Archive for October 2009


Genderless Mummy



Andrew Mummy, originally uploaded by sticky_stylites38.


Posted by on October 31st, 2009 at 10:00 am

faces | 1 comment »

Weird and slightly invasive questions.


Someone wrote…

I think most people find it weird that I have no problem answering questions about my gender, even if they’re asking weird and even slightly invasive questions. The only question I don’t like being asked is “why can’t you just be happy the way you are?” Because they obviously can’t tell that I already am.

What’s your experience?

And what are you thinking about gender right now?


Posted by on October 31st, 2009 at 08:00 am

your voice | 1 comment »

Profile: –


-

You can call me… Whatever except my real girly name.

I identify as… 95% boy, 5% girl maybe? I hate my feminine body. I’m going to lose some weight, so my chest will get flatter… because it disgusts me. When I suddenly see my chest in the mirror, for example, it just freaks me out. I’m 21 already, but I still can’t accept it. I like to wear girly clothes sometimes, though, but it feels as I’m crossdressing.

As far as third-person pronouns go, … I don’t know. I’m confused. I don’t like “she,” “he,” “hir” (I must say we don’t have”hir” in Russian), so what should I do?

I’m attracted to… Feminine men and beautiful people in general. Though, I prefer to just watch them from a distance. I’m in the wrong body, so I have no desire to do things at all. I’m a virgin. When people ask, I tell them I’m asexual.

When people talk about me, I want them to… Be more open-minded. It hardly happens.

I want people to understand… That there are more colours in this world; it’s not just black and white.

» Define yourself. «


Posted by on October 30th, 2009 at 04:00 pm

profiles | 15 comments »

Polaroid



Gay dear, me dear? No dear!, originally uploaded by FreeRangeLife.


Posted by on October 30th, 2009 at 10:00 am

faces | 1 comment »

Delightful.


Hanna wrote…

In Sweden we usually do not use honorifics, but when I went to Hawaii a couple months ago I was addressed as Mister half of the time and Miss half of the time. It was delightful.

What’s your experience?

And what are you thinking about gender right now?


Posted by on October 30th, 2009 at 08:00 am

your voice | Comment »

Recommendation: Original Plumbing


A reader recommends…

tuck

Original Plumbing Magazine
“Original Plumbing is the premier magazine dedicated to the sexuality and culture of FTM trans guys.”

Got my copy of issue 1 in the mail today and WHOO BOY. Not only are the guys hot, but the writing is good too. This magazine does a great job of showing the diversity of transmasculine bodies.

» Recommend something. «


Posted by on October 29th, 2009 at 04:00 pm

magazines, recommendations | 5 comments »

Interview with S. Bear Bergman (The Nearest Exit May Be Behind You)


I just had the privilege of interviewing the ever-charming and brilliant S. Bear Bergman, author of the newly released book of essays, The Nearest Exit May Be Behind You.

NearestExit-206x300

I managed to get a copy of the book, and I need to tell you: it’s wonderful. It’s about life in the middle-ground of gender, and all the many ways the world around us hiccups as we try to live our lives. It’s encouraging and honest, and you should go buy it right now.  There are very few people out there who are telling our story well in a mainstream medium. But Bear is one of them.

Here’s the official spiel:

Alternately unsettling and affirming, devastating and delicious, The Nearest Exit May Be Behind You is a new collection of essays on gender and identity by S. Bear Bergman that is irrevocably honest and endlessly illuminating. With humor and grace, these essays deal with issues from women’s spaces to the old boys’ network, from gay male bathhouses to lesbian potlucks, from being a child to preparing to have one. Throughout, S. Bear Bergman shows us there are things you learn when you’re visibly different from those around you—whether it’s being transgressively gendered or readably queer. As a transmasculine person, Bergman keeps readers breathless and rapt in the freakshow tent long after the midway has gone dark, when the good hooch gets passed around and the best stories get told. Ze offers unique perspectives on issues that challenge, complicate, and confound the “official stories” about how gender and sexuality work.

But getting to the juicy stuff…

Continue reading »


Posted by on October 29th, 2009 at 12:00 pm

books, recommendations | 4 comments »

“having lived a most bizarre existence, yet having found a tranquil niche within it”



Orlando (Tilda Swinton) in the film Orlando, originally uploaded by sallypotter.com.

Tilda Swinton played a genderbending character in the film Orlando. Title from the Wikipedia entry on the film.


Posted by on October 29th, 2009 at 10:00 am

faces | 2 comments »

Profile: Hedo


Hedo

You can call me… Aeron, Hedo, India, (Space) Cadet Hedo

I identify as… A biologically female androgyne. (I’d say about 60% masculine and 40% feminine…SOME days, 50-50. :P)

As far as third-person pronouns go, … Above all others, “xe” (xe, xyr, xem, xemself). To me, “zhe/hir” is too similar to feminine pronouns, which I detest, for me to use it comfortably. If people can’t learn or use “xe,” however, I’ll allow for people to call me “he.”

