Are Lesbian Bars Shutting Down Because of Trans Women? | Kat Blaque

[@jacquilewis3323]

I’m a 72 tease old lesbian that lived in SF for 30 years. The women/lesbian spaces started closing years ago. Economics are the main reasons for these closures. As well as the lesbian community’s quest towards a more healthy lifestyle that did not drink as much!

[@Liloldliz]

thank you, it's great to hear from people who've been active in the community for a long time. i hope you will keep commenting and even call in :)

[@jacquilewis3323]

@@Liloldliz I enjoy your channel!

[@Liloldliz]

@@jacquilewis3323 i didn't make the channel we're commenting on but thank you haha

[@KumakOwO]

@@Liloldliz omg such a cute interaction 🥰

[@mickwayne3398]

this rings true for what i have seen in Austin too.. for better or worse, gay men tend to make more money and drink more.. so those spaces proliferate..

[@threeofeight197]

The lesbian bar we had in my medium sized city allowed EVERYONE in. They basically HAD to in order to make enough money. When ppl were creepy and crossed a line they were kicked out. A lot of times that would be a man but it included ANYONE who acted a fool. Which I loved because I’m not a lesbian but I’m not straight either. It was one of the most welcoming open minded spaces in the city. ❤❤❤

[@threeofeight197]

And when I think of it none of the “male” focused gay bars had any type of quota or baring of women or non-gays either. They were all open too. There would be a lot of gays but also a lot of friends of gays. Idk. I just feel like the more the merrier. And ppl who act a fool need to go. But this is coming from a medium city perspective where it’s pretty necessary to let ppl in no matter who.

[@SunnieDIY]

@threeofeight197 that makes sense but now when people act a fool they claim discrimination and bigotry is the reason they are forced to leave.

[@Canyon_Lark]

@@SunnieDIY source?

[@AmaruOnyx]

What is considered"acting a fool"? Because people get kicked out of any club for fighting, harassment or being too drunk. What's considered"creepy", and an ejectable offense?

[@SunnieDIY]

@AmaruOnyx I would imagine creepy is not taking no for an answer or trying to possibly drug drinks. Being stalkerish. You know, creepy. Starting crap. Likely playing victim because someone isn't into them that would be foolish and creepy. Same as any other place I would hope.

[@kyleiq1912]

i wish we measured whether people can be in a space by their behavior over their presentation. it seems like people are mostly worried about predatory people so wouldn't it make more sense to just be aware of predatory behavior and have like a zero tolerance policy?

[@lunawolfheart336]

Yeah like these people think trans women or cis men are the only people that can be predatory. Very wrong. I've had several cis women act preditory twords me to the point it's made my PTSD even worse when it comes to daiting. Like as soon as anyone gets sexual or promises something I just panic. I'm that note as a teen when changing I'm s woman's locker room I had some adult women check me out and told me I was hot. Behavior is more important then aperence.

[@aawillma]

The FACTS say that lesbians are the most common victims of intimate partner violence per capita and the overwhelming perpetrators of that violence is cis women and the FACTS say that trans women are the most common victims of murder per capita. Statistically a trans lesbian is far more likely to be harmed by her cis partner than a cis woman is to be harmed by a trans stranger. This is all based on fear of what "could" happen, not what ever actually happens.

[@TK_Danes]

Definitely need to break down to flags and green flags. Communication style etc

[@SeymourDisapproves]

One would think, yeah.

[@MeBeCreepy]

Yes!

[@7392318]

I’ll add these two points as to lesbian bars closing, even though this isn’t about trans. 1. Women don’t tend to drink/spend as much $ as men do in the gay bars. I dated a women who owned a bar and had women nights. They couldn’t make a go of it because some women order one drink and milk it all night, or even just ask for a water without ordering anything! A business can’t survive that way. 2. As a bi women I’ve been afraid to go to lesbian bars because there can be a lot of hatred from lesbians toward bi women. Unfortunate but just saying it’s there.

[@ninatrygg1592]

it is not hatred it is hurt for being dumped for men by bisexual women. it is a different sexual orientation than lesbian

[@7392318]

@@ninatrygg1592 Well there’s a lot of hurt for bisexual women who are dismissed out of hand by lesbians. It’s outright discrimination. Plenty of bisexual women want a monogamous relationship with a women but are told “no bisexuals” from lesbians on dating sites. It cuts both ways.

[@7392318]

@@ninatrygg1592 If you are dismissing a woman as a potential partner only on the basis that she is bisexual then that is discrimination. It’s the same as saying you won’t date women of color.

[@BadBarbieXP]

That is true they bring in drag queens especially ones that have been on drag race to get more ppl to come in Atlanta there’s this bar & it had 2 sections the actual club then the stage where the queens/kings perform the drag section was packed but the section where they just dancing together barley had ppl in there

[@ghostinyourcloset]

@@ninatrygg1592 thats not an excuse. im a lesbian who has crushed on numerous lesbians & bi women. the lesbians get with someone who isnt me more often than the bi women get with men. why would you decrease your dating pool because of one experience where your infatuation/crush didnt like you back? thats illogical. there are more bi women in the world than lesbians. i suggest you get over your biphobia if you ever want to get into a relationship with a mindset like that.

[@meghanowl]

Interesting that the first caller wasn't getting how policing isn't about what the trans woman is "giving" but about what the police are perceiving. I've fully socially transitioned, been on HRT since 2015, had multiple rounds of FFS, bottom surgery, etc., and I still don't generally pass. So I've done a *lot* in terms of making an effort (and will continue to do so), but I'm still not convinced that your caller would consider that enough. Because it's not about my effort--it's about her perception, and beyond a certain point, I can't control that. I guess I've never been fishing, though, if that's the deciding factor.

[@KatBlaque]

Yeah I definitely think the disconnect for people who've never transitioned in this direction is that someone can indeed put in a "lot of effort" and still not pass/look overtly feminine/be read as a cis man. We should have a longer conversation about that because there's a lot there to unpack. These notions frequently mean that sometimes what you desire from your transition and what cis people require of you for your transition are completely disconnected.

[@JasonBakerEngineer]

I wonder how many cis women would pass according to her standards. A lot of cis butch women get misgendered 100% of the time.

[@darkshadowrule2952]

@@JasonBakerEngineer yeah, I often don't look enough like either, women have shouted and glared at me for using the women's restroom (when I'm an AFAB enby) and I've never used a multi stalled men's room in my life even though a lot of people seem to think I'm a teenage boy (I'm 22) because that's just not comfy, so if I end up going into a place without a family bathroom, I have to deal with an awkward encounter of speaking to strangers and being like, "no, this is the bathroom on my driver's license, I can use it"

[@lunawolfheart336]

@@KatBlaque exactly or for example before I even figured out I was a man and started transitioning people would just assume I was a dude. Now let's say I didn't transition and identified as woman but still presented the way I do. People would still prosseve me as male and it did happen often. I I was told so often and women's restrooms that I was in the wrong restroom that I just started using the men's instead.

[@lunawolfheart336]

@@JasonBakerEngineer not very many. Expexaly alot of butch lesbians.

[@rightwrightwriter]

As a rural bisexual woman, I’m just jealous of any place that has spaces for sapphic women at all… My options are mostly just hanging around Lowes or the farmer’s market and hoping.

[@majinmana8668]

Right

[@MrLakers92]

I’m cackling

[@MrLakers92]

Sorry I’m laughing at the Lowe’s bit

[@kurootsuki3326]

lmao mood

[@twinqt578]

Facts🤦🏼‍♀️ even went to a pride parade hoping to get lucky because I'm too afraid to approach a woman at the risk of her being straight and me sounding creepy. No luck at the parade. Every hot lesbian there was already taken😒

[@clovesbian]

Agreed, it's not like everyone in a bar is potential for you to have sex with. Like a lesbian bar may be for finding someone (hook-up or dating) but lesbian & LGBT spaces in general are largely about simply connecting with your community. Also it's literal classic misogyny to tell a woman "hey, I personally would not have sex with you, and therefor you do not belong in this space or in my presence." Like let women exist. I thought MEN were the ones who don't respect women they don't find attractive. I acrually saw a post once discussing how many cis women treat trans women the way cis men have treated them, similar to a parent bullying a child and then the child bullying peers. Only difference being these are whole-ass adults. But this weird urge to feel power through finding a group to harass, I guess?

[@wingbingbong1965]

No matter what community or gender there are people who are disrespectful, whether that be to their own or the opposite. No community or gender is better or perfect compared to the next.

[@AWindy94]

THIS THIS THISSSS

[@margonuts]

it’s also like, why does our community have to be so fixated on sex? that’s just another heteronormative idea that our community shouldn’t keep alive. it also really leaves out minors that want to hangout in lgbt spaces

[@fourcatsandagarden]

I know it's not the same, but I'm a cis ace lesbian and I have felt very unwelcome and unwanted in a lot of lesbian spaces. We don't get blamed for things a lot, at least not outright when these topics come up. But say "I'm ace" in some of these spaces and there will be an immediate hive of people making sure you know you aren't welcome there. I've had this happen both online and in person, where people who identify as cis lesbians will say things like I can't possibly be a lesbian becuase ace people can't love or have real relationships (cos apparently they can't fathom love beyond sex for some reason). There are good spaces though, but the bad ones really make me afraid to even try because it's so damn exhausting.

[@NoneOfYourBuisness404]

Well, part of identifying yourself with a sexual orientation also extends to whom you may want a romantic relationship with. If a lesbian is also interested in dating women and loving women, and they use lesbian to say they would also like a girlfriend/partner, that means that identifying with a label can extend to your romantic side. We don’t say that straight people are only focused on sex and that they can have romantic interest as well, but the queer community is over sexualized and people ignore that we might want relationships as well. It’s not just about sex.

[@electronics-girl]

If I hold Blåhaj in my profile picture, does that make me "Kevin with a fish?"

[@a.s.3318]

That subverts the red-flag fish-man trope in every possible way - posing with blahaj is adorable (and a green flag), knowing that sharks are fish is hot (and maybe an even bigger green flag), and the joke is top tier. My cis lesbian ass would be in your DMs so fast! :)

[@LulaTheStampede]

best comment

[@erraticonteuse]

As a cis bi woman, I would date anyone who holds Blåhaj in their pfp.

[@pjgoldstein6562]

If nothing else, it says you've spent some time in trans inclusive spaces and have a sense of humor so, T4T approved too. Get an Enby in here amd youve got the whole set!

[@sage5530]

blåhaj is elite he's my sleep buddy😊

[@FragrenceAtMiracleEd]

I always laugh at the "I don't date bi women bc they have been with men" thing cause out of the two of us, I, the lesbian, has slept with multiple men and my fiancée, who is bi, has slept with none. Orientation =/= sexual history or behavior. (and obviously it's biphobic even if she had slept with men)

[@Jukajobs]

yeah, it's ridiculous, it ignores that societal pressure can be really tough to deal with, and it's super cruel towards rape victims. And the idea that having sexual contact with a penis (i know that not all men have penises and not all people with penises are men, but people who say that pretty much always equate men with penises) kinda changes a woman forever is really gross, it's the same idea behind considering virginity pure and seeing women who've had sex as dirty sluts. Plus, thinking that, by touching a woman, a man just gets to change her essence or whatever is also just super misogynistic, women exist and our lives are important regardless of men and what they may have done to women. I'm a lesbian, I'm glad I've never been with a man, but that's because I know that that'd have been harmful to me personally, not because women who've had sex with men are dirty. Believing that men are able to "taint" women is super gross and misogynistic, and it's terrible to see women who claim to be feminists say some bullshit that relies on that exact logic that feminism has been trying to fight for ages.

[@bandit7459]

I'm gay and I grew up in and extremely religious conservative family, than I joined the military during Don't ask don't tell (it ended 4 years after I joined). Because I was forced to be so closeted, and wanted to fit in, I dated women and had sexual relations because it was expected. I hated it. To this day, I still have regrets for that. Never really been judged by it. Mainly because I date only other men the same age as me (30's) so quite a few people have the same experience. I wonder if this is more cultural. I grew up in the country and now as an adult live in Charleston, the biggest city I have ever lived in. Just wondering if larger cities is where your going to see this kind of ignorance occur more? Which is an odd thing to say, but really in the country, its really only the straights that are ignorant. Not enough LGBT members to have so much in group hate.

[@tungstenanderson5991]

When has then ever happened? I mean really. That isn't even an argument with lesbians. What, you had 1 or 2 women say that as if it's paramount?

[@SeymourDisapproves]

@@tungstenanderson5991 "orientation is indicative of sexual history" is a commonly held belief that manifests in a lot of spaces in a lot of different ways. I don't doubt that this person has likely heard this in a lot of different ways lol

[@dotdot6008]

Lesbians don't date bi women bc they are 90 percent straight. And it's proven they all end up with a man, Google it. And they can't see themselves live with a women for the rest of their lives.

[@godocs11]

You're doing a couple of incredibly important things here, Kat and nobody in this space better than you: 1) You're listening to and hearing people's experiences. You don't talk over or correct people's lived experiences and it's imperative that we hear people out even if their experiences contradict our own and serve a stereotype we disagree with. 2) You're amplifying reality and getting real people's lives on the record. Importantly, they're the people who will be affected by the policies we advocate for. Thank you! Love you!

[@twinbruisesonmyshins]

love her sm :)

[@wo0o0o0ho0o0]

I know, right? I love Kat Blaque.

[@quinndawsonosgood5261]

Kat is the best.

[@Carlos-ll7bz]

100%

[@schwap7210]

Wow I’m actually saving this as a communication guideline, thank you 😊

[@Vanessa-vz5cw]

My perspective as a cis lesbian: Cis men praying on and fetishizing lesbians being constantly pulled into discussions surrounding trans women who identify as lesbian, bi or pan leaves a very bad taste in my mouth. I've been harassed and unicorn hunted by many a creepy straight dude, as many queer women have, but never has the thought come into my mind to relate that to trans women whatsoever. In terms of lesbian bars and club events, I don't want them to be gate kept from anyone based on their gender expression as long as you're not being predatory or voyaristic. Also in my experience these events haven't really been? Like I've brought my cis gay male friend to a lesbian bar because we were travelling together and I didn't want to go alone. If you're being a creep and/or not respecting boundaries, then yeah I don't want you there, but again that rule applies to all genders, including other cis lesbians. So again, I don't like trans women being explicity singled out in this discussion. Also great video as always!!

[@truzle6133]

So how do you tell the difference between a straight dude unicorn hunting and a trans woman at a bar?

[@cabbage-soup]

@@truzle6133 you can't tell a person's gender or sexuality based on their appearance. if someone's being an asshole, you kick them out for being an asshole.

[@truzle6133]

@@cabbage-soup and what constitutes "being an asshole"? Which behavior do the bar owners and/or security guards decide is worthy of being kicked out?

