[Applause] so first off let me introduce myself my
so first off let me introduce myself my
so first off let me introduce myself my name is Annika barber I’m 16 I go to
name is Annika barber I’m 16 I go to
name is Annika barber I’m 16 I go to school in fort langley I’m panromantic
school in fort langley I’m panromantic
school in fort langley I’m panromantic and i’m pansexual yeah yep that’s kind
and i’m pansexual yeah yep that’s kind
and i’m pansexual yeah yep that’s kind of strange right like have you ever
of strange right like have you ever
of strange right like have you ever heard anybody introduce themselves like
heard anybody introduce themselves like
heard anybody introduce themselves like that exactly but have you ever stopped
that exactly but have you ever stopped
that exactly but have you ever stopped to think about why we think that’s
to think about why we think that’s
to think about why we think that’s strange why is it when I introduce
strange why is it when I introduce
strange why is it when I introduce myself the first three things I say our
myself the first three things I say our
myself the first three things I say our standard and the last two are weird you
standard and the last two are weird you
standard and the last two are weird you know why is it that when I stick these
know why is it that when I stick these
know why is it that when I stick these labels on myself we get uncomfortable
from the minute we can comprehend the
from the minute we can comprehend the messages the media sends us until the
messages the media sends us until the
messages the media sends us until the day that we can’t we’re told that labels
day that we can’t we’re told that labels
day that we can’t we’re told that labels for ourselves are unacceptable their
for ourselves are unacceptable their
for ourselves are unacceptable their attention seeking we should just drop
attention seeking we should just drop
attention seeking we should just drop the self-identify errs and be ourselves
the self-identify errs and be ourselves
the self-identify errs and be ourselves namely the ourselves other people want
namely the ourselves other people want
namely the ourselves other people want us to be this idea is fed to us through
us to be this idea is fed to us through
us to be this idea is fed to us through the media through TV books film and
the media through TV books film and
the media through TV books film and tabloids it’s given to us through the
tabloids it’s given to us through the
tabloids it’s given to us through the speech of people who aren’t in the LGBT
speech of people who aren’t in the LGBT
speech of people who aren’t in the LGBT community and the people who are LGBT
community and the people who are LGBT
community and the people who are LGBT people who are ultimately comfortable in
people who are ultimately comfortable in
people who are ultimately comfortable in their identity who turn around and
their identity who turn around and
their identity who turn around and project their experience on to other
project their experience on to other
project their experience on to other people now this isn’t necessarily their
people now this isn’t necessarily their
people now this isn’t necessarily their faults and the reason why I’ll get into
faults and the reason why I’ll get into
faults and the reason why I’ll get into in a minute but this isn’t played up to
in a minute but this isn’t played up to
in a minute but this isn’t played up to be a huge issue if you’re not educated
be a huge issue if you’re not educated
be a huge issue if you’re not educated on or even aware of said issue you might
on or even aware of said issue you might
on or even aware of said issue you might not think the concept of anti label
not think the concept of anti label
not think the concept of anti label culture is a thing much less a problem
culture is a thing much less a problem
culture is a thing much less a problem but to see it’s prevalent all you got to
but to see it’s prevalent all you got to
but to see it’s prevalent all you got to do is look at the representation of
do is look at the representation of
do is look at the representation of LGBTQ people in the media look at the
LGBTQ people in the media look at the
LGBTQ people in the media look at the representation of lesbians always either
representation of lesbians always either
representation of lesbians always either butch or lipstick on one end of the
butch or lipstick on one end of the
butch or lipstick on one end of the spectrum or the other always either
spectrum or the other always either
spectrum or the other always either man-hating or in need of the right man
man-hating or in need of the right man
man-hating or in need of the right man to fix her or look at the representation
to fix her or look at the representation
to fix her or look at the representation of gay men
of gay men
of gay men flamboyant Percy’s of straight girls its
flamboyant Percy’s of straight girls its
flamboyant Percy’s of straight girls its destructive self-hating home wreckers or
destructive self-hating home wreckers or
destructive self-hating home wreckers or ultra masculine with boatloads of
ultra masculine with boatloads of
ultra masculine with boatloads of internalized homophobia so in turn men
internalized homophobia so in turn men
internalized homophobia so in turn men who remotely fit these stereotypes are
who remotely fit these stereotypes are
who remotely fit these stereotypes are afraid to be themselves less
afraid to be themselves less
afraid to be themselves less perpetuating a TV stereotype or seeming
perpetuating a TV stereotype or seeming
perpetuating a TV stereotype or seeming gay and then transgender characters
gay and then transgender characters
