iiinova — where your digital self keeps evolving

Briar Calanthe @briar.gay · 09/10/2026

Texts that make me, a butch lesbian lock in; when your bisexual bestie of twenty years asks about carabiners.

Chat bubble of “As a butch lesbian can you tell me where to buy carabiners”

Briar Calanthe @briar.gay · 04/10/2026

Today’s fit was called out by a friend as “Briar, only you could turn middle aged lady poncho into teen tomboy” and I see the vision and take the compliment 🥰

Selfie of a fit that’s somehow both middle aged lady and teenage tomboy; rocking a pink and white tartan poncho

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Briar Calanthe @briar.gay · 01/10/2026

Turns out, all I really needed to pick up my week was going to the queer line dancing in a hot pink tartan skirt

Mirror selfie showing off a tartan fit in black and pink

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Briar Calanthe @briar.gay · 17/09/2026

Intimidated, and disappointed but in the way that “_girl_, you gotta get your own _expectations_ for how you want your life to go; store bought stock standard is not okay and you know it” would hit her hard.

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Briar Calanthe @briar.gay · 12/09/2026

🌱: "So I'm worried this outfit just reads as just dude and no one will know I'm a butch lesbian, what do you think?" 👩🏻‍🦳: " ... Briar, you're literally wearing a heart carabiner on a chain necklace" 🌱: "Yeah, and ..." 🤦🏼‍♀️: « friend facepalms »

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Briar Calanthe @briar.gay · 04/08/2026

Sometimes I feel like my life is a “trans woman in tech or tech bro” quiz. Like tonight’s dinner after boxing class is primarily bone broth, from a GitHub mug.

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Briar Calanthe @briar.gay · 20/07/2026

Ya girl finally got around to it (read; got the correct dosage of her adhd meds) and setup her email, bluesky handle and a new website as @briar.gay at briar.gay cause I'm briar and I'm pretty gay as in a butch lesbian.

briar.gay in a trans flag gradient cause it's my website and it's my name and i'm pretty gay.

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Briar Calanthe @briar.gay · 19/07/2026

Love my early Sunday morning cardio circuits class and sporty queer brunch. This morning our instructor had a banger of a quote; “the transition 🏳️‍⚧️ is part of it” referring to rest breaks between exercises, as I (trans fem) and my trans masc workout buddy swapped weights

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Briar Calanthe @briar.gay · 15/07/2026

So, all the gals are going feral for a Motoko PFP on discord, but have y’all considered like I have being the brunette pouting that her lesbian vacation was cut short?

Brunette anime girl pouting that her lesbian vacation scene was cut short, from Ghost in the Shell 2026, second episode

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Briar Calanthe @briar.gay · 01/07/2026

Show me a picture that captures your essence

Briar spinning in her skirt in the park, as artfully shot in black and white by her internationally award winning nature photographer acquaintance

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Briar Calanthe @briar.gay · 15/06/2026

Assigned Misato Katsuragi after transition. 🤔 Maybe I should get a cropped red leather jacket

90% Misato then 65% Kaworu, Rei and Ritsuko on the Neon Genesis Evangleion Personality Test

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Briar Calanthe @briar.gay · 13/06/2026

Thank you from this trans gal to everyone who rallied around the motu in Aotearoa against the government's proposed anti-trans legislation. I tend to be a blubbering crying mess at trans focused protest rallies, so I deeply appreciate when fellow trans folk and allies stand up for us

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Briar Calanthe @briar.gay · 09/06/2026

Was paired with another butch trans gal my height at my regular queer 🥊 boxing fitness class, and we went all out on a new routine with all the elbow, knee and duck extras added in and absolutely smashed it. Feeling damned good after that class 💪

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Briar Calanthe @briar.gay · 08/06/2026

A girl I have a crush on said “It’s hot when your girlfriend can lift you” over the weekend while we were helping a friend move. So I texted my personal trainer that, yeah my goal is functional strength and agility but now lifting a woman is part of my idea of what that means.

