Stone Butch Blues

Even as a child, Jess is aware that she does not neatly conform to a male or female identity. Throughout the book, she uses the term “he-she” to describe herself. In pivotal moments, Jess resists gender categorization that might make her life or relationships simpler. Theresa wants Jess to identity as female in a way that will prompt inclusion in the women’s liberation movement. However, Jess sees that movement as excluding women like her, women who are born female but present themselves to society as masculine or male. Jess also ultimately rejects taking on a completely male identity. Life is less dangerous for Jess when she takes hormones, has her breasts removed, and grows facial hair. But she decides that this is not her true self. Her true self is somewhere in between these two binaries, and she opts to defend that identity no matter what those around her think.

While many people harass the LGBTQ characters in the book, the most dangerous antagonists are the cops, who raid bars and round up non-gender conforming individuals for simply being out in public. Jess is beaten, raped and robbed by law enforcement officers.