Queer ASL: How To Sign “Gay”

gay in american language

This Amerin Psychologist reprt prents suggtns for avoidg heterosexual bias language ncerng lbians, gay men and bisexual persons.

Contents:

HOW TO SAY “GAY” IN SIGN LANGUAGE

* gay in american language *

Pri, formerly known as Gay Pri, is a regnn of LGBTQ inty, affirmatn of equal rights, and celebratn of visibily, digny, and diversy the LGBTQ muny.

While the word homosexual is still ocsnally ed some ntexts, you might have noticed that don’t make an appearance any versn of the LGBTQ acronym. As our age note on the term stat, “up until 1973, homosexualy was listed The Diagnostic and Statistil Manual of Mental Disorrs (DSM), psychiatry’s standard reference on the classifitn of mental illns. People aware of this former tegorizatn feel that the term homosexual still rri a negative nnotatn.

THE FOTTEN SECRET LANGUAGE OF GAY MEN

Do you want to improve your queer ASL vobulary? This gui will teach you how to sign the word “gay” and other queer-related words! * gay in american language *

And many feel that this word plac undue emphasis on sexual activy, or that sounds overly clil.” In fact, the term homosexual was liberately rejected by early gay rights activists bee, acrdg to The New York Tim, “they did not want to be intified as exclively sexual begs.”. For the and other reasons, the term homosexual is wily nsired disparagg and offensive.

GAY DICTNARY

Vis our Gay Dictnary to know how to say gay 1500 different ways. It is part of our LGBT dictnary, wh more than 2200 entri om 68 languag ... * gay in american language *

Gay, on the other hand, n be ed to scribe a person of any genr who experienc same-sex attractn, although is most often ed to scribe a man who is attracted to men. On June 28, 1969, the New York Cy police raid the Stonewall Inn, a bar equented by gay and genr-nonnformg people (at a time when terms like LGBTQ didn’t yet exist).

They attempted to arrt the gay and trans bar patrons, which started a seri of protts agast the police.

GAY

The meang of GAY is of, relatg to, or characterized by sexual or romantic attractn to people of one's same sex —often ed to refer to men only. How to e gay a sentence. Usage of Gay: Usage Gui Synonym Discsn of Gay. * gay in american language *

Partially rponse to Stonewall, 1970, queer activists New York Cy anized a march to Central Park wh the theme “Gay Pri.” A more prehensive history of the Stonewall Rt or the Stonewall Uprisg n be found our Pri Month explaer. Trans activist Slyvia Rivera particular advoted for the more forceful slogan “Gay power.”. However, unlike homosexual, has been wily reappropriated by the LGBTQ muny as a label.

Queer lerally means “strange or odd om a nventnal viewpot,” and by at least by the late 1800s, queer was ployed as a rogatory term for an effemate or gay man. Queer was seen as a way to refer to gays and lbians whout beg genr-sentialist or g divisns wh the muny. homoromantic: a person who is romantilly attracted to people of the same sex or genr.

ENGLISH PRONUNCIATN OF GAY

How to pronounce gay. How to say gay. Listen to the d pronunciatn the Cambridge English Dictnary. Learn more. * gay in american language *

This article prents suggtns for avoidg heterosexual bias language ncerng lbians, gay men, and bisexual persons. The article suggts preferred termology and also prents ways of creasg the visibily of lbians, gay men, and bisexual persons language.

The Commtee on Lbian and Gay Concerns (CLGC) has nsired issu of heterosexual bias language sce was found 1980. Comments were soliced om the Amerin Psychologil Associatns (APA's) Divisn 44 and om the Associatn of Lbian and Gay Psychologists.

Problems occur language ncerng lbians, gay men, and bisexual persons when the language is too vague or the ncepts are poorly fed.

HOW TO SIGN ‘GAY’ OR ‘QUEER’? AMERIN SIGN LANGUAGE ERS DON’T AGREE.

Don Kulick, Gay and Lbian Language, Annual Review of Anthropology, Vol. 29 (2000), pp. 243-285 * gay in american language *

Language may be ambiguo reference, so that the rear is uncerta about s meang or s cln and excln creria; and the term homosexualy has been associated the past wh viance, mental illns, and crimal behavr, and the negative stereotyp may be perpetuated by biased language.

The term sexual orientatn is preferred to sexual preference for psychologil wrg and refers to sexual and affectnal relatnships of lbian, gay, bisexual, and heterosexual people. The word preference suggts a gree of voluntary choice that is not necsarily reported by lbians and gay men and that has not been monstrated psychologil rearch. The terms lbian sexual orientatn, heterosexual sexual orientatn, gay male sexual orientatn, and bisexual sexual orientatn are preferable to lbianism, heterosexualy, homosexualy, and bisexualy.

Lbian and gay male are preferred to the word homosexual when ed as an adjective referrg to specific persons or groups, and the terms lbians and gay men are preferred to homosexuals ed as nouns when referrg to specific persons or groups. The terms gay male and lbian refer primarily to inti and to the morn culture and muni that have veloped among people who share those inti. Some men and women have sex wh others of their own genr but do not nsir themselv to be gay or lbian.

NFL ACH OUT AS GAY HISTORIC MOMENT AMERIN SPORTS

Kev Maxen, a strength ach for the NFL anchise the Jacksonville Jaguars, has publicly e out as gay a landmark moment Amerin men's profsnal sports * gay in american language *

The terms gay as an adjective and gay persons as a noun have been ed to refer to both mal and femal. However, the terms may be ambiguo reference bee rears who are ed to the term lbian and gay may assume that gay refers to men only. Th, is preferable to e gay or gay persons only when prr reference has specified the genr posn of this term.

Terms such as gay male are preferable to homosexualy or male homosexualy, as are grammatil renstctns (e. G., "his lleagu knew he was gay" rather than "his lleagu knew about his homosexualy"). The same is te for lbian place of female homosexual, female homosexualy, or lbianism.

Likewise, is eful that women and men not be nsired "oppos" (as "oppose sex") to avoid polarizatn, and that heterosexual women and men not be viewed as oppose to lbians and gay men. When referrg to sexual behavr that nnot be scribed as heterosexual, gay, lbian, or bisexual, special re needs to be taken. For example, scriptns of sexual behavr among animal speci should be termed male-male sexual behavr or male-female sexual behavr rather than homosexual behavr or heterosexual behavr.

JAGS' MAXEN IS FIRST MALE AMERIN PRO SPORTS ACH TO E OUT AS GAY

Although may seem cumbersome at first, is cleart to e the term lbians, gay men, and bisexual women or men when referrg clively to members of the groups.

Lbians, gay men, and bisexual men and women often feel ignored by the general media, which take the heterosexual orientatn of their rears for granted. Ways to crease the visibily of lbians, gay men, and bisexual persons clu the followg:.

DIPLOMATIC TENSN REPORTEDLY RISG BETWEEN UNED STAT AND JAMAI OVER GAY AMERIN DIPLOMAT

Referrg to lbians, gay men, and bisexual persons suatns other than sexual relatnships. Historilly, the term homosexualy has nnoted sexual activy rather than a general way of relatg and livg. Maral stat per se is not a good ditor of habatn (married upl may be separated, unmarried upl may live together), sexual activy, or sexual orientatn (a person who is married may be a gay or lbian relatnship wh a partner).

