Hi guys! When I was designing the logo, I sincerely didn't know about this symbol and it was honestly just a coincidence that the symbol in the logo and the intersex* symbol are the same!
In the comic, I touch on many queer situations, mental health and disabilities, however, none of it is related to intersex people experiences, and now I'm worried that I've been unknowingly making fun of it or being offensive by having made my logo this way :(
Do you think it's wiser to change the logo? Aw man, I'm just so disappointed in myself, I'm really sorry
////Edit* Someone here informed me that the term intersex is better than hermaphrodite, so I changed the terms! Sorry for my ignorance! (˘･_･˘)
i also found this, which could work, especially with the concept of "double" since it'd be like double has two O's [this is the image i found but i assume you wouldn't draw them as hearts since it's supposed to be the letter O].
just another suggestion, anyways. do whatever you think works best for your story!
You could also slightly curve the bottom of the second heart and open the top while curving it down slightly to make the vague shape of a U although that might be a bit of a stretch lul
Alternatively, you could try a layout where you have the male and female symbols individually and possibly slightly overlapping, except I’m not sure if that really solves anything or adds to the confusion…
i would probably expect a story with an intersex character if i saw that logo tbh! i don’t think it’s offensive, as you didn’t know and had no bad intent.
no, no worries at all! don’t feel bad or at fault, especially since you are actively asking for input and changing the logo! (which i think the styling and colors are super cute btw)
also, here are some symbols that have been used in the bisexual community if that’s what you’re looking for :D
k but it IS a symbol for intersex people which is why it would be confusing to use it for something what has nothing to do with intersex identity and doesn't include intersex characters..
not that it's offensive to not know something but it would be wise to change it to better reflect what the comic is about
Intersex people still hear it frustratingly often. It's an outdated dehumanizing term, not to mention inaccurate, it's only used scientifically to describe certain animal species but not humans.
Using it to describe a species of fish would be alright, but not humans. Hermaphroditism in animals is not the same as intersex in humans. There is a wide variety of intersex conditions that have different effects and manifestations, meanwhile hermaphroditism in animals is how the entire species sex functions inherently.
It made me think that the story line was either a mc with a male and female crush or it was like a bl/yuri? Didn’t even think of intersex characters? Idk why people are getting confused?
I mean, yes, that would probably be best, as I would have been very confused here too tbh ^^"
If you touch on queer themes and topics, it will discredit your experience of knowledge within these spaces if you use a symbol related to intersex individuals while having no intersex individuals in your story at all. While it may be a coincidence, you should change it both for your and the reader's sake now that you do and probably make sure that if you write out of the zone that you have reliant knowledge on (e.g. being a straight male writer writing about lesbians, being a cis-person writing about trans characters, etc. ...) that it is important to inform yourself and potentially have a sensitivity reader familiar with the topic!!
Also, just a well-meant hint: You should probably also be careful with the emojis in your replies to the original poster. I know you are a person and meant well and felt guilty, but as you were unaffected and not harmed by pointing this out, it may seem "unserious" at points when talking about something that may have affected this reader personally negatively.
I know it's not entirely logical, but we unfortunately all know how toxic online discourse has gotten and how things may be interpreted differently. Having a concise and elaborate response is probably better than mixing it up with personal emotions / representing emotions. It is of course up to interpretation a lot, but I've unfortunately had my fair share of online miscommunication in that regard :')
Need to mention: None of this is intended to be rude or accusatory, it is just very late for me and I'm a bit out of batteries lol.
That symbol gets used pretty widely for things besides referencing intersex conditions, but I would caution not to use it with purple and yellow, as those are the colors on the intersex flag and get used pretty widely, it would make it more likely to be noticed by someone who knew about intersex conditions. But all in all theres nothing wrong with using it.
I personally don't think you need to change it, it's whatever. If people genuinely get upset about it that's weird as hell. If it really bothers you though you could maybe move one of the signs to another letter? Won't look as good but oh well.
I just immediately assumed it was probably about a bisexual person and unless you’re really tapped into that sort of thing I don’t think your average person would assume intersex. Might be for the best to change it though.
I would change it, both bc its clear people are confused and, considering the name (idk what the story is about) it could be implying a character is intersex as thats how many perisex people view being intersex as having both genitalia and that thats the gimmick or main point of the story. That OR you can find a way to incorporate it into the story so its on purpose.? I remember noticing a theme occurring in some stories I write that worked with what was in the story so I just kinda worked it in, kind of like when someone improvs a scene and the rest of the cast and crew roll with it
I really don't think it's a big deal, I've also read trans themed manga and webtoons with this logo and similar. it's just a combination of the mars and venus symbols. Anyone who yells at you for this just wants something to be mad about.
The term hermaphrodite though is pretty offensive :p
Probably change it just to avoid confusion and upset for people looking for an intersex comic. You could make the circles into an infinity symbol ♾️, or nest one inside the other
Untrue, it's rare but people with both sets of genitalia, fully functional, have been documented. That said, this symbol is most often used to mean trans, the intersex symbol is a purple circle on a yellow field.
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u/Letteropener52 3h ago
I don't think it's offensive, but I do think it could cause confusion, so it might be better to change it.