You searched for queer masculinity - Page 4 of 59 - Everyday Feminism

Books lined up on a shelf in order by color, creating a rainbow

Readers bestow upon themselves that title because they become completely absorbed in pages and find pieces of themselves in the novels, poetry, and memoirs that they read. So what happens when you’re queer or trans and voices similar to yours are lacking? This author explains what that experience was like for her – and then shares the books that set her free.

A group of activists rallying under a rainbow flag

The mainstream Gay Rights™ movement has made a lot of important gains – like marriage equality, for instance – but it leaves a lot of folks wondering: Have we forgotten our own history? Check out this article to understand the ways in which the history of queer and trans liberation needs to inform our activism today – and why prison abolition should be a top priority.

How often do you get to see this? In the media, queer women of color are often invisible, and we know that’s a shame. Boosting visibility can break down stereotypes, show the endless beauty of love between women of color, and empower more women to know they’re worth celebrating. So here are 25 stunning photos of queer women of color to make you swoon.

This wonderful photography project celebrates the beautiful humanity of queer men of color in love – amplifying their tenderness, their vulnerability, their love, and their lives. This sort of archive is a radical tool of reclamation that fights the ways institutional oppression consistently projects dangerous, criminal, and violent connotations onto men of color.

Short hair, bow ties, flannel — the norm is that queer women present more masculine. And while that is a perfectly valid form of expression, the normalization of this image can lead to the erasure of queer women who don’t present this way. Check out this poem by Joy Young recalling how a femme friend of hers had to fight for visibility in the queer community.

Self-acceptance as a queer person can be very difficult. Check out this article to learn strategies for attaining self-love, empowerment, and resilience.

There are certain things people say to queer women over and over again that they just shouldn’t — and straight women do this, too. We think that women can’t oppress other women, but it’s entirely possible. And we need to talk more about it. So, here are five things straight women shouldn’t say when talking to queer women. And yes, we’ve heard them all before.

Though coming out as queer and/or trans can be empowering, homophobia and transphobia often ostracize people from their families and cultural spaces. While this type of loss is deeply painful for all who experience it, it’s even more arduous when exacerbated by the racism, xenophobia, and systemic and legislative violence that comes with being Latinx in the US.

Coming out is never easy but coming out to family members is, for some LGBTQIA+ folk, the hardest part. For many of us, our families are forever. And the thought of not being accepted by them can be terrifying. Check out this video by GayWrites for a wonderful reflection from an accepting grandmother about how to deal when families don’t accept you the way you are.

As awareness of gay relationships is rising, there’s one group that often gets ignored: bisexual people. Many people can’t grasp that sexual attraction doesn’t have to be limited to one gender. And this can lead to some internal conflicts for bi folks. In this video, one bisexual activist shares her experiences of not feeling queer enough for the queer community.

Despite progress made in marriage equality and representation, the truth is that the violence against queer people is still a rampant problem. After reading about a soldier who was burned to death for being gay, Andrea Gibson wrote one of her most powerful spoken word poems from the perspective of the victims of these horrific hate crimes.

I’m a virgin. Of course, there’s nothing wrong with this, assuming that it’s your choice. Where it starts to be a problem is when you recognize that you possess and want to express these desires, and society denies them. Worse, society deems you undesirable and ascribes a complete and total sexual absence to you and your entire community at large, with few exceptions.

I used to be overcome with guilt at the thought of being an artist, a writer since it doesn’t guarantee status or a regular paycheck. Having worked as migrant laborer since a child, I grew up associating my worth with work and writing as gratuitous and useless. Since then I’ve been figuring out how to follow my dreams. I’m not fully living off of my art yet but I’d like to pass on some advice that have helped me.

Queer black women too often have to deal with being labeled selfish, rebellious, or white acting by the black community. But while that homophobia is real, many black people strive to be allies. This includes understanding why queer black women don’t always feel safe in their own communities and what they can do to help.

I remained more invisible than I realized under a giant queer umbrella that I thought conveyed my truth, not realizing the extent to which no one could see it.

Young person dressed masculinely, talking on a cell phone, looking serious

Maybe you’ve heard it, been asked it, or wondered about it yourself: Why do queer women and lesbians date masculine-presenting women instead of just dating a dude? Here’s an answer.

There’s a myth is that if you have enough women and femmes in your organization, your organization is automatically not sexist or femmephobic. This is absolutely untrue, especially if the only way for women and femmes to get ahead is to emulate men and masculinities. When I talk about femininity and masculinity I am talking…

If there are women in the room, their objectification seems to be a bonding mechanism for butches and men. The patriarchy barters and trades with women as currency, and in those moments, we’re doing the same thing. But I know that we can be empowered without using our power in a way that hurts people. Our masculinity doesn’t have to turn femmes into objects whenever our masculinity is questioned.

Person in a black-and-white striped shirt against a dark blue background, holding their hands up to their face is disappointment

It’s important to shut down the stereotypes “emasculating” Asian men. But this author’s got some great points about how we tend to talk about these stereotypes in problematic ways – starting with calling it “emasculation.”

Person blocking their ears, frustrated

“How do two women have sex?” Talk about intrusive! Even if you mean well, such questions can be insensitive – here’s why.