Gender identity is a rather tumultuous topic among the LGBTQIA community. And yes, people often get confused by the numerous amount of things that people identify as while still being in the mindset of a binary of boys and girls. However, do not fret for it is OK to be confused. It’s OK to not know. Identification of one’s gender is an exploration of oneself. So don’t be afraid if you feel as if you live in a weird gray area; explore and find your color!

If you’re wondering, “What might be some things that people want to identify as?” Well there are a lot of different things! Such as male, female, gender neutral, gender fluid, non-binary, androgynous, androssexual, transexual, femme, gay, bisexual, lesbian, transgender, etc.. Just to name a few so we are all on the same page.

Pronouns play an enormous role in the realm of gender identity and can be a bit frustrating at first. I have had men fully masculine in presence and attitude tell me they want to be referred to as “she” and vice versa with women. Which is cool and all, but it's honestly just confusing. There are people out there who internally feel one way but on the outside want to look like the complete opposite; gender fluidity is a fickle thing indeed. And then there are the “they” “them” “their” pronouns. Have you ever encountered a time when you didn’t know whether the person a friend was talking about is male or female so you use “they” and “them” to describe them in order to save yourself the humility of misgendering someone? These pronouns are used in a similar way. They are gender neutral terms which means that they don’t ascribe to either male or female values, and they reflect that in how you refer to them. As an English major this confuses me to the Nth degree; however, they have devised Ze Zem Zere which are also gender neutral but allow people to not get as weirded out or confused (like me).

I know it needs to be said for those of you that may be having a gender identity issues. I myself don’t like labels, and it makes me mad to be a part of a community that advocates for no labels but then makes a million labels. You don’t need to fall under anything, and if that is how you legitimately feel, then that is perfectly okay. All of these labels and pronouns are just tools for you to use in order to truly define yourself, so use them if it works for you. Don’t do anything because it seems cool or you think it might make you fit in. Don’t change anything and don’t be anything unless that is who you are. I myself don’t identify as anything other than Logan. I’m neither male nor female. I’m not gay or straight. I just simply am me. It makes me so mad because, as I have stated earlier, a community that advocates for no labels then decides to make a million other labels and actually partakes in the labeling process. So don’t be intimidated. At the end of the day, the makeup comes off, the hair goes down, and you are left with yourself, so just be YOU!