JACKSONVILLE JAGUARS' KEV MAXEN IS FIRST AMERIN MALE PRO SPORTS ACH TO E OUT AS GAY

Furthermore, scribg people as eher married or sgle renrs lbians, gay men, and bisexual persons as well as heterosexual people habg relatnships visible. Usg sexual termology that is relevant to lbians and gay men as well as bisexual and heterosexual people (e. Clary of exprsn and avoidance of accurate stereotyp about lbians, gay men, and bisexual persons.

*BEAR-MAGAZINE.COM* GAY IN AMERICAN LANGUAGE

Comment on this story</tle><path d="M14 14V2H2v9.47h8.18L12.43 13ZM3 10.52V3h10v9.23l-2.5-1.66Z"></path></svg></button><span aria-hidn="te" class="wpds-c-fBEbFG">Comment</span><span class="wpds-c-fOvfhP wpds-c-fOvfhP-kshkDy-isCommentType-te none" aria-hidn="te"><span class="ment-unt font-xxxxs sc-ral-unt"><span></span></span></span></div></div></div></div></div><div class="teaser-ntent grid-center"><div class="article-body grid-center grid-body" data-qa="article-body"><p data-ttid="drop-p-letter" data-el="text" class="wpds-c-cYdRxM wpds-c-cYdRxM-iPJLV-css overriStyl font-py" dir="null">Languag around the world are changg rapidly to bee more clive of LGBTQ+ inti.</p></div><div class="article-body grid-center grid-body" data-qa="article-body"><p data-ttid="drop-p-letter" data-el="text" class="wpds-c-cYdRxM wpds-c-cYdRxM-iPJLV-css overriStyl font-py" dir="null">But for people who e Amerin Sign Language, fdg a visual and nceptual way to reprent an ner inty n be plited, and some s, there’s still not a clear nsens on which sign is bt.</p></div></div><div></div><div class="article-body grid-center grid-body" data-qa="article-body"><p data-ttid="drop-p-letter" data-el="text" class="wpds-c-cYdRxM wpds-c-cYdRxM-iPJLV-css overriStyl font-py" dir="null">“Wh signs related to inty, ’s personal, and ’s hard to fd one sign that works for everyone,” said Julie A. Hochgang, a Deaf lguist and profsor at Gallt Universy Northeast Washgton.</p></div><div class="article-body grid-center grid-body" data-qa="article-body"><p data-ttid="drop-p-letter" data-el="text" class="wpds-c-cYdRxM wpds-c-cYdRxM-iPJLV-css overriStyl font-py" dir="null">The Washgton Post asked several members of the Deaf queer muny to monstrate how ASL is evolvg.</p></div><div class="article-body grid-center grid-body" data-qa="article-body"><p><span class="wpds-c-gnhuPA wpds-c-gnhuPA-hqeSyH-variant-terstial wpds-c-gnhuPA-iPJLV-css hi-for-prt"><a data-qa="terstial-lk" href=">A gui to how genr-ntral language is velopg around the world</a></span></p></div><div class="article-body grid-center grid-body" data-qa="article-body"><h3 data-qa="article-hear" class=" pb-sm pt-md" id="YBQRUIYAXZDLVNJTU7XZXRWLOY"><div>Fdg the right sign for ‘queer’</div></h3></div><div class="article-body grid-center grid-body" data-qa="article-body"><p data-ttid="drop-p-letter" data-el="text" class="wpds-c-cYdRxM wpds-c-cYdRxM-iPJLV-css overriStyl font-py" dir="null">Consir the word “queer.” In ASL, there are at least three ways to sign . One popular sign for “queer” the sign for “rabow,” reference to the rabow Pri flag.</p></div><div class="article-body grid-center grid-body" data-qa="article-body"><div data-qa="article-vio" data-ttid="article-vio" class="ma-to" style="max-width:300px"><div><figure class="mb-md mr-to-ns ml-to-ns hi-for-prt flex flex-lumn ems-center ml-neg-gutter mr-neg-gutter"><div class="w-100 aspect-ctom" style="background-posn:center;background-repeat:no-repeat;background-lor:rgb(245, 245, 245);background-image:url();background-size:nta;--aspect-height:1.7777777777777777;--aspect-width:1"></div><figptn><div class="mt-xs mr-to-ns ml-to-ns left font--subhead font-xxxs gray-dark square-vertil-vio" data-qa="vio-ptn">Cecilia Ggan signs a versn of “queer” ASL. (Vio: The Washgton Post)</div></figptn></figure></div></div></div><div class="article-body grid-center grid-body" data-qa="article-body"><p data-ttid="drop-p-letter" data-el="text" class="wpds-c-cYdRxM wpds-c-cYdRxM-iPJLV-css overriStyl font-py" dir="null">But some people feel the sign isn’t clive enough, bee the rabow don’t clu lors like pk, light blue or whe, which are found on the transgenr Pri flag. Others oppose the rabow bee they say portrays an ialized experience of beg queer.</p></div><div class="article-body grid-full-bleed" data-qa="article-body"><div class="cb dn db-ns" data-qa="article-body-ad" data-ttid="article-body-ad-sktop"><div aria-hidn="te" class="hi-for-prt relative flex jtify-center ntent-box ems-center b bh mb-md mt-none pt-lg pb-lg" style="m-height:250px;borr-top-lor:;borr-bottom-lor:"><div class="center absolute w-100 borr-box" style="top:"><div class="dib gray-dark pl-xs pr-xs font-sans-serif light font-xxxxs lh-md" style="--primary-borr-lor:"></div></div><div data-ttid="placeholr-box" class="w-100 h-100 absolute flex flex-lumn jtify-center borr-box bg-offwhe" style="width:300px;height:250px"><div class="flex flex-lumn jtify-center font-sans-serif center font-xxs light gray-dark lh-md"><div>Advertisement</div></div></div></div></div></div><div class="article-body grid-full-bleed" data-qa="article-body"><div class="cb db dn-ns" data-qa="article-body-ad" data-ttid="article-body-ad-mobile"><div aria-hidn="te" class="hi-for-prt relative flex jtify-center ntent-box ems-center b bh mb-md mt-sm pt-sm pb-sm" style="m-height:250px;borr-top-lor:;borr-bottom-lor:"><div class="center absolute w-100 borr-box" style="top:"><div class="dib gray-dark pl-xs pr-xs font-sans-serif light font-xxxxs lh-md" style="--primary-borr-lor:"></div></div><div data-ttid="placeholr-box" class="w-100 h-100 absolute flex flex-lumn jtify-center borr-box bg-offwhe" style="width:300px;height:250px"><div class="flex flex-lumn jtify-center font-sans-serif center font-xxs light gray-dark lh-md"></div></div></div></div></div><div class="article-body grid-center grid-body" data-qa="article-body"><p data-ttid="drop-p-letter" data-el="text" class="wpds-c-cYdRxM wpds-c-cYdRxM-iPJLV-css overriStyl font-py" dir="null">“Usg the rabow mak everythg seem happy, but everythg isn’t all perfect,” said Oliver Stabbe, 27, who is trans, hard of hearg and liv Oakland, Calif. “Queer people are still beg opprsed.”