KarMel Scholarship 2004

“Please Check M or F”

By Christina Roark, CA

Description of Submission: “A poem that I wrote in response to those horriable gender bianary boxes, and to my school seperating the colors you wear at graduation by biological gender.” – Christina

Its just a box

check F or M

there is no in between

its either one or the other extreme

and it seems so easy

unless

you’re me.

And what if you don’t have a gender

what if you cant check a box?

And WHY does it really matter.

And I don’t care if you’re confused

since when did I matter to you

or did you only notice when I didn’t fit in?

To blue or pink

or black and gold

who do colors really matter

I earned my credits like everyone else

so why do I have to sanction myself

and act like something Im not?

And why does my check have to fit in a box

Im not a machine that runs smooth like a clock

I have feelings

emotions

a heart that beats and lungs that breathe

and I still breathe the same air no matter what box I check

what bubble I fill

wether I was once a little boy

or once a little girl

so I’m sorry

but I cant

answer

your question

or rather I WONT answer your

question

because from 12 years of school I’ve learned writing and math

but nothing can compare to finding my own path

and becoming

my own person.

And on that path there are no boxes

and I don’t fit nicely like packaged food

because after all I’ve learned

Im NOT in the mood

for your transphobic inquisition.

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