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Briar Calanthe @briar.gay · 01/06/2026

Why did you transition? Right answers only. There’s several overlapping correct answers to this. The final push came from going to a Pride ”Queers and Wares” market in 2021, feeling like I belonged; and then friends bumping into me and gifting me a set of stickers, cause “it could be your vibe”

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Briar Calanthe @briar.gay · 22/05/2026

Fawn was literally on my first draft list of chosen names. If I was socialised into anything, it was literally the fawn response. One of the reasons I’m not Fawn, I am Briar is that I wanted to imply that I have edges; I have thorns and if you grab me we will both come away hurt in the process.

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Briar Calanthe @briar.gay · 20/05/2026

This fit has got me an entire train carriage to myself off peak as I head late into work. The kind of person who has Winston’s gold card stood up and moved as I stepped onto the train Good, I don’t want your bigotry in my presence either today I am writing poetry and spitting fire 🔥

From head to toe she is powerful.
Black face mask, sleeveless flannel vest, leather jacket round her forearms highlighting her biceps, black A-Frame skirt, and 3-inch leather converse heels

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Briar Calanthe @briar.gay · 20/05/2026

Anyone got any recommendations for black face masks (pref KF94 styles) that ship and/or in stock in New Zealand? I’m about to wind down my stash; I have other face masks but still like to do a little fashion matching when on public transport.

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Briar Calanthe @briar.gay · 20/05/2026

As much as this government in its cowardice tries to isolate and scapegoat girls like me, Tonight I texted my friends I could use some company and instantly my ladies wrapped themselves around me in love, care and solidarity I read excerpts of books on trans joy and poetry on my friends couch

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Briar Calanthe @briar.gay · 19/05/2026

New bio cause my last one was a little bit LinkedIn and she’s entering her no fucks given poster era ~~~ She’s defending champion “good girls division” 💪 arm wrestling at lesbian camp They also top the talent show with faer poetry. For her day job, she’s in tech in software quality.

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Briar Calanthe @briar.gay · 19/05/2026

I’ve been doing some poetry readings in local irl queer spaces, During pronoun circles I’ve been “Hi, I’m Briar; she/they/fae/faer” With a bit of a voice drop growl on faer; all like, did she say fear or fair? I straight up love that for me.

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Briar Calanthe @briar.gay · 19/05/2026

What’s your sandpaper grit level these days? This trans butch is about an 80 grit; I’m great for preparing new wood or metal for painting, but hold back my abrasiveness in public so I’m not stripping paint everywhere I go.

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Reposted by Briar Calanthe

Phobia @phobia.bsky.social · 19/05/2026

Speaking at least a a butch trans woman, there is no community where you are immune to being seen like that

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Briar Calanthe @briar.gay · 19/05/2026

Trans girls with glasses

She’s on a train, wearing a hat that says “friend of blahaj”, round glasses, a curve of a smile you can see in her cheeks, a denim dress and a trans flag tartan tie in an elderege knot.

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Briar Calanthe @briar.gay · 19/05/2026

I reckon I’ve found my baddie butch selfie angle 💪

She’s flexing in the mirror, the camera angle is looking up longingly. The fit is a muscle flannel shirt cut sleeveless, the better to show off her arms.

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Briar Calanthe @briar.gay · 17/05/2026

I rock up to the ”Briarwoods” as Briar, but it starts a 200-post intercede discourse thread about whether briar first names can ”Briar Wood” or we gotta full send the double-breasted ”Briar Briarwood”

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Briar Calanthe @briar.gay · 17/05/2026

When I look in the mirror, I smile for me

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Briar Calanthe @briar.gay · 16/05/2026

Had a lovely day at queer markets on Karangahape Road, and got this 🔥 flannel fit that I then ✂️ cut to be sleeveless cause ya girls got arms 💪. I honestly kinda cannot with how much I am smiling in this photo.

