subway, eat fresh!, originally uploaded by the Aidenn Willows experience [tm].

Novice Theory, originally uploaded by koitz.

Lexi asks…

What words do you use and/or enjoy receiving as compliments on your appearance?

I usually use “gorgeous” as gender-neutral compliment. Would that word offend any of you?

Please post your response in the comments below.

» Ask Genderfork «

You can call me… Cassie.

I identify as… a pansexual person. I am biologically a female and have absolutely no problem with that, but I’d rather just identify as a person.

As far as third-person pronouns go, … it’s okay to refer to me with female ones. But I don’t mind neutral ones either. :)

I’m attracted to… beautiful people. It’s as simple and as complicated as that. I honestly never know who I will be attracted to next, because I always find myself attracted to completely different traits and people. It used to confuse me, but I’ve learned to embrace it as a gift of sorts, with never-ending possibilities.

When people talk about me, I want them to… make sure they know exactly what they’re talking about first.

I want people to understand… what I now understand. I want them to give me a chance to explain my views to them before they build up their assumptions. They might just learn something.

About Cassie
I’m a part-time college student and a full-time employee at a doctor’s office right now. I recently met the most beautiful person I’ve ever come in contact with, and I am proud to call her my girlfriend. =) My life revolves around spending time with her, my family and friends, and discovering myself and how I fit into the world. I feel as though everything is just beginning for me.

» Define yourself. «

What am i?, originally uploaded by Madame Raro.

M wrote…

I was married for a time. Quite a long time, actually, before I figured out who I was, and established a new trajectory for my life. What upset my husband most was not my leaving; he was more upset because when I left, I was wearing men’s boxer briefs. Obviously, I made the right choice, and I have never looked back.

What’s your experience?

And what are you thinking about gender right now?

“Strong enough for a Man but made for a Woman” submitted by DJ, the model and photographer

making off, originally uploaded by Dine-.

A reader asks…

How do I tell my parents that *I’m* choosing my new name and that I don’t care what they would have named me? They named me once, now it’s my turn.

Please post your response in the comments below.

» Ask Genderfork «

“Darkness brings truth” submitted by Phoenix, the model and photographer. “My search for who i am was like stumbling in the darkness of gender conformity. At this moment i chose to not conform and to just be me and that is simply ambiguous .”

Prim Queer tea party at the Folsom Faire, originally uploaded by catcubed.

Someone wrote…

Why do I let strangers on the street drag me into conversation about whether I’m a boy or a girl? The answer should be “None of your business,” followed by a swift exit.

Instead, I end up trying to avoid the subject for 5 minutes, then eventually saying that I’m a girl. Which they don’t even believe.

What’s your experience?

And what are you thinking about gender right now?

A reader recommends…

Chris Crocker talks about both sides of himself and how something such as facial hair or clothing choice can change things. Most of the time we see him/her/or hir (whichever you prefer) dressed as a female with “distinctly feminine” qualities such as makeup, high heels etc but here he discusses how simply growing out his facial hair changed what he wore and even who acknowledged him.

» Recommend something. «

, originally uploaded by lucylovestodance.

You can call me… Jack if I’m presenting as male, Amy if I’m presenting as female, Teapot all the time (teapots are gender neutral, so I don’t mind being called Teapot even though it was a nickname given to me when I was presenting as female all the time)

I identify as… genderfluid. Mostly female, occasionally male, sometimes somewhere in between. The kind of person who likes sparkles and shiny things all the time.

As far as third-person pronouns go, … She when I’m Amy, He when I’m Jack, Xe, zie or something along those lines if you’re not sure. You can always ask, too. I promise I don’t bite (except in some very rare circumstances).

I’m attracted to… my boyfriend. He’s been the biggest help over the past couple of years. He has pretty much stopped me from going completely insane. Also pretty boys and girls who dress in a masculine fashion. People who wear things that are out of the ordinary. People who can make me laugh.

When people talk about me, I want them to… realise that keeping my hair long does not make me less of a man. They should remember that I’m growing it (until it reaches 10-12 inches) to cut it off and donate the hair as well as money raised from the sponsored hair cut to the little princess foundation (a UK charity set up to provide wigs for children who have lost hair because of illness or treatment of illnesses) which I happen to think is a pretty manly thing to do (it takes a lot to suddenly lose something you’ve grown pretty attached to over the last few years, even if it is for the sake of people who will probably appreciate it more than you).

I want people to understand… that I don’t want to choose one gender. I am pretty happy being lots of genders for now. Maybe later I’ll change my mind, but I wouldn’t count on it if I were you. Also that checking my ID to see if I was “really actually a girl” is just likely to make me angry (although I’m not exactly the most threatening guy in the world even when I am angry) and that comments about people who don’t want to transition fully being “filthy cross-dressers” and the like are actually pretty hurtful.

About Amy/Jack
Amy is a 19 year old music student in the UK. She likes pretty much every sort of music and hopes one day to produce records and possibly also make music that people can listen to without hurting their ears. She is currently trying to work out when is a good time to come out to the people around her. She likes wearing things that make people look twice (tutus and fairy wings in the middle of April in the centre of town, for example) and is a major Batman fangirl. Jack is all that but with the appropriate male pronouns.

» Define yourself. «

A reader asks…

I’m currently filling out college applications. When the app says “Sex:” I put my bio sex. But when it says “Gender:” what should I put?

Please post your response in the comments below.

» Ask Genderfork «

“musical escape” submitted by Liz, the model and photographer

Marion wrote…

Today I was trying to explain to my mum the concept that a man can be a princess. Finally she said “In my day that wouldn’t be possible, but … I’m glad?” which is fairly satisfactory.

Then I said “A man can be a princess, and I can be a prince!”

To which my mum replied, “You ARE a prince.” It was a little thing, but no doubt it’ll continue to make me feel warm and glowy inside for days. I think she’s starting to get it.

What’s your experience?

And what are you thinking about gender right now?

“Label Me” submitted by Maura, the model and photographer.

Maura adds, “This is a picture of me over the summer. I wanted to play around with Photoshop and this is what came out of it. The words are definitions of labels such as ‘dyke,’ ‘lesbian,’ ‘androgynous’ and ‘homosexual.’ “

Translife by Matya Dio, originally uploaded by matyadio.