Introduction:

Gender…. Our society says there are only two, male and female, opposite and forever separate, yin and yang. It is very comforting to be able to place yourself and others neatly into one of these predefined roles, however, for myself and several of my friends, these categories don't work.

Gender, as with most things having to do with us humans, is incredibly more complex than this simple two valued system can represent. When you add biological sex and sexual orientation to the equation, the various possibilities outstrip the capability of any language to express. In my search for my identity, I wasn't able to place myself in any of the predefined categories, as I'm definitely not male, yet I'm not female either…no one has ever accused me of being straight, and yet I'm not gay…or even bi. The only part of this that isn't in question for me is biological…. I was born a boy. Yet there are several possible biological sexes… not just xx or xy.

So… since I couldn't use words to identify myself, I turned to symbols. I quickly discovered that there was no set of symbols that could accurately define where I fit either. I had to invent my own.

The Gender Spectrum:

Yes.. it's very pretty, but the animation at the top of this page is useful as well.

Right click with your mouse on the Spectrum and use the popup menu to stop the animation. Do it again and choose rewind to bring it to the start. There is the female symbol in pink and the male symbol in blue, but each has a tiny little spot of the other color in it, as even the most macho man and the most feminine woman will have some small bit of the opposite gender in their make up.

Use the popup menu to step the animation forward a frame at a time. You can see the opposite colors gradually taking over more and more of each symbol, until you reach the point where the male symbol is all pink and the female is all blue. Most people should be able to find the spot on this spectrum that feels like it fits.

And That's Not All!! With the Gender Spectrum you also can fit those hard to place people, the transgendered. As you continue to advance the animation, the symbols start evolving, mutating from one sex to the other, through a continuos spectrum. The really interesting thing here is that you can stop at any point!!! Yes, there are people who during transition discover themselves at the spot where they belong, somewhere in the middle, and choose to remain there. Continue advancing the spectrum and you reach the point where the male and female symbols have completed transition and start to take on more and more of the color of their previous gender until you have a male who started out female and has mostly female characteristics and a female who started out male and has mostly male characteristics. Most transgendered should be able to place themselves somewhere within this section.

But Wait!! There's Even More! The Gender Spectrum includes, at no extra charge, the entire Reverse Spectrum! This is the gay/bi/lesbian part. We now have a female symbol with mostly male characteristics, which nonetheless is still female at the core, and the male who is very fem but still definitely male! Sound like anyone you know? (Can you say "Richard Simmons"?. I knew you could!). As we move through the reverse spectrum, the boys become more butch and the girls more fem. Most Gay/Bi/Lesbian should be able to pick out their appropriate symbol in this area of the spectrum.

And as a special bonus, if you order now, we will include the Reverse Transgendered Spectrum!! This is a lightly populated area, but still part of the Gender Spectrum. To help you visualize those who reside here, let me give you a real life example. Picture, if you will, a genetic female, with a very female personality, who is lesbian and is taking testosterone. Physically, she looks male, beard, muscles and all, but she self identifies as a female. In no other system would she fit, but the Gender Spectrum has a place even for her!

Ok.. now that we have walked through the entire spectrum, let it start playing continuously. Somewhere along the Spectrum you will find a place (or two or three) that feels right. Show your friends family and loved ones. Perhaps with this tool, you will be able to find for yourself that first, you do belong, and second, just where you fit on the Gender Spectrum!