[@pearls1404]

@@truzle6133 predatory behaviour would include harassment, stalking, touching without consent.. that would be an asshole in a club. And any gender can do these things. The culture of the event should be one of encouraging safety and respect

[@truzle6133]

@@pearls1404 so men are allowed to be at lesbian bars? Lesbians have no right to create a space that's only for them? Every other sexuality, race or ethnicity is allowed to create a private space but lesbians. Ok 👌

[@ploosiedasix]

The second caller immediately on the "I'd like to respectfully call bullshit" 💀

[@TimacherKamar]

She was so quick with it. It made me laugh 😂

[@lormythos]

I've listened to all of the versions of this conversation through your social medias and I wanted to take a moment to thank you for integrating subtitles. I love it! Thank you for the additional efforts, this video is visually striking!

[@KatBlaque]

Aww thank you! Im experimenting with formats

[@deprogramme369]

this helped an extreme amount!

[@KatBlaque]

@@deprogramme369 Thank you for the feedback. I was actually expecting the opposite response to the burned in captions!

[@jaylin6663]

@@KatBlaque I like this format it's easy to listen to when I'm driving

[@erinniccoinn1gh]

yes thank you, i love it when creators make aesthetically pleasing CC as part of the format :) this is just really nice as someone with autism based hearing issues i noticed and appreciate it

[@KatBlaque]

Hey guys! I see that there's some confusion about the phrase Kevin with a fish. Throughout the call in show, we had a lot of conversations about heterosexual men who list themselves on dating sites in a way where they are visible to lesbian women, and a common thing that came up. Is that a lot of straight men will have the same photo on their profile, which is quite frequently a photo of them holding a fish. This is not really a phrase that comes from anywhere or existed in a lexicon before this conversation, to my understanding, but the ultimate communication is that there are a subset of heterosexual men who fetishize lesbian relationships and attempt to connect with lesbian women through dating apps.

[@jasongood354]

I needed this explanation. No sarcasm.

[@jasongood354]

I was googling "Kevin with a fish" with question marks around my head (no results) and came here seeking this exact context.

[@Ray-mj5mj]

Seems prejudiced.

[@BernardoPatino]

@@Ray-mj5mj they do hold fish lol

[@that_dam_baka]

Lesbians are afraid that Kevin will show up IRL and they won't be able to block him. All the fears with het dating horror stories come to mind. If you're trying to hook up but aren't sure about your preferences, it's not everyone else's job to fix you. Find yourself on your own. And people are allowed to ditch for whatever reason, including you not being certain. As a woman, if you're rude or unwelcoming, you're overreacting. If you're nice but uninterested, you led them on. (Stereotypes) If you're scared of men and/or get anxiety attacks around trans women who don't pass, that's not everyone else's problem. It's yours. Find a different place for yourself. Mandatory: Not a lesbian.

[@satya4234]

When that first caller was talking about trans women's gender presentation I kept thinking about cis lesbian women who look like cis men. Like... masc cis lesbians are way more common than masc trans women I think. And I know for a fact that they face discrimination for it in women only spaces. So... if the problem is with masculine women *and* men in lesbian spaces. How does that relate to trans women?

[@倪文瑄]

yeah uh as a nonbinary lesbian who is basically masc and who happens to be afab (sadly not on hrt yet): I rarely get clocked as not A Dude unless i speak. I'm bulky because I lift, I'm the average male height for my ethnic group, I talk quite masc, have more "masculine interests" and body language etc. I mean like: women cross the road when they see me at night or speedwalk away from me, clockable lesbian couples glare at me when I look over because they think I'm some creepy dude. In many ways i have similar issues that masc trans lesbians face, except people are somehow willing to overlook ME and not them in lesbian spaces purely because of birth assignment. (IK the discomfort is around the penis but someone else's genitals are not your damn problem unless you plan to be interacting with them)

[@toastbrot9012]

@@倪文瑄 but how can you be a lesbian when you are non-binary? Doesn't the word lesbian imply that you are a woman

[@Crazypixiness]

@@toastbrot9012 Lesbian is inclusive of non-men.

[@toastbrot9012]

@@倪文瑄 like I don't want to offend you but I've never heard about this before and have seriously problems with understanding this😭💕

[@boopydoopy9156]

@@toastbrot9012 non-women can use the term lesbian, just like how non-men can use the term gay

[@DMMA0726]

Regarding "Fish Kevins", two experiences I've had: one, was a woman who actually just seemed kinda cool, I matched with her, turned out she was literally just beginning her journey. We've become friends, she's a gem, and seeing her blossom has been amazing. The other was just a cis dude who claimed he was a trans lesbian because he was "very attuned with his emotions and liked flowers". He then accused me of being hostile and refusing to accept him and unmatched me on Tinder. I saw him again recently (maybe a couple years since) and he has since removed all information from his profile regarding these things.

[@wastedweirdo9853]

Iv also noticed that. I am a trans woman and iv never even gotten someone to question that (except cds/cis men pretending to be trans) but the moment you call out a cis man who's pretending they seem to get more offended than I would if another woman asked me. Because I have and understand the fear of men. It's almost obvious when someone's pretending to be trans because they don't sound, talk, dress (meaning they look like there wearing something you'd see on a porn set), or even act like woman period. Sure there are trans woman who get angry when they are discriminated against and I feel for them completely. But I feel the numbers are swayed because cis men.

[@dotdotdotdotdotdotdottod]

to be fair i use to think being a trans woman had to do with the fact your gay like. you like men so much you wanna be a woman so that its the "right way" (obviously i dont think likw that anymore) but i can see why some people would think trans women cant be lesbians based on my old mentality that gender idenitu and oriontation

[@juliennepujol5586]

Theres female lesbians who dress like fish kevins... So being 'real' trans means you wear dresses and wigs? Where does the non-biological border between man and woman exist, and the answer seems to lie in sexist stereotpes. It seems so arbitrary and filled with contradictions.

[@ellicavalcante7850]

I have a trans friend who unfortunately doesn't have the privilege for hormonal treatment or to wear feminine clothes without the risk of violence. You can, however, tell that she is honest about her identity through her personality. She's super sweet.

[@tungstenanderson5991]

@@wastedweirdo9853"pretending to be trans" But it's ok for you to pretend to be a woman, but you're allowed to have your fear of men, but women aren't.

[@christinameyer6425]

I worked at a lesbian bar this past summer and my boss actually worked with the lesbian bar project that Kat pinned. I remember having a conversation with her where she said what's been hurting the "old-school" lesbian bars that are on the brink of going out of business is that they are too exclusionary. It's literally the opposite of what terfs think; trans women aren't killing lesbian bars, lesbian bars are killing themselves by not letting all queer folk in.

[@quinndawsonosgood5261]

Interesting. Thanks for sharing that

[@wo0o0o0ho0o0]

this

[@GeneralBolas]

Could this be kind of a self-fulfilling prophecy? Say a particular lesbian bar announces that they're trans-exclusionary. This means any transwomen leave, but any cis-lesbians who aren't happy patronizing a trans-exclusionary establishment also leave. The bar ends up without enough patrons and goes out of business. Thus, exclusionary lesbian bars are closing... by excluding themselves out of business.

[@radiationshepherd]

Really? I thought the economy, rising cost of living etc, was killing them and the fact their target clientele already make less money than the general population

[@fangirl9829]

@@radiationshepherd Both are a factor I think. I mean, in related points, Michfest had to shut down because it was TERFy and people boycotted it because of that.

[@torrencewaespe8503]

Back in the nineties my dad regularly went to a lesbian bar bc "they had the best drinks at the best prices and they were full of fun people" but he never hit on any of the women. Never. And I think that's the important difference. It's like straight people who go to gay bars to help their friends feel more comfortable, or to just support the business. I think it's a very nuanced issue on who should and shouldn't be allowed in lesbian spaces, and I think my personal line is "men hitting on the women in that space"

[@lumr.8726]

i think this always go to behavior. just bc someone is existing in a specific space, doesn't mean they're predatory. i don't think we should equate someone who clearly has a predatory behavior to someone who just want to hang out and have fun.

[@erraticonteuse]

I'm picturing your dad as Homer Simpson, FYI. "Wait a minute...this lesbian bar doesn't have any fire exits!"

[@torrencewaespe3409]

​@@erraticonteuse My dad is an HVAC repair man and helped the owners figure out their AC unit one summer! He said he was sick of being hot every night he was there and did it for free just so he could have a cold bar with a cold beer. My father was also in several punk bands over the years and once wrote a song called I Wish I Was A Lesbian, bc he was tired of not finding real love like the girls at that bar were able to find. He's kinda cool lol

[@erraticonteuse]

@@torrencewaespe3409 YOUR DAD WROTE "I WISH I WAS A LESBIAN"???? I LOVED that song in high school!!!

[@torrencewaespe3409]

​@@erraticonteuse You're probably familiar with Loudon Wainwright III 's, my dad's band was super local to Cincinnati and none of their music is online and I've never come across physical copies anywhere. Unfortunately my dad isn't*that* cool, but he needed room for improvement anyways

[@jaylin6663]

As a gay man, when I'm listening, I'm trying to draw parallels to my own experience. In my opinion, I feel like there is a lot of anti-masculine sentiment. I think where the lines cross into transphobia is when there's discussion on what level of transition needs to happen before trans people are allowed into certain spaces. I think it's fascinating that this is something that lesbians go through because the reverse is also true for gay apps and spaces. There is a strong anti-feminine sentiment. And in both scenarios trans people get caught in the middle. I think visibility and time eventually will fix these problems very few people identify as trans yet for some reason they are perceived to be the heart of the problem. I don't believe in segregation and I believe it had disastrous effects on different ethnic groups in America. And I can only see that disaster continuing if we decided to do that based off people's sexualities.

[@lunawolfheart336]

I completely agree. Yes women need a safe space to be themselves. But they can't just gatekeep a litreal public space. If they want a privet group were they can drink and have fun were only cis lesbians are allowed one of them can just as esaly host a weekly get together at their house or something.

[@ninaschust3694]

And I wonder what are the sentiments towards NB people.

[@pearls1404]

But interestingly, there’s a paradox then with studs/butch lesbians who often present very masculine but are certainly accepted into the space. I’d therefore say it’s not to do with anti masculinity… it’s just plain transphobia. Lesbian TERFs are often fine with cis people having gender spectrum range just nobody else and especially not trans women

[@pearls1404]

@@reoij booooooo 🍅🍅🍅

[@r4tb4st4rd7]

Was trying to draw parallels myself as a trans gay man! Though I’m young and inexperienced, I’ve found a lot more acceptance from other men than I thought I would! Straight guy bros, and then other gay and bi men who are just legit and chill. I was worried of being perceived as some creepy fetishist, but that hasn’t been my experience at all and I have cis and trans gay and bi dudes coming to ME in all honesty haha! I think it probably helps being a masculine white twink who’s fully transitioned, as my only form of “otherness” is being trans. I have no doubt there is a lot of bigotry I don’t deal with because of this. (note: I consider myself fully transitioned even though I haven’t had bottom surgery. Just don’t want it!)

[@thekameru6058]

I ran into this one lesbian at an lgbt+ walkabout once. I am not exaggerating here, straight after she found out I was bi, in one breath said that she wouldn't date a bi woman, and then in the very next breath, said she was once in a 5 year sexual relationship with a man. I was like, um, thankyou for telling on both counts: I don't care. I'd never even been with a man, and the topic previously had been nowhere near sex or dating, so I found it pretty bewildering. There had been no flirting on my part - she really wasn't my type, I didn't really like her personality which was coming over as pretty neurotic, and she was about 20 years older than me. It explicitly wasn't an exclusively Lesbian hangout, and we weren't even in a dedicated area for lesbians. We were literally walking around some medieval ruins outside, not in a city bar. And all of a sudden her neurons fire off and that's what randomly falls outta her. With retrospect, I think she may have been jealous about how well I was vibing with another lesbian. Either she was jealous of the other lesbian, or was jealous of me. Either way, that woman had issues.

[@alwaystired1]

ok but what is it with biphobic people always blurting that shit out loud out of no where LOL ive never encountered biphobia in a conversation about queer stuff, it's always like 2pm in the perishable goods aisle

[@kiwisocks]

​@@alwaystired1 I was wearing a bi pride shirt and looking for where they rearranged the jell-o or something, had some woman tap my on the shoulder and say "I don't dates bis". I wish had had a comeback other than, "Okay...Do you know where the jell-o is?" Are the gold star lesbians okay???

[@henazz2561]

@@kiwisockswhat does being a golf star have to do w biphobia

[@theefartman]

@@henazz2561AHAHA i'm not sure if you're joking or not but it says gold star, not golf star

[@Sluppie]

@@kiwisocks Honestly I think that comeback was amazing just as it was. Like it's right up there with, "Ma'am, this is a Wendy's".

[@Radar_of_the_Stars]

See, I'm a gay man who goes to gay bars occasionally, and nearly every gay bar in the country allows women in the bar in general, so I'd be quite concerned indeed if my local gay bar banned transgender men

[@robertofontiglia4148]

The dynamic isn't the same though is it? Like, transphobes aren't saying that gay trans men are a danger to cis men. They're mostly saying that trans men are lost lesbians. I don't think transphobes even concieve of gay trans men. Maybe they just think they're tomboys...

[@cryptidclaw1833]

@@robertofontiglia4148 Transphobes absolutely call gay trans men predatory. It's unfortunately not a super uncommon narrative. Yes, they see straight trans men as 'lost butches' but I'm pretty sure the majority of trans men (especially younger trans men) aren't straight, and transphobes know this. A lot of the transphobia I hear directed towards gay trans men is stuff like we're 'destroying homosexuality by pressuring/forcing gay men to have sex with vaginas' or we are 'confused girls who read too much fanfiction/yaoi manga/whatever and became obsessed with gay men and tried to become them'. It's definitely not the same as how they attack transfems, but it is common for gay trans guys to hear these kinds of attacks, especially from TERF-type transphobes.

[@lunawolfheart336]

@@robertofontiglia4148 it's a public space tho you can't just ban people baised on sex. That's against the law.

[@AxlTheo]

I have never heard of any bar for gay men explicitly banning trans men. In fact we tend to be completly ignored in most discourse in the gay male community. With that said, this is by no means an indication that gay bars, or the gay community in general is accepting of trans men. I think I have faced more transphobia in gay male spaces than I have anywhere else. Sadly this is an issue that tends to be ignored entirely.

[@ChristopherSadlowski]

The gay bar I used to go to back when I was a young person who loved going out was VERY inclusive. EVERYBODY would come out. Surprisingly, Drag Night was quite popular with the straight boys. These little stag parties would get all dressed up for the show. I could never figure it out, but it was nice to see straight men secure in themselves to openly participate in entertainment they might otherwise get mocked for. And they always behaved themselves and you could tell they weren't creeping around looking for trouble or hoping to get freaky on the DL. If, back then, I learned they started turning people away I'd just stop going. I always liked being in a place where I could be my gay self without self censoring but seeing everyone hanging out being themselves too.

