Butch nor Femme #1
Smart and sensitive perzine sort-through. Butch Nor Femme looks at the psychic weight of a verbal attack, and the implications of saying “fucked up” and sexual manipulation. Sticks in the gut, aches in the heart, sizzles in the brain.
-EF (Quimby’s)
Thoughtful zine about various things they’ve been trying to sort through: the word “fucked”, an ex-friend yelling at them in public, some sweet stories, and a powerful and brave piece called “I got what I wanted” about being manipulative in sex. I am particularly grateful for this story! I know it will help lots of people realize behavior patterns and begin to change!
-Cindy Crabb (Doris Distro)
One of the things I admire most in some zine folks is their decision to write about past mistakes and how they’ve grown since then. It’s not easy to admit that you’ve done things that you now know are messed up, and Lynne does that in a great piece in this zine. They write about a past long-term relationship with a partner, and how they pushed their partner “emotionally and/or psychologically” to have sex. Lynne acknowledges what they did was wrong, and discusses how consent is now a very conscious part of their relationships. You should read this zine for this piece alone, and yet there is more: writing on language & the use of the word “fucked,” reactions to being verbally harassed by someone else in the queer community, & notes from a trip to Seattle. A super first issue of this new zine!
(Stranger Danger)
Butch nor Femme #2
Butch Nor Femme #2 begins and ends with sharp essays/musings about self-definition, assumption and gender labelling, tethered directly to the title. These bookend more laid back reports from a trip to Michigan and quitting the Facebook, thinking about internet socializer frameworks. Bright Queer Focus, Hella Articulated.
-EF (Quimby’s)
Loving Femme, but not being femme, and wanting other ways of being feminine to be seen. Sleeping with their cock on for the first time. “For me, the idea that I’m actually OK as I am, that there is nothing “wrong” with me or what I want/need, is shocking and a bit revolutionary.” Quitting their Facebook account – thinking about how they want to interact with people. Even though I don’t use social media, I thought this was interesting, especially because they still use tumblr and twitter – so it’s not an anti-social media thing or a political-against-Facebook thing, but rather a real look at how Facebook affects their life.
-Cindy Crabb (Doris Distro)
Lynne’s second issue is mostly split between two long pieces. The first is one on quitting Facebook, and how this changed the ways that they communicated with other people (also included are online sites that Lynne finds to be more engaging and useful than Facebook). The second piece is one that begins with the feelings surrounding the first time that Lynne slept with their cock on, and leads into thoughts about being a feminine-identified queer. There are also some shorter writings about a trip to Michigan & Lynne’s rejection of a femme identity. Awesome stuff.
(Stranger Danger)
Butch nor Femme #3 / Curioddity #3
Split zine. Both sides addressing the 7 Deadly Sins: Lust, Gluttony, Greed, Sloth, Wrath, Envy, Pride. Lynne address each topic in their refreshing, straightforward way. Curioser Jane writes her side in her powerful storytelling way.
-Cindy Crabb (Doris Distro)
Chicago zinesters Lynne & Dalice have written a split zine all about the seven deadly sins. Each half tackles every one of these sins, with personal stories that relate to the idea of lust, gluttony, greed, sloth, wrath, envy, & pride. I love that this zine is a split, as it’s interesting to read how Lynne & Dalice approached each sin. While there are a few light pieces about things such as collecting yarn & loving french fries, most of the writing has a heavier tone, with stories about harassment in public places, thoughts about being a sex cam worker, the frustrations associated with being a trans woman, & more. This is a great idea for a zine, & it’s done so well.
(Stranger Danger)
Butch nor Femme #4 / Curioddity #2
Lynne and Dalice present highly tweetable reviews from their project to watch every Disney animated film ever. Let me repeat that: THEY WATCHED EVERY DISNEY ANIMATED FILM EVER. Yipes.
(Quimby’s)
Butch nor Femme #5
BNF#5 is a result of Quimby’s first 24-hour zine challenge and it reads a little like an appendix/companion piece to some of Lynne’s previous writing – a Disney World scene report (see BNF#4/Curioddity #2 split), some wedding reflections (riffing on “with an e”), and looking at how 2011 felt in regards to zines, projects and sexuality. Piscean footnotes that hold their own.
-EF (Quimby’s)
Butch nor Femme #7
The centerpiece of this issue is a personal essay talking about monogamy and honesty, specifically matters of consent when people in monogamous relationships enter into polyamorous arrangements without informing their monoggy partner: accountability and responsibility, communication and ethics from a polyamorist perspective. Also shorter writings on body (mis)trust, bad(ish) trips, and a dream about working for Pauly Shore.
(Quimby’s)
In this issue of Butch Nor Femme, Lynne splits their writing into four main pieces, with the first being a lengthy essay on monogamy. They reveal how their relationships with & attitudes towards monogamous folks have changed over the years, in regards to creating partnerships that are honest & healthy. Lynne’s thought processes are clearly laid out, and it’s awesome to be able to read how and why their line of thinking has shifted. They also write about the transitioning from one job to another, and the things they will miss (& not miss!) about their former job. Beyond that, there is an excellent piece about not trusting your body — the sneaky ways that this feeling manifests itself, and what to do about it. They finish with a recap of a trip to DC for the DC Zine Fest in July, & all of the goodness & bummer times that were a part of that trip. Lynne always seems to reveal just a bit more of themself with each new zine. Keep ‘em coming!
(Stranger Danger)
Shit I Didn’t Tell You
Compelling footnotes to various friends and relations, “Shit I Didn’t Tell You” is exactly that. It’s a nice checkup about sorting out how feelings get felt and life gets lived.
-EF (Quimby’s)
…with an e #1
“With an E #1″ is a 24-hour zine of dealing with, well, mostly the conventional un-queerness of Lynne’s brother’s wedding. A little more off the cuff than “Butch Nor Femme” this new title isn’t afraid to be a little neurotic around the edges -definitely playing the contradiction of being a twenty-four hour zine that picks out an outfit eight months in advance for all its worth.
-EF (Quimby’s)
…with an e #2
Gawsh, this one just has me marveling in the spectrum of specificity that is self-publishing. Looking for a queer vegan dining guide to Walt Disney World? Sure you are, and it’s now in stock. Lynne’s writing is alway’s worth a peek even if your not magic kingdom-bound, although this time there’s a lot of Disney World (uh, WDW) culture-specific lingo that just plain flies over my head.
-EF (Quimby’s)
…with an e #3
Lynne goes 177 job applications deep before landing a new gig. A little bit nervewracking – like watching an endurance test – but also a lot triumphant when it happens, y’know?
(Quimby’s)