Paisano Plus — Spring 2017, Gender & Sexuality Issue

SPRING 2017, ISSUE 1

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MUST READS OF THIS ISSUE 22 | College living section Whether it's through dating apps or different majors, college is all about meeting and experiencing new people. This section features a quiz that will reveal your social media bae and perhaps encourage you to put yourself out there on social media and find an actual bae. Who knows? The college living section also features a UTSA alum who's discovered the formula to becoming a successful leader and wants to share it with YOU.

10 | The other one percent: Asexuality - the forgotten sexuality 99 percent of the population experiences sexual desires, but what about the one percent who don't? Read about a UTSA student who grew up wondering "why does everyone want to have sex except for me?" After years of confusion, she researched and found the term for the identity she'd felt all along. Her story will resonate with anyone who's ever felt a little different.

24 | Living a Fantasea Meet Christian Flores, UTSA student by day and drag queen by night. Although Christian describes his drag persona, Serene Fantasea, as a completely different person, the journey to creating her has brought him closer to the important people in his life.

28 | Meet Jade.

Read the story of Jade, a UTSA freshman who is on an incredible journey to becoming a woman.

The computer science major talks about her experiences from coming out as trans to her family, to finding solace in video games to hormone therapy treatment.

here is a lot going on in this issue of Paisano Plus.

To kick things off, welcome to the Gender & Sexuality Issue! We’re happy to be hosting this kiki (slang for a party), as it might be a new subject for some Roadrunners.

Back in 2014, the Association of Governing Boards of Universities and Colleges reported that nearly 1 million college students and over 160,000 faculty/staff members identified as members of the LGBT community. However, due to increased inclusivity over the years — which will probably continue into the future — the number is likely to grow.

While this issue won’t cover everything encompassing the diverse and extensive subject of gender identity and sexuality, consider it a starter guide. So, if you’re new to the party, this issue will cover some of the basics so you won’t feel like that clueless person in the corner awkwardly looking at their phone while everyone else is having fun dancing.

If you’re looking for a cheat sheet for some of the basics, head to page 16. You’ll find a list of terms and definitions that are good to know (just call us Quizlet).

The LGBTQ+ community is dynamic. Throughout the past decade, there has been a greater normalization of gender identities beyond the binary of male and female (i.e transgender, gender neutral, gender fluid, etc.).

Enter Jade Follett — UTSA student and trans woman.

From figuring out her gender identity to making major life decisions regarding hormone therapy, this article delves into the transgender experience. Read more about her journey in depth on page 17.

This issue looks at masculinity and femininity. A commentary on what it’s like to identify as “Nasty Woman” (a phrase used

by Donald Trump in reference to Hillary Clinton during the third presidential debate in the 2016 election) can be found on page 22. Another commentary on the toxicity that can stem from masculinity (ever heard of #MasculinitySoFragile?) can be found on page 26.

We also have a feature on a local UTSA drag queen Serene Fantasea to check out (and appreciate) the artform that is drag.

This issue also has a commentary on asexuality — the often forgotten and/or judged sexuality.

Last on our agenda, we have a college living section found on page 10. In this short section we look at the everyday aspects of college culture: dating (via phone apps), college major stereotypes and learning to channel your inner leader.

There’s a lot in this issue. We hope you use it to guide yourself into this ever-changing world and learn a few things.

Maybe you’ll learn something new. Maybe you’ll find solidarity.

Maybe you’ll see another perspective you never knew existed.

There’s no judgement here. Just open discussion.

Enjoy!

Jade Cuevas

magazine@paisano-online.com

About the covers

There is no one certain way an LGTBQ+ person looks.

LGBTQ+ can be your neighbor, your classmate, your professor, your coffee barista — anyone and everyone. We created this front cover as a silhouette to convey the idea of this inclusivity. Combining this notion with the iconic LGBTQ pride colors (red, orange, yellow, green, blue and purple), we hope everyone can see themself on this cover.

Everyone is figuring themselves out.

Our back cover might be one you recognize: the equal sign. While it stemmed from the Human RIghts Campaign Logo, the equals sign has become an a symbol of solidarity within the LGBTQ+ community.

{ Paisano Plus } Magazine Editor: Jade Cuevas The Paisano Editor-inChief: Caroline Traylor Managing Editor: Ethan Pham

Samantha Ceballos Magazine Editor Assistant

Magazine Editor Assistant: Samantha Ceballos

If you are interested in becoming a writer, hit us up!

Email our editor (magazine@ paisano-online.com) or drop by The Paisano’s weekly Wednesday meetings at 6 p.m. at 14526 Roadrunner Way. No journalism experience required.

Enrique Bonilla

Just a curious mind and a passion for chasing stories.

"Meet Jade"

Photo Editor: Tristan Ipock Account Executive: Jenelle Duff Business Manager: Will Stransky Marketing Director: Kristy Olson {Staff} Jessica Salinas, Enrique Bonilla, Ryan Thompson, Chase Otero, Samantha Jones, Jiwan Ninglekhu, Dominique Avila, Justice Lovin {Cover Photos} Jade Cuevas {Advisor} Diane Abdo {Advisory Board} Stefanie Arias, Jack Himelblau, Steven Kellman, Red Madden, Sandy Norman

Samantha Jones

Ryan Thompson

"Results may (will) vary"

“UTSA street style“

Ethan Pham "Living a Fantasea"

Raquel Zuniga

Copy editor extraordinaire

Paisano Plus is published by the Paisano Educational Trust, a non-profit, tax exempt, educational organization. The Paisano is operated by members of the Student Newspaper Association, a registered student organization. The Paisano is NOT sponsored, financed or endorsed

by UTSA. All revenues are generated through advertising and donations.

Advertising inquiries and donations should be directed towards: 14526 Roadrunner Way Suite 101 San Antonio, TX 78249 (210) 690-9301 magazine@paisanoonline.com © 2017, The Paisano

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What is your favorite fashion trend right now?

1 " My favorite trend right now is pins, jacket pins, silly pins. Any kind of pin really."

-Aidan Gland 2 "Faux-Suede Mules.

Don’t forget the Pho! I’m vegan."

