May 17

[Maerryji]

May 17 is the International Day Against Homophobia and Transphobia.
On May 17, 1990 homosexuality was removed from the International Classification of Diseases of the World Health Organization.

And by the way, this does have something to do with me.
I am biological male but I lack most of the aspects of masculinity. Actually, not only I find some of the things expected from a man inconsistent with my personality, but I also see part of them as oppressive* and, in some cases, simply wrong. I do not like qualities such as violent behavior, aggressiveness, competitiveness, propensity to dominate in personal relationships, jealousy, or rigidity in anyone else, neither I want to see them in myself.

This does not mean I reject all qualities perceived as "masculine". I like rationality and intellectual nonconformity. But I also like and want to develop some "feminine" qualities such as empathy and ability to express my emotions freely.
I no longer care if some quality or behavior I like is unmanly. If something is acceptable, it should be acceptable for everyone, regardless of sex. Same goes for unacceptable.

So I recently started to identify myself as "gender neutral". If you need a single word, "agender" will do.
Which makes me transgender.


* still, this can hardly be compared with the oppressiveness of requirements for women. Yeah, I am "f-word".

To imms/moderators: please do not touch the answers. I really want to see what people have to say. (Not that I expect much, though.)

[Geryon]

What about your sexual preferences?

[Maerryji]

Basically I am heterosexual.
Specifically I prefer bisexual women, because (among other reasons) I somewhat romanticize same-sex relationships between women and would like to use them as a model.

"That makes me quarter lesbian" (c) Eric Cartman

[Geryon]

What's the point? Can't you count yourself a male and develop the qualities you want to develop, not ones society expects from you? Shall we from now on address to Maerryji as 'it'? 

[unreal]

 

[bluesky]

For a moment i thought i am on facebook.

[Maerryji]

I am male. (And you can still refer to me as "he".)

Sex (males/females/intersexuals) is biological.
Gender (basically men/women) is social and consists of some behavioral patterns and expected qualities.
(Here's an article in Russian about it, if you're interested:
http://www.chaskor.ru/article/iz_chego_tolko_sdelany_malchiki_iz_chego_tolko_sdelany_devochki_16791
)

I don't apply these expectations to myself any more (and don't want others to do so), and I may break behavioral patterns if I like.
So gender neutrality is my way to void opinions like "real man must...". Especially since I sometimes find them in myself.

[Geryon]

Lord Soth points at Maerryji and utters the words 'The real man must %1, %2 and %3!'
Maerryji shivers momentarily but it passes.

Maerryji says, 'Nice try. I am gender neutral anyway.'

[Geryon]

If something is acceptable, it should be acceptable for everyone, regardless of sex. Same goes for unacceptable.

A sound position.