Further thoughts on Pride and Butch

Good morning all,
hope you are all feeling well.
Enjoying yourselves,
the Summer,
vacation,
the heat,
anticipation of Fall,
whatever floats your boat.

Been a busy week for me.
Worked quite a bit,
caught cold in the,
much too high AC,
combined with wet feet.
I'll live,
it's just a cold,
but, 
I am feeling miserable.

Watched as much of the Olympics,
as I could,
it seems every time I sat down,
to watch after my evening of work,
it was beach volleyball!!!
I am not a fan.
Last night was track,
I like track,
and Canada has been doing well,
better than expected and hoped for.

But mostly this week,
I have thought about,
finding a new job.
I went on an interview,
they offered me the job,
it seems ok,
but...
I don't know,
mind you,
Ok,
is better than not.

I have also been reflecting,
on Pride.
I had a wonderful time,
at the parade,
last Sunday,
part of that,
is the company,
I was keeping,
and,
the nice weather,
the Prime Minister...
it was a good parade.

But,
it was also,
the fact,
that Pride has changed.
It used to be,
Brave and out,
individuals,
lots of leather guys,
drag queens,
some 'seen a lot' dykes,
there are still those,
which is great,
the rainbow,
but,
also,
the gay family alliance,
Helem,
an Arab gay association,
that fights homophobia,
within their own community,
and,
so many more,
old, young, gay, bi, poly, trans,
everyone marching, dancing and singing.
So many more,
out and proud than ever before.

The newer generation,
if polls and statistics,
can be believed,
is much more accepting,
of the LGBTQ community,
are there homophobes,
in the younger generations?
of course there are,
but,
there are less-
the younger adults,
don't really see,
homophobia,
as,
acceptable,
again if statistics are,
to be believed,
they are the gayest generation,
they just see it,
as another way,
of being.

Funny,
because that attitude of,
acceptance,
brings up something else.
Many of them don't get,
the need to label,
ourselves,
we are like every one else.
Well...

Not quite,
our rights are not,
respected everywhere,
in the world,
in many places,
homophobia is the norm.
Wearing labels,
embracing labels,
is part of our empowerment,
part of our being us.
We can choose to be,
"like everyone else"
buy a little house in the 'burbs,
make babies,
or we can be out butches,
flaming queens,
whatever the hell,
we want,
that is liberation,
being who we want.

Just like the,
feminist liberation movement,
fought for women's rights,
 auto-determination,
to be employed,
equal bread earners,
free from the obligation,
to marry or suffer,
poverty and or scorn,
but, 
also to choose to raise,
their children,
be free and emancipated,
women in the home.

My label,
self-imposed,
is like that,
to me.

People don't shout dyke or butch,
at me,
occasionally they call me sir,
and are mortified,
when they discover,
their error,

Pro tip, if you call someone,
sir or ma'am and see that you,
are mistaken,
don't make it worse,
by apologizing and making a big deal,
about it,
realize and learn,
stop insisting on gender dizing,
everything and everyone,
just say,
hi, can I help you?
No gender identification,
required.

These are some,
post Pride thoughts,
I wanted to share,
with you all.

Be well.

Later girls,
BB


Bla Bla about Butch and Pinterest

Well it’s,

Tuesday morning,

and,

for me,

it’s like Monday,

for most.

My shop is closed,

on Sundays and Mondays.

The weekend was lovely,

weather good,

business brisk,

good weekend,

in spite of the insane moon.

This morning,

it’s raining,

should make for a quiet day,

but,

who knows,

and,

hope does spring eternal.

I read a very enjoyable,

dyke novel,

on the weekend,

gift from my lady:-)

The novel is,

Butch by Jay Rayn

Apparently,

was quite a success,

in the nineties.

I had never heard of it,

I enjoyed it immensely,

and,

now I’m looking to track down,

Butch II,

so I can read what happened,

to Mike and all.

As you may have guessed,

by the title,

this is the story,

of a butch

😛

coming of age.

Entertaining,

engaging,

sweet,

tough,

sexy,

you know butch:-)

and well paced.

Mike knows who,

she is,

right from the start,

and,

this isn’t all that,

well accepted,

in her family,

and in her,

working class town,

and yet,

Mike thrives,

because she is strong and smart,

and,

knows who she is,

really knows.

A book worth reading,

butch positive,

not rosy in any way,

but,

nice,

empowering.

I could relate,

it’s from another time,

to be sure,

and yet,

much of the homophobia depicted,

still exists,

this isn’t,

Stone Butch Blues,

not as strong,

or raw,

but,

a good read,

nonetheless.

BB recommended<wink>

You may have noticed,

on the home page,

a pinterest button,

I’ve started a page,

on a lark,

could be fun,

check it out.

Later girls,

BB