I’m attracted to… Both males and females, though I definitely prefer biological males, sometimes feminine, sometimes not. I’m with a male-bodied androgyne who dresses and behaves mostly feminine, though, and I must say I’m pretty gosh darn happy to have xem! :3

When people talk about me, I want them to… respect my gender identity and, other than that I am not really concerned with what people say about me.

I want people to understand… That gender is not a choice and is different from sex, and being referred to as “she” (especially when I’m trying to pass as male to avoid it) hurts. I also want them to understand that when they tell me that there is only male and female, they just seem ignorant. I want people to understand that “why can’t you just be happy the way you are?” is a pointless question because other than my secondary characteristics and my height, I am very happy with my body, and do not particularly desire to be a male. Mistakes are okay, as long as people take the time to correct them instead of intentionally treating me as a female.

 

About Hedo
Hedo is a writer/musician, babysitter and band promoter in Pennsylvania who is trying to educate the people around xem about the third gender along with xyr partner, Ryan.

myspace.com/cadethedo

» Define yourself. «


Posted by on October 29th, 2009 at 08:00 am

profiles | Comment »

Pato



Pato., originally uploaded by Fernando León.


Posted by on October 28th, 2009 at 10:00 am

faces | 3 comments »

Total drag queen.


Someone wrote…

I’d be a total drag queen if I ever got top surgery. I LOVE black, dark, lacy bras even though I’m conflicted about my chest area. Burlesque rules and it’s part of my identity.

What’s your experience?

And what are you thinking about gender right now?

ty.


Posted by on October 28th, 2009 at 08:00 am

your voice | 3 comments »

Profile: Beka


Beka

You can call me… Beka

I identify as… an all-around queer poly dyke, as far as gender and sexuality go, but I’m pretty queer in the other sense as far as personality. I’m “odd.”

As far as third-person pronouns go, … Male or female, I don’t really care either way most of the time.

I’m attracted to… My beautiful fiancée, big hearts, wit and humour, snark, a pretty voice, writing ability, and tolerance.

When people talk about me, I want them to… not decide that they know who I am just because they’ve seen one part of me.

I want people to understand… That I am not what reproductive system I have. That just because I want to have kids doesn’t make me a girly girl. That I can be male-identified and still love my breasts. That there is no such thing as a true “gender norm” because there’s no such thing as “normal.”

 

About Beka
Name: Beka C.
Age: 23
Sign: Gemini
Favourite TV show: Doctor Who
Favourite Authors: Jim Butcher and Tamora Pierce

» Define yourself. «


Posted by on October 27th, 2009 at 04:00 pm

profiles | Comment »

Maybe He’s Born With It



Maybe He’s Born With It, originally uploaded by omg.jessen.


Posted by on October 27th, 2009 at 10:00 am

faces | 1 comment »

Recommendation: Ben Lee


Adelai recommends…

Ben Lee
Musician

Two tracks off Ben’s album The Rebirth of Venus—”Boy With A Barbie” and “I’m A Woman Too”—do a wonderful job of breaking the gender binary, which is awesome because, as far as I know, he identifies as cis and straight.

» Recommend something. «


Posted by on October 27th, 2009 at 08:00 am

music, people, recommendations | 4 comments »

Profile: Kale


You can call me… Kale

I identify as… someone who does not like to be pigeon-holed, or forced into a situation where they must identify (yes, I know how privileged this sounds). Ultimately, some political situations require necessary identification structures, but I try to avoid them if I can. Usually results in people not knowing how to read me.. or general confusion {chaos} thanks to human nature and need-to-know tendencies.

As far as third-person pronouns go, … they is best, always. I get turned on when people talk about themselves in the third person…

I’m attracted to… diverse humans.

When people talk about me, I want them to… Smile, laugh, and love.

I want people to understand… That our identities are all socially constructed; therefore, they rely on (and necessarily exist because of) change. However, perhaps the greatest irony of this deployment of sexuality lies in having us believe that our liberation hangs in the balance (Foucault).

» Define yourself. «


Posted by on October 26th, 2009 at 04:00 pm

profiles | 1 comment »

Taungbyone Dancer



male dancer, originally uploaded by detengase.


Posted by on October 26th, 2009 at 10:00 am

faces | 1 comment »

Tomorrow.


Someone wrote…

Tomorrow I’m planning on binding publicly for the first time … at my all-girls Catholic school.

What’s your experience?

And what are you thinking about gender right now?


Posted by on October 26th, 2009 at 08:00 am

your voice | 9 comments »

Lips



locker, originally uploaded by mobius trip.


Posted by on October 25th, 2009 at 10:00 am

faces | 1 comment »

Recommendation: Brain Gender


Elian recommends…

brain sex

I read this in a course last fall called “Gender, the Brain, and Behavior.” I remember it being pretty interesting, and touched on a lot of subjects. There are a lot of biological concepts in it, but it’s not too hard to understand. Also, if I remember, you don’t need to read it sequentially. Feel free to skip to chapters that interest you.

» Recommend something. «


Posted by on October 25th, 2009 at 08:00 am

books, recommendations | Comment »

Harley Davidson



03.20.2009 0002, originally uploaded by sugarysalvation.


Posted by on October 24th, 2009 at 09:59 am

faces | 1 comment »

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