—Moose Benthall 3 "I love velvet right now. I’m really into the sneaker trend, I like them sporty with a touch of feminine!"

— Julianna Moore 4 "I’m gonna go with turtlenecks."

- Luke Puente 5 "Well of course, overalls.”

— Kent Shearer

Interviews: Ryan Thompson Photos: Chase Otero

What's the first thing you consider when buying an article of clothing?

1 “Umm, is it poppin' on me or not?”

— Hoai-My Ho 2 "Quality of the piece is number one."

— Viri Oloko 3 "I look at it and think 'Is it big enough to layer?'"

— Raymundo Yanez 4 "I look at the fit. For sweaters, I like for them to be oversized.

For jeans, they have to fit just right."

— Nick Boysen 5 "I always think to myself, 'How many people have I seen wearing this?'”

— Jalen McGhee 6 "Price. I am here for the sale!"

— Victoria Baldwin

which covered! Check out “Major Pains” to see rs. majo lar personal ity belongs with popu the College is the time to have fun, but also g. brin will re futu the what time to thin k about and gths stren your learn to Make an effort best weak nesses so that you may become the ing “Find the to over Head self. your of ion vers ht on. insig gain Your Leadersh ip Voice” article to rent us Take some time to learn about the diffe tells who ent on the life of a post-grad stud iles cult types of dating apps and the kinds of prof diffi a in ers lead what it mea ns to become tical to you may come across. Too afra id or skep economy. eone som der do it yourself? Have no fear, we have Who doesn’t love socia l med ia? Ever won ce. advi e som we've who's already done it to give you so, If is? app t spiri ia med l socia what your But remember, use caut ion when meet ing got the quiz for you. ge is strangers!

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College is a time for exploration and selft discover y. You will discover things abou not may or may you that rs othe yourself and mess to time the also It’s . know to ted have wan over disc you arou nd and have fun. It will help later the little things about life that you'll need

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Tinder – To Swipe or Not To Swipe

By Samantha Jones With the rise of social media, online dating is now more culturally accepted than ever before.

In fact, anyone who owns a smartphone has probably seen advertisements for many of the dating apps available. However, the struggle to determine which one works best for you is real.

What's the right choice for me? At 22 years old and fresh from a breakup, I trolled and rated three popular dating apps currently available. Here's what happened:

I was surprised by how insanely easy the Tinder is to use. It connects directly to your Facebook account, importing pictures, information, likes/dislikes and even your friends list. You’re less likely to get catfished on Tinder since Facebook screens for fake profiles regularly. I would say the biggest issue I had extends to all of dating apps—it’s fairly superficial. You base your swipe on physical appearance alone. Someone on the cusp of a left swipe may have more to offer than a solid right.

The guys I chatted with were mostly nice and polite, which was a bit of a surprise. I was invited to several bars, restaurants and clubs in the area. I’d say roughly 85 percent of the male users seemed like great people, but 15 percent did not.

All in all, I would suggest Tinder to guys and girls who are looking to meet people for hangouts and casual hook-ups, but nothing serious.

OkCupid – The Odds Are Good, but the Goods Are Odd

I actually consider myself an OkCupid veteran, having met a few people on the website in the past. The website and its full service app are free, and offer quizzes that are fun and serve as

Bumble – It’s a Woman’s World

A friend of mine told me once that he spent 45 minutes trying to come up with the “perfect opening line” to send to a girl on

The Serial Profiler

Whether you’re looking for men or women (or both), you will always find a serial profiler on any dating site. This is an individual who treats their online profile like a resume for a CEO position. Each section will be filled up with at least two to four paragraphs, detailing who they are, their ideologies and what they are looking for. While this does provide an in depth look intro who they are, it could also be construed as narcissism.

Negative Nancy

It is wise to have a positive outlook when online, otherwise, you become a Negative Nancy. This is an individual who is quite vocal about their disdain for online dating (“I don’t know why I’m back on here. This is pointless. Everyone here is so fake!”).

The Tight Lip

There is a reason for an online dating profile; it’s so other people can get a general idea of who you are and what you’re looking for.

Unfortunately, no one shared this with The

OkCupid. Spoiler alert: he eventually settled on “Hey! How’s it going?” As a woman-targeted derivative of Tinder, Bumble empowers women while simultaneously alleviating men of the icebreaker burden.

Since women instigate the conversation, men know they are talking with someone who WANTS to engage them. It is also empowering to women since they determine how far the initial interest will go. That being said, the Tinder-like swiping is the only control men have over the situation. While it does remove the opportunity for unsolicited, creepy messages for men or women, according to a friend of mine, “it feels like waiting in a hallway for an interview you’re not even sure is going to happen.”

Bumble seems to be appropriate for men and women who are potentially looking for something serious. A person looking for a hook-up probably won’t enjoy the vetting process that sets Bumble apart. That being said, a person should really know what he or she is looking for before proceeding.

Tight Lip. The online profile usually contains three simple words: “Just ask me!”

The Golden Oldie

Online dating isn’t just for young adults anymore. Adults 50+ have been taking to OKCupid and other sites to find a relationship. This has also led to older men and women hitting on young adults. Women under the age of 25 are extremely susceptible to this. “Hello beautiful, I know I am older than what you’re looking for, but I can show you a great time” – message sent to me from a 62 year old.

The Catfish

Yes, we’ve all seen the MTV show, but the truth is, catfishing is a real thing. There are men and women who use a fake picture, or even a picture of an attractive friend to coerce an attractive man/woman into meeting them. The biggest reason behind this deception is a lack of confidence in their appearance. “He/She will fall in love with me over the computer, and my appearance won’t matter so much.” A lie is a lie.

**WARNING** Although online dating is more widely accepted, please exercise cau-

tion when meeting a stranger in person. Drive your own car or call an uber, do not get drunk, let your friends know where you are, meet at a public place and if anything seems suspicious or unsafe, leave immediately.

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great icebreakers. Compared to Tinder, I think OkC is more personal. Each profile comes with several sections that provide insight into who they are as a person.

