“Eileen”, by Catherine Opie. Model is Eileen Myles. Originally posted on Flavorwire.com.

You can call me… Jeni, Jen, JT, girl, boi, beautiful, handsome, she, he, her, him

I identify as… genderqueer, mostly. genderfluid, genderless, androgyne, girl, boi.

As far as third-person pronouns go, … either is fine with me, although everyone uses she and her.

I’m attracted to… intelligence, humor, confidence, morals, positivity, support, generosity, courage, love, music, rock n roll, Joan Jett, tattoos, and pretty girls.

When people talk about me, I want them to… think about me as genderless instead of female.

I want people to understand… that genderless people are not weird, confused, or rare. And that just because I like to appear masculine and would like to be described with more masculine terms, does not mean I want to be a man. I am perfectly happy being a female.

About Jeni
facebook.com/jayxtee1

» Define yourself. «

Submitted by Sam/Sanna, the model and photographer.

Originally posted at galloping through the sand.

Someone wrote…

I’m terrified that the jokes I used to make about being a gay man trapped in a woman’s body weren’t actually jokes.

What’s your experience?

And what are you thinking about gender right now?

Submitted by Cecil H, the model and photographer.

You can call me… Monkey butt.

I identify as… A 19-year-old kid who’s experiencing a lot of life for the first time and isn’t gonna let something suffocating like gender expectations hold them back from experiencing the full scope of what life has to offer.

As far as third-person pronouns go, … I would love it if people would use “he” when I’m being a he, and “she” when I’m being a she.
Most people still use “she”, though, and they’re not wrong.

I’m attracted to… Boyish ladymans. Strong, feminine power. The band members of Sleater-Kinney. Conversations about space and time and distance and connections. People who get and appreciate my gender-fluidness.

When people talk about me, I want them to… Take into account my (previously mentioned) gender-fluidness. If you want to know somebody, you can’t ignore fundamental parts of who they are. Yes, I’m a girl. But I’m a boy too. Remember that.

I want people to understand… that since I started accepting different parts of my self, the scope of my experiences has increased ten-fold. It is so limiting and boring to say, “well, I’m a lady/girl/boy/man/dude/woman/mother/father/sister/brother, so this is how I feel”.
Mix it up a bit! You never know what might happen and who you might meet.

About Monkey butt.
“Monkey Butt” grew up in Portland, Oregon, and currently lives in Northern Germany as an aupair. They spend their time playing with kids, writing stories, having adventures, and learning of all the beauty and pain in the world.

» Define yourself. «

By Sophia Wallace, from her series “On Beauty”. Originally posted on SophiaWallacePhotography.com.

Someone wrote…

I tried to decide whether I was bisexual, or pansexual. And then I realized, I don’t need to label myself. I’ll like whoever I want.

What’s your experience?

And what are you thinking about gender right now?

Submitted by J, the model.

“As I get older I find that what I miss most about being young is my naturally androgynous youthful self. These were taken in 1985 on a visit to a historic Art Deco theatre. It’s been a long time since people couldn’t figure out whether I was a girl or a boy.”

Submitted by Samsa, the model and photographer.

You can call me… Alan. And sometimes Rachel.

I identify as… I’m rather traditional with regard to labels – I’m a male to femal crossdresser, but I’ll answer to ‘t-girl’, ‘tranny’ or anything similar. I’m a regular guy with an optional girl-mode.

As far as third-person pronouns go, … ‘He’ and ‘Him’ will do most of the time. Although I like female pronouns when I’m Rachel, but I’m not going to insist on it. I’ll settle for respect and tolerance over a trick of language any day.

I’m attracted to… Women. I would say ‘and what they wear’, but I can’t think of a way that says that without it sounding a little creepy. And it isn’t.

I’m specifically attracted to my wife, which is a good job really :)

When people talk about me, I want them to… say nice things about me. And I understand that it’s my responsibility to present a positive image of myself such that they do so.

I want people to understand… That’s it – I want people to understand. And it’s a constant source of pleasure to me that most of them seem to.

About Alan/Rachel
Middle-aged (I admit it), married, father of two. Formerly from the UK, now permanently resident in Australia. Self-employed IT professional who prefers playing with toy soldiers and Lego.

» Define yourself. «

You can call me… Eric

I identify as… a transman with lesbian drama

As far as third-person pronouns go, … he him his

I’m attracted to… queerness.

When people talk about me, I want them to… stop assuming that I am heteronormative based on my gender expression. Even though I have “passing” privilege it doesn’t mean that I am any less queer then others that don’t.

I want people to understand… that being comfortable with your identity starts with being honest with yourself and holding yourself accountable to your own standards and no one else’s.

About Eric
I’m a third year at UCI and contrary to popular belief we are extremely progressive,,,

» Define yourself. «

“Alexis Penney in front of her bedroom collage, San Francisco, CA”, by Amos Mac. Model is Alexis Penney. Originally posted at AMOS MAC SHOOTS PEOPLE.

Someone wrote…

I think I’m genderless or gender-fluid, but I want a self-defining word that doesn’t contain the word “gender.”

What’s your experience?

And what are you thinking about gender right now?

You can call me… Ira

I identify as… pansexual, polyamorous, trans nerd of epic proportions.

As far as third-person pronouns go, … they’re absolutely wonderful and should be used more often. However, I prefer male pronouns when in reference to myself.

I’m attracted to… a perfect combination of compassion and intelligence.

When people talk about me, I want them to… be honest.

I want people to understand… gender is as fluid as sexuality and a cultural construction that we can fuck with in so many revolutionary ways.

About Ira
I am a twenty year old anarcho-feminist, writer, activist, and avid opponent of capital letters when it comes to my own work. When I’m not avoiding capital letters, you can find me making fun of customers at Pat and Oscar’s or working on my trans* focused project called theCircle (transcircle.org).

(Profile submitted to Genderfork on August 23rd, 2010)

» Define yourself. «

Submitted by Aaryn, the model and photographer.

You can call me… Zuri or Jack. Depends on which side of the bed I roll out of.

I identify as… Goy? Birl? Chocolate mint swirl?
ERROR in region: Humor.
Mission aborted.

Female-born lesbian with a gay man popping out every so often. Photographer/writer/gamer. Genderfluid. Insane.

As far as third-person pronouns go, … I don’t take offense to female pronouns because they’ve been okay for as long as I needed them. But my boyfriend better call me ‘he’ or we’ll be having a problem.

I’m attracted to… Confidence. Mystery. Independent thought. Natural bodies. Tattoos. Piercings. Straight-edged men and women.

When people talk about me, I want them to… remember what I say. Not whether or not a girl or boy said it.

I want people to understand… just because I don’t fit the mold doesn’t mean you should chip at me until I do.

About Zuri/Jack
Zuri. Jack. 17. Senior.
Excited to go away for college in the spring!
Tired of my LGBTQ friends forcing me to conform.
Still hoping for the best, though. :P

» Define yourself. «

By Michele Ercolani, from her series L’etranger. Originally posted on Michele Ercolani Photographer.

Submitted by BJ, the model.