Where Have All the Butches Gone?

When lesbians ask where the butches have gone, what we’re saying is that we don’t understand trans men.

The sentence, above, is from an excellent piece written by Roey Thorpe, as an op-ed article for She-Wired.   Roey points out what many of us have suspected for years: Some of the butch women we have known for years are, in reality, transsexual but have lived and worked in a society where women dressing and acting more stereotypically male than female has become accepted. Although Roey doesn't use the term, crossdress, it makes sense, doesn't it?  There are transmen out there who are able to cope without transitioning because women wearing men's clothing is really not questioned in our society as it is when men wear women's clothing.

Although the article appeared in a web publication that brands itself as, "The leading virtual community and editorial website for women, girls, lesbians and all women attracted to women", it should be of great interest to those who follow the blogs on T-Central, whether crossdressers, transsexuals, or whatever.

And, I loved this paragraph:

Transgender people are figuring out how to change what is arguably a person’s deepest identity, the one we are most identified with from birth. The challenges, both in terms of navigating one’s own changing body and the outside world, are staggering, even in the most supportive communities. To make such a decision is like jumping off a cliff with little idea what lies below, but knowing that not to make the leap is another type of agony. This courage deserves our respect and our support.

A rather profound statement that applies to both MtF's and FtM's, isn't it?  Especially when appearing in a publication which is not focused on the trans community.

Go here to read Roey's artcle.

Oh and who is Roey?  From the Huffington Post:

Roey Thorpe lives in Portland, Oregon and is the Director of Strategic Projects for the Equality Federation. An activist for social justice for 30 years, she has been executive director of Basic Rights Oregon and Planned Parenthood Advocates of Oregon. She served as a city councilwoman and acting mayor of Ithaca, New York.