prove it then lift up your top the boy said teetering on the edge of the
said teetering on the edge of the
said teetering on the edge of the halfpipe I’d laughed louder than I meant
halfpipe I’d laughed louder than I meant
halfpipe I’d laughed louder than I meant you pushing my body back and forth on
you pushing my body back and forth on
you pushing my body back and forth on the deck moving over a crack in the
the deck moving over a crack in the
the deck moving over a crack in the concrete on edge i skirted around the
concrete on edge i skirted around the
concrete on edge i skirted around the silence in my dustbowl belly no it’s
silence in my dustbowl belly no it’s
silence in my dustbowl belly no it’s obvious she’s a girl another boy said
obvious she’s a girl another boy said
obvious she’s a girl another boy said with his back bent away from us his leg
with his back bent away from us his leg
with his back bent away from us his leg sucked up to his chest to lend his
sucked up to his chest to lend his
sucked up to his chest to lend his skateboard flight I pulled my t-shirt
skateboard flight I pulled my t-shirt
skateboard flight I pulled my t-shirt away from my chest made excuses about
away from my chest made excuses about
away from my chest made excuses about momma and tee time and walked down the
momma and tee time and walked down the
momma and tee time and walked down the path leaving his words sticking to the
path leaving his words sticking to the
path leaving his words sticking to the air I think of the boy who spoke for me
air I think of the boy who spoke for me
air I think of the boy who spoke for me then on hot evening two Brides wear long
then on hot evening two Brides wear long
then on hot evening two Brides wear long stares at my chest turned me into a
stares at my chest turned me into a
stares at my chest turned me into a blazing thumb jutting out and it’s the
blazing thumb jutting out and it’s the
blazing thumb jutting out and it’s the world shaped fingers these days I button
world shaped fingers these days I button
world shaped fingers these days I button my shirts all the way up my neck a
my shirts all the way up my neck a
my shirts all the way up my neck a treasure chest of secrets from the
treasure chest of secrets from the
treasure chest of secrets from the moment were born were placed into this
moment were born were placed into this
moment were born were placed into this straight jacket of gender in fact even
straight jacket of gender in fact even
straight jacket of gender in fact even before we’re born we put into this on
before we’re born we put into this on
before we’re born we put into this on shifting category whether it’s people
shifting category whether it’s people
shifting category whether it’s people asking is it a girl or is it a boy when
asking is it a girl or is it a boy when
asking is it a girl or is it a boy when someone announces they’re pregnant or
someone announces they’re pregnant or
someone announces they’re pregnant or the increasingly popular gender reveal
the increasingly popular gender reveal
the increasingly popular gender reveal party is that apparently all the rage in
party is that apparently all the rage in
party is that apparently all the rage in the United States it seems that the root
the United States it seems that the root
the United States it seems that the root of our lived experience is mainly
of our lived experience is mainly
of our lived experience is mainly derived from which box we tick on that
derived from which box we tick on that
derived from which box we tick on that form or really more accurately which box
form or really more accurately which box
form or really more accurately which box is ticked for us on our behalf the fact
is ticked for us on our behalf the fact
is ticked for us on our behalf the fact that you can describe or assign
that you can describe or assign
that you can describe or assign someone’s gender without their consent
someone’s gender without their consent
someone’s gender without their consent before they can even speak is testament
before they can even speak is testament
before they can even speak is testament to two things one that our understanding
to two things one that our understanding
to two things one that our understanding of gender and sex are still entwined and
of gender and sex are still entwined and
of gender and sex are still entwined and two that we’ve routed our understanding
two that we’ve routed our understanding
two that we’ve routed our understanding of selfhood in one aspect of physical
of selfhood in one aspect of physical
of selfhood in one aspect of physical characteristics forgoing lots of
characteristics forgoing lots of
characteristics forgoing lots of different things that make us who we are
different things that make us who we are
different things that make us who we are experiences our family and lots of other
experiences our family and lots of other
experiences our family and lots of other categories so first things first how do
categories so first things first how do
categories so first things first how do we untie this knot that means gender and
we untie this knot that means gender and