[@Wolfgang8-Y]

The second caller has really good points about why lesbian bars are closing but I'd like to add to that. I live in a city with a few gay bars and one lesbian bar. All the lesbian/bi/pan women I know go to the lesbian bar _and_ the gay bars. The one lesbian bar that has survived over the years has always been open to all patrons. They even have a guy's night/drag show! The lesbian bars that don't allow men in pop up every once in a while and close almost immediately because no one goes. Not enough women want that. We aren't the Mattachine Society and the Daughters of Bilitis any more. We're the LGBTQ community, the queer community. Our activism and thus our friendships are no longer segregated. Lesbians want to be able to invite friends to wingman them and buy them drinks on their birthday and some of those friends might be bi or trans or men. Lesbian bars now have to cater to that diversity of relationships or fail.

[@friday13thirteen]

exactly!! it feels very out of touch to me to assume that all or most lesbians want to socialize exclusively with other lesbians - the reality of queer friend groups in the 21st century is that they're diverse! i want to go to a queer bar that welcomes all my queer friends, not someplace that will turn 70% of them away at the door for not fitting the mold of a cis lesbian. i don't want to invalidate the fact that there are lesbians who do want that kind of exclusive space, but i don't think a bar is realistically the place to have it.

[@aghasearmyshawolblinkonce8039]

🗣say it louder for the people in the back 🗣

[@roosterqmoney]

Is it not illegal to deny someone entry based on their gender?

[@juicyparsons]

@@roosterqmoney yeah technically. but bars and clubs can usually get around legal issues by posting that "we refuse the right to serve anybody" sign and then if you got sued the person(s) would have to prove the discrimination. It's probably just more effort than anybody wants to go through. but I worked at a bar that stopped doing ladies nights because there was a complaint from the state or something. so with the increase of anti-discrimination policies you're right that the whole thing might be archaic in a way

[@t123tina]

Lesbian bars do allow men in

[@rachelv673]

Also, having the different colors for different voices was amazing--your artistic flair always shines through and adds extra nuance and clarity

[@KatBlaque]

Aw thank you! I'm experimenting with formats and such so that feedback means a lot to me.

[@SoLongSpaceCat]

It also really helped me, as someone who has auditory processing issues! tysm

[@EdaliaDayCreative]

ooh I loved that too. As someone who sometimes skips ahead, you can easily see when it's a new person.

[@SleeperInTravel]

I love how you casted biological women to play them all. Nice touch.

[@user-fn8bq7ef7t]

I had a MTF friend that adamantly tried to step over the friend boundary with me, even when I told her no. She was pretty early in her transition and those experiences really felt, to me, that she was exhibiting straight male “ever pursuing, no friendzone” toxic behavior. You know the kind. She would do creepy things to me and other people and thought she got a pass because she was a woman now (she was actually on hormones and presenting as female, so she wasn’t a “Kevin with a Fish”). After enough badgering and bullshit I stopped being her friend. Now is this the norm with trans women? No, but I think the first caller is afraid of something similar happening in a lesbian space. Which to be fair, if this individual was at our LGBT+ hangout, I probably would stop going there… Now, does this experience have anything to do with trans people as a whole, especially MTF folx? Absolutely NOT. It’s that PERSON’S responsibility to stop being an asshole. The community they belong to shouldn’t have to apologize or be policed for this one individual’s behavior. I would also be extremely uncomfortable if our hangout turned away other trans people just because of one jerk’s reputation.

[@tungstenanderson5991]

HE

[@Random51960]

I’ve heard gay men talk about similar experiences with FTMs

[@tungstenanderson5991]

@@Random51960 Rare, but not even close to what lesbians have had to deal with.

[@Random51960]

@@tungstenanderson5991 there are trans guys everywhere these days.

[@tungstenanderson5991]

@@Random51960 Let me know when Stonewall calls out gay men for not having sex with them as they did with lesbians, calling them sexual racists for not fucking men.

[@esharp48]

This is an incredibly challenging subject for me. I'm a pansexual trans woman, who just started coming out and haven't started medically transitioning, I'm still "boy mode" more than not. The reason is my wife and I decided we want kids and it would be easier to do that now before HRT. I'm trying to avoid rambling, but I'm PETRIFIED of the idea that I might make any woman uncomfortable by being in a "woman's space". I've accepted, once I've fully initiated my transition, that I just won't use public, non-family bathrooms for years. I understand I just dont get access to locker rooms, spas, etc, probably forever (unless a lot of things change quickly and I wasn't a huge fan of those spaces anyway). I'm scared of even basic interactions I'm going to have raising my daughter, like a PTA meeting or school events, that my transness could ostracize her in anyway. Even my sexual identity, as a pan person, has changed. I have had intimate relationships with men in the past but even if I weren't with my partner, I just dont feel the same feelings anymore. My partner asked if that makes me a lesbian (she identifies as a lesbian) and I fear so much the idea of "invading women's spaces" that I just can't call myself that. I know I have a ton of internalized transphobia that I'm working through and I'm seeing a therapist about it, but it's so hard for me to heal that. It is so hard to watch these videos but I really appreciate that they exist. Sometimes itll take me weeks to finish videos because I can only handle so much. It creates an opportunity to face some of my worst fears in a safe space and I really appreciate that you make them Kat. Thank you.

[@KatBlaque]

Your experience/perspective is what I feel most trans women feel. This incredible amount of hesitation because you don't want to make a woman uncomfortable. I remember it took me a bit to use women's restrooms and once I did, I only did once I was actively passing.

[@esharp48]

@@KatBlaque also, one last thing I forgot in my long comment, I appreciate that you go deep into TERFs and transphobes. Sometimes hearing someone say things I'm most scared of, buffered with your commentary, really makes me realize that... even if someone has that opinion, it just doesn't matter. They can say and do whatever they want, but as long as they don't hold a position of power over me, they can just have that mean, hateful opinion and I should not let that stop me from being me.

[@simpulacra]

I can understand where the hesitation comes from and I think it's obviously at least in part cuz you're a kind person who wouldn't want to make a woman uncomfortable. But you are also woman and you deserve to feel safe too 💖 you deserve to be able to call yourself what your are. I hope the time you're comfortable with that comes soon.

[@andreadamon2197]

I feel you. I’m still working on my internalized transphobia too. It’s a process for sure

[@Lena-xy8id]

There are some men allowed in women spaces too fyi, imo as long as you're reading the room and not monopolizing the Convo idc if you're there

[@ShamuManta]

From now on i'll call every straight cis-man that is into lesbians a Kevin with a fish.🤣

[@KatBlaque]

lol.

[@whatsonhermindblog123]

That was my first time hearing that phrase lol

[@MsAttiD]

I might just not understand people who are more sexual than me (which is most people) but as a trans woman who dates women, I'm not going to bars to have sex, if I go to a bar it's to meet people who I MIGHT have sex with IF we get along and there's MUTUAL attraction. And I'm not dating "straight" or "lesbian" women, I'm dating women with whom I have mutual attraction with REGARDLESS of their identity (usually bi girls who later transition to being trans guys haha). I'm always surprised by this assumption that I'm trying to hit on, date, or hook up with people who aren't attracted to me. Why would I want to do that. If you aren't into me, don't worry, I'm here for the other people here who are.

[@LadyAstarionAncunin]

They're not talking about you, then. But let's just not dismiss other people's experiences based on what YOU do or don't do/experience!

[@mickwayne3398]

@@LadyAstarionAncunin the thing is.. for the terfs in these discussions ALL trans women are painted as potential predators.. much like conservatives tossing the "groomer" label around for gay men and trans women.. so AppleAtti's frustrations are totally valid

[@derekdolcy5839]

Nice 👍👍👍🙂 for u apple 🍏 att❤️💜👍👍

[@seronimo__7735]

Tbh, as a trans woman as well, I don't think it's just about us hitting on them. It's also...I don't think they want to be around men at all while they're in the space, they just want to chill and flirt with fellow women. Having someone they read as a man walk in probably sort of bursts the bubble. They didn't go into the space planning to interact with men at all--and given that they instinctively categorize us as men, it's probably not fun for them to see us in there. Which is sh*tty for us, but unfortunately it's not just bigotry.

[@JjayNC8L]

I'm trans-femme and I can say that even at 24, I don't go to clubs really, period, largely due to the fact that no matter where I go there is going to be a group of people massively uncomfortable. Gay, straight, les, there is always someone who thinks you don't belong there :/ and I can't exactly control the pace nor complications of my transition either. But I mean, it is what it is really, and I'm hoping things will change.

[@beefortebrea9386]

What is trans-femme? You're a trans woman?

[@cielsteam]

@@beefortebrea9386 Obviously, I don’t want to speak for someone else on what their identity is or how they define it, but my understanding of trans-femme is that they were perceived as masculine prior to transitioning to a more feminine presentation. Again, this is only my personal understanding of it, so I apologize if I mischaracterized this identity. To the original commenter and anyone that identifies as trans-femme, please correct me if I did!

[@lxmesoda]

​@@beefortebrea9386it means transfeminine, basically they transitioned to be more feminine (they may be a woman or a feminine non-binary person)

[@yol_n]

I'm glad you respect other people's boundaries. Everyone gets comfortable around a trans person. Maybe you should create trans inclusive spaces instead of trying to make already existing spaces trans inclusive

[@Cesar82nd]

You are a man.

[@WolfishMagic]

As a AFAB nonbinary pansexual person in lesbian spaces. I feel that a lot of time AMAB people are made into the villans (Not a fan of using AGAB but i think its relevant). Id never be told im invading a lesbian space. It wont ever be an issue for me because of the whole 'women lite' shit. But for other nonbinary and trans lesbian friends it can be. I think people misunderstand the point of spaces. Every individual has different boundaries. Its ok to be a lesbian who doesnt want to date someone with certain parts or presentation but they can still exist in the same space as you without it being 'unsafe'. Their lesbianhood isnt invalidated because you arent interested in them. And the general refusal to clearly seperate cis men predating on lesbians vs trans women who are lesbians trying to exist in a space annoys me. They are not the same. In some very rare cases you may not be able to tell which someone is but thats where your individual right and preferences come in. You dont have to interact with that person. If you feel unsafe (as in they are not taking No for an answer or are behaving aggressively etc regardless of gender) then thats obviously not good but that isnt caused by trans lesbians? thats caused by people abusing a space either by intentionally infiltrating it (eg cis men) or by them being a disrespectful person (Cis or trans lesbians can overstep ur boundaries it isnt inherently to do with transness.) Edit: some fantastic replies in the comments but just a trigger warning there are also some transphobes in the replies to this comment.

[@666kittycat666]

You hit it right on the head when you said that NB afab people are just seen as “woman lite”. It’s such a weird patriarchal thing to hold on to. The sentiment honestly kind of reminds me of a dark inverse where straight men call women lesbians if they’re not into them.

[@kallamarsspouse]

@@666kittycat666 Omg unrelated but your pfp is the same image I used as a wallpaper for my old computer. Love spotted hyenas

[@evies7679]

i’m an afab nb lesbian and my partner is an amab nb lesbian and it is so apparent how differently we are viewed in a community that is supposed to treat us as equals

[@Viranical]

Yeah, the whole "trans people who haven't transitioned shouldn't be in the space" thing is just "only trans women we think that aren't icky are allowed in" which completely ignores what you said where if you don't like a person in a space you don't have to interact with them, there isn't an epidemic of trans women going to spaces and screaming at people, we're usually pretty hyper aware of our presentation when we're in a space and if we were going to queer bars to prey on people we would get tossed out like any other creep, no one gives trans women a free pass to harass people, the reverse is true and any time a trans woman does be a creep there's thousands of articles made about her

[@kyleiq1912]

you've articulated what i was thinking so well, thank you

[@raynebow5289]

Wow, this is a conversation we've needed for decades. As an androgynous pansexual perceived as a lesbian in social circles, I have not only come across cis lesbian women who are blind to how they blatantly police gender expression, but I have also met lesbian women who are still battling the trauma they've faced with cis men, whether they pretended to be trans to fulfill their boundary-less desires or not. In both lesbian and gay bars, I've been to in Atlanta, everyone has been so welcoming, no matter anyone's personal preferences surrounding expression. The only time people were sanctioned is if they were nonconsensually groping patrons. Some of my dearest friends are trans with no intention to physically transition, and some of them do indeed face discrimination and sometimes violence from both cis women and men. For lesbians, I am certain a lot of the mistrust they feel is due to projections of past negative experiences with cis men; others likely feel threatened due to the competitive environment society has placed on them. That in no way excuses their behaviour. These people need to address their fears if they wish to grow. And the only way we as a people can grow is by allowing a safe space for conversation where the goal is not to be right, but rather to understand and be understood. ❤

[@FaiaHalo]

Yes to that last part!! As a victim of Spanish colonaziton, it'd be extremely stupid and frankly bigoted of me to hate on, blame and discriminate Spanish people in general now. Yes, there's a radical minority that's still nationalistic, but majority of Spanish people are just literal human beings wih struggles and happy moments, like the rest of us. So when TERFs do this, it's just transphobia, like I said. Because, first of all trans women are women, not cis men, or men at all, and second of all, trans women are not the cause of their traumas, cis men are.

[@Call-me-Al]

As a ciswoman who has experienced plenty of abuse from other women, the weird "(cis) women are pure and can't cause serious harm, and men are inherently harmful" attitude from some women (both lesbian and straight) skeeves me the fuck out. It feels like they are fetishizing women at the same time as pretending women are some mythological monolith with only tiny variations. People abused by women may not outnumber the same by men, but not being "the best at being awful" doesn't mean abusers aren't plentiful among women too. It's as frustrating as when people think parents couldn't possibly be extremely harmful to their children, that the child must have done something to deserve the abuse from the parents _if_ the child actually was abused and wasn't just "lying"/"being dramatic". I really hate how some don't consider men and women humans first with all the asshattery that is inherent in humanity. I am an autist and failed all the time to perform gender correctly as a kid, which may be why I have grown to see men and women as the same thing in terms of risk of harm - I likely received far more bad treatments from other girls and women growing up for involuntarily failing to act like "one of them" than the women who performed gender well from kindergarten. (Though I am aware that not "passing" well as my gender has given me the privilege to be unlikely to be pursued by the type of men who will kill women for rejecting them.)

[@automatic5]

finally someone smart in da commentsp

[@pmmcrn]

@Yeetus debeetus girl queen you're so bored?

[@KatiCleo]

this!!! very much!!

[@0hate9]

I mean, idk if this is just *my* experience, but I can't go on a dating app without it showing me men who *aren't even* pretending to be women, trans or otherwise. Most dating apps occasionally just show you men regardless of your settings, because men are the primary money-maker for dating apps.

[@espeon871]

LITERALLY LIKE??

[@i_crave_death4660]

I know it’s like 2 yrs late but FOR REAL. I used taimi cause I say the tiktok ads and omg the amount of straight men I’d get liking my page or even put on my recs was insane 😩 like I’m bi but where the girlies at. And same with Turn up even though it’s a dating app connecting you through you music taste I put my settings to show both men and women but majority of the times it’s just straight guys 😭

[@ehrenyu]

Decades ago I signed up for "just friends" and clicked on transwomen and women only and I only received messages from the horniest men alive who clearly lied on their profiles to match with me. Talk about ughh

[@phastinemoon]

Right? It’s not even about the “trans women vs cross dressing men” - it’s about the goddamn companies who just want money

[@azulazul2594]

It also happens with age. You can choose to only match with people over 30 but the app will still show you 20 year olds :/

[@elyashope5877]

About the question of not being "correct" to date a person of the same gender as you as a trans people, I think it also impacts trans men I am a young trans man and I've always had people who were surprised that I was gay. I guess they had in mind that I transitioned to please and attract the opposite gender, because I was disappointed of men (and why the hell would I want to be like people I don't like???) That's actually something I never understood, as I've always been attracted to men and never had real problems with them, and I actually experienced more transphobia with fathers of friends or of my partner than with them It just feels weird for people to think trans people can't be gay or attracted by the same gender

[@loverrlee]

I don’t understand it either because personal gender identity is and has always been separate from sexual attraction.

