Sexual orientation is not an act of bigotry or discrimination, nor is it changeable to fit the cultural rhetoric of the current era. It is real and immutable.
The concept of sex is of great significance in human biology and has always played a vital role in shaping our understanding of sexual orientation. In this article, we will explore the concerns surrounding the increasing emphasis on gender identity and pronouns, which may lead to the perception that sex is no longer relevant. I argue that recognizing and appreciating the biological differences between males and females is essential for understanding the complexities of sexual orientation within the lesbian, gay, and bisexual (LGB) community.
To understand sexual orientation, it is crucial to acknowledge the biological distinctions between sexes. Lesbians are lesbians because they are women attracted to women, and gay men are gay men because they are men attracted to men. Bisexual individuals such as myself have the potential to be attracted to both or either gender. Dismissing these biological realities can have significant consequences for our understanding of sexual orientation and can undermine the progress made by the LGB community.
Womanhood is not just an idea or feeling in one’s mind.
One issue arising from the growing emphasis on gender identity is the pressure on lesbians to alter their sexual orientation. It is important to highlight the problematic implications of pressuring lesbians to change who they are attracted to. Lesbians are women who are attracted to only other women. They are NOT “non-men who prefer non-men.” While I no longer identify as a feminist in the modern day due to the cult it has become, the former feminist in me wanted to scream when hearing that this is the new John Hopkins definition of lesbian. You are reducing womanhood to being a non-man. It’s as though you are saying men are superior and women are just non-men, that women are less important or of a lesser existence to be changed or defined at the discretion of men. This type of definition is poisonous and toxic as it undermines women and what it means to a lesbian.
Changing the definition of woman to a circular definition as “anyone who identifies as a woman” does not make you a woman, as womanhood is not just an idea or feeling in one’s mind.
It is truly a hate crime against biological women as you are claiming that anyone who identifies as a woman is allowed in women’s spaces and NOT even considering if this makes biological women feel unsafe. Being a woman isn't about conforming to femininity. It's an inherent part of our DNA and genetic makeup.
Not all women conform to societal expectations of femininity, but they are still undeniably women because being a woman is rooted in our DNA and genetics. Putting on heels and makeup doesn't make someone a woman— womanhood is not a performance, nor is it some abstract notion in one's mind. It's a biological reality that should be acknowledged and respected.
We have come a long way in the fight for same-sex love and the freedom to express that without judgment. Some people have criticized lesbians for not being attracted to transgender women or, as some voices would say, “individuals with male anatomy”. However, this criticism is a blanket erasure of same-sex attraction in the most basic form. Sexual orientation is not an act of bigotry or discrimination, nor is it changeable to fit the cultural rhetoric of the current era. It is real and immutable. It cannot be controlled or dictated based on societal expectations or political ideologies.
Respecting autonomy is essential for fostering a society where individuals can be true to themselves and find happiness in their own way. We all have the right to define our own boundaries and determine who we are attracted to. It is not about being intolerant or prejudiced; it is about honoring our own identity.
Consent and personal choice are fundamental in any relationship. No one should ever be forced or coerced into anything they are not comfortable with. It is vital to prioritize the protection of women and the preservation of lesbian and bisexual spaces. Sadly, there has been a regression in this regard, where women are being denied their spaces and are required to relinquish their trophies, scholarships, and awards to biological men in the name of activism or to fulfill a specific ideology. This development is disheartening and goes against the principles of equality and fairness.
Lesbians, like any other group within the LGB community, have the right to the boundaries of same-sex attraction and relationships. It is neither fair nor accurate to label them as bigots if they are not attracted to or interested in pursuing relationships with trans women. In fact, given that trans women are males, expecting them to do so erases the existence of lesbians, demanding that they be heterosexual.
The protection of women and the preservation of lesbian and bisexual spaces are no longer priorities. As a former Women's Studies major with a minor in LGBTQ studies, this development deeply saddens me. I received this degree in 2013, and I never thought things would have backtracked as much as they have with lesbians and women being denied their spaces and having to give our trophies, scholarships, and awards to biological men in the name of activism or to satisfy an ideology.
