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The Top 15 Hottest Butch Women

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We’ve all heard the stereotypes: Butch lesbians wear too much flannel, clunky shoes and suffer from an excess of bad hair (mullet, anyone?). But that stereotype, which reflects a broad cultural discomfort with masculinity in women, has another side: the erotic. For those who like their lovers to be more genderqueer than traditionally feminine, butches rock the house.

To give props to the butches who make many a lesbian’s heart skip a beat, I put together a panel of four lesbians – three butch-loving femmes and one genuine butch – to rank the hottest 15 butches in film, TV and music.

The Panelists:

Dawn – A femme who appreciates the gentlemanlike behavior of an old-school butch.

Claudia – A femme with a superb ability to shop and a keen fashion sense.

Gabby – A femme who enjoys an old-fashioned romance but doesn’t hesitate to speak her mind.

Sarah – A butch who appreciates butches. And if the other panelists ranked her, she’d be No. 1.

I brought the panelists together to discuss what makes a butch a butch, and they concluded that there are five important qualities to consider:
Handiness – Beyond being able to fix a leaking pipe or knowing how use a power drill, “handiness is what she can do for me,” said Dawn with a smirk.

Hair and Fashion – The panelists all agreed that a butch could have long hair and still be butch, but the hair must not be feminine in appearance. Similarly, being a butch doesn’t necessarily require a woman to wear men’s clothing, but she must avoid fashion that makes her look girlie.

Posture – This quality encompasses a woman’s physicality, from how she walks and sits to the sound of her voice and how she holds her beer.

Butch Attitude – A combination of chivalry, machismo and that butch je ne sais quoi, this quality may be hard to define but, as Claudia said, “Girl, you know what we’re talking about.”

How Hot She Looks in a White Ribbed Tank Top – The way she carries off this essential lesbian fashion accessory is a key determining factor of hotness.

Once the top five butch qualities were determined, I showed the panelists video clips and photos of butch lesbian characters in film and TV, as well as lesbian and bisexual female musicians. Each panelist rated each woman on the five qualities, giving her a score from one (least butch) to five (most butch).

Some women who score highly on one quality may score lower on another (which allows for variation in types of butches), but all the panelists agreed that a really hot butch would score very high in each quality. To determine how the women ranked, I averaged the panelists’ scores in each quality and then added them up. There is a possibility of 25 total points, and only one woman earned a perfect score.

Without further ado, here’s the countdown of the top 15 hottest butches in film, TV and music:

15. Joan Jett: The Is She a Butch?

Despite Joan Jett’s rock-star attitude, multiple tattoos and flirtation with the sultry Carmen Electra, the panel was united in ranking her low on the butch scale. According to Claudia, “She’s not really butch,” and Gabby thought that Jett looks more like an “edgy femme,” even though she admitted that there’s “nothing girlie about her.” Nonetheless, Dawn and Sarah gave her points for her macho guitar-playing style.

Handiness: 1.75 Hair and Fashion: 2.25 Posture: 3.3 Butch Attitude: 3.75 How Hot She Looks in a White Ribbed Tank Top: 3

Total Score: 14.1

14. Kim (Christina Cox) in Better Than Chocolate: The Artsy Butch

In this 1999 romantic comedy set in British Columbia, lesbian bookstore clerk Maggie meets butch artist Kim (played by Christina Cox) and doesn’t let the fact that Kim lives in a van prevent her from falling in love.

Claudia noted, Kim is a “perfect portrayal of an early ’90s soft butch artistic Canadian type.”

Gabby was less impressed, reporting that her hair and fashion was uninspired, but it “could have been worse.”

As for Kim’s butch attitude, Gabby said dismissively, “I don’t really feel it.”

Sarah added: “She actually has a nice rack! Wait, who’s the butch?” Handiness: 2.6 Hair and Fashion: 2.6 Posture: 3.3 Butch Attitude: 2.3 How Hot She Looks in a White Ribbed Tank Top: 3.3

Total Score: 14.3

13. Jackie Warner: The L.A. Butch

In two seasons of Bravo’s Work Out, Los Angeles trainer Jackie Warner may have been seen applying lip gloss (to herself, as well as girlfriend-of-the-moment Rebecca Cardon), but she also wore ties, rode a motorcycle and unquestionably dominated her environment. “Jackie Warner is the quintessential L.A. butch,” said Claudia. “She could be handy if she wanted to, but she probably just hires someone.”

Nonetheless, Gabby noted that Warner is “just too pretty — and a little into herself; I want someone who’s into me!”

Dawn gave Warner points for having a motorcycle, but added, “I would look butchier on a tricycle.”

Nonetheless, Sarah commented, “Nice abs.” Handiness: 2.75 Hair and Fashion: 2.5 Posture: 2.75 Butch Attitude: 3.25 How Hot She Looks in a White Ribbed Tank Top: 4.25

Total Score: 15.5

12. Ellen DeGeneres: The Soft Butch

Ellen DeGeneres has been known to wear a dress, but she also made that horrible movie Mr. Wrong. Chalk it up to pressure to straighten up? “Maybe she’s not the butchest in the world,” Gabby admitted, “but she works it. One point off for the girlie hair and occasional makeup, but just one point because you know she hates it.”

