What’s Your Pride outfit? And if You can’t wear one openly then what do You dream of one day wearing without fear? Pride in Istanbul used to be one of the largest in Europe as well as the role until 2014. Every year since, the community has risked their safety, freedom and more to come together in the streets in solidarity. Nonviolently. With Pride. This year 373 documented people maybe more were arrested. They really deserve more support and international visibility to put pressure on the current government to immediately halt these oppressive actions. Why was this a fashion video? Well, whenever we speak about these community obstacles our content is often pigeoned into a smaller section of the algorithm. By viewing this conversation through the lens of attire we break that algorithm and possibly outside the normal sphere of viewers. This content was reviewed and approved by local Istanbul community members The involvement in this Pride was at invitation not insertion. Please make sure when joining any marginalized movement to check with the desires of local leaders and organizers first before assuming their needs for contributions. #pride2022 #lgbtqia #fashion #reels #whatdoyouthink

See Link in Bio. Just got back from Ukraine, and finally am posting after much reflection. There’s a lot to talk about. Bombs, bullets, border guards and some of the most incredible human hearts. From this platform, incredible people like Yourself joined together to successfully guide and evacuate thousands of people to safety or across a neighboring border. Especially LGBTQ, BIPOC, disabled, and elderly folx. We have now officially become an NGO called SAFEBOW! However we got to a point where gay men, transwomen, non-binary beings and disabled folx with an M on their passport were unable to leave the country. Despite losing everything and/or being unfit morally or mentally for service in a war zone. They just sat in squalid conditions, sleeping on floors or in the dirt. Unable to enlist but unable to get a white slip to exit due to bias or overwhelmed systems. This sexist restriction (which often leads to trans erasure) is a mounting humanitarian crisis that people aren’t willing to talk about. One which has already had deadly consequences. This is why I went to advocate on the ground, and while we had a lot of success… the problem is bigger than our team can solve alone. We need Your help. Serving or remaining in a war zone should be a choice. Not a requirement. Period. No matter who You are, You should have the right to flee freely. Please call upon Zelensky to revisit this awful frankly antiquated enforcement- and to instead consider proposing a more compassionate approach. And if You want to evacuate , contact us. No matter who You are, we will do everything we can to assist You to to safety. SafeBow is for everyone. If You want to volunteer, we have room for anyone willing. 1 hour or 1 month- any amount of time is enough. We have multiple roles which are accessible and can be done from your homes. Sign up at Safebow.org . Or to donate, click the link in my bio , DM or see my stories. #ukraine #lgbtq

Now’s the time to have these discussions so because when the world opens back up- we have a more perfect opportunity than ever to reset. To do things differently. To reassess. There’s no going back after going inward. Do You think there’s a sport we can reassess the division of uniform for? If not why? #reels #reelsinstagram #comparison #genderequality #genderfluid #genderqueer #lgbtq #sports #debat

For all of You beings trying, You ARE transforming. It takes time, effort, vulnerability, trust and bravery to truly take flight. It may not be enough to be loved by stranger no matter how You have been, what You have done, what You are overcoming. But You have a clean slate here. You have a reset here. It’s ok to be on the process and not feeling fully arrived. It may take time to work through Your mind, the learning, the leaving, the growth, the ego, and the lessons which state we will never be better than what we were as children. However, every single second of effort is bringing You to something extraordinary. Often we don’t applaud people until they “make the full transformation”. Reveal content of before and after often erases the most difficult truths of one’s journey. However, a journey is not before and after. It instead is a series of was and is and want. Was and Is and Want. The Want informing the Is. The Is escaping the Was. Was accepting the fact that it indeed is WAS and no longer IS. As a result, no amount of motivational speech or talk can get Us to shake ourselves free sometimes. It is only ourselves which can do it. And when we don’t trust that Ourselves are not just a series of Was but also a series of Is and Wants then without that trust we freeze our minds into a single space of time. Trapped for what feels like an inevitable eternity. Truth is that it is not an eternity. We are cocooning. Changing every day but to the naked eye, remaining still. Yet we are not. Even when we feel we are not trying to shift, we shift. That is the power of time. I’m dedicating my day to You. If You type “I’m trying” below- I will respond “You are.” Because You deserve to be affirmed. I’ll answer every comment for the first 24 hours. PS I’m pretty sure the moths name was Lenny. #positiveaffirmations #naturereels #lgbtqia #whatdoyouthink #goodnews #transformationjourney

