to every femme who’s ever held a butch’s hand on the street:
i hope you know the power it holds and how much it means to us. not just to the individual butch whose hand you’re holding but to all butches. you should know how much hope it inspires in butches who pass you by. they see a butch/femme couple holding hands and they know that they’re worthy of affection without shame or fear. you should know that your touch, simple and brave, speaks volumes to everyone who catches sight of it. thank you for sharing that magic in all its humanising, affirming, celebratory, brazen, storied and persistent forms.
To the butches holding femme hands:
Your presence assures and confirms. You are a protection from the endless judgement and stares. You also shine a light on our identity, validating it and showing the world who we truly are.
We complete each other.
This.