Black studs gay face racism and misogyny in their day-to-day lives. This is especially true for those who spend weekends with their cishet family and friends at local bars and the neighborhood block party.
For that reason, it is important to remember that stud is a racially specific identity within the lesbian community.
What is a stud?
A stud is a vertical framing member in a wall of smaller cross section than a post. It is used to support windows, doors and other components of a building’s frame. It also helps to give shape to the wall. Studs are typically made of wood and are often referred to as two by four or two by six.
Within the LGBT community, a stud lesbian is a black feminine-identifying lesbian who dresses in a masculine fashion. She may dress as a butch or tomboy, and she often prefers men’s clothes like button-down shirts, khakis, and Doc Martens. She may also have short hair or an androgynous haircut.
Although not all black lesbians consider themselves to be studs, this term was coined by black lesbians to distinguish their experiences from those of white butches and to voice gender roles that are developed within the black LGBT community. Other terms for this type of lesbian include butch, st@d, and soft stud.
What is a DL?
The DL stands for “down low.” It’s generally used to describe something that’s kept secret or on a need-to-know basis. Historically, men who had sex with other men while ostensibly maintaining heterosexual relationships were called on the DL. These men lived a double life, hiding their sexual activity from spouses and friends while participating in a separate gay culture that included private parties and special nights at clubs.
Today, more black men like William claim the DL label and live a more openly homosexual lifestyle. Despite the risks, many say that it’s the best way to keep their identities safe from white gay culture and remain close to family, friends and black community.
DL can also mean “Download,” an acronym for copying data from one location to another. However, this use of DL is rarely seen outside of technology circles. When it is, the context can be confusing to those unfamiliar with computer terminology. For this reason, it is important to use abbreviations with full meaning and to provide sufficient context when using slang.
What is a MOC?
A MOC (My Own Creation) is a Lego(r) model building project. Various platforms allow MOC builders to design and share their creations online with free and paid building instructions. These can be found on YouTube videos, on Lego(r) forums and Discord or Telegram groups.
MOC is also a term used by Black masculine identifying lesbians on TikTok. This racially specific term is often used to distinguish themselves from white butches on the platform and to express gender roles that developed within the community.
MOCs can be very elaborate and involve creating a detailed scene or vehicle using Lego(r) bricks. They can be used to show off skills or to demonstrate different aspects of a scene. Examples include the building of a house or the reconstruction of famous buildings. MOCs are also used as a test bed for new processes or equipment in a business. This can help minimize unexpected adverse events such as employee injury or environmental pollution.
What is a studsband?
A studsband is a group of studs who support and celebrate each other. The group can be a real life one or a virtual TikTok community. The term studsband was created in the 1960s by Black lesbians to describe their unique community. Black lesbians have a rich culture that is worth celebrating and resisting — and part of this cultural expression is the studsband.
While the studsband has been co-opted by white butches on TikTok, it is important to note that a stud is not a MOC (masculine of color) lesbian. A stud is a butch woman who identifies as Black. It is a racially specific identity that should not be erased by white butches who have zero stud lived experiences. The studsband is an inherently Black culture that shouldn’t be co-opted by those who do not understand or appreciate its significance. Its members are thrice marginalized and their existence is a form of resistance.
