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Original poster

Famous Gender Non-conforming People

66 replies

Wishingstarr · 14/06/2020 21:23

After reading another thread I really feel we need a list of successful happy well-known people who are very obviously gender-non-conforming (yes I know none of us are!) But we need role models for our kids who are not seeing them unless trans.

It would be great if someone could produce fun short videos suitable for social media and posters etc so that kids understand they don't have to fit stereotypes.

I am a bit out of touch with popular culture but people who come to mind are:

Storme DeLarvarie
Boy George
Rupert Everett (said he wanted to be a girl until his 20s)
Beth Ditto
Ellen DeGeneres
Charlie Covell
Lily Tomlin
Wanda Sykes
Carmelita Tropicana (Alina Troyano)
Radhika Vaz

It's important to have people with a range of sexualities though and not all very flamboyant or extrovert so that kids can see themselves as not just entertainment for others but regular citizens.

OP posts:
TinklyLittleLaugh · 15/06/2020 01:46

Gender non conforming. It’s a bit wierd isn’t it? Sort of suggests that there’s a way to present your gender that is wrong, when of course really there isn’t.

StrangeLookingParasite · 15/06/2020 01:34

Skunk Anansie is the band, the gorgeous singer is Skin/Deborah Dyer.

Bluebooby · 15/06/2020 01:26

I suppose op meant women who don't look hyper feminine and men who don't look hyper masculine?

DidoLamenting · 15/06/2020 00:41

Are you sure these people would agree they are gender nonconforming? Or is this list built on assumptions based on how they look?

It's not clear what it's based on.

What on earth is "gender nonconforming " about Beth Ditto? In public she is always in dresses, often short and/or low cut with lots of make up. Or do you just mean grossly obese and doesn't care?

Or Claire Balding? By that token most of the women in my local Waitrose are "gender nonconforming"

Or Katie Perry's ex - Russell Brand? Based on what? Slightly long hair?

DidoLamenting · 15/06/2020 00:19

David bowie

Having sex with underage groupies is "gender non- conforming" ?

DidoLamenting · 15/06/2020 00:17

Are you sure these people would agree they are gender nonconforming? Or is this list built on assumptions based on how they look?

There are a fair number desperate inclusions on here.

Chrissie Hynde
Based on appearance? That's just daft. About half the young women I was at university with looked like that.

Janis Joplin
Again based on appearance Janice Joplin was a very feminine women.

Everyfemale scientist, lawyer, politician, engineer, doctor and probably more would be 'gender nonconforming' according to gender norms of the past

Exactly.

HandsOffMyRights · 14/06/2020 23:46

Based on appearance/attitude in a male dominated industry, I'd say

Chrissie Hynde
Tracy Chapman
Skunk Anansie
Patti Smith
Grace Jones
Janis Joplin

But then you have other artists/inventors/business tycoons/scientists/authors/architects, whatever who carve their own niche and image is irrelevant.

I've seen threads about Dolly Parton on here, for example, citing her as a female icon for all that she has achieved. Does she conform?

NotBadConsidering · 14/06/2020 23:34

Should say Eddie Izzard doesn’t count because

Original poster
Wishingstarr · 14/06/2020 23:34

The fact that kids could be transed so young that they are literally physically incapable of orgasm is one of the greatest evils. To actually deprive a person of their normal sex life before they can possibly comprehend it is one of the worst kinds of abuse.

OP posts:
NotBadConsidering · 14/06/2020 23:34

Eddie Izzard because he went from being a man who wears a dress as a form of expressing himself - a great role model - to describing himself as genderfluid and coming under the transgender umbrella term, and advising he doesn’t mind “he” or “she”.

He is transgender by the Stonewall definition, but he could have continued to be a beacon of non-conformity for men and told them to stick it, instead he went down the Stonewall path.

ErrolTheDragon · 14/06/2020 23:33

Are you talking about appearances or what?