“Ellen is sexy and I can see the butch thing,” said Sarah. “She feels like a brother to me.”

Dawn gave DeGeneres bonus points for making her laugh, and Gabby gave her points for dating Portia de Rossi “and for coming out back in the day.” Besides, Gabby asked, “Aren’t people who like animals usually pretty handy?” Handiness: 2.5 Hair and Fashion: 3.75 Posture: 3.75 Butch Attitude: 3.25 How Hot She Looks in a White Ribbed Tank Top: 3.5

Total Score: 16.75

11. Randy (Laurel Holloman) in Incredibly True Adventure of Two Girls in Love: The Baby Butch

In the 1995 film Incredibly True Adventure of Two Girls in Love, high school butch Randy (played by The L Word‘s Laurel Holloman) fell for (previously straight) femme classmate Evie (Nicole Ari Parker).

Randy works at a gas station, and Claudia felt that she “seems capable enough,” although her hair is unfortunately stuck in the early ’90s. Dawn noted that Randy is a gold-star lesbian, and that she has plenty of potential: “She’s a baby butch; she just needs to be shaped.”

Handiness: 3.6 Hair and Fashion: 2.3 Posture: 3.6 Butch Attitude: 4 How Hot She Looks in a White Ribbed Tank Top: 3.6

Total Score: 17.3

10. Shane McCutcheon (Katherine Moennig) in The L Word: The Hipster Butch

The L Word‘s original heartthrob, Shane McCutcheon (Katherine Moennig) elicited mixed reviews from the panel. Claudia didn’t feel that Shane was very handy: “She can probably change a light bulb.”

Gabby liked Shane’s “swagger” but, she said, “I don’t like a woman with better fashion than me.”

All four panelists felt that Shane is a bit “girlie” and too thin. Nonetheless, Claudia said, “Shane kind of works the L.A. butch thing.” Handiness: 2.25 Hair and Fashion: 3.75 Posture: 4.25 Butch Attitude: 3.75 How Hot She Looks in a White Ribbed Tank Top: 3.5

Total Score: 17.5

9. Tasha Williams (Rose Rollins) in The L Word: The Don’t Ask, Don’t Tell Butch

In Season 4 of The L Word, newcomer Rose Rollins played Tasha Williams, a soldier with a stoic demeanor that Alice (Leisha Hailey) breaks through. Tasha is “slow to open up, but a good woman brings it out of her,” Gabby theorized.

Though Gabby and Dawn disliked Tasha’s hair (which was mostly worn in a bun), Gabby pointed out that “she wears a uniform — for work!” All of the panelists also noted that Tasha both owns a motorcycle and works on it (“I think she’s probably very, very handy,” said Claudia), but Sarah took points off because she dismounted the motorcycle in a “weird” way.

All agreed that they liked Rose Rollins’ voice, but Dawn felt that Rollins didn’t entirely sell the butchness of the character. Handiness: 4.25 Hair and Fashion: 3 Posture: 3 Butch Attitude: 4.25 How Hot She Looks in a White Ribbed Tank Top: 3.75

Total Score: 18.25

8. Melissa Etheridge: The Midwestern Butch

Rock star and lesbian icon Melissa Etheridge drew mixed views from the panelists, particularly on her handiness score. “She doesn’t look handy at all!” Claudia insisted, and Gabby agreed, adding that “playing a guitar does not count.” Sarah, on the other hand, gave Etheridge props for “stage presence,” her guitar skills, and for keeping her hair short after many years of having it long.

Handiness: 2.5 Hair and Fashion: 3.5 Posture: 4 Butch Attitude: 4.5 How Hot She Looks in a White Ribbed Tank Top: 3.75

Total Score: 18.25

7. Cleo Sims (Queen Latifah) in Set It Off: The Gangsta Butch

In the 1995 film about four African-American women who band together to rob a bank, Queen Latifah played butch lesbian Cleo Sims, who enjoyed a sexy on-screen romance with her long-term girlfriend, Ursula (Samantha MacLachlan). “Tough is hot!” Claudia declared. Gabby gave Cleo points for “fighting the law for a woman,” and Dawn approved of Cleo’s tattoos and a hot sex scene. Handiness: 4.5 Hair and Fashion: 2.75 Posture: 4.75 Butch Attitude: 4.5 How Hot She Looks in a White Ribbed Tank Top: 2.75

Total Score: 19.25

6. Calvin (Daniela Sea) in Itty Bitty Titty Committee: The Activist Butch

In the film Itty Bitty Titty Committee, currently screening at gay film festivals across the country, Daniela Sea plays Calvin, an ex-Army explosives expert who joins an underground feminist activist group so that she can continue to blow things up.

