Fluid

Fluid refers to the various identity aspects that change over time including sexual orientation, romantic orientation, gender identity, and/or gender expression. For example, someone changing sexual orientation one day, and gender identity a month later, then back again, forward again, and so on. Fluid also refers to changes within a dimension of self over time. For example, someone's gender expression may be masculine and feminine in various proportions with these proportions changing over time. Fluid can be seen as a destination and/or transitory space.

Etymology

The term "fluid" originates from the Latin word fluidus meaning "flowing".

History

The term fluid has historically been used interchangeably with the terms "sexual fluidity" which refers to a person with fluidity in sexual orientation but in recent times has been used to refer to fluidity in more than one aspect of changing identity, including but not limited to sexual orientation, romantic orientation, gender identity, and/or gender expression.

Flag

The fluid flag was created in July 2021 by Shannon Novak, an activist, artist, and curator from New Zealand who identifies as fluid. The flag was created as part of an exhibition exploring the challenges and triumphs of LGBTQI+ communities in Tauranga, New Zealand and flown in Tauranga CBD.

The flag includes two horizontal stripes; aquamarine on top and orange on the bottom. There is a wave form in the centre of the flag representing the fluidity of these two colours between each other.

Distinction

Terms exist that refer to the fluidity of a changing aspect such as genderfluid which refers to gender identity changing over time. Some individuals opt to use multiple terms to describe fluidity for example, "I identify as abrosexual and genderfluid" whilst some use the term fluid to cover multiple terms for example, "I identify as fluid".