LP Poglitsch (they/them/theirs)

LP Poglitsch (they/them/theirs)


Meet LP (they/them/theirs) a nonbinary, transgender queer who has been pushing gender boundaries through clothing in order to live as their true authentic self. As an LGBTQ+ Influencer they share personal stories that touch upon gender identity, sexuality, fashion and their journey through life.

 

LP standing on the stairs in a suit with their wife who is in a white dress LP wearing a button down, vest and bow tie with Dash of Pride MX cufflinks  LP with their wife standing in front of a blue background - both are wearing white Dash of Pride LOVE ALL teesLP dressed in a suit, vest, bow tie standing in a hall leaning with their had on the wall

 

 

Question 1: When we first connected I was immediately drawn to your style.  When you did decide to start pushing the boundaries on gender and really develop your style?

Pushing the boundaries on gender and developing my style has been a long process. When I was younger, I did not care much about fashion. I would throw on what was easiest - most likely a pair of jeans, a t-shirt, and some tennis shoes. About halfway through high school, this started to shift. I started to feel pressure to conform to what girls my age were wearing. This is when I started to dress feminine and wear makeup. I started receiving a lot of compliments and felt good about that. I kept up conforming to society’s expectations for a few years and then slowly started to shift back more into a “tomboy style” in college. My outfits were commonly skinny jeans, a v-neck tee, hightops, and maybe a snapback. I felt good, more comfortable, and more “me”. During this time is when I came out as gay (this identity has since shifted). This tomboy style stuck with me through grad school and started to shift more into a masculine style. 


Once I obtained my first job after grad school, I was faced with a tough question. What was my professional attire going to be? After reflecting on that, I realized that I wanted to delve more into “menswear” attire. I found that I felt more comfortable and confident in “menswear”. It confirmed my sense of self. On my first day of work, I was scared to show up with a tie on, but at the same time, I felt so empowered. This is what sparked my dapper style evolution. From there, I just kept exploring “menswear” and figuring out my personal style. At the beginning of the journey, I was worried about what people might think. It was hard to push against societal expectations. Throughout my journey, I received push back and comments about how I am too pretty to dress that way (in reference to a more masculine look). As someone who used to care a lot about what other people thought of me, it made it hard to push against and figure out my own style, but I am so glad that I did and I am proud of where I am now. Nowadays I feel great challenging gender norms and pushing back on societal expectations, especially in regard to fashion. My style continues to evolve and I am excited about my continued journey. One thing that I have noticed is during the past few years as I developed a more masculine of center wardrobe and identity, I completely moved away from anything that was deemed “feminine”. That is what I needed at the time for me to figure myself out and be comfortable with my style. During the past year, I have found myself more open to branching out. It has been fun to add in crop tops, nail polish, shorter shorts, and other things that society deems “feminine”. Clothes and accessories have no gender, and I have become comfortable enough to wear whatever I feel comfortable in. 

 

Question 2: That would lead me to my next question - when did you first come out?  When you were first coming out how did you identify?


Similar to my style evolution, coming out has been a journey and process as well. As a non-binary person, I feel like I am constantly coming out. I first came out during my undergrad, I think I was 21 years old. At that time I identified as female and I came out as gay. I no longer identify as female or gay though. Around 2016 is when I started realizing that I am non-binary and that I identify as queer. Between then and now, I slowly changed my name and pronouns within my job(s), family, and friend circles. The first time I was able to do so professionally was when I was working the front desk at a hotel. There were two of us who went by my old name. Because it was important for guests to be able to tell us apart, it gave me a chance to go by LP full time. It offered a natural shift and it made me feel more confident going by my chosen name. Coming out feels like a continual process for me. Every time I share my pronouns or correct a misgendering, I am coming out. Sometimes it feels tiring and sometimes empowering.

 

Question 3: On your instagram you say that you are non-binary, but I have seen you also identify as transgender.  How has your gender identity evolved? What do these two gender identities mean to you? 


I identify as both non-binary and transgender. Non-binary falls underneath the trans umbrella and both are identities that I embrace. I identify as transgender because I do not identify with the gender I was assigned at birth. I identify as non-binary because I am not a man or a woman. I firmly feel like I am both in the middle and that I embrace qualities from each of the “binaries”. As I said earlier, I did not start identifying as non-binary until about 5 years ago. It was a process though, not an immediate shift. Slowly I started to use a new name and eventually new pronouns. These gender identities that I hold mean so much to me. It has been such a journey filled with ups and downs and I am proud of my tenacity and openness to figure out who I truly am. I am proud to be non-binary and transgender. While there are hard moments sometimes, trans joy is real! I feel more “me” than ever, and I am excited to see what is next on my self-discovery journey.

 

Question 4: As you have grown, how has your family taken everything?  Have you been supported?


