Today, my friend told me that they marked me as queer right away. I asked what it was that made them think that, and they said they couldn’t place it. Something about posturing, or something.
Score! I’m queer-ifiable!
And then I went home and told ML and she was dubious. And spent twenty minutes messing with my hair to try to see if she could make it look “more queer.” Apparently it needs to be “piecier.”
Evidently, whether you “look queer” to someone is entirely subjective. Who knew?!
The timeliness of this is so funny, I’m probably a month behind on my RSS feeds and I logged in to find this and the previous post, just a couple of days old.
I found myself (to my delight!) being flirted with by two different random women on the street yesterday – that NEVER happens, I’m pretty consistently read as straight by strangers. I sat back and thought about where it was coming from, and realized it was several small things. I’ve recently gotten a nose piercing. I’ve dyed my medium-length hair fire-engine red, a kick up from my previous auburn, and with blonde streaks and feather extensions. With the summer heat, I’m wearing it pinned up a lot more, so the Pride earrings I always wear are more visible. And I’ve been playing with formality contrast in my clothes, jeans with dressy shirts or pretty print tees with very fancy skirts, and moving away from neutral colors. Each thing is a pretty small change, but it all comes together.
ooo nose piercing! I’ve thought about one of those, I think they’re so pretty. and I think all of what you describe is right on — each on its own would signal something different but all together I think the signal starts to become more unilateral. I’ve thought about some item of jewelry that is a queer symbol. good thoughts good thoughts!
haha! congrats on being queerifiable! I was talking with my GF about how invisble I am as a queer femme girl and she said, “well that’s all the fault of the hipsters” when I asked for clarification, she mentioned the co-opting of trends by hispters and how it often includes things that are meant to signify as queer. I thought about that and thought, dangit she’s right! I have multiple facial peircings (rather discreet ones) and multiple tattoos. I should read queer. But I live in SF. So,I read straight. Le sigh… I’ll figure it out one of these days. :) Maybe my hair needs to be ‘peicier’ too!
Haha, I think I need to make my hair piecier and maybe asymmetrical? I want to throw a tattoo in the mix but there is nothing I like enough to have on my body forever!
I hear you rachel! i read as straight too despite the fact that i have mutiple face piercings, visible big tattoos, and short hair. LE SIGH… maybe im still too normal looking? mayb a radical hair color change? i usually favor ripped jeans and skater tees, but i am also a femme too so i do switch back and forth btwn femme and tomboy. i agree w ur gf, it’s the damm hipsters…
I shift from femmey to more ambigious gender presentation but my straight friend recently told me I have “the gay strut.” I’ve equated this with doucheyness in the past, but was nonetheless excited to express my queerness with my strut!