all 5 comments

[–]grixit 2 insightful - 2 fun2 insightful - 1 fun3 insightful - 2 fun -  (4 children)

I've been saying that for years. 25 centuries is long enough to borrow someone else's adjective. All because of one writer and some stories about a girls' boarding school. By that measure we ought to be referring to male homosexuals as "english".

[–][deleted] 1 insightful - 1 fun1 insightful - 0 fun2 insightful - 1 fun -  (3 children)

Nice to know I'm not alone. Is there a word you think is better instead?

[–]grixit 2 insightful - 1 fun2 insightful - 0 fun3 insightful - 1 fun -  (2 children)

Other than gay, not really. And so far you seem to be the only other person i've met to share those sentiments. I had thought there might be a breakthrough a couple years back when the population of the island (which is poor by european standards) was nominated for the Nobel Peace Prize for their aid to refugees who washed up on their shores.

[–][deleted] 1 insightful - 1 fun1 insightful - 0 fun2 insightful - 1 fun -  (1 child)

I think what is needed is an alternative name, preferably one that starts with "L" so as to avoid messing up all the acronym stuff. Why did "lavender" not become the word like "gay" did, I wonder?

Maybe I will use "lavender" for now until I hear from the lavender community about a word they'd prefer.

Magdalen Berns made a video about the importance of having and using a word specific to female homosexuality, she encouraged women to specifically use the women's word "lesbian" not just the sex-neutral "gay" or "homosexual woman". And I thought it was compelling. So I just need a word that's not "lesbian" but fits the same function.

eta: and I think you maybe haven't met more because some people wanting to talk about it have been censored... like I was on /s/Lesbians just now.

[–]grixit 2 insightful - 1 fun2 insightful - 0 fun3 insightful - 1 fun -  (0 children)

I just thought of something. I saw part of a movie once, set at the turn of the 20th century. It's about a young woman who discovers her sexuality after meeting a drag king. I believe it was from a novel. It was called "Tipping the Velvet". I have seen the word "velvet" used elsewhere, apparently in reference, but i don't know how widespread it is.