Unfortunately, anyone and everyone can send you a private message and there lies the problem. A lot of the negative stereotypes of online dating come from these types of platforms. While the vast majority of the messages I received were polite, some were sketchier and frankly, more disgusting than the messages I received on Tinder. Any denial of these messages was usually met with a rude, offensive comment by the sender.

I definitely recommend OkCupid if you’re looking for something “more” than Tinder but proceed with caution and definitely grow thick skin.

By Jiwan Ninglekhu n 2009, many people were laid off and lost their homes.

The market was upside down and desperation was through the roof. I was a new graduate with my master’s degree with new hopes and dreams. I didn’t know until I experienced the chaos myself that jobs had evaporated overnight.

Recruiters didn’t want to talk on the phone. I think many recruiters lost their jobs too.

To sustain my family, I worked as a convenience store clerk for a year before I found a relevant, albeit temporary job. I had to survive. I learned some important lessons from this experience. One mistake can often make it hard to adapt to situations. It might be either because we are ill informed, or because we fear taking risks; however, it might also be because we do not dare to dream big enough.

Nowadays, I try my best to listen, but information can be overwhelming. Some people argue going to school is worthless.

Others say it is the optimal path to success.

The only way to stay on top of this is to be aware, step up, work and take responsibility.

Like many, I agree the wave for leadership economy is here. Based on observation, I think leadership is the best way to prepare for the worst case scenario. It is the demand of this economy and there is no other way for us except to embrace and adapt to the change especially as students.

The technological revolution In the age of the Internet, knowledge is free (or almost free). The only competitive advantage is the amount of time and effort one puts into learning, as well as the ability to utilize existing information and leverage it with imagination to create something new.

Many experts agree the gap between tech and non-tech people is rapidly closing. We are moving toward a new economy driven by micro-entrepreneurship. Each activist in this movement is motivated with a mission in heart. This economy will be about one’s personal core responsibilities and objectives.

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I

Machines will take over repetitive tasks.

According to a 2013 study by Oxford University, intelligent machines will replace 50 percent of the jobs available today in the next 20 years. For example, the study predicts intelligent machines will replace 98 percent of bookkeeping, accounting and auditing clerks.

A work-study clerk job at UTSA’s Department of Electrical and Computer Engineering has already been partially replaced with an app on an iPad. The best way to stay ahead in this game is to be involved in student organizations with an entrepreneurial objective, take responsibility, be creative and lead the movement.

School As An Advantage Many students view school as an avenue to stable jobs and lifestyles. Some of us are the first in our families to be pursuing higher education, but we should embrace one truth: going to school won’t make us successful.

Instead, it prepares us for our future journey to success.

Regardless of what some people may think or say, I believe there is a great advantage to being in school. We have advisors and mentors to guide us; opportunities to learn with minimum or no loss, to start or lead student organizations with a purpose; an environment for collective learning. Here we can start to make a change we truly believe in. However, school is a gymnasium. We must go beyond the routine of simply attending classes, (somehow) submitting homework assignments and passing tests.

World leaders for real world problems The world is volatile. Human beings, are dynamic. We change. We get bored quickly. We move to different places, desire and acquire new things and cast aside the familiar. We change and grow old while new babies are born every minute of the hour. There is a corresponding effect from our collective behavior, toward the economy. Regardless, most of us hope the economy will be stable.

We want to rely on that economy, but if we look at some of the most successful

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individuals, they were unmoved during the great recession. In fact, many organizations were launched or thrived during the recession. Some even made a fortune because of it (i.e. Lyft).

Throughout the past year there has been a rise number of millionaires in the world.

There are more billionaires now more than ever. We can learn from economic history along with the present to shape the future.

We must be able to utilize the tangible and intangible assets and be creative to craft ideas around any given situation. With so many newly established platforms, we have opportunities to be leaders, to leverage the democracy of education and to lead the democracy of human progress.

A Leader’s Mindset I used to think entrepreneurship was about business. For many people, the word business bores them (including myself).

But why is the word entrepreneurship so exciting while business is boring? Shouldn’t they have the same meaning?

Not necessarily.

Entrepreneurship is not limited to buying, selling and making profit. Rather it is about

creativity, devotion, integrity, adventure and unending exploration. It is an exciting journey of sacrifice and success.

It’s leadership.

I have had the opportunity to lead a student organization on two different occasions. I believe I worked hard and tried to serve the best way I could. However, I conducted them at different times and with mindsets. At first, I worked to help people with existing protocols, took the authority and burned my energy. In the latter case, I knew I couldn’t do everything by myself, so I delegated tasks. Acting and appreciating my team members was the most important thing. I also came to understand how important it was to listen to others’ ideas and opinions. The main responsibilities of a leader are to motivate with patience and perseverance.

Leadership is a new challenge. Although leadership is not a new concept, it will soon become the new normal. Modern times demand more leaders like never before.

I believe we must prepare not just for an economy similar to what we saw in the past, but for any economy.

College is a special time in your life when you discover who you are as a person, try to figure out what you’re going to do for the rest of your life and where you meet all sorts of interesting people.

What type of college majors will you meet throughout your time on campus? Here are some people you’ll encounter and how their personalities correspond with their majors.

By Dominique Avila

Biology

Bio majors are the ones with their lives figured out: they’re pre-med, going to nursing school or have some other sure-fire career in mind. They are planners. They have goals, whether big or small, and they always meet them. They are pretty cool people to hang with, but watch out. What you think is dinnertime might actually be lab-time for them.

Bio majors know how to write up one bad-ass lab report (you know, just in case you have to take bio as a basic requirement), so hit them up if you cringe at the thought of the scientific method.

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Psychology

Though they might not know what a psychology degree will help them do for the rest of their lives, psych majors are a fascinating bunch. They lie on the divide between science and liberal arts; so it’s easy for them to make friends from either fields. They are the chameleons of all the majors. But be warned, they might be analyzing you and every decision you make as you’re hanging out with them. This analysis can be an advantage because they are the best people to spill your problems to. They understand how the psyche (you can have your very own personal therapist, though it’s not a good idea to go overboard about your problems with them). Know that if you encounter a psych major, they might ask you to participate in one of their studies (say yes, because it might mean free things).

