behind the name - why trans pansy?
historically, the word 'pansy' was used as a derogatory term for queer men, alongside other flower terms like 'daisy' and 'buttercup'. it was used to imply that queer men - or indeed, any man who didn't fit the traditional masculine stereotypes - were unmasculine, delicate and weak. in recent years, however, the community has reclaimed it as a term of endearment.
i personally resonated a lot with the term. throughout my transition, i've had to learn what my definition of masculinity is. i feel there is a lot of pressure on trans people to transition the 'correct' way, to align with those stereotypes in order to mesh into living a regular life. being autistic & physically disabled, the traditional gender roles are far from what i would ever want to achieve, even if i could. and so i don't aim for that. i am a creative, sensitive, and caring person, and being these things don't make me less of a man.
i used to publish all my art & creative work through just my name, but one day i was thinking about the idea of having a separate 'business' name, and trans pansy just came straight to my head. a lot of the work i make is about being trans, it's a very important part of who i am. i feel like it just made sense. i also feel like more than ever it's important to be publicly open and proud about my identity, and to be completely clear that if you are homophobic or transphobic you are in no way welcome to engage with me. i hope to be someone that people know they can be safe and accepted with, regardless of whether they are out or not.