</p></div><div class="article-body grid-center grid-body" data-qa="article-body"><p data-ttid="drop-p-letter" data-el="text" class="wpds-c-cYdRxM wpds-c-cYdRxM-iPJLV-css overriStyl font-py" dir="null">A send sign for queer is adapted om Japane Sign Language. It’s a fluid motn that begs wh an L hand shape and ends the letter Q to suggt that there’s an alphabet of inti between the two letters.</p></div><div class="article-body grid-center grid-body" data-qa="article-body"><div data-qa="article-vio" data-ttid="article-vio" class="ma-to" style="max-width:300px"><div><figure class="mb-md mr-to-ns ml-to-ns hi-for-prt flex flex-lumn ems-center ml-neg-gutter mr-neg-gutter"><div class="w-100 aspect-ctom" style="background-posn:center;background-repeat:no-repeat;background-lor:rgb(245, 245, 245);background-image:url();background-size:nta;--aspect-height:1.7777777777777777;--aspect-width:1"></div><figptn><div class="mt-xs mr-to-ns ml-to-ns left font--subhead font-xxxs gray-dark square-vertil-vio" data-qa="vio-ptn">Cecilia Ggan signs a versn of “queer” ASL. (Vio: The Washgton Post)</div></figptn></figure></div></div></div><div class="article-body grid-center grid-body" data-qa="article-body"><p data-ttid="drop-p-letter" data-el="text" class="wpds-c-cYdRxM wpds-c-cYdRxM-iPJLV-css overriStyl font-py" dir="null">Cecilia Ggan, 29, a Deaf, trans and nonbary person livg the D.C. area, prefers this sign, bee feels more clive. “It symboliz that the acronym n ntue. Wherever you fall on this spectm, this sign will clu you,” they said.</p></div><div class="article-body grid-center grid-body" data-qa="article-body"><p data-ttid="drop-p-letter" data-el="text" class="wpds-c-cYdRxM wpds-c-cYdRxM-iPJLV-css overriStyl font-py" dir="null">But many Deaf queer people prefer to e the ASL alphabet to spell Q-U-E-E-R bee they feel the other signs don’t fully reprent them. The double “e” the word mak simple to fgerspell.</p></div><div class="article-body grid-center grid-body" data-qa="article-body"><div data-qa="article-vio" data-ttid="article-vio" class="ma-to" style="max-width:300px"><div><figure class="mb-md mr-to-ns ml-to-ns hi-for-prt flex flex-lumn ems-center ml-neg-gutter mr-neg-gutter"><div class="w-100 aspect-ctom" style="background-posn:center;background-repeat:no-repeat;background-lor:rgb(245, 245, 245);background-image:url();background-size:nta;--aspect-height:1.7777777777777777;--aspect-width:1"></div><figptn><div class="mt-xs mr-to-ns ml-to-ns left font--subhead font-xxxs gray-dark square-vertil-vio" data-qa="vio-ptn">Cecilia Ggan fgerspells “queer” ASL. (Vio: The Washgton Post)</div></figptn></figure></div></div></div><div class="article-body grid-center grid-body" data-qa="article-body"><h3 data-qa="article-hear" class=" pb-sm pt-md" id="6VVPCO3T7ZE6BD272LQNIKPKM4"><div>The challenge of creatg a new sign</div></h3></div><div class="article-body grid-center grid-body" data-qa="article-body"><p data-ttid="drop-p-letter" data-el="text" class="wpds-c-cYdRxM wpds-c-cYdRxM-iPJLV-css overriStyl font-py" dir="null">While spoken and wrten languag n spread swiftly through a number of formats, ASL has typilly spread through face-to-face teractns and n’t be easily shared by wrten word, so n take longer for nsens to form around new signs.</p></div><div class="article-body grid-center grid-body" data-qa="article-body"><p data-ttid="drop-p-letter" data-el="text" class="wpds-c-cYdRxM wpds-c-cYdRxM-iPJLV-css overriStyl font-py" dir="null">For much of ASL’s history, those who have had the most power to dissemate signs have been straight, Whe, cisgenr people, acrdg to Deidra Pelletier, vice print of the Rabow Alliance of the Deaf.</p></div><div class="article-body grid-center grid-body" data-qa="article-body"><p data-ttid="drop-p-letter" data-el="text" class="wpds-c-cYdRxM wpds-c-cYdRxM-iPJLV-css overriStyl font-py" dir="null">“In the past, much of the queer muny was closeted, so they didn’t really have the chance to discs or analyze signs large groups wh straight people,” she said.</p></div><div class="article-body grid-center grid-body" data-qa="article-body"><p data-ttid="drop-p-letter" data-el="text" class="wpds-c-cYdRxM wpds-c-cYdRxM-iPJLV-css overriStyl font-py" dir="null">The rise of vio-based social media is allowg ASL to spread more rapidly and is empowerg the Deaf queer muny to exert more fluence over Amerin Sign Language.</p></div><div class="article-body grid-full-bleed" data-qa="article-body"><div class="cb dn db-ns" data-qa="article-body-ad" data-ttid="article-body-ad-sktop"><div aria-hidn="te" class="hi-for-prt relative flex jtify-center ntent-box ems-center b bh mb-md mt-none pt-lg pb-lg" style="m-height:250px;borr-top-lor:;borr-bottom-lor:"><div class="center absolute w-100 borr-box" style="top:"><div class="dib gray-dark pl-xs pr-xs font-sans-serif light font-xxxxs lh-md" style="--primary-borr-lor:"></div></div><div data-ttid="placeholr-box" class="w-100 h-100 absolute flex flex-lumn jtify-center borr-box bg-offwhe" style="width:300px;height:250px"><div class="flex flex-lumn jtify-center font-sans-serif center font-xxs light gray-dark lh-md"><div>Advertisement</div></div></div></div></div></div><div class="article-body grid-full-bleed" data-qa="article-body"><div class="cb db dn-ns" data-qa="article-body-ad" data-ttid="article-body-ad-mobile"><div aria-hidn="te" class="hi-for-prt relative flex jtify-center ntent-box ems-center b bh mb-md mt-sm pt-sm pb-sm" style="m-height:250px;borr-top-lor:;borr-bottom-lor:"><div class="center absolute w-100 borr-box" style="top:"><div class="dib gray-dark pl-xs pr-xs font-sans-serif light font-xxxxs lh-md" style="--primary-borr-lor:"></div></div><div data-ttid="placeholr-box" class="w-100 h-100 absolute flex flex-lumn jtify-center borr-box bg-offwhe" style="width:300px;height:250px"><div class="flex flex-lumn jtify-center font-sans-serif center font-xxs light gray-dark lh-md"></div></div></div></div></div><div class="article-body grid-center grid-body" data-qa="article-body"><p data-ttid="drop-p-letter" data-el="text" class="wpds-c-cYdRxM wpds-c-cYdRxM-iPJLV-css overriStyl font-py" dir="null">But fdg an inic or metaphoril way to reprent some inti has proven to be difficult, and many signs are still fgerspelled. Long words require xtery and aren’t always easy to cipher.