hello it appears my brain has chosen to condensate in this particular location anyways, ive been going by the name Crystal online for some years, but in the past few months ive started really questioning my gender. im trying out the names Aekora and Daelyn, and the pronouns they/them and ne/nem! currently i'm only out to my online friends. i identify as nonbinary or neutrois/neutral and also probably some flavour of genderfluid, but im trying to figure out a more specific term! im also aroace and very interested in the concept of gender and the lgbtq+ community as a whole, beyond just my gender specifically im bad at introductions so uh yeah
crystaldoesart…..Hello and a big LGBTQIA+ welcome to Empty Closets! I can remember the first post that I made on EC. I was desperate for help and I got the help that night that I so needed. I hope that we can help you in the same way that I received help. The most important thing to remember about Empty Closets is that we do care about you! We're very glad that you found us here on EC and hope that we can answer questions, give you support and provide a place to vent (as long as it's not violent! ) when that becomes necessary! This is a safe community of loving, caring and very supportive people and we will do our best to help you blend into the community. *****There are 18 different sub-forums here that you can check out, join in the conversations or start your own thread/conversation. When I first joined Empty Closets I was in need of a lot of support and encouragement and I found it here…EC is a safe place. I hope that you'll find good things here too! Folks here will talk to you and share...you don't have to be afraid of asking questions...we're glad to have you! Empty Closets is all about making connections and giving LGBTQ folks a voice when they otherwise don't have one in their day-to-day lives. *****In particular you may want to check out the forum that is titled "Gender Identity and Expression”, there are people there who may have dealt with some of the same kind of issues that could be challenging you. Some info on how to navigate EC: When you have made at least 10 posts on various threads you will be able to post messages on a member's Profile Page. Just click on a member's Avatar Picture and then click on "Profile Page" in the dialogue box that pops up. You'll then be on their Profile Page and there will be a box that says: "Write Something”. When you have been on EC for a few weeks and have made at least 50 posts on various forums, you can apply for Full Membership. Only A Full Member can send Private Messages (PM) and then only to other Full Members and share personal contact info. Right now you can only send a PM to a Staff Member as that is always possible. Here is a quote from the Full Membership information forum: *****To be eligible you must be a member of Empty Closets for a minimum of two weeks, and have a minimum of 50 posts. These posts must be across numerous forums (Fun & Games does not contribute to post count), and consistently posted across a minimum of two weeks. You wouldn't be eligible, for example, if you registered, had no activity for two weeks, and then returned to post 50 times on your 14th day of membership. *****Well, as I said, we're very glad you found us! If you have any questions at all, you can always send me a Private Message. …..David
There are many transgender terms used in the LGBT+ community and here are some of them: Most common trans terms: Cisgender = Anyone who isn't binary transgender or non-binary, and doesn't experience gender dysphoria. For example a biological female wanting to live in a woman's body and a biological male wanting to live in a man's body. Trans man (female to male) = Someone who feels more comfortable in a male body. Often medically transitioning to look male with surgeries and taking testosterone. Trans woman (male to female) = Someone who feels more comfortable in a female body. Often medically transitioning to look female with surgeries and taking estrogen. Non-binary = Anyone who doesn't feel comfortable in their biological sex and anatomy, but doesn't want either a male or female body. Non-binary people wants either 1) a gender neutral body 2) being able to switch back and forth between a male and female body - often on a daily basis 3) wished there was a 3rd option 4) a combination of a male and a female body. PS! Being non-binary and transgender is about which anatomy someone feels the most comfortable in and doesn't need to have anything to do with gender roles. There are cisgender people (none trans) who breaks traditional gender roles. A man can be feminine and a woman can be masculine. A man liking fashion and a woman liking fotball doesn't automatically make them trans. Transgender people often experience gender dysphoria and wished they have another anatomy than that one they were born in. Non-binary terms/under categories: Genderqueer = Non-binary people > Anyone who doesn't have a binary gender identity and who isn't cisgender. Agender = Someone who would be more comfortable if they had a gender neutral anatomy. They doesn't want a male or female body. Genderfluid = Someone who may sometime wished they had a female body and other times a male body. A genderfluid person may variate from day to day which kind of bodies they have. They may want a female, male, gender neutral or a combination of the male/female body. Bigender = Someone who wished they could go back and forth between two types of bodies. For example male and female body. Demigender = Anyone who sometimes are comfortable in a gendered body, but other times aren't. A demi-girl is for example sometimes comfortable with the idea of having a female anatomy, but other time that person isn't. Some people detransitioning because it's too difficult to live openly as a transperson and because of discrimination. Other people detransitioning because they found out that they weren't trans and that a sex change wasn't the right option for them. ------------------- To be able to tell if you have gender dysphoria, you may talk to a doctor or gender therapist. Only a professional can diagnose someone with gender dysphoria. Anyone, cisgender and transgender people, can sometimes be uncomfortable with their bodies and appearance without it meaning it's gender dysphoria. A cis man may sometimes think "I wish I never became bald" and a cis woman may sometimes think "I wish I never got my periods". Being any sex can be difficult and it's normal to be frustrated. What differs gender dysphoria from regular frustrations is how much it impact your life. A cisgender person may occasionally be unhappy, but someone with gender dysphoria may constantly be uncomfortable and unhappy that it affects how they function in their daily lives. They are more likely to feel clinically depressed, get anxiety, not want to go outside, not wanting to look themselves in the mirror and feel like their bodies aren't their own. A transgender person with gender dysphoria may feel like they either lacks a gendered body part or that they have some that they aren't supposed to have. Gender dysphoria is a diagnosis that only specialists can diagnose. Both binary and non-binary transgender people experiences some forms of gender dysphoria and to different degrees. If you have any questions, I will be happy to answer them.
