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Ringleader of the butch renaissance 💯
Founder @butchpleaselondon

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Rebel Dyke Futures, 17.10.26.

Last Saturday evening, I held the opening night of my creative research project and exhibition Rebel Dyke Futures, at Churchill College, Cambridge. It was an honour, and a highlight of my time at university; to talk with Fisch and Tabs about lesbian community-building, to deliver speeches and poetry on dyke spaces and politics, and to connect with a room filled with the most incredible lesbians and queer people. What I wanted the most out of the night was to create a dyke community space itself, and to facilitate cross-generational connections, and I felt we succeeded in creating an inspiring, inclusive, and friendly atmosphere full of the most beautiful and meaningful conversations.

Thankyou to every single person that has been involved in this project - I hold your stories in my heart and will always strive to keep remembering, and to keep building. My work with The Butch4Butch Archives and The Cambridge Leatherdykes will continue to be shaped by what this project has taught me, for many years to come.

As I said during my speech:

“I want to sit side by side with femme dykes, trans dykes, POC dykes, disabled dykes, working-class dykes, every flavour of dyke that exists amongst us. I want to make friendships that will last a lifetime and find forms of family only my fellow dykes can give me. I want to learn from my elders, hear their stories, cherish their knowledge; I want to unlearn the modes of being and behaving that heteropatriarchy has taught us.

Our community suffers violence, invisibility, exile, invalidation, hypersexualisation, desexualisation, erasure, and division. We will not police each other. We will not be divided. We will not let ourselves be redefined by those who oppress us. And we will not forget the diversity of dyke shoulders that we are standing on.“

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💜⛓️‍💥 REBEL DYKE FUTURES ⛓️‍💥💜

WHEN: Saturday 17th October, 6-9pm
6-7pm: Panel Discussion in the Wolfson Hall (separate ticket)
7-9pm: Exhibition Opening Show at the Bill Brown Creative Workshops Gallery (separate ticket)
WHERE: Churchill College, Cambridge

Join us at Churchill College, University of Cambridge, for an evening of rebel dyke JOY. Rather than looking solely backwards into history to discuss lesbian community-building, student at the University of Cambridge, dyke community-organiser, and founder of The Butch4Butch Archives Amy Walpole asks the question: what does our community want for the future of dyke spaces?

By exhibiting exclusive archival photographic material of legendary dyke club night Chain Reaction, Amy Walpole intends to encourage community discussions amongst visitors about both the history and future of lesbian space. Beginning with a video introduction by Joelle Taylor and a panel discussion featuring Fisch (as featured in the documentary ‘Rebel Dykes’), and Tabs (founder of modern-day club night Butch, Please), hosted by Amy, we will dive into the creation of the Rebel Dyke spaces of the 80s and 90s and fantasise about the future of sex-positive and trans-inclusive lesbian nightlife and community-building. The discussion will feature a live performance of Amy Walpole’s poetry written in response to the project’s research process - covering themes of butchness, resistance, and belonging.

After the panel discussion, guests will be welcomed into the Bill Brown Creative Workshops’ Gallery, where they are encouraged to view exclusive photographs from inside the Chain Reaction club, engage with Amy’s exhibited poetry, and contribute towards a communal piece of archival art, which will be donated to the Bishopsgate Institute post-exhibition.

In a time where dyke community spaces are being lost, but even more urgently rebuilt upon values of intersectionality, rebellion, and inclusivity, Rebel Dyke Futures aims to remind guests to hold on to the resistance, joy, and love that was woven into spaces like Chain Reaction - and to start building their own.

Tickets are LIMITED, so get yours now (free) at the link in my bio!

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THE LONDON DYKE DECK

Loved being part of the historic 2026 London Dyke Deck alongside so many brilliant dykes: FEMMES ♥️ BUTCHES ♣️ TRANS ♦️ ENBY ♠️. Created by @ellenkydd this epic artwork features Cathy Opie, who made the original Dyke Deck in 1995, and helps raise funds for Gaysians. Thank you so much for including me @ellenkydd and GO DYKES!! Anyone for poker? ♥️♣️♦️♠️

Find out more at @thelondondyke

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Pride repping was amazing. And I cried a lot (as usual!) 🏳️‍🌈🥺
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So, so good to see everyone.
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Special big love to @mzzkimberley and the Trans & Non-binary stage team in Soho SQ - you smashed it.
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And to @smashlynmonroe & @sigi.moonlight for bringing it to the Women’s Stage in Leicester SQ.
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Nxt up BUTCH BRIGHTON PRIDE 🩷 AUG 1 - ticket link in bio
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#butchplease #butch #butches #nonbinary #trans

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If you’re in North London @thedivineldn come join us for a day party Saturday 6th June! I’m on the decks 4-6pm 🎶🙌🏻🎉💃🕺#londonclubbing #soberfriendly #queerlondon

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📢 Line up announcement 📢
Soho Square Trans & Non-Binary Stage

Meet our performers ✨

Get ready for an unforgettable lineup of live performances, music and celebration at the Trans & Non-Binary Stage in Soho Square 🏳️‍🌈🏳️‍⚧️

