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[–]chrysthefeminist 4 insightful - 1 fun4 insightful - 0 fun5 insightful - 1 fun -  (19 children)

They are homophobes

Why does everyone always say this? Why don't they say they are lesbophobes?

[–][deleted] 9 insightful - 1 fun9 insightful - 0 fun10 insightful - 1 fun -  (15 children)

Going off context of what I wrote here alone, clearly the homophobes in question are lesbophobes by virtue. I used the word homophobes partially because by the second sentence I had already said the word lesbian three times, and partially because the same people I'm critizing are also typically homophobic towards gay men in the way that they shame homosexuals for same-sex attraction.

Personally I will continue use the words homophobe and lesbophobe whenever I want.

[–]chrysthefeminist 1 insightful - 1 fun1 insightful - 0 fun2 insightful - 1 fun -  (14 children)

You can say whatever you want, but "homosexuals" (and thus the targets of homophobia) never included women, only men, sort of like "all men are created equal." I am Not a "homosexual", I am a lesbian.

[–][deleted] 10 insightful - 1 fun10 insightful - 0 fun11 insightful - 1 fun -  (12 children)

Lesbians are female homosexuals.

[–]chrysthefeminist 1 insightful - 4 fun1 insightful - 3 fun2 insightful - 4 fun -  (11 children)

Nope, sorry, I am not a "female homosexual", nor am I "gay", I am a lesbian, period.

[–]oofreesouloo 11 insightful - 1 fun11 insightful - 0 fun12 insightful - 1 fun -  (8 children)

What? 😂 Gay men are male homosexuals, lesbians are female homosexuals. You literally cannot define lesbianism without resorting to the words 'female' and 'homosexual' which means same sex.

[–]chrysthefeminist 1 insightful - 1 fun1 insightful - 0 fun2 insightful - 1 fun -  (7 children)

You don't need to use the word "homosexual" to define lesbians. "Women (as in females) who are exclusively attracted to those of the same sex" does just fine for a definition of lesbianism.

"Homosexual" includes women the way "humanity" or "mankind" includes women. That is, we're "included", but not really. It's been that way all my life and I'm 67. You can use it, but without specifying the inclusion of women, as in "lesbians and gay men" or "homosexual men AND WOMEN" everyone just assumes it's all about men. You can't speak of "homosexuals" alone, with no mention of women or lesbians, without having almost NOBODY thinking of women. The literal meaning of the word "homosexual" being "same sex" does not mitigate this situation. "Homosexual", btw, means "same sex" in Greek, but in Latin the word "homo" means "man", so "homosexual" would be "man sex."

Also, and this is only my own personal feeling about the word, "homosexual" is an ugly and clinical term which seems fine to me for describing male sexual relations if that's how they want to describe their gay relations, but doesn't come close to doing justice to woman identified love.

However, we have to admit that "lesbian" is also a pretty weird word for women with same sex attraction. A Lesbian, in the original sense of the word, is somebody who resides on /originates from the island of Lesbos in the Aegean Sea, and as such men as well as women are and have been Lesbians.

[–]oofreesouloo 6 insightful - 1 fun6 insightful - 0 fun7 insightful - 1 fun -  (6 children)

I understand where you're coming from, but I still think you're overthinking it as well. So, let's agree to disagree? I do agree that the word 'lesbophobia' should be used more often, but I'm not against the use of 'homophobia'. So, yeah.

[–]chrysthefeminist 1 insightful - 1 fun1 insightful - 0 fun2 insightful - 1 fun -  (5 children)

"Overthinking", yep, sounds like me (really). Will agree to disagree. I'm also not against the use of "homophobia" either, but my reaction was prompted by the fact that that is the word I ALWAYS see used, never "lesbophobia."

[–]oofreesouloo 3 insightful - 1 fun3 insightful - 0 fun4 insightful - 1 fun -  (4 children)

If you're not against the use of 'homophobia', then, by the logic, you're also not against the use of 'homosexual', which you claim to be. (By the way, you mentioned the etimology of the word 'homosexual'. You said 'homo' means 'man' in Latin. And is the 'man' refering to the male sex or the mankind, as in, human beings in general? What about heterosexual? What does 'hetero' stand for in Latin? I'm genuinely curious)

[–]Realwoman 2 insightful - 1 fun2 insightful - 0 fun3 insightful - 1 fun -  (1 child)

Homosexual means attracted to the same sex. Lesbian is a word describing women attracted to women, the word comes from the name of the Greek island Lesbos where Sappho was from. Lesbian just means homosexual woman.

TRAs are the ones that want to change what words mean.

[–]chrysthefeminist 1 insightful - 1 fun1 insightful - 0 fun2 insightful - 1 fun -  (0 children)

Everything I wrote indicates that I already understand the meanings of the words you are now endeavoring to explain to me, so don't bother me with redundant explaining. Language is very important in getting meanings across, as the work of Mary Daly abundantly demonstrates. She said that women have had the power of naming stolen from us and invented quite a few woman identified words herself. TRAs also understand the importance of language, as demonstrated by their efforts to twist the meanings of words to our detriment. TRAs are not the only ones on earth who coin new language, interpret old language in new ways and / or who have the right to touch language in any way. Please do not equate my second wave, woman identified choices of which language to use and which not to use with the putrid, misogynistic deeds of the TRAs. Thank you.

[–]DifferentAirGC 9 insightful - 1 fun9 insightful - 0 fun10 insightful - 1 fun -  (0 children)

Homosexual literally means "attracted to the same-sex", in contrast to heterosexual. There is nothing in it that says it can only be used for males.

[–]oofreesouloo 7 insightful - 1 fun7 insightful - 0 fun8 insightful - 1 fun -  (2 children)

I would argue all lesbophobia is homophobia but not all homophobia is lesbophobia (as it can be directed towards gay men and not lesbians).

[–][deleted] 6 insightful - 1 fun6 insightful - 0 fun7 insightful - 1 fun -  (1 child)

Yeah, I'm not sure why this person felt the need to interrupt and "correct" me. OP herself even used the word homosexual so I'm not sure why they started policing my word use when it was completely accurate.

[–]chrysthefeminist 1 insightful - 1 fun1 insightful - 0 fun2 insightful - 1 fun -  (0 children)

I didn't "feel the need" to "interrupt" or "correct" you. I just feel the ABSENCE of the female identified term "lesbophobia" in almost every instant in which it is in fact lesbophobia and not generalized, overall homophobia which is being discussed. Women are left out so often in overall discussions of "humanity" and the like that one would think that the opportunity to say loud and clear "Hey we are discussing WOMEN here" would be welcome.