1970s and 80s saw gay men straying away from effeminate stereotypes, embracing hyper-masculinity as a response to years of marginalisation. This introduced the clone movement which celebrated stylised masculinity rooted in dominance, strength, and raw sexuality.
The clone movement remains a point of contention in queer history. For some, it was a liberating expression of queerness and sexual freedom; for others, it centred queer identity solely on masculinity and desire.
Butch Queens is a visual exploration of the complex relationship between masculinity, desire, and self-representation, reflecting on ongoing tensions between visibility, identity, and the politics of attraction. Referencing archival gay erotica, the work delves into themes of sexual empowerment, problematic representation, masculinity as performance, and the role of clothing in shaping gender expression. By reflecting on this media we get an insight into the attitudes of the time, capturing how gay men were perceived, how they perceived each other, and how they wanted to be seen.