Page "Butch and femme" Paragraph 17

Among the subcultures composed of butch gay and bisexual men is the " bear community ".

Gay men who are more femme are sometimes described as " flamers.

" Femmes are sometimes confused with " lipstick lesbians " which generally are understood to be feminine lesbians who are attracted to and partner with other feminine women.

Conversely, a butch woman may be described as a " bulldyke " or simply just as a " dyke ".

There is also an emerging usage of the term soft butch or " chapstick lesbian.

" The usage of " dyke " has widened in recent years to encompass queer women in general.

At one point, both were considered derogatory ; " dyke " has become a more neutral term, but may still be taken as offensive if used in a derogatory manner or by those outside the LGBT community.