twinfools

Squall holds his gun blade looking toward the camera. Rain fall around.

Squall holds his gun blade to his chest and looks at the camera. Rain falls around.

Brave the storm ⛈️

It was raining so we thought… mind as well

Photo by @echolight_photogroup

#cosplay #squall #finalfantasy #ffviii #squallleonhart

Officially closed on a new house! Moving into our first stand alone home this weekend— back to our hometown too!

I love me a good underdog story 👏🏻

Commit 🙂‍↕️

Right!? I mean why else would you go with someone 😂

Don’t go fabric shopping with me. I will point at every extremely inappropriate fabric for your costume, suggest you make your cosplay out of that, and wait for you to laugh.

Your lack of laughing will not deter me from doing this again and again.

Thank you kindly!!! It’s been a bucket list one for sure 😭

Squall holding a gun blade, facing the camera.

Squall extends his arm holding a gun blade in a fighting pose on stairs.

Squall from behind, gunblade pointed toward the ground

In like a lion 💥

Over a decade later I FINALLY re-did Squall 👏🏻 I’m just going though all the classic FF boys

Photo by @echolight_photogroup

#cosplay #squall #finalfantasy #ffviii #squallleonhart

Great reminder ☺️ thank you!!!

This next month is gonna be nuts.

Moving in a week or so, major work event to prep for, and prepping cosplays for at least one event in April… maybe one in March tbh 👀

I can do it 😤

Alhaitham (grey hair) and Kaveh (blonde hair) cosplayers pose for a selfie.

“Roommates” day out on Valentines Day 💕

#cosplay #genshin #genshinimpact #alhaitham #kaveh

Please consider donating to organizations working to support the community of Tumbler Ridge. Those dealing with such an enormous tragedy shouldn’t have to worry about anything but healing.

www.redcross.ca

One of my all time faves, mirror floor and picture frames do HEAVY lifting in cosplay photos hahah

I’m so excited to finally get to announce that I’ll be returning to Germany for aniMUC!!! 🇩🇪

I can’t wait to see ya’ll!!! 🩵🩵🩵

A significant amount of mine and @jennaoliverva.bsky.social ‘s online communication is just reels and images of things that remind us of our cats

I’m so sorry :( it really sucks they these amazing stories in games aren’t something everyone can experience in the same way

Please I just want to relax and be invincible

I’m not exactly sure who decided video games need to be hard??

Unpopular opinion(?) but I don’t think a game with an easy or “story” mode should ever put a player in a position where they’re progression locked due to a boss/level challenge.

they spilled his chocolate milk.

There are so many songs I love the SOUND of but hate the lyrics. Like fr the implications of “Drop the Girl” just suck but what a bop???

Takeaways Overall, many cosplayers find affirmation, belonging and space to express themselves through cosplay. That said, there is still a lot of work to do: 1. Just as we don’t assume people’s names, we shouldn’t assume pronouns or gender. 2. Conventions and events should have explicit policies related to trans inclusion. Trans people and topics should be represented in programming (guests, panels, staff etc). Convention facilities should ensure venues are safe for trans people. 3. Trans inclusion efforts in community must be intersectional. Racism, trans-misogyny, ableism, fat phobia and all forms of oppression must be addressed. 5. More conversations need to happen at individual and community levels to learn about the issues trans cosplayers are facing and find solutions.

Takeaways

1. We shouldn’t assume pronouns or gender.

2. Conventions and events should have explicit policies, trans representation in programming and safe venues.

3. Trans inclusion efforts in community must be intersectional.

5. More conversations need to happen.

Intersectionality Respondents noted important intersections of identity that impacted their experiences of cosplay and cosplay community. Racism compounded issues like harassment and inclusion for trans cosplayers of colour. “As a POC trans person it’s a bit harder when it comes to “acceptance” esp(ecially) on social media. I just wish people were nicer regardless”. Trans-misogyny (the specific oppression experienced was a noted theme throughout responses. Several respondents described a lack of representation of trans women in cosplay. “… As far as I’m aware there isn’t a single “big” trans women cosplayer, and that’s because biases still exist that prevent us from performing well…” Appearance-based discrimination was an issue raised by several participants. “I feel like the cosplay community only treats cosplayers who pass or are attractive well…” Cosplayers whose genders were outside the binary, and cosplayers whose genders may not be assumed, reported challenges being seen and respected.

Intersectionality

Respondents noted important intersections of identity that impacted their experiences of cosplay.

Racism compounded issues like harassment and inclusion.

Impacts of trans-misogyny was a noted theme.

Appearance-based discrimination was an issue raised by several participants.

Harassment based on gender presentation in cosplay is not uncommon… Over a quarter of cosplayers (41%) have experienced some form of harassment related to their gender. Respondents noted intensified harassment based on intersecting identities (racism, transmisogyny, fatphobia). “In my opinion, the cosplay community needs to address the rampant racism and misogyny that disproportionately impacts cis / trans WOC.” “Personally, I went from a skinny fem looking person to a plus sized man. Since I’ve grown into my body after HRT I have been ignored, treated like a creep, and been judged harshly for what I’m “allowed” to cosplay…”

Harassment based on gender presentation in cosplay is not uncommon…

Over a quarter of cosplayers (41%) have experienced some form of harassment related to their gender.

