Q: What does alterhumanity mean?
A: Alterhumanity is the state of having any identity which diverges from the normal human experience in a way which causes a person to feel set apart from humanity. Members of the alterhuman community may identify as not human, but it is a broad umbrella term which explicitly includes a variety of groups who may not identify with the concept of being entirely nonhuman. Alterhumanity includes the otherkin, therian, plural, and vampire communities of which I am a member, and also a wide range of other experiences which I feel less qualified to discuss.

Q: What does otherkin mean?
A: Otherkin are people who identify in some non-physical way as something other than human. There are many possible reasons for this, ranging from psychological factors to reincarnation.

Q: What does therian mean?
A: Therianthropy is often considered to be a sub group of otherkin. A therian is someone who identifies (in a non-physical context) as an animal. Where the otherkin label more broadly encompasses non-human entities with supernatural or human-like traits, therians generally identify as more “conventional” animals, which may be species that exist in our physical reality, or sometimes fictional/mythological creatures which do not possess human intelligence.

Q: What is species dysphoria? / How does this relate to gender dysphoria?
A: Dysphoria is a profound sense of unease or dissatisfaction. It is the antonym of euphoria, and not necessarily limited to conditions of the body at all. One can experience dysphoria about any aspect of life. The word is simply most commonly used in the context of gender dysphoria. Species dysphoria is a profound dissatisfaction with having a human body. The term is not in any way derived from gender dysphoria or the terminology of the transgender community, but as someone who experiences both gender dysphoria and species dysphoria, the two are similar experiences. Both are medically significant, and commonly treated by body modification and lifestyle changes.

Q: What does plural/system/multiple mean?
A: All of these are terms for any time one body houses more than one personality. There are a variety of reasons systems come into being. Some are “traumagenic,” resulting from a need to cope with a specific traumatic experience. Some systems are “endogenic,” coming about without an external traumatic incident, through a variety of means. Being a system should not be conflated with dissociative identity disorder (multiple personality disorder is an archaic term which is no longer used). The diagnosis of DID only applies when a system is dysfunctional and being a system causes distress or interferes with one’s ability to function. When a system is functional, it’s considered to be within the range of normal ways to exist in the world.

Q: Do you sacrifice animals?
A: No. Neither my personal practice nor my church’s rituals involve animal sacrifice. Ritual animal sacrifice mostly occurs in the context of cultures and traditions which are raising and slaughtering animals for food, ritualizing slaughter that was already going to occur for practical reasons. I vehemently defend those who do practice animal sacrifice, which is ethically the same as eating meat in general, especially because animals intended for sacrifice are usually treated better than the meat industry treats animals.

Q: Is otherkin/alterhumanity a Tiktok/Tumblr thing?
A: No. The term alterhumanity as an umbrella term is fairly recent, but is composed of several much older communities. The terms otherkin and therian date back to the 80s/90s and come from online forums of that era, but trace their history to a group known as the Silver Elves, which had a printed newsletter and correspondence system dating back to the 1970s. The concepts around which these communities are based are quite literally prehistoric. People who identify as something other than conventionally human have always existed. For a more detailed history I recommend Orion Scribner’s Otherkin Timeline.

Q: Why do people use these (alterhumanity) labels?
A: All forms of alterhumanity can profoundly affect one’s internal sense of self and identity. Being otherkin and a system is as important to my identity as being queer and pagan. Being unable to express one’s authentic self is deeply psychologically damaging.

Q: How does alterhumanity relate to your spirituality?
A: I am a Hellenic pagan, a follower of the Greek gods. I am also a kakodaimon, a Hellenic spirit of the Underworld. Service to Hekate is central to both my spiritual practice, and my identity as otherkin. I am and have always been one of her dragons. Hellenismos is my cultural heritage as a Greek woman, but it’s also deeply tied to my alterhumanity.

Q: Why should I care about this (alterhumanity)?
A: There’s a strong possibility you care about someone who is a part of the alterhuman community. It’s also likely you do not know about it. Being open about alterhumanity often subjects people to ridicule, so it’s common to hide this aspect of our identities, which can be very damaging. In our current political climate, it can even be dangerous to be known as part of the alterhuman community. Conservative politicians have begun targeting and legislating against us. The more people understand alterhumanity, and the more it is normalized, the safer and healthier members of the community are. Educating yourself about these topics might be life changing for someone close to you.