</p></div><div class="article-body grid-center grid-body" data-qa="article-body"><p data-ttid="drop-p-letter" data-el="text" class="wpds-c-cYdRxM wpds-c-cYdRxM-iPJLV-css overriStyl font-py" dir="null">For stance, “bisexual” is an eight-letter word that n be ted to fgerspell. As a rult, Deaf people typilly spell out the abbreviatn “Bi,” stead. There have been attempts to e up wh a more nceptual sign for “bisexual,” but none have ught on wily.</p></div><div class="article-body grid-center grid-body" data-qa="article-body"><div data-qa="article-vio" data-ttid="article-vio" class="ma-to" style="max-width:300px"><div><figure class="mb-md mr-to-ns ml-to-ns hi-for-prt flex flex-lumn ems-center ml-neg-gutter mr-neg-gutter"><div class="w-100 aspect-ctom" style="background-posn:center;background-repeat:no-repeat;background-lor:rgb(245, 245, 245);background-image:url();background-size:nta;--aspect-height:1.7777777777777777;--aspect-width:1"></div><figptn><div class="mt-xs mr-to-ns ml-to-ns left font--subhead font-xxxs gray-dark square-vertil-vio" data-qa="vio-ptn">Cldia Grdano fgerspells “bi” ASL. (Vio: The Washgton Post)</div></figptn></figure></div></div></div><div class="article-body grid-center grid-body" data-qa="article-body"><h3 data-qa="article-hear" class=" pb-sm pt-md" id="ZMPODULAORGWNCKJP7EYQHW2KU"><div>Fdg a sign for nonbary</div></h3></div><div class="article-body grid-center grid-body" data-qa="article-body"><p data-ttid="drop-p-letter" data-el="text" class="wpds-c-cYdRxM wpds-c-cYdRxM-iPJLV-css overriStyl font-py" dir="null">Other inti — nonbary, asexual or pansexual — are also challengg to spell ASL But abbreviatns don’t always work. For stance, “nonbary” n’t be shortened to “N-B,” bee that abbreviatn is ed some muni to refer to non-Black people.</p></div><div class="article-body grid-center grid-body" data-qa="article-body"><div data-qa="article-vio" data-ttid="article-vio" class="ma-to" style="max-width:300px"><div><figure class="mb-md mr-to-ns ml-to-ns hi-for-prt flex flex-lumn ems-center ml-neg-gutter mr-neg-gutter"><div class="w-100 aspect-ctom" style="background-posn:center;background-repeat:no-repeat;background-lor:rgb(245, 245, 245);background-image:url();background-size:nta;--aspect-height:1.7777777777777777;--aspect-width:1"></div><figptn><div class="mt-xs mr-to-ns ml-to-ns left font--subhead font-xxxs gray-dark square-vertil-vio" data-qa="vio-ptn">Jerr Gee fgerspells “nonbary” ASL. (Vio: The Washgton Post)</div></figptn></figure></div></div></div><div class="article-body grid-center grid-body" data-qa="article-body"><p data-ttid="drop-p-letter" data-el="text" class="wpds-c-cYdRxM wpds-c-cYdRxM-iPJLV-css overriStyl font-py" dir="null">A few years ago, Deaf nonbary people planned a virtual town hall to e up wh a new sign for nonbary, acrdg to Bee Gehman, who found <a href=" target=_blank>Jooux</a>, a Deaf sexual wellns center. But, the meetg never happened bee of a lack of rourc and support.</p></div><div class="article-body grid-center grid-body" data-qa="article-body"><p data-ttid="drop-p-letter" data-el="text" class="wpds-c-cYdRxM wpds-c-cYdRxM-iPJLV-css overriStyl font-py" dir="null">“It’s a challenge to e up wh a new sign bee we’re nstantly tryg to survive this opprsive society as a Deaf, disabled and queer person,”<b> </b>said Gehman, who intifi as nonbary and queer.</p></div><div class="article-body grid-center grid-body" data-qa="article-body"><p data-ttid="drop-p-letter" data-el="text" class="wpds-c-cYdRxM wpds-c-cYdRxM-iPJLV-css overriStyl font-py" dir="null">Some, like Jerr Gee, a 33-year old Deaf nonbary person livg D.C., don’t md spellg out the full word, bee they view as an tnal opportuny.</p></div><div class="article-body grid-center grid-body" data-qa="article-body"><p data-ttid="drop-p-letter" data-el="text" class="wpds-c-cYdRxM wpds-c-cYdRxM-iPJLV-css overriStyl font-py" dir="null">“Givg people accs to the English word spellg allows them to Google and learn more about ,” Gee said.</p></div><div class="article-body grid-full-bleed" data-qa="article-body"><div class="cb dn db-ns" data-qa="article-body-ad" data-ttid="article-body-ad-sktop"><div aria-hidn="te" class="hi-for-prt relative flex jtify-center ntent-box ems-center b bh mb-md mt-none pt-lg pb-lg" style="m-height:250px;borr-top-lor:;borr-bottom-lor:"><div class="center absolute w-100 borr-box" style="top:"><div class="dib gray-dark pl-xs pr-xs font-sans-serif light font-xxxxs lh-md" style="--primary-borr-lor:"></div></div><div data-ttid="placeholr-box" class="w-100 h-100 absolute flex flex-lumn jtify-center borr-box bg-offwhe" style="width:300px;height:250px"><div class="flex flex-lumn jtify-center font-sans-serif center font-xxs light gray-dark lh-md"><div>Advertisement</div></div></div></div></div></div><div class="article-body grid-full-bleed" data-qa="article-body"><div class="cb db dn-ns" data-qa="article-body-ad" data-ttid="article-body-ad-mobile"><div aria-hidn="te" class="hi-for-prt relative flex jtify-center ntent-box ems-center b bh mb-md mt-sm pt-sm pb-sm" style="m-height:250px;borr-top-lor:;borr-bottom-lor:"><div class="center absolute w-100 borr-box" style="top:"><div class="dib gray-dark pl-xs pr-xs font-sans-serif light font-xxxxs lh-md" style="--primary-borr-lor:"></div></div><div data-ttid="placeholr-box" class="w-100 h-100 absolute flex flex-lumn jtify-center borr-box bg-offwhe" style="width:300px;height:250px"><div class="flex flex-lumn jtify-center font-sans-serif center font-xxs light gray-dark lh-md"></div></div></div></div></div><div class="article-body grid-center grid-body" data-qa="article-body"><h3 data-qa="article-hear" class=" pb-sm pt-md" id="NRGA2P7J5NDEBME7BDIZTS724Y"><div>A sign for ‘transgenr’ has been slow to spread</div></h3></div><div class="article-body grid-center grid-body" data-qa="article-body"><p data-ttid="drop-p-letter" data-el="text" class="wpds-c-cYdRxM wpds-c-cYdRxM-iPJLV-css overriStyl font-py" dir="null">For years, a monly ed sign to scribe transgenr people bed the sign for “sex” and the motn for “change.” The sign now is nsired offensive and is ak to g the outdated English word “transsexual.”