we untie this knot that means gender and sex are entwined in our minds it’s
sex are entwined in our minds it’s
sex are entwined in our minds it’s important to understand that sex is
important to understand that sex is
important to understand that sex is linked to the body and points to the
linked to the body and points to the
linked to the body and points to the physical anatomy of your sex organs also
physical anatomy of your sex organs also
physical anatomy of your sex organs also at this point it’s really important to
at this point it’s really important to
at this point it’s really important to know that sex is not actually a binary
know that sex is not actually a binary
know that sex is not actually a binary thing intersex people for example we’re
thing intersex people for example we’re
thing intersex people for example we’re not often spoken about but do exist
not often spoken about but do exist
not often spoken about but do exist commonly all around the world are those
commonly all around the world are those
commonly all around the world are those of us who have different sex organs that
of us who have different sex organs that
of us who have different sex organs that might mix up the male and female gender
might mix up the male and female gender
might mix up the male and female gender and genitalia or represent different
and genitalia or represent different
and genitalia or represent different kind of anatomies now because of our
kind of anatomies now because of our
kind of anatomies now because of our attachment to the gender binary and our
attachment to the gender binary and our
attachment to the gender binary and our understanding of sex and gender as a
understanding of sex and gender as a
understanding of sex and gender as a binary construct with male here and
binary construct with male here and
binary construct with male here and female there lots of intersex babies are
female there lots of intersex babies are
female there lots of intersex babies are under forced to undergo surgery being
under forced to undergo surgery being
under forced to undergo surgery being intersex is not a health problem it’s
intersex is not a health problem it’s
intersex is not a health problem it’s just a different way of being and yet
just a different way of being and yet
just a different way of being and yet these babies are forced to undergo
these babies are forced to undergo
these babies are forced to undergo surgery suppose they need to make their
surgery suppose they need to make their
surgery suppose they need to make their integration into society easier and to
integration into society easier and to
integration into society easier and to make their lives more comfortable in
make their lives more comfortable in
make their lives more comfortable in reality undergoing surgery as a young
reality undergoing surgery as a young
reality undergoing surgery as a young child without knowing why leads to
child without knowing why leads to
child without knowing why leads to confusion when you’re growing up it can
confusion when you’re growing up it can
confusion when you’re growing up it can lead to post-traumatic stress disorder
lead to post-traumatic stress disorder
lead to post-traumatic stress disorder and also sterilization so what we see is
and also sterilization so what we see is
and also sterilization so what we see is actually people who have perfectly fine
actually people who have perfectly fine
actually people who have perfectly fine bodies that are a threat to our status
bodies that are a threat to our status
bodies that are a threat to our status quo that being changed because we’re
quo that being changed because we’re
quo that being changed because we’re uncomfortable with what that difference
uncomfortable with what that difference
uncomfortable with what that difference might mean our commitment to maintaining
might mean our commitment to maintaining
might mean our commitment to maintaining a binary which is not consistently seen
a binary which is not consistently seen
a binary which is not consistently seen in nature points to my second fact that
in nature points to my second fact that
in nature points to my second fact that in fact we are literally moving and
in fact we are literally moving and
in fact we are literally moving and shaping people’s lives because of our
shaping people’s lives because of our
shaping people’s lives because of our commitment to gender as a construct
commitment to gender as a construct
commitment to gender as a construct we’re ruining people’s bodies their
we’re ruining people’s bodies their
we’re ruining people’s bodies their lives and their hearts in the name of
lives and their hearts in the name of
lives and their hearts in the name of conformity so the question is how can we
conformity so the question is how can we
conformity so the question is how can we move beyond that and why is it that
move beyond that and why is it that
move beyond that and why is it that we’re forced to make meaning of what
we’re forced to make meaning of what
we’re forced to make meaning of what lies between our legs I’m here to ask
lies between our legs I’m here to ask
lies between our legs I’m here to ask the question what would it be like if we
