To non-twitter users, like myself a few weeks ago, the idea of “tweeting” may seem bizarre—a mainstream outlet for celebrities to forge a pseudo relationship with their fans, or perhaps a likeminded individual whose dreams coincide with that of the celebrity with millions of followers. However, beyond the façade of mainstream stardom lies a platform constructed by change agents working to project their aberrations to a larger audience.
Digging deeper to the root of Twitter as a resource of change has transformed my preexisting stigmas of this social media tool. From the plethora of radical, base and coalition building, horizontal power grounded organizations to the individuals presenting their queer, disabled, sex positive, age eclectic, gender nonnormative, foodie inspired, campy performer identities, I begin to see myself mesmerized by the transformative use of this easy access social media website.
Too often women of color have been forced into the confines of a society constructing a homogenous identity for them as a marked “other” to the dominant “us”. These binaries have often hypersexualized, demeaned, and stigmatized their bodies. Adding the piece of queerness to the bucket of intersectional oppressions, these people of color have become marginalized as second-class citizens.
Our self-identity radically differs from the identities projected upon us by a larger society. The additional layers of oppression one experiences further strengthens the control that external identities have on one’s self-identity. For a queer, disabled, gender variant, one could imagine the marginalization faced.
Twitter marks a method of reversing this control by extending access to the most subjugated individuals allowing them to highlight their autonomous identities that defy sexual, racial, and gendered stereotypes. Providing individuals space to synthesize the way they identify through the lens of their oppressions with 140 characters or less, Twitter indirectly emphasizes the importance of understanding one another’s lived experience.
By simply typing queer words/phrases into Twitter’s search box, or even looking at the followers of the Sylvia Rivera Law Project, I have already learned so much about the Twitter users grounded in revolutionary action. The queer folks I have found on behalf of this social media outlet have inspired me to share the beauty and contribute to the use of this website to construct a path towards liberation as I continue to flirt with they idea of using tools of social media to reject societies hegemonic views over queer bodies.
I have taken the liberty to compile a list of Twitter Bios written by ten of the most compelling qwoc and gender nonconforming folks.
1. @BiancaDagga
#QPOC radical self expressionist, #burlesque performer, #cyclist, #NYC real estate agent, #lover, #muse, member of #BK ‘s @switchnplay, soon to be #triathlete !
2. @SophiaStJames
Queer Porn Star | PSO | Director/Producer | Fierce Femme Pervert Lover of sensuality, kink, and romance |
3. @lakitalki
journalist/teacher/occasional poet/activist/muralist/organic farmer/transnational feminist
4. @miamingus
transformative justice. disability justice. queer crip gimp woman of color transracial transnational korean adoptee.
5. @brownstargirl
queer disabled femme of color writer,performer, teacher. Sri Lankan, Mangos With Chili, Sins Invalid, Allied Media Conference, Revolution Starts At Home.
6. @TransActivisty
Latina & queer trans woman. Former sex worker, survivor, activist, writer, artist, & dolphin assassin. This revolution won’t be streamed.
7. @tjjourian
Pansexual Queer Middle Eastern Transman. Social Justice Activist, Learner & Educator. Crit Theories Aficionado. Puzzle Geek. MSU Spartan in a Sea of Commodo
8. @mariartucker
sassy woman (mom) of color who loves: my H-bomb queer son, liberation thru education for the kids, and the Wolverines.
9. @kulandaybarrett
a mixed pin@y amerikan trans disabled activist, poet, performer, martial artist, educator, critical foodie, dog co-parent. info@kaybarrett.net / kaybarrett.net
10. @relaxmammal
Dreamy queer femme of color, radical lefty, art whore, doula, birth junkie, scholar, advocate, activist, pegasister. Hell in high heels.
In Your Face.
And there are an unmentionable number of others. One can see in this list the creativity that qwoc and gender nonconforming folks hone to fill us in on who they are.
Now I want to turn it over to you. What experiences have made you who you are whether through the lens of your oppressions or from the opportunities you have had? What aspects of your identity do/would you highlight or reject? How much do our external identities differ from our internal identities? What are unique Twitter Bios you have stumbled across?