crossposting since this was removed by the mod of /s/Lesbians and I don't know how long the censorship appeal process will take. originally posted here.

I no longer feel right about using "Lesbian" to describe female homosexuality after learning that Lesbian Islanders do not want this to be happening. I believe it is a form of appropriation of the same sort as happens when male people identify as "women". The mystique of Sappho and Lesbos became part of "Greek" homosexual culture elsewhere, and while there's nothing wrong with admiring or appreciating something from another culture or demographic, it goes too far when you actually try to co-opt their identity. It may not have been such a big deal back in the day, but the world is much smaller now and even everyday communication often has a global reach.

The "Greek" movement moved on some years ago and adopted "Gay" instead, and I believe it's time for the "Lesbian" movement to as well. Is the equivalent word "Lavender"? As someone who does not experience exclusively homosexual feeling, I don't feel it's my place to say what the word should be, but I do feel it's my place to say something about what I can now recognize as appropriation.

I know most of you here probably did not knowingly adopt the word knowing it was an appropriation. Presumably you just learned it the way I did: it was just what everyone else used. But I do know better now. And I believe it's time to make a change.

I hope you will consider rallying under a new (or older) fitting name of your choosing name. Perhaps reserving this sub for Lesbos Islanders, or for information about the history of Lesbos. And probably providing a brief redirect in the sub sidebar for those women coming through looking for this community.