imported>Flautistfox at 18:42, 8 December 2025

2025-12-08T18:42:54Z

New page

{{Cleanup|reason=imported article}}
{{ContentWarning|topic=mentions of terms that have been used as slurs}}
[[File:Altersex pride flag.png|thumb|220x220px|The altersex flag]]
[[File:Altersexsymbol.png|thumb|220x220px|The altersex symbol]]
'''Altersex''' is a [[Umbrella Term|catch-all]] adjective to describe primary and secondary physical [[sex]] characteristics or a combination of that do not align with typical arrangements.<ref name=":0">https://web.archive.org/web/20220130121558/https://web.archive.org/web/20200203031455/https://www.weasyl.com/journal/90896#cid210281</ref>

The term is largely intended to describe fictional characters that have a mix of physical sex characteristics, but this usage is not exclusive.<ref name=":0" />

Definitions of altersex have been developed and re-clarified to include individuals who have an internalised view of their desired altersex body or identity, rather than just individuals who physically have said altersex body. This also includes those who experience [[dysphoria]] due to a disconnect with their current body sex, and those who experience [[Genital Euphoria|euphoria]] when considering themselves to be altersex.<ref name=":1">https://www.reddit.com/r/altersex/comments/unmlco/welcome/</ref><ref name=":2">https://pride-color-schemes.tumblr.com/post/161266440525/altersex</ref>

This definition is often considered especially imperative in advocating the respect for altersex individuals who desire an impossible arrangement of sexual characteristics. Said individuals do not have the option to undergo the desired hormonal therapy or surgical procedures, since said practices are not currently possible, but these individuals are still considered altersex by the developed definition due to their internalised view of oneself.<ref name=":2" />

Altersex is also defined as any of the sexes (not individuals themselves) that are neither [[intersex]] nor [[perisex]] (sexes with typical [[binary]] [[male]] or binary [[female]] characteristics).<ref name=":1" /> This specification would mean that conditions such as [[Androgen Resistance|androgen resistance]] would not fall under the altersex umbrella. However an intersex individual may still describe themselves as altersex if they have or desire a differing variation of physical sexual characteristics.<ref name=":2" />

Some examples of altersex bodies include:
*having both a penis and a clitoris;
*having a penis but no testicles;
*having breasts, a penis, testicles, and vulva;
*having a penis that resembles that of an animal's penis;
*having alien-like/fantasy/mechanical genitalia instead of typical human genitalia;
*having no sexual characteristics at all.<ref name=":0" />
The term was created as being entirely separate from intersex, [[sexual orientation]], and [[gender]] concepts.<ref name=":0" />

Various altersex [[Microlabel|microlabels]] have been created by the queer community to define specific arrangements of sexual characteristics, such as [[angenital]] (lacking any form of genitalia).
== History ==
The concept of altersex was originally coined as demisex on the 23rd of July, 2015 by forum Weasyl user SpottyJaguar.<ref name=":3">https://web.archive.org/web/20220127033646/https://ask-pride-color-schemes.tumblr.com/post/184001186579/hey-im-just-clarifying-that-i-didnt-coin</ref> Altersex was recommended as an alternative name by user farorenightclaw, due to the lexical similarity of demisex with the [[orientation]] [[w:c:orientation:demisexual|demisexual]], as well as the meaning of the prefix ''demi'' (''half'') being an inaccurate descriptor.<ref name=":0" /><ref>https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/demi-</ref> SpottyJaguar initially defined altersex as:<blockquote>...a catch-all term consisting of ''alter'', meant here as "different" or "another possibility," and ''sex'', referring to physiological primary and secondary sex characteristics. Alterssx<sup>[sic]</sup> is meant to be used largely, but not exclusively, for fictional characters, describing body plans that are a mix of things, rather than the usually-found configurations.<ref name=":0" /></blockquote>It was created as a category for non-standard "body plans", including fantastical, imaginary, or physiologically impossible designs. The term was coined to provide additional terminology for fictional characters to establish more effective and direct methods of describing them and their traits, including characters that did not [[transition]] to having their specified anatomy due to always having been altersex. Though it was not explicitly intended for usage by real-world individuals, its applications for [[Wikipedia:Otherkin|otherkin]], [[Sexfluid|sex-fluid]], and other atypical sex minorities were considered equally appropriate. It was also designed to decrease the usage of [[Transphobia|transphobic]] and [[Intersexism|intersexist]] slurs and sexually objectifying terminology (such as [[hermaphrodite]], [[cuntboy]], [[D*ckgirl|dickgirl]], etc.) that were especially present in art created in online spaces at the time.<ref name=":0" />

