Tag Archives: gender Support

Ellen DeGeneres Addresses ‘Childish’ Jokes About Bruce Jenner

When Olympic gold medal winner and reality TV star, Bruce Jenner, recently came out as trans in an interview with Diane Sawyer – we knew there would be some backlash. But one key person to show their support is Ellen DeGeneres

Moments after the interview, she tweeted her support at the time, saying Jenner was a “beautiful, brave human being”.

Ellen DeGeneres is no stranger to addressing a sensitive topic in the public eye after coming out as gay in 1997, and the talk show host addressed the information, along with the reception of it, in her usual wonderful way.

It was an amazing interview, it’s very hard to reveal what you’ve been hiding. I know there’s been a lot of jokes and I think when people feel uncomfortable or they don’t understand something that’s how they deal with it, they make jokes, it’s very childish and I think those people are poo poo heads.

Even if you don’t understand it, you’ve got to admire someone who is willing to risk ridicule and tell the truth. Everyone has something that makes them feel different and like they don’t belong I hope we can all learn to co-exist and stop judging each other.”

She concluded on a simple note,

Let’s face it: the world would be a nicer place if we focused on what we had in common instead of what makes us different because we all want the same thing—we want love, we want acceptance and we want the new Apple watch. That’s all we want.

I hope we can all learn to coexist and stop judging each other, I’ve said it once, I’ve said it a thousand times, less judging, more dancing.”

Portraits of Those Identify as Neither Male or Female – Agender

Agender is a term that refers to individuals who identify as neither male or female, preferring the term “they” as opposed to the gender normative pronouns “he” or “she”. Agender people can have any sexual orientation, as sexual orientation is independent of gender identity.

The 4th November, 2013, San Francisco High School student Sasha Fleischman was sleeping on a public bus on the way home from school, when their clothing was set on fire, in an vicious attack. Fleischman suffered 2nd and 3rd degree burns and had to spend over a month in a hospital.

His attacker was teen Richard Thomas, a 16-year-old High School junior, said he was ‘allegedly’ provoked by the sight of someone who looked like a boy wearing a skirt. Richards has since been charged as an adult with two felony counts and a hate crime enhancement.

This tragic story made headlines in the San Francisco Bay area, and Fleischman suddenly found themselves thrust into the spotlight as a voice for the agender and gender queer community.

As a result of this publicity, San Francisco Magazine commissioned photographer Chloe Aftel to shoot the teen as well as others and tell their story – The Shadow Sex. These photos capture these young people in intimate setting, doing everyday things in their homes or places significant to them,

“I think a lot of people like to see gender as this scale of blue and pink. I never really identified with either side of that, or even in between blue and pink. It’s so much more complicated—my identity varies so much on any given day. Sometimes I tell people I’m gold or something.”

Researchers have discovered that those who live as neither male or female suffer the most from discrimination and violence in the LGBT community, their determination to remain undefinable seeming to provoke those with gender norms. However, for people like Fleischman, it is important to be who they are, even in the face of intolerance and personal risk.

“When I wear a skirt, it makes them think about gender and not jumping to conclusions.”

Sasha Fleischman

Image source – www.chloeaftel.com

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Redefining Gender Norms – Beautiful Photo Series By Lindsay Morris

Photographer Lindsay Morris has spent six years photographing a gender nonconforming camp for children ages 5-12. She is now looking for funding to turn these images into a book.

Camp You Are You* offers a unique opportunity for gender-nonconforming children to express themselves creatively in an environment that is safe and free from judgment. I have been documenting the celebratory atmosphere of this camp for the past six years while attending with a loved one. These images serve to tell the story of the first generation of children allowed to lead an openly LGBT childhood. I would like to share this experience with others in the form of a documentary art book.

Lindsay Morris

The ultimate goal for these images to assist in untangling the perception of LGBT youth.

By backing the production of this book and a traveling exhibition, you can help raise awareness and continue the important dialogue regarding gender-nonconforming children taking place in public and the media today.

Lindsay Morris