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Question: Snapshot: Kicking Gender Binary to the Curb


Katy M. asks…

Hi, I’m Katy, and I’m working on a research paper for my AP Lit class. My topic is Gender Identities and Kicking the Gender Binary to the curb. I’d like to ask a favor of all of you.

One of the requirements for my paper is that I create something (it can be visual), but it must be tangible and applicable to my paper. I was thinking of something along the lines of a photo album. In the photo album, there would be photos of all different people, everyone (those who identify as genderqueer, transgender, anyone). Ideally, I would love to have headshots of everyone (in color). I’d like to promote diversity.

Once I compile these photos of all my willing participants, I would either donate the book to genderfork.com or to a noble organization willing to accept it. I know this is quite the request to make, but it would be greatly appreciated if I could capture the beauty outside of the gender binary. please e-mail me or contact me on facebook if you are interested in assisting me with my research. I am really, really psyched about this project and would be so thankful for anyone’s help.Thank you so much!

Please post your response in the comments below.

» Ask Genderfork «


Posted by on December 27th, 2010 at 08:00 am

questions | 9 comments »

Recommendation: Lifeworks


Alissia Rose-Pait recommends…

Lifeworks
A mentoring progrm

Lifeworks is a mentoring program for LGBTIQ youth, 12 – 24 in the Los Angeles area. Applicant youth are matched with trained (by the program) mentors.

They are in DESPERATE NEED for transgendered and transsexual mentors. While a trained male gay may get a mentee, or be on a waiting list for a long time, and lesbians are placed fairly quickly, transgendered mentors are so lacking that they have multiple kids waiting for each mentor. This is a minimum one year commitment.

Please help out our transgendered children and show them that they can succeed, that there is hope, and that there are people who understand and have or are walking the same path as them.

» Recommend something. «


Posted by on December 12th, 2010 at 04:00 pm

people, recommendations, websites | 3 comments »

Recommendation: Stud Magazine



DiNERO
recommends…

The Stud Magazine
Online Magazine

Launching this fall Stud Magazine is a dynamic and comprehensive look into the topics, issues and the lifestyles of non-gender conforming females. There are many skilled, talented and intellectual studs, but the media continuously overlooks this. Stud Magazine will enhance, showcase and promote Stud culture and identities.

» Recommend something. «


Posted by on October 30th, 2010 at 08:00 am

magazines, recommendations | 2 comments »

Recommendation: The Origin of Love


A recommends…

Just take a listen to the lyrics. It describes three sexes — the children of the sun (“that looked like two men glued up back to back”), the children of the earth (“looked like two girls rolled up in one”), and the children of the moon (“they was part sun, part Earth, part daughter, part son”). It’s something of a sad song, but so beautiful.

» Recommend something. «


Posted by on October 20th, 2010 at 04:00 pm

movies, recommendations | 13 comments »

Recommendation: Afghan Girls Growing Up as Boys


Dayle recommends…

This is a great New York Times article about the way many Afghan girls and their mothers deal with social pressures. Women are pressured to have boys, not girls, and girls are treated poorly. To cope, some mothers choose to pass their little girl off as a little boy. Outside their home, these girls grow up as boys.

I found it fascinating and you should definitely take a look.

» Recommend something. «


Posted by on October 14th, 2010 at 04:00 pm

articles, recommendations | 1 comment »

Recommendation: The gender-neutral pronoun


Jessica recommends…

It is an interesting brief history of gender neutral pronouns over the past couple of hundred years.

» Recommend something. «


Posted by on October 10th, 2010 at 04:00 pm

articles, recommendations | 3 comments »

Recommendation: Adam Torres – Transgender FTM Character


A reader recommends…

Adam Torres: Transgender FTM Character
Degrassi: The Boiling Point , a TV show

Showing the life and struggles of a transgender character on a popular teen show is a big step in creating awareness and understanding of the trans community. As a female-to-male myself, I was amazed by how accurate the portrayal of Adam, originally Gracie, was.

» Recommend something. «


Posted by on October 8th, 2010 at 08:00 am

recommendations, tv | 9 comments »

Recommendation: Wheelchair Dancer – Butch/Femme — Crip


Oz recommends…

Wheelchair Dancer writes about queer sexuality and gender presentation with disabled bodies.

» Recommend something. «


Posted by on October 6th, 2010 at 08:00 am

blogs, recommendations | 3 comments »

Recommendation: Rooster Tails


HeadlessWaltz recommends…

Rooster Tails
comic-blog

Rooster tails is a weekly autobiographical webcomic written from the point of view of transguy Sam Orchard as he is transitioning.

» Recommend something. «


Posted by on October 4th, 2010 at 04:00 pm

art, blogs, comics, recommendations | 8 comments »

Recommendation: The Sand Child


jean c. recommends…

This is a great book about the mysterious, mystical, and constructed nature of gender identity. Written in French by Tahar Ben Jelloun, a Moroccan author, it tells the story of a female child who is brought up as a boy, Ahmed, because his father, after having seven daughters, needs a son. Ahmed (for whom varying pronouns and names are used in different parts of the book) questions his identity and his existence, observes the world around him, and tries to figure out how to live his life, first retreating, then going out into the world.

