Boy / Boi

Boi, spelled with an i, is slang used within butch, femme, lesbian, and gay male communities to describe several gender expressions and identities. It often names a masculine or boyish presentation that feels distinct from traditional butch identity, and it is frequently claimed by younger or gender-nonconforming queer people, including many who are transmasculine or nonbinary. Within some communities of color, boi carries its own specific meanings. The reclaimed spelling signals a queer identity set apart from heteronormative ideas of manhood. In gay male spaces, boy can also carry age or power-dynamic connotations. Meaning depends heavily on context and on how a person chooses to define the word for themselves.