#Second I really don't think that Tim Walker was the photographer

[dogsliampaynedoesntinstagram]

While I do think your take on Harry and gender is extremely valid, I also think it’s important to note that most of us having discussions surrounding Harry’s identity are merely suggesting a possibility, as you briefly mentioned through the contradiction of the anon’s use of “conclude”. I think it’s also important to note that a lot of the time, it’s trans folk conducting these discussions due to seeing themselves in Harry and his songs. I’m unaware of your gender identity, and it’s not necessary of me to know, but I just thought I would mention that I am genderqueer myself.

Going back to Harry, I find significance in a lot of what he says, these two hitting me particularly hard: “I don’t remember the toast but I remember the feeling,” which he says in reference to wearing someone’s dress while drunk in Jamaica, and “what’s feminine and what’s masculine... it’s like there are no lines any more.” There are more quotes from him, particularly surrounding self-discovery, women’s clothing, as well as Lights Up, but I don’t feel the need to make this message any longer.

I also think that he speaks about it in his music, specifically in She and Fine Line, but I think that themes of gender can be found in a lot of his songs.

There are also multiple instances of the people around Harry referring to him in the feminine or using neutral phrases, particularly Nick Grimshaw, Harry Lambert, Alessandro Michelle, Gemma, and Harris Reed, who is genderfluid himself and has referred to Harry as fluid before.

I will avoid talking about his clothing and accessory choices for the time being, as anyone can wear anything, and speaking about him wearing what’s considered traditionally feminine through this lens doesn’t particularly mean anything unless you buy into what I believe to be his own self-discovery.

I also think that on its own, the Fine Line colors are nothing of significance. That is, until you factor in that Harry worked with a gay photographer named Tim Walker on that shoot, and that this photographer consistently explores queer themes. Still could mean nothing, of course, and is dodgy reasoning without much else, but I still find it interesting.

I will also think on what you said about the Love Band outfits. I had never thought about it that way, but then again, I didn’t pay much attention to whether Harry was wearing both colors to begin with, as I didn’t think it was particularly indicative of anything in the way I find Harry’s own words to be. This obviously doesn’t excuse him from his weird differentiation between the the masculine presenting and feminine presenting folks in his band. Much to think about here.

Overall, we might agree to disagree, and I will still look to you for opinions on 1D politics as I find your discussions extremely fascinating and enlightening, and there’s nothing wrong with not buying into a thought process, and you have been nothing but respectful. Even if you think I’ve blown it out of proportion and am needlessly inserting my identity into Harry, I just wanted to mention those few things because for I and many others, it goes beyond just the color of the Fine Line album cover or discussions surrounding the unfairly binaried outfits for the Love Band. I was unsure if you were aware of any conversation beyond that. Please also note that is only a brief rundown. Thank you for reading, and please excuse the fact that this message is ungodly long.

Hi anon,

I'm really glad that you find some resonance in Harry. It sounds like following Harry has helped you explore and understand yourself. I think that's really cool and I love reading about people's experiences of that. I'm sure there's lots I haven't seen, when it comes to fandom discussion of Harry and gender, but my post wasn't supposed to be comprehensive either in my own views or what I've seen. I just wanted to say 'I dislike the discussion when there's certainty' and mention a couple of things that I had been thinking recently.

As you picked up, I responded in a particular way because the original ask had a level of certainty, and certainty does bother me in this discussion. I probably would have emphasised that a little less if the starting point had have been different.

I also think I maybe wasn't as clear as I wanted to be - I think it's possible Harry is trans, I also think it's possible that Harry is a cis-man who is interested in engaging with femininity. I go backwards and forwards over which I think is more likely over time. I certainly didn't intend to deny the possibility, just when it's presented as a certainty.

I do know that a lot of the time it's trans people talking about Harry and gender (but I do see quite a lot among cis fans as well). Like I said I think it's fantastic that Harry resonates with people and those conversations are really great.

But I don't think Harry has to be trans for those resonances, realisations and discussions to be valid, useful and important for those who take part in them. Art that resonates with you is art that resonates you, whatever is going on with the artist.