Dare I say gatekeeping sexualities is actually extremely harmful to the queer community much more so than people say they contradictory label community does.
On MULTIPLE occasions I have seen girls having genuine mental breakdowns because they’ve identified as a lesbian for basically their whole life but one day they found a man attractive and, therefore, believed they wouldn’t be accepted as a lesbian. They were scared the community they were apart of for so long was going to turn its back on them and they weren’t allowed to live the lifestyle (yes, being a lesbian is considered a lifestyle by many) they were so comfortable with.
There were a couple people in the comments who were apart of the lesbian community as well and assured them that the community would not turn its back on them and they supported them and they could still identify with lesbianism if they wanted to. Sadly, these comments were met a lot of backlash saying something along the lines of;
“She’s attracted to men. At the most she’d be bisexual” (this is also biphobic; implying one for of queer is “more queer” than another.)
Or say, “lesbians aren’t attracted to men- hope this helps!”
These people are giving off the same vibes as people who support the ‘Gold Star Lesbian’ term- that queer girls and fems- hell even nonbinary people who don’t even identify femininely- who have been attracted to men or have had sex with men are ‘less good’ or ‘less pure’ than individuals who haven’t.
I’d just like to let you know- if you are a lesbian who has ever been attracted to men; we love you. You will always be accepted in our community.
