Femme 2008: The Architecture of Femme

I wear makeup and dresses and kiss girls who look like boys. I’m a femme dyke.It is completely and totally hot and I can’t imagine it any other way. But I share the feelings and concerns of my sister femmes who worry about being invisible among queers and judged for not being “gay-enough.” In August of 2006, I had the opportunity to discuss these issues and celebrate femme-ness at the Femme 2006 conference in San Francisco. When I arrived, I was immediately greeted by hot queer femme fatales of all ages. There were performers, writers, and activists, keynotes by femme heroes Jewelle Gomez and Amber Hollibaugh, film screenings, panel discussions and workshops galore. I bet you wish you were there. But you’re lucky because this August the ladies of the femme collective are putting together another conference! This time in the windy city, and the keynote is the incomparable Dorothy Allison! They are currently accepting proposals for workshops and papers and performances, and registration is open! Check it out www.femmecollective.com . I’ll be there representin’ Velvetpark, swapping makeup tips and shoe sale tales, and demonstrating how the personal is political. P.S. The conference is open to femme allies and fans, too… so all of cute dykes, butches, and trannies out there who love us femmes, pack your bags, and head to Chicago!