English

Another strong personality you will come across are the English majors, ranging from the perfectionist scholar to the chaotic creative writer. Reading, analyzing and writing about literary works ends up creating an individual with strong thoughts on multiple subjects which can come off as pretentious. Don’t fret; they are just passionate about what they study (even if they must explain multiple times what they plan on doing with their lives). If you have trouble with a writing assignment or you just don’t understand a text, befriending an English major could prove beneficial.

Poli-sci majors are vocal about what they think, ranging from movies, to social issues, to food.

They are intense people who might start talking politics on the first date. Know that they are the go-getters of the world. If you have trouble expressing your ideas aloud, a poli-sci major is your go-to person for all your presentation needs. This opinionated group is one you might want to think about befriending, especially if you’re not one for class debates and don’t mind them taking charge. Take caution when on the receiving end of their arguments: they come prepared and take no chances.

Engineering

If you’re wondering where your engineering friend is, they’re probably in the library studying for the fourth day (or eighth day) in a row. Coffee and energy drinks are an engineer’s best friend. They operate in their own world, so don’t give them hell if they haven’t hung out with you in awhile. Engineers will have claimed the huge tables in the library as their own with papers and books sprawled out. Don’t take it personally if they snap at you; they’re the one having to take classes the rest of us would cry thinking about. No matter how stressed-out they get, they will have the last laugh on the way to the bank.

Communication

If you happen to find yourself in a class with a communication major, get ready for a loud, bouncing-off-the-wall personality. Just like Newton’s first law, comm. majors will keep talking until someone stops them. Like poli-sci majors, comm. majors are vocal and don’t mind — and sometimes even prefer — to go first in a group presentation.

Whether on social media or face-to-face, they like to be heard. And don’t get them started on the ‘communication vs communications’ debate; they will correct you if you don’t use the right one.

Business

Business majors, or any other financerelated majors, are the big thinkers and motivators in the college world. They see the positives and are always looking for the next great idea. Though they seem cocky (very type A*) to the rest of us, business majors are just charismatic people who occasionally dress to impress.

This bunch will play a big role in shaping the next generation’s financial future. So if you ever run into a business major, be ready for a strong personality.

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Political Science

if you're new to the party, here are sonme helpful things to know: ith the Supreme Court ruling on gay marriage, transgender bathroom bills in state and federal legislatures and the growing representation of LGBTQ people in media, it seems safe to say that we’re riding a second wave of the sexual revolution of the sixties. Much of what happened in the sixties coincided with the empowerment of women; widespread access to birth control, a relative (and fluctuating) destigmatization of women’s sexuality and the influx of women in the work place all played a role in creating a landscape that redefined what was acceptable.

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Quizlet

Now, social change takes the form not of balancing traditional roles but of exploding them.

This cultural shift has, in many ways, outpaced the language we use to describe it. For instance, historically gender and sexuality were presumed to be directly related; sex took place within the context of marriage between a man and a woman. The language above—a second sexual revolution—as well as the collective term—LGBTQ—perpetuate this misconception in the common lexicon.

Another way in which language has responded to social change is through the widespread use of the singular, gender neutral “they.”

corner*:

Biological sex: Medical term used to refer to the chromosomal, hormonal and anatomical characteristics that are used to classify an individual as female or male or intersex.

Often referred to as simply “sex,” “physical sex,” “anatomical sex” or specifically as “sex assigned at birth.”

Gender binary: the idea that there are only two genders and that every person is either male or female.

Gender identity: the internal perception of one’s gender and how they label themselves.

This is based on how much or little they align with what they understand their options for gender to be. Common identity labels include man, woman, genderqueer, trans and more.

Gender is often confused with biological sex, or sex assigned at birth.

Sexual attraction: A capacity that evokes the want to engage in physical intimate behavior (e.g., kissing, touching, intercourse). This is experienced in varying degrees (little-tonone to intense). This is often conflated with romantic attraction, emotional attraction and/ or spiritual attraction.

Intersex: Term for a combination of chromosomes, gonads, hormones, internal sex organs and genitals that differs from the two expected patterns of male or female. Formerly known as hermaphrodite (or hermaphroditic), but these terms are now considered outdated and derogatory.

The most important thing to know is that there has been a proliferation of recognized categories. Gender and sexuality are two separate characteristics.

A gender nonconforming person and/or a transgender person (the terms are not mutually exclusive) might be straight, gay, bi-, a- or demi- sexual. And similarly, a transgender or cisgender (someone whose gender identity matches their biological sex) might be masculine, feminine or androgynous regardless of the body in which they feel they belong.

The articles that follow explore and catalogue these social changes and try to make some sense of what’s taking place.

Source: http://itspronouncedmetrosexual.com/2013/01/a-comprehensivelist-of-lgbtq-term-definitions/#sthash.mUBldpNw.dSC3kLIB.dpbs

Transgender: A person who lives as a member of a gender other than that assigned at birth based on anatomical sex.

Asexual: Experiencing little or no sexual attraction to others and/or a lack of interest in sexual relationships/behavior. Asexuality exists on a continuum from people who experience no sexual attraction or have any desire for sex, to those who experience low levels or sexual attraction only under specific conditions. Many of these different places on the continuum have their own identity labels.

Demisexual: Little or no capacity to experience sexual attraction until a strong romantic or emotional connection is formed with another individual, often within a romantic relationship.

Pansexual: A person who experiences sexual, romantic, physical and/or spiritual attraction for members of all gender identities/ expressions.

Bisexual: A person who is emotionally, physically and/or sexually attracted to men and women.

Homosexual: A person primarily emotionally, physically and/or sexually attracted to members of the same sex/gender.

Heterosexual: A person primarily emotionally, physically and/or sexually attracted to members of the opposite sex. Also known as straight.

*Disclaimer: This is a starter pack definition set. More definitions and identities exist that are evolving every day.

Polyamory/polyamorous: The practice of, desire to, or orientation towards having ethically, honest and consensual nonmonogamous relationships (i.e. relationships that may include multiple partners). This may include open relationships, polyfidelity (more than two people in romantic and/or sexual relationships which is not open to additional partners), amongst other arrangements.