The story (somewhat magical-realist) is told by different voices and in fragments of narration — each of which presents different variations on the meaning of the story and on the facts themselves. No “truth” or “conclusion” is ever really reached, which very much hit home to me with my own gender identity. There’s no definable conclusion, just a varying group of stories that have more or less validity at any given time…

Also, I felt a shiver of recognition and kinship with the passages describing Ahmed’s intimate aloneness with his body. This is a complicated and sometimes confusing book to read, but really worth it.

» Recommend something. «


Posted by on September 28th, 2010 at 08:00 am

books, recommendations | 3 comments »

Recommendation: The dirty rococo of Prince Poppycock


A reader recommends…

The dirty rococo of Prince Poppycock
musical artist and performer

I’m surprised to have waited this long to mention the luminous Prince Poppycock. I’ve been amused, enamored and confused by this marvelous creature long before I ever started to have an interest in genderfuck beauty.

Part randy dandy, part rock star, part drunken courtesan, Poppycock instantly owns the audience with but a glance and a wiggle of bedazzled pantaloons, and that’s just the beginning. His operatic prowess, glamorous costumes and ostentatious prose leave not a heart unstirred. A masterpiece of self-transformation, the Prince is also recording artist John Quale, but I’m secretly hoping Poppycock will take over completely one day, to reign supreme in a glittery victory of feathers and gold spandex.

» Recommend something. «


Posted by on September 24th, 2010 at 04:06 pm

music, people, recommendations | 10 comments »

Recommendation: The Rice Rockettes


A reader recommends…

The Rice Rockettes
An all-Asian drag troupe

The Rice Rockettes are an all-Asian drag troupe that I think is super awesome, since we often associate gender play with whiteness. This boing boing article has some thoughtful coverage of one of the members: The Birthing of Estee Longah

» Recommend something. «


Posted by on September 19th, 2010 at 08:00 am

people, recommendations | 6 comments »

Recommendation: Beautiful Boxer


A reader recommends…

Based on the true-life story of a Thai who wishes to have a sex change operation. To pay for this, she enters the brutal world of Thai boxing, unnerving her opponents by performing a makeup application ritual before each fight.

» Recommend something. «


Posted by on September 17th, 2010 at 08:00 am

movies, recommendations | 9 comments »

Recommendation: THE TRANSFORMATION OF GENESIS P-ORRIDGE


Kitsune recommends…

Genesis P-Orrridge talks about their transformation into a pandrogyne, and the death of their “other half” — lady jay.

Genesis and Lady Jay had many surgeries done to make themselves look like each other; in this way they (together) created a third being.

» Recommend something. «


Posted by on September 15th, 2010 at 08:00 am

people, recommendations, videos | 6 comments »

Recommendation: Father of a transgender tween speaks out


A reader recommends…

I just read this article and wanted to share it with you. It’s a very inspiring story, it warms the heart.

» Recommend something. «


Posted by on September 11th, 2010 at 08:00 am

articles, recommendations | 4 comments »

Recommendation: Grayson Perry


A reader recommends…

Grayson Perry
Artist, Transvestite, Potter.

In 2003 he won the Turner prize. He collected said prize decked out in a silky lilac babydoll dress, and has been dressing in women’s clothes from his early teens. Now age 50, he lives and works in London with his wife and daughter.

He has described his transvestite style, manifested in “Claire,” as being like “the crack cocaine of femininity,” all ribbons and frills and bows.

I found this video of him talking about the importance of being different and stuff… it’s really sweet. and funny. moving, even. Very quotable.

» Recommend something. «


Posted by on August 25th, 2010 at 04:00 pm

people, recommendations, videos | 3 comments »

Recommendation: Edward Vigiletti, the male Lady Gaga


kypri recommends…

Edward Vigiletti, the male Lady Gaga
A video of a drag queen/female impersonator artist

This is a stop-motion video of Edward Vigiletti, a beautiful young man, putting on his makeup and transforming into a beautiful young woman. He has been referred to as the male Lady Gaga, and I can see why. He’s beautiful and androgynous without the makeup, too.

» Recommend something. «


Posted by on August 21st, 2010 at 04:00 pm

people, recommendations, videos | 8 comments »

Recommendation: Sailor Sausages


Sx recommends…

tumblr_l2whsrzFVC1qbkguwo1_400

sailor sausages
artist’s blog

This artist is confronting identity in a really interesting way. Meeting somewhere between male and female, between beauty and ugliness, and at once dangerous and vulnerable, the character created embraces both the inner goddess and the outer chaos of the universe. Through use of elaborate embellishment and decoration, what is arrived at is somehow a place of stripped-down need; a place of attraction and repulsion within all of us, the place that we need to hide most from others and also that we need most to be embraced.

» Recommend something. «


Posted by on August 18th, 2010 at 04:00 pm

people, recommendations, websites | 1 comment »

Recommendation: Sigur Rós


Lese recommends…

This moved me to tears!

» Recommend something. «


Posted by on August 15th, 2010 at 04:00 pm

music, recommendations, videos | 6 comments »

Recommendation: Gay Ad 009


A reader recommends…

“Gay Ad 009”
really cool stuff

I love the way this ad for Israeli Gay Youth shows the guy and girl boxed in, then mixing and matching things stereotypically associated with one gender, and playing around with everything. In the end, instead of picking one thing in particular, they have a huge rainbow of possibilities all lit up in front of them. Plus, it has awesome background music by Ivri Lider!

» Recommend something. «


Posted by on August 11th, 2010 at 04:00 pm

recommendations, videos | 5 comments »

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