</p></div><div class="article-body grid-center grid-body" data-qa="article-body"><div data-qa="article-vio" data-ttid="article-vio" class="ma-to" style="max-width:300px"><div><figure class="mb-md mr-to-ns ml-to-ns hi-for-prt flex flex-lumn ems-center ml-neg-gutter mr-neg-gutter"><div class="w-100 aspect-ctom" style="background-posn:center;background-repeat:no-repeat;background-lor:rgb(245, 245, 245);background-image:url();background-size:nta;--aspect-height:1.7777777777777777;--aspect-width:1"></div><figptn><div class="mt-xs mr-to-ns ml-to-ns left font--subhead font-xxxs gray-dark square-vertil-vio" data-qa="vio-ptn">Man Jericho signs an outdated versn of “trans” ASL. (Vio: The Washgton Post)</div></figptn></figure></div></div></div><div class="article-body grid-center grid-body" data-qa="article-body"><p data-ttid="drop-p-letter" data-el="text" class="wpds-c-cYdRxM wpds-c-cYdRxM-iPJLV-css overriStyl font-py" dir="null">A group of Deaf trans people at a 2003 nference Florida<b> </b>agreed on a new sign that evok the sign for “betiful” and is placed on the cht, where the sign for “myself” is also placed. The sign n be terpreted a variety of ways, but is ultimately about havg a strong ner inty, said Alex Leffers, a Deaf trans man who took part the cisn to choose this sign.</p></div><div class="article-body grid-center grid-body" data-qa="article-body"><p data-ttid="drop-p-letter" data-el="text" class="wpds-c-cYdRxM wpds-c-cYdRxM-iPJLV-css overriStyl font-py" dir="null">“It don’t matter what you look like, or how you reprent yourself, ’s about who you are on the si,” he said. “That inty is protected; n’t be taken om you.”</p></div><div class="article-body grid-center grid-body" data-qa="article-body"><div data-qa="article-vio" data-ttid="article-vio" class="ma-to" style="max-width:300px"><div><figure class="mb-md mr-to-ns ml-to-ns hi-for-prt flex flex-lumn ems-center ml-neg-gutter mr-neg-gutter"><div class="w-100 aspect-ctom" style="background-posn:center;background-repeat:no-repeat;background-lor:rgb(245, 245, 245);background-image:url();background-size:nta;--aspect-height:1.7777777777777777;--aspect-width:1"></div><figptn><div class="mt-xs mr-to-ns ml-to-ns left font--subhead font-xxxs gray-dark square-vertil-vio" data-qa="vio-ptn">Man Jericho signs “trans” ASL. (Vio: The Washgton Post)</div></figptn></figure></div></div></div><div class="article-body grid-center grid-body" data-qa="article-body"><p data-ttid="drop-p-letter" data-el="text" class="wpds-c-cYdRxM wpds-c-cYdRxM-iPJLV-css overriStyl font-py" dir="null">Though the cisn to e this sign was ma two s ago, some Deaf trans people say many terpreters still don’t know the sign.</p></div><div class="article-body grid-center grid-body" data-qa="article-body"><div id="gift-share-le" data-ttid="gift-share-le" class="PJLV PJLV-ilotWTr-css hi-for-prt"><button aria-haspopup="dialog" aria-expand="false" aria-ntrols="gift-share-drawer" role="button" tabx="0" aria-label="Share this article" id="gift-share-drawer-ntrol-le" data-ttid="gift-share-drawer-ntrol-le" class="wpds-c-PJLV wpds-c-gsmDXe wpds-c-gsmDXe-goNocI-placement-Inle foc-highlight"><div data-ttid="gift-share-terstial-trigger" class="wpds-c-kPqOkS wpds-c-kPqOkS-jtSXsT-hasSubsText-false"><span class="wpds-c-hBJqc"><span class="wpds-c-dzSncg">Share this article</span></span><span class="wpds-c-eCvK"><span class="wpds-c-enedHQ wpds-c-enedHQ-cCdK-isShown-false">Share</span><svg xmlns=" fill="currentColor" viewBox="0 0 16 16" aria-hidn="te" focable="false" role="img" class="wpds-c-fBqPWp wpds-c-fDHGth"><path fill="currentColor" d="M8 .6v3.8h.1c-4.4 0-7.3 4.5-6.9 8.8.1.8.2 1.2.2 1.2l.2 1 .4-1.3c.8-2 2-4 6.2-3.9H8v4l7-6.9L8 .6Zm1 11.3V9.3h-.9c-3 0-4.8.5-6.2 2.9.5-3.3 2.7-6.8 6.2-6.8H9V3l4.5 4.4L9 11.9Z"></path></svg></span></div></button></div></div><div class="article-body grid-center grid-body" data-qa="article-body"><p data-ttid="drop-p-letter" data-el="text" class="wpds-c-cYdRxM wpds-c-cYdRxM-iPJLV-css overriStyl font-py" dir="null">Leffers, a munitns manager at Gallt Universy, said the hope is for signs related to queer inti to be clud more tnal curriculums and terpretg programs.</p></div><div class="article-body grid-center grid-body" data-qa="article-body"><p data-ttid="drop-p-letter" data-el="text" class="wpds-c-cYdRxM wpds-c-cYdRxM-iPJLV-css overriStyl font-py" dir="null">Man Jericho, a 32-year-old transgenr Deaf person, said that while he knew the English word for “trans,” he didn’t learn the ASL sign for his inty until he attend Gallt.</p></div><div class="article-body grid-center grid-body" data-qa="article-body"><h3 data-qa="article-hear" class=" pb-sm pt-md" id="WF4ZIIBRAZGNHO76JR54Y5GAIU"><div>Fdg an clive sign for drag</div></h3></div><div class="article-body grid-center grid-body" data-qa="article-body"><p data-ttid="drop-p-letter" data-el="text" class="wpds-c-cYdRxM wpds-c-cYdRxM-iPJLV-css overriStyl font-py" dir="null">Other signs related to queer inty are only now startg to spread more wily.</p></div><div class="article-body grid-center grid-body" data-qa="article-body"><p data-ttid="drop-p-letter" data-el="text" class="wpds-c-cYdRxM wpds-c-cYdRxM-iPJLV-css overriStyl font-py" dir="null">For example, drag shows have tradnally been accsible for many Deaf people bee they lacked ptns or terpreters. But as more ASL terpreters have been provid at drag events, signs related to drag have spread.</p></div><div class="article-body grid-center grid-body" data-qa="article-body"><p data-ttid="drop-p-letter" data-el="text" class="wpds-c-cYdRxM wpds-c-cYdRxM-iPJLV-css overriStyl font-py" dir="null">And the rise of Deaf drag performers like Alvaro Garcia, 33 and Jimmy Lar, 32, of Denver, has raised awarens about drag the Deaf muny. The duo perform as Deafi Drag on social media, and many of their vios feature them dog more visually based acts, like sks or tellg stori ASL.</p></div><div class="article-body grid-center grid-body" data-qa="article-body"><p data-ttid="drop-p-letter" data-el="text" class="wpds-c-cYdRxM wpds-c-cYdRxM-iPJLV-css overriStyl font-py" dir="null">One sign for “drag queen” suggts a bold wig worn by many performers, bed wh the sign for “queen,” which a “Q” hand shape and outl a sash.