#non binary american

[bingsoo-jung]

I said this in the comments of someone else’s post, but I’m going to say this here. Taash identifying as non-binary is good actually, and in fact better than the dev’s making up some new term for them. Let’s get into it.

So for a bit of background, I’m non-binary and Thai. If you don’t know, Thai has specific terms for different gender-sexual identities, they’re quite old, they date back a few hundred years. However, the thing about culturally specific terms is just that, they’re culturally specific. The reason you use them is because you are tied to the culture in such a way that you gender-sexual identity cannot be disassociated from it. Because, to be clear, these terms are never just about your gender or sexual identity. They encompass a role you play within society itself.

For instance, in Thai culture we have tom/tomboys. These are AFAB folks who occupy a masculine societal role and date women. If you’re AMAB you cannot be tom. If you’re transmasc and feminine? You cannot be tom. If you’re transmasc and not attracted to women? You cannot be tom. If you’re transmasc and mostly date men? You cannot be tom. If you’re transmasc but don’t particularly feel like taking care of the girl you date, taking her out, being the ‘man’ in the relationship? You can’t really be tom.

Because the thing about culturally specific genders is that they come with a lot of rules. Being tom isn’t being non-binary. There are cis women who are tom, and there are non-binary people who are toms. You do not get eschew gender roles in these cases. You are quite literally taking one on. You have a role and place in society that has been made for you, and you are expected to carry it out.

Because of this, none of these terms are a one-to-one for other identities, and nor should they be. Being kathoey or hijra is not the same as being a trans woman or non-binary, and visa versa. You can be kathoey and not be trans. You can be trans and not be kathoey. Being aqun-athlok or any other specific term shouldn’t be either. The idea that it is, is more ahistorical and inaccurate than the word non-binary itself. Giving Taash some new, culturally specific term, would inherently tie them to a culture, and one perhaps that they didn’t feel apart of. Especially since Taash’s entire story is about struggling to figure out where they belong. Arguably the biggest issue with their story is that you have to make them decide, and fundamentally tying them to a term would’ve compounded that problem.

The reason I identify as non-binary and not a tom, is because I am not occupying some specific role in Thai culture. Despite living in LA, I rarely interact with other Thai people who aren’t my family. I do not live in a cultural context that would allow me to identify as a tom.

The thing about terms like non-binary, or trans, or agender, is that they’re meant to be acultural terms encapsulating the concept of truth to oneself and ones identity. Whereas culturally specific terms aren’t, they’re about the role you hold in society and where you fit in. It’s about your identity within a status quo. Taash is a character who is eschewing societal roles, and breaking the status quo, giving them those terms just wouldn’t work.

And finally? Using non-binary itself allows the writers to very specifically say where they stand. There is no space given to transphobes. You either accept that DA is queer-friendly or bust. And that’s a very important stance to make in an era where trans and non-binary folks are being actively targeted. There’s no ‘well Taash isn’t actually trans or non-binary they’re [insert term here]!’ Because people would’ve done that, we know they would’ve. This means people can’t do that. They have to just say that they have an issue with the term, and thus we can call them for what they are. Transphobes. Plain and simple.

So yeah, Taash’s identity does have nuance, it has a lot of it. And to be honest with you, I wouldn’t be surprised if Trick Weekes, a non-binary person whose wife is First Nations and thus from a group with culturally specific gender identities, knows about the difference between something like two-spirit and trans. And to be honest with you, using something like non-binary has nuance I doubt was actually afforded to Krem, considering they cast a cis woman to play Krem.

So yeah.

[in4newz]

Fascism

[yourdailyqueer]

Jasilyn Charger

Gender: Non binary - Two Spirit (they/them)

Sexuality: Bisexual

DOB: 20 May 1996

Ethnicity: Native American - Sioux

Occupation: Activist

[rhode-island-empire]

Shoutout to trans and nonbinary Asians I love you

[thesophiewhit]

PHONING FAUST -- A Sapphic Novel of Demonic Contracts, Demisexuality, and Yearning by me! A cool queer author ~

Are you LGBT+ or BIPOC or just REALLY LOVE BOOKS? Interested in being an ARC reader and reading a book and helping a fellow queer indie author out? (Pretty please? -- ARC links all the way at the bottom of this post (beneath the rainbow banner) for those who like Sapphic demon x human angst books ~)

AND LOOK AT THE CHARACTER ART OF MEMPHIS (BADASS DEMON) AND DIAN (HUMAN) BY MY ARTIST FRIEND SNAX

https://linktr.ee/artsnaxk

ABOUT ME

Demisexual?? Queer? Nonbinary? All these were magical words to me until it hit...

Oh-- that's me.

It took me a while to come out as queer, longer to come out as nonbinary, and then some more time to reconcile all this with being a mixed Indonesian kid. A dash of mental health, a sprig of figuring out asexuality and neurodivergence. But atop all that? One thing has been constant.

I've always been a writer.

That's some live footage of me summoning some forces to reign my characters in from being feral.