Through my coming out processes and gender transition, I have experienced both struggle and immense supportiveness. When I first came out during undergrad, my parents were not supportive. I was worried this would be the case due to their catholic and conservative views. We went through a few tumultuous years, but eventually, they came around. They were very supportive of our wedding and my mom has even gotten very involved with LGBT ministry within the Catholic churches that she attends/attended. While they don’t quite understand my non-binary/transgender identity, they are trying to and I know that they love me. My siblings have all shown support throughout my coming out and my friends have as well. At this point, my family has shifted to referring to me as LP and they are shifting to using they/them pronouns. It has been hard for some of my family to adjust, but I know and see that they are trying. While there are slip-ups, I know that it will get easier for them and I will continue to have grace for folks that are willing to put in the effort to learn and try. My wife has and continues to show tremendous support and I know that she wants the best for me, whatever that means for my journey.

 

Question 5: We are a company that supports LGBTQ+ weddings so we have to dive in here a little bit.  When you married your wife how did you identify?  


When we got married, I identified as non-binary and queer. My wife identified as (and still does) a queer, femme woman. I 100% knew that I wanted to wear a 3 piece suit for my wedding attire. Every piece that I picked out for my look had meaning. My wedding look consisted of shiny dress shoes (I’m a Leo, so I like to shine a little), socks with cats on them (I have 4 cats),  a dark green suit (green is my favorite color), blue boxer briefs (something blue), A polka dot bow tie (which matched my brother’s polka dot bow ties), and my grandfather’s pocket watch. I felt incredible and am so glad that I listened to myself about what I wanted to wear and how I wanted to look. Even though I know there were folks who always envisioned that I would walk down the aisle in a dress, that is just not me.

 

Question 6: When planning for your wedding was it important to have professionals who were either LGBTQ+ friendly or a part of the community?  Did you face any discrimination or negativity?


Absolutely! It was so important for us to have professionals who were LGBTQ+ friendly or a part of the community. Ideally, we wanted to support as many LGBTQ+ owned businesses as possible. Our caterers, photographer, and DJ are all part of the community. While the event space owners were not part of the community, they were definitely LGBTQ+ friendly. As queer individuals in the South, we were absolutely concerned about facing discrimination or negativity, especially in regard to the event space and my suit. We spent a lot of time weeding vendors out looking at websites and social media pictures, their descriptions and values, and considering costs. We had some less-than-friendly venue visits, but we already knew our caterers (an amazing couple who run STF Events), our DJ, and our photographer. Thankfully we found supportive vendors and we were able to support local LGBTQ+ businesses.

 

Question 7: I really love how you had a suit custom made for you and how you showed the whole process.  How did that opportunity come about?  One of the biggest challenges I hear from many women is that they can’t find suits that fit them. 

 

Thank you! The first custom suit that I got was for my wedding (back in 2018). I fell in love with the process and with the way that it fit me. Putting on a custom suit that fits perfectly gives you an extra boost of confidence! Ever since then, I have been really passionate about suiting and currently have 7 custom suits. You are right that a lot of folks have a hard time finding suits that fit them, not just women. Finding an off the rack suit that fits is nearly impossible. Then by the time that you have paid for the suit and for it to be tailored, the cost can be comparable or higher than a custom suit. In addition to buying a suit that is made to your measurements, being able to design your custom suit is such an awesome experience. The most recent suit that I featured on my instagram and showed the process was through a local Nashville company called Fior Bespoke. I have known the owner for years because I have frequented his tailoring shop. He has shown such acceptance and willingness to learn how to support the LGBTQ+ community. He asks questions about language and how to ensure all folks feel welcomed, always gets my pronouns right, and provides an affirming measurement process. We decided to collaborate together to show the bespoke suiting process to my followers. It was such an affirming suiting experience and the end product is amazing. There are many options and price points out there for custom suiting, and I highly recommend looking into a custom suit if you are in the market for a suit. Doing this can be scary and overwhelming though - I felt that way when I got my first custom suit. There are some wonderful suiting companies that are queer-owned that would be great options. There are also larger companies, such as Indochino, that provide a great experience (at least based on my experience and the experiences of other LGBTQ+ folks I know). Additionally, there are many other suiting companies that are LGBTQ+ friendly all over, such as Fior Bespoke in Nashville. I recommend reaching out to folks you know (in person or through Instagram) to get suiting recommendations. 

 

Question 8: On Instagram you have a great presence - what are your goals as an influencer on social media?


I appreciate that. My main goal is to live out and proud and show that on my social media. Being visible is important to me. We need more LGBTQ+ and especially trans/non-binary visibility in the world! If I can be a small part of that and inspire other folks, then that would be amazing. I also want to help inspire folks to find their own style. I always tell people to wear what makes them feel the most “you”. Clothes are genderless. Don’t be afraid to explore and push boundaries. I love when folks message me and ask for clothing recommendations because they don’t know where to start or don’t know what brands might work for them. 

 

Question 9: What does Pride mean to you?


Pride means being unapologetically me. In all my non-binary, transgender, and queer glory!

 

Question 10: What does it mean to be a part of the Dash of Pride Champions Community?


It means a lot. Like I said earlier, it is important to increase non-binary/transgender visibility. The opportunity to share a bit of my journey through being a part of the Dash of Pride Champions Community is such a great opportunity. Thank you for inviting me!

 

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