I just say gay lady or "queer". Some people think queer is offensive, but I think it's ok if I call myself it because it is part of the LGBTQ form too anyway. Lesbian does sound like a disease. But if I said I was Sapphic that'd be cool too since gay women would probably know what you're talking about. Like the other ladies here, yay for gaydar techniques!
I feel like an idiot...Sapphic?!?!?! I'd probably be the one gay girl to ask what that means... What's it mean?
I believe it comes from Sappho, this Ancient Greek poet who wrote about love between women. That's also where 'lesbian' comes from because she lived on the island of Lesbos.
I think that using queer is a fairly canadian thing. At the gay/queer camp I was just at probably 1/3 of the people there, when forced to use a label, used queer to their define sexual/gender identity... I like it a lot just because gay is so definitive. I love how un-labely it is, for a label. It means such different things depending on who is using it so it's cool.
I just say gay cause I think it's easier. I can be occasionally vocab lazy so it's just easier to say the one syllable word than the 3 syllable one lol x
Dunno why, I don't particularly like "lesbian". Gay seems much nicer. But I can't think why! Must be some repressed thought going on there.
I say "gay" 85% of the time and use "lesbian" for the 15% where I'm talking to people who seem to be more traditional/conservative because I don't want to confuse or alienate them. I am never offended or put off when people refer to me as a lesbian. I like the way the word sounds. If it could be used as an adjective (like "gay" is) instead of a noun, I would probably use it more often. I am not yet comfortable with the word "queer." I was brought up thinking of "queer" as a very negative, highly derogatory word, so I cringe a little on the inside if someone uses that word to describe me. (Don't worry; I'm sure I'll get over it someday.)
I don't use 'queer' just because it never comes to mind. Probably that's because the first time I saw the word has stuck with me- in The Little Princess, when they're talking about Sarah being a 'queer little girl' or something. I mean if someone today says it I'll get what they mean, it just doesn't come up in my mind, lol.
I haven't really noticed that with any of my lesbian friends. I think maybe cause we just keep it to this: *girl walks by* Me: "gay?" Lesbianfriend: "yeah"
A lot of the people in my area use the word Dyke, not as an insult, but just as a label, I live in one of those areas where the people just have to come up with a slang word for just about everything. I tend to use the word Gay tho, just because lesbain is such a mouthful, gay just rolls off the tounge (figuratively, no ideas!).
I will never get enough of that picture. But eh! I like the word "lesbian" alright. I don't think it sounds like a disease, though it is kind of weird that it's a noun and not an adjective, like others have said. I'm not sure I'd call myself one unless I was pretty sure I wouldn't date dudes, though! I like calling myself "queer" because it gives me some wiggle room - if I never end up dating a guy, people can't say, "So you really WEREN'T bisexual! I knew it!", and if I do end up dating one, neither can they say, "So you really WEREN'T a lesbian! Traitor!" But when I'm feeling particularly gay, I think of myself as, well... Gay, not "A Lesbian". It's odd!
Hey! How is it going so far? Progress and Sexuality (that you spoke with you mother about being gay?) Still getting better there? -Steve
I have to admit that I find it much easier to call myself gay than a lesbian. When I came out to my mum I used the term gay too. I'm not sure why its harder for me to say lesbian ? :icon_redf
For me, the word "lesbian" is an awkward word. I don't usually use the word, unless I'm differentiating a gay bar from a lesbian bar.
