We Are the Youth, a New York-based traveling photo project, tells the stories of queer kids. In pictures. Like Noah, here. He’s 15 and fabulous. At age 11, he began identifying as bisexual. He’s got a new girlfriend now, but it’s not “Facebook official.” He’s never dated a guy, but he’s made out with them before; his first kiss was with a fella. He hasn’t told his parents he’s not straight, but it’s not like it would be a big deal if he did. He meets guys at camp. [We Are The Youth]
kids these days
Noah, Bisexual At 11, Photographed At Gay Prom At 15
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Carl
Um,…huh?
John
…
Schleppy
Very well written article…..
Mr. Enemabag Jones
So in other words, he’s a straight boy who likes attention.
Tori
@Mr. Enemabag Jones: Or he’s Bi.
Skyler
@Mr. Enemabag Jones: No, in other words he’s BISEXUAL. Don’t be an ass (not that there’s anyhting wrong with straight people).
Michael
I don’t see how it is “fabulous” for a gay or bi boy to dress up in a women’s dress and makeup and with fake female breasts. If the kid were trans, that would be a different matter altogether. But this kid does not identify as trans, he is just playing at dress-up. The only thing this accomplishes is to further a stereotype and an erroneous belief that gay males really just wish that they were females and possessed a female body.
FluffyInDrag
@Michael: I think this probably means you’ve never worn lipstick. Lipstick can make anyone feel fabulous and I am NOT joking. Why so srs? It’s a kid. God knows I fought tooth and nail to wear boy’s clothes back in my day, and nothing made me feel fabulous like wearing tux tails and lipstick.
Avenger
Meh. He looks like Kelly Osbourne. So ridiculous.
missanthrope
Enemabag Jones
“The only thing this accomplishes is to further a stereotype and an erroneous belief that gay males really just wish that they were females and possessed a female body.”
There’s absolutely nothing wrong with fabulous people wearing fabulous clothes!
If you want to blame people for stereotypes you might want to try blaming the straights who use those stereotypes against us instead of people who just being themselves.
Go see a psychiatrist for your internalized homophobia, it’s not good for you and it’s pretty damn obvious.
Michael
Yikes! Anyhoe, bi-sexual at 11? Sorry, but I go by the strict definition, meaning romantic and/or sexual relations.
Michael
No worries, Noah. Rest assured, your parents will read this.
Jayson
He reminds me of a young Glen Milstead
jason
Marilyn Monroe he ain’t.
Chris H
@Mr. Enemabag Jones: did you have the Balls to even consider you might be bi/gay at 11? So…you’re deligitimizing this kid’s understanding of his sexuality, why?
MuscleBoy
@missanthrope: You are pathetic. Why not teach gay boys to embrace their gay masculinity, rather than dressing up as your grandmother?
Michael
@Muscleboy:
Thanks for that. “Missanthrope” is well-named as she
rarely posts w/o attacking someone. She is the last person
to give advice on mental health.
It is not “internalized homophobia” to want gay and lesbian people to be taken seriously and to be considered full members of their respective genders. I am well aware of the fact that drag and other kinds of outlandish fashion have a long history. But I think it is time to retire it, or at least make it a private “in-joke”. When a gay person indulges in it in public, it sends the message that we are gender confused. We aren’t. Or that we aren’t “real” men. We are. It also makes us look clownish, and I am sure that this young man has much more going for him in life than clown school.
Under different circumstances, public drag might just be harmless fun, but when it becomes dominant image from the media coverage in every pride parade, then it isn’t harmless.
missanthrope
” When a gay person indulges in it in public, it sends the message that we are gender confused. We aren’t. Or that we aren’t “real” men. We are. It also makes us look clownish, and I am sure that this young man has much more going for him in life than clown school.”
lol, you’re as bad as homophobic straights when it comes to policing gay people’s behavior. If you want to be accepted by straights on their terms, then suit yourself. I’m not interested in that. Advocating that drag queens go in the closet so not to make straights nervous is so 1989.
And here I thought the being out and proud was about individual freedom and being who you are. I guess for many people it’s so much so within the limits that straight people set for them.
missanthrope
@MuscleBoy:
I want gay boys to be able to be themselves without straights or bitter queens like yourself judging them. Masculine, femme, androg, queeny, whatever, everyone deserves to be themselves without worrying that people are going to make judgment calls about it like you are. There’s nothing special or superior about masculinity though our culture wants to pretend so.
edgyguy1426
@Michael:
Thanks for that. “Missanthrope” is well-named as she
rarely posts w/o attacking someone. She is the last person
to give advice on mental health.
I’ve gotta agree with Missanthrope here if the kid feels comfortable in whatever he’s wearing let alone being photographed, I think he has bigger balls than most of the guys here.