Respondents noted intensified harassment based on intersecting identities (racism, transmisogyny, fatphobia).

Conventions and events have some work to do to support trans people… Convention and event experience was more varied with 40% of respondents noting that they strongly agree/agree that cons are supportive and 34% strongly disagreeing/disagreeing. Notably, 25% of respondents were neutral. Respondents noted lack of explicit policy supporting trans people, gendered bathrooms, legal names of badges and lack of staff education as barriers. “For convention/event hosts: make sure your spaces and policies are safe for trans attendees. Some issues I’ve run into are printing legal name on con badges, not training staff on how to handle legal names/gender markers on IDs sensitively and not offering gender neutral options for restrooms/changing rooms.” Representation was another issue respondents noted, both related to panels/events for trans community and the presence of trans guests. “(What would be helpful are) educative signs like “Cosplay is not Consent”, panels and trans focused events (education, celebration). Inviting trans guests.”

Conventions and events have some work to do to support trans people…

Convention and event experience was more varied.

Respondents noted lack of policy supporting trans people, gendered bathrooms, legal names of badges,
lack of representation in programming and lack of staff education as barriers.

Cosplay contests generally support and respect trans cosplayers. 70% of respondents either strongly agreed or agreed that cosplay contests are supportive and respectful of their identity. Where negative experiences were identified, some respondents described issues like gendered categories and legal name requirements in sign up as barriers. One respondents described an experience of continued misgendering by a judge. “One experience I remember, and what made me stop competing, I made sure to mention my pronouns literally everywhere only to have one of the judges misgender me on stage. My heart fell walking to the stage.” Another respondent shared an experience where a cisgender participant’s gender was a stated reason they were awarded a prize. “(In) another competition with several trans men, one of the judges awarded his “special mention prize” to the only cis guy in the competition because “it was rare to see men who were good at sewing”.”

Cosplay contests generally support and respect trans cosplayers.

70% of respondents either strongly agreed or agreed that cosplay contests are supportive and respectful of their identity.

Negative experiences included gendered categories, legal name requirements, misgendering.

That said, misgendering is an issue… Half of cosplayers surveyed worried about misgendering in cosplay. Respondents described that making assumptions was a driver in this. “The cosplay community needs to understand that trans people, pre-everything, are STILL trans and need to stop saying “oh well you don’t like/sound/act-ect” Conflation between character and person was also a noted concern, though one respondent appreciated being addressed by their character’s pronouns. “Stop assuming gender/pronouns of cosplayers based on the gender/pronouns of the characters.”

That said, misgendering is an issue…

Half of cosplayers surveyed worried about misgendering in cosplay.

Respondents described that making assumptions was a driver in this.

Conflation between character and person was also a noted concern.

Does the cosplay community affirm the identities of trans cosplayers? Overall, yes! 73% of cosplayers either strongly agreed or agreed that the cosplay community affirms their identity. One participant reflected that the cosplay community was a place they didn’t need to worry about being affirmed. “Honestly it’s one of the places I don’t really have to worry... Out of all the communities I’ve been around over the years, cosplayers are some of the most accepting of gender fuckery that I’ve experienced.” Still some respondents noted phrases and behaviors in community that were harmful such as the term “crossplay”. “Take “crossplay” out of the lexicon. People playing with gender presentation can often feel invalidated by their gender-affirming cosplay being called “crossplay”. It feels like misgendering.”

Does the cosplay community affirm the identities of trans cosplayers?

Overall, yes! 73% of cosplayers either strongly agreed or agreed that the cosplay community affirms their identity.

Still some respondents noted phrases and behaviors in community that were harmful such as the term “crossplay”.

Ways we cosplay Most cosplayers participated in social media (87%) and conventions (97%) and unpaid content creation (51%). Less than half of trans cosplayers surveyed participated in cosplay contests (41%) however some respondents participated in related activities (non-competitive performances, cosplay contest judging).

Ways we cosplay

Most cosplayers participated in social media (87%) and conventions (97%) and unpaid content creation (51%). Less than half of trans cosplayers surveyed participated in cosplay contests (41%) however some respondents participated in related activities (performances, judging).

About the survey This survey used the word “trans” imperfectly to refer to anyone whose gender differs from their sex assigned at birth. This includes folks who are transgender, non-binary, Two-Spirit, agender, gender queer and all other gender identities that are not cisgender. The median time respondents have been cosplaying for is under 15 years. The survey heard from 338 respondents (n=338).

About the survey

This survey used the word “trans” imperfectly to refer to anyone whose gender differs from their sex assigned at birth. This includes folks who are transgender, non-binary, Two-Spirit, agender, gender queer and all other gender identities that are not cisgender.