The power and pleasure of IRL intergenerational queer spaces

On Lynette's London gallery debut, feeling awkward about my age, and dreaming of Liverpool

This past Wednesday, on International Women’s Day, Lynette’s good friend Roman opened her long-awaited photo exhibition in southeast London, We/Us, on working class butches within the British landscape. Lynette was one of the subjects, though Roman hates the word “subject” — she prefers “participant.” We were lucky enough to be able to attend the opening night party, which was so GAY and joyful and special. As Lynette said in her speech, which I posted to TikTok (shorter version on Insta), “spiritually, I am full.”

Roman is amazing. Given the UK’s pervasive TERF problem, especially among older women, it was beyond heartening to see Roman going viral at London Pride a couple years ago for carrying a sign saying “butch dykes for trans rights.” Her parents were Italian immigrants and she’s a proud, lifelong working class butch with incredible style.

A lot of people asked at the opening and in the comments of my TikTok whether she’s going to be making We/Us prints available for sale, but Roman hates the idea of some wealthy white person being able to purchase and hang the likeness of working class butches over their mantel. We’re among the privileged few to own a piece of this historical collection; Roman gave all the participants a framed edition of their portraits, and I will treasure Lynette’s all my life. (That’s assuming Lynette never leaves me.) Per Roman’s instructions Lynette showed no one her final selection from many hours of their photoshoot here around Preston, so I saw the portrait for the first time at the gallery, where it literally took my breath away.