Everyone Is Awesome: Here’s Lego’s First Queer Set

The Guardian Reports:

In the “spraying room” at Lego HQ, tiny figurines are layered with bright, glossy paint before being placed on a rainbow-esque arch. The result, a waterfall of colour with 11 brand new minifigures striding purposefully towards an imagined brighter future, is the Danish toymaker’s inaugural LGBTQIA+ set, titled Everyone Is Awesome.

The colours of the stripes were chosen to reflect the original rainbow flag, along with pale blue, white and pink representing the trans community, and black and brown to acknowledge the diversity of skin tones and backgrounds within the LGBTQIA+ community.

In all but one case no specific gender has been assigned to the figures, who are intended to “express individuality, while remaining ambiguous”.

The exception, a purple minifigure with a highly stylised beehive wig, “is a clear nod to all the fabulous drag queens out there”, said the designer, Matthew Ashton, who initially created the set for his own desk.

“I’d moved offices, so wanted to make the space feel like home with something that reflected me and the LGBTQIA+ community I’m so proud to be a part of,” Ashton said.

Matthew Ashton presents the extended LEGO rainbow flag. (Photo: Lego via USA Today)

I think the fact that LEGO is embracing the LGBTQA community is great. I am not sure if this set is really made for kid’s playing, though. That being said, I am sure creative kids will put the queer figures into use.

Moreover, Ashton – who is gay – makes one important point to USA Today, which tells me this set will have an positive effect outside the playground.  Ashton argues that f he had been given a set like this while growing up, it would have been such a relief to know that somebody had his back: 

“To know that I had somebody there to say ‘I love you, I believe in you. I’ll always be here for you.’“

Yesssss!

The Trans Express Directory of Essential Post on Transgender Issues

THIS POST HAS BEEN MOVED OVER TO OUR DIRECTORY SITE!

YouTube asks for photo ID for people who want to access video about transgender synth pioner Wendy Carlos

Last year this blog posted a story about the role of Wendy Carlos in the development of the modern synthesizer.  You can read it here. It is an interesting story.

Today I discovered that YouTube has put some kind of age restriction on the video. Logging in as @jackmolay I was asked to provide some kind of photo ID! I am not kidding. 

Why on earth would you need an age restriction on a 1989 BBC program on the development of “music synthesis” and Wendy’s musical compositions?

My immediate concern was that the video is about a transgender scientist. Mind you, the TV program does not mention her being trans.

So does YouTube now think of transgender content as dangerous to minors? That would be political and commercial suicide, as I see it. Besides, other types of transgender content is open for people of all ages.

I believe I found the answer in the text under the video, where it says: 

（✿＾－＾)  ~~**TERFS/TRANSPHOBES DO NOT INTERACT**~~ （＾－＾✿）

Somehow transphobic comments, or this very reference to anti-trans statements,  have triggered an automatic (?)  filter over at YouTube. It is as if YouTube is trying to protect kids from the hate speech of trans-exclusionary radical feminists. 

As much as I appreciate YouTube’s concerns, I have to say that this is a dangerous policy. This means that all you have to do to restrict a video is to bombard it with hateful comments. In other words: This policy is not working as intended, and I suggest YouTube find another solution to this problem.

Screenshot from the original post, as seen by me:

If you can see the video below, YouTube thinks you are old enough to read about TERFs.

YouTube has labelled the video “Age-restricted video (based on Community Guidelines)“ adding a link to its community guidelines. 

This is not the first time YouTube has gotten into trouble for restricting LGBT+ content. Back in 2017 its family oriented “Restricted Mode” blocked videos by gay, bisexual and transgender creators.

UPDATE April 20: It seems the video is now open to all again.

intersexfairy:

So I’ve mentioned how for intersex people our assignment as boys or girls can change throughout our lives, how we can be altered or given hormones in relation to that at any age, but there’s even more possibilities than that.

You see, people aren’t only assigned a gender at birth, but are also assigned a sex at birth. For dyadic people, your gender assignment and sex assignment always match without anything special being done (unless you were raised neutrally). While this can occur for intersex people too (especially those of us whose intersexuality goes unnoticed or presents later in life), it isn’t always the case.