If this post finds You, I personally believe it was meant to. So much of what we do to exist and contribute every day is erased. Dismissed as mundane or small or expected. Often, we herald heroics as acts that must be almost theatrical in nature. When in actuality, bravery is in our every breath. Yes, we all face different obstacles in our paths. Some horrific and toweringly taunting us about the improbability of overcoming them. However, it is not solely through the defeat of large obstacles that one should measure the progress in their life. The goodness of their heart. The important of their existence. The impact of their contribution to others. The “little” things add up. Seemingly an inch is still a movement. A part of a path cleared. Those inches create miles. Those miles create a life lived. Do not rob Yourself of the full breadth of goodness that You are. Even a lungful of air in a world of people who ask us to cease breathing, is part of the trail we need blazed. For Yourself and/or another tell Us something that You have done this week that was part of Your trail. Something positive. Something good. It can be as simple as showing up here. Or doing the dishes. Or lending a few bucks to someone. Or making sure to plate dinner just right for that moment of visual enjoyment by Your family/friends/partner(s). This speech was given at the “Brightlist Awards” hosted by @allbright and organized by @femalenarratives . These incredible two organizations are doing powerful community work to ensure folx find their power along their own trails. And yes, the music is “The Shire” from LOTR. I may be passionate and serious about You giving Yourself a chance… but I also have an inner Gandalf 🧙‍♂️🍃💍 #motivationalspeaker #yesyoucan #lgbtqia #whydontwe #lovewins

It’s been a tough time for @artemis.awakening - and divorce can be really difficult. Especially when we have to fight so hard to be allowed to love at all. They were feeling really down after so I was hoping y’all could help show just how much family they have out here? Just comment below a kind word or a hello or a “You are loved Artemis” would mean so much. This being is a whole hearted, very talented photographer. They show up for the community and give so much. Very quiet in person, yet when they speak every sentence could move a mountain. It’s hard to trust in our ability to love after the “I love You” said so earnestly to another becomes a memory which holds different meaning. It causes us to sometimes wonder, how do I say those words to another person again with such certainty as before if it indeed may not be something that rings true to infinity. However, love is not a linear timeline. What was once true can both remain true but also remain in the past. Just because it is not the same now doesn’t mean it was a lie. It’s worth it to love again, perhaps a bit of hesitation is fair, but do not lock Yourself away from the possibility of falling again. You are the love. Your existence is the love. Your boundaries are Your love. Your hope is Your love. Your truths and survivals are Your love. Your breath is Your love. You are not broken. You are love transformed. Love shifted. And love enough. #haveyouever #thingstodo #lgbtqia #fairycore

I wrote this long long caption about all the new birth certificate enforcement bathroom bills being proposed and then it got deleted when I posted somehow. So here I am. Reposting. And as I go to rewrite this thing I’ve written before I realize how redundant this battle really is. How bored I am of myself and this silly struggle that has resulted in serious consequence. Despite clear scientific studies en masse which prove restrooms are over 40% safer when they are all identity inclusive (mostly as a result of the impact of randomization of possible user entrants). Is it that hard? Mixed restrooms with a few private stalls with floor to ceiling doors that have a child changing fold out, are disability accessible, and lit well enough for people to use said mirrors for ritualistic needs such as adjusting hijabs during breaks. The issue isn’t the “gender”- it’s the violence of individuals who should be held more individually accountable. We can do that through clearer and more effective laws, preventive mandatory education about keeping hands to our own diddles, and utilizing modern tech options for maximum safety & response. I mean- it’s fair to be cautious in the restroom. Our butts and niblets ARE exposed. 😂😩 We also need to teach people that people with “f” on their birth certificates can be tall, muscular, short hair, etc. If You are going to call me a “girl” because of my birth certificate, then sweetie darling, this is what a pretty girl looks like. This face. These shoulders. Those brows. That suit. These muscles. This is my personal experience, I don’t want to speak for You. What has been Your experience with gender inclusive restrooms? Is there any reason You believe we absolutely NEED divided restrooms? Are there additional things You believe we should add to create safer spaces? All voices welcome. No matter how “silly” or controversial You believe Your opinion to be. Ps: How are You today? All answers welcome none too burdensome. None too joyful. All valid! I’ll respond to as many as possible for the first 24 hours. #wesanderson #lgbtqia #whatdoyoumean #genderqueer #funnyvideo #storytime thanks @quartermistress for whacking me!

