When I Came Out As Trans

when i came out as trans

[ or, toxic masculinity from the perspective of a trans guy ]

when i came out as trans my warm and loving family supported me

but they treated me differently

when i came out as trans my dad asked if he should start slapping me on the back and socking me in the arm instead of hugging me.

when i came out as trans my mom wanted to know if i would still got with her on fun trips to the mall to buy clothes and home decor items.

when i came out as trans my grandfather looked positively startled and overjoyed when i kissed his cheek and told him to drive safe.

when i came out as trans my grandmother asked if it was okay if she hugged me in public or if it would embarrass me.

when i came out as trans my dad told me that he had a lot to teach me— he said this because i told him i thought make up was fun.

when i came out as trans my aunt apologized for kissing me on the forehead.

when i came out as trans my uncle gave me a handshake rather than a hug.

when i came out as trans my cousins hesitated to hug me at the door.

when i came out as trans my family hesitated to show me the casual affection and platonic love they had previously felt free to give.

end toxic masculinity.

show your sons as much affection as you would show your daughters.

let your sons indulge in beauty when they want to and always support them.

do not think for one second that the societal expectation of masculinity is more important than the individual feelings and needs of someone you love.

Sino artists and writers worldwide: sinθ Issue #6 “CLEAR 清” is accepting submissions! 

Sine Theta is an international creative arts magazine made by and for the Sino diaspora. We publish quarterly print editions showcasing art and writing by Sino creators from around the globe.

We are now accepting submissions for issue #6, to be released on November 18, 2017. Its theme is CLEAR 清 and the submissions deadline is October 8. Please refer to our submission guidelines for more information on how to become a contributor. We feature a wide range of media, including painting, photography, comics, poetry, prose, film stills, installations, and more.

All submitted works must relate to the theme. Visit sinetheta.net/6 for thematic inspiration and more information relating to this issue! 

We also have a Pinterest board with some visual inspiration.

If you are of Sino (Chinese, Taiwanese, Hong Kong, Macau) heritage, please consider submitting! If not, tell a friend who is! Sine Theta is an English-language publication accessible to all.

Please email us at sinethetamag@gmail.com if you have any questions!

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I’ve stopped being sorry for all my soft. I won’t apologise because I miss you, or because I said it, or because I text you first, or again. I think everyone spends too much time trying to close themselves off. I don’t want to be cool or indifferent, I want to be honest. If I love you at 5AM, I’d damn well rather that you know I felt it. If I love you two hours later, I’ll tell you then too. Listen, I won’t wait double the time it takes for you to text me back because I don’t want to. I don’t care enough to be patient with you. I’m happy, you made me feel that way, don’t you want to know? So that’s how it’s going to be. I’m going to leave myself as open as a church door. And I’m going to wake you up before the crack of dawn to tell you that I’m fucking joyful, no pretending, not from me, not ever. Would you like some coffee, would you please kiss me? Here, these are my hands, this is my mouth, it is all yours.

Azra.T “Don’t Wait Three Days to Text First.” (via goodquoteco)

a character: *is written realistically and has more than one aspect to their personality because that’s the whole point of having multifaceted characters, so it can create depth*

people who have obviously never written a three dimensional character in their life: “lmao the fuck?? is this inconsistent characterization??? this character was sad 7 episodes ago and now they’re smiling because they’re feeling ”“”“happy”“”“”?? in MY house??? bad writing, 0/10"

“Eating Chinese: culture on the menu in small town Canada”. written by Lily Cho

Chinese restaurants in small town Canada are at once everywhere - you would be hard pressed to find a town without a Chinese restaurant - and yet they are conspicuously absent in critical discussions of Chinese diasporic culture or even in popular writing about Chinese food. In Eating Chinese, Lily Cho examines Chinese restaurants as spaces that define, for those both inside and outside the community, what it means to be Chinese and what it means to be Chinese-Canadian. Despite restrictions on immigration and explicitly racist legislation at national and provincial levels, Chinese immigrants have long dominated the restaurant industry in Canada. While isolated by racism, Chinese communities in Canada were still strongly connected to their non-Chinese neighbours through the food that they prepared and served. Cho looks at this surprisingly ubiquitous feature of small-town Canada through menus, literature, art, and music. An innovative approach to the study of diaspora, Eating Chinese brings to light the cultural spaces crafted by restaurateurs, diners, cooks, servers, and artists.

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And I can’t help but to run my fingers down your spine like you are my favorite book. But I still cannot read you, you are your own language. Your pages are tired and torn, but I want you, I want it all.

Michelle K., “Like A Book” (via thelovejournals)