So I joined this community a few months ago and have noticed more about others and myself with doing so.

When people ask where I am from I always tell them my origins (Polish, Italian and Syrian). My mother being 75% Polish and 25% Syrian and father fully Italian (northern and southern). Many people can visibly see I am mixed with either Southern European or Middle Eastern genes because of my light olive skin and dark features. Very, very few people I have met have guessed my Polish roots because many people assume Poles as light features which is a fair assumption. Truthfully more people guess Middle Eastern because I live in the Detroit area which has a large number of Middle Eastern people.

I don't receive discrimination but I have noticed a little prejudice.

1. a guy at my work I told that I was gay asked if it was hard being gay in a Middle Eastern family
2. guys have turned me down for not being their racial type (not black or not white enough which I guess is preferences)
3. when I grow my facial hair our my dad has joked around about me looking too "Allah-akbar"
4. a man on Grindr who was Arab told me I am the best kinda Arab which is "half burnt"

I have made a post on here saying that I jumped around wanting to look more "fully white" or "fully arab" at times but I have come to terms with the fact that I am moderately ambiguous to people and there are pros and cons to it.

Reason for this is because I can play either card.

Although I have an Italian surname, looks are important to people.

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• Middle Eastern people do look at me the most positively - I don't mean this saying they're racist as all - they just look at me as one of them a lot of the time
• White people have given me grey area because a lot of them fetishize me ("oh my god I love arab men!"). When cops have pulled me over or I go through TSA they smile when they see my last name
• Asian , Latino and Black people are usually the only people who treat me with less bias although what is really cool is people of all these backgrounds have told me I look like I am a quarter of each or could be.

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When it comes to meeting people that are actually from the countries of Poland, Italy and Syria I get different reactions to telling them my mix.

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Syrians and Italians are very happy, especially Italians because of my surname and always are surprised that I am both northern and southern. Polish people look at me with confusion but I have similar features to Sami Frey who is a French actor who has Polish and Jewish mixture.

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I think if there is one thing I feel somewhat strange about is my beauty seems to be more of a "type" or "exotic" to people. I don't look like guys in movies because they are usually very white but I don't look fully middle eastern either.

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The one beauty standard I can look into is maybe Turkish (which most people guess) because I have a fairer olive skin and dark features. My eyes also have a slanted almond shape to them while still being somewhat big.

all natural