Cisgender: A person whose gender identity and biological sex assigned at birth align (e.g., man and assigned male at birth). The word cisgender can also be shortened to “cis.”

Queer: An umbrella term to describe individuals who don’t identify as straight.

Also used to describe people who have a non-normative gender identity. Due to its historical use as a derogatory term, it is not embraced or used by all members of the LGBTQ community. The term “queer” can often be use interchangeably with LGBTQ (e.g., “queer folks” instead of “LGBTQ folks”).

Transphobia: Fear of, discrimination against, or hatred of trans people, the trans community or gender ambiguity. Can be seen within the queer communityand in general society. Often manifested in violent and deadly means. While the exact numbers and percentages aren’t incredibly solid on this, it’s safe to say that trans people are far more likely than their cisgender peers to be the victims of violent crimes and murder.

utsa student. video game lover. trans woman.

By Enrique Bonilla

he best thing about being a girl is, now I don’t have to pretend to be a boy,” read a sincere and simple statement on the cover of the Jan. 2017 issue of National Geographic. Avery Jackson, the 9-year-old girl quoted on the cover, is transgender.

Jackson belongs to a part of the LGBTQ+ community on the forefront of the modern civil rights movement achieving huge milestones, including federal marriage equality in 2016.

Two months into 2017, the nation has seen major impediments to the security, protection and sovereignty of trans lives. In May 2016, President Obama and Attorney General Loretta lYnch directed public schools to allow students to use bathrooms that aligned with their gender identity. Two months into his presidency, Trump has rescinded those protections. According to the National Coalition of Anti-Violence Programs, 23 trans or gendernonconforming people were murdered in hate crimes last year.

The trans community (the “T” part of LGBTQ) is especially vulnerable during this presidency. So many of Trump’s camp hold conservative and normative binary views of sex and gender. To Secretary of Health and Human Services Thomas Price (who voted to ban marriage equality) the Obama administration’s guidelines on the treatment of trans students are “absurd.” Price views gender as a “two and only two” system where sex and gender are inextricably linked. This ideal stems from biological essentialism, particularly with the term cisgender (the acceptance of the gender one is assigned at birth).

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The vast majority of people identify as cisgender and significantly fewer are transgender. However, the size of the majority does not a justify the marginalization transgender minority. Programs like TLC’s “I Am Jazz,” Netflix’s “Orange is the New Black”; and books like Janet Mock’s “Redefining Realness” indicates that some level of transgender inclusion is on the cusp. However, the public remains largely uninformed on the evolving concept of gender, transitioning and living transgender. When and where do these thoughts on gender begin? How early does the socialization into rigid notions of gender begin? For a lot of people, gender remains an unconscious consideration — a matter of fact — but this is not true for everyone and the gender binary fails countless people, particularly when one’s gender expression is considered as “out of place” or “deviant.” However, with listening and education it’s possible to understand the fluidity of gender and sexuality.

Young people are more open to different expressions of of gender and rejecting the antiquated notions that girls only can wear makeup and boys shouldn’t show emotions — often learnt from our parents and grandparents. Our society’s concept of gender is shifting.

To most legislators, the idea of “girls” and “boys” as a biological byproduct is non-negotiable. These legislators cling to the status quo, but people are defying this notion of biological essentialism, arguing that chromosomes “XX” and “XY” don’t always determine gender identity. We still have a meager understanding of human nature, but if human variation is any indicator, then that underlying nature seems able to accommodate individual difference.

Gender is no exception to this range of idiosyncrasy. There is no legitimate reason to suppress acute sex and gender categories that exist: asexual, pansexual, trans women, trans men, non-binary gender persons, neutrois, two-spirit and so many other evolving terms to describe gender embodiment.

Living as trans is a human experience that is difficult to describe with words. UTSA student, Jade Follette, is a computer science freshman currently on the lifelong journey as a trans woman. A Graytown Road native, Follette’s journey to womanhood began in third grade when she began to question her gender identity.

“What if you could become a girl? Would you do that if you had an option? To see what it’s like from that side?”

Follette turned to her 3rd grade peers looking for comfort, but the conversation was often labeled as typical “prepubescent boy talk.” Follette progressively spent more time considering the “what-ifs” until high school when she made the conscious choice to transition into the gender she identifies with.

The years leading to her transition did not pass easily according to Follette; however, she recalls feeling “a severe mismatch between how I felt I should be, how my body is and any facet of my exterior is.” Frustrated led to voluntary isolation. She enjoyed unwinding through the aid of video games. “I still have some of those tendencies, some days I just can’t interact with people, but I’m trying to break away from that,” she explains.

Follette’s family also played a role in this transition.

Photos: Enrique Bonilla

some days I just can’t interact with people, but I’m trying to break away from that. "some days I just can’t interact with people, but I’m trying to break away from that."

Through therapy and the aid of cosplaying in female anime character garb, Follett was able to explain her identity to her mother. Follette explains how her mother, while supportive, is concerned for her future. “Trans people don’t have as many rights as cis gender people,” Follette says.

In Texas, Senate Bill 6 will force transgender/gender fluid people to use bathrooms in public schools, government buildings and public universities based on their biological sex. This bill would also preempt local nondiscrimination ordinances that allow trans Texans to use bathrooms based off their gender identity.

Aside from legal persecution, Follette’s mother also worries about her daughter’s gender performance and the lack of visibility for trans people. According to Trans Student Educational Resources, 1 in 12 trans women are at risk of being murdered by cis people and increases to 1 in 8 if they are a trans woman of color. The amount of violence toward the trans community is staggering compared to other marginalized groups in America. “It’s a pretty bleak outlook,” she explains. The Human Rights Campaign reported that among all 53 transgender murders between 2013 to 2015, not a single case was prosecuted or reported

as a hate crime.

