Category: Homophobia
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Hey, Political “Lesbians”! Lesbianism is not a choice!
Lesbianism means female homosexuality. It refers to a class of women who are incapable of experiencing sexual attraction towards males, only towards females. Without the word lesbian, we don’t have language to describe ourselves. Some women, mainly bisexuals, argue that lesbians should surrender our word and identity for non-lesbian women to refer to themselves as…
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The Origin and Defence of “Gold Star”
I am proud to have never forced myself to sleep with a man. As tribal creatures, we do things against our desires to belong. All lesbians experience heteronormative pressure. My choice not to try it–when I knew I wasn’t attracted to the male body–was a “FUCK YOU! I’M FINE THE WAY I AM!” I refuse…
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Black, Lesbian, and Still Here: Tori’s story
As a little Black girl growing up in small-town Georgia, USA, I was told to go to church and respect my elders, even if they were wrong. I was supposed to get good grades in school and, once I graduated from high school, find a husband and have kids. That’s what they call happiness in…
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Gold Star and Late Bloomer lesbians unite against Young Miko hate
Puerto Rican rapper, singer, songwriter and rising phenomenon Young Miko casually referred to herself as a “gold star lesbian” in an interview with Cosmopolitan this week. SHOCK! HORROR! Despite her expressing support for every individual faction of the LGBT community in the chat when she didn’t have to, it wasn’t good enough. It’s beginning to…
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Raised by Butch-Femme parents in small-town 1960s USA: Pam’s story
Pam was 2-years-old when her mother found her life partner and co-parent: a Butch lesbian Pam affectionately refers to as ‘Pap’. Pam, who is gay herself and was named after her mother’s former lover, describes a happy, normal small-town childhood that was both attacked by straight society and embraced by some friends with kind hearts.…
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Battling for Lesbians: The Lesbian Information Service amid 1980s Homophobia in England
In 1987, I was employed as a Rural Youth Worker by Lancashire County Council (LCC). I made the mistake of coming out as lesbian at my first staff conference in 1982/3. My twelve-month probation period was extended by six months, and I could not understand why. Neither could I understand why, after applying for three…
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Homosexual boundaries do not abuse bisexual and transgender people
The Sydney Gay and Lesbian Mardi Gras is the biggest Pride event in Australia. Since 1978, when 53 gay and lesbian people were arrested for publicly celebrating homosexuality while it was illegal, the parade and surrounding festivities have attracted participants from around the world. As the name suggests, its focus is on gay and lesbian…
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Is Taylor Swift secretly a lesbian?
I don’t particularly care for Taylor Swift. I don’t mean this in an edgy, “ugh, Swifties are so annoying and lame,” way. She has some catchy songs. She’s a very skilled businesswoman. She remains apolitical enough, quiet enough, behaved enough, white enough and bland enough to appeal to a very wide demographic. She’s safe. She’s…
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Betty “Who?”: Lesbian and gay solidarity is back, baby!
As someone who has spent a lot of time and energy in feminist spaces, it never fails to amaze me when non-lesbian women try to draw a wedge between lesbians and gay men. But never being attracted to the reproductive sex you’re “supposed to be,” in a world where producing offspring is upheld as humanity’s…
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Every lesbian is born this way. Our sexual orientation is not fluid.
I had crushes on women and girls when I was a kid. My mum would take me to the local country town supermarket. While she shopped, I’d follow the same female worker around each time, just to bask in her essence. I would forget where I was. Forget about what junk food I wanted. I…