Stone Butch Blues
Author: Leslie Feinberg
Publication date: March 1993
Lisandra's Thoughts:
Stone Butch Blues was first presented to me in a Gender & Studies course that I took during my junior year in college. While reading this novel, I remember thinking to myself, how can people today still believe that the LGBTQ+ community consists of individuals with "disorders" or who are "abnormal" if they are all born this way?
To begin, Stone Butch Blues by Leslie Feinberg depicts the story of a butch named Jess who comes out in the early 1960s, during a time when society believed LGBTQ+ individuals should be punished for their interests. The novel begins with Jess's childhood and the traumatic experiences she faced when her parents forced her to wear "lady-like" clothing and exhibit "girly" personality traits. Jess always knew she was different from others based on what she liked to wear because she felt most comfortable in her dad's t-shirts and pants. She would sneakily try on his clothes when no one was home.
Immediately after this, Jess's parents forcibly admitted her to a mental hospital, largely due to their Jewish faith. Additionally, at school, she faced abuse, rape, and suspension for trying to talk to one of her Black friends, who understood her identity because she referred to herself as a "he-she." Jess realized that while living with her parents, she would never discover who she truly was. Therefore, in search of self-discovery, Jess leaves home as a teenager and heads to New York City, where she participates in bars and clubs primarily for the LGBTQ+ community.
In these bars, the LGBTQ+ family associates and freely talks about their experiences and tribulations in society. Sadly, the bars and clubs are often raided by police, and many members of the LGBTQ+ community are attacked by law enforcement. Many of them are arrested, physically assaulted, and mentally abused by cops. As Jess continues her journey, she encounters friendships and relationships that help her discover her true self. Through a friend, she meets an undercover doctor who provides her with male hormones that will help Jess look and sound like the man she has always felt she was.
Now, what happens when her license states "female," and she is stopped by a cop? Problems arise because, although she may pass as a man due to the hormones, her physical documents state otherwise. Overall, this novel is legendary because it offers a glimpse into American history right before the fight for gay rights, highlighting the broader issues of inequality faced by the LGBTQ+ community and women's liberation.
Recommendation:
Stone Butch Blues is a phenomenal read for those who enjoy trans fiction and explore inequality issues such as gay rights. It is also a great read for anyone interested in the importance of maintaining one’s true identity in a society where laws, rules, and standards are imposed on people.
Quote from text: "The police really stepped up their harassment after the birth of gay pride. Cops scribbled down our license plate numbers and photographed us as we encountered the bars. We held regular dances at a gay-owned bar, using police radios to alert everyone when the cops were about to raid us..." (Feinberg 135).