[@BrooksMoses]

That assumption always reminds me of a trans man that I know, who identified as a lesbian when he was a presenting-as-female teenager, and only became attracted to men after transitioning. It's like -- maybe gender identity and expression is separate from sexual attraction and maybe it isn't, but if it is connected it is certainly not connected in a simplistic heteronormative way!

[@Montesama314]

The idea of "being disappointed in men" to become a man is both confusing and hilarious to me. "You call that manhood? You fucking amateur. Watch THIS!"

[@thebreeoche]

the idea of trans women "taking over" lesbian bars is weird to me because, as a non-binary butch whos friends with many trans women and currently dating one the most common reaction when i take trans women to lesbian bars is very high nervousness. they only go in such spaces because im here with them and known there, even if i only go to explicitly trans-inclusive bars as someone who exists in the grey area between butch woman and trans man, because theyre afraid they dont look enough like women to be allowed in. the idea of trans women not only entering lesbian spaces alone but also aggressively flirting with the people there seems ridiculous if youve ever met a trans woman... maybe it happens, every group of people has assholes and bad people in it, but it's so very obviously not the norm.

[@yakuzaman5074]

Honestly I don't know where people get this from the whole "the trans are taking over"it's like out of 1000 people maybe one or two are trans.. I don't know it sounds like hype paranoia /an excuse to exclude trans people without being called transphobic At least in my opinion.

[@Ikki3694]

I can agree on this because most transwoman especially pretransition are super nervous to be out in the open expressing themselves. Imo it seems like if you don't pass we don't want you in our spaces. I met ny girlfriend pretransition so I've never been in those spaces. However even reading gender critical posts on reddit, a lot of lesbians who are opposed are just transphobic and they don't believe in trans lesbians. ( I thought I was lesbian b4 transitioning, I realized I'm bi but lean towards women just because like idk men scare me plus I love my gf so I don't have intentions of dating anyone but her.) Idk though I get it because guys will pretend and I can see how people might be uncomfortable but I definitely see that lesbians are super transphobic when we're in their spaces ( not all of them) I think my voice is really my tip to why I don't pass. Because most people can't tell until I speak. Or if my shoulders are giving man. But for the most part I don't see transwoman being so aggressive when most of them don't do things to draw attention to themselves especially pretransition because getting clocked is the first thing we're thinking about but that's just me.

[@Viranical]

THANK YOU!

[@Viranical]

@@Ikki3694 I can't believe there's a bunch of trans women going out and just harassing people, we are hyper aware of our presentation, even trans women who don't medically transition are still hyper aware of their presentation, when cis lesbians talk about "non transition trans women" entering their spaces they're almost certainly talking about trans women they think don't pass, there are trans women who aren't medically transitioning who pass better than me, and can do makeup really well who aren't what these cis lesbians think of when they think of non transition, they're thinking of women that they can clock, and it does put you on edge for being clocked, especially when getting clocked means people can be violent, I'm 6' tall and don't really like makeup so I get clocked a lot but have been transitioning for 3 years, I probably won't ever pass but I'm happy with myself, and these exclusionist lesbians usually have a narrow view of what passes as a woman anyways, there are women that find me attractive as a woman and the exclusionists can die made, I still don't imagine myself entering a sapphic space alone though just cause of how scary getting clocked can be

[@bestaqua23]

I know a few older trans women how are not out or are not physically transitioning and I can barely imagine them going into such a space with an invention

[@lizzymatheson6487]

I’ve never seen so much stock footage of women where they aren’t eating salad.

[@KatBlaque]

lol. I spent more time looking for stock footage than I did hosting and editing the episode. lol.

[@lizzymatheson6487]

Noble pursuit if I ever heard one.

[@biged8329]

This conversation is so interesting to me, coming from a place of being a “former lesbian” who’s now a trans guy. I was allowed to be so, so butch at the bar I went to with my sapphic friends - I’m talking binding my chest and everything else traditionally masc except hormones. And nobody batted an eyelash. In a weird way, going to that bar with my friends and noticing how out of place I felt in a space where I really thought I’d feel more comfortable and “myself” than ever, was formative in my journey to transitioning. Obviously I wouldn’t feel comfortable going back to a lesbian bar, but I’m glad I had the opportunity to do so when I was still early in my gender journey. I guess my point is that people aren’t finished products; you might be meeting someone new right when they’re in the most liminal space they’ve ever been in. I would wager that this might especially be the case in queer spaces where people generally feel more comfortable trying out new things and exploring their gender expression. I don’t want anyone to lose that opportunity just because they don’t meet an impossible, arbitrary, constantly-shifting standard of femininity that I, as a “butch lesbian,” was allowed to just skirt past (no pun intended).

[@lunawolfheart336]

Wierd thing is I'm a trans man and an still in this lesbian online chat Ivd been in before I came out. No one there really cares since I just monitor the chat. There's been several lesbian chats that literally wouldn't let me leave. But on that same platform I've seen trans woman being treated like shit. like what's with that

[@Kris-wo4pj]

I think despite what people say they only care about what's between someone's legs when it comes to acceptance in places like these. People born female at birth then transitioned to nonbinary or trans men get a base no matter how masc they are. While people born male at birth then transition to nonbinary or trans women dont get a base and instead get hate due to whats between their legs. Its feels extremely invalidating for the ones judged i think and everyone pretends its not suppose to be. Even tho the literal issue is whats between the legs. It took me yrs to stop myself from thinking the same way and i found myself alot less judgemental and alot more understanding and relaxed about it and my own transition but also intolerant about people who still think this way.

[@fuzzybuzzy3159]

@@lunawolfheart336 "Penis skawy :(" is their logic. As a trans guy who has been in verbal fist-fights with TERFs in online spaces, it always always always boils down to them weaponising their trauma against others without having a shred of humanity while doing it.

[@automatic5]

@@Kris-wo4pj do u rly think afab ppl dont experience hate for whats between their legs too? like r u serious rn .... this is the most ignorant statement ive seen here

[@Flufferz626]

You can have hobbies and attractions without physically changing yourself

[@AtlanticGiantPumpkin]

Non-binary bisexual from Dallas here. It can get put into perspective the further south you go. Our local lesbian bar is Sue Ellen’s. It nearly shut down during COVID. But I think everyone part of the Sue Ellen’s family realizes that our threat isn’t each other - IT’S REPUBLICANS!! There have been smaller and smaller crowds because sometimes people are afraid to go out.

[@EamonWill]

YES! Exactly this! I am terrified of the radical conservative movement and how open and threatening/violent it has become. I didn't even feel safe going to PRIDE this year. (Not that I could have, I had surgery at the beginning of this month.) Also, no one has the money to go out and everyone has dating apps so they don't need to go out in order to 'meet' people anymore. Bad combo for any bar/club.

[@tungstenanderson5991]

@@EamonWill Oh for effs sakes. I am a lesbian. I have no fear of conservatives. I have a fear of morons, like the the OP and yourself when you call yourselves "non binary" when you're human beings and being human beings we are binary species, which is why I am a lesbian like any women who is same sex attracted. I am an adult human female who is same sex attracted. The vile nature of the trans and non binary so called people have been so violent to lesbians and women, to the point that Stonewall in the UK has deemed lesbians as "sexual racists" for not including men who say they are women in their dating as sex pool. You're homophobic to the core and misogynistic. Hateful to boot.

[@erxa781]

Exactly!! This is why i cannot understand the lgb+ people who act like excluding the T will get them brownie points with people who literally hate us all... Being the token gay or token lesbian on the right does nothing for them.

[@aelianaevergreen8955]

My wife and I try to go to Sue Ellen's for the block party, it's nice to see some other queer people in texas here. I've always felt very welcome in Sue Ellen's.

[@MiriamClairify]

I want to flip the script a little bit: so I'm a cis bi/ace-spec woman who lives in a small-ish town with no lesbian bars, but before the pandemic there was a monthly sapphic meetup/dance party organized by a trans woman that I used to go to and it was really good and fun and valuable to me. I'm so thankful that the woman who was motivated to organize these events decided to make a welcoming space for me even though cis women like me have made a lot of lesbian spaces unwelcoming to trans women - I'm honestly *more* understanding of why trans people would want their own space without cis people than why cis lesbians would feel like they need a cis only space, so I'm really honored to be included. And yeah, because it was an event organized by a trans person, the people who showed up were often disproportionally trans, and by that I don't even mean it was majority trans, just maybe a lot closer to 50/50 than most spaces, yno? Because trans people tend to know a lot of trans people. So in my city trans lesbians are why we have even a little bit of a lesbian scene and I'm really grateful.

[@MiriamClairify]

And as was alluded to by a couple callers, I feel safer and more welcome in a space like this than I would in a space that wanted to police people's lesbian cred because even though I'm not trans, my bi-ness and ace-ness would likely also make me unwelcome in terfy lesbian spaces. Honestly even if I were allosexual and strictly lesbian, I like to think that I wouldn't want to be in community with a bunch of transphobes, and I certainly wouldn't want to date one. So that's relevant to the thing you see sometimes when people are like "well trans women can have their own spaces and cis women can have their own spaces problem solved" like what if I have trans friends and trans loved ones and don't want to hang out with or date people who hate them though?

[@electronics-girl]

That's really awesome! I can't speak for other trans women, but personally I don't think that trans women would want to exclude cis women. We are women, and cis women are also women, and we just want to be "one of the girls".

[@IsraelGodsImmovableRock]

Why are you doing all this dividing lgbtq into smaller fringe groups? There's never gonna be any transwomen for real. Without Natural Born women.

[@a.s.3318]

I was thinking the same thing listening to these conversations! I'm a cis lesbian and I wouldn't be able to fully relax in a space where trans-exclusionist creeps are looming. I don't understand how some cis lesbians could prefer the company of transphobes over trans lesbians. And when they discussed the idea of a trans-exclusionary lesbian bar, I wanted to scream! The last thing our community needs is a space where young lesbians are lured in to be indoctrinated by transphobes. An explicitly trans-inclusive lesbian bar would be wonderful, but creating a "safe space" for transphobes would add insult to the injury that transphobes have already dealt our community.@@MiriamClairify

[@futonrevolution7671]

"people blamed transwomen, as kind of like this bogeyman" sent me.

[@ladyredl3210]

She's correct unfortunately, I've heard that from other trans gals

[@futonrevolution7671]

@@ladyredl3210 I think that my response got eaten by auto-blocked terms, and I'm not sure of a good way to explain the joke without them. Umm, "transwomen being referred to as imaginary male monsters that lurk in the enclosed spaces of your sleeping quarters, where clothes are kept."

[@m.edison9339]

@@ladyredl3210 they do the same thing to cis bi women too. The rhetoric is IDENTICAL, like their lil brains can't keep up so it just copy-pastes the community in depending on the moment.

[@ladyredl3210]

@@m.edison9339 I used to be one of those people when I first came out. And then I grew up,and evolved.

[@truzle6133]

I'm confused because I read the article she referenced and it didn't blame trans women at all.

[@emel3925]

I’m so annoyed to learn there are literally CIS men on lesbian dating sites or at lesbian bars 😑 That’s so frustrating, and adds an annoying complication to this topic

[@overgrownkudzu]

yeah, it's also funny how everything the first caller mentioned as problems could be solved if cis men just wouldn't lie to prey on lesbians. like, it's not trans women, it's straight cis men they actually have a problem with.

[@laurenjones2909]

It's been going on for a while but especially since the gender identity has come in , not good hopefully more lesbians will speak up and get their spaces back

[@loubailing1999]

No kidding! It goes both ways though; I used to have a female friend that would pretend to be a trans man to take advantage of men at gay bars. She confessed this to me and laughed while doing it. While it might be uncommon, people like her are out there and will take advantage of people if they get the chance.

[@Lilah1848]

@@loubailing1999 BS!! I don't believe that for a second. You know it's 99.9% men out here doing this! And this self-id mess has made it so any man can literally call himself a trans woman, and then call women 'bigoted' and transphobic for not sleeping with him. And y'all will support it and call her a terf. Even though lesbians are same-sex attracted women!! This is just homophobia and misogyny, it's always women that lose out.

[@ExeErdna]

@@Lilah1848 I honestly look down on men that do that, like they REALLY had to flip the script that hard to get any sort of power back in the dating dynamic. They're like twisted mirror image to the Terf while horribly confirming all the horrible shit they've been saying for years. It feels like it was a way of them willing this to happen.

[@eq2360]

i really like how these call ins are spaces where people dont have to be afraid to express their takes, because even if they have a bad take or just are unaware of the fuller argument, they can feel heard and then in return they can listen and possibly change their mind. i also really appreciate the subtitles, and the effort youve put into visuals!

[@WhatWouldLubitschDo]

I love the caller who calls out increasing income inequality. It seems so obvious to me... a lot of the lesbian inclusive spaces that are able to stay afloat have to intentionally cater to gay men as well, and while I love a mixed space, there’s a difference between including our friends and having next to no spaces left that actually CENTER us.

[@NeyamStar]

Lesbains don't drink as much tho 😒

[@ColaSpandex]

I feel for you. My local nightclub holds a trans night once a month on a Wednesday. Maybe you could suggest something similar for lesbians (assuming there's enough demand).

[@Gallant_Silver]

I've never been a fan of call-in segments, but I actually found this super interesting to listen to.

[@KatBlaque]

Aw thank you. That's good to hear! I'm experimenting with formats and such.

[@octodaddy2553]

@@KatBlaque this might have to do with the recent editing changes you've made also. I find myself more engaged as the videos are more aesthetically pleasing to listen to while a convo is going on

[@nova756]

same!!

[@robertofontiglia4148]

Hi Kat! I'm a transgender woman and I think I consider myself a lesbian? See, I'm pretty much only exclusively attracted to women, but I am terrified of even claiming to be a lesbian because even though I've been transitionning socially openly for about two years now, and my name and legal gender are going to be changed officially within 30 days of writing this, and I'm on hormones (though it hasn't been long), I'm still afraid of stepping in a place where I'm not wanted. If you go on a subreddit like r/MtF, it's chock-full of trans lesbians who have been on hormones for like 6 months, who are terrified at the thought of going to the ladies' room for fear of making other women uncomfortable, or of causing any kind of scene. Mostly, the trans women I've known are apoplectic with fear of intruding, of disrupting, or of just walking into spaces where we don't belong. It hurts because it's something that we're all very self-conscious about. When I hear this sort of thing, "trans women are invading women-only spaces, they're not real women, etc." I'm always really confused. Where are they, these aggressively confident, non-performing trans women? You know, they keep talking about these trans women, who "don't even do anything to try and be outwardly feminine", and who haven't even started hormones, and who don't pass at all, and like, uh... Really? You've really seen these trans women? Where the fuck are they? I've never met them.

