Challenging Assumptions

from left: Q-Roc Ragsdale (BUTCH Voices Board), Eva Rivera, Michelle Paris and Theresa Strong.

This profile was written by Tammye Nash.
It appeared originally in The Dallas Voice.

…[W]hatever label you use, Radsdale says, its about a “masculine of center” identity that is a natural state for some women but that, at the same time, can put them at odds with the society around them.

“It’s not male; it’s masculine. There’s a difference,” Ragsdale says. “A lot of people don’t understand the difference between sex and gender. Gender is so fluid. It’s a spectrum. … There are woman-identified butches, trans-identified butches. Some use male pronouns and some use female pronouns. Some are just butch in presentation. Some don’t like gender roles, and some live gender roles.

“You can’t make assumptions. You can’t generalize. Our community is so diverse, just like any other community,” Ragsdale says. But one thing most masculine of center women share, she adds, is a sense of living outside the mainstream. And that can often leave them facing many disadvantages.

BUTCH Voices aims to help correct those disadvantages with its three-pronged mission focusing on physical and mental health, social and economic justice and community building.

As a masculine of center woman, “there are just so many different social norms that you challenge,” Ragsdale says. “You challenge gender norms. You challenge the mainstream notion of lesbians.” And those challenges can sometimes make life difficult.

Registration is NOW Open. Please visit BUTCHVoices.com to register and for more information about booking your rooms for this year’s conference!

Creating Meaningful Connections

This profile was written by Cheryl Burke and Kat Long.
It appeared originally as a part of Go Magazine’s “At The Helm” Series

photo by Kristin Kurazawa

Joe LeBlanc (Founder, BUTCH Voices)

“I did not have the meaningful connections with other masculine-of-center individuals that I wanted to have,” LeBlanc explains, “and there wasn’t an organization that was doing this work already. I started the process of pulling together a team to make BUTCH Voices into a reality.” BUTCH Voices hosts a biennial national conference—the next one is slated to take place in Oakland, Calif. in August, 2011 [...] “Our mission is to enhance and sustain the well-being of all women, female-bodied, and trans-identified individuals who are masculine-of-center,” LeBlanc says. “We provide programs that build community and positive visibility, inclusive of and beyond our gender identity and sexual orientation.

Registration is NOW Open. Please visit BUTCHVoices.com to register for the conference and for more information about booking your rooms for this year’s conference!

Building Bridges Between Masculine of Center Women & Transmen

Krys Freeman - 2011 BUTCH Voices Board President - Chief Strategist - Conference Co-Chair

This article was written by Tehea Robie and appeared originally on OaklandLocal.com

A socio-political conversation with Krys Freeman feels exactly right.

It’s a journey to eternity at the speed of light. In fact, s/he has a timeless, elaborate comprehension of power relations and multiple systems of domination. On blaKtivist, her blog, Freeman writes about everything from solar planes and civil rights, to health reform and HIV. “On Haiti: Dear Journalists, Looting Doesn’t Exist in a Disaster Area” succinctly puts reporters on blast for being “contextually inappropriate.”

Freeman earned a degree in Urban and Environmental Policy at Occidental College. S/he was born and raised in Flushing, Queens, in a three-parent (grandparents and mother) household. Her grandfather and mother passed down an interest in computers. Freeman works her/his tech-savy swag as a web project manager. S/he serves as [Board President and Chief Strategist] for BUTCH Voices and has been published on AOL.com, wiretapmag.com and Sustainable Life Media.

In 2008, Freeman was a media fellow for communities of African descent at GLAAD – Gay & Lesbian Alliance Against Defamation. Currently, s/he has started developing a social network – The Definition – for masculine of center women, trans men and their allies. The site has links for testosterone self care, how to get compression vests and links that teach people transgender terminology.

BUTCH Voices On NPR

BUTCH Voices Joe LeBlanc and Krys Freeman on NPR's Tell Me More Tune in to BUTCH Voices on NPR’s Tell Me More, broadcasting tomorrow, Wednesday, August 27th. Joe LeBlanc and Krys Freeman will be featured on tomorrow’s episode.

From the opinions of global newsmakers to listeners’ personal experiences of life-changing travel…the wisdom of renowned thinkers, activists and spiritual leaders…and intimate dispatches of daily life around the world from NPR News correspondents on the ground…the NPR talk show Tell Me More brings fresh voices and perspectives to public radio.

Capturing the headlines, issues and pleasures relevant to multicultural life in America, the daily one-hour series is hosted by award-winning journalist Michel Martin. Tell Me More marks Martin’s first role in hosting a daily program. She views it as an opportunity to focus on the stories, experiences, ideas and people important in contemporary life but often not heard.

Tell Me More’s broadcast schedule near you:

http://www.npr.org/templates/stations/schedule/index.php?prgId=46