purple hair, purple hair

[kindkit]

In honor of being called "creepy" by a transphobe on Twitter, I'm putting some purple streaks in my hair. (Manic Panic Ultra Violet.)

This is a thing I've wanted to do for ages. But first I was trying to be taken seriously as An Actual Professional Scholar, and then I was unemployed, and then I was in a job that wouldn't allow it, and then I was trying to be taken seriously as a Trans Man.

And then I said, "fuck it."

I blame Rusty Quill for this, as for many of my decisions lately. Anil's painted nails, and Jonny's occasionally painted nails, and Mike's rainbow hair (now blue), and . . . it was all a reminder of something I've always believed but that hasn't always come through in my behaviour. Namely, conventional masculinity is stupid and constricting, and nobody should have to do it.

Painted nails may be next (they might have been first, but pre-pandemic, part of my job involved preparing food, and painted nails aren't really allowed). I want to go to an actual store, though, and see the colors. Something blue or purple or silver.

Besides Rusty Quill, the other factor is that I'm finally starting to get some facial hair. Shaving has become something I do every few days to avoid looking scruffy, rather than every two weeks out of wishful thinking. (Eventually there will be a beard, I hope. But I'm a long way from having enough facial hair for that yet!) Now that my body is cooperating with my gender a bit, I feel more free. Which is good.

Comments

[kindkit]

Support is always welcome! And helpful, because people who are anti-trans (and I include in that category people who say they're pro-trans, but have very strict rules about how trans people should express their gender) are vocal, so it's easy to feel discouraged.

[batdina]

In other news: between you and rydra, I'm about to start listening to TMA. I'm diving down a rabbit hole, aren't I?

[kindkit]

Yes, but it's a rabbit hole filled with joy! (And also terror etc. But honestly, I love almost every single thing about the show. And the folks who make it seem to be good people who are trying to do good things, both artistically and in the world. And, while I'm only on the fringes of the fandom, I haven't noticed any giant swathes of toxicity.)

[rydra_wong]

Yes, but it's a rabbit hole filled with joy! (And also terror etc.

Fervently seconded. Also, reports from new people listening bring much joy to people already caught up.

(Joy and occasional writhing in silent torment so as not to spoil anything.)