gay and then transgender characters deceitful deceptive ultimately hateful
deceitful deceptive ultimately hateful
deceitful deceptive ultimately hateful and bisexual characters the small amount
and bisexual characters the small amount
and bisexual characters the small amount that there is anyways who think labels
that there is anyways who think labels
that there is anyways who think labels are for soup cans or who never engage
are for soup cans or who never engage
are for soup cans or who never engage emotionally but just sexually with the
emotionally but just sexually with the
emotionally but just sexually with the same gender for the viewers pleasure
same gender for the viewers pleasure
same gender for the viewers pleasure quote unquote so it’s created a culture
quote unquote so it’s created a culture
quote unquote so it’s created a culture of labels being a hush-hush touchy
of labels being a hush-hush touchy
of labels being a hush-hush touchy subject within the LGBT community and it
subject within the LGBT community and it
subject within the LGBT community and it affects everybody even I catch myself
affects everybody even I catch myself
affects everybody even I catch myself thinking why would they need to call
thinking why would they need to call
thinking why would they need to call themselves that they wouldn’t blah blah
themselves that they wouldn’t blah blah
themselves that they wouldn’t blah blah suffice so it’s it’s something that LGBT
suffice so it’s it’s something that LGBT
suffice so it’s it’s something that LGBT people internalize it’s expected of us
people internalize it’s expected of us
people internalize it’s expected of us to live up to the standards set by
to live up to the standards set by
to live up to the standards set by people outside of our community to be
people outside of our community to be
people outside of our community to be the perfect queers that never talk about
the perfect queers that never talk about
the perfect queers that never talk about it who don’t confuse other people with
it who don’t confuse other people with
it who don’t confuse other people with our labels or our terminology is it I
our labels or our terminology is it I
our labels or our terminology is it I mean the GAR we all people don’t we all
mean the GAR we all people don’t we all
mean the GAR we all people don’t we all bleed red see when you’ve been fed an
bleed red see when you’ve been fed an
bleed red see when you’ve been fed an ideology for your entire life when
ideology for your entire life when
ideology for your entire life when what’s been taught to you is all you
what’s been taught to you is all you
what’s been taught to you is all you know you turn around and you feed it to
know you turn around and you feed it to
know you turn around and you feed it to other people so the idea that labeling
other people so the idea that labeling
other people so the idea that labeling ourselves is inherently scary and
ourselves is inherently scary and
ourselves is inherently scary and ostracizing is so deeply ingrained into
ostracizing is so deeply ingrained into
ostracizing is so deeply ingrained into our society and into the way that we
our society and into the way that we
our society and into the way that we function that we as LGBTQ people end up
function that we as LGBTQ people end up
function that we as LGBTQ people end up sharing an ideology that hurts us so the
sharing an ideology that hurts us so the
sharing an ideology that hurts us so the premise of this is to talk about how
premise of this is to talk about how
premise of this is to talk about how labels themselves can be empowering and
labels themselves can be empowering and
labels themselves can be empowering and because we’re taught the opposite I feel
because we’re taught the opposite I feel
because we’re taught the opposite I feel it’s necessary to address the rainbow
it’s necessary to address the rainbow
it’s necessary to address the rainbow elephant in the room so to speak
elephant in the room so to speak
elephant in the room so to speak so yes forcing a label on to someone who
so yes forcing a label on to someone who
so yes forcing a label on to someone who doesn’t want one is awful and we see
doesn’t want one is awful and we see
doesn’t want one is awful and we see that happen in the media as well for
that happen in the media as well for
that happen in the media as well for sure but the point is is that um people
sure but the point is is that um people
sure but the point is is that um people don’t realize that the reverse happens
don’t realize that the reverse happens
don’t realize that the reverse happens and that it’s equally as bad and often
and that it’s equally as bad and often
and that it’s equally as bad and often when we think that the media is forcing
when we think that the media is forcing
when we think that the media is forcing label on to someone who’s rejecting them
label on to someone who’s rejecting them
label on to someone who’s rejecting them we’re actually stripping them of their
we’re actually stripping them of their
we’re actually stripping them of their sense of self of their label example we
sense of self of their label example we
sense of self of their label example we diminish the bisexuality of Angelina
diminish the bisexuality of Angelina
diminish the bisexuality of Angelina Jolie Portia de Rossi Channing Tatum
Jolie Portia de Rossi Channing Tatum
Jolie Portia de Rossi Channing Tatum Freddie Mercury lady gaga drew Barrymore
Freddie Mercury lady gaga drew Barrymore
Freddie Mercury lady gaga drew Barrymore Amy Winehouse we boiled down female
Amy Winehouse we boiled down female
Amy Winehouse we boiled down female athletes and their wives Christian
athletes and their wives Christian
