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Media, non-fiction and fiction, which features butches or explores butch experiences. This includes butches who identify with terms like transmasculine.

Year Ranges
Media Types
Various Tags
Countries, Nationalities
Two American butches sitting in the back of a truck, smiling happily. Both are brown-skinned with short, black hair, wearing sleeveless black tops and black trousers. Both are tattooed.
Documentary, Short Film
2025
Australia, United States of America

Photographer Esther Godoy Wants You to Know “Butch is Not a Dirty Word”

Esther Godoy, a butch originally from Australia, is interviewed alongside American photography subjects as they photograph butches for their series Butch is Not a Dirty Word.

A non-binary butch lesbian named Saskia, sitting indoors and holding up a bottle of testosterone gel, gesturing to it and smiling. They are light-skinned with short, wavy, dark brown hair and blue eyes. They are wearing a green chequered shirt.
Talking Head
2025
England

let's talk about being a butch lesbian on testosterone

Saskia, a non-binary butch lesbian who is 15 months on testosterone and experiences gender dysphoria, discusses this hormone journey and offers an individual perspective on masculinity, butchness, and gender overall. Saskia also mentions being unable to bind, and desiring top surgery.

Zaid, an Afghan teenager played by Iranian actress Sadaf Asgari, in the short film Na Marei. He is sitting in the front seat of a bus, looking into the distance with a neutral or focused expression. He is wearing a yellow hoodie underneath a brightly-coloured jacket, the jacket comprised of purple, blue, and white stripes. He has short, black hair, light brown skin, and dark brown eyes. A desert landscape is visible in the blurred background, through the windows of the bus.
Short Film
2024
Afghanistan (افغانستان), Iran (ایران)

Na Marei (The Invisible)

Zaid, an Afghan teenager played by Iranian actress Sadaf Asgari, lives and works as a man for his family (bacha posh). He finds that his identity goes deeper than this masquerade, however, and is unwilling to return to a female life when his mother demands that he get married. Determined to keep his secret girlfriend and finish his entrance exams, he tries to continue life as a man.

A film still from the music video Butch Dyke, showing a butch standing indoors, in a dark, blue-lit room. She has light brown skin, dark hair shaved in a buzzcut, a subtle moustache, and dark brown eyes. She is wearing a silver chain necklace and satin blue shorts. She is androgynous, and has had top surgery, with scars visible on her abdomen. She is wearing boxing gloves and holding her hands up near her face. Her expression is stern or angry. The blurred background is comprised of a shiny, reflective surface with blue, red, and white areas.
Music
2024
United States of America

Butch Dyke

Butches of different ages, body types, and ethnicities feature in this film clip, including one butch who has had top surgery. The song and its accompanying music video are a tribute to butches. Written and performed by trans artist A.S. Valentino.

Trevon, a dark-skinned trans man in the documentary Beyond The Aggressives. He is leaning against railing, looking out over a river with a neutral expression. He is wearing a blue silk head scarf tied around his head, and a white t-shirt. He has short, dark hair and dark brown eyes. The background of the photo shows a bridge, a light blue sky, and city buildings in the far distance.
Documentary
2023
United States of America, Hong Kong (香港 )

Beyond the Aggressives: 25 Years Later

American trans man Octavio Sanders, Hongkonger-American trans man Chin Tsui, American trans man Trevon Haynes, and masculine-of-centre American boi Kisha Batista are filmed decades after appearing in The Aggressives (2005).

A still from the animated film Pete, showing a young gender non-conforming kid looking up at their mother with loving eyes. Both are light-skinned with ginger hair. The kid is wearing a blue shirt and a blue gap. Their mother is wearing a yellow shirt and a necklace.
Animated Film, Short Film
2022
United States of America

Pete

Bret Parker, an American Pixar artist, depicts the gender non-conforming childhood of her American wife Pete Barma (they/them) in this gorgeous animated short film.