[@ladyredl3210]

They don't exist as a far as I can tell. My wife sobbed uncontrollably when she told me she was pre GRS, because she was convinced I would call her a man and hang up on her. I already didn't like TERFS but that experience made trans rights the hill I'm dying on. And for context, I am cis, and cis men have treated me very badly because I'm femme. So I'm not a fish holder fan either. But those men aren't my wife's fault!

[@monicanlamppost]

I've known more than one trans woman who often (as they put it) "goes butch." I'm not saying that to defend people who want to exclude trans women from lesbian spaces. Just pointing out that being a woman or girl doesn't mean wearing pink and acting like a valley girl stereotype. You can wear whatever the heck you want and, for the love of humanity, do not let other people dictate whether you're going to change your body or personality to fit into their expectations of your gender. This applies to trans women (and all other genders) as well. (I'm a straight, cis woman, full disclosure.)

[@emschmetty417]

@Yeetus debeetus I don‘t think a nazi‘s opinion matters to anyone here, least of all, lesbians

[@priestunicorn1384]

@Yeetus debeetus being a woman attracted to women only makes you a lesbian so there's everything lesbian about her. You forgetting how sexualities are defined?

[@lvmln7843]

I'm sad that you feel that way, and I don't want to sound patronizing, but I want to tell you that you have every right to identify as a lesbian and step into lesbian spaces no matter what you look like!!! I've got two friends who are out trans lesbians and don't pass at all (i'm not saying this to be mean, they know that + i live in a country that makes transition really hard for people) and they are confident in their identities, even though they are not "outwardly feminine" at all. So - such lesbians exist (they are not a myth haha), but even if they make some cis women uncomfortable, they have every right to act and look any way they want, you do as well. The way cis people treat trans people is not trans people's fault, it's cis people's fault. I hope you'll feel more confident soon, because your identity is valid and beautiful!!

[@Hal-p5y]

Got made fun of as a AFAB person for being too glammed up at my local lesbian bar. “Here comes the barbies.” Made me feel like I was back in highschool, getting comments from mean straight boys. Why do cis women think it’s ok when they do it?

[@EdaliaDayCreative]

Brilliant video. Very interesting. As a British non passing trans woman I’ve never felt super confident in lesbian bars when I go with my lesbian friends, but the handful of times I’ve been I’ve been flirted with a bit and had a lot of lovely acceptance which was surprising and lovely. I was performing in cabaret those times though so that may have helped.

[@kikibara1]

Woah Edalia Day is a cool ass name, like super awesome, im adding it on my baby name list!

[@EdaliaDayCreative]

@@kikibara1 Aw thanks Kikibara :)

[@francookie9353]

You have really nice hair 🥰

[@EdaliaDayCreative]

@fizzsoda Thanks. That's really lovely. But I'm 6' 4'' with a low voice and I definitely don't pass. And I accept and love myself knowing that fact. It took a long while to get to this place but I used to think myself ugly for not passing but now I accept that I'm beautiful and that I don't pass and that those two things don't have to be mutually exclusive and that my self worth needn't be tied into that.

[@BramLastname]

@@EdaliaDayCreative at some point enough is enough, You can only do so much for others Before you have to sacrifice your personal happiness. So I commend you for trying to pass, But also for knowing your limits.

[@zb2363]

This is a fascinating conversation, thank you. I came out as bi (eventually pan) in 1987. I am perceived as “femme” and back then when I went to lesbian bars I was looked at suspiciously and looked down on for not looking more “masculine”. Back then to have long hair and wear makeup was not accepted at all (publicly at least). I think it’s ever-changing, ever-evolving. It used to be only LG rights, it evolved slowly (I remember a popular pride march voting to take the B out of the march because they thought it “watered down” the political message!) to LBG, then T, Q, etc. Also, finances have always been rough for lesbian bars. I remember the only lesbian bar “616” in Northampton, MA (lesbian haven in the US) closing way back in the 80s and how upset we were way back then. Economics. Great topic, thanks for this!

[@user-vl8ws4wd7o]

This point about being femme is so, so true! It always bugs me because the people criticising trans and cis women and enbys for not being feminine enough pretend like our community hasn't historically and even today been judging and suspicious of femme lesbians and bi women.

[@yol_n]

@@shraika LGB would be fine but they had to include the problematic T as well 😂

[@yol_n]

@@user-vl8ws4wd7o I prefer femme woman... I thought the point of the pride group was that you could dress how you wanted though? Like woman that look masculine are not my type but why would they hate the woman that hate the femmes?

[@juratory8876]

​@@shraika Trans people have always been a part of this community. Cope and seethe. Signed, A cis bi woman

[@theofthe2299]

@@yol_n you don’t prefer “femme women” you prefer feminine (I would hope straight) women, unless you, a self-admittedly straight man are just hitting on lesbians who don’t want anything to do with you ☠️☠️ Lord. Also why in the world do you think you have any authority over the “T”

[@tinnagigja3723]

As someone who is misgendered with some regularity (including being asked in a bar restroom if I'm a trans woman) I would not feel entirely comfortable going into a space that's advertised (or lets itself be known) as a trans-exclusionary zone, any more than I'd be comfortable in a space that let itself be known as "straights only". Then again, I'd also be highly uncomfortable in a space that was "whites only", even though I'm as pale as an anemic mime.

[@leviacronym6770]

There was this one gay club I went to a few times and it never really bothered me when I walked into the women's room and there were men, usually cis gay men, in there. They weren't trying to creep on me and they were friendly. If I went to a lesbian bar and there were cis men, or masculine looking transwomen/lesbians in the women's bathroom, it wouldn't bother me (unless they were trying to perv on me of course). But maybe it's because I am both male and female, and it just doesn't bother me. I've always been more accepting of people and as long as nobody screws around with me, I'm good.

[@neuralmute]

@@leviacronym6770 Same! Back in the day, one of my favourite gay bars (now closed, sadly), only ever had unisex bathrooms. And it was fine! Kind of a refreshing change, actually, from the usual lines in women's rooms... As a footnote, this was also back when I thought I was a cis woman; I've since realised that I'm non-binary and rather genderfluid, though with a strong masc. leaning.

[@transsexual_computer_faery]

i have an extremely hot take about whites only spaces, so hot i'd be flamed to hell if i spoke about it

[@jackoh991]

Same

[@ramentaco9179]

i’ve been transitioning for years and i still don’t enter women’s spaces, because i don’t pass. that first caller honestly reminded me why cis women make me so uncomfortable

[@EinBienenliebhaber]

They say we are a community, but the second things go wrong, 9/10 times, why? Because we’re easy prey, and then: trans people become the escape goat, until there’s no one left to blame and they start to hunt themselves.

[@jackoh991]

I'm so sorry people have made you feel like that. Her opinion was awful and I'm really disappointed she apperently dated a trans woman and still has such ignorant views

[@deepwaters7242]

I have several trans women friends and they are a delight to hang with. Even if they aren't far along, it has been excellent company.

[@ericmulder2602]

It’s been my experience that lesbians have always been protective of their spaces. Probably because they have so few! But in the 90s I (a gay man) went with a group of lesbian friends to a lesbian bar and got kicked out. Later in the 90s I was invited to a lesbian bar, by its manager, to help teach a dance class-and the patrons of that bar kicked me out. The manager profusely apologized, but it got ugly before I was hustled out the back door. In some ways it must be worse now, because the shrinking bar scene means there are fewer lesbian-only spaces. Hell, even as a gay man, I feel the loss of gay-only spaces. The last time I went to a gay bar, I got hit on by straight women. That’s not the reason I stopped going to bars, but it was certainly the last nail in the coffin--because if gay bars are going to feel like straight bars, then why drive an hour to go to one?

[@Ymirec]

It's a really complicated issue. I personally know men who are just that horny/desperate/fetishist that they do pretend to be transwomen in order to get with lesbians. I also know bi transwomen who prefer women and suffer because "Kevin with a fish" (lol) gives them a bad name. However, in real life, I find it easy to tell the two apart. There's definitely a different vibe with transwomen, call it intuition or whatever. Men who pretend to be trans are easy to spot imo, they often oversexualize topics in conversations with women, they're pushy when it comes to dating/hookups, and yes, they usually don't "look queer".

[@antonialoos546]

Yes! And generally those men probably will not respect boundaries and be creepy so I’ll just reject them anyways just like I would reject an afab lesbian that doesn’t respect my boundaries 🤷🏻‍♀️

[@nukiradio]

@@antonialoos546 have to agree. Cis guys, gay or straight, have a tendency to just ignore your boundaries and bumrush your intimacy to get laid

[@VictoryAtSea]

> I personally know men who are just that horny/desperate/fetishist that they do pretend to be transwomen in order to get with lesbians sure you do lol

[@Ymirec]

Believe whatever you want if it makes you feel better but that won't change reality unfortunately.

[@antonialoos546]

@@nukiradio That´s not what i said. I was just talking about man crossdressers that infiltrate lesbian spaces for fetishist reasons. But yeah a lot of guys don´t understand consent still.

[@Arosukir6]

I wonder if there isn't a level of classism in the convo that isn't being addressed? I don't know how much it costs to medically transition, but I can't imagine it being cheap. Plus the time it would take with surgeries and recovery. Like, isn't saying you only want to see trans women who have "transitioned far enough" leaving out a ton of women who can't afford to? Like, they'd either have to spend enough time and money on surgery, or time and money on passing makeup, you know? I also agree with the folks saying like, you don't have to have sex with literally every woman in a lesbian bar, right? It's one thing if you're an SA survivor, and the very sight of someone who looks male might straight up trigger trauma. But if it's just like, you don't like the look of, or feel kind of uncomfortable around women who look more masculine, you could always just not talk to them, no? Am I missing something?

[@jennoscura2381]

The only reason I was able to get Sex Reassignment Surgery is because I had insurance that covered it. Kaiser FTW! There was a time I decided against SRS because I figured I would never be able to afford it. And why bother wanting something I could never have. Thankfully I was lucky enough to be able to get it. But a lot of people aren't that lucky. So expecting a certain level of transition is classist. I personally expect people to do something. If you have made zero effort in your transition beyond calling yourself a woman and using female pronouns; I am going to have a hard time seeing you as a woman. Besides class issues; some people have medical issues that get in the way of medical transition. As someone who is disabled and chronically ill; they have my sympathy. I would absolutely cut them a whole lot of slack. But if you can transition and just choose not to; then I am going to have a hard time seeing you as a woman. I will respect their name and pronouns. I will gladly call you she if that's what you prefer. But I am not going to see you as a woman. Sorry dude but you aren't going to make my queer clitty tingle.

[@aiden3627]

you've got it pretty much on the nose i think.

[@transsexual_computer_faery]

money is usually only an issue in America, so that aspect is important, but it is strictly American, in other countries most things are covered by insurance or government healthcare (but often not all of it like FFS might be considered esthetic and not medical treatment etc etc). the bottom line is , it's reactionary. we can unpack that reactionary-ness but i don't have time for that now lel

[@Arosukir6]

@@transsexual_computer_faery Money is less of a problem in *most* of the world, sure. But parts of North Africa and Asia don't have universal healthcare and will still have to deal with cost and access. Either because the trans person can't afford it and their country doesn't have universal healthcare, or the country itself doesn't have access to the resources necessary for the surgeries. Even places *with* universal healthcare systems will often exclude gender-adfirmation surgery. Some are actively trying to outlaw it or create expensive and time-consuming red tape (lookin' at you, UK). In those countries, however, rich folks can still afford to travel somewhere where they can pay to get the surgery instead. Similar to how we in the US know that outlawing abortion really only does so for the poor, since rich folks can just fly to where it's legal.

[@jennoscura2381]

@@transsexual_computer_faery I was really lucky to have insurance that covered my Sex Reassignment Surgery when I lived in California. Now that I live in Nevada I don't have that insurance. So I am going to have to conduct a fundraiser to cover breast implants. My old insurance covered implants for trans women as well as Facial Feminization Surgery. I am kicking myself in the ass for not having gotten those surgeries while I had the chance.

[@Cuiro78299]

Kat Blaque videos help me realize the subconscious transphobia I have. I thought the first caller was reasonable, but the second caller put me in my place. Better yet, watching her videos, I don't feel ashamed or judged- I'm learning!! 5 years ago I learned everything I could about trans men to support a close childhood friend, and I thought that knowledge would stop me from having ignorance towards trans women & their experience. As a cis lesbian who has just entered adulthood, I'm glad I'm gaining the knowledge to enter sapphic spaces.

[@KatBlaque]

Aw thanks. This comment is encouraging! I want folks to learn

[@cjtsang]

I am a lesbian from and living in NYC, and I've seen plenty of people who may or may not have been cis men at Cubbyhole. No one around us seemed particularly bothered by their presence. I understand that many cis women have had traumatic experiences with men and penises in general, but there is no non-intrusive way to separate cis men from trans women from AFAB lesbians who bind and take testosterone. It's an incredibly subjective task that would inevitably exclude well-meaning trans women, who are already beaten down and excluded enough from our communities as it is. Plus we have to take into account that black women are more often read as male or having male features than women of other races. The policy as suggested by the first caller would impact black trans women the most, and how is that fair at all? How is that helping lesbians? I feel LESS safe in a space where I know butch lesbians and trans women will be scrutinized to this extent, just in case we let a cis man in. Any creepy person in our lesbian bars will be dealt with accordingly-I don't understand why this has to involve unnecessarily targeting trans women and masc-presenting women.

[@Nada07able]

Exactly.

[@andiman44]

“Black women are more often read as male or having male features than women of other races…” I don’t know if you genuinely don’t know how racist you sound but this is racist. Whether you’re talking about cis black women or trans black women, black women don’t look less feminine than other races of women and trans black women aren’t likely to look more masculine than trans women of other races.

[@SapphicFurry]

@@andiman44 They said that because **racist** people think that way about black women. Pointing out a stereotype that could affect the discussion at hand does not equate to one believing or supporting said stereotype.

[@miniamo_]

@@andiman44 No, as an afab black person yes black women are read as male more often than other races. We need to address the problem instead of ignoring it. This is actually a problem and saying this doesn't happen does not help.

[@morninghstarkwe8244]

I first caller was very triggering - it’s very classist,sexist and ableist to say ‘prove to me you are transitioning’ like what does a woman look like- does she wear make up, dresses, high heels and with delicate shoulders on a petite frame. how does a woman act- does she have a soft voice , dainty mannerisms and behaviours. She keeps talking about a Kevin with a fish and it just reminds me all those weird ass incels describing people as “Chad’s and Stacey’s”. It was very transphobic and reeks of privilege

[@NeoRena]

As a trans woman lesbian, I just wanted to throw my experience into the ring. I've been transitioning medically for 3 years now and have socially transitioned and all of that as well. Due to a LOT of past abuse I am guy shy and so prefer being in women's only spaces, however I really only feel comfortable doing that online since I have a lot of self-esteem issues about my appearance. So in public queer spaces I'll tend to only really hang out with other queer trans girls since it's just a lot easier and they're more understanding. Plus I just feel really predatory being in cis lesbian spaces so I just avoid them. It's nice to know a lot of cis lesbians are becoming more accepting of trans women in women's spaces though, and hopefully things will be better for the generations to come!