Another thing that really saddens me is the pull of children into the TQ+ community under the guise of LGB rights. Initially, our focus was on marriage, adoption, and combating violence while striving for recognition as normal individuals who desire the right to love our partners and start families. However, with current gender ideology, things have taken a different turn. I empathize with parents who feel trapped by gender ideology, fearing they might lose their child if they do not rush to facilitate a gender transition. Parents often find themselves caught off guard when their child suddenly declares a new gender identity and expresses a desire for medical interventions, such as hormone treatment, as if it were a trendy new commodity. These parents, who have dedicated their time, love, and resources to their children, were not prepared for such a crisis. In such cases, it is crucial for parents to seek healthcare practitioners who have not been influenced by prevailing trans ideology. These professionals should prioritize comprehensive assessments, seeking the underlying causes of a child's dysphoric feelings rather than immediately affirming a new gender identity. Genuine gender dysphoria is rare, while influenced identity can significantly impact vulnerable children susceptible to external influences such as online influencers.
Putting on heels and makeup doesn't make someone a woman— womanhood is not a performance, nor is it some abstract notion in one's mind. It's a biological reality that should be acknowledged and respected.
I personally was a child who felt out of touch with my gender. While I am a female who nowadays presents femininely about 80% of the time, around age 12 until about 17 (it lessened as I got closer to age 17), I struggled with my gender on and off. I often felt out of touch with my femaleness. These feelings did NOT mean that my parents had a son who was just “assigned female at birth.” This did NOT mean my brother really had a brother and that his sister “never existed.” This did NOT mean my grandparents had a grandson who was “trapped in a female body.” This did not mean the boy who had a crush on me in fifth grade was really gay. When I saw other girls talking about and expressing a romantic interest in boys, I couldn’t relate. I had not yet developed an interest in either gender. Dealing with mental health issues, I felt my life would have been easier if I had just been born a boy. I still gravitated towards some feminine items like makeup at times. However, I also had moments where as a woman, I felt weakened and felt I would be stronger in a male body. I hated dresses back then and felt out of place when shopping with friends or family. If I had had some woke modern-day doctor tell me they could change and alter my gender and offer me puberty blockers as though it were candy, I would have jumped on it back then. Thankfully, I was an extremely shy kid who never opened up about feeling out of alignment with my body. With time, I learned to feel at home with my body. Injecting myself with hormones, cutting off my breasts, and any other surgical or bodily modifications would NOT have fixed any mental challenges I had.
My body never needed to be changed, altered, or sacrificed to please a modern-day cult. This would have just contributed to the growing medical industry raking in billions through being deceitful and lying to children and parents. In modern times, rather than teaching kids and young adults to love themselves for who they are, they are being taught that something is wrong with them and that they will offer this poisonous magic to fix them, and that all their problems will just go away when this is far from the case.
I am thankful to be able to say through learning to love myself as I am and realizing that denying my womanhood would NEVER have fixed any mental challenges I had, I eventually outgrew it and became a kickass bi-woman who is now proud to embrace her womanhood.
With time, I learned to feel at home with my body. Injecting myself with hormones, cutting off my breasts, and any other surgical or bodily modifications would NOT have fixed any mental challenges I had.
It is crucial to respect and appreciate the relevance of sex in understanding sexual orientation. No individual should be labeled a bigot simply for being same-sex attracted. Lesbians, like any other group within the LGB community, have the right to the boundaries of same-sex attraction and relationships. It is neither fair nor accurate to label them as bigots if they are not attracted to or interested in pursuing relationships with trans women. In fact, given that trans women are males, expecting them to do so erases the existence of lesbians, demanding that they be heterosexual. Recognizing the biological realities of sex and embracing diversity within the LGB community is essential for LGB tolerance and existence.
Yeah i felt like that my whole life its an uneasy feeling when i was younger that thing wasn't talked bout always hush hush but i enjoyed reading that tee