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[–]writerlylesbian 27 insightful - 1 fun27 insightful - 0 fun28 insightful - 1 fun -  (8 children)

I think it's a case where leading by example is most helpful. A lot of the tumblr types who are using WLW and Queer etc. - It's all they know. It's not much good trying to argue with them, because a lot of them have a very limited and skewed perspective on the history of the LGB movement.

Being able to SEE the alternative in action is when the penny seems to drop for a lot of them.

So - use the word lesbian. Explain why you choose to use that word, over other words. Support those groups that are about re-claiming lesbianism for lesbians, like Get the L Out, or the new LGB group that's started up in the UK (which is very clear about the need to specifically support lesbians in particular because of the QT stuff).

If you're going to start a group - even just a small group that's just for a few friends, people you know or whatever - then be clear. It's lesbian only. If someone comes along who is bi, or queer, or WLW, and wants in, say no, it's for lesbians, and send them on their way.

Make it clear that all those other groups are not lesbians, and do not represent lesbians, as far as you are concerned. Don't enable your own erasure when you can help it.

[–][deleted] 16 insightful - 1 fun16 insightful - 0 fun17 insightful - 1 fun -  (1 child)

Lesbian is specific. I ramble a lot but don’t waste time getting to the point with lesbian. All the other words are good because non-lesbians can take their pick and leave lesbianing to the damn lesbians. Lesbian meaning “terf” now is actually a bonus because people who are not lesbians avoid it. Also since “bisexual” is sometimes called “transphobic” bisexuals have a chance to reclaim that label and use it for the good of humanity.

[–]LesbiSilly[S] 11 insightful - 2 fun11 insightful - 1 fun12 insightful - 2 fun -  (0 children)

Yeah, I would be called a Terf no matter what, so I joined the 'darkside'. Because my sexual orientation is not a gender. Fuck them and everyone who changed the definition.

[–]LesbiSilly[S] 11 insightful - 1 fun11 insightful - 0 fun12 insightful - 1 fun -  (2 children)

Thank you so much for this. I want to support LGB groups, but I worry about my job if Trans Radicals find me somehow. My profession is small and everyone knows one another. But I will always be Lesbian. And yeah, I will attempt to stand up for myself and my fellows Lesbians. I am mad that the other day, I didn't correct someone for calling themselves a lesbian. :(

[–]writerlylesbian 12 insightful - 1 fun12 insightful - 0 fun13 insightful - 1 fun -  (1 child)

the more you speak up, the easier it gets.

[–]LesbiSilly[S] 5 insightful - 1 fun5 insightful - 0 fun6 insightful - 1 fun -  (0 children)

Thanks!

[–]yayblueberries 7 insightful - 3 fun7 insightful - 2 fun8 insightful - 3 fun -  (1 child)

Pretty much. It seems like everybody wants to play label games these days so I can play them too. I come right out and correct people if they use "queer" and want me involved. To me it is like others demanding I use their pronouns and them rejecting pronouns others use for them. I am rejecting THEIR labels they use for ME.

I actually just sent an email to an Audubon chapter about their "queer walks" because I wondered if lesbians weren't included since we aren't a bunch of queers. I'm sure whomever reads it won't be too happy but I don't care. I'm not queer. The only way I ever heard queer used about a million times growing up was in my own household by my father and never in a positive way. He intended it as a slur because it is one.

[–]LesbiSilly[S] 1 insightful - 2 fun1 insightful - 1 fun2 insightful - 2 fun -  (0 children)

I like this idea. Also sorry your dad was homophobic. Hugs for you from me. And your post made me wonder something. If 'queer' since it seems to be taking over lgb, is it becoming a slur again but in a queer way? Pun intended.