In our first issue for 2025, Curve Publisher Franco Stevens says gender expansiveness is about creating a world expansive enough to hold all of us.
This issue of Curve arrives during a political moment plagued with attempts to draw hard lines—between genders, identities, and, by implication, freedoms. The recent executive order narrowing the legal definition of gender to “man” and “woman” is more than a policy; it’s an erasure of lived realities. As a community of LGBTQ+ individuals, our history reminds us that binaries are a poor fit for the richness of human existence.
In this issue, we feature several articles that challenge and expand our understanding of identity and expression.
Shaley Howard’s powerful opinion piece, What Does It Mean to Be Butch?, examines the fluidity of butch identity and its relationship to clothing, culture, and confidence. With humor and vulnerability, Howard takes us on a journey through the Victorian dresses and tuxedos of a photo shoot, navigating societal expectations and her own evolving sense of self. Her insights remind us that butch is more than just an aesthetic—it’s a conscious identity, one that transcends rigid definitions of masculinity and femininity.
At the same time, we delve into ALOK, a documentary by filmmaker Alex Hedison exploring the life of Alok Vaid-Menon (whose aunt was none other than the visionary lesbian activist Urvashi Vaid), a transfeminine, non-binary artist and activist whose work boldly dismantles binaries—not just of gender but of love and identity itself. Hedison and Vaid-Menon’s vision transcends the politics of fear by envisioning a future where love, understanding, and inclusion form the foundation of our shared existence. As Vaid-Menon poignantly states in the documentary: “In an escalating climate of people who want me to die, I’m trying to look in their face and say, ‘I want you to live.’”
Together, these pieces form a compelling dialogue, illustrating how individual narratives challenge stereotypes and create space for liberation, and illuminating a profound truth: identity isn’t static. Whether it’s Howard finding empowerment in both a tuxedo and a Victorian dress, or Alok asserting the power of “we” in their art, identity resists being boxed in. As Howard observes, “Butch is not always the same thing as masculinity or ‘masc.’”
Similarly, freedom isn’t just about personal liberation—it’s about creating a world expansive enough to hold all of us.
As you engage with these narratives, I hope they inspire you to explore the nuances of your own identity and how you show up in the world. Together, let’s celebrate the boundless possibilities that emerge when we challenge the boundaries of the binaries around us.
On a side note, I wanted to give you a heads-up on a few exciting things happening at The Curve Foundation:
- Nominations for The Curve Power List 2025 are now open through February 14, 2025. Nominate your friends, peers, colleagues, and heroes who are redefining culture and driving positive change in our community HERE.
- Enter the Curve Photo Contest! Entries are free and open from January 28 until February 28, 2025. We would love to have you submit photos that showcase the beautiful diversity and love in our community. Enter HERE.
- Save the date for Lesbian Visibility Week from April 21-27, 2025! Curve
will be involved with over 50 events from coast to coast. We all need
something positive to celebrate during these tough times! So, pack your
bags for San Francisco, New York, Ptown, Indianapolis, or one of the
other cities that will be joining in on the festivities. And, if you can’t join
us in person, we will have heaps of virtual events to attend. Or, join us by
planning an event in your city or town, like a good old-fashioned potluck,
flag raising, film screening, or book reading. We have just begun posting
the event schedule HERE. Check back often for updates.
With solidarity,
Frances “Franco” Stevens
