but regardless of what i think, it still counts as another example of the boxes that people try 2 put us in. check this list out.

I. “touch me not” Butch/Stud

This is usually the type of dyke that has gender identity disorder(she thinks and wants to be a man).She takes on the very dominant role in relationships, the male role to be exact. She dresses like a man and acts like a man. There is nothing feminine about her. She is sometimes more of a man than some men. In bed she will only want to make love to her women with a strap on. She will not want women to touch her breast, or her vagina, go down on her or provide her with any type of pleasure. She wants to do all the pleasuring. She does not want women to touch her breast etc, because it reminds her that she is a woman.

II. New Age Stud aka Totally Tomboy

She also takes on the dominant role in the relationship. She does not mind her fem touching her body, giving her head etc. She likes to be pleasured in bed by her women. She however is the dominant party in bed and is usually if not always, on top. She will use a strap-on occassionally in bed, but it is not necessary to love making. She can either dress very masculine, or she can sometimes be androgenous. On rare occassions or if she has to (like meeting the parents for the first time) she can go femme for short periods.

III. Fem-Stud

This is the type of dyke that is very dominant and is all boy in her thinking. She however has no problem rocking a short tight hairdo that would make a femme jealous. Or she could wear it long. She will usually wear baggy clothes and dress boy on the street, but she will do the femme thing occassionally. These are the type of studs that rule Coperate America. She will throw on a Jones of New York suit like its nothing, but still have a unmistakably boy edge. She is so fly that even men are drawn to her charms, even though she is very obviously gay. She is very similar to the New Age Stud in bed.

IV. Pseudo stud aka the “I wish I was hard” stud

This is the type of stud that is a pretender. She is hard on the street, around her boyz and femmes that she is not dating. When she goes home to her femme, however, she drops the facade. Her girl takes control and may even dominate her in bed. She may even allow her girl to use a strap-on with her. Her girl may sometimes wonder who the femme really is in the relationship. This type of stud may also have a secret attraction to fem-studs, new age studs and in some cases butches. A lot of white dykes fall in this category (u see themwalking around holding hands, butch with butch.) On rare cases you see them in the black community. You know the type, where you are constantly wondering who`s the daddy. This is the type of stud that needs to have her stud card revoked!!!

V. Fake Butch

This is usually a femme who wants to attract other femmes by dressing like a Butch/Stud. She will try to
act the hard role, but her heart is not in it. She is only doing it to
attract a femme. When they get into a relationship with a femme, they usually can`t keep up the pretense and eventually femme out.

V1. The Versatile Dyke AKA “the lost somewhere in between” dyke..***New category***

This is thetypeof dyke that constantly keeps the masses guessing…is she a stud, is she a femme? Sometimes when you see her out, she is dressed totally femme, yet other times she does the Tomboy/Soft butch thing. She is attracted to goodlooking butch types, but just as attracted to stunning femmes. She likes what is pleasing to her eye. If she is with a stud, she acts the submissive part and is totally femme (she does not do Tomboys/Soft butches that often, only because they can`t keep her in check like a Butch can). When she is with a femme, she plays the dominant role, and will occassinally do the Soft butch/Tomboy thing, if her girls wants it like that. In bed she can be dominant or submissive, whatever she is called on to be. But don`t be mislead by this one, homegirl can work a strap-on or her tongue as well as any butch/tomboy can.

NOW TO DO YOU FEMMES

I. Pillow Princess or Ultra Femme

This is the type that usually gets with a “touch me not” Butch/Stud. She is used to being taken care of by her butch. She is also used to being pleasured totally in bed. She will not give her women head (because she does notknow how, or never has had to learn how.) She will treat her butch like a woman would treat a man. Their roles are old fashioned and rigid.