</p></div><div class="article-body grid-center grid-body" data-qa="article-body"><div data-qa="article-vio" data-ttid="article-vio" class="ma-to" style="max-width:300px"><div><figure class="mb-md mr-to-ns ml-to-ns hi-for-prt flex flex-lumn ems-center ml-neg-gutter mr-neg-gutter"><div class="w-100 aspect-ctom" style="background-posn:center;background-repeat:no-repeat;background-lor:rgb(245, 245, 245);background-image:url();background-size:nta;--aspect-height:1.7777777777777777;--aspect-width:1"></div><figptn><div class="mt-xs mr-to-ns ml-to-ns left font--subhead font-xxxs gray-dark square-vertil-vio" data-qa="vio-ptn">Miss Zyafirah, whose real name is Randall “Rexy” Anrson, signs a versn of “drag queen” ASL. (Vio: The Washgton Post)</div></figptn></figure></div></div></div><div class="article-body grid-center grid-body" data-qa="article-body"><p data-ttid="drop-p-letter" data-el="text" class="wpds-c-cYdRxM wpds-c-cYdRxM-iPJLV-css overriStyl font-py" dir="null">Another variatn on “queen” suggts the placement of a crown.</p></div><div class="article-body grid-center grid-body" data-qa="article-body"><div data-qa="article-vio" data-ttid="article-vio" class="ma-to" style="max-width:300px"><div><figure class="mb-md mr-to-ns ml-to-ns hi-for-prt flex flex-lumn ems-center ml-neg-gutter mr-neg-gutter"><div class="w-100 aspect-ctom" style="background-posn:center;background-repeat:no-repeat;background-lor:rgb(245, 245, 245);background-image:url();background-size:nta;--aspect-height:1.7777777777777777;--aspect-width:1"></div><figptn><div class="mt-xs mr-to-ns ml-to-ns left font--subhead font-xxxs gray-dark square-vertil-vio" data-qa="vio-ptn">Miss Zyafirah, whose real name is Randall “Rexy” Anrson signs a versn of “queen” ASL. (Vio: The Washgton Post)</div></figptn></figure></div></div></div><div class="article-body grid-center grid-body" data-qa="article-body"><p data-ttid="drop-p-letter" data-el="text" class="wpds-c-cYdRxM wpds-c-cYdRxM-iPJLV-css overriStyl font-py" dir="null">Leffers, the trans man who helped choose the new sign for “trans,” said he also helped e up wh a sign for “drag kg,” a performer who personifi male genr stereotyp. This sign, which is only startg to spread, emulat twirlg a mtache, and n be bed wh the sign for “kg,” which a “K” hand shape to outle a sash.</p></div><div class="article-body grid-center grid-body" data-qa="article-body"><div data-qa="article-vio" data-ttid="article-vio" class="ma-to" style="max-width:300px"><div><figure class="mb-md mr-to-ns ml-to-ns hi-for-prt flex flex-lumn ems-center ml-neg-gutter mr-neg-gutter"><div class="w-100 aspect-ctom" style="background-posn:center;background-repeat:no-repeat;background-lor:rgb(245, 245, 245);background-image:url();background-size:nta;--aspect-height:1.7777777777777777;--aspect-width:1"></div><figptn><div class="mt-xs mr-to-ns ml-to-ns left font--subhead font-xxxs gray-dark square-vertil-vio" data-qa="vio-ptn">Miss Zyafirah, whose real name is Randall “Rexy” Anrson, signs a versn of “drag kg” ASL. (Vio: The Washgton Post)</div></figptn></figure></div></div></div><div class="article-body grid-center grid-body" data-qa="article-body"><p data-ttid="drop-p-letter" data-el="text" class="wpds-c-cYdRxM wpds-c-cYdRxM-iPJLV-css overriStyl font-py" dir="null">Lillouie Barrs, owner of a Deaf drag anizatn Portland, Ore., lled Handsync, didn’t learn the sign for “drag kg” until 2019. But for nonbary drag performers, neher the sign for “drag queen” or “drag kg” seem to f, he said.</p></div><div class="article-body grid-center grid-body" data-qa="article-body"><p data-ttid="drop-p-letter" data-el="text" class="wpds-c-cYdRxM wpds-c-cYdRxM-iPJLV-css overriStyl font-py" dir="null">“It’s plited. We haven’t nfirmed an appropriate sign for the general act of drag self,” he said. “We really need to fd one good sign for jt the word “drag.'”</p></div><div class="article-body grid-full-bleed" data-qa="article-body"><div class="cb dn db-ns" data-qa="article-body-ad" data-ttid="article-body-ad-sktop"><div aria-hidn="te" class="hi-for-prt relative flex jtify-center ntent-box ems-center b bh mb-md mt-none pt-lg pb-lg" style="m-height:250px;borr-top-lor:;borr-bottom-lor:"><div class="center absolute w-100 borr-box" style="top:"><div class="dib gray-dark pl-xs pr-xs font-sans-serif light font-xxxxs lh-md" style="--primary-borr-lor:"></div></div><div data-ttid="placeholr-box" class="w-100 h-100 absolute flex flex-lumn jtify-center borr-box bg-offwhe" style="width:300px;height:250px"><div class="flex flex-lumn jtify-center font-sans-serif center font-xxs light gray-dark lh-md"><div>Advertisement</div></div></div></div></div></div><div class="article-body grid-full-bleed" data-qa="article-body"><div class="cb db dn-ns" data-qa="article-body-ad" data-ttid="article-body-ad-mobile"><div aria-hidn="te" class="hi-for-prt relative flex jtify-center ntent-box ems-center b bh mb-md mt-sm pt-sm pb-sm" style="m-height:250px;borr-top-lor:;borr-bottom-lor:"><div class="center absolute w-100 borr-box" style="top:"><div class="dib gray-dark pl-xs pr-xs font-sans-serif light font-xxxxs lh-md" style="--primary-borr-lor:"></div></div><div data-ttid="placeholr-box" class="w-100 h-100 absolute flex flex-lumn jtify-center borr-box bg-offwhe" style="width:300px;height:250px"><div class="flex flex-lumn jtify-center font-sans-serif center font-xxs light gray-dark lh-md"></div></div></div></div></div><div class="article-body grid-center grid-body" data-qa="article-body"><h3 data-qa="article-hear" class=" pb-sm pt-md" id="DSPQAKLDTFHUBFSKEOL75SUXIQ"><div>Why some inty signs n offend</div></h3></div><div class="article-body grid-center grid-body" data-qa="article-body"><p data-ttid="drop-p-letter" data-el="text" class="wpds-c-cYdRxM wpds-c-cYdRxM-iPJLV-css overriStyl font-py" dir="null">In ASL, signs relatg to women, such as “sister” or “mother,” are tradnally placed on the lower half of the face, whereas signs relatg to men are typilly placed on the upper half of the face.