Jess is a young, blue-collar, gender non-conforming individual living in pre-Stonewall America. Struggling against a society that demands adherence to a strict gender binary, Jess identifies with the term "he-she." Facing profound abuse from family, schools, and law enforcement, Jess relies on chosen family in the butch-femme bar scene and finds purpose in labor organizing.

Butch Al is a tough, experienced butch lesbian who frequents the local bar scene. Recognizing Jess's youth and vulnerability, Al steps in to offer guidance on how to dress, act, and survive in an aggressively homophobic world. She imparts harsh but necessary lessons about the constant dangers of their existence.

Theresa is a femme lesbian who deeply influences Jess's intellectual and emotional growth. As she becomes increasingly involved in women's liberation and anti-war movements, she challenges Jess to engage with politics and self-improvement, fostering a relationship built on both physical passion and serious debate.

Ruth is a transgender woman who lives next door to Jess in New York City. Initially defensive and wary of strangers, she loves jazz, sews extensively, and bakes frequently. As a fellow gender outsider, Ruth understands the profound isolation and physical danger of living authentically in a hostile society.

Jackie is a femme lesbian and the girlfriend of Butch Al. She functions as a vital matriarchal figure for Jess, offering a safe haven, home-cooked meals, and emotional comfort when the harsh realities of the world become overwhelming or dangerous.

Duffy is a dedicated, politically radical union organizer who becomes an unlikely but staunch ally to Jess. He advocates fiercely for workers' rights and encourages Jess to develop her own talents as a labor organizer, demonstrating a rare commitment to fairness across gender lines.

Gloria is a coworker who helps facilitate Jess's entry into the local gay and lesbian community. A single mother to Scotty and Kim, she provides crucial support, housing, and connections to Jess during highly vulnerable transitions in Jess's life.

Jan is a fellow butch lesbian who works with Jess at various factory jobs. Experiencing the same workplace harassment and dangers regarding bathroom use, Jan and Jess form a tight bond rooted in worker solidarity and shared identity, though their friendship is occasionally tested by overlapping romantic interests.

Edna is an older femme lesbian whose presence creates romantic tension within Jess's social circle. Responding to the changing political tides of the women's liberation movement, Edna occasionally struggles to find her place and seeks solace in brief, intense connections.

Millie is an attractive femme dancer who becomes Jess's first serious girlfriend. Fiercely independent, Millie bristles at what she perceives as Jess's controlling nature, firmly defending her right to make her own employment choices despite the inherent risks of her profession.

Grant is a fellow butch and gender non-conforming peer who shares Jess's anxieties about safety in a violently homophobic world. Together, they face the daunting and unregulated medical landscape of hormone therapy, seeking basic physical security through bodily transition.

Edwin is a Black gay man who significantly influences Jess's understanding of systemic oppression. By sharing literature by authors like Baldwin and W.E.B. Du Bois, Edwin broadens Jess's political consciousness regarding the intersecting struggles of race and sexuality.

Frankie is an old friend of Jess's from the bar scene who later reappears in her life as a fellow union worker. Frankie challenges Jess's rigid understandings of relationship roles by proudly dating another butch woman, demanding acceptance without needing to justify her choices.

Jim Boney is a male factory worker who regularly harasses Jess and the other female employees. He embodies the aggressive hostility of the workplace, ultimately facing off against Jess in a high-stakes game of company baseball where pride is on the line.