II. New Age femme

She is all woman and very feminine. She will however like to play an active role in the bedroom. She will enjoy pleasuring her woman, and especially like to give her head. She will usually get with a “touch me not” butch and be unhappy, or get with a new age Stud/Fem-stud and be satisfied totally. She will also mess around with femmes ocassionally,
for the sexual gratification, and to be able to explore her like a Butch or a Tomboy won`t allow. She however won`t be able to form long lasting relationships with femmes, because she loves the dominance of a Butch or a Tomboy.

III. Dominant/Aggressive femme

She will dress and act totally feminine. She will however be very dominant. She willonly date feminine women, and will usually take on the dominant role in sex. This category of femme also occassionaly do the fake butch thing.

New Category****and a lil` something for you bi-sexual women that hit me up asking about where you fit in..

1. True Bi-sexual

This is a woman that can form meaningful relationships with both sexes. When she is with a woman, she is with her, and fits totally intothe gay world with no problems. When she is with a man, she fits totally into the straight world, and totally loves him. She is not really confused, she just falls in love with a person and not a gender. She usually prefers sex with women, but some can enjoy both equally. She is usually attracted to stud/tomboy types but may have a lot of problems in the relationship, because of the stud`s/tomboy`s fear that she is not true to the game, and will eventually go back to men. Sexually she is usually aggressive in bed.

11. Fake bi-sexual

This is the type of woman that most of us lesbians hate to deal with. This is the type of woman that is not really bi-sexual, she is just having sex with a woman for the “freak factor.” In other words she is just freaky in bed, and that is all it is to her “just being freaky.” She will usually have a boyfriend and want him to join in on the fun. Though sometimes, if their man is cool with it, they will have sex one on one with a woman. These are the type of aggravating h@es that hit your page up asking if you are down for a threesome. Or have personal ads asking for threesomes. These are also the women on Bp who put on their page “I already got a man..just looking for a feminine female friend…so men don`t respond.” A lot of the time they are just having sex with a woman to please their man. They are mostly only attracted to femme women, because this is the only type of woman that their man will allow in the bedroom. Also they are just doing it for sex, so they want a woman that looks and acts like a woman. This is thetype of woman that most of us “real dykes” run from. She will usually date other fake- bisexual women, or luck up and get with a bi-curious woman and turn her off or on, to sex with other women.

here we go again. labels. stud, tomboi, androgyn, butch, domme, aggressive… u know the list. “why do we need labels?” the question echoes in every conversation about the subject. well, i think we need them so folks could know what the hell we’re talking about.

“what kinda wall calendar is it, jennifer?”

“ugh… umm… a uh… calendar of womyn who don’t wear skirts too often…”

does that work? is that better? is that less harsh?

i get it. no on wants 2 b pigeon holed. hell, my gyrl doesn’t even go by the term stud and the calendar is dedicated to her! doesn’t really matter. or does it?

there was even a slightly heated conversation regarding the androgynous model Milon at her runway show (TOTR) here in Chicago. Someone felt that she wasn’t androgynous and shouldn’t have even used to the word 2 describe herself. really? really, really? so now we have people who reject labels and tell other folks what labels they should carry.

when Hard Candy Calendar started, there wasn’t a dominant female model in sight. it just wasn’t accepted imagery. now six years later (yes, i know the math: 6 yrs but only 3 calendars. i’ll explain later), there are androgyn models everywhere. i’ve received emails/letters from gyrls/womyn who are inspired an encouraged because they see faces like theirs in print. labels b damned. they know who they are and they see that the calendar is about them. Hard Candy Calendar’s motto has always been “Bringing the Dominant Womanhe Forefront”. Now in 2010 they’re being seen adn presented in full glory but we still don’t know what 2 call them?! really?

Do labels help or hinder? Take the poll on the Hard Candy Calendar website

GENDERBLIND IN SIGHT
by Brandee Young

Continuing to share Hard Candy Calendar’s exclusive interview with the stars of the movie Genderblind which debuts today at the Portage Theater…

Danielle’s Interview:
HCC: Hey D, how are you today? Let me first just say we are so proud of you here at HardCandy and that we love you so much. Danielle: The pleasure is all mine and I love you guys as well.