[@miaposamarie226]

Im so sorry for that. I just want you to know that you are a very beautiful woman and know you'll find a space between lesbian and cis women as well as non cis.

[@tabbymoonshine5986]

Ignore the above, you will always be who you know yourself to be 😊

[@jacineyatrakos3149]

@Yeetus debeetus cope

[@beatrizkarwai6763]

@Yeetus debeetus Yellow Whales Never Bake Apple Waffles

[@flog5232]

@Yeetus debeetus real mature

[@JasonBakerEngineer]

I've not had a ton of experience with lesbian bars, but what I have had has been positive. They're generally much more inclusive than gay bars that's for sure.

[@KatBlaque]

That's surprising to me! Can you tell me more?

[@Crazypixiness]

@@KatBlaque This isn't necessarily in North America but if you check out "TOKYO BOTTOMS" they have a few videos talking about lesbian and gay inclu/exclusivity in Japan and their comparisons to living in Canada. Might be interesting!

[@JasonBakerEngineer]

@@KatBlaque I was kind of nervous when I first went, as someone who definitely does not pass. But everyone was friendly to me. Gay bars definitely make it clear when you're someone who's not desirable, and if you're not a man you're not desirable. I can count the number of trans women I've met in gay men's spaces on one hand. Not to denigrate the harms that TERFs do, I think we have a tendency to be uncharitable to women. But really I think women if anything are less likely to be transphobic than men are. But that's just my anecdotal experience.

[@LadyLunarSatine]

I'm a bi trans woman in Georgia and once dealt with a person who asked "Why would you want to go to a lesbian bar? Are trans bars not a thing?"

[@justaperson98]

The idea that there is a rampage of trans women invading women’s spaces and proudly taking up real estate there is so interesting to me, because it shows that that person is probably never really met a trans woman. I am over a year into my transition and have physically changed quite a lot (have visible breasts now much, much longer hair, shave every morning), yet every time I’m out in public I put on a concealing jacket and use the men’s restroom. I can’t imagine boldly strolling into any space where I could potentially be seen as a man because that is the validation of all of my intrusive thoughts. I don’t swim anymore, because I don’t know what to wear to be not perceived as a pervert.

[@WalkInMyPawsteps]

While I understand and sympathize with the fact that you personally would not feel comfortable going into a gendered space where you could be misinterpretted as a man, I will say that not all trans women are like you. I'm a cis lesbian who has seen people at a lesbian bar/club who were like, 6ft tall with a beard and a tshirt that said "she/her" in jeans and a button with lesbian flags on it. While I don't think all trans women have to pass, and I don't think lesbian bars need to even be fully gendered or exclusive (there were a handful of men there too, cis men who were presumedly gay and some trans men) but there are still definitely people who don't put in any effort to "pass" and still call themselves women/trans.

[@skyclaw]

@@WalkInMyPawsteps Trans women should make an effort to-be less tall?

[@Skies133]

@@skyclaw stop trying to put words in their mouths. That is not what "Shion" meant and you know it!

[@amb600cd0]

@@Skies133 u got trolled >:D

[@lactarius7781]

@@Skies133 okay, but mentioning the height is just rude and unnecessary. Trans women are constantly bullied for being tall and it's not fun. The point isn't that specific person, the point is that it's not great to use someone's height as part of the evidence that they're not a woman.

[@LainInTheBrain]

5:53 aside from her point about socially transitioning (edit: which i don't agree with anymore), "started hormones 2 weeks ago", like where I live it's not that easy to get on hormones in the first place and even aside from that not everyone has the PRIVILEGE (wether that be mental health, family situation, finances, time for beaurocracy etc) to get on hormones that easily. I think it's kind of rude to discredit trans women who aren't/haven't been on hormones for that long. It's not that easy for everyone and I wish she'd understand that.

[@kaylastarr7863]

I think she was being a bit glib, not literally meaning that you have to be in hormones for X time. Not agreeing with her, i don't think there's any way to police who comes into a gay/lesbian bar without being discriminatory in a harmful way.

[@Man-wolf-]

Her point abt “not putting an effort into socially transitioning” is bad too , not every trans person is a kalvin garrah or blaire white whom can easily transition w no worry, some cant even socially transition or they will be beaten by cis ppl

[@LainInTheBrain]

@@Man-wolf- yes that's true and i didn't think of that. I was just speaking from my personal experience and frustrations abt people not understanding that medical transition isnt just a matter of "if you really wanted it, you would've done it by now". I've personally had less problems with "basic" social transition efforts (like growing long hair, wearing somewhat feminine clothes occasionally, painting my nails etc.), while not being out to my family, but yes you couldn't expect that from everyone. I guess that would also come down to having to "prove" that ur a trans woman *- which is such a dehumanizing experience. edit: *(or having to prove that ur trans in general)

[@blubblubidk]

Cis people seem to think "well since hormones and surgeries exist, every trans person has all of them instantly" purely because they haven't had to go through the transitioning system. Getting to those points in time are hard, and surgery is SURGERY, there are recovery times, risks, high costs, and many reasons why people may delay or not even have certain surgeries. Hormones too are very expensive, and in some places you need to jump through so many hoops to get to them. But cis people who seem to only know about the fact that we HAVE these things, don't realise the reality of these things, so that's why I think so many of them base their idea of being trans on medically transitioning.

[@Man-wolf-]

@@LainInTheBrain yeah i can get it but to me people claiming “you arent putting effort into social transitioning” is them showing their lack of knowladge, for ex , i came out to my mother as trans but she basically treats it as a phase despite me being 20 no matter how many times i tell her to stop calling me a girl she wont , not everyone is priviliged enough to be instantly accepted

[@geelllee]

Im just really curious to know how many cis lesbians have actually had these horror stories where cis men have impersonated a transwoman to try and get with a lesbian happen to them. I am by no means saying it has never happened, but it all seems to be word of mouth or on dating apps, not in person. And then even in that instance it is not transwomen that are to blame, it's predatious men. They're acting like transwomen are coming in droves to lesbian bars and driving all the lesbians out when they are a much smaller demographic than cis lesbians. I think the root to this fear is fear of losing their identity, and the weird hierarchy that has been created i.e "gold star" lesbians who are somehow MORE GAY and therefore superior to lesbians that have had sex with men and came out later, which is utter bs. I have a friend who is a lesbian, but she is attracted to a man, but vehemently refuses to call herself bi because somehow that's a bad thing, and the terrible thing is she WOULD lose lesbian friends by coming out as bi due to the stigma. It means shedding her identity and perceived superiority as a lesbian. It all boils down to insecurity. None of this really matters in the grand scheme of things, sexually is as much of what you make it. I'm tired, can we do more cherry popping instead of cherry picking babes 🧍‍♀️

[@laava32]

@Hayley Bagels You are part of the problem. Sincerely, another straight woman.

[@lunawolfheart336]

In trans and have actually have had a few people pretend to be trans so I let my gaurd down. But these people were chasers and fetishizing trans people not lesbians. And this was only on the online space too. Not saying men don't pretend to be woman to catfish lesbians because before I came out as a trans man that has happened to me too but again only on the online space. But at the same time I've been just as hurt and abused by cis woman. This isint a men = evil problem. This is a problem with capatalism

[@lunawolfheart336]

I remember before I figured out I was a trans man and at the time just thought I was a bi woman I was in a lesbian chat. They all knew I was bi but the second I went on a date with a man I got dogpiled on like it was bad or something. The same woman who got mad that I was bi also tried to force me info daiting her cis male friend? Idk these people really don't make any sense. Similar stuff has happened to my partners who are cis woman and in those chats. The moment they mention they are daiting me a trans man suddenly they are invalid. I've also had instances of lesbians hitting on me. they know I'm a trans man they know I present very masculine.i look very masculine. But they refuse to acknowledge that they're probably bi.

[@charonavery1993]

If this actually happens to cis lesbians too, their distrust should be towards actual cis men being the perpetrators and not trans women. They are unfairly blaming trans women for things they aren't responsible for.

[@ophilianecr]

Hi all, cis bi woman here. One thing that came to mind was my personal experience as a young queer in the 2000s bar scene in Chicago. The Britney/ Madonna/ Xtina kiss created this huge boom of "bisexual" women that plagued the scene. For YEARS, every time I went to a bar, it was digging through a sea of faux-bi women, who just wanted to experiment, or have one nighters, but recoiled at the idea of a legitimate lesbian-only relationship. Up to this point, biphobia wasn't so deep (at least in Chicago), and the trans lesbians were known to frequent these bars, and it wasn't really an issue for the majority of women. Gold star lesbians aside; After the Britney/Xtina kiss, bi women were seen as problematic, and it was expected that if you were bi, you should be avoided because you probably were part of the fad. And yes, many bi women began to identify as lesbian or leave the bar scene altogether (like me). I wonder if there's an element of worry that the rising numbers of trans, and nonbinary queers (especially in young people under 30) are subconsciously being seen as a trend; where only after a few years, the real trans lesbians will be left and we can "trust/believe" they are safe to pursue real relationships with?? I don't want to be misunderstood that trans and nonbinary or Ace people are a trend, but let's be real, so many young people (sometimes entire HS classrooms) are suddenly self identified as these identities that have real implications and lifestyle consequences other than being rare and non mainstream. It makes me think that older lesbians may be seeing a pattern of queer trends going "mainstream" and making the scene difficult to navigate besides having preference or trauma related to these transphobic fears?? I'm all for trans lesbians and trans bisexual women being part of the lesbian scene, but I can definitely see the "worry" over non binary(AMAB & male presenting) trans people going into a space where many lesbians have experienced abuse and assault at the hands of men and trans men.

[@eev14]

What shocks me the most is that in such a huge city like New York there are only 3 lesbian bars.. As someone in a rural part of the Netherlands I also have only been to a lesbian bar once and that was back when I was 15 in Amsterdam (I just went along with my parent who is a trans woman), nobody was acting like it was weird for my parent to be there but it was for the most part a more butch-oriented bar. In my part of the country there are no lesbian bars at all and as far as I know our options are also very limited in the rest of the country. 15 years ago in Amsterdam nobody made a big deal about a trans woman being in a lesbian bar (my parent was there frequently with friends) but I'm not sure the space would be as welcoming now as it was then.

[@electronics-girl]

I was also surprised to hear that there are only 3 lesbian bars in New York.

[@FrogsForBreakfast]

There is exactly 1 in Houston, Tx (The Houston area has a population of over 7 million) and there are less than 30 total in the entire country, so I'm not surprised. Edit - and I can't afford the 50 minute Uber ride over to it 😫

[@InAHollowTree]

@@electronics-girl There were around 200 in the 80s. Lesbian bars have closed at an alarming rate the past couple of decades.

[@sussybaka119]

Okay I agree that a transgender person shouldn't be discriminated in a lesbian bar. But, to take a child...? I'm sorry, like you shouldn't have been there at all, seems weird

[@Dutch3DMaster]

@@sussybaka119 Because a lesbian bar is explicitly hypersexual in nature? I mean, I don't get how people get to this conclusion so easily when it would've been very much fine in a regular bar/café with a parent...

[@BiracialRuDEBwoY]

Ohh love the captions and the editing. It’s really calming to view.

[@KatBlaque]

Thank you so much!

[@gwishinn628]

as a non-binary lesbian, it does seem like sometimes, anything coming from a lesbian is automatically taken in bad faith. while there are terfs that give us a bad name (thanks arielle scarcella) i wouldn’t call that a lesbian problem, more so a cis person problem. ive dated trans lesbians + i know cis lesbians that have dated trans women, but i’ve also known cis lesbians who are uncomfortable with the idea of dating trans women. my perspective is as long as you don’t try to redefine someone else’s orientation based on your own view of your own sexuality, that’s fine. as for bi/pan women (cis or trans) being in lesbian spaces, if it’s sapphic in general, they’re welcome! but sometimes there are spaces and conversations regarding the specific lesbian experience (not being attracted to men) which some seem to overstep with. which also, while a little off topic, why the whole bi/pan lesbian discourse rubs people the wrong way. regardless, love this vid and ty for giving ppl the space to talk about this!

[@Ebrill_Owen]

It’s awesome to know there are other non-binary lesbians out there! I’m still nervous to even call myself a non-binary lesbian in real life and in comments because so many people would have no problem telling me that those two things cancel each other out.

[@gwishinn628]

@@Ebrill_Owen that’s surprising for me to hear bc i actually don’t know many cis lesbians and most of the ones i know are non-binary haha! you definitely aren’t alone, there’s a lot of us!!

[@Ebrill_Owen]

@@gwishinn628 most of the lesbians I’m friends with are cis so I feel like sometimes I just shouldn’t talk about my non-binary identity. My cis lesbian friends are great and I love them but I don’t know how they’d react if I said anything about it. They’re very old school Bay Area lesbians and all older than me (I’m 30). Anyways yay for non-binary lesbians!

[@Ebrill_Owen]

@@BobJones-qj7vd google is your friend!

[@gwishinn628]

@@Ebrill_Owen ahh that’s a valid concern, ik some old school lesbians might not fully “get” us lmao. there’s definitely a bit of a generational divide. i’m 20 so fellow enby lesbians around my age are plentiful, even here in the south lol. i hope someday you’ll be able to live your truth and have your friends accept you !!💖

[@k3upikachu]

That second caller is so knowledgeable and explains it so well! She's explaining a few points that I learned in a biopsychology course in college, ones that I still use when people claim that being transgender is unnatural. My favorite explanation (for how gender is not just a binary and how there's a wide spectrum of sexuality, gender identity, gender expression, etc) is a syndrome called androgen insensitivity. Basically, some people who are assigned XY chromosomes at conception naturally are not receptive to androgens, or male hormones, and so they develop phenotypically completely female. This means that they grow boobs during puberty naturally without hormones despite having XY chromosomes, and their testicles don't descend and so appear like ovaries. One of the cases we read is about a woman who came to see a fertility specialist because she was having trouble conceiving, and the specialist eventually realized that they were looking at testicles, not ovaries, inside her abdomen, and that she didn't have a uterus. From the outside, she looked entirely female. Nature is crazy sometimes, and I wish we looked at its variety and wild cards with curiosity and acceptance more often.

[@edgaranalhoe7678]

Hi, I am a woman with CAIS :D everything you said is true, I am female but with XY and I had my testies removed couple years ago lmao

[@quinndawsonosgood5261]

"There are only 2 sexes" is one of the silliest things transphobes say. It's like nope, science has identified 5 karyotypes related to sex plus variations. Crazy. Good comment thanks for sharing your knowledge.

[@tealkerberus748]

I've read of cases of women who had carried to term and given birth and later discovered their chromosomes were XY. Gender and sex are a lot more complicated and variable than what we were taught in primary school.