I think this is honestly the most smile that’s ever broken out in my face

Selfie wearing a fire red sleeveless flannel top

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Briar Calanthe @briar.gay · 16/05/2026

On a lovely little queer errand day to some markets, so I had to make a pilgrimage stop in at the cuddle puddle of blahaj in ikea before picking up some BRATTBY totes (of course “brattby” is also my type of girl)

Selfie with a cuddle puddle of blahaj in ikea. Ya girl is wearing a mask cause safety first this southern hemisphere winter y’all

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Briar Calanthe @briar.gay · 13/05/2026

Today’s warm and cozy fit bought to you by @silkehartung.bsky.social ‘s cat ear beanie and a jacket from tattys on high street.

Selfie wearing a cat ear beanie, light blue jacket, denim dress and a goofy smile

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Briar Calanthe @briar.gay · 04/05/2026

It's my one year HRT anniversary today! 🏳️‍⚧️ Last year, I was so afraid of taking selfies the only photo I have is of my first prescription box of estrogen patches. This year I did a selfie photo shoot of flexing 💪 in the mirror such that I had to pick my favourite photos. Damn I love being me.

Girl flexing in the mirror. She's wearing a blue crop top, showing her whole midrift and developing core.
She's wearing black pants and shoes, and the whole aesthetic screams that she lifts.
Her arms are highlighted, which is wild because pre-transition she hated her arms and shoulders.
Behind her, are unpacked bags from the FLINTA* camp she was at last weekend.

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Briar Calanthe @briar.gay · 28/04/2026

I read a poem for a talent show at "bush camp" - a weekend getaway for lesbians / FLINTA* girls. The poetry reading involves a bit of a flex 💪 so here's the scene setting. If you're a mutual who'd like to see the whole reading, slide into my DMs.

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Briar Calanthe @briar.gay · 19/04/2026

My selfie game just gets better and better when the queer gym class goes for the purple bisexual lighting.

Trans girl takes a photo in the mirror (complementary). She’s on the up side of “do I want to date her or be her” because she is her.

The gym is lit with purple bisexual lighting and she is fit.

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Briar Calanthe @briar.gay · 17/04/2026

If you see this quote with a pic of you in glasses

My fit here is very rainbow, with my green chunky boxy glasses that made a bit more sense when I had different name and gender. A rainbow mask sits atop a rainbow Lego necklace then my hoodie says “an accessible world is a better world” which you guessed it, also a rainbow.

This was during pride month, and a lady on the bus asked me if I was gay; like yeah nah lady I’m the most ally you’ve ever seen (the answer is lesbian)

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Briar Calanthe @briar.gay · 17/04/2026

Trans gals first bangs. I’ve had them for like an hour, hence the work bathroom selfie

Bathroom selfie. I’ve got bangs and I’m feeling great about them because I’ve had them for all of an hour. Over my shoulder is a caution sign that is mirrored but it says “slippery when wet” which I dunno why that’s important but I feel that it is

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Briar Calanthe @briar.gay · 16/04/2026

This fit topped the group chat poll for what’s going to be my queerest night out this month … so far.

My fit in purple and tartan yellow, described as slay and iconic by group chat. I am stancing it up, one leg up on a stool in three inch heels, looking at the camera like I know this is fire.

