My Experience Being on the Cover of Nat Geo's Gender Issue

[@ElleXY]

Yay, Intersex REPRESENT! I also agree about the generation of our "grandkids." Hopefully these terms that described non-CIS gender people are normalized and everyone is equally loved.

[@rilee5275]

I'm so glad National Geographic utilized their platform to educate others about the nonbinary gender of gender and sex. I do wish the cover included a person with a visible disability.

[@rilee5275]

I just saw that you acknowledged the disability community should be represented in the magazine. As a blind person who is passionate about disability rights, I appreciate your consideration of the disability community.

[@Vioioioio]

Rilee 2genders

[@TheZakHill]

I wish the person on the cover labeled just "male" would have been labeled "cis male" and that would work to deconstruct the normalization of cisgender (and the othering of trans folks). That definition of intersex in the print version is WACK !! Smh Love ya Pidgeon! Thank you for educating folks and just being amazing!💕

[@darkanser]

I had to educate myself to what cis-gender even meant when I first heard it perhaps within the past 3 years. Why would a person labeled "female" be any more appropriate? Would the label binary male work for you? Male or female are no less gender labels simply because intersex non-binary, trans- etc has become part of our vocabulary.

[@ddddaaaa7995]

You have such sweet voice. It's like magic

[@rachelk8422]

So appreciate your channel. You challenge our social construction of what gender is and what we think we know by expanding and challenging what we think we know and allowing us to better understand others on a deep level. And this is coming from a women's and gender studies major but I have realized even my almost 40 y.o.a. who leans waaaay left still has to change my learned opinions/thoughts and work on transforming my own ignorant views. Did that make since? All that to say, THANK YOU for sharing your story and being a change agent in the world, making it better by just being you. I look forward to more videos from you. Thank you Pidgeon!

[@pbjsilverstudio4882]

Yes, just normalized that no one gives it a second thought. I am a cisgender woman in her 60’s and I’m so glad KZbin tossed one of your three earlier videos in my feed because I watched it and I found you to be so incredibly articulate, even with the tongue twisters you were trying to say, hahaha! You are intelligent and seem to have such good intentions with your videos. I plan to watch all of them. I have several trans friends, both close to my age and young people and I love them all as much as my cis friends and my lgb&t friends. We are all human beings who just want to be happy and feel loved. Thank you for putting your videos out there and for educating people who don’t understand.

[@Bimtavdesign]

Prosecco is Italian dry sparkling wine AND IT'S AWESOME

[@pidgepagonis]

Bimtav design ty! and it's so yummy!

[@andiehernandez1995]

I'm glad you're back on KZbin and I'm also glad about the intersex representation in the magazine. I haven't read it yet. I'll read the online version ;)

[@vagrantastronaut]

I really resound with what you said about the ethnocentricity that you noted about the articles written about gender. Good of you to raise awareness on how people should be mindful of the perspective of the writer(s) and to be more critical about the information they might read even in a reputable magazine!

[@Michimichelada]

I'm so glad your had this opportunity! I agree with your critique of the article, it could have had different ideas & perspectives. Btw I love your voice, it's so relaxing 😌

[@lfaruqi]

Thanks for being an activist and please continue posting videos. I'm going to get my copy of this issue tomorrow. I think it's a big step forward for gender topics to be given an entire issue on a global magazine and that's the only reason I'm getting a copy. Nat Geo has gone down the drain since its ownership changed. On a different note, I like your glasses!

[@SonicFrequency]

First off, CONGRATULATIONS! Hopefully, this will be a learning experience for NatGeo as well. I'm so excited for you! I'll have to go get a copy. Good on you for still being real about the situation.

[@pidgepagonis]

Simran Realness Revolution thanks foe all your continued support and encouragement Simran!

[@SonicFrequency]

Pidgeon Love you Pidgeon!

[@lfaruqi]

Forgot to say, congrats on being featured in the magazine and I'm glad that it was overall a positive experience for you.

[@sheanoa]

One thing I really appreciate about you is your calm, even tone. It makes me feel safe and secure, and it allows me to focus on your words and really take them in and think for myself about what you're saying and how I can apply that to my own life. Thank you for your work. I really really really really look up to you, as a non-binary teenager.

