Belief in full acceptance of alterhuman identities, supporting differences between one another, inclusion of one another, and defying strict lines or gatekeeping between identities.
Otherpunk does not require you to be in any specific alterhuman category or label, only that you consider yourself alterhuman, or alterhuman-adjacent. Furthermore, you do not have to reject labels in order to be otherpunk. You are allowed to find labels extremely useful for yourself and still be otherpunk, so long as you are okay with those who do otherwise.
The purpose of otherpunk is primarily for solidarity between the different alterhuman groups, and rejecting the notion that different labels have vastly different, or "more valid" experiences. For many, the lines between various alterhuman identities are blurred, or within a grey area, and for others, they may still be figuring themselves out entirely. It is also inclusive of alterhuman experiences of varying degrees and walks of life.
Otherpunk also represents self identification; the labels that one uses should come from personal identification and comfort within a label, not gatekeeping or forcing into a specific box through outside parties. Otherpunk believes that alterhuman groups are ultimately each other's allies, and that solidarity between groups is important. Instead of focusing on our differences, otherpunk focuses on our similarities and our mutual efforts for acceptance and representation.
Otherpunk is all-inclusive. No alterhuman experience is a fake one, and one's experience with their alterhuman identity is for themselves alone to question or judge. Otherpunk is also accepting of those who do not use labels at all, and those who are questioning and experimenting with various labels. Furthermore, otherpunk is inclusive of lesser known alterhuman identities, such as altervexo, othervague, endel, and constelic.
Otherpunk is not to be used by those who harass, gatekeep, or force others into other identifications. Otherpunk is not inclusive of those who do any of these things, and it is not accepting of fakeclaiming or harassment in general. It is also not for ableists, or those who believe that any form of alterhumanity is "just" something else (ex: those who believe spiritual otherkin are inherently delusional rather than otherkin.)
The term otherpunk comes from various usages of "other" within the community, such as otherkin, otherlink, otherhearted, and so on. Alterpunk was originally considered a synonym for this term, however there are some issues with using "alter" as a prefix for a punk label, so I decided to settle on "other." (Furthermore, ontopunk had this same issue.)
The symbols, and the flags:
This symbol is meant to represent various alterhuman communities, and how they are interconnected together. The circle and/or diamond is used in various different symbols, such as for therian and otherhearted, and the diamond loop shows our connection and similarities.
The flags colors are as follows: Green represents "otherness", or being alterhuman/nonhuman. Blue represents solidarity between labels and experiences. Dark purple/pink represents uplifting and supporting personal identification, alongside lesser known labels. Black represents alterhuman history, and the foundations of our community.
This term, the flags, and the symbols are welcome to be used by all that identify with it, so long as you do not claim it is your own.
Do not put discourse on my post. If you do, you will be blocked. Thank you for respecting my boundaries.
