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Livejournal is a social media platform centered around journaling created in 1999. Users can upload entries to their personal journals, follow other users' journals, and make and receive comments on individual entries. The site also allows users to create and join "communities", which generally allow members to upload their own entries and serve as hubs for discussion of shared interests | Livejournal is a social media platform centered around journaling created in 1999. Users can upload entries to their personal journals, follow other users' journals, and make and receive comments on individual entries. The site also allows users to create and join "communities", which generally allow members to upload their own entries and serve as hubs for discussion of shared interests. | ||
== Communities == | Livejournal was one of the biggest online platforms for trans youth in the 2000s, and the first known Livejournal communities with a [[nonbinary]] focus appeared in 2002.<ref>Dame-Griff, Avery. ''The Two Revolutionsː A History of the Transgender Internet.'' New York, New York University Press. 2023.</ref> Nonbinary people also participated in some general trans communities, such as a community for "FTMs".<ref name=":3">Zimman, Lal, and Hayworth, Will. "Lexical Change as Sociopolitical Change in Trans and Cis Identity Labels: New Methods for the Corpus Analysis of Internet Data". ''Selected Papers from New Ways of Analyzing Variation (NWAV 47)''. January 15 2020. https://repository.upenn.edu/handle/20.500.14332/45253</ref> | ||
Trans scholar Cassius Adair views the social networks of queer and trans young people that formed on Livejournal as a precursor to nonbinary and [[transmasculine]] networking on [[Tumblr]].<ref>Adair, Cassius. "Delete Yr Account: Speculations on Trans Digital Lives and the Anti-Archival, Part I: Are You Sure?". Digital Research Ethics Collaboratory. 2019.</ref> Linguistic researchers Zimman and Hayworth express a similar view.<ref name=":3" /> | |||
== Non-binary Communities == | |||
=== genderqueer (active 2002-2017) === | === genderqueer (active 2002-2017) === | ||
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Members used the community to introduce themselves, ask for information and advice related to gender identity and expression, and to inquire about other genderqueer people in their area. | Members used the community to introduce themselves, ask for information and advice related to gender identity and expression, and to inquire about other genderqueer people in their area. | ||
A linguistic analysis of journal entries and comments from the community suggested that the most common term for a person outside the binary was "[[genderqueer]]", followed by "[[genderfuck]]". "[[Bigender]]", "[[genderfluid]]", "[[polygender]]", and "[[agender]]" also appeared in the dataset (listed here in descending order of popularity).<ref name=":4">Zimman, Lal, and Hayworth, Will. "How we got here: Short-scale change in identity labels for trans, cis, and non-binary people in the 2000s". 2020. Proc Ling Soc Amer 5(1). 499–513. <nowiki>https://doi.org/10.3765/plsa.v5i1.4728</nowiki></ref> | |||
Gender neutral language was a recurring topic of discussion. In 2008, user hundun advocated for the use of singular they, arguing that objections stemmed from linguistic prescriptivism and inviting others to join them in using it going forward, even if some people may find it awkward.<ref>hundun. "Anyone up for a little cultural change?". Genderqueer Livejournal community. January 12 2008. https://genderqueer.livejournal.com/985013.html</ref> Users generally agreed with hundun's pro-singular they position; however, user montrealais found hundun's use of singular verb forms ("they is") in examples unnecessary, pointing out that "you are" sounds perfectly natural.<ref>montrealais. Comment on "Anyone up for a little cultural change?", Genderqueer livejournal community, January 13 2008.https://genderqueer.livejournal.com/985013.html?thread=8230837#t8230837</ref> | Gender neutral language was a recurring topic of discussion. In 2008, user hundun advocated for the use of singular they, arguing that objections stemmed from linguistic prescriptivism and inviting others to join them in using it going forward, even if some people may find it awkward.<ref>hundun. "Anyone up for a little cultural change?". Genderqueer Livejournal community. January 12 2008. https://genderqueer.livejournal.com/985013.html</ref> Users generally agreed with hundun's pro-singular they position; however, user montrealais found hundun's use of singular verb forms ("they is") in examples unnecessary, pointing out that "you are" sounds perfectly natural.<ref>montrealais. Comment on "Anyone up for a little cultural change?", Genderqueer livejournal community, January 13 2008.https://genderqueer.livejournal.com/985013.html?thread=8230837#t8230837</ref> | ||
Many posts also promoted events, communities, calls to action, and writing they saw as relevant to a genderqueer audience. The most recent post was in January 2017. | Many posts also promoted events, communities, calls to action, and writing they saw as relevant to a genderqueer audience. The most recent post was in January 2017. | ||
Reddit user antieuclid noted that this community introduced them to the word "genderqueer" around 2005, helping them articulate their gender identity.<ref>antieuclid. "Current meaning of Genderqueer". /r/self.asktransgender.https://old.reddit.com/r/asktransgender/comments/r4wl2k/current_meaning_of_genderqueer/</ref> | |||
=== androgynes (active 2003-2023) === | === androgynes (active 2003-2023) === | ||
[[File:Neckercube.gif|thumb|The androgynes icon, which shows a Necker cube.]] | [[File:Neckercube.gif|thumb|The androgynes icon, which shows a Necker cube.]] | ||