Some community members expressed concern that the ''altersex'' term was merely a re-branding of transphobia and intersexism, and that a new term being created as an alternative to slurs would not resolve the unaddressed fetishization of individuals with atypical sexual characteristics.<ref name=":0" />

The definition of altersex was later expanded on by pastelroswell, this definition being published by pride-color-schemes on the 31st of May, 2017.<ref name=":3" /><ref name=":2" />
==Etymology==
The English prefix ''alter'' means "to become different" and "to change the form or structure of".<ref>[[wiktionary:alter#English]]</ref> Other alternative name suggestions include:<ref name=":0" />
*amplisex ([[Wiktionary:ample|ample]] - abundant or bountiful)
*hedosex (a sexualised term, ''[[Wikipedia:wikt:Hedone|hēdonē]]'' - pleasure)
*[[phantasex]] (fantasy - impossible body plans, [[Wiktionary:phantasy|phantasy]] or [[Wiktionary:phantasm|phantasm]] - having no physical reality)
*iridisex ([[Wiktionary:iridescence|iridescence]] - a rainbow and its queer connotations)
*liberasex ([[Wiktionary:libera|libera]] - freedom)
*metasex ([[Wiktionary:meta-|meta]] - above, beyond)
*peransex ([[Wikipedia:wikt:πέρα|πέρᾱ]] - across, beyond)
*polysex ([[Wiktionary:poly|poly]] - many sexes, not to be confused with the sexual orientation [https://new.lgbtqia.wiki/wiki/Polysexual polysexual])
*pulchrisex ([[Wiktionary:pulcher|pulcher]] - beautiful)
*bisex or binisex ([[Wiktionary:bi-|bi]] - two, not to be confused with the sexual orientation [https://new.lgbtqia.wiki/wiki/Bisexual bisexual])
*duasex or duosex ([[Wiktionary:duo-|duo]] - two, alternative to bisex)
*trisex ([[Wiktionary:tri-|tri]] - three)
*mutisexual ([[Wiktionary:muto|muto]] - to represent personal desires changing, to alter or change)

== Flags ==
The altersex flag was created by pastelmemer and published by Tumblr blog pride-color-schemes on the 31st of May, 2017. The mint green stripe represents specific altersex identities (such as angenital and [[salmacian]]), the green hue representing abundance of possibly body types, and the growth of those who physically transition into their true bodies. The blue stripe represents fluid physical sexual characteristics. The white stripe and triangle represents transcendence, as well as bodies that lack any physical sexual characteristics. The purple stripe represents the alternative non-traditional nature of altersex bodies. The pink represents physical sexual characteristics in general.<ref name=":2" />

The altersex symbol was created on the 16th of November, 2022 by Reddit user Intelligent-Ad6222.<ref>https://archive.is/UzVvP</ref>

== See Also ==
* [[Aldernic]]
* [[Transsexual]]
* [[Altergender]]
* [[Enbysex]]
* [[Salmacian]]
* [https://mogai.miraheze.org/wiki/Altersex Altersex on MOGAI Wiki]
* [https://mogai-genders.fandom.com/wiki/Altersex Altersex on Mogai Genders Wiki]
* [https://lgbtqia.mywikis.wiki/wiki/Altersex Altersex on lgbtqia+ wiki]

== Resources ==
<references />
{{LgbtqiaWikI}}

Altersex - Revision history

imported>Flautistfox at 18:42, 8 December 2025