Gender

I remember having a curt-yet-civil discussion with one of my cousins about gender. He wasn't the most flexible of people, but I actually felt glad that I'd had that discussion, especially knowing that both of us are cisgender males.

I've not had too much of a second thought about being male beside that I tend not to fit in a lot of the expectations this world seems to have for cisgender men: liking sports, going outdoors and doing things, breeding... Sometimes I've envied being a woman in the sense of seemingly greater insight into community, togetherness, existing without everything having to be a (physical or verbal) fight. Women have their complications, but transgender women and men have some shit sometimes this world throws at them.

It's not until I'd moved to Georgia that I've actually gotten to know transgender views; it seems they've been more frequent lately. Chelsea Manning, a few fraternity brothers who've become sisters, a few trans-men who've become brothers...

Then I've been hearing more about non-binary people and I can understand the confusion, and why some people refuse to deal with it. Making sure one recognizes everyone is a task.

That doesn't mean we shut anyone out, though, just to make someone's life seemingly easier. Let's see how much harder it gets.

Gay Magic

Ex-college swimmer discovered there’s a magic in being gay

From LGBT progress, a Flipboard magazine by LGBTprogress

Luke Marshall is at peace as he reflects on his journey.If you're really young, don't let anyone tell you that you don't understand your…

Read it on Flipboard

Read it on outsports.com

So, being homosexual was never easy. I'd come out to two sets of people important to me by notes, followed by a family meeting, followed by a wandering mind that betrayed itself during attendance.

I sometimes wish I could say I was normative. I'm soft-spoken, sensitive, and not into the traditionally male-gendered likes of playing/watching sports or being intensely active outdoors (aside from going for long walks, which wouldn't be intense, really).

I'd had to really read this a few times to get what he'd meant in saying "magic", but I suppose so.