Queer gender alignment

	Disclaimer
	This blog post exists for the purpose of sharing a gender alignment concept that has not yet caught on as mainstream terminology. This terminology was coined on this Wiki due to its creator being unable to find similar existing terms. If this term significantly grows beyond this Wiki, it may receive its own page in the future, but for now, it exists as a blog post.

Queer gender alignments are gender alignments specifically tied to queerness and/or non-conformity. This is not a specific gender alignment system, but is intended to be an expansion upon currently existing gender alignment terms (such as man-aligned or feminine-aligned). These terms can be used to describe identities, people, or general terminology.

Queer-aligned

Gender identity

Queer-aligned gender identities include any gender identity that is influenced by one's queerness and/or non-conformity, or any gender experience that aligns with queerness and/or non-conformity. This is a useful term for individuals who cannot define or describe their gender in traditional terms, or who feel their gender stretches beyond traditional boundaries. Queer-aligned can be used as a standalone term, or an umbrella term for other queer gender alignments.

For example, a queer-aligned man may have a relationship with manhood that feels unique to them, or defies traditional expectations of men. As another example, a gay person may have a complex relationship with their gender due to heteronormative expectations of their gender, and thus may consider their gender to be queer-aligned.

Terminology

Queer-aligned terminology is any gender terminology that specifically caters to non-conformists and people within the LGBTQIA+ community. These terms specifically call attention to how one deviates from the established "norm" in the society they live in, either through gender expression, gender identity, sexual orientation, a combination of these things, or something similar. Examples of queer-aligned terminology include:

• Femboy/tomgirl
• Mascgirl/tomboy
• Butch
• Femme
• Bear
• Twink

Sappho-aligned

Gender identity

Sappho-aligned gender identities include any queer-aligned gender identity that is specifically tied to womanhood in some way. This may refer to people who have a complex relationship with womanhood due to their queerness or non-conformity, non-binary people who only experience womanhood in the context of their sapphic attraction, people who identify as lesbians in reference to their gender identity, woman-aligned people who feel that their queerness or non-conformity is intrinsically tied to their gender identity, or people with similar experiences.

Terminology

Sappho-aligned terminology is any gender terminology that specifically caters to woman-aligned non-conformists and people within the LGBTQIA+ community. Examples of sappho-aligned terminology include:

• Mascgirl/tomboy
• Butch
• Femme
• Futch
• Ursula
• Stag
• Tomcat
• Doe

Achilles-aligned

Gender identity

Achilles-aligned gender identities include any queer-aligned gender identity that is specifically tied to manhood in some way. This may refer to people who have a complex relationship with manhood due to their queerness or non-conformity, non-binary people who only experience manhood in the context of their achillean attraction, people who identify as vincian in reference to their gender identity, man-aligned people who feel that their queerness or non-conformity is intrinsically tied to their gender identity, or people with similar experiences.

Terminology

Achilles-aligned terminology is any gender terminology that specifically caters to man-aligned non-conformists and people within the LGBTQIA+ community. Examples of achilles-aligned terminology include:

• Femboy/tomgirl
• Bear
• Twink
• Wolf
• Otter

Etymology

The term "queer" originated in the 1500s as a Scottish word meaning "unusual" or "eccentric." It became a derogatory term for homosexuality in 1922 and eventually was reclaimed as an umbrella term for anyone within the LGBTQIA+ community. "Queer-aligned" was chosen due to the term "queer" putting emphasis on deviating from societal norms (non-conformity), as well as being a member of the LGBTQIA+ community.

Sappho was an Ancient Greek Teacher and lyrical poet who wrote homoerotic poems, among other things. As such, the terms sapphic and lesbian were coined, deriving from her name and birthplace. Since Sappho is often considered to be a historically relevant representation of queer women and woman-aligned people, the term "sappho-aligned" was chosen.

Though the term "sappho-aligned" has origins that primarily center around love between women, one does not have to identify as sapphic to be sappho-aligned or use sappho-aligned terminology (with the exception of certain terms exclusive to sapphic people). The identity centers around non-conformity and/or LGBTQ+ identity, not necessarily sapphic love specifically.

Achilles is a figure in Greek Mythology who is sometimes speculated to have had a male lover. The term achillean was derived from his name. Since Achilles has essentially been used as the face of attraction between men, "achilles-aligned" was chosen.

Though the term "achilles-aligned" has origins that primarily center around love between men, one does not have to identify as achillean to be achilles-aligned or use achilles-aligned terminology (with the exception of certain terms exclusive to achillean people). The identity centers around non-conformity and/or LGBTQ+ identity, not necessarily achillean love specifically.

Community

History

The queer gender alignments (specifically the terms "queer-aligned," "sappho-aligned," and "achilles-aligned") were officially proposed on March 23, 2022 by LGBTQIA+ Wiki user Ghosturtle. Xe mentioned the terms in a post asking if such terms existed. Xe had used the terms prior to this date, but had yet to officially propose them. After receiving no information of an existing label, and being unable to find terms that fit these definitions, xe decided to propose the terms xemself on xyr LGBTQIA+ Wiki blog.

Distinction

Gender non-conforming

Gender non-conforming people are not inherently queer-aligned. While gender non-conformity can impact gender in a way that causes one to be queer-aligned, this is not always the case. Gender non-conformity is a form of gender expression, not necessarily gender identity. Queer-alignment, on the other hand, is a form of gender identity.

Certain queer-aligned terminology may be used by gender non-conformists, such as the term "tomboy," but using queer-aligned terminology to describe oneself does not necessarily make one's gender queer-aligned. For comparison, this is the case just as using woman-aligned terminology does not necessarily make one's gender woman-aligned. A non-binary person may refer to themself as a princess, which is a woman-aligned term, without identifying as woman-aligned. Similarly, a woman may refer to themself as a tomboy, which is a queer-aligned term, without identifying as queer-aligned.