Terms of Identity
Identity is a struggle. Placing it, keeping it, wondering why we even need one. People call themselves republicans, church-goers, gay men, police officers, teenagers, suicidals, positives, muslims, teachers, artists, lazy new aged simple plan listening emo hippies.
What do you call a girl in love with a girl?
Japanese anime otaku friends of mine fondly refer to it as GL, or girl love. While serials such as Queer As Folk pander the name dyke or rug muncher on an episodical basis.
Roget's Thesaurus considers it synonymous with homophile, while Medicine.net simply states that it is a female homosexual.
As for the most popular term, there is a history! Lesbians were the inhabitants of the island Lesbos, which as a little Greek island located in the Aegian Sea. In ancient times, all women of this island were said to be homosexual, and called Lesbians for their geographic location.
Terms
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Even since I came out two years ago, I've called myself a bisexual. I had sexual feelings for men, even if my opinion of their romantic capabilities is rather diminished. On the other hand, I have always loved women in every way. Physically, sexually, emotionally, mentally, soulfully.
Although there were loved ones that couldn't understand, I knew who I was, and began to love myself in a way I never could during the denial of my past. It wasn't that I didn't like men, but that I liked women more. And once I had accepted myself, I was a happier person.
But today, I found myself tinkering over the idea of once again changing my term of reference. Because a bisexual is someone with feelings for men and women. And that isn't me anymore.
Now, I have feelings for only one person. A woman. Gillian.
And I suppose that makes me a lesbian.
- Jacqueline
What do you call a girl in love with a girl?
Japanese anime otaku friends of mine fondly refer to it as GL, or girl love. While serials such as Queer As Folk pander the name dyke or rug muncher on an episodical basis.
Roget's Thesaurus considers it synonymous with homophile, while Medicine.net simply states that it is a female homosexual.
As for the most popular term, there is a history! Lesbians were the inhabitants of the island Lesbos, which as a little Greek island located in the Aegian Sea. In ancient times, all women of this island were said to be homosexual, and called Lesbians for their geographic location.
Terms
***
Even since I came out two years ago, I've called myself a bisexual. I had sexual feelings for men, even if my opinion of their romantic capabilities is rather diminished. On the other hand, I have always loved women in every way. Physically, sexually, emotionally, mentally, soulfully.
Although there were loved ones that couldn't understand, I knew who I was, and began to love myself in a way I never could during the denial of my past. It wasn't that I didn't like men, but that I liked women more. And once I had accepted myself, I was a happier person.
But today, I found myself tinkering over the idea of once again changing my term of reference. Because a bisexual is someone with feelings for men and women. And that isn't me anymore.
Now, I have feelings for only one person. A woman. Gillian.
And I suppose that makes me a lesbian.
- Jacqueline
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