HCC: Tell us a little bit about your character in Genderblind? Danielle: I play Grace in the movie who is an Independent Business Woman who owns her own home that has plenty of personal and family issues that falls in love with a young lady name Sincere.

HCC: Now Danielle let me ask you are there any similarities between you and the character you play in the movie? Danielle: Yes, Grace and I have a few (similar) personality traits. She is a little quirky, she easily falls in love and so do I. Grace also has a very strong defensive wall that she has placed up, and I could say that my defensive wall is pretty high as well. She is very soft but she won’t be broken, and in that I mean she is a very giving person that can easily be taken advantage of ,but is very strong willed and assertive, all traits that I also have.

HCC: I know that were some scenes in the movie that both you and Robyn had to be intimate how comfortable were you in those scenes?Danielle: I personally was comfortable. We had to make the love scenes look realistic but I will say that Robyn took direction well and she is a very good actress and I believe we made the scenes work and I hope that everyone enjoys them as much as we enjoyed making them.**wink**

HCC: Danielle in the movie there was a scene where you had to wear make up and a dress, but of course in the Calendar you are portrayed as a Stud/TomBoi . Do you think that the community would view your role differently once they have seen this movie?Danielle: No, cause I look awkward in a dress and with makeup on and off the set, and those who know me know that I am not comfortable with those things, funny thing is during rehearsal I would forget that I had a dress on from time to time, and well let’s just say the tom boi in me would come out…(LOL)

HCC: What advice would you give to someone that wanted to follow in your footsteps? Danielle: Be diligent about whatever is that you want to do and take advantage of every opportunity that comes your way.

HCC: Do you have any affiliation to the gay community other than doing a movie about a gay related issue?Danielle: Yes I am a lesbian and I have been out and proud for 21 years. My involvement with the community is to make sure that I as a lesbian woman promote a positive image of our community.

HCC: Danielle what is your classification are you Stud/Butch:Danielle: I don’t really subscribe to labels.

HCC: Thank you so much for taking the time to talk with me I know your schedule has been a little hectic so I really appreciate this.

I am looking forward to all of the Rainbow events this month. Come back and check me out for my exclusive interview with some more of our HardCandy hotties as I interview Milon (Mr. March in the Calendar), and some of the models from Taking Over The Runway. **Ladies you won’t want to miss this** muah** you guys be safe and have a wonderful Pride Weekend..

GENDERBLIND: starring Robyn Daniels and Danielle Jones, written and directed by Lanita Joseph will premier tomorrow at the Portage Theater 4050 N. Milwaukee Ave., Chicago, IL, 60641 (773) 736-4050 For more information: visit www.genderblindmovie.webs.com

Brandee Young is a recurrent Hard Candy Calendar model and correspondent. For more information write: brandeeyoung@hardcandycalendar.com or call 773.678.5464

welcome back bois and gyrls. please forgive my long delay between posts. as u can c, i had a great excuse. i’ve been preparing 4 the 2011 Hard Candy Stud Calendar (among other things). revamping the website to go along with this year’s theme: Future Stud. no, not young ones who r on their way 2 being studs, but fully formed womyn of the future. sure the calendar might say 2011, but it’ll b more like 3011. so hold on 2 your seats we’re about to travel in time… and i can’t wait!

i’ve remixed the site to contain some thing old, some thing new, some thing borrowed and there’s even a tint of blue. not only can you pre-order your calendar now (and it’s advised that u do, cuz this year will b the hottest one yet), but u can find some fun stuff, some fluff and some valuable resources. all stud related, of course. i had a great time putting it 2gether and am proud of the results.

speaking of proud….while i was time traveling in my mind over these past few months, some of the Hard Candy Calendar models have been breaking ground in ways that i never saw coming. first there’s Brandee, she’s a supporting femme in both the ‘09 and ‘10 calendars. she has been signed to a modeling contract with Four Yours Truly modeling agency. and she’s become a correspondant with Hard Candy Calendar. so expect 2 c and hear from her a lot this year.