Jude Dry portraying themself in the short film Monsieur Le Butch. They are standing beside their mother, who is seated, looking down to her with a slight smile. Their mother is looking into the distance with a neutral expression. Jude has light skin and short, wavy, black hair, and is wearing a collared blue shirt over a white shirt. Their mother has wavy, short brown hair, light skin, and is wearing a collared yellow shirt.
Short Film, Experimental Film
2022
United States of America

Monsieur Le Butch

Jude Dry, a non-binary person, plays themself alongside their mother in this hybrid short film.

StormMiguel Florez, a Xicane trans man, in the documentary The Whistle. He is standing outdoors and looking into the distance with a smile. He is wearing a black cap and a sleeveless green shirt, with tattooed arms. He has short, dark hair and dark facial hair. He is wearing glasses and silver earrings.
Documentary
2021
United States of America, Mexico

The Whistle

StormMiguel Florez, a Xicane trans man, returns to his hometown to interview the lesbians who grew up in his community.

Micah Lee, a trans man played by Chinese-American trans male actor Leo Sheng, in the show The L Word: Generation Q. He has brown skin and short, black hair. He is wearing a blue t-shirt. Curtains are visible in the blurred background. Somebody off-camera is resting their hand on his shoulder, and he is smiling at them.
Show
2019
United States of America, China (中國)

The L Word: Generation Q

Micah Lee, a trans man played by Chinese-American trans male actor Leo Sheng, explores relationships with men and women while also navigating infidelity, conflict in friendships, and biphobia.

Chris, a trans male barista played by American non-binary actor Theo Germaine, sitting on a couch with his partner; an older queer woman named Abby. Chris is light-skinned with a shaved head, wearing an open button-down grey shirt over a red t-shirt. He is also wearing orange trousers. Abby is light-skinned with short, grey hair, wearing glasses, a polka-dotted blue shirt, and black trousers. The pair are smiling at each other, with Abby gesturing while she speaks.
Show
2019
United States of America

Work in Progress

Chris, a trans male barista played by American non-binary actor Theo Germaine, falls in love with an older queer woman named Abby, played by American actor Abby McEnany. The series is semi-autobiographical and based on Abby McEnany's life.

A film still from the short film My Crazy Boxers, showing a pixellated video of fish swimming, and the words, "Are gender classifications absurd?" displayed in white text.
Experimental Film, Short Film
2019
United States of America

My Crazy Boxers

In this experimental short film, Krissy Mahan re-enacts a conversation with a therapist who pathologised the wearing of boxers.

Max de Morny, a trans man or butch lesbian played by Irish actress Denise Gough in the film Colette. They are standing outdoors wearing a black suit, a black hat, and a white collared shirt with a green tie. They are light-skinned with light brown, short hair. They are standing next to a light-skinned woman with short, curly brown hair, who is wearing a white dress and a straw hat. The pair are looking into the distance with neutral expressions. Trees can be seen in the blurred background, as if the pair are in a forest or a park.
Film
2018
England

Colette

Max de Morny, a trans and/or butch historical figure, is portrayed by Irish actress Denise Gough in this romance drama film. English trans male actor Jake Graf has a minor role.

Cyd and Katie, two characters in the film Princess Cyd, sitting together outdoors. Katie is a non-binary person with light skin and partly-shaved brown hair, wearing a patterned brown shirt. Cyd is a woman with long blonde hair, wearing a white shirt with a white neck choker. The pair are looking up with relaxed and neutral expressions.
Film
2017
United States of America

Princess Cyd

The bisexual protagonist of this film falls in love with Katie, a gender non-conforming barista played by American non-binary actor Ro White.

Five images displayed side-by-side. The central image is the front cover of the book True Sex by Emily Skidmore, showing a trans man sitting with his wife. The other images show historical photos and illustrations of trans men.
Book (Non-Fiction)
2017
United States of America

True Sex: The Lives of Trans Men at the Turn of the 20th Century

This book explores the lives of trans men living in the U.S.A. between 1876 and 1936, examining their experiences of being outed, their romantic relationships, their participation in the workforce, and their preferences for rural towns over cities. The impact of race on their lives is also considered.

