XXXY, A short documentary from ISNA.

Flex, originally uploaded by James Birkbeck.

You can call me… Chris.

I identify as… a male-bodied genderqueer.

As far as third-person pronouns go, … I prefer “ze” and occasionally “hir,” although the singular “they” is also acceptable. If you slip up and use male pronouns when you describe me, I won’t be offended, nor will I be heartbroken if you use female pronouns to describe me.

I’m attracted to… femininity, regardless of sex or gender. What really draws me to a person, however, is intelligence, wit, humor, and compassion. I want someone who understands me, as cliché as that is, but I also want someone smart and funny (nothing more attractive than a beautiful mind). I usually find myself attracted to female-bodied people, but I am attracted to both sexes.

When people talk about me, I want them to… realize that my body does not define my gender. I am physically male and bearded, but I am not just a man. There is a beautiful girl living inside me, and I want people to see both of us. People don’t realize that their preconceived notions about me can hurt, and it can really color the way they see me in a negative light. I dress in either male or gender neutral clothing: I know what I look like. People shouldn’t equate clothing with spirit, however, and I want people to know that what they see does not define the person beneath the surface. Above everything, I just want people to focus on who I am, not what I am, and refer to me in neutral terms instead of going by what they see.

I want people to understand… that I’m just a human being who wants to live and love and laugh, just like everybody else.

About Chris.
I am a secondary English and theatre education major. Also, music rules my life. Talk to me… get to know me!

» Define yourself. «

Cupcake asks…

I told someone I was genderqueer. She said that because I’m biologically female and usually dress like a girl, that I’m not even close to genderqueer. But I don’t feel like a girl. I feel like I don’t need anything between my legs to define me. What do you think?

Please post your response in the comments below.

» Ask Genderfork «

Untitled, originally uploaded by ?YSH?MS.

Someone wrote…

I have one goal for the way I look and dress, and it has nothing to do with “masculine” or “feminine” – I just want to be able to look into the mirror every morning and smile at what I see.

What’s your experience?

And what are you thinking about gender right now?

Submitted by Able, the model.

Submitted by Sky, the model.

A reader recommends…

Well done article on gender ID, especially in virtual world places like Second Life, from the point of view of the dreaded stereyotype- “fat guy dressed like hawt chick.”

» Recommend something. «

You can call me… SG.

I identify as… Genderqueer, ladyboy, person of unimportant gender… I’m starting to feel at home with just ‘queer’. I’m also a panromantic asexual.

As far as third-person pronouns go, … By default, male pronouns or the singular ‘they’ are preferred, however I can be open to female pronouns occasionally. The amount of respect I feel from a person plays in greatly with how comfortable I am with the pronouns they use for me; if you respect me, you can generally call me whatever you’d like.

I’m attracted to… People who don’t let society dictate what kind of person they are, but who simply -are-. Male, female, androgynous, neutrois, genderqueer… it doesn’t matter as long as they’re true to themselves, and as long as they get that I don’t fit inside of a box.

When people talk about me, I want them to… Realize that my body’s biology has nothing to do with the person I am, and that trying to categorize me according to the genitalia I was born with limits and obscures the overall view of who I am. Don’t try to justify something I do or don’t do by my physical sex, because that has nothing to do with it. Who I am is in my head and in my heart, not in my chromosomes.

I want people to understand… That it’s okay to not be a boy or a girl. That it isn’t dangerous when a little boy wants to play with dolls or a little girl wants a G.I. Joe. It isn’t dangerous to shop for clothing in the “wrong” department or to desire a permanent transition from one side to the other. There are over 6 billion people in the world – to try to sort them all into just two boxes is impractical. There are so many more important things to be concerned with in life than whether or not a person fits a gender label.

About SG.
I’m an artist and a storyteller. Currently, I write and draw the webcomic Half Death (http://www.halfdeathcomic.com). I’ve also done a few comics about androgyny and asexuality.

» Define yourself. «

Untitled, originally uploaded by MyMaSs.

Someone wrote…

Just because I am female doesn’t mean that when I wear dresses and make-up, I want to be called “she”.

What’s your experience?

And what are you thinking about gender right now?

Gabrielle recommends…

Haiku No 13 “Curves”

The complexity
Of forms and shapes: in Beauty
There are no straight lines

» Recommend something. «

FRESH-BOY-N.Y.C.!!, originally uploaded by paintbyaj/.

Liam asks…

I can’t seem to understand why I am not okay with identifying as a woman. I love my female body, but in my head I am not a woman. I feel bad, guilty, and confused as to why the label of a man is so important to me. Wouldn’t it be better for me to stand-up for women an declare that my physical body has nothing to do with my behaviour, interests, and personality?

Please post your response in the comments below.

» Ask Genderfork «

Submitted by Eli, the model and photographer.

Submitted by Julian, the model and photographer.

Someone wrote…

As far as I’m concerned, I don’t have a gender or sexuality.

What’s your experience?

And what are you thinking about gender right now?

Dar asks…

I see genderqueer people focusing a lot on clothing, make-up and style. But I’m not like that. I don’t care about how I look or what I wear – I dress entirely for comfort. Buzz cut, sports bra, polo shirt, plain black pants… How common are people like me?

Please post your response in the comments below.

» Ask Genderfork «

Women_Amerykah_2007_049.jpg, originally uploaded by Celesta Danger.