• What does it mean to move beyond the gender binary for Alok?

 Moving beyond the gender binary means understanding that being non—binary or gender non-conforming is not a “prop” or an “accessory”. As Alok bests puts it “If you remove our clothing, our make up, and our pronouns, underneath the surface we are just men and women playing dress up”. Many people who aren’t the “norm” of society are constantly harassed and not able to experience simple things like going to the store. The narrative by the law is if you see someone who is beyond society’s gender understanding, pick on them.  An example stated was “Texas proposing financial compensation for reporting us using the restroom”. Things like this and worst are the world of those who go beyond the gender binary. It is something that not just as a society are we supposed to correct but educate very early on in the lives of children. This is something to be normalized and not demonized. As Alok says “I do not have the luxury of being”, and no one should have to feel this way. I completely agree with him. I’ve grown up with a very open-mind about things. And it’s shaped me to view the world very differently than others. I think the educational system has many flaws but, not updating kids and children to accept and perceive lgbtq+ related issues to be accepted and respected is a major one. If issues like this aren’t taught to be understood and accepted from the beginning it will leave people to hide as they get older. (teaching in the sense of societal acceptance.) I was very taken when Alok said they fear going anywhere and they don’t really have time to just be themselves and live their life.

• In what ways does your gender identity go against the binary norm and in what ways does it fit the binary ?

  The way my gender identity goes against the binary norm is essentially the fact that I’m not always feminine. There are days I choose to dress leaning more towards my masculine side and I love it. I like changing it up depending on how I feel a certain days. However, I also fit the binary because I love dressing girly. Lately I’ve been thinking about trying out hyper-femininity. I’ve really that style for a while but I don’t know if I could pull it off. I think its just so cute and so lovely that it kind of scares me in a way. I feel like I’d look more vulnerable or maybe its like one of those things where you go through a phase of hating pink because its super girly but then realize wow I actually love pink.