A lot of the dialogue I see on here about the demonization of butch lesbians in both wlw and non-wlw circles never takes into account butch lesbians of color, and so I want to remind everyone that butch lesbians of color face amplified forms of alienation, dehumanization, and fetishization because they aren’t just butch or lesbian or nonwhite but all three simultaneously.
Butch lesbians of color deserve all the love and respect in this world. They shouldn’t be ignored in your conversations about fetishization or homophobia or racism. Butch lesbians of color are often treated as if they are predatory and aggressive, which isn’t just rooted in lesbophobia - it’s also rooted in racism and fetishization. On the other hand, they may not be deemed “butch/gnc” enough by white women, and may not have access to performing their butch identity that white women do. But lesbian woc who identify as butch are butch, and no white woman or non-lesbian can take that away from them.
Butch lesbians of color are a diverse, multifaceted group of people spanning ages, countries, religions, races, and experiences. They are central to lesbian culture, to wlw/lbpq solidarity, and to LGBT resistance. They have been an essential part of feminist scholarship and organizing. They have been at the forefront of anti-racist, anti-colonialist, anti-capitalist, and anti-imperialist movements. Their contributions to lesbian culture, to lbpq solidarity, and to LGBT liberation are innumerable, priceless, and ever-expanding.
Protect, prioritize, and respect butch lesbians of color. Advocate for them the way they have fought for every single person in their myriad communities and coalitions.
(This is wholly inclusive of trans and nonbinary butch lesbians of color).