SILVIO, 15, NEW HAVEN, CT
Gender Projected
Where are you from? Where do you live now? Have you ever lived anywhere else?
I was born in Florida but have lived in New Haven my whole life.
How old are you?
15
Why did you want to be involved in the project?
I thought it was an awesome idea, and I am used to working with this kind of thing because of a group I am involved with - STARS (Students Teaching About Responsible Sexuality).
How would you identify your gender?
Male.
What language do you feel comfortable hearing? Uncomfortable?
I feel uncomfortable around language that is offensive and when people who really don’t know things act as if they do know. A kid one time came up to me and was like “You work at Planned Parenthood? That place sells fetus parts.” And then I explained to him what it really does, and he eventually got it. But some people act as if they know more than they really do.
What words do you feel represent your identity?
Agnostic. Puerto Rican/white. Straight.
What do people assume about you?
At first glance, a lot of people think that I am gay. Which I’m not. But I don’t take any offense to it.
What presentation made you feel least like yourself? Why?
Probably the one with space leggings because I am not used to wearing a bra and looking very feminine. It wasn’t uncomfortable. It was just a very different feeling. You can put anything on me and I’ll wear it - it doesn’t change me.
What presentation would you be afraid to wear on the street where you live now (if any?) Why?
I am not uncomfortable wearing any of those on the street where I live. But at school, I would be uncomfortable wearing the one with space leggings because people aren’t used to me in that light.
What was something you did during this project that you had never done before? How did that make you feel?
Makeup. It felt fine. Also dresses. But I liked the dress--it fit me really well.
Did you gain any perspective on gender identity/expression in other people during the project?
I have been pretty well acquainted with gender and sexuality because of STARS and True Colors. But the project helped me put myself in other people’s shoes. I can see how people could be discriminated against for wearing stuff like this. If this is how I were to dress every day, It would suck if someone were to tell me that that’s not what I am meant to wear.