the question what would it be like if we
the question what would it be like if we could live beyond gender if we could
could live beyond gender if we could
could live beyond gender if we could explore ourselves more deeply whilst
explore ourselves more deeply whilst
explore ourselves more deeply whilst knowing that gender gender performance
knowing that gender gender performance
knowing that gender gender performance as a presentation are acts they’re
as a presentation are acts they’re
as a presentation are acts they’re spaces that we can move in and out of
spaces that we can move in and out of
spaces that we can move in and out of freely as we please I’d like to talk a
freely as we please I’d like to talk a
freely as we please I’d like to talk a little bit about my personal experience
little bit about my personal experience
little bit about my personal experience and why I’m here today as a child
and why I’m here today as a child
and why I’m here today as a child growing up I was often confused for a
growing up I was often confused for a
growing up I was often confused for a boy and at the time that really kind of
boy and at the time that really kind of
boy and at the time that really kind of shocked me and also made me feel ashamed
shocked me and also made me feel ashamed
shocked me and also made me feel ashamed I think someone else was talking about
I think someone else was talking about
I think someone else was talking about shame in one of their talks and if
shame in one of their talks and if
shame in one of their talks and if that shame does it makes you silent it
that shame does it makes you silent it
that shame does it makes you silent it makes you hide the experiences that
makes you hide the experiences that
makes you hide the experiences that you’re having in reality that shouldn’t
you’re having in reality that shouldn’t
you’re having in reality that shouldn’t be the case and it impacts how you feel
be the case and it impacts how you feel
be the case and it impacts how you feel comfortable in public spaces and impacts
comfortable in public spaces and impacts
comfortable in public spaces and impacts the way you navigate it speaking on
the way you navigate it speaking on
the way you navigate it speaking on behalf of myself and other people in the
behalf of myself and other people in the
behalf of myself and other people in the queer community intersex community
queer community intersex community
queer community intersex community gender fluid communities these
gender fluid communities these
gender fluid communities these microaggressions that we experience
microaggressions that we experience
microaggressions that we experience daily for example the thing I referred
daily for example the thing I referred
daily for example the thing I referred to my performance at the beginning these
to my performance at the beginning these
to my performance at the beginning these impact the way that we navigate public
impact the way that we navigate public
impact the way that we navigate public spaces transfer may for example
spaces transfer may for example
spaces transfer may for example experience that to an IVA high degree
experience that to an IVA high degree
experience that to an IVA high degree where they’re actually experiencing
where they’re actually experiencing
where they’re actually experiencing violence microaggressions and systemic
violence microaggressions and systemic
violence microaggressions and systemic oppression so this is why this subject
oppression so this is why this subject
oppression so this is why this subject is really important I’m by no means
is really important I’m by no means
is really important I’m by no means saying that gender is about thing that
saying that gender is about thing that
saying that gender is about thing that feeling comfortable in your body is a
feeling comfortable in your body is a
feeling comfortable in your body is a bad thing it’s fine if you want to carry
bad thing it’s fine if you want to carry
bad thing it’s fine if you want to carry out gender in the way that’s been
out gender in the way that’s been
out gender in the way that’s been assigned to you that’s completely fine
assigned to you that’s completely fine
assigned to you that’s completely fine however when gender becomes a tyranny
however when gender becomes a tyranny
however when gender becomes a tyranny for those of us who play it out
for those of us who play it out
for those of us who play it out differently who live it out slightly
differently who live it out slightly
differently who live it out slightly beyond the boxes that’s one we need to
beyond the boxes that’s one we need to
beyond the boxes that’s one we need to start thinking about who gender benefits
start thinking about who gender benefits
start thinking about who gender benefits why exists and how we can move beyond it
why exists and how we can move beyond it
why exists and how we can move beyond it and I’d like to use one small example of
and I’d like to use one small example of
and I’d like to use one small example of a toilet scenario so for lots of us
a toilet scenario so for lots of us
a toilet scenario so for lots of us toilets which are really simple things
toilets which are really simple things
