Interview with a Genderfluid Individual
Meet Ralph, who identifies as genderfluid, and is slowly opening up to their community about their identity!
What do you identify as?
I identify as genderfluid and homeflexible (basically gay, but there may be exceptions).
How old were you when you discovered that you were genderfluid? How did you discover it?
I figured out that I wasn't cis in January 2017. I went by nonbinary for a while until discovering the term "genderfluid" while searching the internet about Ruby Rose one day. And it felt right to describe me.
Who have you come out to?
I am out (as genderfluid) to 4 people. All friends. I tried to tell a fifth, but he denied that it existed.
Did you find it hard to motivate yourself to come out?
When I came out as gay, I always wanted to come out, and I always wanted to tell people. With this, it feels different. It's hard to come out when people say your gender identity is fake. Even the most supportive of allies think you're making stuff up, and I don't want to come out to that.
Did you face homophobia when you came out? If so, how did/do you deal with it? Did you have to explain your identity to anyone?
Well, I'm barely out. But yes. People don't get it. People think it's a fad. People like to shove their "only two genders" opinion down everyone's throats.
Do you know what causes the shift in your gender identity? Can you expect the changes?
I can't ever figure it out. Sometimes I feel like the same gender for a week, other times it's for two hours. It's inconsistent, at least for me, even though I know it's different for everyone.
What are your pronouns? Do different people prefer different pronouns?
I'd love to go by they/them, but because I'm not out, I go by she/her. But other people who are genderfluid may go by he/him or anything else. Just ask the person what they prefer.
What advice would you give to someone who thinks they may have a similar identity or the same identity as you?
Find little ways of showing how you feel. I go to a school with a uniform. Over the summer, I've been able to lower dysphoria levels by wearing different things, but I can't usually. So, I'm trying out a new thing, where I wear a pink bracelet if I feel like a girl, blue for boy, and purple for nonbinary. It helps me feel like I have a way of showing who I am. Also, find role models. Recently, I got slightly obsessed with slightly obsessed with RuPaul's Drag Race, and I had a favorite queen on the season, too. I looked them up, and they were genderfluid. I cried when I discovered that. It was comforting. Role models mean that you can feel less alone.
What do you identify as?
I identify as genderfluid and homeflexible (basically gay, but there may be exceptions).
How old were you when you discovered that you were genderfluid? How did you discover it?
I figured out that I wasn't cis in January 2017. I went by nonbinary for a while until discovering the term "genderfluid" while searching the internet about Ruby Rose one day. And it felt right to describe me.
Who have you come out to?
I am out (as genderfluid) to 4 people. All friends. I tried to tell a fifth, but he denied that it existed.
Did you find it hard to motivate yourself to come out?
When I came out as gay, I always wanted to come out, and I always wanted to tell people. With this, it feels different. It's hard to come out when people say your gender identity is fake. Even the most supportive of allies think you're making stuff up, and I don't want to come out to that.
Did you face homophobia when you came out? If so, how did/do you deal with it? Did you have to explain your identity to anyone?
Well, I'm barely out. But yes. People don't get it. People think it's a fad. People like to shove their "only two genders" opinion down everyone's throats.
Do you know what causes the shift in your gender identity? Can you expect the changes?
I can't ever figure it out. Sometimes I feel like the same gender for a week, other times it's for two hours. It's inconsistent, at least for me, even though I know it's different for everyone.
What are your pronouns? Do different people prefer different pronouns?
I'd love to go by they/them, but because I'm not out, I go by she/her. But other people who are genderfluid may go by he/him or anything else. Just ask the person what they prefer.
What advice would you give to someone who thinks they may have a similar identity or the same identity as you?
Find little ways of showing how you feel. I go to a school with a uniform. Over the summer, I've been able to lower dysphoria levels by wearing different things, but I can't usually. So, I'm trying out a new thing, where I wear a pink bracelet if I feel like a girl, blue for boy, and purple for nonbinary. It helps me feel like I have a way of showing who I am. Also, find role models. Recently, I got slightly obsessed with slightly obsessed with RuPaul's Drag Race, and I had a favorite queen on the season, too. I looked them up, and they were genderfluid. I cried when I discovered that. It was comforting. Role models mean that you can feel less alone.
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