Butch whispers: Jeds McCreath
I live and work in Naarm/Melbourne (Australia). I moved here about 12 years ago, because I grew up in a predominantly white, cis-het area , and as soon as I could leave, I did. There was no-one like me there. I did not see myself in anyone there. I never experienced the life changing, affirming butch nod that I now occasionally get on the streets of Melbourne or day trips to the country.
I am a social mentor and disability support worker for queers. I am so deeply passionate and connected to the work I do.
What is your favorite or funniest memory from your dating life?
I once ended things with someone because they told me they hated Tegan and Sara, and that they were both faking being gay. Also, In my baby dyke days I was in a throuple, and when it broke up, I started dating the couple’s best friend, which turned into one of my longest, loving and fulfilling relationships, who is now my ex but my best friend in this world. Classic dyke behavior.
Tell us about a time that being butch positively impacted your life.
Being butch positively impacts my life every day. Being butch is my favorite thing about myself, something I’m proud of and brings me joy. This identity spills out into every facet of my life and that’s something I feel is deeply positive. Its a constant in my life that I feel vehemently connected to and proud of, as well as my queerness and transness. Something that I embody, embrace, love, care for, treat well and scream at the top of my lungs on rooftops for. Being butch positively impacts my life in so many ways, mainly because it brings this confidence, I never thought existed in me or was possible for someone like me, it brings me the ability to be soft but tough, the ability to be my complete self- something I have always been afraid of, and to exist outside of what society expects of me.
What is something about your butch identity you feel like no one understands?
Butch is not just an aesthetic, although it is as well. Butch is a whole way of being, a beautifully layered identity that goes far beyond flannel and jeans (although that come’s with it too). It’s the energy and it is who I am and it is something that has always been with me. Something I feel straight people don’t understand is, being a non binary butch absolutely does not equate to me being a man. My meaning and expression of masculinity is far more expansive.
What is something on your bucket list that makes you blush?
It has just been successfully ticked off, but being photographed for Butch Is Not A Dirty Word.
What’s something in your life that’s gone unfulfilled that you’re still searching for?
That sweet, sweet gender euphoria. I’m searching for it everyday, but I’m hoping this will be found next year when I have Top Surgery.
What has been the best thing that you’ve been wrong about in your life?
That being vulnerable does not make you weak. That you’re not weak and there is no shame in accepting help and support. I used to believe this. I’ve come along way, and still have a long way to go, but talking about your feelings and emotions is hot!
What is your favorite or funniest memory from your dating life?
I once ended things with someone because they told me they hated Tegan and Sara, and that they were both faking being gay. Also, In my baby dyke days I was in a throuple, and when it broke up, I started dating the couple’s best friend, which turned into one of my longest, loving and fulfilling relationships, who is now my ex but my best friend in this world. Classic dyke behavior.
Tell us about a time that being butch positively impacted your life.
Being butch positively impacts my life every day. Being butch is my favorite thing about myself, something I’m proud of and brings me joy. This identity spills out into every facet of my life and that’s something I feel is deeply positive. Its a constant in my life that I feel vehemently connected to and proud of, as well as my queerness and transness. Something that I embody, embrace, love, care for, treat well and scream at the top of my lungs on rooftops for. Being butch positively impacts my life in so many ways, mainly because it brings this confidence, I never thought existed in me or was possible for someone like me, it brings me the ability to be soft but tough, the ability to be my complete self- something I have always been afraid of, and to exist outside of what society expects of me.
What is something about your butch identity you feel like no one understands?
Butch is not just an aesthetic, although it is as well. Butch is a whole way of being, a beautifully layered identity that goes far beyond flannel and jeans (although that come’s with it too). It’s the energy and it is who I am and it is something that has always been with me. Something I feel straight people don’t understand is, being a non binary butch absolutely does not equate to me being a man. My meaning and expression of masculinity is far more expansive.
What is something on your bucket list that makes you blush?
It has just been successfully ticked off, but being photographed for Butch Is Not A Dirty Word.
What’s something in your life that’s gone unfulfilled that you’re still searching for?
That sweet, sweet gender euphoria. I’m searching for it everyday, but I’m hoping this will be found next year when I have Top Surgery.
What has been the best thing that you’ve been wrong about in your life?
That being vulnerable does not make you weak. That you’re not weak and there is no shame in accepting help and support. I used to believe this. I’ve come along way, and still have a long way to go, but talking about your feelings and emotions is hot!
Butch is not just an aesthetic, it is a whole way of being, a beautifully layered identity that goes far beyond flannel and jeans. It's an energy, it is who I am, and it is something that has always been with me. Something I feel straight people don't understand is, being a non binary butch absolutely does not equate to me being a man. My meaning and expression of masculinity is far more expansive.
How do you feel like you embody masculinity differently from what is expected of you?
I love being able to rewrite what masculinity means and to be able to wear it proudly without it having to fit in a small rigid box. Being able to embody masculinity in a way that is not toxic, unhealthy or tragic, which were the only ways it was represented and shown to me growing up, which was harmful. Masculinity and butchness defies societal norms and expectations.
What’s the most difficult thing about being Butch?
I think the most difficult things about being butch is the misconceptions and assumed roles expected of butches and not being seen as multi dimensional people. That walking down the street being visibly butch can open you up to a lot of misunderstanding of you and your identity, discrimination and some very strange invasive questions
Are there parts of your inherit masculinity you’ve ever felt like you had to work to unlearn?
If I believed what was fed to me about masculinity I wouldn’t be able to truly be me; I couldn’t be tough but soft, stern but gentle, fearful but courageous, independent but affectionate, shielded but vulnerable. It has been a long road and its been hard without good, healthy representation and role models, which should now be better for the baby butches.
How do you feel like you embody masculinity differently from what is expected of you?
I love being able to rewrite what masculinity means and to be able to wear it proudly without it having to fit in a small rigid box. Being able to embody masculinity in a way that is not toxic, unhealthy or tragic, which were the only ways it was represented and shown to me growing up, which was harmful. Masculinity and butchness defies societal norms and expectations.
What’s the most difficult thing about being Butch?
I think the most difficult things about being butch is the misconceptions and assumed roles expected of butches and not being seen as multi dimensional people. That walking down the street being visibly butch can open you up to a lot of misunderstanding of you and your identity, discrimination and some very strange invasive questions
Are there parts of your inherit masculinity you’ve ever felt like you had to work to unlearn?
If I believed what was fed to me about masculinity I wouldn’t be able to truly be me; I couldn’t be tough but soft, stern but gentle, fearful but courageous, independent but affectionate, shielded but vulnerable. It has been a long road and its been hard without good, healthy representation and role models, which should now be better for the baby butches.
