Originally uploaded by Z.Volkova.

Ritchie, originally uploaded by salimphotoworks.

Kit wrote…

I’ve lost my gender ambiguity, thanks to the wonders of testosterone. I miss people saying “I’m sorry, but I have no idea whether you’re a boy or a girl…” and then me replying “I don’t either, if I’m honest.”

I want to go on HRT to restore my ambiguity, because right now I feel like I’ve lost a part of myself.

What’s your experience?

And what are you thinking about gender right now?

You can call me… Charlie

I identify as… Genderqueer or gender neutral

As far as third-person pronouns go, … I don’t know, I’m not sure I like ze and hir when referring to me. I like being called Charlie whenever it’s possible.

I’m attracted to… Mostly women. I’m not into overly femme or very butch. I like genderqueer people and ftm. I love to hold intelligent conversations. I love being challenged, I like people who can laugh at their own jokes.

When people talk about me, I want them to… My personality is more important than my gender. Especially because I most of the time feel genderless. I’m not offended when a man notices my breasts but if they know my situation I feel sometimes it’s a little thoughtless.

I want people to understand… this is how I was born. Nothing in my life has made me this way. It’s not something that can be fixed it’s something to accept. My difference has been attractive to some. People should understand that It’s not rare to feel like this and more people do than they realise.

About Charlie
I’m from Bristol, England. I’m 30 years old and I work voluntarily helping people with mental health problems and I am an ear acupuncturist at a drug and alcohol harm reduction drop in centre. I am a keen photographer. The arts in general interest me. I have a keen love for most music genres although rock music would be my favourite.

» Define yourself. «

Whitby Goth Festival, originally uploaded by www.grenvillecharles.co.uk.

Someone wrote…

At this very moment I am thinking that I don’t want to think about gender anymore.

What’s your experience?

And what are you thinking about gender right now?

Anonymous asks…

My biologically female friend binds her chest, wears male clothing, and cuts her hair short. She hasn’t given much indication that she wants to be male, but I want to know if that’s what would make her happy. How should I find how she identifies, or if she wants me to use different pronouns?

Please post your response in the comments below.

» Ask Genderfork «

, originally uploaded by madefortvmovies.

Someone wrote…

I’m a male-assigned, female-bodied, feminine-to-androgynous dyke who likes to have no gender from time to time. This makes perfect sense to me!

What’s your experience?

And what are you thinking about gender right now?

Mirutei- Kuervo, originally uploaded by Mina May.

Only God Knows, originally uploaded by Alan I. Ramirez.

Max asks…

Can anyone help me think of an essay title or topic about gender fluidity that I can write about for my gender studies report?

Please post your response in the comments below.

» Ask Genderfork «

You can call me… Kid.

I identify as… a soft-butch queer. A boi, of sorts–with female “parts”.

As far as third-person pronouns go, … any work for me.

I’m attracted to… androgynous beings. Blondes, redheads. Slightly inflated egos. Artists. Tattoos. Musicians. Anyone with a sense of adventure and good taste in movies.

When people talk about me, I want them to… realize that there’s more to me than being shy. And that if you really want to know me, you have to stick around for a little while.

I want people to understand… that love is beautiful, in all of its forms. That not everything needs to be ‘this’ or ‘that’. It’s okay to be grey.

About Kid
I’m a daydreamer. The world I’ve created in my head is far more pleasurable than what I have in reality. I’m laid-back, lazy, and lonely. I like to cuddle. I’m an English major who wants to be a film studies major. I love Boston. I’m awkward, shy, and complex. Usually I don’t make a bit of sense. I like people, but I’m afraid of crowds. I like to write, but I hardly read. I love to swim, but I’m afraid of water. I strive for freedom, but I’m afraid to drive and still don’t have my license. I can’t connect with my family, but I love being around them. My Grampy told me to act like a lady, but all I’ve ever wanted was to be a gentleman. I could go on like this forever, but I don’t want to waste your time. I’m a little odd.

» Define yourself. «

“Queer Aperture” by Jeff Horvitz features Dr. Noel Thomas, originally uploaded by pdxqcenter.

Someone wrote…

I’ve come to like the term “protean-gendered.” My shape is mine to change at will.

What’s your experience?

And what are you thinking about gender right now?

You can call me… Kelly

I identify as… transcending. :)

As far as third-person pronouns go, … Talk to me a bit, decide which works for you. My identity is solid so use what interpretation works for you. :)

I’m attracted to… intelligence, wit, sarcasm, optimism, dark humor, anyone who does not take things sooo serious they get stuck, but who still try to save the world at the same time. :)

When people talk about me, I want them to… Realize I think everything is a grey area and that truth is a matter of perspective. To understand that no matter how old I get, I am still ever searching and have no idea what I want to do when I grow up so I go and go and am always looking for companions to chase those knew experiences with me. :)

I want people to understand… I value friends over most other relationships in my life. Family loves you because they have to, friends love you for who you are.