[@frogmouth]

Males in my Biology classes in the 1970s were seen as modified females. If a person is insensitive to androgen when they are born they look female. They behave like little girls and often their not fully female status comes to light because periods don' t come when expected. If viewed from this POV the cover shows diversions from the human female template! So it will include a regular male. ( disclaimer: not a serious argument, just a passing thought)

[@allgarfieldsarebeautiful5792]

There are 0 dislikes and I'm happy

[@allgarfieldsarebeautiful5792]

Aw, thank you

[@FormigaFit]

Pancakemachine 3000 9

I love the way you balance good parts and problematic parts. I think it is a very good thing that happened. Not a perfect one, but anyway. The future is bright :D :D :D

[@t-shades7148]

I'm really happy for you! Sucks about the articles. I haven't read them yet, but I'll keep your critique in mind

[@BalHatase]

Congratulations for your participation! You are doing a great job for the whole humanity!

[@TiffanyGrey]

what a cool experience! great analysis as well :)

[@dreg9001]

you're back! I missed you! I feel like this issue is almost a step forward and step back, calling it a gender revolution is silly since we've been around since forever lol. but I guess we can call this issue a start! I'm so excited to pick this up!

[@pidgepagonis]

Thanks boo ... and I agree! for-ev-er!

[@nevaehsangel9620]

Thank you for speaking out and being so blunt and real ! I've learned so much about this subject,that I never knew ! You do a beautiful job of explaining it all. Please keep speaking on this and being a voice for all HUMANS !💗💗💗 I hate the way we humans are so hateful and scared of people being different. It's time to stop the hate !

[@SkyeID]

This Nat Geo article reminds me of how important it is for intersex, trans and nonbinary POC folx to keep telling our stories because mainstream media still can't get past this cis white America-centered idea about sex and gender. Our voices need to be heard in order to really educate people and challenge people to rethink everything they've been taught about identity

[@shenneadixon]

Random* You're glasses look like a filter lol. So perfect!!

[@wellygirl07]

Thanks for making this video. Kia Kaha. Let me know when you're coming to New Zealand!! Kisses

[@creid2843]

You're fantastic! Thank you so much for everything you share

[@pidgepagonis]

Thanks boo :)

[@Joe1You]

Great comments! Yes, "You guys killed it!"

[@monicajarquin4030]

You're back!!! That was so awesome that you got to be on the cover of Nat Geo!! So this was for the December issue?

[@pidgepagonis]

Monica Jarquin I believe it's a january issue :) www.nationalgeographic.com/magazine/2017/01/

[@monicajarquin4030]

Pidgeon, thanks! I'll keep my eye out for it then! Love what you're doing! Wishing you a great new year! 😉🎊

[@pidgepagonis]

Monica Jarquin it's on newsstands now :)

[@lamonica429]

i love watching your videos and getting educated..keep up the good work

[@kittiehoward9708]

Pigeon you are one of the most inspirational people on the planet and make so many people happy and brighten my day and, are the most amazing person ever !

[@benw9949]

There have also been lots of Nat Geo covers with modern and ancient ethnic groups, fossils, all sorts of good stuff. Totally not unusual for them to feature folks on the cover who are not as well known by the public, in order to educate people and spark curiosity and interest, and maybe understanding. Nat Geo has done some beautiful covers with people and cultural sites, in fact. -- I'm surprised and happy that they'd have a cover with intersex folks. Even in my college freshman biology survey course, they didn't really get into much about what could happen with sexual development in the womb or during puberty, because there was so much to cover about all of biology in general. That there are intersex folks helped me understand trans and other LGBT folks. Since there are biological, genetic, biochemical factors that go into people being intersex, then it seems likely there are also similar factors that go into making people LGBT that we just don't understand well enough yet.

[@EWARO87]

Didn't know it was you!! And I have the spanish edition of the issue. Nice!!

[@puddincup1242]

Nice, made it on to the cover🤙 and I think you're right about a lot of the things that are in this issue of nat geo.....

