Video essayist Kat Blaque just released an informative Instagram slideshow about “Demuregate,” the online debate surrounding who started the trend of “demure,” a celebration of petiteness, delicateness, and femininity in trans people of color.

Her first few posts summarize what exactly has been happening. TikTok star Jools Lebron released a video talking about her “inner monologue, where she reveals the steps she takes to always remain ‘demure and mindful,” says Blaque. Blaque details how Lebron had a polite beat, meant to be ironic.

@joolieannie

#fyp #demure

♬ original sound – Jools Lebron

According to Blaque, people began uploading their own videos on the trend, mirroring wording that Lebron used in describing herself. Everyone was talking about being “demure,” she said—nurses, educators, military men, even members of the Kamala Harris Presidential campaign.

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However, some people began to debate the origins of the topic, says Blaque. The trend’s originator was recently revealed to be Trey Seleyna, a trans woman of color who also posts on TikTok. In a now deleted post, Seleyna showed that she used the phrase “petite and demure” years before Lebron did—a usage that was devoid of any irony.

Blaque then says, “There’s an ongoing debate about how frequently things created by Black and brown folks that are unique to them have been taken, twisted, erased, and universalized.” She then goes on to reflect on the relationship between race, gender, and how transfeminine people of color often utilize these terms.

The rest of her post is an insightful overview into the relationship of “demurity” to the movie Paris is Burning, along with some additional insights into her thoughts on the matter, which are especially thought provoking and powerful. INTO won’t spoil you on the rest of what Blaque says. Instead, go read and share her post!

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