Hi, friends.  I recently relieved a spate of, "You don't blog very much anymore" emails.  As I began to write my usual, "Oh, I've been SO busy with work and life, you know how it is, blah blah blah" emails," I thought: But that's not really true.  I could be blogging a ton and I'm not.  Why?  

Well, there are a few real reasons.  Maybe sharing them with you will get me back into writing BW some more.  Or maybe not.  I guess we'll see.  Either way, your feedback would be awesome.

1. This is the main one, and the hardest to talk about.  I worry that now, in my very late 30s, my thoughts about gender and sexual orientation are passé.  I am a butch woman.  I'm cool with being a woman.  I'm also cool with AFAB (assigned-female-at-birth) folks who AREN'T cool with being women.  But most of the serious conversation about masculine-of-center life these days seems to be about not being a woman: about agender or genderfluid or trans identities.  That's great--but it's not me.  I just don't feel like there are that many cisgendered masculine-of-center women out there anymore, especially under the age of 35.  At least in my circles, there is strong social pressure to be something more gender-expansive than "woman."  But why does "woman" have to be so damn narrow that it can't contain me?  I don't know, folks.   It's hard not to feel irrelevant these days when you're someone who (1) regularly gets called "sir" and (2) uses she/her pronouns.   

2. There has been reduced engagement with the blog when I do post: fewer likes and fewer comments.  Part of the reason I blog is to open conversations with people throughout the world.  Sometimes, though, it feels like I'm typing into a void, which makes it less fun for me.  It's possible that my writing is getting less engaging, or that I'm writing about less engaging topics (e.g., more depressing Supreme Court cases, fewer fashion tips).  It's also possible that people don't read blogs as much as they used to.   But regardless of the reason, the fact remains--and less interaction with readers makes me less eager to write.

3. Admittedly, life has interfered.  Namely: I have a real, steady job that I love but which is also super demanding; I wrote a book (related to my work life); my wife and I bought a house; my two dogs are terribly behaved; I've taken up pottery and kayaking (possibly the two most lesbian hobbies in existence); I'm trying to pay off my student loans; we moved across the country a couple years ago and I'm trying to get used to snow and humidity.  These things are non-trivial.

Anyhow, I didn't want you to think I wasn't thinking of you anymore.  I am.  I'm just kind of sitting with all of these thoughts and obstacles in the current political moment and it has added up to me not writing very much.  
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Friends, I've felt ill about the Masterpiece Cakeshop ruling all day.  (For an explanation of the case, see my last post.)  As you probably know by now, the Supreme Court ruled against Charlie and David, the gay couple who were refused a wedding cake because of their sexual orientation.

The big issue in the case was whether baking a cake was "speech"--that is, whether Colorado's requirement that the baker treat gay and straight people the same was making him "speak" in favor of gay marriage.  If baking a cake was speech (like painting a mural probably would be), it would violate the baker's First Amendment right to free speech.  If, on the other hand, it was more like providing a service (like selling someone a couch probably would be), it would probably not violate the baker's First Amendment right to free speech.  In oral argument, this was the issue the Court spent most of its time on.

However, the Court did not rule on this issue.  Instead, they said that the baker's freedom of religion (a different part of the First Amendment) had been violated by the Colorado Civil Rights Commission, which decided the case before the case even hit the courthouse.  They essentially said that the Commission had been "hostile" to religion.  The part that seemed to incense them the most was:

I would also like to reiterate what we said in the hearing or the last meeting. Freedom of religion and religion has been used to justify all kinds of discrimination throughout history, whether it be slavery, whether it be the holocaust, whether it be—I mean, we—we can list hundreds of situations where freedom of religion has been used to justify discrimination.  And to me it is one of the most despicable pieces of rhetoric that people can use to—to use their religion to hurt others.

Personally, I disagree that this is hostile to religion.  I think it's a statement of fact: religion has been used to justify all these things.  It seems to me that the commissioner was just trying to say, "Hey, freedom of religion isn't dispositive--you don't get to do anything you want by claiming it's against your religion."  But--as I understand it--the Supreme Court said this embodied discrimination (that is, the commission committed discrimination, not that the baker's freedom of religion would have been violated if he'd had to bake the cake, just that the Colorado Civil Rights Commission didn't give him a fair shot).  

So in theory, this isn't some major victory for anti-gay folks, just a reminder that states' processes need to respect people's freedom of religion.  In theory, this ruling leaves open the possibility that Colorado could still prohibit business owners from discriminating against gay people, but that they need to do via processes that don't violate anyone's First Amendment religious freedom along the way. 

