Paraboy – What is it? What does it mean?

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Written by Edward Reese
Last updated Dec 19, 2025 3 min read

Similar concepts

Paragender – A broader category that incorporates the paraboy gender. References those whose identity splits up between a dominant gender and a secondary gender.

Paragirl – The female equivalent of paraboy. The main gender of these individuals is female, but they also identify, to a lesser extent, with another gender or combination of genders.

Demiboy – Someone who identifies as male but also claims another gender or combination of genders as part of their identity. Differs from the paraboy definition in the sense that it does not claim one of the genders to be more dominant than the other.

Agender – References the complete absence of gender. If a paraboy person also identifies as agender, it means they mostly label themselves as male but also have a genderless component to their personality.

Paraboyflux – Represents a fluctuation or variation in the way the gender inclinations are felt – an exchange between which gender is primary and which gender is secondary over time.

History & Flags

The wording was first recorded in use by Tumblr user queerspike in 2014, but it is rumored to have been created before.

As for the flag, it is credited to Tumblr blog Pridearchive, where it was posted shortly after the term was coined.

Paraboy flagParaboy flag

The main blue line in the middle stands for masculinity, white represents neutrality or lack of gender, grey is for partiality, and the pink/purple tones are meant to symbolize closeness to the male gender.

How to Know If You’re Paraboy

If curiosity has led you here, could this be the right label for you? If you feel that two or more genders compete for influence over your personality, but the masculine impulses are stronger, then the answer might be yes!

In case that you don’t fully identify with the definition, that’s fine, too. There are many other gender classifications similar to this one but potentially more accurate at describing how you would define your gender identity.

However it may be, remember that it is important to accept change and be comfortable with not having found a label for yourself.

Alternate paraboy flag without symbolAlternate paraboy flag without symbol

An alternate paraboy flagAn alternate paraboy flag

Alternate paraboy flag by dreamcoresysAlternate paraboy flag by dreamcoresys

Alternative paraboy flag by vianAlternative paraboy flag by vian

Alternate paraboy flag by strwbryfemmeAlternate paraboy flag by strwbryfemme

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Author
Edward Reese

Edward has worked in LGBTIQ+ NGOs since 2019, took part in various international trans* conferences and created a series of lectures about queer theory and nonbinary identities for beginners. He’s a prominent LGBTIQ Tiktok educational blogger, awarded as a Best Queer Blogger in 2021. In 2023 he took part in the UN Trans Advocacy Week as part of TGEU delegation, and was one of the authors of the speech in the interactive dialog with Independent Expert on SOGI Victor Madrigal Borlos. Later that year he was one of the World Innovators in Human Rights Campaign Summit.