She feels the pressure to conform to society’s predetermined status of “F”
He feels the overwhelming isolation of being the hidden status of “M”
The dial on the radio is supposed to play sapphic tunes of Fletcher
Sometimes, the dial has other plans to hear the euphoric Shawn Mendes
So, the dial lingers somewhere along the middle to the tune of Amandla Stenberg
An outfit shouldn’t hold the power to disagree with the dial’s current setting
Pastel colors and flowery ribbons can clash with rugged camo and short undercuts
They can throw the entire radio off balance and ignite it into flames
Occasionally, they can make the most synchronous mash-up on the station
Societal conventions can push the dial to binary poles in black and white vision
Emotional perceptions can fight for the grey middle ground of blissful comfort
This war rages on within public places, sports teams, and public policies
Words carry infection from those in power to the ignorant to the throats of the powerless
A system of woven archaic values causes individuals to conform against themselves
Institutions fight to keep the dial on the “appropriately determined” initial setting
People were never made to be rigid and one with the collective
Individuals were made to run on their own ever-flexible spectrum
To those who see themselves in both Timothée Chalamet and Kristen Stewart:
Your dial is not broken
Fluctuation or nonconformity makes you an individual
Your stereo system plays perfect euphoric music
If you’re in a safe place, you can decide to be seen