For intersex people whose intersexuality is evident at birth, assignment at birth can get tricky.

Some people are also assigned into a one sex category but “”raised as”” the gender opposite to that. For example, someone can be assigned male at birth sex-wise but still “”rasied as”” female gender wise, oftentimes because they’re deemed “not male enough.” The reverse applies.

Some are also assigned no sex (unknown/ambiguous) and they may be “”raised as”” neutral, male, or female. Even those who are assigned a sex may be raised neutrally.

This is why cisness and transness can be complicated for intersex people. Some of us aren’t cis but aren’t trans, some of us can be considered cis but can also be considered trans. Some of us can technically be trans but due to how we feel about our assignments identify as cis, and vice versa. Some of us have no idea where we fit, because with the definitions that exist, we don’t. And it gets even more complicated when it comes to more specific terms like transmasc and transfem.

This is simply reality for us. This is our lived experience, and it isnt our fault that the way perisex people talk about these things doesn’t take into mind our experiences. We aren’t trying to blur lines. You’re the ones who drew the lines too sharp.

[Free to reblog, but perisex people keep your negative opinions to yourself.]

intersexfairy:

Intersex Terminology Masterpost

Since we don’t have many terms, I decided to gather all the ones I had the energy for and compile them. Click the links to read more (pride flags too) and feel free to add on! 

General Terms

• Intersex (Adj.) - A term to describe those who were born with a sex variation that led to having sex characteristics that aren’t traditionally male or female. Abbreviation is IS. Noun form is Intersexuality. Read more here.
• Dyadic (Adj.) - A term meaning “of two” utilized by intersex people to describe people who are not IS. Noun form is Dyad(s). Other terms are perisex (likely not coined by IS people), endosex, and juxtasex (both coined by IS people). There is no consensus on what to call non-intersex people, but I prefer dyadic (although some believe it reinforces the sex binary).
• Variation - A term used to refer to the cause of someone’s intersexuality. It is to be used instead of condition/disorder/etc. There are 3 main types of IS variations - Chromosomal, Hormonal, and Gonadal. There are some variations listed on LGBTA Wikia, the main source for this masterpost.
• DSD - An abbreviation meaning either “difference of sexual development” or “disorder of sexual development.” The latter should not be used, and Variation is to be used over DSD. (Link contains list of Variations)
• Intersexism / Inter(sex)phobia - The discrimination, prejudice, dislike, and hatred of and towards IS people.
• Dyadism - [TW] The belief that being Dyadic is normal, correct, the default, etc., and that IS people are unnatural, wrong, diseased/deformed, insignificant, etc. Can also be called Perisexism, Endosexism, or Juxtasexism.

Assignment Related [TW]

• Sex Assignment - Different from gender assignment, sex assignment is the process by which a person’s “biological sex” is determined. Everyone is assigned a sex and gender at birth, and for intersex people, sex assignment can be complicated and traumatic (see; IGM and Forced/Coerced HRT).
• AXAB - Assigned “X” At Birth. For IS people who did not have a sex assigned to them at birth. A similar term is UAB.
• AIAB - Assigned Intersex At Birth. For IS people whose intersexuality was recognized at birth. May be used in place of/alongside “AXAB.”
• IAFAB / IAMAB - “Intersex Assigned Female At Birth” and “Intersex Assigned Male At Birth.” 
• CAFAB / CAMAB - “Coercively Assigned Female At Birth” and “Coercively Assigned Male At Birth.” These terms are not intersex exclusive, [TW] but in the IS community are sometimes used to describe people who underwent IGM or other medical methods of assignment.
• IGM - [TW] Infant/Intersex Genital Mutilation. Used by IS people in reference to the surgical procedures used to alter intersex people’s genitalia/remove internal organs in order to assign or reassign our sex and/or gender.
• Forced/Coerced HRT - [TW] Forced/Coerced “Hormone Replacement Treatment” is an experience that probably deserves its own name independent of HRT, however is called this due to lack of terminology. It refers to the hormones given w/o proper consent to IS people in order to make us appear dyadic. It also may be given as a result of IGM impairing or destroying organs responsible for the production of certain hormones.