WHY I WROTE PHONING FAUST

Well, well, well, after years of battling imposter's syndrome, I did it. I wrote another book! It's called PHONING FAUST and it's getting published with queer indie publishing company @ninestarpress-blog because they're all cool and LGBT+ and super talented!

Why did I write PHONING FAUST?

What is... a Faust?

A Faustian bargain is what's popularly known as the devil's bargain. A usually losing situation or a trick where the devil tricks someone out of their soul in exchange for ULTIMATE POWER!

I rewrote Faust to be Sapphic as can be. It stars a mixed Indonesian lesbian named Dian Faust who battles depression tooth and nail and ends up calling a mental health crisis hotline. Bc... she's lonely.

PAUSE-- and this is a horror comedy. Comedy. COMEDY-- you might say?

WHY? HOW? Sounds sad and depressing, right?

WHAT'S FAUST?

Well... in the original retelling version of Goethe's Faust (who retold it from folklore etc etc) the main character of Dr. Faustus accidentally summons the devil or something when he too is about to consider the meaning of life and it gets sad bc he doesn't see one so he makes the devil's bargain FOR ULTIMATE POWER. Or something.

But in my version-- it's based off my experiences as a queer person. Before I had community. Before I understood and accepted myself-- I had a rough time. For a whole bunch of factors outside of that-- I didn't feel like my life was in a good place. And even worse-- I felt isolated.

THE PLOT

I didn't want to bother my friends with my problems. So-- I'd call the Trevor Project or a crisis hotline just to have somebody to talk to. In the same way-- Dian Faust is struggling with depression in the story I write. So she calls a hotline like the Trevor Project just to not be alone.

And guess who she finds?

A super hot genderfluid devil called MEMPHIS, short for Mephistopheles. A pierced and tatted punk rocker who has an interest for telling tall tales and serving Dian Faust's every wish and command! (No, not like that!)

Because Dian Faust, like me, is a mixed Indonesian kid trying to figure out what it means to be queer AND demisexual (finding attraction only after really getting to emotionally connect with someone and feeling, as I explain in the book, a lack of that before then for anyone). And she's figuring plenty out--- including how to save her immortal soul and her feelings for a certain genderfluid demon but if you want to know more-- YOU CAN BUT YOU HAVE TO SCROLL TO THE END OF THIS POST TO FIND OUT !

I wrote this book PHONING FAUST (coming out in 2025 sometime with NineStar Press btw. I have these books CATCH LILI TOO and WAKE THE DEAD also starring Sapphic demiace MCs if it's helpful while you wait!

I WROTE MORE QUEER BOOKS (if interested)! (ARC SIGN UP LINK IS STILL BELOW THIS ONE THO! > FOLLOW THE RAINBOW !!)

MY OTHER QUEER BOOKS: https://sophiawhittemore.com/books/ ) <3 <3 <3

I wrote PHONING FAUST (train of thought, sorry, that's the neurodivergence) because I wanted people to feel less alone.

I was, like Dian Faust and like a lot of people, a queer person who felt like I was on an island unto myself. I didn't know who to turn to-- so I turned to no one. By reaching out to hotlines (no hot devils unfortunately), I managed to get the help I needed to avoid making rash decisions-- to get the help I needed to get better. To take that first step.

PHONING FAUST is a novel that raises the importance of mental health and finding community, and most importantly, not giving up. As Dian Faust says in my upcoming book...

There are stars out there-- I had only to see it.

***

🌈🌈🌈🌈🌈🌈🌈🌈🌈🌈🌈🌈🌈🌈🌈🌈🌈🌈🌈🌈🌈🌈🌈

🌈🌈🌈🌈ARC LINK SIGN UPS HERE 🌈🌈🌈🌈🌈🌈🌈🌈🌈🌈🌈🌈🌈🌈🌈🌈🌈🌈🌈🌈🌈

ARC LINK SIGN UPS IN LINKTREE <3

Want to be an ARC reader for this queer book starring a demisexual Sapphic couple and BIPOC cast?

Sign up here! : https://tr.ee/mWPM8I9Zev

***

Hmmm, demon contracts...now where might young 2010 emo me have heard that before... ? ?

[ollieoliveoboelo22]

I will now be referring to myself as The Public Universal Friend, or "The Friend" for short.

[aka-indulgence]

Has this video gotten to tumblr yet

[criticaldefiance]

Ever get the feeling we're reliving society's dumbest reruns? From 'Reefer Madness' to the Satanic Panic, it's déjà vu. Now it's a new moral panic—a hate-fueled assault on trans rights. Let's dissect the absurdity.

[in4newz]

Don't forget, Trump was the one who tried to ban TikTok in his first term, and Republicans voted to pass the TikTok Ban Bill.

He didn't save it. He just flipflopped when he realised it made him look bad with young people.

And now TikTok are sucking up to Trump and effectively acting as an ad section for him.

Don't fall for it.