This is @mothernaturesmountain my mother. A lot of people say they find it peculiar that I call her “mother” as I prefer speaking in neutral language entirely. However, when things healed and grew between us, we made a promise. She would call me her “child” or by name to respect my neutrality. And I would call her my mother (she/her) to respect her as well. We’ve grown a lot since that pact and continue to do so- she’s a really amazing being who lives a very incredible lifestyle. For those who wonder, yes. This is very much the way I grew up (different location though). Books and birds were my television and manual labor was a part of the daily routine. Something You just did, and felt within the vibration of Your instincts. A lot of the values I hold today stem from this upbringing. Satiation with simplicity. Enjoyment of a days work. Love for existence as a center. To outsiders, seeing my 7 year old self carry a 50lb bag of grain or muck out a stall for the weekend- it may seem horrific. But for me, I have a lot of good memories of pride in every drop of sweat. And the magic of retiring to evenings of fireflies, singing frogs and meals made mostly with foraged ingredients. Throughout my career in the world of entertainment and fashion- there’s been intense ups and downs. However, with any body slam- in the depths of darkness- I’ve had the knowledge that I could survive wherever a forest may be found with nothing more than willpower and observation. If everything was lost, I knew how to make a fire from earth and clean water with its dead embers. I knew I could find joy with bare feet in the dirt and the sound of the wind through the leaves. And when no forest can be found, simply laying on my stomach in the grass looking for four leaf clovers or watching ants work with each other- is delightful. I still have many struggles. And life will bring more to come. And I may not have all things figured out. But I have that. Thanks mom. #offgrid #lgbtqia #cottagecore #housetour #vermontlife #vintagestyle #catsofinstagram

You deserve more affirmations- it’s exhausting in the world right now. For many, seemingly impossible to take the pressure or difficult environments which create such emotions of defeat and turn it into something positive. Worth waking to and for. Personally, I’ve found myself quite spread thin between all the fires and attacks lately. It feels like one must be everywhere all at once to fight against the oppression- and yet there are few places where it’s safe to go. To make it through, we have to truly believe that hope will turn to reality. And I believe- I truly do- that it has before, it can again, we will find a way forward. But it must be together. If You are having a hard time feeling self affirmational, come here to this page. Most of the people here will be happy to say Your name, pronouns, or validate You and Your experience. Hold tight. It’ll be worth it. This video is from this afternoon enjoying this wildly talented friend @dededavi - they’re pursuing a music career and could use all the community support possible. If You like their voice go follow their IG please it really makes a difference. Say Your name and pronouns- I’ll say them back in the comments. I’ll answer a minimum of 250 over the weekend- more if possible. All people welcome to comment- no matter who You are. #ally #lgbtqia #trans #lovewins #newmusic #goodnews