toilets which are really simple things can actually become sites of confusion
can actually become sites of confusion
can actually become sites of confusion and also just before I go on to that I
and also just before I go on to that I
and also just before I go on to that I want to look at the idea of visibility
want to look at the idea of visibility
want to look at the idea of visibility versus invisibility we have lots of
versus invisibility we have lots of
versus invisibility we have lots of conversations nowadays about the
conversations nowadays about the
conversations nowadays about the importance of visibility the importance
importance of visibility the importance
importance of visibility the importance of representation and of course it’s so
of representation and of course it’s so
of representation and of course it’s so so important to see yourself reflected
so important to see yourself reflected
so important to see yourself reflected in society to see yourself in adverts to
in society to see yourself in adverts to
in society to see yourself in adverts to know that you are a viable member and
know that you are a viable member and
know that you are a viable member and that you can achieve what you want
that you can achieve what you want
that you can achieve what you want however invisibility is also a privilege
however invisibility is also a privilege
however invisibility is also a privilege the fact that you can walk down the
the fact that you can walk down the
the fact that you can walk down the street without anyone double taking the
street without anyone double taking the
street without anyone double taking the fact that you can walk into a toilet
fact that you can walk into a toilet
fact that you can walk into a toilet without anyone questioning your presence
without anyone questioning your presence
without anyone questioning your presence is a privilege and so where people who
is a privilege and so where people who
is a privilege and so where people who are gender queer gender fluid are hyper
are gender queer gender fluid are hyper
are gender queer gender fluid are hyper visible their shame is also invisible so
visible their shame is also invisible so
visible their shame is also invisible so back to this toilet scenario I was in
back to this toilet scenario I was in
back to this toilet scenario I was in the British Library going to the toilet
the British Library going to the toilet
the British Library going to the toilet and there was a gender-fluid person in
and there was a gender-fluid person in
and there was a gender-fluid person in the women’s toilets and a member of
the women’s toilets and a member of
the women’s toilets and a member of staff said excuse me miss I don’t mean
staff said excuse me miss I don’t mean
staff said excuse me miss I don’t mean to be rude but are you a miss excuse me
to be rude but are you a miss excuse me
to be rude but are you a miss excuse me miss I don’t mean to be rude rude rude
miss I don’t mean to be rude rude rude
miss I don’t mean to be rude rude rude excuse me miss I don’t mean to be mean
excuse me miss I don’t mean to be mean
excuse me miss I don’t mean to be mean me excuse me miss but are you a miss
me excuse me miss but are you a miss
me excuse me miss but are you a miss excuse me miss but are you a mister
excuse me miss but are you a mister
excuse me miss but are you a mister excuse me miss but are you a mistake
excuse me miss but are you a mistake
excuse me miss but are you a mistake excuse me miss are you a mistake could
excuse me miss are you a mistake could
excuse me miss are you a mistake could you please take yourself out of this
you please take yourself out of this
you please take yourself out of this space excuse me miss but all your missus
space excuse me miss but all your missus
space excuse me miss but all your missus is a kind of ironic nonsensical
is a kind of ironic nonsensical
is a kind of ironic nonsensical contradictory sentence and yet that
contradictory sentence and yet that
contradictory sentence and yet that person used that word to describe the
person used that word to describe the
person used that word to describe the other person because they didn’t have
other person because they didn’t have
other person because they didn’t have the correct language it’s really
the correct language it’s really
the correct language it’s really important to think about how language
important to think about how language
important to think about how language shapes our thoughts how language shapes
shapes our thoughts how language shapes
shapes our thoughts how language shapes the way we interact with other people
the way we interact with other people
the way we interact with other people and we start to change the words we use
and we start to change the words we use
and we start to change the words we use we in fact change the way that we see
we in fact change the way that we see
we in fact change the way that we see the world in the way that we interact
the world in the way that we interact
the world in the way that we interact with other people so what world is it
with other people so what world is it
with other people so what world is it where someone can meet someone else and