In 2003, Livejournal user 36 created a community aimed at androgynes, defined as people who are "neither female nor male in appearance but something else (both, neither, in between or something else entirely)." 36 specified that they wanted a community for those presenting as androgynous in every-day life, rather than people interested in part-time gender transgression. | In 2003, Livejournal user 36 created a community aimed at [[Androgyne|androgynes]], defined as people who are "neither female nor male in appearance but something else (both, neither, in between or something else entirely)." 36 specified that they wanted a community for those presenting as androgynous in every-day life, rather than people interested in part-time gender transgression. | ||
The profile also notes that androgynes have a range of gender identities, including [[third gender]] and androgynously gendered (between male and female). Some androgynes even find gender identity "something complex, absent, irrelevant or extremely personal". | The profile also notes that androgynes have a range of gender identities, including [[third gender]] and androgynously gendered (between male and female). Some androgynes even find gender identity "something complex, absent, irrelevant or extremely personal". | ||
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[[File:Birls.gif|alt=Animated icon flashes between different pictures of birls, and a logo on a greenish-teal background. All of the birls are youthful and have short masculine haircuts.|thumb|The icon for the birls community.]] | [[File:Birls.gif|alt=Animated icon flashes between different pictures of birls, and a logo on a greenish-teal background. All of the birls are youthful and have short masculine haircuts.|thumb|The icon for the birls community.]] | ||
In 2003, livejournal user back_to_or created a community called birls, explaining its audience in the userinfoː<ref>"Userinfo". Birls Livejournal community. https://birls.livejournal.com/profile/ </ref><blockquote>Welcome to birls - | In 2003, livejournal user back_to_or created a community called [[Birl|birls]], explaining its audience in the userinfoː<ref>"Userinfo". Birls Livejournal community. https://birls.livejournal.com/profile/ </ref><blockquote>Welcome to birls - | ||
a community dedicated to androgynous/boyish/masculine females and those who don't let the stereotypes surrounding their sex define who they are. | a community dedicated to androgynous/boyish/masculine females and those who don't let the stereotypes surrounding their sex define who they are. | ||
Whether you're a tomboy or a [[Butch|butch dyke]], a [[boi]], [[genderqueer]], or an [[androgyne]], [[Trans man|FTM]] or transgendered, or simply refuse to put a label on your identity... you're welcome here. Birl-admirers are welcome here, as well!</blockquote>On-topic subjects for birls included "gender, sexuality, gender presentation, gender confusion".<ref name=":0" /> Introduction posts and selfies (including transition updates) were common, as well as posts promoting events and resources considered relevant to birls. | Whether you're a tomboy or a [[Butch|butch dyke]], a [[boi]], [[genderqueer]], or an [[androgyne]], [[Trans man|FTM]] or transgendered, or simply refuse to put a label on your identity... you're welcome here. Birl-admirers are welcome here, as well!</blockquote>On-topic subjects for birls included "gender, sexuality, gender presentation, gender confusion".<ref name=":0" /> Introduction posts and selfies (including transition updates) were common, as well as posts promoting events and resources considered relevant to birls. | ||
In 2019, a short comic by JB Brager called "Livejournal Made Me Gay" appeared in The Nib, exploring the community's impact on the artist as an adolescent experiencing "weird gender feelings".<ref>Brager, JB. "Livejournal Made Me Gay". ''The Nib''. June 7, 2017. https://thenib.com/livejournal-made-me-gay/</ref> | |||
As of 2024, the community had 3,028 members and 24,309 journal entries. | As of 2024, the community had 3,028 members and 24,309 journal entries. | ||
== Trans Communities == | |||
=== ftm === | |||
This community used "ftm" as an umbrella term referring to AFAB people who felt this assignment was "incorrect or incomplete", making it inclusive of people who may call themselves "non-binary" today.<ref name=":5">"Profile". FTM Livejournal Community. Livejournal.com.https://ftm.livejournal.com/profile/</ref> | |||
As of 2025, the community had 3003 members and 25,450 journal entries.<ref name=":5" /> | |||
A linguistic analysis of entries and comments conducted by Lal Zimman and Will Hayworth suggests that "genderqueer" was the most popular term in this community for people outside the binary, followed by "genderfuck".<ref name=":3" /> Another paper by Zimman and Hayworth asserts that "non-binary" overtook "genderqueer" and became the most common term in this space around 2007.<ref name=":4" /> | |||
"Agender", "bigender", "polygender", and "genderfluid" also appear in the dataset from the ftm community.<ref name=":3" /> "Polygender", the least-used term, appeared only in early years, while "agender" (another uncommon term) showed up more often in later years.<ref name=":4" /> | |||
Scholar Stephanie Clare argues that within this community space, "non-binary" emerged as a less-confrontational alternate to "genderqueer" and "genderfuck". Clare describes a conflict in this space between members transitioning towards masculinity and members who sought to abolish gender. The former contingent sometimes viewed the latter "genderqueer" contingent as holding negative attitudes towards FTM transition. According to Clare, the emerging term "non-binary" implied a desire for more gender options rather than the destruction of the gender system, lacking the controversial associations of "genderqueer" and "genderfuck".<ref>Clare, Stephanie D. ''Nonbinaryː A Feminist Autotheory''. Cambridge, Cambridge Press, June 2023. </ref> | |||
== Removal of "Unspecified" Gender Option == | == Removal of "Unspecified" Gender Option == | ||