athletes and their wives Christian Stewart and her girlfriend down to gal
Stewart and her girlfriend down to gal
Stewart and her girlfriend down to gal pals we imply that female relationships
pals we imply that female relationships
pals we imply that female relationships only ever exist within the realm of
only ever exist within the realm of
only ever exist within the realm of friendship never romance so forcing the
friendship never romance so forcing the
friendship never romance so forcing the label-free idea on to people who
label-free idea on to people who
label-free idea on to people who positively identify with one is harmful
positively identify with one is harmful
positively identify with one is harmful and it’s alienating I’ve read about the
and it’s alienating I’ve read about the
and it’s alienating I’ve read about the suicides of trans gender teenagers who
suicides of trans gender teenagers who
suicides of trans gender teenagers who had and still have their sense of worth
had and still have their sense of worth
had and still have their sense of worth boiled down to tomboy flamboyant it’s a
boiled down to tomboy flamboyant it’s a
boiled down to tomboy flamboyant it’s a culture that kills and I’ve heard from
culture that kills and I’ve heard from
culture that kills and I’ve heard from other people as well as felt at myself
other people as well as felt at myself
other people as well as felt at myself that coming out is one of the hardest
that coming out is one of the hardest
that coming out is one of the hardest things I’ve had to do because the
things I’ve had to do because the
things I’ve had to do because the backlash against how they label
backlash against how they label
backlash against how they label themselves is monumental and I’ve heard
themselves is monumental and I’ve heard
themselves is monumental and I’ve heard from people who are afraid to come out
from people who are afraid to come out
from people who are afraid to come out because they fear that backlash are they
because they fear that backlash are they
because they fear that backlash are they fear that nobody nobody will believe
fear that nobody nobody will believe
fear that nobody nobody will believe them or that nobody will understand and
them or that nobody will understand and
them or that nobody will understand and then I’ve heard from people who just
then I’ve heard from people who just
then I’ve heard from people who just feel alone who don’t know where on earth
feel alone who don’t know where on earth
feel alone who don’t know where on earth they stand who feel different and ugly
they stand who feel different and ugly
they stand who feel different and ugly and want to push down the confusions
and want to push down the confusions
and want to push down the confusions that they feel to fit in despite this
that they feel to fit in despite this
that they feel to fit in despite this people still say what’s the point of
people still say what’s the point of
people still say what’s the point of labels people still say why not just be
labels people still say why not just be
labels people still say why not just be you
you
you and they say that and I hear why are you
and they say that and I hear why are you
and they say that and I hear why are you interested in having words to understand
interested in having words to understand
interested in having words to understand and describe your experiences why are
and describe your experiences why are
and describe your experiences why are you interested in identifying with
you interested in identifying with
you interested in identifying with others why are you interested in feeling
others why are you interested in feeling
others why are you interested in feeling anything other than different and alone
anything other than different and alone
anything other than different and alone my point here and I’m just going to be
my point here and I’m just going to be
my point here and I’m just going to be straight up other people’s identities
straight up other people’s identities
straight up other people’s identities are none of your business and yours is
are none of your business and yours is
are none of your business and yours is not of theirs so if fluid is how you
not of theirs so if fluid is how you
not of theirs so if fluid is how you want to describe yourself if labels
want to describe yourself if labels
want to describe yourself if labels aren’t your style then so be it that’s
aren’t your style then so be it that’s
aren’t your style then so be it that’s you but if i want for labels five or six
you but if i want for labels five or six
you but if i want for labels five or six if I want all separate labels for gender
if I want all separate labels for gender
if I want all separate labels for gender sexual orientation romantic attraction
sexual orientation romantic attraction
sexual orientation romantic attraction then I’m going to have them and there’s
then I’m going to have them and there’s
then I’m going to have them and there’s nobody that can stop me because it’s
nobody that can stop me because it’s
nobody that can stop me because it’s myself and it makes me feel like I
myself and it makes me feel like I
myself and it makes me feel like I matter so actually that brings me to my
matter so actually that brings me to my
matter so actually that brings me to my next point which is the split attraction
next point which is the split attraction
next point which is the split attraction model basically the splitter traction
model basically the splitter traction
model basically the splitter traction model says that sexual and romantic
model says that sexual and romantic
model says that sexual and romantic orientation / attraction isn’t