Gender Identity

• Intergender - A gender that is in some form linked to being intersex. Also known as Integender or Mera (Hydragea/Idra).
• Inter-Aligned - A gender alignment for nonbinary IS people whose gender is aligned with being IS instead of or alongside being masc-aligned or fem-aligned.
• Duogender - A gender that is a combination of male and female as a result one’s intersexuality.  It can be considered a specific inte®gender. A similar term is Trans-Intersexual. 
• Ipsogender - A gender modality for IS people who identify as the gender they were assigned, and may or may not identify with being cisgender due to their experiences with intersexuality, dydaism, and/or cissexism. Coined by an IS sociologist! A similar term is Advenagender.
• Ultergender - A gender modality for IS people who do not identify as the gender they were assigned, and due to their intersexuality may or may not identify with being transgender.
• Transmascfem / Transfemmasc - A gender modality for people who are both transfeminine and transmasculine as a result of being UAB, AXAB, or intersex.
• Exparfem - A gender modality for IS people who relate to transfemininity despite being AFAB. Coined by @/integender.
• Exparmasc - A gender modality for IS people who relate to transmasculinity despite being AMAB. Coined by @/integender

Transition Related

• XTF - A term for IS people who are transitioning femininely, regardless of whether they’re cis, trans, etc. Also can be used by transfeminine or exparfem IS people opposed to MTF. 
• XTM - A term for IS people who are transitioning masculinely, regardless of whether they’re cis, trans, etc. Also can be used by transmasculine or exparmasc IS people opposed to FTM.

Culturally Exclusive Terms

• Ay’lonit - A term from Jewish culture for AFAB individuals “who [have] not shown signs of typical female puberty” - “presumed infertile” and have masculine sex characteristics (Source). Historically a term to refer to intersex people, but in modern times is used by both trans and intersex Jews.
• Saris - A term from Jewish culture for AMAB individuals “who has not shown signs of typical sexual maturity; a eunuch.” There are two types: Saris Chama and Saris Adam. (Source). Historically a term to refer to intersex people, but in modern times is used by both trans and intersex Jews. 
• Androgynos - A term from Jewish culture for a person possessing both male and female sex characteristics. (Source). Historically a term to refer to intersex people, but in modern times is used by both trans and intersex Jews.
• Tumtum - A term from Jewish culture for “a person of indeterminate gender; one whose genitals are obscured or not clearly male or female.” (Source). Historically a term to refer to intersex people, but in modern times is used by both trans and intersex Jews.
• Kathoey - A term used by people in Thailand who in English may be described as transfeminine, effeminate gay men, or intersex.

Please correct anything on here if needed! Especially the culturally exclusive terms (although please do so with appropriate sources).

Also, don’t just like, reblog too! I didnt know about a few of these terms and it’s so important for us to gather all the words about ourselevs we can.

I found this article very helpful and will keep it for future reference. Thank you Intersexfairy!

One comment: The Kathoey of Thailand see themselves as women, and should be referred to as women or transgender women. 

I have made a similar glossary of transgender and nonbinary terms, which you can find here.

UPDATE Jan 16: Intersexfairy has updated the glossary here!

Intersex and transgender children are told they do not exist

The best way of oppressing a marginalized group is not with guns and prisons, but with prejudices and denial. Marleen is a woman with XY chromosomes. She was told that people like her does not exist.

This type of erasure applies to gay and lesbian individuals, to transgender people, as well as  intersex individuals (i.e people born with  variations in sex characteristics, as in chromosomes, gonads, sex hormones or genitals.)

The story we are all told is a very simple one: There are men. There are women. Women love men and men love women. If you are assigned male you have to live as a man. If you are assigned female you have to live as a woman. Any variations are forbidden, no to be talked about, because they may weaken the belief in the holy binaries of sexual orientation and gender identity.

But the fact is that nature and culture are full of diversity, both as regards sex, gender and sexuality.