About Kelly
I am a poet, armchair philosopher and professional singer in the shower. I am fat, I am an athlete and an outdoorsperson. I am an atheist, agnostic, pagan and pantheist. I am a spiritual person. I am an environmentalist, a lazy recycler and a deskchair activist. I am a sister, a daughter and a lesbian. I am a gender bending genderqueer, a trannyboi and a one sex bisexual. I am a pro-football player, a full time student and a good friend as often as I can be. I am an ex Walt Disneyworld Castmember, currently work with troubled teens and was once a porn photographer. I am an avid reader of Augusten Burroughs, David Sedaris and Christopher Moore. I am a democrat, an independent and a socialist. I am a video and board game player. I am a history buff, WWII enthusiast and love philosophy stuff. I am an ok poker player who plays anyway. I am a nerd, a geek and a wannabe at both. I am Quirkyalone, a hopeless romantic and still believe in chivalry. I am a big baby during sad movies but love funny ones. I look much meaner than I am. I am a music lover. I am a part time vegan, almost always a vegetarian and a treehugger. I am a teacher. I love Ghandi, Einstein and Charlie Brown. I am a free thinker, a 5 year old child and a 30 year old adult who still does not know what they want to do with their life, but knows that I want to make a difference.

» Define yourself. «

Geek for a day, originally uploaded by ausreißer.

Someone wrote…

I decided that my gender is ‘dragon.’ I mean, it’s ‘technically’ genderqueer but I have dubbed my own personal flavour as ‘dragon.’ Because dragons make everything better, are awesome, and come in a whole boatload of varieties.

What’s your experience?

And what are you thinking about gender right now?

You can call me… Tyler

I identify as… A male, who was born that way, but who loves everyone for who they are.

As far as third-person pronouns go, … I use he and him or she and her or whatever someone wants to call me, whether it is out of jest or out of spite. Words can’t hurt me.

I’m attracted to… Men, any men, as long as they can be romantic

When people talk about me, I want them to… ask a lot of questions within earshot, and come to some great revelation that nobody else really cares about who I am and why I am that way and that they shouldn’t either.

I want people to understand… Nothing is by choice. Just because I don’t act masculine does not mean I am putting on a show. Just because I’d rather play dress-up and dance around the kitchen to Madonna or Lady Gaga than play baseball, or rather get up on stage and play a crazy British man or Mary Sunshine than fix a car does not make me any less of a man than anyone else who wants to be one.

About Tyler
Tyler is a junior in college studying classical vocal performance, and hopes to get his masters in musical theater performance. He loves music in any form and loves being on the stage more than anything.

He also is actively interested in Public Relations and has spent a lot of time working on political campaigns!

» Define yourself. «

Update! We’re over here now: http://genderplayful.tumblr.com

~~~

Hello Gorgeous Genderforkers!

This is Sarah Dopp, your humble Genderfork founder, and I want to run an idea by you.

I’d like to start a new project: a genderplayful, body-positive, fashion-savvy online marketplace. This would be a space where people sell to each other (like Ebay and Etsy), with a focused emphasis on solving all of our wardrobe problems. Together.

We’d pull in a mix of indie clothing designers, body-savvy tailors for custom alterations, small business clothing shops, crafters, and folks who want to share things from their closet. All with a celebratory and problem-solving emphasis on creating clothes that fit our genders, styles, and bodies.

Allow me to elaborate on this (while naked):

Sounding like a good idea so far? Do you want it? Do your toes start tingling when you think about this, like mine are right now?

If so, then here’s how this can play out. I have the management, web development, and community-building skills to make this happen. What I don’t have yet are the time or the money (well, really just the money, since money buys time). But I have a plan to get them: a public fundraiser, plus a loan from my family.

The key to securing those funds is being able to prove that this project is important. That’s where I need your help.

If you want this project to happen, there are three powerful, important, super-helpful things you can do right now to push it forward:

1) Make a video of yourself telling a camera why this is so important. This will have a HUGE impact on the public fundraising. If I can edit together a collage video showing many people asking for this, you know it will hit home. (More info on how to get your video to me is over here.)

2) Write out why this matters to you. Explain it to the outside world: why does this need to happen? You can leave it as a comment below, or send it in an email to genderplayful@gmail.com, and I will use your stories to make a stronger case for the project.

3) Get someone else to help. If you know someone who is comfortable in front of a camera, please personally appeal to them to make a short video for this. If you have a blog and you know your readers would love this project, please ask them to step up and share their stories. If you have a friend who absolutely needs this to happen, make sure they know it’s in the works, and how they can help.

I’m seriously excited about this. I’ve been working on the plan for a year, and it’s time to swing it into motion. But it (really, seriously) won’t happen unless I can prove that you need it, so it’s time to get noisy about the idea. Let’s show ’em all how it is.

Thank you so much for all your support.

Lots of love,
Sarah

p.s. The Genderfork staff and I have agreed that this should be a separate project from Genderfork. Genderfork will stay the same.