A question about passing...

Bit · 10-12-2010, 12:41 AM

Hi y'all! I have a question for Butches who pass. I'm writing a story and part of the tension depends on two of the characters not being out; they're both what used to be called "Passing Butches." (Sheesh, I've been out of the main gender discussions for a long long time... I don't even know if we still use that term! Anyway, I'm not talking about Transmen, but about Butches who pack and bind.)

My question is, do y'all recognize each other as Butches when you meet the first time? And if not, how long does it take before you do recognize each other? Part of the plot for my story revolves around two Butches who do NOT recognize each other as Butches for a couple weeks, so I want to make sure that's accurate.

I recently had the unhappy experience of being thoroughly immersed in a book right up until the moment I read about the "heavy fragrance of the crepe myrtles".... one of my biggest disappointments as a new gardener thirty years ago was discovering that crepe myrtles have no fragrance at all, so the sentence popped me right out of the story and into Critical Editor Mode.

I don't wish that to happen to people who read my story! If it's not realistic that the Butches wouldn't recognize each other, then I want to change the story now before it gets too difficult.

There is some magic involved in the hiding of identities--it's a harsh world, they don't even exchange names--but I don't want to push the boundaries of realism too far, yanno?

I'm grateful for any help/insight y'all can give me! Thanks!

10-12-2010, 12:41 AM	#1
Bit Senior Member How Do You Identify?: Stonefemme Relationship Status: married to Gryph Join Date: Nov 2009 Location: Wichita, KS Posts: 2,177 My Photo Gallery Thanks: 1,126 Thanked 3,770 Times in 1,264 Posts Rep Power: 10778870	A question about passing... Hi y'all! I have a question for Butches who pass. I'm writing a story and part of the tension depends on two of the characters not being out; they're both what used to be called "Passing Butches." (Sheesh, I've been out of the main gender discussions for a long long time... I don't even know if we still use that term! Anyway, I'm not talking about Transmen, but about Butches who pack and bind.) My question is, do y'all recognize each other as Butches when you meet the first time? And if not, how long does it take before you do recognize each other? Part of the plot for my story revolves around two Butches who do NOT recognize each other as Butches for a couple weeks, so I want to make sure that's accurate. I recently had the unhappy experience of being thoroughly immersed in a book right up until the moment I read about the "heavy fragrance of the crepe myrtles".... one of my biggest disappointments as a new gardener thirty years ago was discovering that crepe myrtles have no fragrance at all, so the sentence popped me right out of the story and into Critical Editor Mode. I don't wish that to happen to people who read my story! If it's not realistic that the Butches wouldn't recognize each other, then I want to change the story now before it gets too difficult. There is some magic involved in the hiding of identities--it's a harsh world, they don't even exchange names--but I don't want to push the boundaries of realism too far, yanno? I'm grateful for any help/insight y'all can give me! Thanks!