Masculine of center
Masculine of center people’s gender presentation is masculine, meaning that they dress and carry themselves as males.
The origin and the essentials
So, who coined the term "masculine of center"? It was B. Cole of Brown Boi Project, which is a community of masculine of center men, womyn, transmen, and Two-spirit individuals whose goal is to change the way African American people perceive gender. According to another masculine of center (mainly lesbian) organization, BUTCH Voices, the term "masculine of center" recognizes the depth and breadth of identity for lesbian/queer/ womyn who tilt toward the masculine side of the gender scale.
However, some people criticize this term for oversimplifying gender expression. According to the critics, "masculine of center" puts the masculine on one end and the feminine, on the other.
Therefore, it sounds almost as if the creator of this term believed in the gender binary, while we know that there is a multitude of gender identities that don’t fall into this binary. They claim this expression also reminds them of political terms, for instance, “left of center”. In their opinion, the baggage that comes with “masculine of center” also makes it unsuitable for use as an umbrella term.
Despite the criticism, the term has been becoming more and more popular. There are celebrities who identify themselves as masculine of center and even characters in fiction who describe themselves as such. For example, one of the protagonists of Whirlwind by Reese Morrison whose name is Carla describes themselves as masculine of center and genderqueer. One of the main characters of the novel A Jade's Diamond by Char Dafoe, a millionaire Trystan Diamond, also describes themselves as masculine of center and uses singular "they" pronouns.
What pronouns should be used?
Some masculine of center people prefer the traditional masculine "he/him/his" set of pronouns or the gender-neutral "they/them/their". Some others may use neopronouns like xe/xem/xyr, ey/em/eir, ne/nem/nir, ve/ver/vis, etc. Some individuals may prefer multiple pronouns. The best way to find out what pronouns they use is to ask them with a smile. Even when your masculine of center friend or coworker is not around, using the correct pronouns to refer to them means that you respect them and acknowledge their identity.
Coming out as masculine of center
Coming out doesn’t just happen once. It is a process and a challenging one. Because our society still has outdated views on gender identities outside of the binary and homosexual or bisexual people.
So coming out, most likely, won’t be easy, but it will be definitely freeing. Letting people know that you are masculine of center can open up a different world. There isn’t one right way to come out as masculine of center - you can do it whatever way feels best for you.
However, if you follow these tips, we are sure your coming out journey will be safer and more successful:
- The first person you come out to has to be someone who you know would love and accept you no matter what;
- You don’t have to tell everyone at once - it can be a slow process, only you decide how slow;
- Maybe you’re super excited to share your masculine of center identity with the world, but please remember that not everyone around you might react the way you expect;
- Know that you are not alone - should you feel unsafe, you can always rely on other masculine of center people and/or LGBTQIA+ organizations who will support you in every way possible.
How can someone support their masculine of center coworkers, family, friends?
We live in the 21st century, and tremendous progress has been made in our lifetimes in the area of LGBT rights. Yet, many masculine of center individuals still face bullying, discrimination, violence. These are human rights violations, and it’s so wrong.
But you can do your part to change this! Realize that masculine of center people have the same rights to healthcare, education, to be treated just like everyone else.
Become an ally for LGBT people around you. And remember that being an ally is an action rather than a label. Actions speak louder than words, so be consistent in taking action to support masculine of center people’s rights and defend these individuals against discrimination, whether they are your friends, coworkers, family members, or even strangers.
Here’s what you can do to show them your support:
- You will probably find out that you need to confront bias, stereotypes, and prejudice against LGBT people you probably didn't even realize you had;
- Don't let anyone get away with off-limits jokes about masculine of center people and explain to everybody around you that such jokes are not funny but offensive and harmful;
- Educate yourself about masculine of center people’s issues and challenges;
- Donate to masculine of center organizations and encourage others to do so - even a small donation can transform our world.