as a tme nonbinary lesbian, i get that gender and sexuality is nuanced. it continues to strike me as odd, however, that anyone who would consider themselves to be a flavor of "man" would insist on inserting themselves in lesbian spaces. and, naturally, it is so reliably used to contribute to some narrative of lesbian "purity" or whatever that it fully just reiterates itself as transmisogyny. it also always comes at the expense of transfem lesbians. i really cannot think of a more obviously egregious example of bioessentialist rhetoric than the idea that a trans man would have more "right" to call himself a lesbian because he "was a woman," than a literal fucking woman would because she is transfem. just a full mask-off admission that what defines lesbianism for these boys is their pussies.
and, yes, butchness and lesbian masculinity can and have bled into transmasculinity, but "masc" does not equate to "man." like welcome to gender 101. i also totally get that lots of trans guys found solace in being a lesbian before transitioning, and i'm glad they found comfort there! but like. there's a word for men who are attracted to women. let me tell ya, it's not "lesbian." so yes, i would actually infinitely prefer to not have men, cis or trans, in dyke spaces. i don't care that you're embarrassed about being a het guy. not my problem!
