The Los Angeles Femmes of Color Collective would like to introduce our first “Femme Friday Feature” created by the Femme Archives Project. The “Femme Friday Feature” aims to highlight femmes of color, in all our complexities and uniqueness, during a time where femmes continually battle against femme erasure in queer communities and struggle finding spaces in other femme circles, which can be overwhelmingly white and dictated by Eurocentric standards of beauty.
Ultimately, this project hopes to diversify conceptions of what it means to be a femme of color and celebrate this multifaceted identity through storytelling and by centering the brilliance of Black and trans* femmes.
For more information or to participate in our Femme Friday Feature, email us at lafemmesofcolorarchives[at]gmail.com
-LAFoCC Femme Archives Project
Transcription:
Femme Friday Feature
[Image description] Miko, a cis-male, black, bi-racial, queer, femme boy, who uses he/him pronouns, poses near a street intersection wearing a black t-shirt and backpack.
[Social media handles] Facebook: michael.beighle; Instagram: miko.sean #FemmesofColorVisibility
How do you define femme?
“I feel like this is a hard question because I can't provide a real definition as I feel like someone’s definition of Femme belongs to them and is up to them to create that definition for themselves. The great thing about being Femme is that there is no exact way to be or "act" femme unlike what me and many other men have been taught about what being Masculine is. My definition of femme is inclusiveness. Being femme has less to do with your outward appearance (which I feel people sometimes get fixated on when hearing the term "femme") and more-so how you feel. Femme identity has never made me feel ashamed for talking the way I do, walking the way I do, having the thoughts and opinions that I have, or simply just looking the way I do. Being femme has accepted and loved me when masculinity shunned me.”
Who has influenced you as a femme? Who is your femmespiration?
“Being raised by Black Womyn, I'd definitely say Black Womyn are a major influence on my Femme Identity. I'm currently building a sleeve of Black Womyn musicians who I have identified with from childhood til now. My biggest femmespiration is my mom. Just seeing the struggles she's dealt with and overcome. From having me at a young age while trying to figure out who she really is as a womyn to being in an abusive relationship and finding the strength to put herself first and do what's healthy for her. She really is inspiring and has taught me a great deal about overcoming obstacles and believing in yourself. Plus she's probably one of the most stylish people I know with the best taste in music and is the driving force in my killer eye roll game (sorry mom). Def my biggest femmespiration. :)”