where someone can meet someone else and
where someone can meet someone else and not have the right language to describe
not have the right language to describe
not have the right language to describe them and if there’s no language to
them and if there’s no language to
them and if there’s no language to describe us do we exist that might sound
describe us do we exist that might sound
describe us do we exist that might sound a bit hyperbolic but if in a culture
a bit hyperbolic but if in a culture
a bit hyperbolic but if in a culture which is so much based on visual
which is so much based on visual
which is so much based on visual language and actual language there are
language and actual language there are
language and actual language there are black holes within that structure that
black holes within that structure that
black holes within that structure that don’t fit you that you are do not exist
don’t fit you that you are do not exist
don’t fit you that you are do not exist in and in some sense in an ingress t’k
in and in some sense in an ingress t’k
in and in some sense in an ingress t’k sense and in a wider cultural sense lots
sense and in a wider cultural sense lots
sense and in a wider cultural sense lots of people are being silenced so the
of people are being silenced so the
of people are being silenced so the question is how do we patch up that
question is how do we patch up that
question is how do we patch up that black hole and how do we start to make
black hole and how do we start to make
black hole and how do we start to make amends to move in a space of gender
amends to move in a space of gender
amends to move in a space of gender equality and then in my view beyond
equality and then in my view beyond
equality and then in my view beyond gender so that we can live out our
gender so that we can live out our
gender so that we can live out our futures as well as we want to there are
futures as well as we want to there are
futures as well as we want to there are a few examples of that in the English
a few examples of that in the English
a few examples of that in the English language and I’ll look at some other
language and I’ll look at some other
language and I’ll look at some other examples beyond that because I think
examples beyond that because I think
examples beyond that because I think it’s always good to look to other
it’s always good to look to other
it’s always good to look to other examples for ways to go forward so for
examples for ways to go forward so for
examples for ways to go forward so for example they as a pronoun for people who
example they as a pronoun for people who
example they as a pronoun for people who do not fit either binaries is really
do not fit either binaries is really
do not fit either binaries is really useful it’s a very common thing but it’s
useful it’s a very common thing but it’s
useful it’s a very common thing but it’s kind of started to be used more commonly
kind of started to be used more commonly
kind of started to be used more commonly very recently and I think it’s really
very recently and I think it’s really
very recently and I think it’s really interesting to think about how all of us
interesting to think about how all of us
interesting to think about how all of us and I include myself in this still find
and I include myself in this still find
and I include myself in this still find ourselves tripping up on the idea of
ourselves tripping up on the idea of
ourselves tripping up on the idea of some addressing someone with the term
some addressing someone with the term
some addressing someone with the term they it shows us how deeply deeply
they it shows us how deeply deeply
they it shows us how deeply deeply rooted gender is in our sense of being
rooted gender is in our sense of being
rooted gender is in our sense of being and how maybe we should actually start
and how maybe we should actually start
and how maybe we should actually start to question why we are so connected to
to question why we are so connected to
to question why we are so connected to this rooted thing and how we might be
this rooted thing and how we might be
this rooted thing and how we might be able to move beyond that so there is an
able to move beyond that so there is an
able to move beyond that so there is an example of some form of progression even
example of some form of progression even
example of some form of progression even though I’ve witnessed lots of people
though I’ve witnessed lots of people
though I’ve witnessed lots of people being kind of mocked or questioned when
being kind of mocked or questioned when
being kind of mocked or questioned when asked to be addressed that way another
asked to be addressed that way another
asked to be addressed that way another one which I think is really interesting
one which I think is really interesting
one which I think is really interesting more on the kind of form-filling section
more on the kind of form-filling section
more on the kind of form-filling section is the term it’s a title MX so it can be
is the term it’s a title MX so it can be
is the term it’s a title MX so it can be said as a mix or
said as a mix or