</p></div><div class="article-body grid-center grid-body" data-qa="article-body"><p data-ttid="drop-p-letter" data-el="text" class="wpds-c-cYdRxM wpds-c-cYdRxM-iPJLV-css overriStyl font-py" dir="null">That’s why some people don’t like the tradnal sign for “gay,” which plac a “G” hand shape at the ch.<b> </b>They<b> </b>believe this<b> </b>suggts a feme sign.</p></div><div class="article-body grid-center grid-body" data-qa="article-body"><div data-qa="article-vio" data-ttid="article-vio" class="ma-to" style="max-width:300px"><div><figure class="mb-md mr-to-ns ml-to-ns hi-for-prt flex flex-lumn ems-center ml-neg-gutter mr-neg-gutter"><div class="w-100 aspect-ctom" style="background-posn:center;background-repeat:no-repeat;background-lor:rgb(245, 245, 245);background-image:url();background-size:nta;--aspect-height:1.7777777777777777;--aspect-width:1"></div><figptn><div class="mt-xs mr-to-ns ml-to-ns left font--subhead font-xxxs gray-dark square-vertil-vio" data-qa="vio-ptn">Sean Norman signs a versn of “gay” ASL. (Vio: The Washgton Post)</div></figptn></figure></div></div></div><div class="article-body grid-center grid-body" data-qa="article-body"><p data-ttid="drop-p-letter" data-el="text" class="wpds-c-cYdRxM wpds-c-cYdRxM-iPJLV-css overriStyl font-py" dir="null">Gehman, a certified sexualy tor, said that they fgerspell the word.</p></div><div class="article-body grid-center grid-body" data-qa="article-body"><div data-qa="article-vio" data-ttid="article-vio" class="ma-to" style="max-width:300px"><div><figure class="mb-md mr-to-ns ml-to-ns hi-for-prt flex flex-lumn ems-center ml-neg-gutter mr-neg-gutter"><div class="w-100 aspect-ctom" style="background-posn:center;background-repeat:no-repeat;background-lor:rgb(245, 245, 245);background-image:url();background-size:nta;--aspect-height:1.7777777777777777;--aspect-width:1"></div><figptn><div class="mt-xs mr-to-ns ml-to-ns left font--subhead font-xxxs gray-dark square-vertil-vio" data-qa="vio-ptn">Sean Norman fgerspells “gay” ASL. (Vio: The Washgton Post)</div></figptn></figure></div></div></div><div class="article-body grid-center grid-body" data-qa="article-body"><p data-ttid="drop-p-letter" data-el="text" class="wpds-c-cYdRxM wpds-c-cYdRxM-iPJLV-css overriStyl font-py" dir="null">Ernt Willman, 30, of Arizona, said that his Deaf gay muny, there’s a lot of bate about which sign is bt. Some feel that the non-spelled sign rri stigma, but others feel they are reclaimg the sign, he said.</p></div><div class="article-body grid-center grid-body" data-qa="article-body"><p data-ttid="drop-p-letter" data-el="text" class="wpds-c-cYdRxM wpds-c-cYdRxM-iPJLV-css overriStyl font-py" dir="null">“Often the gay Deaf muny, would be acceptable to e the old sign for gay, but I enurage other people to e the spelled-out word,” Willman said.</p></div><div class="article-body grid-center grid-body" data-qa="article-body"><p data-ttid="drop-p-letter" data-el="text" class="wpds-c-cYdRxM wpds-c-cYdRxM-iPJLV-css overriStyl font-py" dir="null">Sean Norman, a 37-year-old Deaf gay man livg D.C. prefers to e the tradnal sign.</p></div><div class="article-body grid-center grid-body" data-qa="article-body"><p data-ttid="drop-p-letter" data-el="text" class="wpds-c-cYdRxM wpds-c-cYdRxM-iPJLV-css overriStyl font-py" dir="null">“I feel like ’s a source of pri now,” he said. “A sign isn’t herently negative.”</p></div><div class="article-body grid-full-bleed" data-qa="article-body"><div class="cb dn db-ns" data-qa="article-body-ad" data-ttid="article-body-ad-sktop"><div aria-hidn="te" class="hi-for-prt relative flex jtify-center ntent-box ems-center b bh mb-md mt-none pt-lg pb-lg" style="m-height:250px;borr-top-lor:;borr-bottom-lor:"><div class="center absolute w-100 borr-box" style="top:"><div class="dib gray-dark pl-xs pr-xs font-sans-serif light font-xxxxs lh-md" style="--primary-borr-lor:"></div></div><div data-ttid="placeholr-box" class="w-100 h-100 absolute flex flex-lumn jtify-center borr-box bg-offwhe" style="width:300px;height:250px"><div class="flex flex-lumn jtify-center font-sans-serif center font-xxs light gray-dark lh-md"><div>Advertisement</div></div></div></div></div></div><div class="article-body grid-full-bleed" data-qa="article-body"><div class="cb db dn-ns" data-qa="article-body-ad" data-ttid="article-body-ad-mobile"><div aria-hidn="te" class="hi-for-prt relative flex jtify-center ntent-box ems-center b bh mb-md mt-sm pt-sm pb-sm" style="m-height:250px;borr-top-lor:;borr-bottom-lor:"><div class="center absolute w-100 borr-box" style="top:"><div class="dib gray-dark pl-xs pr-xs font-sans-serif light font-xxxxs lh-md" style="--primary-borr-lor:"></div></div><div data-ttid="placeholr-box" class="w-100 h-100 absolute flex flex-lumn jtify-center borr-box bg-offwhe" style="width:300px;height:250px"><div class="flex flex-lumn jtify-center font-sans-serif center font-xxs light gray-dark lh-md"></div></div></div></div></div><div class="article-body grid-center grid-body" data-qa="article-body"><h3 data-qa="article-hear" class=" pb-sm pt-md" id="LAJYUGMBMRB27KXVXB4ZQSC4TU"><div>A send sign for ‘lbian’</div></h3></div><div class="article-body grid-center grid-body" data-qa="article-body"><p data-ttid="drop-p-letter" data-el="text" class="wpds-c-cYdRxM wpds-c-cYdRxM-iPJLV-css overriStyl font-py" dir="null">A siar bate is also playg out Deaf lbian muni. An olr sign for “lbian” volved puttg an “L” on the ch.</p></div><div class="article-body grid-center grid-body" data-qa="article-body"><div data-qa="article-vio" data-ttid="article-vio" class="ma-to" style="max-width:300px"><div><figure class="mb-md mr-to-ns ml-to-ns hi-for-prt flex flex-lumn ems-center ml-neg-gutter mr-neg-gutter"><div class="w-100 aspect-ctom" style="background-posn:center;background-repeat:no-repeat;background-lor:rgb(245, 245, 245);background-image:url();background-size:nta;--aspect-height:1.7777777777777777;--aspect-width:1"></div><figptn><div class="mt-xs mr-to-ns ml-to-ns left font--subhead font-xxxs gray-dark square-vertil-vio" data-qa="vio-ptn">Kisha Hopwood signs a versn of “lbian” ASL. (Vio: The Washgton Post)</div></figptn></figure></div></div></div><div class="article-body grid-center grid-body" data-qa="article-body"><p data-ttid="drop-p-letter" data-el="text" class="wpds-c-cYdRxM wpds-c-cYdRxM-iPJLV-css overriStyl font-py" dir="null">Some people said the sign rembled the sign for “vaga,” said MJ Bienvenu, 70, a Deaf lbian woman livg At. She and many others have started g a newer sign for “lbian” that mov the posn of the hand slightly so that a person taps their ch wh their x fger. “The new sign is an improvement,” Bienvenu said.