What’s the genderless/all gender doll name they’d give to a Ken/Barbie hybrid? Or are they all genderless? I love that Barbie and Ken just have universal smooth bumps under their pants and yet are both very clear on their identity and pronoun choice. The world of Barbie was one I avoided growing up, yet felt compared to. I didn’t see myself or my closest friends represented by this very popular culture icon and didn’t give it a chance as a result. In fact, I was angry at it. Especially for how it culturally set a tone that fat bodies weren’t desired and that there were only two options of identity. Boy. Girl. At McDonalds as a kid, on the rare opportunity that I went, they offered Barbie or Hot Wheels. I chose Hot Wheels every time. I didn’t need some piece of plastic reminding me that I wasn’t “ideal” by society. However, over the past few years I got reintroduced to the world of Barbie. And while it has a lot of work to do, I have to say that I had missed all of the hard work the employees put into expanding out Barbies message + world of friends to make it more inclusive. Conversations about body types, functioning, learning new things about new people- some of them were really high level things we all needed to hear. What I took away from that was a reminder that people can change. And those people will change businesses. Politics. Schools. And communities. If we continue to share our stories and stick together- uplift messages of what we need- You be surprised at just how many others will expand as well. #genderless #barbiethemovie #ken #lgbtqia #whatdoyouthink

One thing I’ve found recently is that within conflict, I can be the same person- same body- same height- same tone- same mannerisms- same language. Yet, contingent upon the gender/identity someone believes me to be, those elements can yield drastically different reactions. Every person, every culture, and every circumstance is a bit unique. However there indeed are a few overarching themes for my personal experience which are mostly universal. (1) When perceived as a “cis man” I often come across as naturally threatening in conflict. Even at a resting rate of tone. This leads to the other person feeling more comfortable to physically hit or lash out at me. But also I can evoke fear in a single step forward. I often feel guilty for that feeling. When a person intervenes, it’s often assumed that I started the conflict. It feels difficult to resolve situations as a result. Highly likely to be ejected. (2) Trans man: People can talk over me or laugh. Sometimes I’ll be told to check my toxic masculinity and that as a “former woman” I should just be quiet when “real women” are talking. And I often oblige self consciously. Less likely to be ejected. Trans Woman: A mix of reaction occurs. Often immediate escalation akin to being perceived as a cis male, some mockery or belittling akin to being perceived as cis female, and sometimes people just go flat silent. A literal buffering orb of social fear pops up on their head. Likely to be ejected from Venue unless i have vocal allies. Cis Woman: Often the other person will give a laugh or comment that I look ugly as a defense. Or undatable. As a tall person, I’m still intimidating but am less likely to be hit (personally for me) and less likely to be ejected from a space. However, I’m far less likely to be heard or have my boundaries met. And often will be labeled as unstable after. These are my personal experiences over my lifetime. They may be different from Your own! I just find it fascinating switching a bit of fabric can switch the entire way someone feels they need to handle a person- and changes their perception. I get why this is. But can it change? Should it? #socialexperiment #lgbtqia #genderbend

Why do You think this turned out the way it did? I’m a person who is perceived as all genders and non at times. Sometimes, it can be more advantageous to be perceived as one identity over the other because of bias or culture. Even though I wear what I want and face what I face every day, I decided to do a series of experiments to illustrate how my one life can have drastically different realities simply just from what I wear! “Menswear” and “womenswear” aren’t really necessary labels in my personal opinion. Nor do they make have to anyone a particular thing when You wear them. However, they DO change how people treat and identify me. Just my personal experience. Yours may be different. For this experiment, I conducted it over several days and asked over 500 people in either outfit to contact a friend with their cellphone. This was done in Central London, Dalston, and Kilburn. The results were clear. 3x more likely to get help in “menswear”. Along with longer reasonings for rejections. Yet over 90% of detected street scammers in London identify as men. When I did a poll about my outfits, 86% of 500 random people thought I was a cis man in “menswear”. While 61% of people thought I was a trans woman in “womenswear” and 32% a cis woman. With 7% saying I was a cis man. Why was this experiment done? Well a phone is often an essential tool for folx to get home with. Money, communication and more are on it! There are many times my phone has died and I needed help but saw that simply removing my jacket could change my ability to get it respectfully. For me personally, I want to be able to get help equally presented. However it’s useful to understand biases as well so we can confront them and dive through them. Do You think Youd get a different result? Why so? *also note: anyone who rejected helping me is valid (except the swearing human lol). It’s ok to say no and there are many reasons one might choose to. #socialexperiment #lgbtqia #genderfluid #transpride #questioning