But I still feel like (1) If they wanted to do that, they should have just remanded the case (meaning, sent it back down and told the state to redo the process in a fairer way rather than actually ruling on it; (2) Psychologically, sociologically, and culturally, this is a major defeat; (3) If they weren't okay with anti-gay discrimination, they would have ruled on the substantive issue; (4) Legally, this is going to set us back a bit and in the meantime, more gay people will be subjected to unfair treatment; (5) This feeds into the myth that religion and progressive politics are somehow inherently oppositional.

For more reading about the case, I recommend the New York Times and SCOTUS Blog.

Any other takes on this?
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The couple was mortified—especially Charlie, since it happened in front of his mom.  They filed a complaint with the Colorado Civil Rights Commission that their civil rights had been violated.  The Commission agreed, and the Colorado courts ruled in favor of Charlie and David, too.  Phillips appealed to the Supreme Court, arguing that he shouldn’t have to make a cake for a gay couple because it violated his religious belief that gay marriage was morally wrong. He said Colorado was forcing him to choose between his livelihood and his moral beliefs. 
 
Yes, Phillips has a right to religious freedom.  But this case is not about religious freedom.   Phillips writes that although he would have sold Charlie and David anything else in the shop, he "couldn't design a custom cake to celebrate their same-sex marriage."  This makes it sound as if they asked him to put their names on the cake, or to top it with a pair of smiling grooms.  But they didn't--and if they had, it would be a very different case.  Instead, they asked for a cake--a cake without any speech on it at all.  

It is difficult to argue that something becomes "speech" simply because you know it's going to be used for a particular purpose.  Phillips was not forced to say anything or write anything that went against his religious beliefs.  He writes that if the Supreme Court rules against him, it will "banish his beliefs" from the marketplace.  But this completely misunderstands the legal issue.  Phillips opened a business to the public.  Under Colorado law, you don't get to do that and then decide that you won't sell your product to certain of its members.  Suppose a toy store owner wouldn't sell toys to mixed-race kids because the idea of miscegenation went against his religious beliefs?  

The case was argued in front of the U.S. Supreme Court in December of last year, and it will be handed down any day now--possibly as soon as Monday.  From the oral argument, it was hard to figure out which way the justices were leaning.  They spent a lot of time talking about freedom of expression, and whether the mere act of baking a cake was “artistic expression.”  If so, it would weigh in favor of protecting Phillips' right not to "express" something he disagreed with.  It would also open the door for claims that, for example, a chef doesn't want to make a salad for a same-sex couple celebrating their anniversary.

It's easy, in this era of gay marriage and "Will and Grace" reboots to start thinking that progress is inevitable.  The fact that Masterpiece Cakeshop is before the Supreme Court--and that someone like Phillips is making these kinds of claims--underscores that we still have an awful lot of work to do.   Here's a great podcast on the topic if you want to delve a little deeper.

BW's note: This post is from the author of the wonderful blog, Lawyers, Dykes, & Money, which you should totally check out! 

. . . .

The last time I visited my 111-year-old great great aunt, I considered coming out just to see how she’d take it.  On the one hand, maybe I could land some kind of spot in the Guinness Book of World Records. But, on the other, if she died shortly after my disclosure, I’d always vainly wonder if the news had killed her. I decided against it.  
 
My decision hadn’t mattered; evidently, she had pegged me from the moment I walked in the room.  Looking me up and down through the giant glasses that took over most of her face, she made a vague reference to my button-down shirt and started talking about her working knowledge of “the gays.”
 
Gathering courage, I asked her how she knew so much about “these gays” and she replied simply, “Come on now, I read the papers.” Even though her favored papers included the  traditionally-conservative Wall Street Journal, when I asked her about her thoughts on gay marriage, she shrugged: “ehh I’m way too old to give two shits about that.”
 
. . . 
 
While I don’t feel particularly masculine, I had somehow pinged the gaydar of an 111-year-old who grew up before cars were a thing, let alone out gays. To the world, I’m perceived as “Masculine of Center” (“MoC”) or maybe “Androgynous” (i.e. smack in the middle between feminine and masculine).  For the purposes of this post, I’ll call myself MoC or Andro, though all kinds of labels get thrown my way (my mother, for example, has confused “baby dyke” and “soft butch,” thus coining the term “baby butch” when she refers to my “class of lesbian.”) I’m told it’s not just about my mode of dress but the way I talk, sit, walk, stand, and gesture. Basically, everything about me is gay.
 
Navigating the world as I do, I’ve observed that most people who meet me fall into one of two camps—those who know I’m gay right away and those who think I’m a pre-pubescent boy. Because I’m short and thin, even into my 30s, I’m still mistaken for a boy on the regular. A few years ago, when Justin Bieber popularized skinny jeans and shaggy haircuts, my plight only worsened. After threats from friends, I started to compulsively check for my photo on the website “Lesbians Who Look Like Justin Bieber.”  Luckily, with Justin Bieber sort of going through puberty, and gay marriage taking the media spotlight, random strangers have begun to understand that I’m not a little boy; I’m a queer woman.
 