Two slender, gender-neutral people in the video What Is Female Masculinity? The person on the left has light brown skin and short black hair, and is wearing ear gauges. The person on the right has light skin and long, straight green hair, and is wearing a sleeveless black shirt with a printed design on it. The background of the photo is darkness.
Interview
2015
United States of America

What Is Female Masculinity?

Several American interviewees discuss their female masculinity, using the terms butch, gender-neutral, masculine-of-center, and genderqueer to describe themselves.

Mac, a butch played by Puerto Rican non-binary actor Vico Ortiz, in the short film Vámonos. She has light brown skin and dark brown hair which is partly shaved. She is standing indoors, wearing a sleeveless black top and a leather necklace. She is looking down, holding an object which cannot be seen.
Short Film
2015
United States of America, Puerto Rico (Borikén)

Vámonos

Mac, a butch played by Puerto Rican non-binary actor Vico Ortiz, is dressed femininely after death by intolerant family members. Hope, Mac's partner, breaks into the funeral home prior to the funeral, dressing Mac's body masculinely so that Mac's identity is respected in death.

A light-skinned, middle-aged butch lesbian sitting indoors. She has light skin, short brown hair, and dark brown eyes, and is wearing a white-and-blue chequered flannel shirt over a white t-shirt. She is also wearing wire-rimmed glasses. A kitchen can be seen in the background behind her.
Talking Head
2014
United States of America

Top Surgery Questions Answered

A fifty-two-year-old American butch discusses having top surgery three months prior, after experiencing years of body dysphoria and back pain.

A black-and-white photograph showing a dark-skinned butch lesbian standing against a dark grey background. The butch is wearing a black hat, a black suit jacket, a white suit shirt, a nose ring, black-rimmed glasses, and a grey tie. The butch's expression is neutral or firm. The photograph was taken by butch photographer SD Holman, as part of their BUTCH Not Like the Other Girls series.
Book (Non-Fiction)
2014
United States of America

BUTCH: Not Like the Other Girls

Butches, photographed and interviewed by American genderqueer butch SD Holman, provide insights into gender, sexuality, love, and butch diversity.

Mickaël, a trans kid in the film Tomboy, played by French actress Zoé Héran. He is standing outdoors, looking into the distance with a neutral expression. He is wearing a grey t-shirt. He is light-skinned, with short, light brown hair and blue eyes.
Film
2011
France (Française)

Tomboy

A child, played by French actress Zoé Héran, chooses the name Mickaël after moving to a new town, living as a male among new friends and getting a girlfriend.

Alike, a butch played by American actress Adepero Oduye, in the film Pariah. She is sitting in a bus, looking out the window with a neutral expression. She is wearing a cap and a striped t-shirt. She has dark skin and dark brown eyes.
Film
2011
United States of America

Pariah

Alike, a masculine-of-centre butch played by American actress Adepero Oduye, embraces her identity in defiance of her bigoted and violent mother.

Anjorka Strechel as Mel AKA Miguel in My Friend from Faro, AKA Mein Freund aus Faro. Miguel is standing in a forest and saying "I'm different". He is wearing a brown flannel shirt, is light-skinned, and has short, wavy, black hair. He has brown eyes. His expression is stressed or neutral.
Film
2008
Germany (Deutschland)

Mein Freund aus Faro (My Friend from Faro)

Miguel/Mel, a male-presenting character played by German actress Anjorka Strechel, begins a relationship with a girl and faces expectations of heterosexual womanhood from family.

Robin, a trans child played by Canadian actress Matreya Fedor, in the film No Bikini. Robin is playing in a pool, splashing with another child, the pair laughing happily.
Short Film
2007
United States of America, Canada

No Bikini

A child named Robin, played by Canadian actress Matreya Fedor, chooses to be known as a boy while attending swimming lessons. Inspired by a short story of the same name, published by butch/non-binary activist Ivan E. Coyote.

