A personal update. I shared this to our TikTok organization over the weekend and wanted to bring visibility here as well. So what’s in a name? Hi @All- a few of you have noticed that I have updated my personal pronouns both on lark and across socials so I wanted to share here with you all on why now and why it matters for me. As most of you know I take a lot of lessons from being a parent. Often my kids provide me with an ability for self reflection through their questions and own exploration of ideas. I am pansexual and raising my kids in a same sex household with my loving spouse and partner of 20 years - as a family we spend a lot of time talking about the importance of recognizing diversity across sexual orientation, race, ethnicity, gender, age, socio-economic status, personal abilities, political backgrounds etc. And how, seeing and embracing differences, and enabling all voices to be heard, fosters a more inclusive community, the kind we aspire for our kids to grow up in. Most recently our conversation has focused on gender identity. In my personal life, I primarily go by V and more recently they/them. Since representation matters, I recognize the importance of language in identifying and affirming gender differences. As a parent I also want to set an example on how it is ok to represent yourself in a way that you most identify with and to have pride and to celebrate such difference. In my position I am also aware of how I have an ability to bring greater visibility, discussion and ideally acceptance within my community whether among work, family or friends. This is important to me. So while most of you know me as being fairly private as it relates to my personal life I did feel it important to bring my whole self to work and to share my gender identity and preferred pronouns. And through my actions show that difference is accepted and welcomed at TikTok. For those that know the C3 building you’ll know the mural I commissioned “Come as you are” on the 3rd floor. Words to reflect our goal of inclusivity. So how to best address me? I use both they/them and she/her as I still very much value my identity as being both a woman and non-binary. I don’t worry if you don’t use V or they/them all the time, but I do appreciate the effort to recognize my preferences. Thank you. --- Feb 9th Update: I want to thank everyone who's reached out to show their support & share their own stories. In particular I want to recognize those of you who are not afforded the same freedoms. I have now heard from many individuals whose lives would be threatened if they were to be out in their home country, or those who’ve had to relocate to other countries to be out, and from parents who are raising their non binary or queer children and wanting to provide a safe environment for them to be themselves. Your stories matter, you matter and you are ultimately why I felt it important to represent and share my own identity more broadly.
Thank you for sharing this V(anessa) - true leadership!!! 👏🏽👏🏽👏🏽
love you
There's research going into gender and all variations based on both nature (genes) and nurture (environment) will be sorted out soon. With that this topic is still overrepresented and boring. Most people simply don't care about how you identify even though they are openly progressive and agree that people shouldn't be discriminated against for sexuality or gender. This topic is supposed to be about respect but it always transforms into a selfish discussion of an individuals struggles with their personal feelings of anxiety and 'perceptions' of social acceptance; it's your responsibility to take care of yourself and manage how you feel. I say these things because as a masculine straight man of color, I've found that many people who push these conversations have either sexually harassed me or attacked me (verbally, politically, and even technologically) while victimizing themselves and I'm tired of it. Please stop talking about this topic altogether because it's wasting everyone's time. If you want to help then talk about ways to put politics, money, and power into the hands of my people, the Mohecan people; Native Americans. We accepted ppl under these categories and we are the majority! Until then all I hear is neocolonization
My name is Càzé Thomas, I am an inventor. One of my invention is called The Collection Plate. It's a social network where each user's have 12 profile each. On the main profile, their is 6-8 place where users can be invited, or request to be live video and/or audio broadcasting guest, all guest and visitors can comment and interact in any language in the texting chatbox by typing or speak, and choose to have all dialog transcripted in real time. The main feature is the big screen where users can watch special premieres, movies, sports or whatever together through media streaming, they can also use the big screen as a whiteboard, or Play games together, and user's can also create their own radio stations, and participate in my platforms nft financial exchange where groups of people win every game. My platform also has day trading. I created this in 2021 for a private Social networking social club that specializes in safe social networking for users of all age. My platform can also be used in AR, VR, XR, Digital, hologramic/holographic, and physical reality. A significant portion of my subscriptions is meant for help families find the loved ones who've been abducted and endangered from terrific human sex trafficking.
For my first vehicle for on road use is called the HaloRide which has the technology to prevent people from being kidnapped. The car won't start if all living beings are not identified and have permissions. Through the scanning of a identification code and biometrics using a scanner, sensors, and cameras embedded on the outside of the car, and inside, and the plates are computerized and specifically designed for the vehicle they are mounted to. Tampering will disable the vehicle until saftey procedures are taken. This invention, was created by me as an asset to the Augmented Reality social network I invented.
Thanks
Most of my inventions are geared toward the safety of children, who are the most vulnerable in AR social networking. I applied for a patent in February 2021, for an ecosystem I created called HaloNation, i included a financial system that will also help to end homelessness, with the help of a currency I created that is invincible and a financial hardware that can only be use with biometrics, and automatic coupon ingredients and discounts for whatever items products or services you may buy, with search for them. They are automatically applied to your transaction. Long story short, I created this invention to help people who are socially deprived. My devices were compromised so I had to disclose many of my inventions as prior art, before and after filing. After I filed my first application with the USPTO, Zuckerberg came out with a video that contained many of my inventions... and the list kept growing and other big companies did the same... including Tiktok with the multi-guest feature. I have at least 50 post on Facebook proving my prior art from February last year to present, along with all of my patents including the ones for my ecosystem. I'm hoping to resolve this out of court. My email is Thomasinelectric@yahoo.com. .
Thank you😊
V(anessa)- THANK YOU, V! For your leadership, for sharing your story and sharing your beautiful family, and for your vulnerability & strength. This is the best example of embodying the social change in the world you are building. You’re amazing and appreciate you sharing too on behalf of those who aren’t privileged or safe enough to do so. This takes guts and deep love and appreciation for who you are and your journey ♥️
Leading the Remote Work Revolution👩💻Board Member/Advisor🌱[in]structor🦉Keynote Speaker🎤Founder📗Professor💚Digital Nomad Families
6mo💚