Vice tells the story about the Dutch dancer and playwright Marleen Hendrickx. Marleen has androgen insensitivity syndrome. She was born with XY chromosomes, but her insensitivity to male hormones made her grow into a woman.

However, according to interphobes and transphobes having one X and one Y chromosome makes you a man. So she cannot exist.

Marleen says:

When I was 14, I learned about chromosomes in biology. I asked my teacher if it was possible for someone to be born with XY chromosomes, essentially being a boy, but to also be insensitive to male hormones, essentially becoming a girl – basically, my condition. “No, that’s impossible,” he replied. In a way, he said that I don’t exist. [Her graduation performance] XY WE represents our existence.

I want people to realise there’s more than just “man” and “woman”. People often say that nature consists of the male, the female and nothing else. Being intersex is a prime example that this is not true. Sometimes people ask, “How many more letters do we need in ‘LGBTQI+’?” But no one extra is joining, we’ve always been here. Only, now, more people are speaking out…

It was nice being able to talk to my peers in the support group when I was 12, and to express my feelings. Apart from them, I never really shared much with anyone, only one friend. At 22, she hinted that maybe I should talk to a professional, because I had started seeing myself as an alien. 

If a guy said he liked me, I thought it was impossible – because he didn’t know me. I couldn’t get into relationships – I was afraid to – while all my friends had boyfriends. My psychologist told me that those guys did know me, just not that part of me. I had to learn that being intersex was a part of me, but not everything.

Gradually, I started telling my friends. I cried every time, but everyone reacted normally. One of them said, “Who cares what your chromosomes look like? You are, and always will be, Marleen.”

Read the interview here.

More about XY WE here.

See also: Amazing TED talk on the way the strict gender binary harms us, by XY intersex woman Emily Quinn

Youtube interview with Marleen in Dutch (go to YouTube for English subtitles):

Photos by Milou Deelen.

Coming Out as Intersex After Years of Keeping it a Secret

Shana Knizhnik explains why she’s coming out publicly as intersex over at Teen Vogue:

She explains how the system tried to conceal the true nature of her being intersex and her androgen insensitivity syndrome, instilling a sense of shame in the process:

My parents had broken the news to me at age 11 that I would never have a monthly period, that I would not be able to have biological children, and that I would have to take hormonal supplements to go through puberty (and would need to continue to take them for the rest of my life). However, the reason why was never fully explained. There was some vague explanation about cancerous ovaries that had to be removed when I was a baby, but it didn’t fully add up. My parents also told me, as the doctors had told them, that I “didn’t have to tell anyone” about any of this. 

She formed her social identity around a particular image—that of a feminine, straight, cisgender girl, suppressing anything associated with being intersex. This also caused her to deny her attraction to women.

There is no real reason for shame here, as Shana points out:

As it turns out, there are many ways in which human beings can biologically deviate from these equations, resulting in a myriad of possible differences in genitalia, hormones, internal anatomy, and/or chromosomes. These differences do not usually pose a medical threat to intersex people; rather, it is the perceived threat to society intersex bodies pose—namely, to the rigid gender binary that defines so much about how we treat individuals—that has caused the Western medical establishment to historically view our bodies as a problem to be fixed, as a reality to be erased, rather than as a set of natural variations as common (by some calculations) as having red hair.

Meeting other intersex people helped her immensely. She mentions the role of   InterACT, an intersex advocacy organization that is   increasing intersex awareness:

We must engage in sustained activism to #EndIntersexSurgery, and pass laws like New York City Council Bill 1748-2019 that seek to increase public awareness and outreach around these issues. We must change the medical system that results in intersex people self-reporting disproportionately worse health outcomes than the general population. We must also stand with our transgender siblings and fight against countless laws that target them, and also implicate intersex people like myself, including so-called “bathroom bills” that attempt to police restrooms on the basis of “biological sex,” as well as fight against a system that perpetuates violence against trans women in particular at alarming rates.

Read the whole text here!

See also: Amazing TED talk on the way the strict gender binary harms us, by XY intersex woman Emily Quinn

Photo from Instagram.