Asia Kate Dillon Quotes

To name oneself is the first act of both the poet and the revolutionary. When we take away the right to an individual name, we symbolically take away the right to be an individual. Immigration officials did this to refugees; husbands routinely do it to wives.

There's always someone asking you to underline one piece of yourself - whether it's Black, woman, mother, dyke, teacher, etc. - because that's the piece that they need to key in to. They want to dismiss everything else.

I'm not a big fan of identity politics and sort of picking one thing and defining yourself with it.

I don't want to be limited or ghettoized in any way.

I'm not going to be intimidated by people or identity politics. I think that's a dead end.

When are we going to stop labeling everyone? How many times have I been referred to as 'out gay actor?' Do we say, 'out heterosexual actor' when we refer to Tom Hanks?

I've always done everything at my disposal to avoid labeling what I do, or to avoid being labeled myself.

People can dress you the way they want, they can do your makeup the way they want, but they can never take away your voice.

I have an aversion to being mislabeled. Here's a label I'd accept: I'm an 'individual.' I'm someone who can't follow, and doesn't want to lead.

I refuse to be stereotyped.

Not by the forces of civil war can you govern the very weakest woman. You can kill that woman, but she escapes you then; you cannot govern her. No power on earth can govern a human being, however feeble, who withholds his or her consent.

One doesn't want one's identity coerced.

I think any label is bad. I'm more than a label.

You call yourself what you want to call yourself.

People demand freedom only when they have no power.

I don't like the monikers, and I don't like being pigeonholed. You know, I'm a human being.

I've always ignored the labels people put on things.

Human beings have an inalienable right to invent themselves; when that right is pre-empted it is called brain-washing.

I hate labels.

When other people say, 'Oh you're so-and-so's friend, brother, or husband,' it's reductive to the point of being white noise.

Either you think, or else others have to think for you and take power from you, pervert and discipline your natural tastes, civilize and sterilize you.

Nobody likes being told who or what they are.

You can ask me about my beliefs on things; that's cool. But I think to lump in and say, You follow this person, so then, wow, who are you?' Ask me who I am.

I don't like being put into a category.

I don't want to have any category stamped on my face.