Although all panelists took off points for Daniela Sea’s slight, high-pitched voice, they all agreed that she also has “beautiful eyes” and a “lesbian jawline.”

As for Calvin’s handiness, Sarah quipped, “She makes bombs.” Handiness: 3.5 Hair and Fashion: 4 Posture: 3.75 Butch Attitude: 3.5 How Hot She Looks in a White Ribbed Tank Top: 4.75

Total Score: 19.5

5. Jenny Shimizu: The Ex-Model/Mechanic Butch

Former Calvin Klein model Jenny Shimizu was reportedly discovered while straddling a motorcycle outside a nightclub. That love for engines translated into both a profession (Shimizu is also a mechanic) and a tattoo (her most famous one is of a woman straddling a wrench with the word “Strap-On” stamped on it).

This year, Shimizu made a cameo appearance in Itty Bitty Titty Committee as a hilariously jaded dyke, and she recently joined the cast of here! TV’s Dante’s Cove. Handiness: 5 Hair and Fashion: 3.6 Posture: 3.6 Butch Attitude: 3.3 How Hot She Looks in a White Ribbed Tank Top: 4.6

Total Score: 20.3

4. Shy (Silas Howard) in By Hook or By Crook: The Stone Butch

This 2001 film is a buddy movie about small-town butch Shy (played by Tribe 8’s Silas Howard), who heads to San Francisco, where she and meets Valentine (Harry Dodge). According to the film’s production notes, “It’s a movie about butches by butches.”

Gabby noted that the character of Shy “pretty much brings it.” And Claudia added: “I heart a brooding stone butch!” Handiness: 4 Hair and Fashion: 4 Posture: 5 Butch Attitude: 4.5 How Hot She Looks in a White Ribbed Tank Top: 3.75

Total Score: 21.25

3. k.d. lang: The Suave Butch

After viewing k.d. lang’s video for “Constant Craving,” Sarah concluded, “She’s the Ken doll of lesbians.”

“Love the sideburns!” Claudia said.

Gabby felt that lang is “probably not too handy,” but she gave her points for “high-quality hair” and being a “snappy dresser.”

“She is a smooth smoothie,” said Sarah. “This is one case where her voice is not deep and it does not count against her.”

Dawn added, “Can you beat a crooner?”

Handiness: 3.25 Hair and Fashion: 4.5 Posture: 4.75 Butch Attitude: 4.5 How Hot She Looks in a White Ribbed Tank Top: 4.5

Total Score: 21.5

2. Corky (Gina Gershon) in Bound: The Formula Butch

In the Wachowski brothers’ 1996 film Bound, Gina Gershon plays a plumber named Corky who exhibits more butch qualities than you can shake a wrench at. Labrys tattoo? Check. Thumb ring? Check. Motorcycle boots? Check. Smirk? Check. The only detractor, according to the panel, is the fact that she fits those qualifications too well: It’s as if the filmmakers were constructing a butch dyke based on a formula made up of stereotypes.

But that didn’t stop the panelists from gushing about her. “She is the epitome of handiness,” Gabby noted. “And I love the way she holds her beer.” In addition, “She has great arms — incredibly defined forearms, lean and taut upper arms.”

“She looks good while sweating,” Sarah added.

After watching the scene in which Violet (Jennifer Tilly) asks Corky in to fix her plumbing, Gabby said, “Corky just makes my heart skip a beat.”

“That scene,” said Claudia, “is the stuff fantasies are made of.” Handiness: 5 Hair and Fashion: 3.75 Posture: 4.75 Butch Attitude: 4.75 How Hot She Looks in a White Ribbed Tank Top: 4.5

Total Score: 22.75

1. Amy (Chloe Sevigny) in If These Walls Could Talk 2: The Classic Butch

The 2000 HBO television movie If These Walls Could Talk 2 was comprised of three different stories about lesbians set in three different time periods. In the 1972 segment, Chloe Sevigny played a butch lesbian named Amy who encounters a group of young feminists who reject butch and femme identities, seeing them as a deluded attempt to ape heterosexual culture.

But when Linda (Michelle Williams) meets Amy in a lesbian bar, the charming, old-school butch lights her cigarette — and her fancies. Amy invites her to dance, and though Linda won’t join her until her friends have left the bar, she later lets Amy give her a ride home — on her motorcycle, no less. (“She knows how to get off a motorcycle,” Sarah said approvingly.)

“She’s sweet and sexy … chivalrous, persistent, thrilled to have a pretty girl on her bike,” Gabby said.

Though at times Amy has a certain awkwardness, all of the panelists dismissed that as a sign of her youth. “You know why she wins?” Claudia asked. “Because Corky tries too hard.”

All the panelists agreed with Claudia’s conclusion: “She’s what all butches should be.” Handiness: 5 Hair and Fashion: 5 Posture: 5 Butch Attitude: 5 How Hot She Looks in a White Ribbed Tank Top: 5

Total Score: 25

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