Swipe to see who’s performing 👉

#PrideInLondon #SohoSquare #TransAndNonBinary

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When I was younger, I wanted to be a boy; a tomboy with scraped knees and a head full of questions, I never quite fit the mould — and thank God for that. People spent years trying to label me. “You can’t be straight with that haircut.” and that was just last year!
@tabsldn Butch Please. Mum took this photo in 1979 when I refused to come home for my tea, unless she called me Mike - she went home to get the camera and, took a snap ‘Mike your tea is on the table’ She chirped, amused.
I learned early on that shame only belongs to people hiding from themselves. I never did. Even tho raised catholic - I rebelled early on - Fuck that I thought when I visited Joan of Arcs murder spot in Rouen aged 13. I’m with the witches and rebels!
While society obsessed over fitting in, I found refuge wandering Manchester’s old record and book shops, then lying awake at night with the radio or records humming beside me, dreaming of distant places. Culture, music, strangers, stories — I fell in love with the whole beautiful mess of humanity and spent hours spinning my globe and wandering what was going on where it landed 🌎
A teacher once sneered, “How are you going to travel the world? You can’t even pass maths.”
What none of them knew was that freedom has nowt to do with grades. It comes from nerve. From curiosity. From daring to live life as yourself.
And somehow, through instinct, resilience, and a stubborn Irish, northern fighting spirit, I spent seven glorious years roaming the world — unashamed, wide-eyed, and entirely my own person. Using a trick with money, any currency - top blagger. Fuck off to that teacher. I said I’d work it out - albeit a tad naughty - I have paid my penance since and created many a tale.
I came out the womb awkward, curious, stubborn as a mule, and that’s pretty much remained the case. From being dead young I figured the system was bent, racist, homophobic and misogynistic, ruled by gobshites and rich blokes pulling strings while everyone scraped over crumbs. That’s why I chose my path, took risks, got in trouble, paid the dues banged up abroad and owned my journey. Long may it continue #story #writersofinstagram #transrights #compassion #bekind

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Dyke on bike due to tube strike! Next stop: The DIVA Charitable Trust Gala Dinner And Awards ✨🏳️‍🌈🏳️‍⚧️

@divacharitabletrust @divamagazine @lesbianvisibilityweek

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Thank you @kamranrais thank you @emmadoyle221 volunteer directors at Pride in Education, your unconditional commitment and unwavering support makes the work of @pridein_education possible. 🙏🏾we got highly commended in the changemaker category shortlisted alongside some incredibly inspiring activists @theyasminbenoit @oliviacampbellcavendish @marjoda @s3xtheorywithdee , congratulations winner Claire Harvey @nionwomen 🙏🏾thank you 🙏🏾@divamagazine @divacharitabletrust @lesbianvisibilityweek and THANK YOU @diversityriley for creating this legacy now being carried out by the amazing Dr @ladyphyll . it was an incredible privilege to be able to celebrate so many wonderful humans and reconnect in person with some of the most incredible queer , lesbian, LGBTIAQ+ activists. In no particular order @salsanders2003 @tabsldn @totallyoutnow and @jtaylortrash congratulations to all finalists and winners. @djritu + Rita from @clubkali icon award winners 👏🏽👏🏽👏🏽 👏🏽👏🏽 @rebecca_paisis from @prideinlondon inspirational role model winner 👏🏽👏🏽👏🏽👏🏽 @jessicaoutofthecloset winner content creator 👏🏽👏🏽👏🏽👏🏽 highly commended in the same category @nonbinarybarrister and @curvyblackwitch1988 innovation award @joinvoda 👏🏽👏🏽👏🏽👏🏽winner ally award @jolyon_maugham 👏🏽👏🏽👏🏽👏🏽winner community initiative @glittercymru 👏🏽👏🏽👏🏽👏🏽👏🏽lifetime achievement @mzzkimberley 👏🏽👏🏽👏🏽 so many incredible humans and organisations 👏🏽👏🏽👏🏽😉 more tags in the comments

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SPORTY BUTCH 🏅
the best night with the best people and a few blurry memories. Which is basically exactly how it should be. How strong we are TOGETHER 💪🏻
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Watch this space for our regular night at the mighty @damsel.collective
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#butchplease #butch #femme #lgbtqia

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Truly thankful for the recognition on @divamagazine's 2026 power list alongside groundbreaking leaders 🙏🏾 shoutout to @lesbianvisibilityweek and @divacharitabletrust and huge congrats to all celebrated @totallyoutnow @tabsldn @pollyshute

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The #DIVAPowerList2026 is out now! A massive congratulations to the trailblazing LGBTQIA+ women and non-binary people making waves in their industries. Here are the 10 game changers in the category: Community

Congratulations to:
🎉 Aisha Shaibu-Lenoir
🎉 Anne Onwusiri
🎉 Boe La
🎉 Emily Witham
🎉 Katie Norman
🎉 Laïla El-Metoui
🎉 Libby Baxter-Williams
🎉 Raga D’silva
🎉 Polly Shute
🎉 Tabs Benjamin

Click the link in our bio to read the full power list! #LVW26

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