[@inactiveaccount2486]

Where is the 'Love' button? Thank you so much for sharing your experience and breaking down the components of this issue.

[@charachoppel3116]

Saw some of your youtube-videos yesterday. Though we have no sound on our computer.

[@sheilajames9349]

Hi Pidgeon, I have had a thyroidactomy so I know how it feels to be weird. I came to find out that it was cancer but any how it was really messing up my body chemistry. I was a in tomboy but know a grandma of 17. So keep up the good work

[@benw9949]

Pidgeon -- what issue of Nat Geo is that? Coming way late to this, your video popped into my feed recommendations today, four years later. Thanks!

[@livinggratefully5778]

I read this magazine when we got it in the mail. I really didn't like the articles, especially the ones conveying male genital cutting as a "rite of passage" but FGM as this horrible atrocity, when both involve old traditions cutting the (most of the time unconsenting) genitals of underage children.

[@80085pen15]

That's awesome that they reached out to you. Do you think they discovered you through KZbin?

[@pidgepagonis]

No, because I didn't have the channel up yet. I think it was through other media outlets though :)

[@cooperolm9687]

Now I know why you are familiar! I was pleasantly surprised by how respectful this issue of nat geo was surrounding gender. I'm trans so I was pretty concerned when it arrived in the mail.

[@cooperolm9687]

The cis man just being labeled "male" as opposed to "cis male" was a bit of a problem but I didn't take it as being anything malicious, just a small mistake made out of ignorance.

[@andyfriederichsen]

I sexually identify as an AR-15 assault rifle.

[@cooperolm9687]

Andy F. You don't sexually identify as a gender, that doesn't make any sense. Gender and sexuality are wildly different things. Also, nonexistent gender? I'm male and last time I checked those have existed for a while.

[@andyfriederichsen]

Heck do you have a penis and testicles? Because if you lack male reproductive organs and have a viagina that means you are a female.

[@TheAnykah]

Reporting in from Germany: They put a headshot of Andreja Pejic on our issue (because blonde, thin, young and conventionally beautiful ladies sell magazines $$$) and the title reads "An issue all about Gender - Must we think men and women anew?". Your group shot (big group) and the "Gender Revolution" story (same title) starts at page 22. Now for the intersex definition they used for German speaking readers in the glossary: "Intersexuality: Happens when genetic, genital, reproductive or hormonal predispositions result in a body that cannot be categorised as unambigiously male or female." What's your opinion on this? (Also Pidgeon, you have such a beautiful speaking voice, just saying)

[@pidgepagonis]

Anykah Jankovic that is very interesting that they did that! Were they trying to possibly portray an androgynous person perhaps? Also, I really like that definition for intersex!

[@TheAnykah]

Pidgeon I'm glad you like the definition, because German media can write pretty badly about inter topics. Tbh, first I thought they were just going for a "hot lady" picture on the cover, but judging by how they describe it themselves, I now think they were probably going for the old "omg this beautiful woman was once a man can you believe it"-trope (their words, not mine). Maybe it's both. You can see the cover here, on the right: www.nationalgeographic.de/aktuelles/meldungen/warum-es-die-gender-ausgabe-gibt

[@andyfriederichsen]

An organism that has both male and female reproductive organs is called a hermaphrodite.

[@anonymousanonymous-cy6ut]

I love your story. I am pretty traditional in most respects. That said, I really do enjoy your story and I think it is pretty horrific what you went through as a child -- I am so sorry about what you had to go through. But! I wouldn't get too hung up on the word "normal" -- it simply means typical and since most people are either this or that, that's, by definition, just "typical." It's just a matter of numbers. Not that your number doesn't count -- it most certainly does!!! :) I guess I am saying, I don't think it was meant to be disrespectful. I suppose, if they had truly wanted to be inclusive of "everyone," they should have included a woman who was neither transgender, androgynous, nor intersex. That's probably all anyone meant! Keep up the good work educating people. You have definitely opened my eyes!

[@eypu999]

You mean cis women right?

[@sarahnicole45]

This New Yorker supports and loves you! You're so damn good looking and HELLA valid !!!

