Are butches really a dying breed?

[Martina]

Originally Posted by C0LLETTE

Well, I've reread this series of posts several times now and I thought I understood the original post, even with it's slightly ambiguous phrasing. Now that it's been examined, clarified and reclarified, I am confused. Maybe we all just have different ways of expressing ourselves and could use a little breathing room. I honestly saw the original post as a personal statement and not intended to offend anyone.

Collette, I am not attacking you or concreteangel, but these are the kinds of excuses people typically use when they have said something that is racist, homophobic, etc. They say it was a personal statement and deny that it was harmful. (Not saying concreteange did say this.)

In fact, saying that there is such a thing as a true butch . . . saying that a self-identified butch is not in fact a butch because she/he is not masculine enough is to make statements full of sexism and homophobia. And it's not OK. It doesn't mean the person who says them isn't entitled to her own preferences re dating. It means she doesn't get to decide what a butch is or who is butch and announce it to an entire community, where there are variety of butches, some of whom may be harmed by such a statement.

IMO, that doesn't mean anyone who says these things should be moderated or be made to feel unwelcome. But it does mean that people should respond. To her credit, Concert Angel was the first to respond to her own post. In any case.. , ,