Quickley recommends…

Because of 0:29.

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Someone wrote…

I often get mistaken as cis-gendered because my presentation is feminine, sometimes border-line andro, but mostly feminine.

I’ve tried to convince myself over and over again that having a vagina and presenting as feminine makes me cisgendered, and so I should identify as a woman. But I find when I do that, it’s like trying to fit into an outfit that looks good on a mannequin. The mannequin looks like you…the outfit should fit you…but something’s off. Very off. It’s subtle enough that maybe you could wear it, and people won’t notice. But you notice. And it’s all you can think about.

What’s your experience?

And what are you thinking about gender right now?

Reposted from bklyn boihood.

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Someone recommends…

I have often struggled with this concept of “defining myself”, putting myself into a box or giving myself a label. None of the words really seemed right. And I have found myself, more often than not, frustrated beyond words that I needed to at all. Why can’t I just be me? And from many of the posts I see on here, you all have those same problems.

This video and this project were like a breath of fresh air. Finally someone showing that people are not boxable. People are not label-able. People are just people, and they fill only their own personal box.

» Recommend something. «

Submitted by Eleanor, the model and photographer.

“I’m not sure what I am, but all I’m going to say is that I will be what I want to be and will not be defined by other people’s standards.”

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Someone wrote…

I’m getting a birth control implant so that I don’t have to think about taking little pink pills every morning, and I’m swapping from tampons to a moon cup so that I don’t have to go near the “feminine needs” section of the grocery store.

My body is finally starting to feel like home.

What’s your experience?

And what are you thinking about gender right now?

Submitted by Marié, the photographer.

“My friend and I graduated from a tiny, sheltering school a year ago. Turns out, we’re both queer, so we decided to take out the makeup and make use of our female socialization. This is her and me.”

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You can call me… Raye.

I identify as… androgynous or gender neutral. More like a woman than a man, but more like a boy than a girl.

As far as third-person pronouns go, … I love they/their/them, I use these when referring to myself but feel discomfort asking friends, to in case of unwanted questioning from others.

I’m attracted to… people who are humorous, caring and easy going. Mainly masculinity, with a hint of femininity so I can embrace my masculine sides in relation to them.

When people talk about me, I want them to… consider how I identify if they know. And ask me if they’re not sure about something.

I want people to understand… That it’s confusing to explain because it’s a confusing way to feel, and that I’m not trying to be difficult.

» Define yourself. «

Reposted from echoesofluna.

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Someone wrote…

I am a girl with a fluid gender identity, and sometimes I dress pretty masculine. At the time this happened, I didn’t know much about gender or trans, I just did whatever made me feel comfortable.

I remember my first day at high school. My mom works there, so I drove with her. She got out of the car, and started talking to another teacher she hadn’t seen in a long time. I was standing with my back to them, picking up my bag.

“And this is your youngest, erm… Son?” the teacher asked as I turned around. I looked at her, and what met me was the most confused expression I have ever seen. It was like she was in some kind of a trance. After a while, she came to herself and realized that I had to be a girl, and apologized all over herself. I said it was fine, there was no need to apologize. I went inside with a smirk on my face. It was one of the happiest moments of my life.

What’s your experience?

And what are you thinking about gender right now?

Submitted by willyvanilli, the model. Photography by stethoscopesandsigs.

“My hair was freshly queered after a long period of struggling with my fear regarding a non-binary identity, so my partner and I decided to document this rare moment in which I was eager to be seen by and exist in front of others.”

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A sample interview from the up & coming podcast We Want the Airwaves, by Nia King, showcasing the work of queer & trans art activists of color.

Reposted from GendrQueer Wear.

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Lucian wrote…

I’m a guy. A trans guy, but I am still a guy. However, I am far from your typical guy (both trans* and cis).

I often joke that my gender is peacock, because that is how I feel most of the time. A male peacock is the perfect descriptor for me. I’m flashy, loud, outspoken, opinionated, brightly colored, and love being the center of attention. While my gender occasionally does fluctuate, it always has the basis of male. I’ve always seen my body and identity as having a male base to build off of, despite being Female Assigned At Birth – or FAAB, which is a perfect acronym for me.
I am no less trans*, a man, or anything else for being a peacock.

Reposted (from a longer piece) via Genderterror.com

What’s your experience?

And what are you thinking about gender right now?

Reposted from MidWest Solidarity Movement.

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Anna May recommends…

“Here, We Cross” is a collection of queer and genderfluid poetry from issues 1-7 of Stone Telling magazine. It includes poems about both trans* and genderqueer identities and issues, and all of them are powerful, amazing poems. The chapbook is available via Amazon.

» Recommend something. «

Submitted by Aerial Osni, the model and photographer.

“2008-2013. Six months on hormones, and I still identify myself as a genderqueer alien.”

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Someone wrote…

Last week we went on a 17 hour car drive, so there were lots of bathroom breaks.

On long trips like these, I get increasingly angry that I must wait in lines when there are available washrooms simply because I do not have a penis, or pass enough that people assume I do. There was one washroom that had a long hallway and then split off to men’s and women’s on the left and right. I had the deep desire to walk straight through the wall as though it was the genderqueer equivalent of going to platform 9¾.

The thing that infuriates me the most is individual washrooms that are marked separately. There is no reason, no argument, as to why these should be separate, yet they are.

What’s your experience?

And what are you thinking about gender right now?

Submitted by Dakota, the model and photographer.

“I am biologically female and had recently gotten my first binder. This is a picture that I took pre-name change, where I was just starting to be comfortable with myself.”

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Someone asks…

I am a female teacher at a progressive school, where I have many good friends. I always present female, but I would like to change my name to a masculine one.

I am worried that people will expect me to identify as trans* and that I will really rock the boat with my middle school students, who always have personal questions. But being embraced by masculine language would help others see me as I really am.

How do I swing this?

Please post your response in the comments below.

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