Every female scientist, lawyer, politician, engineer, doctor and probably more would be 'gender nonconforming' according to gender norms of the past.

lottiegarbanzo · 14/06/2020 23:27

From your list, thinking of accessible evidence, Rupert Everett was amusing but incidentally really on point on the subject, on Desert Island Discs recently. How he liked 'girl stuff' and thought he'd rather be a girl until post-puberty, when he suddenly went 'wahey, sex! Being a gay man is awesome!'. Very poignant when thinking of all those 'trans kids' who, thanks to hormones and surgery, might never have a chance of that epiphany, or a sex life.

Boy George was very straightforward on the topic on his recent R4 lockdown interview with Louis Theroux. Essentially 'anyone who imagines I'm going to make assumptions based on how they look, is a bit foolish'.

soloula · 14/06/2020 23:26

Kurt Cobain

borntohula · 14/06/2020 23:20

Billy Porter

PixelatedLunchbox · 14/06/2020 23:14

Cannot believe I'm the first to say Eddie Izard Grin

Mrsjayy · 14/06/2020 23:09

Pink I love her and she was a wonderful role model for my now 27 year old dd

Original poster
Wishingstarr · 14/06/2020 23:08

It's a ridiculous concept really, as it means all of us! But as we know we live in a sexist world which sends strong messages to kids, we need to work decisively to counter those messages by offering alternatives to those that tick the obvious boxes of gender conformity. We can all find a place and be comfortable as we are, in other words. We don't have to attempt to change our biology to fit in.

OP posts:
Redshoeblueshoe · 14/06/2020 23:05

PlanDeRaccordement I agree. Also there's a few who are full on TWAW this thread. Mary Beard and Clare Balding for starters

Original poster
Wishingstarr · 14/06/2020 23:00

Well I haven't made any assumptions but the people I mentioned are yes, not fitting into gender norms in their appearance but also that they were happy as adults to continue to be GNC. That usually does mean their views and behaviors were GNC.

But delighted to hear of those who fit the stereotype appearance wise and went onto careers and lives that were/are GNC.

Obviously in a more expansive conversation we can talk about Margaret Thatcher and Jacinda Arden.

Or the entire USA female football team (always more successful than their male counter parts).

The Williams sisters and other female athletes females dominating male counterparts

It's often as simple as preferring to wear clothes associated with the opposite sex and hairstyles that mean young children are under social pressure to declare they are trans however.

I am absolutely open to any and all GNC people to help us all expand the bandwidth.

OP posts:
FiveFootTwoEyesOfBlue · 14/06/2020 23:00

Robert Smith of the Cure (based on image)

FiveFootTwoEyesOfBlue · 14/06/2020 22:58

Anne Lister

Also, I only found out recently there were famous female pirates.

www.history.com/news/5-notorious-female-pirates

Gasp0deTheW0nderD0g · 14/06/2020 22:58

Prince
Boy George

Pertella · 14/06/2020 22:54

Harry Styles

ContessaferJones · 14/06/2020 22:51

Based solely on appearance:

Skunk Anansie
David Walliams
Noel from Bake Off (can't recall his surname)
That guy who was married to Katy Perry (I think he's an idiot BTW)

To be clear, I think all the above (except maybe DW) would be quite clear on the topic of what sex they are - they simply don't feel any need to adhere to the perceived dress code for that sex.

mackerella · 14/06/2020 22:49

I don't know if she exactly counts as GNC, but I would say Mary Beard is inspirational for the way in that she's managed to be ab older woman in the public eye who quite clearly doesn't give a stuff what other people think of her appearance (which is v rare, especially on TV!) I've actually worked with her, and it was clear that she always dressed for her own comfort and pleasure, once memorably turning up to a work meeting in gold leggings and chunky trainers! I would say that being GNC needn't mean being androgynous or conforming to the norms of the opposite sex - as a woman, you can be quite radically GNC just by not dyeing your hair, not wearing make up, or by daring to wear what you please rather than following the dictates of fashion and/or men's preferences.