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Jun. 13th, 2006 02:10 pmThe research continues. Today I'm reading up on the lesbian community in the 1950s, 60s, and 70s.
You know I'd always assumed that "butch" was just a political or fashion statement, the way it is now. In the 1950s, it seems to have been more of a job description. The butches of Montreal protected the femmes -- you actually had to get permission from one to speak to a femme.
They also played the role of bouncer. Plus the butches local army protecting the bar from bashers and the police. When the bars closed, the butches spread out to patrol the streets so the femmes could get home safely.
I had no idea the role was formalized.
Not sure how interesting anyone else finds this historical stuff, but I find it really neat. Today I went out looking for the original Joe Beef's tavern by the Old Port, another major Montreal landmark, and probably the only bar in the world to have ever used a real live bear as crowd control.
You know I'd always assumed that "butch" was just a political or fashion statement, the way it is now. In the 1950s, it seems to have been more of a job description. The butches of Montreal protected the femmes -- you actually had to get permission from one to speak to a femme.
They also played the role of bouncer. Plus the butches local army protecting the bar from bashers and the police. When the bars closed, the butches spread out to patrol the streets so the femmes could get home safely.
I had no idea the role was formalized.
Not sure how interesting anyone else finds this historical stuff, but I find it really neat. Today I went out looking for the original Joe Beef's tavern by the Old Port, another major Montreal landmark, and probably the only bar in the world to have ever used a real live bear as crowd control.