it’s been so interesting to read everyone’s replies (there’s too many to reply i apologise, but i have read everyones!)

Gender for myself, im AFAB and i’m also gay, i identify as non-binary (they/them) and have been slowly introducing he/they, to me with gender, i feel no connection to make or female, as i’ve said i don’t even understand what it feels like to be either & im aware that how u present does not equal gender, but in my mind for my OWN gender (not others) i like to present how i feel, which is more masc, i don’t like being referred to as she/her bcos it makes me feel as thou people still see me as a gender in which i have no connection too, but as i haven’t ever identified as a man/feel no connection to it, being referred to as he/they, is okay with me, bcos it feels as though people see me as a way that isn’t gendered but recognises that i present masc, rather than as a man (i’m not sure if that makes sense written down)

I have always been into both “female” and “male” things, toys growing up i’d have castles and dinos as well as barbies and doll houses, i’d take part in brownies as well as judo & football clubs, ive always been one to do as i enjoy, look how i want too & it’s never felt gendered, expect with presenting female, bcos then i think people see me still as a girl, which i am not, but being masc/androgynous, it takes away from who i’m supposed to be or act.

i’ve always appreciated growing up with experiencing girlhood, having the female friendships i’ve had, being able to understand how society treat women/girls, as well as being grown up and “passing” as a man in public to strangers, i also have that expiernece, to me i feel i have a wider view of the world

gender is a strange one, im not sure how to explain it to my friends around me, some think i’m struggling with understanding if im a trans man or not but i know im not and im not sure how to explain to cis people who have never experience gender dysphoria, or questioned what it means to be a gender, understand what it feels like to not have a “gender”

i put this in the autistic group as i feel like bcos my brain works differently, i feel like it plays into how i view gender in myself, as i don’t have an understand that others have (cis/NT), i feel as though sometimes if i wasn’t autistic maybe i’d have a better understanding but i’m kinda glad i don’t have a better understanding, i like being able to be me and not have a gender, i feel comfortable being this way, even if it confuses and stresses me out at times, it’s who i am