amaevis

breakthebinary:

Hello there,

I’ve made a petition regarding the self-identification choices one faces on OKCupid. Here’s a bit of text from the petition:

I have, through this ingenious and intuitive website, certainly opened up my horizons in terms of the diversity of people whose company I’ve enjoyed. I have met more trans folk, genderqueer, and non-binary individuals than I would have any other way. I am a polyamorous person, and have been for many years. OKC has proven to me it has a thriving community that runs the gamut of non-traditional relationship styles, genders, and sexes.

As fun and useful as this site is, I’ve found myself butting up against the meager means we have of expressing some of the most profound aspects of our lives. Currently, the options are as follows:
Gender: Male/Female
Orientation: Gay/Straight/Bi
Status: Single/Seeing Someone/Married

Now, these terms are just enough for the vast majority of people. But regardless the relative size of the subset for whom these don’t apply, they are not only useful for what is likely a significant swath of OKC’s users, but also might spur on some reflection in those who have, through a restrictive social hegemony, never considered that there were even other options. The use of a full socially conscious vocabulary can raise the awareness of each of these different arenas. It can create more of a safe space for intersex and trans individuals.

Thanks for taking the time to check this out! It may seem menial in the face of issues facing the queer/trans communities, but erasure is still a microaggression amongst many others that we deal with on a regular basis.

-Anatasia

If we can get cisgender as an adjective on there, it will REALLY make people think.

This kind of education is a prerequisite step for reform and revolution.

Please sign and signal boost!