With hormone therapy treatment (HRT) on the horizon, Follette also worries about how her shifting identity will be received by family as external changes become more visible; particularly her father, who was raised with “perfect” family ideals. Follette explains this tension eventually bubbled (a few months before she openly came out) while watching a television show featuring an appearance by Caitlyn Jenner, retired Olympic medalist and transgender television personality. “He made some very transphobic remarks, and I very suddenly found myself without any self control saying ‘It’s Caitlyn. And use ‘she’.” Follette felt that she didn’t fit into her father’s “white picket fence” paradigm, especially during her parent’s divorce. She says, however, “I love my dad and I just want him to understand. He has come a long way when it comes to understanding me.”

Follette’s advice to those in need of support is simple: don’t be afraid. While coming out is an incredibly personal situation that requires proper timing and a strong support system, Follette stresses that, “things often turn out better than expected.” Support during transition is especially important because seeking HRT also means Follette will

Things often turn out better than expected.

Photos: Enrique Bonilla

have to break the bureaucratic barriers to undergo the treatment. There are many requirements for insurance to help cover HRT — which costs about $1,500 a year. This is not a one-time treatment, but a lifetime expense for trans people. However, this is not to say that “looking like a woman/man” is vital to trans identity.

Unfortunately, the norm in the 21st century is for trans to be able to physically pass as cis.

Trans people must pass a strict ideal or standard of feminine or masculine to be perceived as valid, rather than being respected for their chosen gender identity. Trans is a commitment for each individual’s sake and not to appease the eyes of society. Simply put, there is a lack of respect for prefered pronouns her/him/they regardless of what the exterior reflects.

Identifying as female, Follette uses “she/her” pronouns. “Hearing the correct pronouns used is a validating experience,” she explains. “What I don’t understand is why making such a small change is so hard for them [the general public],” she says, “I wonder how a cisgender person would feel if I just began to misgender them back. They probably would feel pretty weird, right?” Weird indeed, especially when most people have no problem using correct pronouns when referring to strangers’ pets.

Feb. 2016 was the first time Follette publicly came out as Jade to her high school peers. The biggest hurdle was people adjusting to the name, Jade, and pronoun changes. Follette was met with open minds in high school— something that has continued into her experience as a Roadrunner. “UTSA is so open and accepting. I’m really happy to be at this campus because everyone here seems to be very positive toward trans people,” she says.

For Follette being trans is a journey that comes with many variables. Even as policy becomes more conservative with a REpublican president, House and Senate, these changes have not been met without some resistance: from the censorship of right wing extremist Milo Yiannopoulos in Berkeley

by Antifa to the highly memed imagery of alt-right leader Richard Spencer being punched in the face (google “Nazi Punch”), people are fighting back.

Americans are uniting to support one another. This is a hope of Follette’s and others like her, who seek equal rights and protections in the U.S. When thinking about her future, Follette holds the same hopes many people do: grow old, start a family and live a long, happy life. The future of trans* is on the precipice of change.

“Being trans shouldn’t jeopardize or change those hopes,” Follete says, “transgender people deserve to have respect and happiness just as much as anyone else. That’s true equality and true freedom. That’s what our country was founded on. My hopes as a trans woman are that people in society learn to treat me and other trans people with the same respect as anyone else.”

By Samantha Ceballos

Nasty women spotlights: Nasty Women art exhibition was a celebration of women’s rights. Nasty Women became a battle cry for the Clinton Campaign, but it has since become a movement of solidarity among women fighting for equality for all. The event included Zombie Bazarr Panza Fusion, a San Antonio dance troup, and Singer

Bianca Sapet. The art exhibit sold the art and t-shirts sporting “Nasty Woman” on them; a majority of the proceeds made went to the South Texas Planned Parenthood. The most popular attraction was the bloody “Nasty Woman” painted wall pictured above.

"I want some nasty!"

— Coach Gregg Popovich (and now me) nfortunately we live in a time of hostility toward minorities. As a Mexican-American woman in a world that attempts to quiet me, I was glad to have witnessed the Nasty Women art exhibit.

The history of Nasty Woman is relatively short, starting when then presidential candidate Donald Trump called his opponent Hillary Clinton a “Such a nasty woman.”

The Internet exploded in response and the flames have only grown brighter as women everywhere are embracing their inner nasty woman.

The Nasty Women movement is another log thrown in the fire of equality, and embraces the ideals that other movements are continuing to fight for.

Being greeted with the strong voice of a woman dressed in black and the smell of incense wrapping around the room was just the beginning of accepting who I am as a MexicanAmerican woman. The Nasty Woman art exhibit was an eye opener but not just politically; it also helped me get one step closer to accepting that sexuality is okay. Sexuality is an acceptance of who you are and what you want, and that concept has always been difficult for some, including me, to accept.

The event was showcased artists who stand for women’s rights.

The main focus, the female body, was featured in beautiful dances and songs performed by women

of all shapes and colors. The most memorable performances included a dance to words by Chicana cultural theorist and feminist Gloria Anzaldúa as well as a dance performed in front of a sheet made to look like a vagina.

Looking at these women, I realized hit that they were like me. They have curves, needs, wants and spoke Spanish. These women embraced a side of themselves that I never knew I could accept. Their bodies were beautiful in their own way. I suddenly stood a little taller and felt a little better about my curves and dark lipstick.

Nasty Woman is a battle cry that encompasses the LGBT+ community, reproductive and health care rights, education, gender and racial equality.

Nasty Woman is a movement that gives a voice to those who have been silenced. This San Antonio exhibit showcasing the work of people supporting Planned Parenthood was encouraging and helped me discover that I have a voice, and that I can accept my sexuality without anyone telling me to stop.

Nasty Woman was not the only event that helped support these issues; Legislate This! San Antonio 2017 was also a great event that helped people come to terms with the political situation while reminding the audience that they are loved and have a voice. These events were comforting and were a huge step in accepting that my curves are beautiful, my voice matters, my body is mine and I can speak my Spanish dialect and wear my lipstick whenever I please.

Photos: Raquel Alonzo

Meet Christian Flores, UTSA student and local drag queen Serene Fantasea.

By Ethan Pham y drag name at first was Serene Noir, but now it’s Serene Fantasea,” said Flores, a communication senior with a minor in English literature.

Flores began doing drag about a year and a half ago while helping a friend who was also getting into drag. However, his biggest inspiration for getting into drag was rapper Azealia Banks. “I think she is super cool, and it’s because of her that I started doing drag.”

