Stone Butch Blues

Jess’s parents effectively abandon her when it becomes plain that she will not be female enough for them. Butch Al becomes a parental figure for Jess, helping her figure out how to dress, how to survive in the world, and how to have sex with a woman. Butch Al warns Jess that life will be difficult and she will need to be tough. It is devastating to Jess when she witnesses the police attack Butch Al then drag her into a back room, where she is then raped. Jess loses touch with Butch Al but by the end of the book Jess manages to locate her in a psychiatric hospital. She thanks Butch Al for the guidance offered, which gave Jess the courage and knowledge to be and remain herself.

The femme lover of Butch Al, Jackie fills in as a matriarchal figure for Jess. She comforts Jess when Jess makes small social blunders that put her on the outs of the local gay and lesbian community. She offers Jess a safe place to stay, home cooked food to eat, and attentively nurses Jess back to health when Jess is beaten by the cops. After Butch Al disappears, Jackie resumes work as a prostitute. The two of them say goodbye without words when they run into each other by chance one day. Jackie walks over and fixes Jess’s tie, tears in her eyes.

Jess’s first serious girlfriend, Millie is a femme dancer who comes to resent Jess’s attempts to keep her safe. While Jess views her efforts as well intended, Millie is furious when Jess shows up at her job, as if monitoring her. Millie sees this decision as controlling and ends their relationship.

Theresa is Jess’s first real love. The two share a sexual passion that develops into an intellectual one, as well. They discuss politics and identity together and though they don’t always agree on such topics as women’s liberation or war, Jess admires Theresa’s courage and intelligence and feels that Theresa challenges her to be a better person. Jess proposes to Theresa, who accepts, but Jess’s decision to take hormones is not something that Theresa approves of. Though Jess begs for her support, Theresa asks Jess to leave. Jess moves out, brokenhearted. The book begins with a note from Jess to Theresa, a note that Theresa asked Jess to compose even if she wasn’t sure where to mail it.

Gloria facilitates Jess’s’ first real connection with the gay and lesbian community, directing her to the bar where Jess meets Butch Al and Jackie. Later, Gloria supplies After breaking up with Theresa, Jess again turns to Gloria and stays with her and her two children. Jess loves the kids and is sorry to have to leave them. When she tries to reconnect with Gloria and her children later, Gloria refuses, saying that she is disgusted by Jess’s transition.

Jess has many romantic entanglements with Edna, a femme who is quite a bit older than Jess. The first time they nearly connect is right after Edna has ended her relationship with Jan, a close friend of Jess’s. Jess feels at that time that it would be wrong to pursue a relationship with Edna, as it could endanger their friendship. Much later, Jess and Edna have a brief amorous connection that Edna breaks off, saying she needs to be alone. It is painful for Jess when she discovers that Edna has gotten back together with Jan. Jess is reluctant to accept it but knows she has no choice if she wants to remain friends with Jan.

Because she is butch, like Jess, Jan understands many of the difficulties that Jess faces in her life, work and relationships. Jan and Jess work together at multiple factory jobs, where they look out for another. They are both interested in worker solidarity and support union activities. They defend one another when harassed by male co-workers over issues like bathrooms. Their differences of opinion mostly center on Edna, whom they both find attractive. 

Jess and Grant don’t see eye-to-eye on politics (Grant is worried about communists and skeptical about racial bias), but they agree that hormones would be the safest options for them. Together, they consult a doctor and take shots. Given that they are given scant medical advice or attention, the solidarity of their action is important to Jess.

Jess finds an unlikely friend in fellow union factory work, Duffy. She is impressed by his commitment to fairness and justice when she is injured on the job. Duffy surprises Jess by advocating for her and her friends in matters large and small. When others call Duffy a communist, Jess ponders this term and wonders what it means really. At the end of the book, Jess and Duffy decide they will need to really sit down to talk this issue out. Duffy is convinced that Jess would be a talented union organizer and encourages her to take the lead and make people listen to her.