Let’s all get a new rally cry going. Repeat after me: Reclaiming my word! Reclaiming my word! Reclaiming my word! What they failed to tell you, is that IT’S MY WORD… And I CAN reclaim it! Recently, I published an article on Huffington Post, and although it was shared directly from the site over 100,000 times overnight, there was one major recurring complaint: Why did I feel it was necessary to use the word “lesbian” in the title?
Kerrice Lewis was violently murdered, and her heartbroken friends were distraught because the media had ignored it-they wanted us to say her name. And we did. Kerrice Lewis’ name was amplified, and at the Women’s March, her name was amplified further. There are reasons her murder was ignored. Compounding reasons. And to understand it, we have to name it. Kerrice Lewis was a woman. A black woman. A lesbian. A “butch” lesbian. There is a social hierarchy. That hierarchy needs to be addressed. It needs to be shouted. And there’s nothing wrong with the word lesbian. If people have a problem with the word lesbian, it’s time for them to do a little introspective self-examination.
“Lesbian isn’t even a word people are comfortable using.” –Rachel Shearer, one of the OG Lesbian Avengers, w/fellow Lesbian Avenger, Alison Froling, 1992, Lesbian Avenger Documentary Project
Why did I feel it was necessary to use the word lesbian? Why do I, in general, feel it’s necessary? That unrelenting question resulted in what can only be described as a minor twitter rant. I fired off these thoughts:
“For people who want to know why it’s important to mention someone is a lesbian or have “lesbian” in the headline: As I wrote in my most recent article:’When lesbians are murdered,the distinct media bias keeps the general population in the dark. This bias is multiplied where “butch” lesbians are concerned, and compounded if you’re a woman of color. Lesbian relationships are typically downplayed, sexuality is often omitted, and there’s a resulting lack of focus (with both investigations and media) on potential hate crimes-Even where the murder is exceptionally horrific (as in this case).‘ I mainly write about lesbians, for lesbians (and allies of lesbians) on topics as they pertain to lesbians. Lesbians are the most silenced within the alphabet and within the media. We’re underrepresented and misrepresented. I truly appreciate when non-lesbians are allies to lesbians and make efforts to understand issues as they pertain specifically to us…Lesbians. If you have an issue with the word lesbian, you should examine why you feel it should be omitted… Do you associate it with embarrassment? Does it make you uncomfortable? Do you think it has a negative connotation? Does your lived experience shield you from the reasons why it IS necessary?”
“Dykes will rule this country.” –Marlene Colbum, One of the OG Lesbian Avengers, 1993, Lesbian Avenger Documentary Project
Lesbian. Lesbian. Lesbian. Say it with me. On January 23rd, when Rachel Morrison and Dee Rees made headlines, the headlines (as usual) largely omitted the word lesbian. And although the bodies of those articles let us know that Rachel Morrison had just become the first woman to ever be nominated for an Oscar for cinematography, and Dee Rees had just made history as as the first black woman to be nominated for an Oscar for an adapted screenplay, the fact that they’re both lesbians was strategically obscured. In fact, I had to become a bit of a detective to find out.
Dee Rees, a lesbian, is the first black woman to be nominated for an Oscar for an adapted screenplay.
And, not surprisingly, even most major “LGBTQ” publications avoided the word lesbian in their headlines, opting for things like “LGBTQ people” and “Queer Women” instead. In fact, an article put out by one of the biggest “LGBTQ” publications has such a strong aversion to the word lesbian that they write “Dee Rees, a queer woman of color…” and “Rachel Morrison, who is also part of the LGBT community…” to avoid using the word lesbian.
In that same article, the word lesbian only appears twice (much further down in the script), but not in reference to either woman, and “queer women” is used to substitute “lesbian” 13 times. Yes, that’s right, 13 times. And they also substituted “lesbian” with “women in love”and “gay and bi women” and “love affair between women” and “female lover” and “presentation of desire between women”… Anything to avoid the L word. They treat the word lesbian like it’s the plague.
They treat the word lesbian like it’s the plague.
Rachel Morrison, a lesbian, is the first woman to ever be nominated for an Oscar for cinematography.
Is that what they want us lesbians to believe? That the “L” is a scourge upon the earth? Lately, it certainly feels that way. There are entire articles in “LGBTQ” media, written by non-lesbians, dedicated to convincing lesbians that the word lesbian should be erased and substituted with something that sounds more bendy, more flexible, more hip… like “queer.”
Is that what they want us lesbians to believe? That the “L” is a scourge upon the earth? Lately, it certainly feels that way.“Queer,” a word that was originally used as a slur to demean lesbians and gay men, has been appropriated by sexually flexible people to mean “maybe…we’ll see…it’s not off the table…” and can’t a slur only be taken back by the people it was once used to degrade?! Isn’t that a thing? Yes. It is. There are rules. Society has been pretty clear on that. Yet the same fate of appropriation has befallen “dyke”-A word that was originally used as a slur to dehumanize lesbians, and later reclaimed by lesbians.
One of the OG Lesbian Avengers, Ilsa Jule, fighting in the cold for lesbian visibility-“I’m out here because it’s invigorating to be out” Lesbian Avenger Documentary Project
“Queer,” as it’s being used now, doesn’t have the definitive sexual boundaries of “lesbian.” “Queer” is the cool lady. The “I might be open to it” girl. The intention here is to teach young lesbians that if their sexuality doesn’t leave room, it’s outdated, uncool, or somehow irrelevant. And that’s just plain homophobia disguised as being progressive. Not too surprising, seeing as how many major “LGBTQ” publications are freely using a new slur to describe lesbian same-sex attraction. Shaming lesbians has become the new normal.
The intention here is to teach young lesbians that if their sexuality doesn’t leave room, it’s outdated, uncool, or somehow irrelevant. And that’s just plain homophobia disguised as being progressive.
The first march, organized by the Lesbian Avengers in 1992, would launch the first Dyke March in Lesbian Avenger Documentary Project
Rachel Morrison: Woman. Lesbian. Dee Rees: Woman. Black. Lesbian. Each of these words represent a prejudice these women had to overcome. There is a hierarchy in our society. These women had to fight. I want to know that right away. I don’t want to have to crack the code. I don’t want to do mental gymnastics when I’m reading something.
Rachel Morrison: Woman. Lesbian. Dee Rees: Woman. Black. Lesbian. Each of these words represent a prejudice these women had to overcome. There is a hierarchy in our society. These women had to fight. I want to know that right away.Cut the Orwellian Newspeak. It should be right there in black and white. Words are important. Words have meaning. Without words, bird tree fly flarflar floo no can communicate yard go butterfly understand. Let’s all take a page from congresswoman, Maxine Waters, and get a new rally cry going… Repeat after me: Reclaiming my word! Reclaiming my word! Reclaiming my word! What they failed to tell you, is that IT’S-MY-WORD… And I CAN reclaim it!
My wife and I-Lesbians, lesbian-ing, all day every day. ©PSPhotography
ϼ?ê?ä?èϺ Ï»?èϺ?åϺ –Julia Diana Robertson is an award-winning author and journalist. You can find her at www.juliadianarobertson.com