[@domeatown]

I like women. Ive dated trans women, no prob. I dont know the full story for everyone, or even everywhere. I only know the regional story here. And that is that lesbians do not like to go to bars. Especially after the advent of dating apps. There's a reason why the perception of lesbians has gone from "loud biker chic" to "420 eats oatmeal and likes cats," and that is because this is a largely perceptable and very real thing that has happened. Culture changed. Cis culture changed. Even the normies dont go out as much. So if you take all of that and scale it down to an even smaller population of people who no longer need a secret cheat code to meet someone... It is a sad thing. Feels like losing a rare, special something. But I dont know if its as deep as this. Its just that party culture in the world of lesbians just sort of slowly died at the same rate party culture died for everyone... But there are far fewer lesbians to start with. And they were always a little more low-key to start. But even if you go into a regular bar, seems like 90% of the people in there are dudes over 40. It is a vestige. Basically every bar I can think of in an 80 mile radius closes at 11 because their clientele is old and goes home.

[@fayeissilly222]

i feel like someone shouldn’t be kicked out of a space just because they aren’t “woman looking” enough? looks don’t equal your gender you know? also i’m not saying it’s transphobic to not be attracted to trans women, after all, attraction isn’t a choice. when this becomes an issue however is when they push this attraction onto trans women and make them feel bad, and shun them away from public spaces. this is a really well made video btw!

[@FreyaEinde]

Considering how this is gonna put out butches and studs it's like...it's a bar and you're out to mingle and score so it's always gonna be a mixed bag I think the expectation you should have a grab bag experience is just gonna leave you feeling bitter and looking to hate on somebody for it.

[@MackenziiRivers]

Not only that there are some masc presenting women who could look like males(and inturn men who are fem presenting who look like females)

[@twinbruisesonmyshins]

yep. so weird too how to also bars cis women for not being “feminine” enough.. enforcing the gender stereotypes they say are pushed upon them by trans women?

[@lunawolfheart336]

Exactly plus there's women with a condition that makes them literally grow beards they should be allowed in women's spaces too

[@liriodendronlasianthus]

This. I'm trans masc and I rarely pass but cis gay men think it's okay to discriminate against me because I "look like a woman" and this happened at a QUEER event too, not a gay bar.

[@ethicalibra]

i’m pretty sure if you asked the first caller if she defined womanhood by being feminine, she’d say no, that even having that sentiment would be misogyny but she is willing to subject trans women who don’t pass to that. “the only thing they have to show that they really are a woman is take my word for it” … like you can’t make this up 😭

[@Ren-ev5rh]

I don't know if this specific thing came up in the rest of the call in show but excluding someone from a club because they're trans its just so weird overall. Meaning: you dint wanna date someone with certain body part(s)? Okay. Then don't sleep with them. I personally won't push that idea and I agree that respect shouldn't start because someone wants to have sex with you. That being said, when I go to the club I don't get mad when I'm surrounded by people I wouldn't have sex with? I get don't wanting to be hit on by someone you don't like? But that can also happen with people you don't find attractive, period. Not only because they're trans. So I find strange that the first complain focuses on clubbing and being trans, when it's not a place where they all agree to have sex with each other if they enter lol. I'm not a lesbian so I won't speak about it, but I feel like the whole statement it's just an excuse someone is pushing just because they don't like trans people and they despite seeing them just existing in spaces.

[@ハワルドスタンテシヤ]

Yea, I thought bars were open to everyone. As long as there are no Ill intentions of a patron. They pay their money and drink/eat , dance or. Whatev’s. But with no malicious intent.

[@ww3196]

Agreed. This point is so good. Just because you wouldn't have sex with/date someone doesn't mean they shouldn't be allowed in the same establishment as you.

[@plamondonworks6948]

That's what I don't get. You are responsible for figuring out whether you want to physically be with someone or not. If it turns out someone doesn't meet your preferences, just graciously move on? Let these women dance? Shit

[@Lilah1848]

The way you reduce homosexuality to liking body parts is so homophobic. I can't. That's their sexuality please STFU.

[@ww3196]

@@Lilah1848 That's not what's occurring here. OP is talking about lesbians who do not want to have sex with/date trans women. They aren't talking about all lesbians. Consider the context of this comment (the video, where Kat and the callers are not generalizing all lesbians, either, they're talking about that specific group). Also this comment isn't just about genital preferences. It's about lesbians not wanting to date trans women in general, too.

[@kjonely5787]

So, I don't do bars because I have CDM, essentially, I've always got a low-key migraine and those spaces are just too painful for me, but I felt I have something to add to this conversation as a sexual trauma survivor who isn't sexually attracted to the penis. I wouldn't frequent a space that was exclusionary of trans or nonbinary people because even when I'm looking for a romantic or sexual relationship, I first need to be in a space that I feel comfortable existing in and I don't feel comfortable in an exclusionary space. That's why I left Oklahoma, I've had enough of people judging others. I try to live my life by the idea that the only people I judge are those who spend their time and energy judging others. I personally wouldn't have a problem knowing that someone I've been flirting with has equipment that I'm not attracted to, to me that just means we'd probably be better off as friends. I can honestly see myself asking someone to go somewhere more private, getting there and them saying that I need to know this before things progress and my response being something along the lines of cool, I'm not attracted to that so how about we have a glass of wine and chat because I like you and I'm cool so long as pants stay on.

[@geelllee]

I absolutely loved the second caller, she was spouting straight facts and its 100% true, it's the insecurity and fear and need to place blame. Can we stop trying to create segregation within the LGBT+ community for a sense of superiority and security, its exhausting.

[@aghasearmyshawolblinkonce8039]

amen to that

[@transsexual_computer_faery]

yeah give it...... hmmm i'd say............ 30 years

[@cojinmango]

It happens because each group has its own particular deals to solve. Just a natural reaction to some problems going under the radar.

[@daisaigai7]

Segregation? Was there even some kind of unity? LGBT+ is a political term. Many don't identify themselves with the movement. I fully understand lesbians who don't want to meet men in woman's clothes.

[@ThatFlamingFroggo]

Also, the whole going into certain spaces...most Trans people, whether trans men or trans women, or non-binary people, tend to go into spaces that looks more like what they pass as. Not always, but I don't currently feel comfortable going into men spaces, even though I'm a guy, because I'm pretty fem yet. But, I also know, that with my voice dropping and my form changing, that may not always be the case, and I do not want to make women feel uncomfortable, because I understand that hesitancy.

[@AZ-ty7ub]

As a trans guy who transitioned over a decade ago, this is true. Before HRT and before getting comfortable and used to living as myself, I kept to general LGBT+ spaces, I never felt comfortable or like I fit into gay male spaces- if anything going to gay bars and being around cis gay men made me feel more dysphoric. Now ten years later I barely think twice about it.

[@lunawolfheart336]

I didn't feel comfortable in men's bathrooms for awhile but seeing the discomfort of the women when I'd walk into the women's bathrooms and being told I don't belong there happened so much I made the change. In men's bathrooms no one cares no one talks to you they just piss and leave. It's still an ajustitment tho a year later after starting to use the men's bathroom

[@plastictree7635]

I’m afab non-binary and I always just go to the women’s bathroom even though whenever I go out in public im assumed as a man if I don’t speak. I just mainly hope I’m not told anything

[@Jonesy_Bonesy]

I'm a trans guy and I don't think I'd be ever be comfortable going into a gay bar even if I ever pass as a man, simply because I don't want to get kicked out for being trans and make other gay men uncomfortable with my presence. I would feel like I'd be told I don't belong there.

[@ThatFlamingFroggo]

​@@Jonesy_Bonesy I get that anxiety of being around a bunch of cis-men (including certain kinds of Queer men) as the years of being perceived as a femme, will likely never fully fade from memory. But, just know that transphobes, hetero or no, aren't going to care where you are, and in the end, f**k what they think. If they are uncomfortable with you in a gay bar, they will be uncomfortable with you at a park, on the sidewalk, etc. In the end, there is no catering to them. Though, gay bars tend to operate on allowing anyone of drinking age in, and from experience, I've been to many an event with other Trans folk, in a gay bar, pre-covid, before I began medically transitioning. Far before I had top surgery. If you ever want to go to a gay bar, find a friend to go with you, and do your research, because there are plenty of inclusive ones out there. I believe in you bruv, and I wish only the best for you. Especially in times as these.

[@Aaarandom]

I really appreciated how respectful you were in all the conversations. It made listening pleasant and thought provoking

[@artosbear]

My best friend hatched years and years ago and she has no solidified plans to transition because she is terrified. She's effing terrified. She has long hair IG. That first caller was terfin hard.

[@artosbear]

Like if trans women somehow owe cis queer women presentation to go to lesbian spaces then cis lesbians can't be butch lol. And also they can't be cishet looking cuz maybe you're not queer! Maybe you're just some weird edgelord lady trolling! Whoops. Whoops. Whoooooops

[@mossgoblingoodies7808]

We live in a space where my partner doesn't necessarily feel safe getting into a transition And has only even recently considered it but has known her whole life who she is

[@ForeignManinaForeignLand]

Bruh 🤯 that title alone made me pull on the side of the road

[@lizzymatheson6487]

It took me four years to be brave enough to go on a dating app. Now I’m paranoid that TERFs are using me as an example

[@breamaykaitlin]

When I first started dating my current partner we had a lot of issues surrounding the word 'lesbian' as they are a transmasculine non-binary person, and so when I would refer to myself as a 'lesbian' they would get really upset at the idea that my identity didn't include them. Whereas I struggled because I feel like 'lesbian' is a large community of people, and instinctively should mean a variety and include myself. It causes a shame reaction for myself and my relationship when I hear other lesbians call out trans folks with such negativity. it's like unless you're a cisgendered woman dating another cisgendered woman, you have to be bisexual or pansexual because you're sure as hell not a lesbian.

[@No1PlutoSupporter]

(Haven’t watched the video yet) I think that’s why I’m seeing “sapphic” a lot more within the past 2 years now bc it’s more inclusive. I also just left my very queer historical womens college where community is just different than other places/ queer spaces so language is always changing apparently there are people who are still unfamiliar w the term whether younger or older

[@Crazypixiness]

Sapphic is an inclusive term!

[@PGOuma]

Of course your partner is valid to have their feelings but I’m a non-binary person as well but refer to myself as “lesbian” or “sapphic” because non-binaries are included within the lesbian flag

[@kallamarsspouse]

As an agender myself (identified as a lesbian woman for a few years of my life so I have some experience in lesbian spaces), it would also make me dysphoric to date someone who identified as a lesbian. Because while I believe in nonbinary lesbianism, I don't think it is fair to lesbians OR genderless folks in general to lump us all together by default. Lesbian means woman aligned people / women who exclusively love woman aligned people / women. That's their word. I've seen a lot of lesbians who are especially upset by this new wave of "bi/pan/male lesbians" because that part of their identity is being twisted to also mean male attracted. It's not fair. Personally I find "all lesbians like women and nonbinary people" to be enbyphobic. I'm not woman lite. Because I know what that means is "I like women and afab enbies". Some enbies are totally fine with dating lesbians or identifying as lesbian which is fine of course, but to me loving women and people like me is bi at least. I would only date a bi/pan/omni man/woman/enby or a gay enby. Absolutely no straight men or lesbian ladies. I know it is important to listen to other queer people, so if anybody reads this and has something to share I would like to listen.

[@charliebeaux4059]

Hi Brea, I am curious about how do you feel you identifying as a lesbian included your partner. You see, I used to date a person who identified as a lesbian and as a transmasc nb person that did upset me as well and I never understood what they meant. This wasn't why we stopped dating though. And I know your perspective of this isn't goint to be their perspective, but at least I'd like to hear A perspective. Heh.

[@Finkeldinken]

What a gorgeous presentation of a call-in stream! Amazing work on top of a great and very interesting and complex subject.

[@classycolas]

I love these call ins so much! So many different people from different walks of life always call in. Hopefully I can call in sometime when a trans dude’s commentary is relevant!

[@emilyonizuka4698]

here in toronto, we really don't have any spaces for queer women but I don't think it's because of trans women and certainly hope no one is blaming them. my gay male friend asked me about this and said, "wait, so how do queer women meet each other?" and I was like "we don't."

[@BloodInTheStrawberries]

I'm actually very surprised, there should be more in Toronto of all places. I hope this changes in the future-

[@Mikinaak2023]

​@@BloodInTheStrawberrieslesbians bars came and went. They just don't make the money.

[@luminousmoon86]

Lesbian and gay bars are closing down, and it's sad from a nostalgia point of view, but the reason this is happening is because they're no longer indispensable to queer life. The reason they historically existed is so that lgbt (that's right, trans people have always existed in these spaces, it's not new) people could safely meet other people like them for romance, friendship, and sex. Now that we have social media and dating apps and a much more welcoming culture, people don't need an exclusive bar to hang out in. Add pandemic pressures to that and it pretty much explains everything. It has nothing to do with trans people. That person is just a bigot.

[@dominiclacroix9489]

it is so interesting to hear women talk about these issues. You take other peoples feeling so much into consideration. For exemple ''im not going o reject that reaction'' ''I know transitioning is hard'' etc. As man i would tell you ''dont feel guilty for liking what you like'', dont have to make excuses, dont have to force yourself to like something you are not attracted to. I got my preferences and there is no power in this world that would make me feel otherwise. That doesnt mean that you hate what doesnt fit your preferences.

[@petalchild]

I had already listened to the full conversation but I really enjoyed watching this edited version. I know it would probably be a ridiculous amount of work to do for every call in show but this format is super engaging! Also you have immaculate taste in music (Kate Bush, Sisters of Mercy, AND FKA Twigs? Amazing.)

[@KatBlaque]

Yeah I'm toying with the idea of, when inspired, uploading edited versions of the call in show on here. That might be a happy inbetween for me. These videos 100 percent require way more than both the filming and editing of the podcast tho ahha. But we shall see.

[@music_YT2023]

I don't want anyone feeling unsafe but I do appreciate that the second caller pointed out the issue of punching down and the hypocrisy of the first caller's arguments. All I could think when I heard the first caller talking was: swap out 'non-fully transitioned' with 'black' and now we're listening to a local complain about how ever since their city was forced to desegregate, the nearby family-style diner has been feeling mighty unsafe in the presence of all those hypersexual black individuals. Like, 'yes, once they start acting and dressing white so I can visually confirm their respectability, then will be ok'... sort of vibes. I still respect that you were willing to listen to everyone and allow them to speak their piece.

[@_Tree_of_Life_]

"let me visually confirm your respectability" This is it. This is EXACTLY it. Nail on the head. Well dears, Lily Cade is a confessed and convicted serial rapist, so being a white, gold star cis lesbian ain't shit. You can't trust anyone, so you may as well trust everyone until an individual shows you that you can't trust that individual.

[@happyzombiikitti]

Exactly. I also was in cringe. I’m a non-binary poc. And even being in gay bars, I see more white people than poc’s. It’s the same complaint, just new minority of people, and it’s not acceptable for other people to discriminate. If it wasn’t for trans black women, these spaces wouldn’t exist at all. Gay or lesbian!

