Storyteller: Meg Age: 24 Identity: Non-binary lesbian
Being a butch person out in the world really does make me feel safe. I sort of moved away from it for a while, and every time I come back to butchness as a concept, it feels like, "oh, I'm back in my own skin again". And that's not just aesthetically, it comes with the chivalry aspect of it and everything, and just being loud and unapologetically who I am on a day-to-day basis. Just being an open and loudmouthed dyke in day-to-day life and being able to do that, it makes me very happy. I think just being a lesbian in general improves my friendships as well. I think if I wasn’t, I wouldn’t have as many friends as I do now. I just think living as myself allows me to connect with people better. It’s not necessarily because I’m a lesbian, it’s because I allow myself to be who I am. And I think it’s the confidence and freedom that comes with openly saying who you are and being who you are. It makes it a lot easier.