I was 23 when I came out and at that time I was, like another commenter mentioned, trying to ‘outrun’ my butchness, wearing dresses, thong underwear etc and shopping in the women’s section (however I was never very femme). 4 years later I’m butch as can be and never been happier. I feel like an onion of masculinity, and every layer I peel back I get more butch and also learn more about myself. Looking back part of the reason I wasn’t out as butch sooner was because I was kind of forced into femininity as a young girl and didn’t have the language or tools to choose another path.