my premier model Milon (Ms. March), never ceases 2 amaze as she is hosting the first ever LGBT fashion show and competition here in Chicago. it’s going to be awesome. there’s a link on the homepage of the Hard Candy Calendar site that will give you more information. please check it out and check back here to this blog for more inside details regarding the show.

and then there’s Danielle, my inspiration and always Ms. December of the calendar. she has actually made a movie! it premiers this Friday at the Portage theater in Chicago. check the link on the homepage for more info and of course right back here to this blog for interviews and insight with the Danielle herself and director/writer, Lanita Joseph.

so many great projects and great stud strides have come from the Hard Candy Calendar family, i’m proud, i’m excited and.. whew! i’m exhausted LOL is is gonna b one incredible journey. i invite everyone 2 come with me and enjoy!

-Jenn-

PORTLAND, Maine (AP) ― About two dozen women drew a crowd of onlookers when they shed their shirts and marched downtown in Maine’s largest city to promote what they call equal-opportunity public toplessness.

It’s not illegal for a woman to be topless in public in Maine, and police said there were no incidents or arrests.

ok, as lesbian of african american decent, we are no strangers in the quest 4 equality. but do we want 2 b equal in every single way? honestly, i don’t want 2 b topless. if other womyn did, i wouldn’t protest it, or b angry about it but i don’t think i’d b all that cool about it either. then again, i’m also a member of this society and i’m sure that some of it’s rules have seeped n2 my psyche just like everyone else.

this week, i saw Erykah Badu’s latest video and it made folks mad. i thought it was great. didn’t have a problem with it. the artist in my loves it! nudity for art is all good with me. nudity in and of itself isn’t bad. it’s natural. it’s the common denominator between all of us. yet, i’m still caught up in the “ultra femme” thought patterns in thinking that my breasts are for function (feeding babies) but also sexual (low cut blouses turn my gyrl on). so walkin around with them all out for no reason just feels…. odd. that’s just me. is it different 4 studs? Studs don’t really use their breasts in the same fashion as femme womyn (stereotypically speaking, of course). would a stud walk around topless, like a man if she could? i wonder…

The mission of the gala was to raise money for the building fund for Jackie’s Place, a temporary women’s housing shelter for victims of unemployment, sexual assault and domestic violence.

A silent auction took place to further help the cause with incredible items donated by local artists around the theme of shoes and ties.

The highlight of the gala for me was live entertainment which was provided by Grammy nominated rapper/actress Yo-Yo. She gave a spirited performance that had the keep the crowd moving. She took the time out to show her support for the LGBT community and womyn particularly. Taking special note that she is an “advocate for everyone”. After the performance she stayed for pictures and to enjoy herself on the dance floor.

I could probably go on and on and on about that nite, but I think it would be best to just show the pics….check em out on facebook/Hard Candy Calendar or myspace

By TIMBERLY ROSS, Associated Press Writer Timberly Ross, Associated Press Writer – Sat Mar 13, 6:32 pm ET
Jene Newsome played by the rules as an Air Force sergeant: She never told anyone in the military she was a lesbian. The 28-year-old’s honorable discharge under the “don’t ask, don’t tell” policy came only after police officers in Rapid City, S.D., saw an Iowa marriage certificate in her home and told the nearby Ellsworth Air Force Base.

Newsome and the American Civil Liberties Union filed a complaint against the western South Dakota police department, claiming the officers violated her privacy when they informed the military about her sexual orientation. The case also highlights concerns over the ability of third parties to “out” service members, especially as the Pentagon has started reviewing the 1993 “don’t ask, don’t tell” law.

“I played by ‘don’t ask, don’t tell,’” Newsome told The Associated Press by telephone.

“I just don’t agree with what the Rapid City police department did. … They violated a lot of internal policies on their end, and I feel like my privacy was violated.”

The “don’t ask, don’t tell” policy has come under renewed debate after Defense Secretary Robert Gates called for a sweeping internal study on the law earlier this year.

