It’s kind of hard to talk about sexuality when it’s so anchored in gender. Both the gender of the person holding the attraction, and the gender of the person they’re attracted to becomes integral. If either of those categories become unfixed or destabilised, or are, indeed, fixed in ambiguity it becomes all kinds of complicated. So, for example, if Joe identifies as a trans/genderqueer person, and I, as a transman, how do we describe our sexuality? And is it even necessary to?
TRANSCRIPT:
Panel 1:
Sam: (A person wearing a grey collared shirt and a brown coat, who is facing the viewer, but looking at Joe. Eyebrows are raised and mouth is open. Both arms are raised slightly at the shoulder, and bent forward at the elbow. One hand is laid out horizontally, the other is curled into a fist, with the index finger pointing at the laid out hand.) Tina Fey?
Joe: (A person wearing a brown shirt and a green hoodie, who is facing the viewer, but looking up. Eyebrows are raised, and mouth is open, with slightly upturned edges. Hands are behind Joe’s back.) Dyke love.
Sam: Stephen Fry?
Joe: Fag love.
Sam: Ellen Page?
Joe: Dyke love.
Panel 2:
Sam: (Facing the viewer, but looking at Joe, with one eyebrow raised, and the other lowered. Mouth is open, with slightly upturned edges. One arm is raised to chest height, and fingers are curled into a fist, with the index finger pointing at Joe.) Simon Amstell?
Joe: (Facing the viewer, but looking up and to the side, with eyebrows that are raised at their inner ends, and lowered at their outer ends. Mouth is open, with upturned edges. Arms are bent up at the elbows, to where the hands are clasped together in front of Joe’s chest. There are three red love hearts next to Joe’s face.) Fag love.
Sam: Cait Blanchett?
Joe: Dyke love.
Sam: Cait Blanchett as Bob Dylan?
Joe: Fag love.
(There is text next to Joe’s face, the text reads:) *sigh*
Panel 3:
Sam: (Facing the viewer, but looking at Joe, with raised eyebrows, and an open mouth with slightly upturned edges. Arms are raised slightly at the shoulders, and bent back towards Sam’s sides at the elbows.) Noel Fielding?
Joe: (Facing the viewer, but looking at Sam, with raised eyebrows, and an open mouth, with very upturned edges. Arms are bent at the shoulder, back behind Joe’s body. There are two exclamation marks, surrounded by three red love hearts, beside Joe’s face.) Fag love!
Sam: Rufus Wainwright?
Joe: Fag love!
Sam: Natalie Portman?
Joe: Hetty love.
Panel 4:
Sam: (Facing the viewer, but looking at Joe, with one eyebrow raised, and the other lowered. Mouth is open, with slightly downturned edges, and arms are by Sam’s sides.) Huh?
Joe: (Facing the viewer, but looking up and to the side, with raised eyebrows. Mouth is open, and arms are bent up at the elbows, and hands are slightly cupped.) Weeell, I don’t wanna get all binary about the whole thing.
Discussion (15) ¬
I tooootally feel you on this topic. And I’ll leave it at that.
yay. definitely yay.
what about trans love?
Of course, yes, translove, and bearlove, and bicuriouslove, and, and, and….!
thats more like it:)
How about transensual….sounds a bit sexier than translove don’t you think???
oooooh that’s WAY better!
Sensual has nothing to do with sexual. I am asexual and so I do not experience sexual attraction to my girlfriend, but I do experience sensual attraction. That is things like cuddling and holding hands.
I totaly know what oy mean, At this point, the only think I am *quite* sure that I am *not* is a lesbian. Girl on girl does nothing for me… I mean, it;s adorable, but hot? Eh.
However, I do differentiate between fag-love and manchrushes~
Yes, differentiating between faglove and mancrushes makes total sense, see there’s even a whole range and continuum of desire in the midst of the continuums of sexuality as well. Oh so complicated.
And this is why I have trouble with the existing labels for sexuality. How do you even call yourself when you’re non-binary gendered? The only labels that I know that don’t imply that you’re a guy or a girl are pansexual, bisexual and asexual, but I’m none of those as I’m not sexually attracted to guys (but am attracted to girls and non-binary people). :/ To complicate matters even more I /can/ be attracted to guys romantically, but I don’t want to sleep with them at all.
Ah, labels, how useful you can be, but only when you’re applicable.
labels belong on supermarket shelves. just loosen up and enjoy being yourself
Just wanted to say I encountered this comic shortly after Elliot page came out as trans. <3 to all!
Oh yay! Happy reading! <3