Notwithstanding the absolutely laudable battle for sexual equality, being “proud” of one’s sexuality itself is like being proud of how many legs you have, or being proud of enjoying jaffa cakes. Surely one should only be “proud” of something which requires an active choice and sacrifice or effort, rather than a preference or hard-wired characteristic which one is born with?
This does require active choice and sacrifice in a way, though: active choice to come out and be what you are openly, and sacrifice of work stability, family acceptance, all sort of those kinds of things. One can’t just stumble around unaware of oneself in that situation.
John Jones
4 years ago
You’re absolutely right Julie. In a world beset by a pandemic, with a world-wide economic depression waiting in the wings, with an opioid crisis killing thousands (mostly men), with the climate becoming unstable, the issue that really deserves our attention is whether homosexual women should be called lesbians or gay.
Thank you for drawing this abomination to our attention.
Me too. I would get out there and protest were such activities not banned for the foreseeable future and possibly longer.
Peter Kriens
4 years ago
Does Unherd really pay for these solipsistic articles? Why would anyone care if the author calls herself a lesbian or queer? Or what other people think of her. At trying times like today, this is s subject that deserves attention in any possible way?
Juilan Bonmottier
4 years ago
I guess the solution is not to define yourself by your sexuality.
Nice idea, but when the law doesn’t let you marry and people beat you up, put you in mental institutions, subject you to conversion, or fire you for your sexuality, you’re sort of being forced to, aren’t you?
Just what is the actual difference between lesbian porn and regular lesbian sex? Asking for a friend.
sapioscripturient
4 years ago
I love the word lesbian, I love being a lesbian. The more I see young women and girls bullied into using the word ‘queer’ or goaded into transitioning, while the only people encouraged to use the word lesbian are males, it breaks my heart. I’d give anything for a lesbian strength march through the middle of London, same-sex banners and adult human female flags waving. People that aren’t watching their sexuality be turned into bigotry will never understand what it’s like to see a part of you be handed to someone else against your will.
dagale
4 years ago
Lesbians seem to be under attack at the moment and not from the usual suspects but from within the LBGT community, yes I did put the T there deliberately because transgender people have taken over the LGB part and it’s all about them now, anyone who defends women only places are called bigots and anyone who supports them are called the same, I can’t believe this hostile takeover and the silencing culture that has infested every walk of life
anassim
4 years ago
I think we are entering much more challenging times. A vast number of people in the service industries of the USA – 22 million at last count – have lost their jobs. The same is happening everywhere else. Most service and customer-facing jobs are done by women.
What can I say? The media is very quiet about this. They are promoting the hysteria and they are also promoting alternative lifestyles. But the former destroys the latter.
It is obvious that whether we like it or not, we are going back to some sort of classic family arrangement. The slack is no longer there in the economy. The socialist model of Europe will fail. All European countries are bankrupt to some extent. I am sad to say that there will be a big reaction against minorities of all sorts. That is what usually happens historically.
lehmannmileslehmann
4 years ago
It is easy to see why so many gay and bi-sexual women would rather call themselves ‘queer’ or ‘gay’ rather than ‘lesbian’ when you consider what the majority of radical feminists are like. The word ‘lesbian’ has been dragged through the mud by these women and now conjures up very negative images in the mind. Because of this, I think it is quite understandable why a large portion of gay and bi-sexual women want to distance themselves from the word. Radical feminists need to take a look closer to home for their answers to why the word lesbian is not being used as much as it use to be.
Fraser Bailey
4 years ago
Well I did have a comment in mind that ties the subject of the piece quite nicely into lithe lockdown, but I would probably be banned from the platform. So I will let discretion be the better part of smut.
Fraser Bailey
4 years ago
I have just had a look at my DVD collection and I can assure you that the word ‘lesbian’ has not gone out of fashion.
Notwithstanding the absolutely laudable battle for sexual equality, being “proud” of one’s sexuality itself is like being proud of how many legs you have, or being proud of enjoying jaffa cakes. Surely one should only be “proud” of something which requires an active choice and sacrifice or effort, rather than a preference or hard-wired characteristic which one is born with?
This does require active choice and sacrifice in a way, though: active choice to come out and be what you are openly, and sacrifice of work stability, family acceptance, all sort of those kinds of things. One can’t just stumble around unaware of oneself in that situation.
You’re absolutely right Julie. In a world beset by a pandemic, with a world-wide economic depression waiting in the wings, with an opioid crisis killing thousands (mostly men), with the climate becoming unstable, the issue that really deserves our attention is whether homosexual women should be called lesbians or gay.
Thank you for drawing this abomination to our attention.
Yes, it’s a hugely important issue that ought to be the lead on every news bulletin. I myself have shared this article with everyone I know.
I’m outraged.
And I’m shocked to discover that Jeremy Clarkson is not a lesbian. Who knew?
Me too. I would get out there and protest were such activities not banned for the foreseeable future and possibly longer.
Does Unherd really pay for these solipsistic articles? Why would anyone care if the author calls herself a lesbian or queer? Or what other people think of her. At trying times like today, this is s subject that deserves attention in any possible way?
I guess the solution is not to define yourself by your sexuality.
Nice idea, but when the law doesn’t let you marry and people beat you up, put you in mental institutions, subject you to conversion, or fire you for your sexuality, you’re sort of being forced to, aren’t you?
Well, as you say, only ‘sort of’.
Just what is the actual difference between lesbian porn and regular lesbian sex?
Asking for a friend.
I love the word lesbian, I love being a lesbian. The more I see young women and girls bullied into using the word ‘queer’ or goaded into transitioning, while the only people encouraged to use the word lesbian are males, it breaks my heart. I’d give anything for a lesbian strength march through the middle of London, same-sex banners and adult human female flags waving. People that aren’t watching their sexuality be turned into bigotry will never understand what it’s like to see a part of you be handed to someone else against your will.
Lesbians seem to be under attack at the moment and not from the usual suspects but from within the LBGT community, yes I did put the T there deliberately because transgender people have taken over the LGB part and it’s all about them now, anyone who defends women only places are called bigots and anyone who supports them are called the same, I can’t believe this hostile takeover and the silencing culture that has infested every walk of life
I think we are entering much more challenging times. A vast number of people in the service industries of the USA – 22 million at last count – have lost their jobs. The same is happening everywhere else. Most service and customer-facing jobs are done by women.
What can I say? The media is very quiet about this. They are promoting the hysteria and they are also promoting alternative lifestyles. But the former destroys the latter.
It is obvious that whether we like it or not, we are going back to some sort of classic family arrangement. The slack is no longer there in the economy. The socialist model of Europe will fail. All European countries are bankrupt to some extent. I am sad to say that there will be a big reaction against minorities of all sorts. That is what usually happens historically.
It is easy to see why so many gay and bi-sexual women would rather call themselves ‘queer’ or ‘gay’ rather than ‘lesbian’ when you consider what the majority of radical feminists are like. The word ‘lesbian’ has been dragged through the mud by these women and now conjures up very negative images in the mind. Because of this, I think it is quite understandable why a large portion of gay and bi-sexual women want to distance themselves from the word. Radical feminists need to take a look closer to home for their answers to why the word lesbian is not being used as much as it use to be.
Well I did have a comment in mind that ties the subject of the piece quite nicely into lithe lockdown, but I would probably be banned from the platform. So I will let discretion be the better part of smut.
I have just had a look at my DVD collection and I can assure you that the word ‘lesbian’ has not gone out of fashion.