said as a mix or mix and that is again to address someone
mix and that is again to address someone
mix and that is again to address someone who doesn’t want to fit into either
who doesn’t want to fit into either
who doesn’t want to fit into either binaries and that’s actually really
binaries and that’s actually really
binaries and that’s actually really important because that is lending the
important because that is lending the
important because that is lending the presence of gender non-conforming people
presence of gender non-conforming people
presence of gender non-conforming people into the space of admin into the space
into the space of admin into the space
into the space of admin into the space of data and though that is a really
of data and though that is a really
of data and though that is a really boring space it’s also a space where
boring space it’s also a space where
boring space it’s also a space where legislation is made and where larger
legislation is made and where larger
legislation is made and where larger changes can actually be made that’s kind
changes can actually be made that’s kind
changes can actually be made that’s kind of English language I fell across a word
of English language I fell across a word
of English language I fell across a word in Tagalog which is a Filipino language
in Tagalog which is a Filipino language
in Tagalog which is a Filipino language and it was really interesting to see how
and it was really interesting to see how
and it was really interesting to see how gender neutrality is much more fluid in
gender neutrality is much more fluid in
gender neutrality is much more fluid in that language so there is a sentence
that language so there is a sentence
that language so there is a sentence which I’m just going to find here see ya
which I’m just going to find here see ya
which I’m just going to find here see ya I Messiah means she is happy CI Messiah
I Messiah means she is happy CI Messiah
I Messiah means she is happy CI Messiah also means he is happy that sentence is
also means he is happy that sentence is
also means he is happy that sentence is obviously the same thing twice what’s
obviously the same thing twice what’s
obviously the same thing twice what’s important there is the happiness not the
important there is the happiness not the
important there is the happiness not the gender of that person also a finish is
gender of that person also a finish is
gender of that person also a finish is also a language has lots of
also a language has lots of
also a language has lots of gender-neutral pronouns and you can
gender-neutral pronouns and you can
gender-neutral pronouns and you can actually have an entire conversation
actually have an entire conversation
actually have an entire conversation without relating to someone’s gender
without relating to someone’s gender
without relating to someone’s gender what kind of freeing thing that I might
what kind of freeing thing that I might
what kind of freeing thing that I might be able to be to just have a
be able to be to just have a
be able to be to just have a conversation in the same way that you
conversation in the same way that you
conversation in the same way that you don’t necessarily ask someone where
don’t necessarily ask someone where
don’t necessarily ask someone where they’re from what their parents do and
they’re from what their parents do and
they’re from what their parents do and just to interact in that way those are
just to interact in that way those are
just to interact in that way those are examples of languages that kind of lend
examples of languages that kind of lend
examples of languages that kind of lend us a more elastic space to start
us a more elastic space to start
us a more elastic space to start expressing ourselves freely beyond the
expressing ourselves freely beyond the
expressing ourselves freely beyond the labels that we’ve got and we just want
labels that we’ve got and we just want
labels that we’ve got and we just want to talk a little bit about other
to talk a little bit about other
to talk a little bit about other cultures which have a much broader
cultures which have a much broader
cultures which have a much broader understanding of gender than the ones
understanding of gender than the ones
understanding of gender than the ones that we’re currently living with and
that we’re currently living with and
that we’re currently living with and also to think about the fact not all of
also to think about the fact not all of
also to think about the fact not all of this is new I think some people for whom
this is new I think some people for whom
this is new I think some people for whom it’s not a living experience think all
it’s not a living experience think all
it’s not a living experience think all these new labels all these new titles
these new labels all these new titles
these new labels all these new titles this is so confusing but the reality is
this is so confusing but the reality is
this is so confusing but the reality is that these different types of self hoods
that these different types of self hoods
that these different types of self hoods are not new we’re just now finding ways
are not new we’re just now finding ways