. . .
 
Last summer during Pride month, I found myself newly single and inspired to attend some “girl parties.”[1]  Unfortunately, I discovered that the vast majority of Pride party attendees —no matter their gender presentation—purported to prefer “femmes.” On the flip side, at any given party, the number of Feminine of Center (“FoC”) attendees tends to greatly exceed the number of Andro/MoC folks like myself. So, despite a few unfortunate rejections here and there, I enjoyed favorable odds among those seeking MoC dance partners.
 
Even though I find myself attracted to a range of gender presentations, I mostly met FoCs who tended to prefer MoCs like myself. Since the straight/cisgender world tends to expect a “masculine” and a “feminine” party in any given relationship (even if it’s just a one night relationship), given my small size, I often felt self-conscious about playing that default masculine role. Only confirming my fears, sometimes, in the morning, after what seemed like a good time was had by all, my FoC guest would look at me, and say: “you’re so tiny; you make me feel like a monster.”
 
. . .
 
After Pride month, I decided to return to a normal sleep cycle, give my liver a break, and try an online Tinder date. Rather than meet at a dark bar, I opted for a coffee shop in the sober light of day. Over caffeine, we covered all the basic topics: work, family, hobbies, etc. Afterwards, I walked her to the subway and we parted ways with a slightly awkward hug. That night, I got a text from her:
 
HER: Hey I had a really nice time over breakfast today—and I normally hate people before noon. My worry is that you work all the time and that I’m 100 feet taller than you.
 
ME: Well, a lot people have a problem with my height/smallness so I’d be up for friendship if that’s an issue for you. With work, I make time for fun things and people.
 
HER: It’s not an issue. We could see how it plays out—I’d like to hang again. I’m pretty fun.
 
Despite her excellent use of the em dash, we didn’t actually go out again. We made tentative plans, each reached out to “reschedule,” and neither of us followed up. The last thing I wanted to do was make another woman feel like a “monster.”
 
After this Tinder text exchange, I got curious. Knowing I’d likely never see most of my FoC guests again, I occasionally interviewed them about their disparaging comments regarding our size differential. (Spoiler alert: the patriarchy is to blame). Their insecurities fell into two overlapping categories:

1. FoC guests reported that despite their apparent attraction to me, they had long ago internalized the expectation that they would be the smaller party in bed and beyond. Somehow, though, they’d found themselves lying next to my tiny self. It seemed okay until they caught a glimpse of us together in a mirror and then, bam, “monster” comments emerged (that apartment had way too many mirrors).
2. FoC guests also reported body issues that rendered them uncomfortable around small or thin women in general, but especially when the situation involved nakedness. Fair enough.  

Though I can’t say I had a huge sample size, I found that FoCs who had previously mostly dated men particularly struggled with the realization that their attraction to women didn’t neatly track their attraction to men. The perception that they needed a partner to protect them, to always play the role of big spoon, or to reach objects in high places didn’t go away when they started to date women. And sleeping with an MoC like myself who can’t change a light bulb without a serious ladder brought out all sorts of unprocessed feelings that apparently translated into: “you make me feel like a monster.”
 
Despite my initial offense to “monster” comments, I deeply appreciated the honesty with which most of my FoC guests shared their thoughts about their own gender identity, attraction, and body consciousness. That didn’t mean, of course, that I didn’t internalize or feel self-conscious about some of these “monster” comments. 
 
I realized how much these exchanges had affected me when I  matched with a really attractive woman on Tinder this fall—someone who worked in a similar field and seemed to share my values. Within a few minutes of chatting, I asked her to get a drink with me. She agreed.
 
Before diving into scheduling, I decided to take the precautionary measure of actually reading her short profile. (I had rarely read profiles in the past but a few times I matched with couples looking for a third in their long-term relationship (aka a “unicorn.”). No shade to unicorns, of course.).
           
PROFILE:
Non-Profits and social causes
Drawn to intelligence and kindness
5’7” INJF
 
When I saw our six-inch height disparity, insecurity overwhelmed me.  I neurotically began to wonder if I should disclose my height to her prior to meeting. And so, I wrote another message:
 
ME: One caveat since this has been an issue at least twice before: I notice you put your height. I’m like 5’1” so if the height disparity is an issue, just putting it out there. I keep meaning to add it to my profile but I haven’t been on Tinder in a month or two.
 
ME: Oh and I’m an ENFJ.
 
I checked my messages compulsively but nothing for hours.
 
