“A Tokyo municipal official, the first openly transgender person to seek or win elected office in Japan. She was elected in April 2003. Kamikawa, then a 35-year-old writer, submitted her election application papers with a blank space for “sex.”
She won a four-year term as an independent under huge media attention, placing sixth of 72 candidates running for 52 seats in the Setagaya ward assembly, the most populous district in Tokyo. Despite an announcement that the government would continue to consider her male officially, she stated that she would work as a woman. Her platform was to improve rights for women, children, the elderly, the handicapped, and lesbian, gay, bisexual, and transgender people.
In April 2007, she was re-elected to her second term, placing second of 71 candidates running for 52 in the same ward assembly. She is the only openly transgender official in Japan at this point.” xx
Ai Haruna (はるな愛)
Ai Haruna is a singer, actress, and businesswoman. Growing up she experienced a lot of pain and hardship due to the ignorance of her parents and Japanese society as a whole. However, this didn’t stop her from living out her childhood dream of becoming an idol and tv-personality. xx
Kayo Satoh (佐藤かよ)
She is a fashion model and particularly famous in the fighting game community. She was born in Nagoya and after she graduated middle school she ran away from home because of the pain she experienced in a society that didn’t understand her. That night, she went to her childhood friend’s house, who lent her clothes that suited her. She then worked at a convenience store, and 4 years later she got a job as a clerk at a women’s clothing store. Soon after, she was scouted by a modeling agency which she still works for. x
“a Japanese pop singer-songwriter, as well as being an author and actress. She is most recognised for her song ‘Tomodachi no Uta’, which was used as the theme song for the drama Watashi ga Watashi de Aru Tame ni (in which she also appeared as an actress). She’s also known for being one of the few openly [transgender] celebrities in Japan, having been [assigned male at birth], and has spoken of the struggles she underwent with issues of identity before transitioning. In 2006, she signed to popular record label avex trax, and in 2010 moved to Yamaha Music Communications.” xx
“The update gives players more ways to reflect the world around them, or in their imaginations, creating the sims and the stories they want,” says lead producer Lyndsay Pearson. “Our players are constantly engaged in a conversation with us about The Sims, and they’re always requesting more of everything,” says Pearson. “We always have an incredibly long list of things we want to add to the game, and so much of that list comes directly from player feedback. In this case, players have been asking why certain hairstyles, clothing, and other options were limited to one gender or the other… We also saw it as an awesome chance to continue to nurture what’s always been an inclusive environment for all our players.”
Pearson says that in addition to taking feedback from fans, the development team also consulted with GLAAD on the update to ensure the changes were respectful. Pearson says that there’s likely more on the way as well. “We’re always looking for new ways to push creative boundaries for our players,” she says, “and these tools grow over time, just like the game itself.”
The first time you saw Brendan Jordan, he struck poses and fierce dance moves on local TV. The video was viewed more than 4 million times. In an inspiring speech at the HRC Foundation’s Time to Thrive Conference Sunday, he came out as a member of the transgender community. Jordan was also there to introduce another big transgender role model.
good job, baby. reppin bigender awareness and las vegas!!!
Love This Human <3
<333333
honestly I was unironically rooting for this kid since day one (also not sure what pronouns to use but I’m guessing “he” isn’t the right one)
I know there’s other ways people think of Frisk’s gender, but agender is my personal favorite, for reasons. Have a dose of validation, kiddies; I know I need it.
“Popular music is built upon artists that have toyed with the gender
binary. The influence of musicians like Prince, Wendy Carlos, and
Genesis P-Orridge on the musical landscape is especially being felt in
the modern age, where gender has become a much more openly discussed
topic.
Artists that identify as transgender or non-binary are finally
beginning to see an increased acceptance in the musical world.
However this acceptance does not immediately equal an open door, which
many of these artists are still fighting to kick open. The cisnormative
lens of popular music keeps these musicians fighting for attention.
It’s important to highlight artists existing in certain minorities,
as other people belonging to these groups can see themselves and see
someone with a similar identity existing successfully. There is hope in
recognition, and mainstream music is often very exclusive when it comes
to someone who is not straight, cis, or white. Personally, I identify as
nonbinary, and it is comforting to see musicians like me being
successful in their fields.”
Our new What’s Underneath episode presents Miley Cyrus muse,Rookie writer, and agender warrior Tyler Ford. Getting down to their American Eagle briefs, Tyler takes on all of the BS of society’s gender binary as they tells about their journey from female (Tyler’s assigned gender at birth) to male to a non-binary human being.
Here are some of the empowering truths that Tyler’s video brings to the forefront:
THE DEVALUATION OF GIRLS STARTS RIGHT AWAY (1:30 – 2:29): “In middle school, the only viable social currency was to dress as a girly girl. If the boys didn’t think you were hot, you were nothing, so I taught myself how to be a girl. I idolized Jessica Simpson and watched Newlyweds over and over again.”
SOMETIMES TRANSITIONING ISN’T THE ANSWER (4:26 – 5:59) “I wasn’t connecting with being on testosterone or living life as a guy. I didn’t know what my future would look as non-binary person. It took maybe a year to solidify my identity and find a label that fit me, which is agender, and my pronouns are they, them, and their.”
ASEXUALITY IS COMPLICATED (6:30 – 6:57): “There are asexuals, like myself, who enjoy having sex but don’t often have it because the foundation for the action doesn’t really exist (which is a very complicated thing).”
WESTERN CULTURE FETISHIZES AND DEMEANS BLACK PEOPLE’S HAIR (7:01 – 7:35): “Growing up, the white kids in my class made fun of my hair. When I was eight, I started to chemically straighten my hair so I could look more like them. But I have come to love and appreciate my hair. It’s very me.”
