Archive for February 2011


Scream with joy.


Charlie wrote…

I was a boy, who became a grrl, who became a boi. I’m so happy with this that I sometimes just scream with joy.

What’s your experience?

And what are you thinking about gender right now?


Posted by on February 28th, 2011 at 08:00 am

your voice | 8 comments »

Gender Heroes: Claude Cahun (1894-1954)



Claude Cahun, originally uploaded by Peglessness.

While researching a book on Surrealism, a man named François Leperlier came across a remarkable series of self-portraits created by an artist he had never heard of before: Claude Cahun. The name sounded masculine–early biographers used male pronouns– but she was female bodied. In these pictures, Cahun showed a remarkable ability for gender transformation. She holds mysterious props that turn her into a magician, a doll, or an impenetrably masked androgyny. With her hooked nose and a shaved head, it seemed she could photograph herself as male, female, or any shade in between.

Though Leperlier rediscovered Cahun in the 1980s–30 years after her death–it wasn’t until the early 90s that her photos were shown at several international art shows celebrating Surrealism. As scholars delved into Cahun’s work, their perception of her identity seemed to shift with each summation. She collaborated with many of the Surrealists, but didn’t join the movement as one of them; her work is said to be marginalized because she was a woman, but her writing hints that she may not have thought of herself as female. Modern archivists have held her work up as an example of a transperson, an androgyny, a lesbian, queer, and even a transhumanist. She wrote in her autobiography, Disavowels, “Shuffle the cards. Masculine? Feminine? It depends on the situation. Neuter is the only gender that always suits me.”

Cahun was based in Paris throughout most of her career. She wrote and created photographs with her partner, Marcel Moore, until the 1930s, when they retired from the Parisian art world and moved to Jersey Island. They named the house they lived in La Ferme Sans Nom, “the Farm Without a Name”, and lived there until the 1940s. Then, Nazis occupied the island. Cahun and her partner were arrested for putting fliers protesting the occupation under the windshields of Nazi vehicles, inside of newspapers for sale, and leaving cartons full of them in alleyways. They were imprisoned, but happily released shortly thereafter.

During her lifetime, Claude Cahun was better known for her writings than her photographs, which were never shown during her lifetime. Happily, Disaovowels and another book, Heroines, have been translated from French into English, but the bulk of her written work still remains uncollected.


Posted by on February 27th, 2011 at 10:00 am

faces | 4 comments »

Recommendation: 1972 at&t bell advert


Luz recommends…

1972 at&t bell advert.
an ad for their first female installer

When gender boundaries were being busted down, and androgyny was rampant and acceptable. Conversely there is also an ad for the first male operator who resembles ashton kutcher.

at&t wants girls that can climb and boys that can talk on the phone for hours

» Recommend something. «


Posted by on February 27th, 2011 at 08:00 am

photos, recommendations | 3 comments »

Queer in distress


Submitted by Sydney.

“It’s distressing that many people think of being gender queer as a joke, or are quick to hop on the bandwagon. This is important to me. I’ve only recently come to terms with being gender queer. Some day’s I like to wear lipstick and more feminine clothes. On other days I prefer to bind my chest with ace bandages and wear button ups. It all depends on how I feel that day. I like the way I am, most days. My family is supportive of me loving women. I don’t think they would think of me differently if I came out as gender queer rather than a lesbian. But I don’t know. I will leave it where it is for now when I’m less confused about this. I’m a girl as well as a boy. I don’t think it matters. I’m Sydney and I want to be loved as so.”


Posted by on February 26th, 2011 at 10:00 am

faces | 20 comments »

Raise this new person on my own.


Someone wrote…

I feel like my parents won’t accept me until I prove that it is the right choice. I feel like I have to be the parent and the kid, and raise this new person on my own.

What’s your experience?

And what are you thinking about gender right now?


Posted by on February 26th, 2011 at 08:00 am

your voice | 6 comments »

having fun


Submitted by Angelo, the model.


Posted by on February 25th, 2011 at 10:00 am

faces | 6 comments »

Profile: Bren


You can call me… Bren, Brent, B

I identify as… Hmm.. a vaguely butch vaguely femme male-bodied anarcho-queerion.

As far as third-person pronouns go, … I don’t care. She or he, but I don’t really like gender neutral pronouns for myself personally. Either at any time.

I’m attracted to… Cute nerds, of all types. Smart people in general. Also, tattoos mmm…

When people talk about me, I want them to… Cream their pants.

I want people to understand… I’m jus’ bein’ me. I don’t share similar ideas with a lot of people, but I don’t discount anyone’s beliefs.

