Worn With Pride
Theres no one way to look nonbinary.
I started reflecting on my experiences with gender around 2019.
And once I started thinking about the possibility that I might be nonbinary, I couldnt stop.
It consumed my every day suddenly, random memories from my childhood made complete sense.
For years, I struggled to feel like I had control over my body and how I was perceived.
That discomfort developed into a decade-long eating disorder.
Once I was able to identify that ambiguous discomfort as gender dysphoria, everything clicked into place.
In 2021, I finally started publicizing my gender identity and using they/them pronouns.
But I still had a difficult time reconciling being nonbinary with my vehicle for self-expression: fashion.
Im always chasing the euphoria of putting together a really good outfit.
Im neurodivergent and wearing garments that appeal to my sensory needs helps reduce my anxiety.
I love walking down the street with swaths of fabric billowing around me.
It feels like Im floating.
When I first began examining my gender, I didnt know many nonbinary people who dressed like me.
Could I still be nonbinary even if I usually wear dresses?
What if Im overthinking the discomfort I feel in my body?
Maybe the hours spent reflecting on my gender are just a normal part of being a woman?
Theres no one way to look nonbinary.
We are not a monolith cloaked in androgyny.
