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[[Boi]] (pronounced the same as "boy"; plural "bois") is a term with many meanings. Broadly, it indicates "[[masculinity]] which is not cisheteronormative."<ref>{{cite book|title=The A-Z of Gender and Sexuality|page=56|year=2019|isbn=9781784506636}}</ref> This identity originated in multiple subcultures in the mid-to-late 1990s. It was also widely adopted as a self-descriptor by gay men at the time. Some lesbian youth who are more masculine and those who identify as trans employ this term as they have yet to define a common vernacular to describe themselves. Zoi, zeeshe, goi and shoi are alternative terms.{{citation needed}}
[[Boi]] (pronounced the same as "boy"; plural "bois") is a term with many meanings. Broadly, it indicates "[[masculinity]] which is not cisheteronormative."<ref>{{cite book|title=The A-Z of Gender and Sexuality|page=56|year=2019|isbn=9781784506636}}</ref> This identity originated in multiple subcultures in the mid-to-late 1990s. It was also widely adopted as a self-descriptor by gay men at the time. Some lesbian youth who are more masculine and those who identify as trans employ this term as they have yet to define a common vernacular to describe themselves. Zoi, zeeshe, goi and shoi are alternative terms.{{citation needed}}  
Other variations include queerboi<ref name="Marech" /> and transboi,<ref name="Marech" /> and if one's lover or partner identifies as a boi, it's common to say they are one's boifriend.
 
In the 2019 Worldwide Gender Census, 76 of the responses (0.68%)  said they were a boi, or used boi as part of a word for their identity, such as [[femme]] boi, femboi, tomboi, or [[demigender|demiboi]].<ref name="2019 Gender Census">"Gender Census 2019 - The Worldwide tl;dr." ''Gender Census'' (blog). March 31, 2019. Retrieved July 7, 2020. https://gendercensus.com/post/183843963445/gender-census-2019-the-worldwide-tldr Archive: https://web.archive.org/web/20200118084451/https://gendercensus.com/post/183843963445/gender-census-2019-the-worldwide-tldr</ref>
 
Some other [[genderqueer]] masculine identities like boi are ag, [[butch]], [[masculine of center]], [[stone butch]], stud, [[tomboy]], and [[transmasculine]].<ref>"Who we are." ''Butch Voices.'' http://www.butchvoices.com/who-we-are/</ref> Each of these words have their own nuances of meaning, which can be very different from one community to the next.
 
==History==
==History==


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The author posits that the word may have been a reclaimed slur and goes on to tell how boi is used "in emo, BDSM, gay, lesbian, and genderqueer communities" and  <ref>http://genderqueerid.com/post/52144260437/hello-i-once-heard-somebody-say-the-term-boi</ref>. Those interested in the word should read what is visible in the [https://books.google.com/books?id=RIlOxnMIGfQC&amp;lpg=PA17&amp;dq=%22boi%22+black+gender&amp;pg=PA17&amp;hl=en#v=onepage&amp;q=%22boi%22%20black%20gender&amp;f=false Google Books scan of that book].
The author posits that the word may have been a reclaimed slur and goes on to tell how boi is used "in emo, BDSM, gay, lesbian, and genderqueer communities" and  <ref>http://genderqueerid.com/post/52144260437/hello-i-once-heard-somebody-say-the-term-boi</ref>. Those interested in the word should read what is visible in the [https://books.google.com/books?id=RIlOxnMIGfQC&amp;lpg=PA17&amp;dq=%22boi%22+black+gender&amp;pg=PA17&amp;hl=en#v=onepage&amp;q=%22boi%22%20black%20gender&amp;f=false Google Books scan of that book].
==For People of Color only?==


The word "boi" appeared in various communities during the 1990s (e.g. masculine-of-center lesbians, [[butch]] [[drag]] kings, and submissive BDSM partners, etc.) none of which were in any way black-specific. Rap artists didn't begin incorporating the word "boi" into their lyrics until circa 2000 (at least, given the available liner notes). The first use of this word in a song title was likely "Dope Boi Fresh" released in 2002.<ref>"Boi Fancy: Identity Politics and the History of Boi in Queer Spaces" June 20, 2018. http://www.boifancy.com/</ref>
The word "boi" appeared in various communities during the 1990s (e.g. masculine-of-center lesbians, [[butch]] [[drag]] kings, and submissive BDSM partners, etc.) none of which were in any way black-specific. Rap artists didn't begin incorporating the word "boi" into their lyrics until circa 2000 (at least, given the available liner notes). The first use of this word in a song title was likely "Dope Boi Fresh" released in 2002.<ref>"Boi Fancy: Identity Politics and the History of Boi in Queer Spaces" June 20, 2018. http://www.boifancy.com/</ref>
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People have the right to self-identify, but they also need to self-identify responsibly, with awareness of their label's history, whether it is cultural appropriation, and whether it is the most accurate label they can find. Part of the usefulness of this wiki is in helping people do that, so they can research a label's history and meaning, and make sure they have the most accurate one.
People have the right to self-identify, but they also need to self-identify responsibly, with awareness of their label's history, whether it is cultural appropriation, and whether it is the most accurate label they can find. Part of the usefulness of this wiki is in helping people do that, so they can research a label's history and meaning, and make sure they have the most accurate one.
==Other queer masculine identities==
Some other queer masculine identities are ag, [[butch]], stud, [[tomboy]], and [[transmasculine]]. Each of these words have their own nuances of meaning, which can be very different from one community to the next. This section should explore some of the ways that boi differs from these.