[yourdailyqueer]

Lily Gladstone

Gender: Non binary (she/they)

Sexuality: Queer

DOB: 2 August 1986

Ethnicity: Native American - Blackfeet (Siksikaitsitapi), Nez Pearce (Nimíipuu), white

Occupation: Actor

Note 1: First Native American actress to win the Golden Globe Award for best actress in a motion picture - Drama and be nominated for Academy Award for Best Actress.

Note 2: Gladstone identifies as "middle-gendered" and a member of the LGBTQ community.

[random-lil-illing]

happy pride month!

yes, i headcanon mitchell as transmasc non-binary, because what better way to celebrate pride month than project your gender identity onto fictional characters? /hj

also, i apologise if the progress flag is wrong, i drew this in class without access to a reference of the flag 💔

[forsythiajo]

Today, February 7, is National Ballet Day!

To celebrate, let me share the work of Ashton Edwards. Edwards is an African-American non-binary ballet dancer. They are a soloist at Pacific Northwest Ballet.

Edwards, from Flint, Michigan, was often one of the only Black kids in their classes, and one of the only "boys". Luckily, the adults around them recognized their potential, and Edwards became involved with a variety of summer intensives, and eventually the Pacific Northwest Ballet's Professional Division training program.

During the COVID-19 lockdowns, Edwards began teaching themself pointe. Upon returning to in-person classes, the company's artistic director let Edwards join the pointe classes.

Since then, Edwards has danced both traditionally feminine and masculine roles, and seems to be accepted and celebrated within PNB. The company has also reviewed many of their gendered policies because of Edwards, and have de-gendered their classes across the board.

But the beauty of Edwards' dancing, which is "all radience" and "joy, pure and simple," can't be experienced through just words, so I encourage folks to check out the videos of their work!

[non-binary-lil-star]

This is so overwhelming, I need a queer adult to hug me and tell me it's gonna be okay

[finnslay]

Currently having happy autism gender moment because when I was 7-8 my special interest was learning sign from watching things by Rachel Coleman. Baby signing time and such. You know? Anyways, was looking into it again now that im a teen. I saw a video from Rachel's "daughter Leah" and they were signing a song. I was like "I missed this, this is awesome. She looks very gender-"

So I Googled them and scrolled down. I saw "Who is Liam Coleman from Baby Signing Time?" As a search suggestion. I was like "who the hell is Liam-?" And clicked and the stars sorta aligned in my brain reading the dissipation with "they" instead of "she"

I found them on socail media. Yeah. Their name is Liam Coleman and they use they/them and the special interest from when I was younger plus this anyways gonna learn some more asl and be happy and cry because I love seeing people be themselves and I'm not used to other they

[synergysilhouette]

(Possibly) Controversial opinion: being NB isn't a surprise, but couldn't they keep their OG pronouns?

For those who don't know: Morph, from "X-Men: The Animated Series," returned as a main character for the series' revival, and there was an uproar about Morph being established as non-binary. Similarly, Frankie Stein, known for being part of the Monster High brand since inception, was established as non-binary as well for the second remake of the franchise (known as Gen 3).

Honestly, it isn't a surprise that either of these characters don't confine themselves to a specific gender, given that Morph is a shapeshifter and Frankie is a simulacrum--which means they are made from various people. But there was something I wish they kept: the pronouns. This isn't a dig or disrespect at ANYONE who uses they/them pronouns; I was just used to calling them as such. You can be NB and still use he/she pronouns--or both. For example, Roger Smith, a pansexual alien from "American Dad," has used human disguises early on in the show, and while he answers to he/him pronouns by default, any disguise he has is recognized as a separate entity and the pronouns match that persona's established gender. I could totally see Morph being like that, using he/him pronouns by default, but also answering to they/them, as well as she/her when in disguise.

My desire for Frankie to have she/her (or she/her and they/them) pronouns while STILL being nonbinary is probably just nostalgia (I refer to Gen 1 and Gen 2 Frankie by she/her pronouns and Gen 3 Frankie by they/them in discussion; kinda helps for people to know which gen I'm talking about that way).

Note: I'm not saying people IRL can't change their pronouns. I'm just asking about these two fictional characters.

[fromtheashescamehope]

Why can't you call yourself a trans man or trans woman? There is a difference between a woman, and trans woman, and vice versa.

Whats wrong with being trans? Why do you get offended by being called a trans woman, or trans man when that's how you identify? when that's what you transitioned into? There is nothing wrong with accepting the fact you had to transition... or what you transitioned from. You aren't an ordinary woman, or ordinary man... You're trans.... and that's okay. a woman is someone who was born as the female sex a man is someone who was born as the male sex A woman cannot be a woman without specifying what it is in definition. How can you identify as something when it has no definition other than you identify as it? Why is it socially illegal to have a definition for a woman or man? You can still identify as whatever you want... but why do you have to kill the definition of a man and woman in the process? why not make new definitions for whatever it is you identify as instead of changing it? Make 3rd or 4th catagories... hell, even a fifth if you want. but acknowledge where you came from whether you healthily or unhealthy grew away from it or not... what a woman is... and what a man is.