The ABC's of LGBT+ Quotes

“Our culture is constantly thrusting gender expectations on all of us. This becomes a problem when it limits people's expressions and identities and perpetuates intolerance of anything that's not the norm.”
― Ashley Mardell, The ABC's of LGBT+

“Spectrums (...) One of the reasons Im so fond of spectrums is because I believe, with fearce tenacity, that *nothing* in this world is black and white.
Spectrums embrace gray spaces, ambiguity, and fluidity. Since these are all concepts which are integral to the human experience, I find spectrums particularly helpfull in understanding and describing identity.
(...) as we learn about various identities, it's important we recognize they are not "all or nothing" concepts. Many identities can exist in various degrees and come in a range of possibilities. Remembering this is incredibly crucial as we progress.”
― Ashley Mardell, The ABC's of LGBT+

“Bi vs, pan: Often people find themselves confused regarding the difference between bi and pan. In the end, the difference really just comes down to personal preference. For some, there are important distinctions between the two orientations, which is why they use one word over the other.”
― Ashley Mardell, The ABC's of LGBT+

“Everyone should have the right to bodily autonomy -to literally be able to choose what body parts we have and choose to keep or modify. Taking that right away from intersex kids isn't okay, and intersex activists are working to end these practices.”
― Ashley Mardell, The ABC's of LGBT+

“In the end, it all depends on which category (if any) the person who claims the labels feels they belong in.”
― Ashley Mardell, The ABC's of LGBT+

“To me, flexibility means that I truly understand the dynamics of sexuality including my own. I acknowledge my attractions but stay open to their movement. It's not black or white. It's not said and done. It's flexible.”
― Ashley Mardell, The ABC's of LGBT+

“In the end, everybody gets to decide what is and isn't sexual to them as well as what they find sexually attractive. And that, in a nutshell, is a person's sexual orientation.”
― Ashley Mardell, The ABC's of LGBT+

“Once upon a time, there was a princess. All of her life the king and queen told her that princesses behaved like ladies, wore beautiful dresses, trained in proper manners and elegance, and were to always wait for a handsome prince to come and save them if ever needed. Princes behaved like gentlemen, wore the finest suites, trained in swordsmanship and sailing, and were always ready to save a princess. This was the perfect formula for a "happily ever after", or at least that's what her parents always told her. What if they were wrong? Could her "happily ever after" look different? One day, this particular human found herself to be in a bit of a pickle. She somehow ended up in the den of a vicious, multi-headed, fire-breathing dragon. She was not about to wait around for a prince to save her, partly because she didn't have time, and partly because she didn't need a prince. She had no sword, no shield, and no idea what to do. (...) She behaved with nobility, wore the most impenetrable armor, wielded her weapon with stength, trained her brain and her body, and never ever waited to be saved. She could slay dragons and fo to afternoon tea with the queen in the same day. She could marry a princess. She was herself, and she lived happily ever after.”
― Ashley Mardell, The ABC's of LGBT+

“Diferrent people can self-identify with these words in different ways. A label doesn't define a person's identity. While some people might "fit the definition", they still may not use that label because it may not resonate with them. That is totally valid!”
― Ashley Mardell, The ABC's of LGBT+

“To conclude, gente expression is a complex matter. Sometimes it's indicative of a person's gender, sometimes it's not. Every individual gets to decide for themselves how they want to express and what the relationship is between their expression and their gender.”
― Ashley Mardell, The ABC's of LGBT+

“Actively question what we are doing and why. Rather than passively consuming our culture's ideas and representation of gender, break them down. Reflect on why they are the way they are. Greater undestanding comes through analysis.”
― Ashley Mardell, The ABC's of LGBT+

“This is a problem because as we've established, not everyone meet society's requirements for being "male" or "female". Being repeatedly forced to misidentify their sex and/or rarely being acknowledged, can cause intersex people to feel isolated, invalid, and erased.”
― Ashley Mardell, The ABC's of LGBT+

“We all have our own unique place in the infinite gender universe.”
― Ashley Mardell, The ABC's of LGBT+

“Recipsexuality/romanticism: Experiencing attraction to someone only after knowing that they are attracted to you.”
― Ashley Mardell, The ABC's of LGBT+

“Bisexual/romantic: Being attracted to two or more genders.”
― Ashley Mardell, The ABC's of LGBT+

“As we've established, "Man" and "woman" are identities that have many unnecessary, anatomical and cultural expectations tied to them. In the end though, all it takes to be one of these genders, is to identify as such. It's time we start respecting and believing each other's individual experiences. If a person says they are a certain gender, we need to honor that. After all, these labels are subjective. Who is to say one person's definition is more valid than another?”
― Ashley Mardell, The ABC's of LGBT+

“When gender neutral parenting, or discussing the arbitrary nature of the of the gender binary is brought up, people are often accused of 'shoving an agenda down kids' throats.' But what people fail to see is that the 'norm' itself is an agenda, and at least deconstructing the binary is one with the freedom to choose beyond imposed and meaningless limitations." - Rowan Ellis”
― Ashley Mardell, The ABC's of LGBT+