08 Where Did All the Butches Go?
ALEX:
I SAW THIS PICTURE FROM THE EIGHTIES:
A GROUP OF STRONG AND FEARLESS LADIES,
WALKING ARM IN ARM IN LINES,
HOLDING UP THEIR PROTEST SIGNS.
FROM SUFFRAGETTES TO PRIDE PARADES,
FROM ROE V. WADE TO STONEWALL RAIDS,
WOMEN STILL SHOW UP, I KNOW,
BUT WHERE DID ALL THE BUTCHES GO?
I’D LIKE A LIFE WHERE I COULD SEE
OTHER GIRLS WHO LOOK LIKE ME.
INSTEAD, I’VE WATCHED US DISAPPEAR,
JUST LIKE OUR BARS DO EV’RY YEAR.
I’M GRATEFUL THAT WHAT ONCE WAS “GAY”
IS LGBTQIA
‘CAUSE NOW THERE’S MUCH MORE ROOM TO FIND OUR PLACE
WHERE WE CAN SHOW OUR TRUEST FACE.
BUT STILL, IT’S LONELY WHEN YOU FEEL
THAT IN OUR SELF-ACCEPTANCE ZEAL,
WE’VE LOST A WAY THAT GIRLS CAN BE;
WE’VE LOST A PLACE FOR GIRLS LIKE ME.
I SAW THIS PICTURE FROM THE EIGHTIES:
IT’S OF A GROUP OF STRONG AND FEARLESS LADIES,
BUT THE FUTURE THAT THEY HAD FORETOLD
HAS NEVER REALLY TAKEN HOLD.
WE’VE SEEN THE RIGHTS THEY WON ERODE.
WE’VE SEEN ALL WOMEN’S PROGRESS SLOWED.
AND STILL, I’LL STAND FOR ALL OUR RIGHTS;
I’LL RAISE MY VOICE AND FIGHT THE FIGHTS!
BUT WHILE WE BATTLE TO BE FREE,
IT STILL CAN FEEL SO SAD TO SEE
THE ONCE ABSURD, NOW COMMON, SIGHT
OF SO FEW BUTCHES LEFT TO FIGHT.
FROM SUFFRAGETTES TO PRIDE PARADES,
FROM ROE V. WADE TO STONEWALL RAIDS,
WOMEN STILL SHOW UP, I KNOW,
BUT WHERE DID ALL THE,
WHERE DID ALL THE,
WHERE DID ALL THE BUTCHES GO?