[Massive]

I've found this thread very enlightening, I can't say I've read it from the very start, because the last time I did that I was sat at my desk for about 6 hours.
I call myself GenderQueer, but if someone asks me if I'm Butch, I say yes, I am, because for me I am a GenderQueer Butch Dyke, and I wear my own personal labels with Pride (you can also add to those Syr and Daddy!)
The reason I call myself GenderQueer is because where I live, in the north-eastern part of England, the terms Butch and Femme are considered outdated, to the point where I haven't got a damn clue what the 'kids' today call themselves.
All my life I've been Butch, I can't be any other way, everything I do, wear, say does happen to scream it out loud, unless of course it's some little old lady who looks at me and says "You're such a nice lad." then I mostly nod and grin.
Another reason why I call myself GenderQueer is because here in the UK, it is an uncommon term where I am, it makes people, both straight, gay, purple, alien or otherwise stop and think, there are so many people out in the world who judge us for how we look, who we date, what colour our skin is, the clothes we wear, what tv shows we watch, so I personally ID the way I do because it makes these people who can't see past my pink mohawk or the fact that I'm 6' tall in boots and look like a man from behind cos I've got broad shoulders actually stop and think about the fact that there are so many different and incredibly diverse ways to live in this day and age.
I still talk to gay men on my local scene who remember getting arrested and beaten up by the police for being gay, these self-same men ask me to clarify when they call me a lesbian and I correct them, for me personally 'lesbian' has far too many negative connotations, and again, I'll reiterate, that is MY personal dislike of the term, I will defend, to the hilt anyone elses choice to ID as whoever and however they choose, and always will, because we need that diversity in this community. If for nothing else than the simple fact that without this community, how many of us would have to hide away under some other label or group that we knew we did not belong to?I've watched this kind of thing happen again and again over the past 14 years of my life being out and proud, so many kids don't know how to ID, or have no knowledge of the way we have all ID'd in the past, I was one of those kids when I first came out, and it took me seeing some amazing, strong, good people, both Butch and Femme, to see the Butch in myself, I owe those people a favour, so I try and educate the 'kids' I know today, I see it as a part of the responsibility laid down on my shoulders by the generations who have been here before me.
As a side note and an example of what it's been like for me on the gay scene here in the north-east, I was out with friends, walking down between bars and this girl walked up and asked me if I was new on the scene, so I explained, politely, that I had been out and around since before she left school more than likely, then she asked me why I was 'old fashioned' and dressed the way I did (I had a shirt, t-shirt underneath, jeans and big boots) so I explained, yet again that I was and always had been Butch, to which she answered, "Oh right, well, you know, maybe you're too butch?!" To this day I can't look this girl in the eye now, if that's how people see me, then I think I have finally reached the stage where I think, you know, maybe it doesn't matter how I ID, as long as I know who I am, and my babygirl knows who I am, and I have my friends respect, then who gives a damn? I know who I am, surely that's enough? If someone who doesn't know me, and doesn't care to get to know me has the gall to try and tell me I'm wrong? I think you'll find my response the same as it's ever been ... I am me, don't like it, well, tough shit!