Butch Femme Planet - View Single Post - Identity, Authenticity

ruffryder · 10-26-2012, 11:49 AM

I don't believe Identity is a way to avoid having to become authentic but vice versa. One becomes authentic because of their identity(ies). Identity is used to identify a person and what they encompass. It makes them authentic to how they may identify.

I do not feel identity(ties) are barriers to authenticity. I believe it is an expression of that authenticity. There may be a relationship between the two words or there may not be depending on the person and how they may identify or use as an identifier for themselves or in their life. Identity can unite that authenticity in one's life or it can divide it.

Identity for me signifies what I am and shows people who I am and can be and that encompasses a wide range of identities and beliefs and people. It can be flexible depending how others see it and how they can relate to it. I don't think it can ever take anything from me or away from me, it is how I relate to it and want it to relate to others and in my life.

I haven't felt pressure to identify. I had one co-worker put all gay women into a box labeled "lesbian" and I just said I don't identify as lesbian and left it as that. I'm sure he was confused and he's a gay man, but I felt no need to explain it to him. I found that with not one, but two gay men here recently. He is one to cause drama at work and talk about everybody's life so I just left it alone. Normally, I will explain to people how I identify (trans as one) and what that means to me.

Great discussion here!

10-26-2012, 11:49 AM	#40
ruffryder Senior Member How Do You Identify?: FTM Preferred Pronoun?: guy ones Relationship Status: ... Join Date: May 2011 Location: chillin' in FL Posts: 3,690 My Photo Gallery Thanks: 21,951 Thanked 9,679 Times in 2,875 Posts Rep Power: 21474854	just my opinion.. I don't believe Identity is a way to avoid having to become authentic but vice versa. One becomes authentic because of their identity(ies). Identity is used to identify a person and what they encompass. It makes them authentic to how they may identify. I do not feel identity(ties) are barriers to authenticity. I believe it is an expression of that authenticity. There may be a relationship between the two words or there may not be depending on the person and how they may identify or use as an identifier for themselves or in their life. Identity can unite that authenticity in one's life or it can divide it. Identity for me signifies what I am and shows people who I am and can be and that encompasses a wide range of identities and beliefs and people. It can be flexible depending how others see it and how they can relate to it. I don't think it can ever take anything from me or away from me, it is how I relate to it and want it to relate to others and in my life. I haven't felt pressure to identify. I had one co-worker put all gay women into a box labeled "lesbian" and I just said I don't identify as lesbian and left it as that. I'm sure he was confused and he's a gay man, but I felt no need to explain it to him. I found that with not one, but two gay men here recently. He is one to cause drama at work and talk about everybody's life so I just left it alone. Normally, I will explain to people how I identify (trans as one) and what that means to me. Great discussion here!