</p></div><div class="article-body grid-center grid-body" data-qa="article-body"><div data-qa="article-vio" data-ttid="article-vio" class="ma-to" style="max-width:300px"><div><figure class="mb-md mr-to-ns ml-to-ns hi-for-prt flex flex-lumn ems-center ml-neg-gutter mr-neg-gutter"><div class="w-100 aspect-ctom" style="background-posn:center;background-repeat:no-repeat;background-lor:rgb(245, 245, 245);background-image:url();background-size:nta;--aspect-height:1.7777777777777777;--aspect-width:1"></div><figptn><div class="mt-xs mr-to-ns ml-to-ns left font--subhead font-xxxs gray-dark square-vertil-vio" data-qa="vio-ptn">Kisha Hopwood signs a versn of “lbian” ASL. (Vio: The Washgton Post)</div></figptn></figure></div></div></div><div class="article-body grid-center grid-body" data-qa="article-body"><p data-ttid="drop-p-letter" data-el="text" class="wpds-c-cYdRxM wpds-c-cYdRxM-iPJLV-css overriStyl font-py" dir="null">But for other Deaf lbian women, like Kisha Hopwood, 41, of Hanover, Md., the olr sign is a source of pri.</p></div><div class="article-body grid-center grid-body" data-qa="article-body"><p data-ttid="drop-p-letter" data-el="text" class="wpds-c-cYdRxM wpds-c-cYdRxM-iPJLV-css overriStyl font-py" dir="null">The origal sign “shows that I’m proud of who I am,” she said. “Movg to the si feels like you’re tryg to obscure the sign slightly or make seem more civil.”</p></div><div class="article-body grid-center grid-body" data-qa="article-body"><p data-ttid="drop-p-letter" data-el="text" class="wpds-c-cYdRxM wpds-c-cYdRxM-iPJLV-css overriStyl font-py" dir="null">The variatn how people choose to sign different inti may seem nfg to some, but Stabbe se as a natural rult of the fact that Deaf queer people have diverse experienc.</p></div><div class="article-body grid-center grid-body" data-qa="article-body"><p data-ttid="drop-p-letter" data-el="text" class="wpds-c-cYdRxM wpds-c-cYdRxM-iPJLV-css overriStyl font-py" dir="null">“There is no one sgular way to be Deaf nor is there a sgular way to be LGBTQIA+,” he said. “Language is an extensn of who we are and a means for to take pri ourselv.”</p></div><div class="article-body grid-center grid-body" data-qa="article-body"><h4 data-qa="article-hear" class=" pb-sm pt-md" id="JEPEPSLEV5CSHAZMVJZZSNL6FM"><div>About this story</div></h4></div><div class="article-body grid-center grid-body" data-qa="article-body"><p data-ttid="drop-p-letter" data-el="text" class="wpds-c-cYdRxM wpds-c-cYdRxM-iPJLV-css overriStyl font-py" dir="null">Reportg by Amanda Morris; vio by Alexa Juliana Ard; illtratns by Anna Lefkowz; py edg by Melissa Ngo.</p></div><div class="article-body grid-center grid-body" data-qa="article-body"><p data-ttid="drop-p-letter" data-el="text" class="wpds-c-cYdRxM wpds-c-cYdRxM-iPJLV-css overriStyl font-py" dir="null">Signers orr of vio appearance: Cecilia Ggan, Cldia Grdano, Jerr Gee, Man Jericho, Miss Zyafirah (whose real name is Randall “Rexy” Anrson), Sean Norman and Kisha Hopwood.</p></div><div class="article-body grid-center grid-body" data-qa="article-body"><p><span class="wpds-c-gnhuPA wpds-c-gnhuPA-hqeSyH-variant-terstial wpds-c-gnhuPA-iPJLV-css hi-for-prt"><a data-qa="terstial-lk" href=">Sign up for the Well+Beg newsletter, your source of expert advice and simple tips to help you live well every day</a></span></p></div><div class="grid-center grid-body"><div class="wpds-c-jjHkyS wpds-c-jjHkyS-icEohIP-css hi-for-prt"><div data-qa="ntent" class="wpds-c-dgPYWO wpds-c-dgPYWO-iPJLV-css"><h3 data-qa="lkbox-headle" class="wpds-c-jtAZFm">Read more om Well+Beg</h3><p class="wpds-c-eynqHn">Well+Beg shar news and advice for livg well every day. <a 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loss lk" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer" data-qa="text-rd-lk" style="display:-webk-box;-webk-box-orient:vertil;-webk-le-clamp:4;text-overflow:ellipsis;transn:none" attribut="[object Object]" class=""><span>After nservativ’ Target boytt, Stephen Miller group su over loss</span></div></div><div class="wpds-c-bZNrxE"><div data-ttid="text-rd-timtamp-earlier" class="wpds-c-iKQyrV wpds-c-gWbYHj">Augt 14, 2023</div></div></div><div class="wpds-c-fvnsYS"><figure data-qa="sc-figure-image" class="relative wpds-c-kFsrtG"><div data-qa="sc-skeleton-image" class="font-0 aspect-ctom bg-gray-lighter filter transn" style="opacy:1;transn:opacy 400ms ease--out 0s;--aspect-width:3;--aspect-height:2"></div></figure></div></a></span><span class="wpds-c-CEJsw"><a href=" class="wpds-c-gfGApI remove-borr-bottom"><figure data-qa="sc-figure-image" class="relative wpds-c-kFsrtG"><div data-qa="sc-skeleton-image" class="font-0 aspect-ctom bg-gray-lighter filter transn" style="opacy:1;transn:opacy 400ms ease--out 0s;--aspect-width:3;--aspect-height:2"></div></figure><div class="wpds-c-eQfTfP"><div href=" alt="After nservativ’ Target boytt, Stephen Miller group su over loss lk" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer" data-qa="text-rd-lk" style="display:-webk-box;-webk-box-orient:vertil;-webk-le-clamp:4;text-overflow:ellipsis;transn:none" attribut="[object Object]" class=""><span>After nservativ’ Target boytt, Stephen Miller group su over loss</span></div></div><div class="wpds-c-bZNrxE"><div data-ttid="text-rd-timtamp-earlier" class="wpds-c-iKQyrV wpds-c-gWbYHj">Augt 14, 2023</div></div></a></span></li></ul></div><button class="wpds-c-kSOqLF wpds-c-kSOqLF-SQjOY-variant-sendary wpds-c-kSOqLF-eHdizY-nsy-flt wpds-c-kSOqLF-hGNJMA-in-center wpds-c-kSOqLF-qcJLL-cv wpds-c-kSOqLF-ieqAhsM-css">View 3 more stori<svg xmlns=" viewBox="0 0 16 16" fill="currentColor" aria-hidn="te" focable="false" role="img" class="wpds-c-dJBvpf wpds-c-gmtmov"><path d="m3.38 6 .71-.71L8 9.25l3.91-3.92.71.71L8 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