About Bren
I’m lame but if you wanna forrow me on tumblr it’s raapture.tumblr.com

» Define yourself. «


Posted by on February 25th, 2011 at 08:00 am

profiles | 4 comments »

Super!



DSC09216, originally uploaded by Rebecca V.


Posted by on February 24th, 2011 at 10:00 am

faces | 8 comments »

I fear my inner identity will never be taken seriously.


Someone wrote…

A lot of guys joke about being “a lesbian trapped in a man’s body.” So many that I fear my inner identity will never be taken seriously.

What’s your experience?

And what are you thinking about gender right now?


Posted by on February 24th, 2011 at 08:00 am

your voice | 29 comments »

Euphoria


Submitted by Jamie, the model. Photography by Tricia Jameson


Posted by on February 23rd, 2011 at 10:00 am

faces | 2 comments »

Recommendation: Gender Identity & Expression Reading Challenge


Sally Sapphire recommends…

This is actually my event, so I’m a bit biased, but I’m hosting what I think is a really interesting, positive even – a Gender Identity & Expression Reading Challenge. My goal is two-fold: to get those of us in the community talking about books that speak to us and which we identify with (which is the fun and fabulous part); and to encourage those outside the community to take a chance, read something new, and hopefully develop a little more awareness and some understanding of the community (which is the educational part).

» Recommend something. «


Posted by on February 23rd, 2011 at 08:00 am

blogs, recommendations | 1 comment »

Pick One


Submitted by Sarah, the model and photographer.

“To feel the pressure to choose and not want to. We don’t all need to be defined.
Things are never just black and white. Personally, I’m rather fond of grey.”


Posted by on February 22nd, 2011 at 10:00 am

faces | 9 comments »

When I wake up in the morning…


Someone wrote…

Sometimes I wonder who I’m transitioning for: me, or all the people who see me. I wonder if my budding breasts are worth the pain. When I wake up in the morning in the dark, naked and swathed in blankets, I am me, with no pronouns or gender or perceptions. It is once I turn on the lights that the doubt begins.

What’s your experience?

And what are you thinking about gender right now?


Posted by on February 22nd, 2011 at 08:00 am

your voice | 20 comments »

twenty-five


Submitted by Ashley, the model and photographer.


Posted by on February 21st, 2011 at 10:00 am

faces | 11 comments »

years go by



, originally uploaded by cora c sória.


Posted by on February 20th, 2011 at 10:00 am

faces | 2 comments »

Bella Maddo



Openly trans director Janice Danielle brings you an entirely trans cast. More back story.


Posted by on February 20th, 2011 at 08:00 am

video | 11 comments »

Innocence


Submitted by Jenn

“At my father’s wedding, listening to an “Abby story” as we call them. This was my first time wearing a tie, and also the first time I truly felt like my outside matched my insides. While many guests were staring quizzically throughout the day, I enjoyed the innocent, unquestioning acceptance of youth.”


Posted by on February 19th, 2011 at 10:00 am

faces | 7 comments »

Profile: Henry


You can call me… Henry

I identify as… A pansexual, polyamorous, semi-asexual, partly androgynous, pacifist, wiccan.

As far as third-person pronouns go, … Anything. I am physically male… but neither male nor female in sense.

I’m attracted to… Intellect. Emotion. Naturalism. Happiness. Absent sense of boredom (as in, never bored, no matter what). Ability to have fun watching trees sway in the wind.

When people talk about me, I want them to… Be kind, respectful, and understanding.

I want people to understand… I do not care about sex. I worry about you, stranger. I love everyone.

About Henry
Philosophy, economics, theology, life, death, epistemology, logic, beauty, nature, reason, romanticism, wicca, buddhism, LGBT culture, my band, music, writing, loving, caring, worrying, meditation, depersonalization, existentialism, you, me, love, trees, snow, rain… and every little tiny thing in between.

» Define yourself. «


Posted by on February 19th, 2011 at 08:00 am

profiles | 8 comments »

Ripped Jeans



, originally uploaded by winter sage.


Posted by on February 18th, 2011 at 10:00 am

faces | 1 comment »

Recommendation: Peacock


Kat recommends…
Peacock

Peacock
Movie

John Skillpa, a quiet bank clerk living in tiny Peacock, Nebraska, prefers to live an invisible life. This might have to do with John’s secret: he has another personality no one knows about, a woman who each morning does his chores and cooks him breakfast before he starts his day. Then, in a moment, everything changes…

» Recommend something. «


Posted by on February 18th, 2011 at 08:00 am

movies, recommendations | 10 comments »

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