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Briar Calanthe @briar.gay · 15/04/2026

When you match your 💅 with your work subtly flagging mechanical keyboard ⌨️ (Keychron Alice layout)

I’ve matched my nails, manicured with a shiny purple and gold ombré with my purple and gold Alice layout mechanical keyboard

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Briar Calanthe @briar.gay · 14/04/2026

Sometimes “water is wet” research is good too cause then you get something to point at in circles where “business confidence” is fact and anything else, even fact by the department of statistics is feelings

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Briar Calanthe @briar.gay · 14/04/2026

This yakitori bar has muted wu-tang clan on the TV and Japanese jazz playing which is really fuxking with my head

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Briar Calanthe @briar.gay · 14/04/2026

I got a good “grade” in being trans 🏳️‍⚧️ from my doctor today ”Briar, it's wonderful to see how well you're progressing after nearly a year on hormone therapy. Your mental health is much more stable now, and the physical changes are going well.” Can I get some “good girl”s in chat? 👉👈

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Briar Calanthe @briar.gay · 11/04/2026

That feeling when, the first line of "What can you do if the weather forecast terrifies you?" is "This story is a republished version from February 2026." ...

rnz.co.nz

What can you do if the weather forecast terrifies you

Explainer - When emergencies hit, how do you cope with weather stress and anxiety?

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Briar Calanthe @briar.gay · 22/03/2026

The Vietnamese restaurant up the road from my apartment finally gave me the right level of chilli - 🌶️🌶️🌶️ 😭 - tears and adding an apricot and chilli chutney I have at home _to make it milder_

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Briar Calanthe @briar.gay · 15/02/2026

Sometimes you’re at big gay out to see friends, and sometimes you’re there to ask the queer staff from your bank what paperwork they need for a name change cause you changed yours via the transgender pathway and your new birth certificate does not show your prior name as per the BMDRR amendment 2021

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Briar Calanthe @briar.gay · 05/02/2026

I watched Chappell Roan from the bleaches at laneway, so every so often my view was interrupted by a taller girl bending down to kiss her shorter girlfriend. Perfect, no notes, as intended. Shout out to every queer girl in tamaki makaurau who asked me last year if I was going. Happy Pride 🏳️‍🌈

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Briar Calanthe @briar.gay · 05/02/2026

Ah, the joy of trying to find acquaintances at a music festival; they dropped a pin and it’s like, oh we’re right on top of them? “I have pink hair”, reader they were right behind us the whole time.

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Briar Calanthe @briar.gay · 22/01/2026

There was a closeted girl in 1989 who loved being called a “tomboy” and hated being corrected that she was “just a boy”. She tried to convince her parents to change her name to “tom” so she could in fact be a tom boy. They laughed. It took her 31 more years to come out. It shouldn’t take so long.

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Briar Calanthe @briar.gay · 12/12/2025

Third fit of the December social season. This fit is for the work long lunch, with the theme of “Come as amazing you”. I didn’t really wear ties before transitioning; now I have a bunch of different pride ties like this trans tartan one, and find that ties accent dresses with collars very well.

Mirror selfie. I’m wearing a blue denim dress with a pink linen shirt and a tie that has a tartan pattern in trans flag colours. I’m also wearing heels.

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Briar Calanthe @briar.gay · 10/12/2025

Second fit of the December social season. This is for a pottery class with colleagues, and took a while to assemble cause “older clothes you wouldn’t mind getting clay on” is a hard brief in a year 🏳️‍⚧️ transition deeply changed my wardrobe.

Mirror selfie. Im wearing double denim with a sleeveless vest and a white denim skirt. The lighting highlights my arms 💪

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Briar Calanthe @briar.gay · 05/12/2025

First fit of the December social season, for the market day at the d*list a local disability culture org - thedlist.co.nz The hoodie is from their merch collection, with the sleeves cut off and reads “An accessible world is a better world 🌈”

I’m flexing my right arm, in a sleeveless hoodie, rainbow tartan skirt and converse heels. She’s smiling

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Reposted by Briar Calanthe

Cassie @cassiemph.bsky.social · 28/11/2025

Y’ALL. PATHA RELEASED THE NEW GENDER AFFIRMING CARE GUIDELINES. THE ONES THE GOVT SUPPRESSED GET IN IT patha.nz/resources-an...

patha.nz

Clinical Guidelines | Professional Association for Transgender Health Aotearoa Inc. (PATHA)

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