ambident:

ambident:

this is an introduction to the identity “ambident.”

ambident

is an identity that covers people who view their sexuality, gender, and/or related experiences* as one singular experience or identity rather than individual, or view them as so inextricably tied that they are better represented under one identifier.

this can be used in

conjunction

with or as a

substitute

for “queer.”

this can cover a wide multitude of people and experiences, including but not limited to intersex transgender people (who feel the two things are linked,) lesbians who use butch/femme as gender identities, or people who cannot find labels for their gender/sexuality/etc. but are aware they are tied.

there are no real stipulations to this identity other than it cannot apply to perisex cishet people. the only thing someone needs to claim this identity is to feel as though their labels may not succinctly describe their experience as individual, unrelated identities, or simply desire a single word to cover related experiences as a unified one.

*related experiences such as being intersex or polyamorous.

flag meaning:

each part of the flag has meaning and was specifically chosen.

the dark pink stripe represents attraction to female, female adjacent, or demi-female people.

the light pink stripe represents female, female adjacent, or demi-female genders.

the dark purple stripe represents attraction to nonbinary people.

the light purple stripe represents nonbinary genders.

the orange stripe represents multiplicity in gender, sexuality, expression, or experience.

the yellow stripe represents nonconformity in gender, sexuality, expression, or experience.

the dark blue stripe represents attraction to male, male adjacent, or demi-male people.

the light blue stripe represents  male, male adjacent, or demi-male genders.

the dark green stripe represents people without or partially without gender.

the light green stripe represents people without or partially without attraction.

the white stripes represent both the fluidity of any or all of these things, and /or the unity between them.

this flag was not designed as representation of all the experiences of a single ambident person, but rather any experience an ambident person might have so that every ambident person is represented by at least one color.

why this identity is necessary:

because I know the reaction to new identities is so often “why does anyone need this?” I thought I would address it before it even comes up.

there is no existing term for this specific experience. anyone who could fit under the identity ”ambident” could just use the identity “queer,” but “queer” does not specify the link between sexuality and gender, and it can be used by people who do not experience this link. additionally, not all people are comfortable using the word “queer.”

there is a specific need to express an identity that is outside the bounds of, or is more complicated than, existing identities. I know some people are going to suggest that the way we experience gender/sexuality does not need to be an identity and that we should use only pre-existing terms, but for many people that is not possible. 

there are people who will find use for this term who do not fit entirely or at all under existing identities.

this is also an identity that rejects specific labeling and categorization and can exist as a form of rejection of societal norms and expectations, of policing, and of exclusion, and does not carry the controversy of the word “queer” to do so. 

I felt a personal need for this word myself, which is the reason I created it. I put a lot of thought and care into the details of it, because I know I’m not the only one who needs it. I needed a specific word to explain how I’m not just a person who experiences fluidity in my gender, multiplicity in my attraction, noncomformity in my relationship preferences, practices, and expression/appearance; and how all of those things were inextricably tied so that without one, I’m not sure how I would exist or function.

I have used words like “bisexual,” “genderfluid,” “genderqueer,” “aromantic,” and “polyamorous,” but all of those things can be experienced individually, and none of my experiences can be. none of my experiences can be separated or simplified into any one of those labels either. every one of them has informed the others, and it’s not as simple as intersectionalism either.

the way I experience my gender affects how I experience my attraction, and vice versa, and the way I experience my attraction affects my preferences for relationship types and practices. this is a singular experience, and I do not experience gender, sexuality, or etc. as unrelated and/or individual experiences.

I know I need this term to accurately identify and express my experiences and true self, and I know I won’t be the only one. in short, there is no reason at all to not have this term.

– ab