I guess I just feel frustrated that our communities express themselves using the medical system’s benchmarks.

 

TRANSCRIPT:

Panel 1:

(There is a big, blue arrow in the background, pointing to the right, and a caption to the left of the panel, which reads:) How far into your transition are you?

Sam: (A person wearing an olive green, collared shirt, and a dark grey vest, who is facing the viewer, but looking down. Eyebrows are raised and mouth is closed, small, and with slightly downturned edges. Hands are holding a sign before Sam’s chest, which reads:) Pre-Op Pre-T

Joe: (A person wearing a deep v neck, long sleeved purple shirt and a blue neckerchief, who is looking directly at the viewer. Eyebrows are raised and pushed together slightly, mouth is closed, with downturned edges. Hands are holding a sign before Joe’s chest, which reads:) Pre-Op 6 months on T

Panel 2:

Sam: (A person who is facing the viewer, but looking down. One eyebrow is raised, the other lowered and mouth is open, with very slightly downturned edges. Hands are holding the tops of two sides of the sign, which has a rip halfway down its middle.) What does that even mean?!

Joe: (A person who is facing the viewer, but looking down. Eyebrows are lowered and pushed together slightly, mouth is open, with very slightly downturned edges. Hands are holding the tops of two sides of the sign, which has been ripped in half. There are two parallel lines between the pieces of sign, which indicate movement.) Why is this the go-to indicator?

 

Panel 3:

Sam: (A person who is facing the viewer, but looking at Joe. Eyebrows are raised and mouth is open, with upturned edges. One arm is bent up at the elbow, its palm facing up.) I’m a comic book geek who uses words like man to describe himself.

Joe: (A person who is facing the viewer, but looking at Sam. Eyebrows are raised and mouth is open, with very upturned edges. One arm is raised at the shoulder and bent up at the elbow, its palm facing up, and the other is around Sam’s shoulders.) You are my gentleman companion! And I’m your gender queer pansy boy.

 

Panel 4:

Sam: (A person who is facing the viewer, but looking at Joe. Eyebrows are raised and mouth is open, with slightly upturned edges. One hand is on Sam’s hip, and the other is bent forward at the shoulder, up at the elbow, and its index finger is pointing towards Joe, with two sets of parallel lines to either side of it, indicating movement.) But You’re on T! If we use that arbitrary indicator of transness then you should be manlier.

Joe: (A person who is facing the viewer, but looking at Sam. Eyebrows are raised and mouth is open, with very upturned edges, and both arms are raised from the shoulder. Joe’s legs are very hairy. One leg is raised at the hip, and bent down at the knee, with Joe’s skirt swishing up above it.) But I wanna wear skirts! And I want you to be my bear!