are not new we’re just now finding ways to describe them and for those of us who
to describe them and for those of us who
to describe them and for those of us who fit it it’s a liberation it’s not
fit it it’s a liberation it’s not
fit it it’s a liberation it’s not something being added on it’s literally
something being added on it’s literally
something being added on it’s literally falling into language that is useful for
falling into language that is useful for
falling into language that is useful for you so I’d like to talk a little bit
you so I’d like to talk a little bit
you so I’d like to talk a little bit about the Navajo tribe who existed with
about the Navajo tribe who existed with
about the Navajo tribe who existed with the American Native Americans before
the American Native Americans before
the American Native Americans before European colonization they have a term
European colonization they have a term
European colonization they have a term which is called nad leaky which directly
which is called nad leaky which directly
which is called nad leaky which directly translates as the one who is transformed
translates as the one who is transformed
translates as the one who is transformed and it also means the two-spirit so this
and it also means the two-spirit so this
and it also means the two-spirit so this relates to people who have been known to
relates to people who have been known to
relates to people who have been known to inhabit the two spirits of male and
inhabit the two spirits of male and
inhabit the two spirits of male and female whilst they’re still a gender
female whilst they’re still a gender
female whilst they’re still a gender binary there we’re still discussing male
binary there we’re still discussing male
binary there we’re still discussing male and female there’s more fluidity in that
and female there’s more fluidity in that
and female there’s more fluidity in that movement what’s also really interesting
movement what’s also really interesting
movement what’s also really interesting is that the custom was for children
is that the custom was for children
is that the custom was for children to be dressed gender-neutral up to the
to be dressed gender-neutral up to the
to be dressed gender-neutral up to the coming-of-age ceremony I’m not sure what
coming-of-age ceremony I’m not sure what
coming-of-age ceremony I’m not sure what age that was at which point the child
age that was at which point the child
age that was at which point the child could then decide which gender and which
could then decide which gender and which
could then decide which gender and which gender role they wanted to inhabit so
gender role they wanted to inhabit so
gender role they wanted to inhabit so simple happened so many years before a
simple happened so many years before a
simple happened so many years before a kind of more Western I would also say
kind of more Western I would also say
kind of more Western I would also say Christian ideology of a fixed gender
Christian ideology of a fixed gender
Christian ideology of a fixed gender came about in the Nevada Tribe as well
came about in the Nevada Tribe as well
came about in the Nevada Tribe as well they actually had up to five genders so
they actually had up to five genders so
they actually had up to five genders so just a I found that fact really
just a I found that fact really
just a I found that fact really interesting just to think about how long
interesting just to think about how long
interesting just to think about how long ago that was and how simple a change it
ago that was and how simple a change it
ago that was and how simple a change it is but quite an ideological shift for
is but quite an ideological shift for
is but quite an ideological shift for lots of us so obviously I’m not saying
lots of us so obviously I’m not saying
lots of us so obviously I’m not saying that gender doesn’t exist it does exist
that gender doesn’t exist it does exist
that gender doesn’t exist it does exist the fact that women get paid less than
the fact that women get paid less than
the fact that women get paid less than men for doing exactly the same jobs
men for doing exactly the same jobs
men for doing exactly the same jobs means that we still need to tackle
means that we still need to tackle
means that we still need to tackle things along the lines of gender
things along the lines of gender
things along the lines of gender similarly the fact that trans femputer
similarly the fact that trans femputer
similarly the fact that trans femputer people overall are still experiencing
people overall are still experiencing
people overall are still experiencing oppression daily violence murders means
oppression daily violence murders means
oppression daily violence murders means that we need to discuss these topics
that we need to discuss these topics
that we need to discuss these topics really what I’m saying is not to get rid
really what I’m saying is not to get rid
really what I’m saying is not to get rid of gender all together to ask everyone
of gender all together to ask everyone
of gender all together to ask everyone in this room to take their gender and
in this room to take their gender and
in this room to take their gender and burn it not at all but it’s to move into