His initial experiences in the drag community was hateful and harsh. He decided to leave behind Serene Noir (his original drag name) with the hate he experienced and come back with his new persona: Serene Fantasea.

“The drag community—they are very harsh people; It’s like gays times ten,” Flores said. “It’s about kissing ass ‘til you reach the top.”

Flores described the drag community as filled with rivalry, competition and constant criticism.

“There can only be one top queen. Everyone thinks they are on top.” Flores has been criticized for nearly everything about Serene Fantasea and has even had his performance ideas stolen by other drag performers.

Though the drag community is competitive by nature, performing and entertaining is the reason he continues. Flores’ creative outlet is to make

“M

others smile.

“It really is just putting on a masterpiece for someone,” Flores said. “[In] your own show, you pick out everything: clothes, music, song verses, everything. It’s f***ing awesome.”

Performing requires an entire process, according to Flores. Knowing what the performance is supposed to look like is the first step.

“One of my favorites is performing songs that are sea-based or with mermaid interludes because that’s my aesthetic,” Flores said.

Once the vision is determined, Flores makes or buys the outfit and the pieces required for the performance — which can get expensive.

Prior to the performance, any rehearsals are done a few days in advance. On the day of the event, getting ready can be a long and laborious task.

For Flores, make-up alone can take up to two and a half hours. This includes making his eyebrows disappear and contouring his face.

“After that you have to tuck. I grab my dick and balls and put them away,” Flores said, describing the progression of transformation. “That doesn’t take long but it’s a whole process.”

The process conludes with chest contouring and inserting hip and butt pads.

“You are really just trying to create the illusion that you are a woman…that’s the main goal,” Flores said.

Flores has created an entire persona with Serene Fantasea.

“When you alter yourself to a point where you don’t even recognize yourself when you look in the mirror, some other persona comes out,” Flores said.

Serene Fantasea has hardened over time from the negative attitudes against her from other drag queens, but for Flores, drag has been a way to connect with important people in his life.

Photos Courtesy Christian Flores

In the beginning, Flores’ family mistook his drag for Flores being gender confused or transsexual. “It took them awhile, but I educated them on what [drag] was, who I am and what I do; they are two completely different things.”

Since then, Flores feels that drag has helped bring him closer to those he loves. Flores does feel that his drag identity has closed doors for him.

“People automatically assume that I am super feminine, that I wear make-up all the time and that I do this stuff all the time,” Flores said. “All these things, all the negative interpretations of women are put on me automatically.”

Even with all the negativity that surrounds being a drag queen, Flores doesn’t allow other people’s judgment to deter him from continuing to do drag in the future. Even though being Serene Fantasea and a full-time student is a lot to handle.

Currently, Flores is on hiatus from drag while he completes his final semester at UTSA, but he plans to return to the stage after graduating.

Flores encourages people to check out a drag show to experience the culture themselves.

“I used to hate drag queens three years ago,” Flores said. “People should really be more exposed to drag shows. I didn’t know about them until I got lost in the world.”

For Flores, drag has been a source of happiness, creativity and expression.

If you want to stay up-to-date with Christian Flores and Serene Fantasea follow him on Instagram at @Serene_Fantasea_.

Photos: Ethan Pham

a look at toxic

By Justice Lovin

If you google “Toxic Masculinity” you’re likely to find a list of sources challenging and ‘debunking’ an absurd idea that feminists are using to make manhood a bad thing. What you won’t find is anything substantial about toxic masculinity (though some of the challenges make for excellent case studies of the phenomenon).

This is because, as an idea, toxic masculinity is easily abused and often misunderstood. My goal is to clarify what toxic masculinity is and to demonstrate why it is useful for feminists and non-feminists alike.

To begin, I will preempt misunderstandings by clarifying the limits of the term.

Toxic masculinity is not synonymous with all masculinity. It generally takes the form of an extremism that generates negative consequences for the men who engage in it and usually others around them.

Toxic masculinity is not a defect that exists exclusively in men. Gender roles, and thus masculinity, are qualities historically associated with men and women. There is nothing innate about them; they are a social construct. This means that everyone, regardless of gender, plays a role in changing or perpetuating assumptions about gender roles through their interactions with others.

Toxic masculinity is not a trait of individuals.

An important and often overlooked quality of feminism is that it is a critique of systems, not of individuals. So when a particular trait or behavior is described as toxic, it is not necessarily a condemnation of the person exhibiting it but of the society that produced it.

So what does toxic masculinity look like? It might be an extreme version of an otherwise good trait, or it might be the avoidance of feminine things simply because they’re feminine. A toxic behavior is one that harms the person exhibiting it (the observant reader will note here the gender neutral language; toxic femininity also exists). The most frequently cited examples of toxic masculinity are men not going to the doctor as a misguided display of strength, or men taking high stress jobs to prove their masculinity and experiencing a higher rate of heart attacks and high blood pressure as a result. But college-aged guys (and girls) are just as susceptible to toxic gender roles.

i

What does toxic masculinity look like in the college environment? You might start with anything fraternities do in the movies or on TV: proving oneself through elaborate hazing rituals, overreacting to slights against a fragile ego and/ or being exaggeratedly and aggressively sexual.

Now, while these acts obviously don't apply to most fraternity members, that doesn't stop them from being a useful way of understanding the minority to whom it does apply and their interactions with other men. Studies have found that five percent of women attending college are sexually assaulted every year and toxic masculinity within both the university and fraternity cultures play a role.

Another version of toxic masculinity you'll find on campus is the “Nice Guy”—all of the sexual entitlement but without the decency to be honest about it. In fact, “nice guys” make an effort to ostensibly distance themselves from toxic masculinity; however, underneath the facade of niceness lie the same unhealthy ideas about male sexuality and identity. “Nice guys” view interactions as transactional: I conform to traditional roles of chivalry and masculinity, so you conform to traditional roles of femininity (e.g. sleep with me). While not nearly as terrible as the sexual assault problem, “nice guys” still manage to make sure that everyone involved has a bad time.

