from the editor

Dear Reader,

Whether it be through fashion or forms of speech, the way we express ourselves is constantly evolving. The constant change we undergo as individuals cannot be defined in an encompassing way; despite this, we still manage to find connections through the comfort of labels and categories.

Therefore, with this issue, we aim to explore some of these broad categories of self-expression. This issue covers the ties between self expression and cultural and queer identities, as well as diving into some of the more tangible ways people choose to express themselves, like through tattoos or fashion.

But ultimately, the goal is not to define self expression; rather, through cultivating conversations around conversations, we hope to simultaneously evoke self-reflection. At the end of the issue, we hope that you ask yourself: who am I, and how do I define

It’s impossible to put a single label on queer culture and self expression. The term “queer” covers a vast scope of identities that fall under the LGBTQ+ umbrella– generalizing an entire population is not only difficult, but also diminishes the individuality of each person that makes the queer community the diverse space that it is. Yet, queer self expression in all its forms can still be a unifying factor for the community.

“There are certain traits that are associated with being a gay man or lesbian or being queer in general [...] that can help us kind of recognize each other and feel more safe,” freshman Kira Pande said. Historically, these traits have included symbols used by queer people to identify other LGBTQ+ people, like the significance of lavender in the “gay power” movement or the handkerchief code utilized by gay men in the 1980s. Today, however, this signaling can take the form of fashion.

Junior Valentina Marinucci sees fashion as an important way of expressing queerness. “I think [queer self expression] is a way to unify the community [...] queer people can tell that other queer people are queer because of the way they dress and a lot of straight people can’t [tell],” Marinucci said. “I think it’s a kind of safe way to show to other people, ‘Hey, I’m here, I’m queer’ without outing yourself to people who might be homophobic.”

Identifying other queer people through outward forms of expression like fashion can also be comforting, according to senior AJ Dickerson. “Being self expressive in queer culture is important to be able to see that there’s people there for you,” Dickerson said. “[Fashion] can also be a way of identifying other people in our community [...] I know that I feel more comfortable seeing someone who I would assume to be queer in a space.”

Queer expression is also apparent at Menlo. “I’ve met a couple freshmen I’ve just seen around campus, more people, either being queer or just expressing themselves [...] with more varied fashion and I’m really happy to see it,” Dickerson said.

Fashion is not just a form of expression for queer people, however: it also serves as a way to affirm one’s gender, particularly for transgender or nonbinary individuals. For Dickerson, gender plays a large part in how he personally chooses to express himself.

“As someone who doesn’t [align with] the binary I find that having shorter hair [...] helps me feel more androgynous,” Dickerson said. “I try to mix men’s and women’s styles [...] although, my dressing does tend to [be] feminine because that is what I was socialized in and so it’s harder to actively pursue that masculine look.”

Gender also plays a role in self expression for junior Logan Wilson, who, like Dickerson, finds that their hair helps them express themself. “Queer people can look like anything [...] but I feel like the short hair is actually something that I’ve grown to really, really love and it helps me express my gender identity a little bit more,” Wilson said. “I felt like with long hair, I felt

Wilson’s gender identity also factors into how she chooses to dress. “I also like to switch a lot between wearing more feminine and more masculine clothes just based on how I feel that day,” Wilson said.

Similar to Dickerson and Wilson, Marinucci also believes that her queerness is apparent in the way she chooses to express herself. “I think like being queer has made me realize that like, I don’t have to dress super feminine just because I’m a girl [...] there’s not a binary. I can dress both feminine one day and masculine another day and it can all still be part of my style, which I think is really cool,” Marinucci said.

Junior Amory Healy agrees that their fashion isn’t constrained by a gender binary. “If I ever take a photo of what [fashion] I want to emulate, I don’t pick based on gender- I pick based in itself [...] I feel that the way I dress sometimes is a visual am queer,” Healy said. “I express my identity through because my identity makes me who I am.”

Queer self expression is also associated with a higher freedom for Healy. “One of the main pros of the queer community that everyone is truly themselves. Even just the process of presenting yourself as you are to your friends and family,”

On the other hand, the stereotyping of queer self also be harmful when done by outsiders to the queer community. people] have basically always been associated with some or stigma or whatever, when people have their preconceived notions of what a gay man looks like, or what a lesbian looks like,” Pande said. “And that just kind of goes against the whole idea of queerness being self expression and [defying] the norm because now, it on the clothing visual label that I everything I do, higher degree of community is the idea of coming out means family,” Healy said. self expression can community. “[Queer sort of stereotype preconceived almost puts us into a box.”

Freshman Lilla Halasz feels that stereotyping queer self expression can be helpful yet simultaneously, restrictive. “I think [stereotypes are] important for questioning folk to see and recognize stereotypes within themselves at the beginning of their journey to help them acknowledge their queer identity,” Halasz said. “[...] however, they restrict authentic self expression and can slow the process of truly figuring out your identity outside of a stereotype.”

Ultimately, queer self expression through fashion is a statement for Dickerson. “[Fashion] is fun. Honestly, I like to put things together,” Dickerson said. “But it’s also a nice way to make a statement and to show a little bit of who I am through what I wear.”