Alterhuman FAQ
So what is it?
In short; alterhuman is an umbrella label for a number of identities that effect one's relationship to/perception of their humanity.
It may also be defined as having an identity that is an alternative to or way of experiencing humanity.
Its a very wide umbrella for a large amount of various subcultures and experiences that are similar to each other, as there was a need for a term to easily refer to them all. If it sounds vague its because it is vague on purpose.
The communities under the alterhuman umbrella all have their own subcommunities, culture, history, and language, though many mix together heavily.
Some kinds of groups that are considered under the alterhuman umbrella include but are not limited to:
- People who identify as something nonhuman.
- People who identify as a different kind of hominid.
- People who identify as fictional characters, species, places, objects, or concepts.
- People who have a strong and integral connection to a place, role, object, archetype, nonhuman species, or something fictional that they identify with.
- People who are altering their body or using fashion to look beyond what is considered human or who have the desire to do so.
- Reincarnates and those who have spiritual identities as something otherworldly.
- People for whom neurodivergence, plurality, trauma, socalization, oppression experience, or spirituality effects their relationship to humanity and wishes to include themselves.
- Anyone else who has identities that give them an odd relationship to humanity.
I'd like more information...
For a list of more popular identities under the label and other terms used among alterhumans, see our [Alterhuman Glossary].
For FAQs regarding specific groups under the Alterhuman umbrella, see our other FAQs here:
Alterhuman as a term has been subject to a fair amount of contriversy. For a seperate article on the discourse around it see [HERE] (WIP).
Where did it come from?
Originally coined by Phasmovore over on tumblr as Alternative Humanity Personal Identity “AHPI” [LINK] in 2014, it was intended as a broad opt-in term that covers a wide number of experiences and subcultures.
Previously, the only way to reference the various communities was either by individually listing them (which was awkward), or by saying 'otherkin and adjacent' (which centered one community far too much). An inclusive umbrella term was much needed.
The term rapidly gained popularity, and now its the most well-used default (functionally opt-out) umbrella term for the general category of subcommunities related to its definition.
Why would people identify this way?
There are a variety of reasons that someone may feel they have a nonstandard relationship to being human.
Spirituality, neurology, trauma and mental illness, archetypal resonance, imprinting, material experiences like phantom limbs and exomemories, and euphoria/dysphoria are often cited by those with identities under the umbrella. Plenty of alterhumans also simply do not ascribe to a particular reason or do not know why they feel this way- just that they do.
Alterhuman communities and labels give people a way to connect with others who have similar experiences to them and the language to convey their feelings about a core aspect of their identity and experiences.
Why should I care about all this?
You dont really need to care any more than you might need to care about your friend being gay. That is, care that we are people worthy of respect with experiences that are also worthy of respect. We just have a little different experience with out humanity than most people do.
Unfortunately, people tend to look down, harass, and generally hate on alterhumans of all stripes. There are now even laws targeting nonhumans in particular being proposed or passed in places. Try not to contribute to the general ridicule and beating down on our community that si steadidly gaining more and more negative attention the more eyes look upon us.
Just because we are different from you does not mean we should have violence visited upon us. Please remember this.
Other questions
Is alterhumanity LGBTQ+?
No. The alterhuman community has a LGBTQ+ majority, but alterhumans are not inherently LGBTQ+. It is not a sexuality or gender, though many people find their alterhuman experiences may influence these things and may deliberately invoke this connection to express this.
Is alterhumanity a tumblr thing?
Alterhuman was a term coined on tumblr and popularized there, but individual labels and communities under that umbrella have been around since at least the 70s with the Elf Queen's Daughters. Otherkin, 'animal-hearted', and Therian were coined in the 90s, as well.
Is alterhumanity just nonhumans/nonhumans and fictionkin?
No! There are many more labels under the alterhuman umbrella than the nonhuman and fictionkin communities. Identify-as identites are not the only ones under the umbrella.
Is being alterhuman cultural appropriation?
No, though some individuals may use appropriative terminology or may identify based on incorrect assumptions of entities in closed cultures therefore apropriating the entity(particularly in older writingss), it is not inherently cultural appropriation.
How do you know if you are alterhuman?
Check out the links provided in the page before this one and in the archive and read our writings, read many writings. Happy discovering of your own identity!
Someone sent me this FAQ who is alterhuman, what do I do about this?
Ask them what they want you to do about this information and reassure them that you still care for them. They might, for example, ask you to refer to them in a specific way, or be understanding about dressing or behaving in a certain way. The only way to know what you should do about this is to ask the person who came out to you.
Final Word:
Alterhumans are just existing. You don't have to understand it to be kind about it, though we hope this sheds some light on it for you.