Underlying both the aggression of “the Bro” and the coerciveness of “the nice guy” is what I would argue is the underlying cause of toxic masculine behavior patterns—insecurity.

This is especially a problem because with traditional gender expectations, men are not allowed to be insecure; they must be confident and self-assured (a phenomenon that has been well documented in studies of machismo). There are a group of men who experience a dysphoria between who they are and who they’ve been told they ought to be: “Boys don’t cry,” “Be Tough,” “Be a man.” They find fault within themselves rather than within what they’ve been told, so they embrace a misguided view of the world that brooks no criticism because it can bear no criticism. This view poisons the men who embrace it and poisons their relationships; the view displays an ideal that is inconsistent with reality and cannot be achieved, and thus, there is a need to identify and understand how toxic masculinity operates so it and those suffering from it can be remedied.

The other one percent ASEXUALITY: THE FORGOTTEN SEXUALITY

By Jessica Salinas

I

t is estimated that 99 percent of the human population experiences sexual desire. The estimated remaining one percent is a marginalized identity that defies prevailing assumptions of humankind’s inherently sexual nature. This one percent of the human population is commonly referred to as asexual.

An asexual person is an individual who does not experience sexual attraction.

Asexuality is the lack of sexual attraction to anyone, or low or absent interest in or desire for sexual activity. It is considered to be a lack of sexual orientation or a variation of sexual orientation alongside heterosexuality, homosexuality and bisexuality. Asexuality can also be an umbrella term for a broader spectrum of various asexual subidentities.

To document a sizable number of people who do not experience sexual attraction is to challenge the most fundamental assumptions of society—that sexuality is pervasive, a given, an essential part of what it is to be human.

In defining asexuality, it is important to clarify what asexuality is not.

First, asexuality is not the same as sexual dysfunction.

To be different is often labeled as dysfunctional.

Psychiatrists, psychologists and people in general can be tempted to label this lack of sexual desire as an official disorder.

In an article for Psychology Today, Bella DePaulo, Ph.D., gives the example of sexual aversion disorder. In order for asexuality to count as a disorder, DePaulo places an importance of a sexual opportunity or experience resulting in significant distress.

“There is a problem in leaping from the fact of a lack of sexual desire to a label of a sexual disorder.”

DePaulo states. It is crucial to consider how asexuality is experienced in an individual’s life.

Second, asexuality is not the same as celibacy.

Celibacy is deliberate abstention from sexual activity; it is a choice, whereas asexuality is a sexual orientation.

There are many diverse ways of being asexual.

Consider the following:

I have known I was asexual since adolescence, but it was only recently (in the past five years or so) that I realized there was a term for how I felt growing up.

While growing up, even in high school, it was difficult to come to terms with my asexuality. It was hard noticing I was asexual in the first place. As I went through puberty, there was never a moment when I started seeing people in a sexual matter.

There was never a moment when I noticed a person’s physicality in relation to sexual attraction or desire.

Which is to say I never looked at a random person and suddenly wanted to have sex with him, her or them. I never had that moment. As a fully grown adult, I do not think I ever will.

Coming to terms with my asexuality was difficult.

It was especially difficult whenever I started wondering if there was something wrong with me.

As if everybody in the entire world was in on the same joke and they never bothered to fill me in.

When everybody I met seemed to have a boyfriend or girlfriend, when a friend would try to set me up on a date or when a family member asked me why I have never had a significant other, I would start to ask myself, ‘Who should I date? Who can I stand to date? Who could I stand to have sex with? Should I want to have sex—everybody seems to want to have sex. Am I really so abnormal that I can’t find anybody to date? Should I want to date anyone at all?’

This overcompensating and analyzing would make me ask myself: Who could stand to love someone like me? Would I ever be able to find someone who could love me for me?

In coming to terms with my asexuality, I learned what it meant to be alone. After high school, when I first began to educate myself on asexuality, I was afraid of needing or relying on anyone too much.

For my personal self-growth, I learned to stand on my own. There is a difference in being alone and being lonely. This is not to say there is a direct correlation between being asexual and being alone, but I do believe there is strength in standing on one’s own—in believing and loving one’s true self regardless of societal norms.

It is important to remember asexuality is a spectrum. Equally important to highlight is the distinction between sexual orientation and romantic orientation.

"...I started wondering if there was something wrong with me. As if everybody in the entire world was in on the same joke and they never bothered to fill me in.”

My asexuality does not mean I am not romantically inclined.

My asexuality does not correlate to a lack of romantic inclination. Similar to a romanticallyinclined allosexual (someone who is not asexual), my ideal romantic relationship is the same as a ‘normal’ relationship but without an emphasis on sex. My partner would be my best friend and my companion—a partner in all areas of my life. We would have similar interests, morals and principles. I would be able to be my true self. My partner would love and accept all of me—including my asexuality.

My sexual orientation is just another part of my identity; my ideal partner would be able to accept this as truth.

Asexuality and sexuality are fluid in orientation and identity. Everyone’s sexuality has unique qualities.

As DePaulo states, it is important to consider views of sex and sexuality and appreciate how our assumptions have changed over the course of history. In a contemporary Western society where sexual experiences are believed to be defining features of a good and healthy life, the involuntary celibate or the happily identifying asexual is likely to feel marginalized.

This is why awareness is so important.

Acceptance of asexuality as a legitimate sexual orientation and field of scientific research is relatively new. A growing body of research from both sociological and psychological perspectives has begun to develop.

Various asexual online communities have formed through the Internet and social media. The most well-known of these online communities is the Asexual Visibility and Education Network (AVEN) founded in 2001 by David Jay. AVEN hosts the world’s largest online asexual community as well as a large archive of resources on asexuality. AVEN strives to create open and honest discussion about asexuality among sexual and asexual people alike.

Causation has little relevance to validity. My sexual orientation is valid because I believe it to be valid. Despite stigma, asexuality exists.

Its existence is not erased by lack of awareness, acknowledgment or marginalization.

Photo: Tristan Ipock

COLLEGE LIVING

INDEPENDENT STUDENT MAGAZINE FOR THE UNIVERSITY OF TEXAS AT SAN ANTONIO