orientation / attraction isn’t
orientation / attraction isn’t inherently mutual so because of that you
inherently mutual so because of that you
inherently mutual so because of that you might hear people call themselves by
might hear people call themselves by
might hear people call themselves by romantic asexual or panromantic
romantic asexual or panromantic
romantic asexual or panromantic heterosexual or a romantic homosexual so
heterosexual or a romantic homosexual so
heterosexual or a romantic homosexual so then the question that’s brought up is
then the question that’s brought up is
then the question that’s brought up is why should you make sex a part of your
why should you make sex a part of your
why should you make sex a part of your identity like why does anybody need to
identity like why does anybody need to
identity like why does anybody need to know who you want to go to bed with
know who you want to go to bed with
know who you want to go to bed with right well i mean first off i say why is
right well i mean first off i say why is
right well i mean first off i say why is anybody’s identity your business in the
anybody’s identity your business in the
anybody’s identity your business in the first place but but really when did when
first place but but really when did when
first place but but really when did when did sex become an eight ly dirty when
did sex become an eight ly dirty when
did sex become an eight ly dirty when did intimacy and attraction especially
did intimacy and attraction especially
did intimacy and attraction especially between LGBTQ people become taboo right
between LGBTQ people become taboo right
between LGBTQ people become taboo right it’s like I’m in high school we’re all
it’s like I’m in high school we’re all
it’s like I’m in high school we’re all in high school and I’m around sex jokes
in high school and I’m around sex jokes
in high school and I’m around sex jokes and hormone driven teenagers all day and
and hormone driven teenagers all day and
and hormone driven teenagers all day and you’re telling me that calling myself
you’re telling me that calling myself
you’re telling me that calling myself pansexual is the thing that makes me
pansexual is the thing that makes me
pansexual is the thing that makes me dirty okay like that’s what turns people
dirty okay like that’s what turns people
dirty okay like that’s what turns people off of labels that’s what pushes
off of labels that’s what pushes
off of labels that’s what pushes to be GQ people further into the closet
to be GQ people further into the closet
to be GQ people further into the closet having an identity isn’t dirty being
having an identity isn’t dirty being
having an identity isn’t dirty being attracted to the same gender or to
attracted to the same gender or to
attracted to the same gender or to multiple genders that doesn’t make you
multiple genders that doesn’t make you
multiple genders that doesn’t make you dirty sex dozen decimate your value so
dirty sex dozen decimate your value so
dirty sex dozen decimate your value so if you’re watching this in some form and
if you’re watching this in some form and
if you’re watching this in some form and you’re struggling with some part of your
you’re struggling with some part of your
you’re struggling with some part of your identity or finding yourself just just
identity or finding yourself just just
identity or finding yourself just just listen to me anti label culture doesn’t
listen to me anti label culture doesn’t
listen to me anti label culture doesn’t have to make your journey negative
have to make your journey negative
have to make your journey negative actually let me elaborate on that when
actually let me elaborate on that when
actually let me elaborate on that when you’re aware of the existence of anti
you’re aware of the existence of anti
you’re aware of the existence of anti label culture it doesn’t have to have
label culture it doesn’t have to have
label culture it doesn’t have to have the power to make your journey and
the power to make your journey and
the power to make your journey and finding yourself negative your identity
finding yourself negative your identity
finding yourself negative your identity is determined by you and your self only
is determined by you and your self only
is determined by you and your self only people’s perceptions of you and how you
people’s perceptions of you and how you
people’s perceptions of you and how you label yourself that doesn’t undermine
label yourself that doesn’t undermine
label yourself that doesn’t undermine your worse indecisiveness doubts and
your worse indecisiveness doubts and
your worse indecisiveness doubts and confusions in yourself don’t undermine
confusions in yourself don’t undermine
confusions in yourself don’t undermine your worth your worth is caged in by
your worth your worth is caged in by
your worth your worth is caged in by every aspect of your personality and
every aspect of your personality and
every aspect of your personality and your identity that makes you who you are
your identity that makes you who you are
your identity that makes you who you are nobody can touch that and it’s easier
nobody can touch that and it’s easier
nobody can touch that and it’s easier said than done I realize that facing
said than done I realize that facing
said than done I realize that facing criticism from seemingly everybody even
criticism from seemingly everybody even
criticism from seemingly everybody even those within your own community they can
those within your own community they can
those within your own community they can wear on you identifying as pansexual was
wear on you identifying as pansexual was
wear on you identifying as pansexual was one of the hands down one of the hardest
