Are you ready to flex those biceps?
BY ELLA GAUCI, IMAGE BY KEEV O’BAOILL
Butches of the UK, you have been summoned. Tomorrow (20 September), London’s first ever “Performative Butch” contest will be held in the Old Nun’s Head. Trust me, you don’t want to miss this one.
Following in the footsteps of the viral “performative masc” competitions you’ve likely seen all over TikTok, this contest is a tongue-in-cheek celebration of dyke identity, masculinity and performance. Contestants are encouraged to “parody, play with, and reimagine what it means to ‘perform’ butch masculinity today”. With a series of rounds where contestants can flex their butch credentials, this hilarious event is designed to celebrate and poke fun at “lesbian cultural signifiers”.
But who will be on the judging panel? Oran and Fey from Booters Butch Bar & Diner (a Hooters-inspired parody dining event), Lily Parfitt and drag scene staple mx fortune will all be there on the day to decide who is the most performative butch out there. Speaking about the event, Oran said: “As gender daddy Judith Butler says, all gender is a performance, so this is a chance to explore what that looks like for butches in the 21st century.”
For the ultimate “performative butch”, the prize includes a “butch basket” of goodies contributed by the Old Nun’s Head, Lez Bag, Elizabeth Lovatt, The Common Press, BratKing666, Z3L, Curly Femme Fashion, Fruttii and Bootes Butch Bar.
Judge and co-organiser Lily Parfitt said: “Maybe I just wanted all the butches of London in one place showing off their sexiest skills… Kidding! Rooted deep within my femme identity is a need to protect and love butches. So I was excited to work with Booters on this interpretation of ‘performative butch’! We want to honour and celebrate the butch characteristics we all love so much, while creating a free event to bring the London dyke community together.”
After one lucky butch takes home the ultimate prize, there will be a free afterparty til late, curated by drag king and club promoter Prinx Silver.
“It’s important to celebrate butch culture, perform it, interpret it, and be playful with it,” Prinx Silver added. “And give visibility to butch as a broad identity, where we welcome butches of all types, including non-binary butches, lez butches, butches on T, butches on E, Black and POC butches.”
What are you waiting for?! Get down to the Old Nun’s Head by 6 pm tomorrow to avoid disappointment! To RSVP as an audience member, or take part in the contest, go to the Booters Outsavvy here.
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