[@thebalance6869]

You're awesome Pidgeon!!!

[@Noname15283]

Happy for u !!! Congrats

[@KWatsonMUSIC]

Ugh I straight up agree with everything you said in this video!!!

[@NotABushFan1]

Thanks, as a trans woman at 74 from Texas and the dislike for the LGBT I wish I could do more to help both intersex and transgender.

[@daretodream8757]

I love your videos ! Keep it up :)

[@truthbetold1086]

You are brilliant! And you are right we as Americans need to wake up and realize what is happening in our own backyards before we go and try to “help” aka change our neighbors.

[@kellyryan2629]

You are awesome ! Here's to you !

[@eyerum27]

Where is her accent from?! It’s so chill

[@eypu999]

Their *

[@deetee609]

I like your glasses!

[@jamesandchante]

LOL, you only saw animals on the cover. I've seen people on it occasionally too. :)

[@dondawn25]

You're super cool, you know why? Because you're full of humility and grace. ❤️ God use you in mighty way, Pigeon as His will.

[@pidgepagonis]

God got jokes

[@pidgepagonis]

God got jokes

[@julese3881]

Pigeon! i noticed you have paintings of Frida Khalo on your wall and i was wondering if you are Mexican? (not that the pantings have anything to do with that, just curious because i am mexican myself :) )

[@pidgepagonis]

Si! Soy Mexicanx y Griegx.

[@julese3881]

Pidgeon yay! saludos desde Yucatan :) me encantan tus videos, te encontré hace poco viendo un video de emily

[@pidgepagonis]

Saludos a chicago. Me gusta el Yucatan mucho! Estoy feliz de que me encontraste :D

[@thefilipinojoe]

Great video. You're awesome.

[@intersexjames4413]

I can't believe they didn't bother to interview actual intersex people, who could have told them non-disordered language.

[@maneshmandappa5694]

Pidgeon..Because of you I came to Know What is Intersex..still no people have idea about this in India..may be a tiny bit of people or may be not..

[@Talno971]

Why are we not already friends?

[@nataliepelz7932]

Pigeon has so much charisma

[@Nour-mx3uu]

I really wish they put Cis male and not just male

[@eypu999]

True

[@happybergner9832]

I still have this issue❤️🌹👍🙏

[@charisdlr1602]

TELL EM PIGEON!!!!! EDUCATE THE MASSES!!

[@aestheticnitwit]

the fact that they put male rather than cismale seems...counterproductive? If not flatout transphobic.

[@bmorena]

don't judge a book by its cover.

[@loveandro6074]

But you know what they mean when they say "normal female," right? The people who are using these terms are not as educated on the language (like, cis female) so that is ignorance, but you can infer what they are trying to say. It's rather presumptive that they are intentionally implying that they're transphobic and "anti-woman."

[@yian95954]

Tbh, sometimes I will mistaken you as Stacy Fatemi, like this video's pic. (Sorry lol😅 )

[@DR-wf6eb]

Thank you so much for this video.

[@sairahotz753]

yay congrats on those huge achievement ❤💚💙💜💛👆

[@nariko47]

Nice!!

[@daniblondo3189]

deberías venir a mexico

[@mzvibe2232]

we are animals too Pigeon! HumANIMALS!!

[@xtheCorvusx]

I was also really excited when I saw the cover and was really looking forward to buy it but when I read it I was kind of disappointed by the white-centred, colonialistic Western view But still, at least they made a magazin on the topic, so that's something...?

[@pidgepagonis]

Corvus coloratus I had the same feeling

[@urban7rat]

Awwh come on, you only argued semantics. Just change it to cis. The point was that a cis-male for to be there but not a cis-female.

[@andyfriederichsen]

urban7rat I thought it was about gender, not sexuality.

[@urban7rat]

what???

[@sophielee2885]

urban7rat it was the controversy about there being only a cis male and not a cis female but they adressed there being a fuller spectrum IN the magazine

[@jamesandchante]

There should have been at least one cis-gender woman on it too, in my opinion.

[@andyfriederichsen]

Did BuzzFeed take over NatGeo or something?! Because if so, then they have crossed the line.