@butchisnotadirtyword “In Puerto Rico, being gay still hasn’t been socially accepted. So, to no surprise, if you’re a butch - you will be subject to all forms of violence, ongoing ridicule and unemployment. Growing up Catholic and in Puerto Rico, I internalized all the misogyny, butchphobia and lesbophobia that surrounded me for many years. I was so ashamed of myself because I was unable to act or look like a “normal” woman. I hated myself for not being born a man. ⁣ ⁣ For years I tried to destroy these parts of me, which led to a lot of self-destructive actions and identity issues. Later, when I began to make peace with my butchness, many women I dated or went out with would expect me to act like a man or treated me like one - which wasn’t healthy either. I found myself projecting many toxic masculine traits and I hated my body. ⁣ ⁣ Fast forward, after a lot of growth and work - I’ve begun to heal my butchness. In time, I learned how to be soft, how to practice healthy masculinity, and build relationships with women who could love me for who I was and what I had to offer. ⁣ ⁣ My butchness doesn’t make me any less of a woman nor does it make me any less feminine. Masculinity and femininity co-exist beautifully within me. Only through accepting my butch self could I find this sense of balance. It’s a work in process, but I’m learning to love the many, many grey areas inside butchness and what it means to be a Puerto Rican butch lesbian woman.” - @jo.cosme Excerpt taken from a beautiful, beautiful interview with Jo which was posted up on our Patreon last week. And Check out Jos beautiful art store at @tiendabandida !!! 📸 by @esthergoodboy Link in stories or Patreon.com/ButchIsNotADirtyWord for the full piece. #butch #butchisnotadirtyword #butchdyke #butchdykes #butchlesbian #butchlesbians #lesbiansofinstagram #dykesofinstagram #butchesofinstagram #lgbtq #lgbtqia #lgbtqiaplus #gender #gay #queer⁠ #butchtwink #butchdaddy #butch4butch #pride #gaypride #gaypridemonth #gaypride2022 #masc #masculinity #queermasculinity #fucktoxicmasculinity #puertorico #qwoc