Words: Tina Edward Gunawardhana
Photographs: @dilanibutink @tavishagunasena @youremyfavouritenyc
The world over, an increasing number of people are adopting a non binary identity. Not keen to be pinned to one secure identity, people are chosing to be both masculine and feminine. South coast resident Shan De Silva throws caution to the wind as he speaks with features editor Tina Edward Gunawardhana on his journey of identifying himself as non binary and the liberating aspect of being Gender fluid and exploring and expressing his feminine side
In a shift of tide, an increasing number of youngsters are moving beyond the idea that sexuality and gender are confirmed to only two forms: he or she. Around the world the momentum is changing with many celebrities and high profile personalities identifying themselves as neither male nor female to those who identify as both and all those in between. A large number of people are rejecting the stereotypes that identify with being assigned male or female at birth.
From fashion designers to models and actors and actresses who identify themselves as gender fluid, it would seem we are living in an unprecedented period of gender upheaval, a time when traditional expectations of what constitutes men and women are being blended, blurred, even reimagined altogether.
We witnessed gender fluidity when singers such as David Bowie and Boy George burst onto our screens. However, at that time it was termed gender bender. It is really the Gen Z that has paved the way for the ideology that gender is outmoded. The Instagram generation too has been protesting against gender boundaries and it is the fashion industry that is answering their call by going beyond the traditional realms of fashion and introducing gender fluid clothes.
Moving away from the strictures of societal expectations, in Sri Lanka the fashion industry is slowly awakening to gender fluidity with designer Amesh Wijesekera leading the pack. This year at HSBC Colombo Fashion Week all eyes were on model Shan De Silva who walked the runway with such grace, finesse, confidence and panache when he modelled a voluminous gown as Indi Yapa’s showstopper.
A model and gender activist, Shan lives in the south coast of Sri Lanka and works as a Boutique Manager at Oliveyu Studio. ‘He came out’ a while back and experienced the usual gamut of negative comments. A highly sought after model, Shan’s lissome and slender figure works as a dream for designers and it was Galle based designer Catharine Rawson who initially started using him for her fashion shoots, closely followed by Lois London. Now he appears to be the darling of all the designers.
In a country where deviants are frowned upon, Shan is bucking the trend. He sticks his two fingers up at the naysayers and critics and lives his life on his terms. A flagbearer for the LGBTQI community, Shan throws caution to the wind and bravely gives us an insight as to what life is like as a non binary person in Sri Lanka.
Is gender fluidity a fixed identification?
For me gender fluidity is about my identity so in that respect it is fixed. When I wear clothes I am saying look at what I’m wearing and how I’m wearing it and see how it makes me feel. Sometimes I may wear what is considered to be more masculine and sometimes, something more feminine, but to me it is all the same. They are all clothes. I don’t feel clothes should be gendered, or colours, or hobbies or jobs. Everybody should be able to live their life authentically without social constructs and labels.
How do you determine if you are gender fluid?
For me it is about embracing both my masculine and feminine attributes. We all have these but are taught to suppress them or that as a boy or man we should think, behave and dress in a certain way. I don’t believe that is true. I behave and dress to make myself happy and not for others.
How old were you when you awoke to your gender identity?
Growing up I didn’t really even know what this meant but I definitely knew I was different. I spent more time with the girls in my family and at school than the boys. When I was around 5 or 6, an aunt was returning from the Middle East and asked us what we wanted brought back and I ask for a gown with frills. I loved the hobbies that were meant to be for girls such as dance and fashion. Any chance I had on the internet I would watch videos of Naomi Campbell and Iman walking the runway. I loved everything they embodied.