As the review is under way, officials were also expected to suggest ways to relax enforcement that may include minimizing cases of third-party outings. In particular, Gates has suggested that the military might not have to expel someone whose sexual orientation was revealed by a third party out of vindictiveness or suspect motives.

The Rapid City Police Department says Newsome, an aircraft armament system craftsman who spent nine years in the Air Force, was not cooperative when they showed up at her home in November with an arrest warrant for her partner, who was wanted on theft charges in Fairbanks, Alaska.

Newsome was at work at the base at the time and refused to immediately come home and assist the officers in finding her partner, whom she married in Iowa — where gay marriage is legal — in October.

Police officers, who said they spotted the marriage license on the kitchen table through a window of Newsome’s home, alerted the base, police Chief Steve Allender said in a statement sent to the AP. The license was relevant to the investigation because it showed both the relationship and residency of the two women, he said.

“It’s an emotional issue and it’s unfortunate that Newsome lost her job, but I disagree with the notion that our department might be expected to ignore the license, or not document the license, or withhold it from the Air Force once we did know about it,” Allender said Saturday. “It was a part of the case, part of the report and the Air Force was privileged to the information.”

He said his department does not seek to expose gay military personnel or investigate the sexuality of Rapid City residents.

Allender said the department was finishing its internal investigation and has determined the officers acted appropriately. They have not been placed on leave during the investigation.

Newsome’s partner is currently out on bail on one felony and three misdemeanor counts of theft stemming from an incident last year, court officials in Fairbanks said. More information was not immediately available, and Newsome said she didn’t know the status of the case and didn’t provide more details about it.

In the complaint filed last month with the department, ACLU South Dakota said police had no legal reason to tell the military Newsome was a lesbian and that officers knew if they did, it would jeopardize her military career.

Newsome, who was discharged in January, said she didn’t know where the marriage license was in her home when police came to her house on Nov. 20 and claims the officers were retaliating because she wouldn’t help with her partner’s arrest.

“This information was intentionally turned over because of ‘don’t ask, don’t tell’ and to out Jene so that she would lose her military status,” said Robert Doody, executive director of ACLU South Dakota. The ACLU is focusing its complaint on the police department, not the military, and Newsome said she and her attorney have not yet decided on whether to file a lawsuit.

“The ‘don’t ask, don’t tell’ piece is important and critical to this, but also it’s a police misconduct case,” Doody said.

A U.S. Air Force spokesman, Senior Airman Adam Grant, said Ellsworth follows all laws set out by Congress and the Defense Department, and he would not comment specifically on Newsome’s discharge, citing privacy policy.

More than 13,500 service members have been discharged under the law since 1994, according to the Servicemembers Legal Defense Network, which is lobbying for its repeal. Kevin Nix, communications director of the Washington, D.C.-based nonprofit, couldn’t speak about Newsome’s case, but said when “someone is outed by a third party, which it sounds like this was, or by a police officer, then, yeah … I’m not surprised the person was discharged.”

Though rare, third-party outing can be especially damaging to service members who wanted to keep their sexual orientation hidden, experts say.

Even though 80 percent of “don’t ask, don’t tell” discharges come from gay and lesbian service members who out themselves, third-party outings are “some of the most heinous instances of ‘don’t, ask, don’t tell,’” said Nathaniel Frank, a research fellow with the Palm Center think tank at the University of California, Santa Barbara and a New York University professor.

Newsome, who is originally from Harrisburg, Pa., is currently on the road, driving to Alaska. She said she’d been looking forward to the time when the military would alter its policies regarding gays and lesbians. But that change didn’t come in time to save her career.

“I felt like it was getting close,” she said. “I was really hopeful.”

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=iDQdFIrrM7Q
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=JlGyzfUWKg0

Meanwhile, in another part of our country:
JACKSON, Miss. – A northern Mississippi school district will not be hosting a high school prom this spring after a lesbian student sought to attend with her girlfriend and wear a tuxedo.

so bascially, they’ll ruin it for everyone just cuz they don’t like what one gyrl is doing. seriously? the hate runs that deep. they don’t stop marriage cuz some(most) couples get divorced. but they’ll shut down a prom cuz they don’t want one gay couple 2 b there. un-freakin-believeable!

