terminology

Miracle1986 · Oct 25, 2010 at 02:46 PM

I think I am confused about the terminology out there.
Can a woman be gay?
I thought women who were only interested in women were called lesbian?
Or are those two words interchangeable?
Is it just a matter of personal preference?

sugahorse1 · Oct 26, 2010 at 03:08 AM

My understanding is that "gay" can be interpreted as homosexual - men & men, or women & women

Oct 26, 2010 at 04:53 AM

Gay is used more generally as a less clinical term than 'homosexual'. So yes, girls can be gay. I personally will describe myself as either 'gay' or 'a lesbian' but don't use lesbian as an adjective (it sounds funny to me, but I'm not sure why!).

My general feeling is that gay people have been called so many awful things throughout history that we should certainly be able to choose our own descriptors now and use them as we choose. But pragmatically, there are other things that influence my choice e.g. the feeling that saying "I'm gay" is les inflammatory, or less of a statement, than saying "I'm a lesbian", and will make others relatively less uncomfortable.

Argh, even ten years since I started, I find the whole thing quite exhausting. I find it easiest of all to come out by saying 'My partner.....' and then 'Yes, she.........". And it's done

michele#3 · Oct 26, 2010 at 08:25 PM

Gay is I guess an interchangeable term. However, I think lesbian is more apt for a woman who is mainly attracted to other women.

030123030 · Nov 19, 2010 at 11:58 AM

There was a time when ‘gay’ meant ‘happy’ or ‘playful’. Nowadays the word is used in reference to homosexual people, usually to men but can also be used in reference to women. Yes, ‘gay’ can be used in reference to women, but it's much more common to hear ‘lesbian’ in this case or, in some rare occasions, ‘sapphic’.

Nov 20, 2010 at 12:09 PM

When Ellen deGeneres came out on TV, she said she was "gay." In current usage, the word applies to homosexuals of either gender. Don't feel bound by it though. If you prefer to use lesbian, queer, dyke (I don't mean this in a derogatory manner) or whatever, feel free. The English language is great like that, there is no one word for anything! Choose the one that you feel best describes what you prefer to be called.

sunrise · Nov 21, 2010 at 01:05 AM

I have another terminology question. What is the difference between transsexual and transgender? Or do they mean the same?

einundzwanzig · Nov 21, 2010 at 07:03 PM

People use it interchangably although I think "gay" techniquely means male-male relationship and "lesbian" for femaile-female. But yea, I think that's how it goes...

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rainbow74 · Nov 21, 2010 at 09:13 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by sunrise

I have another terminology question. What is the difference between transsexual and transgender? Or do they mean the same?

Hi Sunrise.
Lets start with Transgender. Transgender(TG) is mainly used as a all encompassing umbrella term, that includes but not exclusively, Transsexuals, Transvestites and Gender Queer.

Transsexual means someone who is gender dysphoric, i.e a bio female feels (knows) on a very deep fundamental level that they are a man, and vice-versa for male to females.
To use a simile, it's like handedness. I know i'm left handed, as i was born that way. But if i lived in a society where left handedness was frowned upon and i was coherst(sp?) to use my right hand, i would still be left handed not matter how pressure was brought to bear to say that i wasn't. It is a instinctive trait of who i am.

I hope i've made sense, as it is past 2am and last night i only had a couple of hours sleep!! O_o

einundzwanzig · Nov 21, 2010 at 09:43 PM

Yeah, transvestites are people who dress like the other gender. For instance, the rocky horror picture show is based on this. btw- i love that movie! transsexual individuals are ones that actually get the sex change surgery. Transgendered is a general term I believe. Hope this was helpful.

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Miracle1986 feeling very alone Member Since Jun 2007 Location: Lost in thought Posts: 6,437 17 18 hugs given	Oct 25, 2010 at 02:46 PM #1 I think I am confused about the terminology out there. Can a woman be gay? I thought women who were only interested in women were called lesbian? Or are those two words interchangeable? Is it just a matter of personal preference? __________________ It is a miracle that I have survived thus far and I strive to help others see miracles in every day life.
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michele#3 Grand Member Member Since Mar 2009 Location: Seattle Posts: 869 15 69 hugs given	Oct 26, 2010 at 08:25 PM #4 Gay is I guess an interchangeable term. However, I think lesbian is more apt for a woman who is mainly attracted to other women. __________________ "Youth is wasted on the young" - Oscar Wild
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030123030 New Member Member Since Nov 2010 Posts: 2 13	Nov 19, 2010 at 11:58 AM #5 There was a time when ‘gay’ meant ‘happy’ or ‘playful’. Nowadays the word is used in reference to homosexual people, usually to men but can also be used in reference to women. Yes, ‘gay’ can be used in reference to women, but it's much more common to hear ‘lesbian’ in this case or, in some rare occasions, ‘sapphic’.
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sunrise Legendary Member Since Jan 2007 Location: U.S. Posts: 10,383 17 106 hugs given	Nov 21, 2010 at 01:05 AM #7 I have another terminology question. What is the difference between transsexual and transgender? Or do they mean the same? __________________ *"Therapists are experts at developing therapeutic relationships."*
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einundzwanzig Member Member Since Nov 2010 Location: Germany Posts: 171 14	Nov 21, 2010 at 07:03 PM #8 People use it interchangably although I think "gay" techniquely means male-male relationship and "lesbian" for femaile-female. But yea, I think that's how it goes... 21 __________________ "Das ist mein Bier! Das ist nicht dein Bier!" in english, mind your own business!
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