==Notable people==
==Notable people==
Some notable people outside the Western [[gender binary]] who have described themselves as "boi" include
Some notable people outside the Western [[gender binary]] who have described themselves as "boi" include:


* Indie-pop musician [[Anjimile]]<ref name="anjimile">{{cite tweet|user=anjimilemusic|number=1100129113480880128|title=thank u thank u :) however I am not a girl, I'm a non-binary transmasc queer boi who uses they/them and he/him pronouns 🤘🏾|date=Feb 25, 2019}}</ref>
* Indie-pop musician [[Anjimile]]<ref name="anjimile">{{cite tweet|user=anjimilemusic|number=1100129113480880128|title=thank u thank u :) however I am not a girl, I'm a non-binary transmasc queer boi who uses they/them and he/him pronouns 🤘🏾|date=Feb 25, 2019}}</ref>
* American writer and model [[Devin-Norelle]] describes [[English_neutral_pronouns#Ze|zimself]]<ref>[https://www.instagram.com/SteroidBeyonce/ Instagram profile], accessed 29 July 2020</ref> as [[nonbinary]]<ref name="Michael">{{Cite web |title=Meet Devin-Norelle, Chromat's First Masculine of Center Model |author=Michael Love Michael |work=PAPER |date=9 September 2019 |access-date=29 July 2020 |url= https://www.papermag.com/devin-norelle-chromat-2640274990.html?rebelltitem=10#rebelltitem10 }}</ref> and a boi.<ref name="not a man">{{cite web|url=https://transparentgender.tumblr.com/post/179556497367/im-not-a-man-yet-not-a-women|date=29 October 2018|title=I'm not a man, yet not a women.}}</ref>
* American writer and model [[Devin-Norelle]] describes [[English_neutral_pronouns#Ze|zimself]]<ref>[https://www.instagram.com/SteroidBeyonce/ Instagram profile], accessed 29 July 2020</ref> as [[nonbinary]]<ref name="Michael">{{Cite web |title=Meet Devin-Norelle, Chromat's First Masculine of Center Model |author=Michael Love Michael |work=PAPER |date=9 September 2019 |access-date=29 July 2020 |url= https://www.papermag.com/devin-norelle-chromat-2640274990.html?rebelltitem=10#rebelltitem10 }}</ref> and a boi.<ref name="not a man">{{cite web|url=https://transparentgender.tumblr.com/post/179556497367/im-not-a-man-yet-not-a-women|date=29 October 2018|title=I'm not a man, yet not a women.}}</ref>
* Performance artist and musician [[Dua Saleh]]<ref>{{cite tweet|last=Saleh|first=Dua|user=doitlikedua|number=1274796748502958081|title=I mainly use they/them and occasionally he/him pronouns.<br><br>Some terms I accept and terms I don’t accept, in that order.<br><br>[White heavy check mark]: king, bro, fam, boi, Mx., Mr., sir, dude, man, gentlethem, stan account etc<br><br>[No entry sign]: queen, sis, girl, gurl, woman, etc|date=21 June 2020}}</ref>
* Performance artist and musician [[Dua Saleh]]<ref>{{cite tweet|last=Saleh|first=Dua|user=doitlikedua|number=1274796748502958081|title=I mainly use they/them and occasionally he/him pronouns.<br><br>Some terms I accept and terms I don’t accept, in that order.<br><br>[White heavy check mark]: king, bro, fam, boi, Mx., Mr., sir, dude, man, gentlethem, stan account etc<br><br>[No entry sign]: queen, sis, girl, gurl, woman, etc|date=21 June 2020}}</ref>
==Related terms==
* boifriend. If one's lover or partner identifies as a boi, it's common to say they are one's boifriend.
* queerboi<ref name="Marech" />
* transboi<ref name="Marech" />


==See also==
==See also==
Anonymous user
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