Sarah Emma Edmonds aka Frank Thompson
American Civil War Soldier, Spy, Nurse

Emma Edmonds was one of approximately 400 women who succeeded in enlisting in the army (either Union or Confederate) during the Civil War. Her uniqueness is that she not only succeeded in remaining in the army for several years, but was also eminently successful as a Union spy-all while impersonating a man.

Emma was living in Flint, Michigan, when the first call for Union enlistments went out. She wanted to answer the call. So she cropped her hair, got a man’s suit of clothing, took the name of Frank Thompson and tried to enlist. It took her four tries but finally she did in fact get sworn into the Union Army (at that time the physical consisted merely of asking the enlistee questions-no medical examination). On April 25, 1861, Emma Edmonds alias Frank Thompson became a male nurse in the Second Volunteers of the United States Army.

After training in Washington, D.C., Emma’s unit was sent south to be part of McClellan’s campaign in Virginia. Private Thompson (Emma) was assigned as a male nurse to the hospital unit of the 2nd Michigan Volunteers and had no trouble in maintaining her masculine masquerade.

On 5 July 1884, a special act of Congress granted Emma Edmonds alias Frank Thompson an honorable discharge from the army, plus a bonus and a veteran’s pension of twelve dollars a month. The resulting Special Act of Congress read:
Emma lived out the rest of her life in La Porte, Texas, where she died on September 5, 1898. She is buried in the military section of Washington Cemetery in Houston, Texas. In honor of her duty and devotion to her country she is the only female member of the organization formed after the Civil War by Union veterans-The Grand Army of the Republic (GAR). In her own words Emma Edmonds said of her adventures: “I am naturally fond of adventure, a little ambitious, and a good deal romantic-but patriotism was the true secret of my success.”

Read her full story HERE

Cathay Williams was born in 1842 outside Independence, Missouri. Born into slavery she served as a house girl for a wealthy farmer. Things changed however when the Civil War started. Union soldiers would later take the plantation on which Cathay served. Several female servants, including Cathay, were taken to Little Rock, Arkansas to cook for the troops. Cathay dutifully served in this capacity, traveled with the army all around the South participating in all aspect of military life to the extent that a woman could. She was eventually sent to Washington to serve as cook and laundress for a general and his staff.

While with this general she was on the front lines with the troops as they raided the Shenandoah Valley and finally on to St. Louis for an extended stay. During this time, congress passed an act authorizing the establishment of the first all Black units of the military (two Calvary and two Infantry), later to become known as “Buffalo Soldiers”. In order to provide a living for herself and not be dependent on others, two very important principals to Cathay, she decided it was time to join the army.

In November of 1866 she enlisted in the 38th US Infantry as William Cathay”. Since there were little or no medical exams required, Cathay was able to successfully (at least initially), pull off this disguise. In an article about her in the St. Louis Times, Williams was described as ”tall and powerfully built.“
It is said that two others knew of her true identity, a cousin and a friend, but both loyally kept her secret.

During Cathay’s tour of duty, she performed assignments required of her fellow troops, such as learning to use a musket and guard duty. These skills were essential as her unit was soon deployed to Fort Curnmings in 1867. The 38 was sent to protect immigrants traveling one of the most dangerous routes to California at the time, Cooke’s Canyon. However, while at Fort Cummings, there was a mutiny among the troops. Several where brought up on charges or jailed. Cathay is not known to be among them. It did however take its toll on her spirit to serve and she decided it was time to get out.

She did so by reporting she was ill prompting an exam by the post surgeon. It was then her secret was discovered. Cathay Williams was honorably discharged on October 14, 1868 having made her place in history as the first female Buffalo Soldier to serve. (Excerpts taken from the West Texan Historian Society)