[@user-vl8ws4wd7o]

@@happyzombiikitti yes yes yes also iconic user name

[@ExeErdna]

@@_Tree_of_Life_ Honestly with all my years that's how you're supposed to live. All our survival instincts are still intact for a reason. Often they're right, since people can easily put up fronts. To me there's a lot measures to "man" how they act around you, others, their family, your family, cops, children, especially animals and when they're under the influence. It's rough to get a full gauge on people from my observations. Everybody has their red flags, yet when people start showing black flags. It's time to head out.

[@k-uu-haku6706]

I’m a transmasc non-binary lesbian who’s also intersex. All the hate towards trans women in lesbian spaces makes me very uncomfortable, because it’s often also very anti butch and anti masculine women. Me as an intersex person will be discriminated the same as trans women for being different. To transphobic people us intersex people will also not be ”lesbian enough”. Especially since i’m on T to make me feel more comfortable in my body and it has also helped my hormonal related health issues that came with being intersex. I totally understand preferences for physical features, but they shouldn’t be used to ban certain people from lesbian spaces.

[@aprilsummers6447]

Genuine question. How can you be transmasc/non-binary and lesbian at the same time?

[@k-uu-haku6706]

@@aprilsummers6447 transmasculine people are simply trans people who identify with masculinity! Non-binary falls under the trans umbrella. I am masculine but i’m not a man. I like women, woman/feminine aligned non-binary people and generally anyone who’s not a man, man aligned or presenting as a man. Definition of lesbian can be slightly different from every lesbian, but generally lesbianism has always included non-binary individuals as well as long as they do not ID in the man spectrum. To put it short, i’m just a butch who rejects traditional womanhood and whose gender is really influenced by being intersex! Hopefully this answered your question. I’m sorry if not - i’m a bit feverish atm.

[@SleeperInTravel]

@@k-uu-haku6706 Ew, get help. This is a lot and the world is laughing at you, not WITH you.

[@k-uu-haku6706]

@@SleeperInTravel maybe you should get help if queer people make you so uncomfortable 😘

[@Eevea_]

@@k-uu-haku6706 Sooooo, you're a butch lesbian. Got it.

[@karmakittenz69]

I know this is years later but gotta say the "trans women yelling at lesbians" made me laugh. Every trans woman I've met had always been rather shy to strangers and are anything but aggressive.

[@jedidls]

For reeeeeeal!! As a trans lesbian, pretty much the only people I'll get aggressive with are men or women who are attacking other women

[@MrsNelold48]

not really to do with the conten of the video, but seeing all of the stock videos of wlw relationships is so great... really makes me realize how little i see this kinds of relationships represented in media in a casual way by how surprised my brain reacts to 40 mins of these images. Thank you for seeking out this footage!!

[@podpoe]

I think its unfair to place the burden of looking feminine (not passing, but somehow signaling their womanhood via clothing, presentation, etc) while simultaneously permitting cis butch women to be extremely masculine in the same space. In the butch womens case, simply having the parts is enough, but for trans women who dont, they are required to compensate by performance. Pragmatically I can understand why some cis lesbians would be suspicious of a non performing trans woman, but it still feels unfair somehow. in an ideal society wouldnt we want to eliminate pressure for any gender to present any sort of way? how can one 'prove' they are trans anyways?

[@meowateyourchips7417]

It’s also unfair to place the burden on cis women to just take someone’s word for it or become a mind reader without really knowing the person.

[@butallislost]

I was thinking about this too! Why are trans women who dont pass frowned upon, but butch cis lesbians allowed even if some of them may look like men? It's justcompletely about body parts, which I think is weird because... they dont HAVE to have sex if they dont want to.

[@podpoe]

@@meowateyourchips7417 also true. not sure what the solution is honestly 🤷

[@ollieno971]

You are completely right. I have to check myself on things like this too like how would I feel if an amab non binary person that presented extremely masculine identified as a lesbian would I be comfortable with that? But why do I have 0 problem with very masculine cis butch lesbians? Like it’s not fair that trans/non binary amab lesbians would have to present as more feminine to be “valid lesbians” when cis butch lesbians are valid. Gender and gender identity and expression is so complex and confusing I still constantly question my own and worry about the “validness” of it, it’s so frustrating lol.

[@meowateyourchips7417]

@@ollieno971 because we were raised in the sex segregated world and we don’t normally see other females as threatening unless they start to exhibit certain behavior. In contrast, males pose a danger to females AND males too. It’s not entirely irrational because crime stats back this up.

[@withlove4327]

I feel like bottom line having genital preferences is fine but don't make that somebody else's problem and don't project weird shit onto trans women

[@nukiradio]

Terfs: "mmm, I dont know how to tell you I'm not personally interested, I'll just say you're a rapist male!"

[@58008O]

Its not even a genital preference at this point, for most it seems like a genital *requirement* :/

[@JenniferFuss]

People might do have a genital requirement in regards to their partner(s) when it comes to sex. There are various reasons why people might not like a certain genital. ... it could be that they might consider the form unappealing. ... it could be that they are neutral to the appearance of the form but it doesn't turn them on at all ... it could be that they have had traumatic experiences regarding the genital ... it could be that they were raped by a person or people with that genital To claim that a person has to be fine with the genital is in my opionin inacceptable. Especially if the claim comes of that a person should "get over" their genital preference / genital orientation and accept anything. Because next to beinh ignorant it risks to tell a person of violence or sexual violence to shut up, not be a victim, and accept all genitals. It doesn't help that in regards to lesbian spaces the notion of "just get over yourself and accept that dick" has been used an am argument by the patriachy to negate lesbians sexual orientation and preferences.

[@PamPatipula]

@@JenniferFuss this

[@Ben-li9zb]

There is a bit of an opposite problem of people who claim that all genital preference is transphobic and if you aren't ok with dating someone with a dick its a moral failure on your part Ultimately there's nothing wrong with these preferences, and making people feel bad for not being fem enough or not liking certain genitals is stupid but there's more than one side to it

[@taigafoxdraws8175]

Personally, as a lesbian myself, I don't view sex as the ultimate goal in a relationship. I can't speak for all or even the majority of lesbians, but I'm okay with (and honestly prefer) a romantic relationship that is non-sexual. I am fine with dating a pre-op trans woman even though I'm not interested in sexual intercourse (penis in vagina) because I don't feel like sex is a necessity. But I know that many lesbians do not feel the same, and I'm okay with that. I don't think it's transphobic to reject a trans woman because you're looking for a sexual relationship, and while I don't personally feel that way, I understand why someone would.

[@skyethebard]

When I helped run a nonprofit group for the bi community in the early aughts, I facilitated trans folks. Not all of them identified as bi or pan but both the lesbian and the gay communities in our city made them feel unwelcome so they turned to us. Since many of us had encountered similar issues in those communities, we understood what our trans neighbors had encountered. There were a few regular bi peeps who felt we shouldn't welcome trans hetero, gay and lesbian people but most of us felt we were all in this together. We were struggling for acceptance by the general public so what would it be saying about us if we turned our backs? What harm would we be inflicting by doing so? What wonderful friendships and insights would we be missing by rejecting non-bi trans humans? What message would that be sending to the trans bi members we were attempting to help?

[@ivorymelmoth]

I can't speak for this experience as I'm not trans but I've been curious how my experience as a cis bi woman would be at a lesbian bar. I've encountered gold star gay gatekeepers before and it's annoying to be seen as not gay enough, or the straight up disrespect of being told "oh you're just confused, just admit you're straight/gay." I can't imagine allowing yourself to transition freely and be yourself and be told those things. It's heartbreaking. I guess if one bar wants to be exclusionary than you can't do much about that than go to another one that is more inclusive

[@EricaGamet]

It boggles my mind that lesbians say to bi women the bit about being confused. I'd bet lots of money that most of us lesbians also got told that early in our coming out stories (especially if we were young when we came out). And we knew our truth... so why can't we assume folks who say they're bi are actually bi. Of course I hear gay folk (men and women) say "everyone is a little gay." Or "no one is straight or gay completely." But I know people who are... like why are any of us doubting someone else's journey and their truth? That whole gold star thing drives me up a wall.

[@Jordan-pf9ws]

I think the biggest problem facing lesbian spaces is that they simply aren't as nessacary as they once were. Lesbian bars have always struggled to stay open for a multitude of reasons. They are struggling even more now for a multitude of reasons and it has nothing to do with transwoman.

[@bpblitz]

I'm in a relationship and have no desire to enter the dating scene, but it IS complaints like the ones in the video that make me feel unsafe in lesbian spaces, much less letting myself *identify* as one.

[@CircusoftheMoon]

I feel like blaming trans women for lesbian bars closing is ridiculous. I feel like finances, online dating and maybe overspecialization are more to blame than anything.

[@HelloHello-zk4el]

That and the recent pandemic making it very hard to both run a business and also keep everyone safe, final nail in the coffin really

[@bannedmann4469]

It's so conspiratorial. It's like blaming an ever present worldwide cabal for all your problems. Then gendering the whole thing. Some real Alex Jones BS.

[@Duchess_Van_Hoof]

As millenial trans woman I am to blame for literally every problem in the world. Imagine if I was also Jewish like a few online friends? Gods that must be exhausting.

[@Ebrill_Owen]

Thank you Kat for exploring these topics in your videos! The fallacy that trans women are the reason lesbian bars are disappearing just doesn’t sit well with me. Lesbian bars ARE disappearing but it’s not because of trans women!

[@Ebrill_Owen]

In fact most lesbian bars are closing because city and town council members aren’t supporting them. That’s what’s happening here in the Bay Area at least. It’s because of a lack of support from communities and raising rent rates. It’s not because of a “trans invasion”.

[@ollieno971]

Exactly!

[@lynn858]

Require people to conduct themselves with the expectation of enthusiastic consent. Make it super clear this is a condition for entry. Have no fear of booting people out for being predatory or rude. Build a reputation on requiring respectful behaviour from everyone. Rude predators are what wreck your night. Not a polite person who’s not sexually appealing to you saying “you look fabulous” then leaving you be, buying some drinks, and dancing with the person they came with.

[@Tulpen23]

THIS! ❤

[@applejellypucci]

Yes

[@espeon871]

Agreed!

[@brnne]

As a cis lesbian, who really thought it was straight for 29 years, then pandemic hits me with as asexual, then as pansexual, then meet my wife and realized I was lesbian there. Girl, it get on my nervs how much transphobia exists on lesbian and gay communities

[@andid]

Both gay and lesbian bars have been in decline since the 80s, so 100% scapegoating. But I don't think wage gap or income inequality can account for the virtual extinction of lesbian bars either. I think as gay acceptance expanded, bars became less required for gay social life, and settling down with a partner became a more realistic possibility. And I don't think it's controversial to say lesbians settle down far more frequently than gay men. Men and women also just have different interests sometimes, at the risk of sounding essentialist. I know a lot of lesbians are still frustrated a majority of gay spaces revolve around nightlife and drinking, feeling that centers men's interests. So I think most of this is voluntary, to be totally honest. It's not as if gay men or women are more marginalized than we were in the 80s, anyway. I wouldn't say exclusivity's the main reason for the decline either, but it certainly hasn't helped, especially as queer rights expand beyond L and G. They should all just be queer bars by now, it's [current year].

[@Skullkiddawn]

I think the move towards gay and lesbian bars to queer bars has just been quietly happening in the background for a while now. Our local 'gay' bar has pretty much opened to being a space for all queer people within the last five years or so. From personal experience, hookups have moved to apps so it's really just a space to drink and socialize.

[@morninghstarkwe8244]

The caller was from Portland- people are just getting by trying to afford their homes and rent- so yeah I can see them saying the economy is a huge factor

[@ExeErdna]

Honestly the whole concept of the bar/club scene is kinda dying due to social media. Either clubs became really exclusive, too expensive or just not your scene. 80 to mid 2000's it was popping pretty damn well. Now I'm like that older, why would I go out to something where I have to pay more to exist in the space while if I plan to drink I sure as can't drive there. If I want to drink let me grab a bottle from the ABC. order some pizza and watch some YT or Twitch. I don't have to interact with the club scene anymore, I think more people are skipping it

[@bamafencer12]

I'm from the older generation and it be nice to go to a lesbian bar. I know a lot of the social life is towards "male" interest. However, not all lesbian/bi women are the same. It would be nice to visit a city and to enjoy a lesbian spa and bar. That's me though.

[@bamafencer12]

@@ExeErdna I remember the 00s as well. I still like normal human interaction though.

[@MackenzieChandlerDunnavant]

Bi NB trans woman here. Before I even realized I was trans, I went to a lesbian bar in San Diego in 2019 and I had no issues, but then again I wasn't there to pick anyone up, I was just with a friend. I'm almost at one year now since I started transition, and having a bad experience with another woman in public is one of my biggest fears. The little TERF in my head would have me thinking "maybe I AM an autogynephile invading women's sacred spaces". I would think the Hollywood queer scene is pretty tolerant, but I've been too scared to test this hypothesis. Any recs for a place that's chill, lesbian or otherwise, would be greatly appreciated.

[@JadedOriana]

autogynephile is such bs thing, all allosexual women get turned on by having sex as themselves, Blanchard's theory rules out cis women because it is "default" for cis women so unlike trans women who are aware of it because of being trans, he thinks it is what explains trans women who are not straight. however this overlooks, many sexualities ace, bi, pan, etc. stuff like that just screams holes.

[@LenaFerrari]

I think (as cis straight woman, so I'm not best person, but I can work with ligic) that it shouldn't matter if you pass, if you are feminine, etc, it's fine if have never medically transitioned, whatever your reason for that may be, but you have to have socially transitioned. Woman come in all shapes ways, and you need to learn how to deal with that. Not everyone is going to look like your mental image of a "perfect" woman, and that's something you need to work on if it bothers you, because you can't just prevent people from crossing your path when they are simply in a place meant for them as well, even if they don't fit your mental stereotype. But it doesn't make sense to not socially transition, but want to occupy a social space designed for woman. You can't socially "be a man", but have access to social places and situations exclusive meant for women. You don't interact with others with the way you feel inside, but with how you present and behave socially, so I think that's a important element to dictate if you are behaving acceptably in a social situation

[@LenaFerrari]

@Beautiful Jazz I 100% agree with you! I don't actually think this problem exists, I was talking kinda hypothetically, like what I would think is ok. I find it really hard to believe that an actual trans woman would chose to not socially transition, but still join lesbian spaces I was thinking about the fact that you can't 100% tell if someone is trans, even if they haven't transitioned at all, but I still don't think that means everyone should be welcomed in lesbian spaces. Still, that's theoretical, because I don't think trans woman would be interested in joining said spaces if they haven't transitioned. But cis guys interested in lesbians, maybe could (? I don't have that experience, so I can't tell)

[@carlosenriquez2092]

Wow I didn't know it was this complex. Our bar in dallas welcomes all and our biggest complaint is that it has become so busy its crawling with suburban tourists that want to be seen and pictured at a gay bar so they can share them on Facebook or Instagram its annoying.