Submitted by Alex Jesse, the model and photographer

“Whatever happens to be between my legs or on my chest shouldn’t make me any less of a man.”

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My boyfriend wrote my name on my leftovers from the restaurant. But he didn’t use the name my parents assigned me at birth. It’s the first time he’s used the name I adopted as I transition to a more masculine-presenting person. I feel like he saw, loved, and accepted the me I want to be. I want to weep for the joy of it.

What’s your experience?

And what are you thinking about gender right now?

Submitted by Morgan, the Model and Photographer

“A photo taken just before I began to transition from m->f”

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Submitted by Niamh O’Connor, the model and photographer

“Gender fluid: neither male nor female, and yet both male and female…and something else in-between and outside the binary. Drag, for me, is pretending to be cisgender. This is me.”

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After much confusion, I’ve come to realise something about myself. I’m not he. Or she. I’m ME. I am a person, and that’s enough. That’s perfect.

What’s your experience?

And what are you thinking about gender right now?

Submitted by Micah, the model and photographer

“My face after about 3 months of natural transition.”

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You can call me… Matthew, Matty, Matt, Mattoozle, Mateo, etc…. I’ve been called all of the above. Call me whatever you want, but I’m usually called Matt.

I identify as… a human being first and foremost. Made in the image of God. I am biologically male and identify as male, but I also have a very strong and obvious feminine side that I don’t deny or try to hide. In fact, I embrace it openly and quite enjoy it, I wear make-up, paint my fingernails and toenails (any and all colors), dress in a unisex manner, etc…. Most of my friends are girls, as I simply relate to them better. I enjoy facials, manicures, pedicures, etc… Things you would not normally associate with guys. I would call myself an androgynous male or a gender bender as far as actual terms go.

As far as third-person pronouns go, … in the end you’re gonna call me whatever you want to call me, so have at it. Being called things like “Girly boy” and stuff like that doesn’t really bother me at all, because technically it’s true. Hehe. I am Matt. No more. No less.

I’m attracted to… women. I would say that someone who shares my Faith, open-mindedness, androgyny, eccentricity, uniqueness, tolerance, patience, expressiveness, and sensitivity are the things that I look for.

When people talk about me, I want them to… try not focus so much on gender binaries, and try to see who I am on the inside. Like I said, more than anything I am human being made in the image of God. More than anything, I want to be an accurate representation of my Savior Jesus Christ. Yeah, I understand there are people who will read this that don’t share my faith, but it is my belief that there are too many Christians who talk the fancy talk instead of walking the difficult walk. I want to show Christ in my actions and how I treat others, not in order to earn Salvation that I already know is mine but in order to show HIS Love.

I want people to understand… like me, you’ve probably been called every derogatory name in the book and will no doubt have many more thrown in your direction. What I want is people to understand more than anything is that you were made the way you are for a purpose. Yeah, you may not agree with that, but there are reasons you are whoever you are and you have a destiny same as anyone else. Don’t let the world try to beat you down with ignorance and hatred. “We’re all different, we’re all strange, who really cares? Let’s just keep dancing” and “Who wants to be ordinary in a crazy, mixed-up world?” are two lyrical examples of my life philosophy. What is “normal”? Who is “normal”? Normal, as far as I’m concerned, is something that doesn’t exist and all for the better. “Ordinary” is boring and something I refuse to make time for.

About Matthew
Christian, Libertarian, Musician, Photographer, Picture editor, Film lover, Lover of art, Artist, Poet, etc…. What you see is what you get. I’ve very sensitive, I over analyze things, I love going barefoot (I follow somewhat of a barefoot lifestyle, in fact: http://barefooters.org/), I’m not perfect, but try to treat people the way I wish to be treated, I have a deep heart and an overactive brain, I’m one of the most nostalgic people you’ll ever meet, I hope to make a future career of music or at least some art form, I am a deeply romantic and loving person, etc…. I’m Me. :)

» Define yourself. «

Submitted by Marilyn Rivera, the model and photographer

“Ftm. Arizona. Dysphoria. Pre-everything.”

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Sometimes I feel so confined with what I am supposed to be that I don’t know what I am meant to do with what I feel inside.

What’s your experience?

And what are you thinking about gender right now?

Submitted by Michael Ghent, the model

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I really enjoy complimenting people on how they look. But, I’m always slightly afraid of saying the wrong thing when trying to compliment an androgynous person. Should I use “beautiful” or “handsome,” are there gender neutral compliments I could use, or should I just compliment people on their style?

I just really like making people feel good about themselves and don’t want to make them feel awkward while I’m trying to do it. Any advice is greatly appreciated. Thank you.

Please post your response in the comments below.

» Ask Genderfork «

Submitted by Jerre Fine, the Model and Photographer

“Inspired by ‘Because if I say male or [female], either way, I’m lying.’”

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I’m a male-identified genderqueer and a feminist, and I have mixed feelings about personally going on hormones. I’ve learned to accept and love several things about myself, such as my short stature and being overweight, but at the same time, I sometimes wish that I had more of a male look, and that I could pass better and be taken more seriously as the person I am. Is comfort a less worthy goal than fighting the fight?

What’s your experience?

And what are you thinking about gender right now?

Submitted by Maya, the model and photographer

“My Ace bandage has had to suffice until I can afford a binder.”

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You can call me… whatever you would like. I allow everyone I meet to give me a name, if that person would like. So far I have 797!

I identify as… GenderQueer, Andro, Pansexual, Polyamorous, Kinky, Two-Spirit, Queer, Xueer, Familia, Person of color, sex positive, body positive, size positive. But in reality, I am simply who I am , I don’t like these classifications. But I understand their utility.

As far as third-person pronouns go, … the singular form of They (subjective) Them (objective) Their (possessive), or using my name works too.

I’m attracted to… mostly Queer people of any gender. I will say that I have a stronger affinity to people of color, but that is not always the case… If you are down, and I mean DOWN, then I probably like you (already jeje) regardless of anything else.

When people talk about me, I want them to… talk about my character(s) not my body/gender/size/sexuality,

my nature not my/ their social exceptions of me,

Love and beauty of the mind and energy

but mainly I don’t really want people to talk about me. I am, after all, no one special. I am only a reflection of others

I want people to understand… That I am guided by great feelings of love, and that it is universal but not without faults… So I will be patient as much as I can be.

About

https://www.facebook.com/thoughtless.thought or thoughtlesthought@gmail.com

I live in Santa Cruz, CA, but thinking of moving back S.F. bay area… and I am single (or as other poly folk say) “single single.”

» Define yourself. «

Submitted by Tommy, the model and photographer

“I went ice-skating the day before and fell.”

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Recently I have realized I am female but I am not a woman. I don’t hate my body, even though I’ve been teased by my entire life for being too “masculine” or too big or too loud. I’m not really sure what this makes me, but I am perfect in the context of my own existence.

What’s your experience?

And what are you thinking about gender right now?

Submitted by Ricci De Luca, the model and photographer

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I’m frustrated by my lack of knowledge on intersex issues. What are some quality resources I could access?

Please post your response in the comments below.

» Ask Genderfork «