Octavio, a young trans man in the documentary The Aggressives, sitting in a barber shop and looking ahead with a neutral or angry expression. He is dark-skinned with a buzzcut.
Documentary
2005
United States of America, Hong Kong (香港 )

The Aggressives

Six Americans are interviewed about their identities, sexual orientations, backgrounds, struggles, and goals for the future. At the time of filming, all six identified as Aggressive, with the terms butch and transgendered also used. Several would go on to identify as trans men, as seen in Beyond the Aggressives (2023).

Dréd, a Black drag king in the documentary Venus Boyz. He is wearing a black afro wig and has false facial hair drawn on his face. He is wearing a leather jacket and sunglasses.
Documentary
2002
United States of America, Austria (Österreich)

Venus Boyz

Multiple drag kings are interviewed about their motivations for doing drag, their identities, their medical transitions, and their understandings of gender. Interviewees include cis women, trans men, non-binary people, Jack Halberstam, Hans Scheirl, and Del LaGrace Volcano; an intersex non-binary person who is transitioning on testosterone and doesn't mind being read as a man. 

Chris, a trans boy played by French actress Raphaëlle Santini, in the film My Life In Pink. He is sitting on a chair, wearing a frilly blue dress, a silver crown, and a boys' watch. He has light skin, freckles, and short ginger hair. He is looking up at someone in the blurred foreground.
Film
1997
France (Française), Belgium (België)

Ma vie en rose (My Life in Pink)

Chris, a masculine-presenting child played by French actress Raphaëlle Santini, has a small role in this film, befriending the trans female protagonist.

A still from the 1996 documentary Transexual Menace, showing white German trans woman Eva Love lying next to her dark-skinned trans male partner. She has long blonde hair and is wearing a black dress. He has a shaved head and is wearing a white singlet.
Documentary
1996
Germany (Deutschland), United States of America, Côte d'Ivoire (Ivory Coast), Japan (日本)

Vor Transsexuellen Wird Gewarnt (Transexual Menace)

Jamison Green, Loren Andrew Patrowski, Maxwell Scott Anderson, and several other American trans men are interviewed in this documentary. Eva Love, a trans woman, discusses her relationship with a trans man. Butch/trans trailblazer Leslie Feinberg is also interviewed. Dr. Toby Meltzer discusses phalloplasty and other transition surgeries.

Leslie Feinberg, a butch trans activist, in the documentary OUTLAW. Feinberg is standing outdoors, a city in the blurred background, squinting in the sun. Feinberg has short, grey hair, light skin, and is wearing a black coat with a patterned black scarf.
Documentary
1994
United States of America

Outlaw

Leslie Feinberg, a pioneering American butch and trans activist, is interviewed about gender and identity.

Three images displayed side-by-side. The left grayscale image shows butch trans activist Leslie Feinberg sitting indoors, wearing a suit; zey are a light-skinned person with short, dark hair and a masculine appearance, smiling slightly. The middle image shows the cover of Stone Butch Blues, which includes the text, "STONE BUTCH BLUES: A novel: LESLIE FEINBERG", this text displayed on top of a grayscale photo of Leslie Feinberg. The right grayscale image shows Leslie Feinberg toward the end of hir life, standing outdoors on a city street, smiling happily. Zey have a shaved head and light stubble, and are wearing a black t-shirt.
Book (Fiction)
1993
United States of America

Stone Butch Blues

Authored by the butch/trans pioneer Leslie Feinberg, this novel follows the journey of stone butch Jess Goldberg. Jess experiences abuse and discrimination due to her masculinity, begins using testosterone as an adult, has a chest reduction, and ultimately falls in love with a trans woman named Ruth.

Kotzebue, a male-presenting miner played by Canadian actress k.d. lang, in the film Salmonberries. They are a light-skinned, masculine-presenting person with short, black hair and blue eyes. They are standing outdoors in the snow, wearing a padded blue coat. They are looking into the distance with a happy or neutral expression.
Film
1991
Germany (Deutschland), Canada, United States of America

Salmonberries

Kotzebue, a male-presenting miner played by Canadian actress k.d. lang, annoys, harasses, and sexually assaults a woman named Roswitha.

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