There are a few items in the article that I’d like to address.

Firstly, I was misquoted.  I’m quoted as calling myself: “A double triple threat. Singing, dancing, acting, circus arts, and drag.”  What I actually said was: “I like to call myself a double triple threat: singing/acting/dancing; circus arts/drag/burlesque.”  Not a huge misprint—but I don’t want my fans to go around thinking I can’t do math. Two times three is not five, it’s six.  For those of you unfamiliar with the term, a “triple threat” is someone who acts, sings and dances—usually in the musical theater genre.  I like to think that the cabaret equivalent to the triple threat is doing  drag, burlesque and circus arts.  Hence, double triple threat.

Secondly, I have never in my life packed with “a black sock.”  I’m not sure what the reporter thought she saw; I was wearing black socks earlier in the day, so perhaps she saw those in the pile of discarded costumes and made a leap of logic about what was in my drawers.  So, if you are one of the many who are still wondering whether I use a soft pack or my junk is homegrown, fear not, the mystery shall not be revealed: you may go on wondering.  Just don’t imagine anybody’s socks in my drawers, please, that’s not my thing.

Lastly, I’m sure you can’t have failed to notice the use of the pronoun “she” to describe me.  This happened because the author’s editor cited “style issues” and insisted that I choose one of the “traditional” pronouns.  I chose to be called “she” because, as I told Cate, “my stage persona at the moment is a rather feminine one, and it makes sense to me that if I’m going to be squeezed into a binary that I go with the option that fits my current characters.  I also experience privilege and oppression in many of the same ways that women do, so being called “he” assigns me power that I don’t have.”  However, in the article, Cate mentions that I “acceded” to feminine pronouns without any context for that concession, and mentions that I prefer to be referred to by gender neutral pronouns without ever naming what those pronouns are.

In response to this last issue, I believe that letters to the editor are in order.  Please join me in writing to the Editor of the Boston Globe encouraging them to rethink their exclusion of gender neutral pronouns from their style guide.  At the bottom of this post you’ll find instructions on how to reach the editor.  Below is my own letter.

To the Editor of The Boston Globe:

I would like to clarify the circumstances under which I “acceded to the feminine pronoun,” as reported in “Drawing attention” (Page G18, July 9).  The author, Cate McQuaid, told me in an email that my request to be referred to by gender neutral pronouns could not be honored by the Globe because of “style” issues.  Although I cannot address issues of style, I can address issues of respect and accurate reporting.  In my community, it is respectful to refer to individuals by the names and pronouns with which they feel most comfortable.  For me, those pronouns are ze (subject pronoun) and hir (direct object).  This has nothing to do with the biology of my body, but instead with my gender expression.  As McQuaid quotes in an otherwise very good article, “I don’t come down on one side or the other.”  Thus it is not only disrespectful but also inaccurate to call me she, as she doesn’t describe my gender.

I urge you to change your stance on gender neutral pronouns.  You will not estrange any readers by explaining and using them, but you do estrange many readers (more than you might think) by forcing people to choose pronouns that do not fit them.

Best,
Johnny Blazes

To submit a letter to the editor
e-mail letter@globe.com or use their form.

Letters may be sent by regular mail to this address:

Letters to the Editor
The Boston Globe
P.O. Box 55819
Boston, MA 02205-5819

Or by fax to (617) 929-2098

Please include your full name, address, and a telephone number for confirmation purposes. Letters should be 200 words or less and are subject to condensation.

The article is flattering and speaks very eloquently about my perspective on gender and performance– and I’m impressed that a magazine that does not typically delve into the queer scene chose to spotlight me and explain some of what I do.  I was also dismayed at how my choice of pronouns was handled.  It is difficult to describe the hurt that being mis-pronouned can be, and I’m sure that many of you know this pain firsthand.  I was heartened by the immediate and vehement reaction from friends, colleagues and fans– comments on my facebook page, comments on the article page itself (thank you JT, Douce and Caitlyn!), and multiple people have told me that they are sending letters to the editor.

I wrote my own letter to the editor, which is posted below.  If you also wrote a letter to the editor and would like me to post it here, please send it to me.

To The Editor of Stuff Magazine:

I am honored to be considered a representative of the “creative masses who expand the minds and satisfy the souls of this city.”  I am blessed to create work with many extremely talented artists in this lively town, and I am grateful to Stuff for highlighting what I do—especially since the art that I create often stays somewhat culturally “underground” in queer performance spaces.

I am writing to clarify something I explained in my interview: I am not a “she.”  Perhaps this is confusing when taken with the statement “I’m female.”  The words female and male describe one’s sex: the body one is biologically born with.  The words man, woman, girl and boy describe one’s gender: one’s daily presentation, how a person feels on the inside, how one expresses oneself.  Sometimes a person’s biological sex does not match with the gender society expects them to have.  A person whose sex and gender do not “match” according to society is referred to as transgendered.  Typically, trangendered people prefer to be called by the pronouns that match their gender, rather than their sex.

I am a transgendered person whose gender does not fit into the category of either “man” or “woman.”  My friends, family, colleagues and students use the pronouns “ze” and “hir” to talk about me because neither “he” nor “she” fits me.  While I readily admit to having a female body, I do not identify as a woman, nor does the word “she” describe me or feel comfortable for me.

I am certain that no disrespect was intended by referring to me as “she”; however, not only is that appellation incorrect, it is also hurtful.  The sentence “the binary-busting Blazes, resisting restrictive gender norms even in their grammatical guises, prefers to be described with neutral pronouns” is a glorious one that does full justice to my philosophy of gender and self-expression.  However, its placement in parentheses at the end of an article that calls me “she” throughout seems to suggest that my choice of pronoun is optional—or worse still, that it is a gimmick I use as a performer.  I bust binaries all day long—not just on stage!  Existing in a liminal space between masculinity and femininity is a reality that I live every day, all day, and my choice of pronoun reflects that and empowers me by giving a small amount of definition to that place where my gender resides.  Being called “she” stings because of its incorrectness and its implication that my choice to go by “ze” is invalid.

Thank you again for your flattering spotlight.  The artistic forces of Boston are lucky to have such strong indie media dedicated to recognizing our hard work and creativity.  May the performance and print worlds continue to support each other to create an even more dynamic, vibrant city.

Best,
Johnny Blazes