Profile: Dre
You can call me… My name, Andrea, or my nickname “Dre.” Or any nickname you make up for me! I prefer words that keep it gender-neutral, and don’t really like being pigeon-holed into female-oriented gender boxes. (For example, I don’t really like when people say, “Hey girl,” and *especially* don’t like when people say, “Hey lady.” It just doesn’t resonate with how I feel inside). So, I love it when people refer to me as a “girlboy,” a spirit, a friend, a person, a human, a being, a soul, a kid, “kiddo,” “buddy” and any other pet name like “sweetie,” for example. (By the way, my nieces call me “Aunt/Uncle Andrea” and I freakin’ LOVE it!!)
I identify as… Gender is truly like a snowflake, and each individual person is unique. I personally identify as genderqueer, which for me means that I do not feel like I fit into either of the two gender binary categories. I feel in-between, in my own beautiful, genderless and blurry area. And I love it. I love to play with it, which often corresponds to what I wear. I wrote a short poem about it, in fact. Here it goes:
i’m a gender chameleon
it depends on how i’m feelin’
and the threads of fabric that i sport
it’s all drag
it’s all dress
take the clothes off
i’m gender-less
As far as third-person pronouns go… I know it might take getting used to, but I really prefer the gender-neutral pronouns “they/them/their” when people are speaking about me. It just feels like home. I actually *just* started asking friends and family to do this at the beginning of this year, in fact!! And every time I hear a new or old friend refer to me in this way, it seriously makes my heart swell.
I’m attracted to… I don’t have a “type” — I am just attracted to a person’s essence, and have experienced a mutual attraction with a limitless spectrum of genders and identifications: from self-identified femmes, genderqueers and transmen, to queer cismales, too. (That’s why I’m hella queer!) ;)
For me, it’s about energy and chemistry more than anything else.
When people talk about me, I want them to… Well, I aim to bring a lot of creative love, inspiration and positive energy to this world… so I’d hope they would speak to that, moreso than my gender identity.
I want people to understand… That this has been a journey of self-discovery for me, and that it’s been a long road of unlearning. Some people have this mentality that I’m somehow trying to draw attention to myself, or make things harder for them, by asking them to refer to me differently than has been ingrained in them to do. It’s not about that. It’s about reclaiming something that I’ve honestly felt since I was a child. And in the long run, my hope is that by empowering myself, I can empower others around me. My other hope is that along the way, I can open other people’s minds about gender too. :)
About Dre
I’m an earth-lovin’, moon-followin’, sustainability-promotin’, social-justice fightin’, queer and genderqueer spoken-word poet/rapper/artist/photographer who is trying to bring some love and positivity to this world. :)
» Define yourself. «
Category: profiles 6 comments »
October 13th, 2012 at 2:12 pm |
my heart is singing a great song, and I think I can hear the harmony of your song weaving and resounding with mine.
thank you for this profile. it gives me more energy and fierceness to stick to who I am and fight for what I value.
good luck with everything you do with your life. I’ve no doubt you will succeed.
-radical/rebel
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November 2nd, 2012 at 4:27 pm |
I must tell you that your profile made me smile just now. Everything you wrote sounds just like what my child would write about themselves. As a parent of a gender-queer kid, it is wonderful to read about others who are like them and who have such great positive thinking!
Have a great life!
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Christine replied:
December 4th, 2012 at 9:54 am
To Rachels Mom: God/Goddess Bless you for being and open minded, loving accepting mom. I wish there were more like you in the World.
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Anonymous replied:
December 8th, 2012 at 1:47 pm
Thanks for your comments. Rach is a beautiful person and they have taught me so much about love, respect and acceptance. I am proud to call them my child.
Have a great day.
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December 4th, 2012 at 9:53 am |
You are a beautiful Ray of soulshine, as I have often described you. You are an amazing, creative, inspiring, loving Star, and I am blessed to have known you! <3
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December 7th, 2012 at 6:17 pm |
I think your cute.
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