When you look a little androgynous, or just don’t buy into looking like a rich, standard man or woman, people don’t quite know what to make of you.
A person who looked like he was in his twenties called out to me and my friend as we walked through a city park.
“Excuse me, ladies, are you registered to vote?”
We broke off our conversation that he had interrupted to give him the look.
We were both transmasculine, non-binary people, and didn't much appreciate being called “ladies.” We were wearing some combination of t shirts, pants, and sweaters. But, you know, strangers are going to think we're women.
I was ready to move on, but this guy calls out (get this) “Oh, sorry, you must be too young to vote! My bad.”
He sounded serious. I couldn't believe it.
You can vote starting at age 18 in the US…
I was in my early thirties. My friend was close to my age.
I didn't know what to say so I just kept walking. A minute later we burst out laughing. “Can you believe that guy? What?”