Then, the next day, Tinder indicated that Ms. 5’7” had sent me a message. Anxiously, I opened the app but the message didn’t come through (apparently, due lack of space on my phone). Normally, I would have just given up but I decided not to let my “monster” complex stand in the way.
 
Torturously, I couldn’t see the message. Somehow, Tinder still allowed me to send messages (just not receive) and so I wrote just one more message to Ms. 5’7”.
 
ME: Tinder says you’ve sent me a message but the reason I’m never on here half the time is that I can’t read new messages. So, assuming the message wasn’t “no thanks to short people,” feel free to text me at [insert number].
 
A few hours later, she texted and made friendly conversation, completely ignoring my neurotic and ridiculous height commentary. 
 
Finally, I had to ask:
 
ME: Are you going to tell me what your Tinder message said?
 
MS. 5’7”: Not going to tell you exactly what my Tinder message said but I'm sure 5'1 is a good look on you and I appreciate the extroverts in my life :)
 
Turns out the 5’7” INJF and I had an epic first date. In the morning, she bought be a much-needed coffee and I even thought I’d like to see her again.[2]
 
Oh and Tinder finally let me see her message when I finally got a new phone:
           
MS. 5’7”:  I don’t care about the height and I’ve liked every ENJF I’ve come across.
 
I’m glad I was no exception, six-inch height difference notwithstanding.
 
 

[1] By “queer” or “girl” party, I mean a space intended primarily for those who are not cis-male identified. This includes trans, non-binary, and gender queer folks.
[2] Sadly, Ms. 5’7” and I proved highly incompatible in areas other than height. But on the bright side, I’ll have the summer of 2018 to continue to research height disparities and other fascinating topics in queer lady dating.

Hey, all.  It's been a minute.  What's happened since then?  Well, something in my work life exploded and I was hit by some metaphorical shrapnel and I've been recovering, plus hustling as much as I can to get myself back on track.  But don't think I haven't thought of you--I've totally thought of you.  Here is a partial list of Random Things.  Nothing would make me happier than to read in the comments one or two things that *you* have been thinking.

1. Thanksgiving is coming up.  I have a motley crew of wayward mostly-singles joining me and the wife this year, so that means we're cooking.  And by "we're cooking," I mean that she is telling me what to buy and I'm buying it, and then on Wednesday I will spend all day following orders like the obedient sous chef that I am.  It is super cool to be in a position to invite other people over for Thanksgiving who might not otherwise have a group of people with whom to hang.  (Notice that I don't say "who had no place to go."  Because some people want to hang out solo and read magazines and eat ice cream all day on Thanksgiving, which I think is an equally valid choice.)
2. I went to Whole Foods today and got all the stuff on the list and not only was it PACKED with super slow-moving people, but they all seemed to be sick.  Every last thirty dozen of them.  It was all I could do not to bean someone with a delicata squash.
3. Can we stop for a second and talk about MEN?  Holy crap.  Harvey Weinstein, Kevin Spacey, Louis CK, Al Franken, Roy Moore, and SO many others.  The list goes on and on and on.  And while these cases shouldn't all be painted with the same brush, I can't help but notice that their common denominator is that they're all guys.  As are, by the way, all the mass shooting perps.  This is not a rant against men--some of my favorite people are men, obvs--but I can't help but think that if every single mass shooting and every single sexual assault were perpetrated by women, we wouldn't be allowed to own guns or be alone with anyone.
4. I met another lesbian recently who made the observation that every lesbian she knows seems to have ill-behaved dogs.  This seems, to me, totally true.  Even the ones who didn't adopt rescues have bad dogs.  My erstwhile canine BFF, Scout, was a Good Dog Extraordinaire, but my DXH and I adopted her back when I was "straight," so her goodness was grandfathered in.
5. Yesterday I learned a new vocabulary word that apparently "the kids these days" use: "extra."  From what I gather as a decidedly uncool thirtysomething, it basically means that a person is either (1) high maintenance (as in, "Dude, did you see her yell at him?  That woman is extra") or (2) trying way too hard (as in, "He turned in a 50-page paper and our assignment was 10 pages!  Talk about extra...").  But I don't know how to use it properly yet.  Like, can I say, "Stop being so extra?" Hmm.  It seems like blunting language is kind of a trend--e.g: "All the things," "All the feels," "I can't even."  I'm not saying this is a bad thing, but I do think it's interesting.  
6. Can I just say that my mom now buys me pocket squares?  She'll be at Ross or something and literally send me a picture of a pocket square or a lapel pin and be like, "What do you think of this?  Would you wear it?"  Never in a zillion years would I have imagined that such a thing could happen.  It is so cool.  I can't even tell you how happy and validated this makes me feel.  
7. I'm still gay.

Um, that's it.  Basically I just wanted to say hi.  Hi!  Happy Thanksgiving!!