feminiello
1. an ethnically Neapolitan-Italian (person who's ancestors or they themselves are from Naples, Italy) who may have been born with a male body; but presents themselves somewhere on the spectrum between trans woman, straight cross-dresser, drag queen and/or androgynous.
2. a 3rd gender in the ancient classical world who would originally be devout male priests of a sercret cult, until they would castrate themselves on what is now the catholic holiday of Candlemas, to honour their goddess Cybele- living the rest of their lives as women. These resilient & effervescent queer/trans/non-binary people somewhat disappeared after the Romans converted to Christianity & even now are blending more into international ideals of LGBRQ+ people, but they flourished during the medieval & renaissance epoque in Naples.
2. a 3rd gender in the ancient classical world who would originally be devout male priests of a sercret cult, until they would castrate themselves on what is now the catholic holiday of Candlemas, to honour their goddess Cybele- living the rest of their lives as women. These resilient & effervescent queer/trans/non-binary people somewhat disappeared after the Romans converted to Christianity & even now are blending more into international ideals of LGBRQ+ people, but they flourished during the medieval & renaissance epoque in Naples.
1. The feminiello danced the traditional tamurriata dance with ribbons in her hand, as is tradition at the shrive of the Black Madonna of Montevergine.
2. Look at that person! Their thesis in gender studies was about this 3rd gender classification of people called... feminielli or something?
2. Look at that person! Their thesis in gender studies was about this 3rd gender classification of people called... feminielli or something?
feminiello by Toto Bravissimo March 9, 2022