one of the hands down one of the hardest
one of the hands down one of the hardest things I’ve had to do because people
things I’ve had to do because people
things I’ve had to do because people like to steer the still like to sneer
like to steer the still like to sneer
like to steer the still like to sneer that’s the special snowflake version of
that’s the special snowflake version of
that’s the special snowflake version of bisexual and still being completely
bisexual and still being completely
bisexual and still being completely comfortable in Who I am the criticism
comfortable in Who I am the criticism
comfortable in Who I am the criticism still gets to me
so coming to terms with who I am gave me
so coming to terms with who I am gave me a tied to the LGBTQ community that I
a tied to the LGBTQ community that I
a tied to the LGBTQ community that I didn’t have previously finding a label
didn’t have previously finding a label
didn’t have previously finding a label that describes who i am and encapsulate
that describes who i am and encapsulate
that describes who i am and encapsulate how i feel made me feel like I wasn’t
how i feel made me feel like I wasn’t
how i feel made me feel like I wasn’t displaced right I wasn’t alone I wasn’t
displaced right I wasn’t alone I wasn’t
displaced right I wasn’t alone I wasn’t different you know coal from the TV show
different you know coal from the TV show
different you know coal from the TV show the Fosters puts it like this I
the Fosters puts it like this I
the Fosters puts it like this I understand not wanting to check a box
understand not wanting to check a box
understand not wanting to check a box but there’s power and labels to my label
but there’s power and labels to my label
but there’s power and labels to my label is what got me through and sometimes it
is what got me through and sometimes it
is what got me through and sometimes it can make you feel not so alone and then
can make you feel not so alone and then
can make you feel not so alone and then in Star Trek beyond lieutenant Uhura
in Star Trek beyond lieutenant Uhura
in Star Trek beyond lieutenant Uhura says there’s strength in unity and there
says there’s strength in unity and there
says there’s strength in unity and there is there is strength in community
is there is strength in community
is there is strength in community there’s a strength found when you’re
there’s a strength found when you’re
there’s a strength found when you’re able to connect to people like yourself
able to connect to people like yourself
able to connect to people like yourself when previously you thought yourself
when previously you thought yourself
when previously you thought yourself hopeless
so you can say I’m putting myself in a
so you can say I’m putting myself in a box all you want you can say we’re all
box all you want you can say we’re all
box all you want you can say we’re all putting ourselves in boxes but for me
putting ourselves in boxes but for me
putting ourselves in boxes but for me finding a label with more like climbing
finding a label with more like climbing
finding a label with more like climbing out of the box so pansexuality isn’t my
out of the box so pansexuality isn’t my
out of the box so pansexuality isn’t my shackles but it’s the key that unlocks
shackles but it’s the key that unlocks
shackles but it’s the key that unlocks them and I know so many other people
them and I know so many other people
them and I know so many other people that feel the same way so
if you kept the same label for years or
if you kept the same label for years or if you change it every day if you’re set
if you change it every day if you’re set
if you change it every day if you’re set on one or if you’re still looking if you
on one or if you’re still looking if you
on one or if you’re still looking if you call yourself bisexual or pan romantic
call yourself bisexual or pan romantic
call yourself bisexual or pan romantic or straight or gay or lesbian if you’re
or straight or gay or lesbian if you’re
or straight or gay or lesbian if you’re transgender or non-binary or a gender by
transgender or non-binary or a gender by
transgender or non-binary or a gender by gender gender fluid the LGBTQ community
gender gender fluid the LGBTQ community
gender gender fluid the LGBTQ community was built on the backs of queer trans
was built on the backs of queer trans
was built on the backs of queer trans woman sex worker drag queens of color
woman sex worker drag queens of color
woman sex worker drag queens of color that’s a whole lot of labels and they
that’s a whole lot of labels and they
that’s a whole lot of labels and they built our community so I’d say they’re
built our community so I’d say they’re
built our community so I’d say they’re valid now through this whole speech
valid now through this whole speech
valid now through this whole speech through my 16 minutes or so of talking
through my 16 minutes or so of talking
through my 16 minutes or so of talking if you still hold the idea of what’s the
if you still hold the idea of what’s the
if you still hold the idea of what’s the point of labels and why not just be you
point of labels and why not just be you
point of labels and why not just be you well there’s really not much more I can
well there’s really not much more I can
well there’s really not much more I can say but I’d just like to say be
say but I’d just like to say be
say but I’d just like to say be accepting accept others people’s choices
accepting accept others people’s choices
accepting accept others people’s choices and just let people be happy
and just let people be happy
and just let people be happy you
”
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