent.

When people talk about me, I want them to… think about my feelings.

I want people to understand… that no one is in any place to tell someone else what they are.

About Logan
I was born in Montreal, and still live here. I DJ and produce electronic music. One of the reasons I love music is it allows us to communicate beyond the limitations of language.

» Define yourself. «

Pride, originally uploaded by Greything.

A reader recommends…

Liu Zhu is a contestant in China’s ‘Super Boy’ singing contest who caused some controversy by entering a male-only talent show while dressing as a woman. From interviews it seems that he is happy calling himself a boy and presenting as a beautiful woman, and while he’s been strongly criticized (and harshly questioned by a guest judge on the show) there are plenty of supportive voices out there too. Best of luck to him in the contest, I say!

» Recommend something. «

Electric., originally uploaded by breathing exercises.

Someone wrote…

I realized today that having breasts and showing them off makes me feel sexy for other people, but binding makes me feel sexy for me. When I bind, I feel good about myself, and not because other people are looking at me and find me attractive.

What’s your experience?

And what are you thinking about gender right now?

, originally uploaded by Flore M..

Tor recommends…

Probably the most entertaining half-hour of gender study ever! Halberstam makes me want to add a minor in Gender Studies to my degree…

» Recommend something. «

You can call me… Renae Ann or Annie. :)

I identify as… someone who just recently came to understand that, despite my male body, deep inside I’m female.

As far as third-person pronouns go, … for here, I’d like being addressed as “she” or “her.”

I’m attracted to… Men and women, but especially funny, intelligent people.

When people talk about me, I want them to… see that, even though I may be coming from a different place than many other people, I am still a person, a person who loves, and cares, and feels.

I want people to understand… I know that it may be difficult to accept me in the way I’ve discovered, I would hope that they can find room for me to allow me to be myself.

About Renae Ann
I’m an older person (it’s been 30 years since I was 25 :) ) who is just now coming to terms with my gender issues.
I’m a father with three adult children and a wife that I love very much…and they know nothing about what I’m going through.
I thought I had dealt with this stuff long ago, but only recently I’ve begun to understand my place in all this…and I have a very long way to go. :)

» Define yourself. «

Edited Self, originally uploaded by karileaves.

Someone wrote…

Sometimes, when I’m around women I feel like a fraud, and when I’m around men I feel like a failure. It’s as if my body is a perfect but unwanted drag act.

What’s your experience?

And what are you thinking about gender right now?

RBG recommends…

Torchwood is a spinoff of Doctor Who, starring Captain Jack and his own crew back on Earth.

The lead actor, John Barrowman, is openly gay, and his character is a pansexual guy that flirts with everything and everyone.

Almost every character on the show has relations with every sex. It explores gender in a loose but comfortable way, and opens your mind without your even realizing it.

» Recommend something. «