burn it not at all but it’s to move into
burn it not at all but it’s to move into a space beyond gender where it becomes
a space beyond gender where it becomes
a space beyond gender where it becomes one of your attributes and one that we
one of your attributes and one that we
one of your attributes and one that we do not assume and we meet someone else
do not assume and we meet someone else
do not assume and we meet someone else because we have no idea what’s going on
because we have no idea what’s going on
because we have no idea what’s going on inside them and how they feel about
inside them and how they feel about
inside them and how they feel about themselves so we’re not forcing gender
themselves so we’re not forcing gender
themselves so we’re not forcing gender listeners on anyone and also I just like
listeners on anyone and also I just like
listeners on anyone and also I just like to point out that when we start to
to point out that when we start to
to point out that when we start to expand our salford we start to expand
expand our salford we start to expand
expand our salford we start to expand the language that we use when we
the language that we use when we
the language that we use when we recolonize our tongues with the words we
recolonize our tongues with the words we
recolonize our tongues with the words we need to shape the world we really want
need to shape the world we really want
need to shape the world we really want to live in and the scope for other kinds
to live in and the scope for other kinds
to live in and the scope for other kinds of freedom is so so much larger if we
of freedom is so so much larger if we
of freedom is so so much larger if we start to free ourselves of this burden
start to free ourselves of this burden
start to free ourselves of this burden of gender which is a burden for some and
of gender which is a burden for some and
of gender which is a burden for some and not father’s we can really expand I’d
not father’s we can really expand I’d
not father’s we can really expand I’d like to end on a poem I wrote which
like to end on a poem I wrote which
like to end on a poem I wrote which really speaks to what kind of world that
really speaks to what kind of world that
really speaks to what kind of world that might be able to shape dawn
in the cracks between dawn and awake I
in the cracks between dawn and awake I dream imagine the kinds of world my
dream imagine the kinds of world my
dream imagine the kinds of world my children’s children might frequent what
children’s children might frequent what
children’s children might frequent what school they might for quintet
school they might for quintet
school they might for quintet moss-covered buildings housing teachers
moss-covered buildings housing teachers
moss-covered buildings housing teachers that know not to expel Kojo and chastise
that know not to expel Kojo and chastise
that know not to expel Kojo and chastise J’s the corridors are safe way runways
J’s the corridors are safe way runways
J’s the corridors are safe way runways for kids who want to shimmy slouch or
for kids who want to shimmy slouch or
for kids who want to shimmy slouch or vogue their way to lunch at break time
vogue their way to lunch at break time
vogue their way to lunch at break time the children trade secrets on consent
the children trade secrets on consent
the children trade secrets on consent and the fact that bodies can only ever
and the fact that bodies can only ever
and the fact that bodies can only ever be owned by the souls renting space
be owned by the souls renting space
be owned by the souls renting space inside them and that shame is a lost
inside them and that shame is a lost
inside them and that shame is a lost language spoken by the ones who came
language spoken by the ones who came
language spoken by the ones who came before in history class mix Williams
before in history class mix Williams
before in history class mix Williams tells the true story of Britain’s past
tells the true story of Britain’s past
tells the true story of Britain’s past blood-red and unrepentant opens windows
blood-red and unrepentant opens windows
blood-red and unrepentant opens windows on two lessons that will stand the
on two lessons that will stand the
on two lessons that will stand the future in good stead my children’s
future in good stead my children’s
future in good stead my children’s children walk home and kiss the trees in
children walk home and kiss the trees in
children walk home and kiss the trees in honor of their silent work dance in
honor of their silent work dance in
honor of their silent work dance in reverence of the rain and sing songs to
reverence of the rain and sing songs to
reverence of the rain and sing songs to mother earth in the cracks between dawn
mother earth in the cracks between dawn
mother earth in the cracks between dawn and awake I open my eyes to find my
and awake I open my eyes to find my
and awake I open my eyes to find my hands clasped in prayer thank you
hands clasped in prayer thank you
hands clasped in prayer thank you [Applause]
[Applause]
[Applause] [Music]
”
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