a Twitter thread from @vaItcrsen

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non lesbians rt.

the stigma around the word lesbian, the damage it does, and why it shouldn’t exist.

a thread 🧵

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the stigma around the word lesbian is mostly due to the fact that is oversexualized, associated with p0rn, the male gaze and because of this seen as a “dirty word.”

it is often used as an insult, suggesting that lesbianism is wrong and or disgusting.

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the villainization of the word lesbian is very very real, even tikt0k and y0utube for example trend to ban videos containing the word lesbian if it’s uncensored, but not other words associated with the LGBTQIA+ community.

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this reinforces the idea that lesbian is a bad or dirty word along with lesbianism itself.

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why is it seen as a dirty word?

lesbianism has been hijacked by the male gaze for years. it is because lesbians are fetishized by men. therefore lesbianism is often associated with p0rn and as something that is FOR the male gaze. it is not. lesbianism has nothing to do with men.

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now why is this damaging?

all young lesbians already face the struggle of growing up in a world where they are told that they are meant to marry/be with a man, and traditionalism and comphet is forced on them, but they will also grow up in a world where the word lesbian is +

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considered dirty, inappropriate, inherently sexual, and disgusting. they will grow up in a world where it is used as an insult, a world where people are afraid of even just saying the word lesbian out loud.

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this will not only make their journey of self discovery agonizingly slow, because if lesbianism is hidden away they won’t be able to ever know it might be them, and because it will never occur to them that they could be associated with such a “bad” word;

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but most importantly it will bring overwhelming loneliness and shame when they start to realize that is who they are, because if people can’t even bare the word, how could they ever accept us?

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this makes it very common amongst teen girls to use the word lesbian as an insult and refer to it as something disgusting. making it excruciatingly hard for young lesbians to accept themselves

(scene from heartstopper, 2022)

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lesbian is a BEAUTIFUL word. you deserve to be proud of yourself. you deserve to be who you are with no shame about it whatsoever. we love you❤️🧡🤍💗💖

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it isn’t something inherently sexual, it isn’t inappropriate, it isn’t dirty, it isn’t a bad word. young lesbians, you’re beautiful and so is your love

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while jojo is allowed and free to label and refer to herself however she wants, don’t let her or anyone else ever tell you that the word lesbian is “a lot” or “just ugh” and something bad and disgusting that you should be ashamed of

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i definitely definitely definitely definitely recommend heartstopper especially episode 6 as it features a lesbian couple and shows their experience with calling themselves lesbians and facing the stigma around lesbianism perfectly

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https://twitter.com/vaItcrsen/status/1532035716665966597?s=20&t=E_ALg4wOhvV-pvIQQF8BaQ

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zoe🍂PINNED! | LOVES BASH (cast pr manager) (@vaItcrsen)

just had my very own nick nelson moment. i sat my mum down and showed her the nick x imogen scene and told her that’s how i felt and have been feeling for as long as i can remember. i showed her the coming out scene, and came out as a lesbian. thank you heartstopper🍂❤️

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https://twitter.com/vaItcrsen/status/1553035190800375808?s=20&t=syUp3P3xy7FN9GfqpHEeRg

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zoe🍂PINNED! | LOVES BASH (cast pr manager) (@vaItcrsen)

anyway here’s a thread on the word lesbian and where it comes from<3

jojo siwa dni

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people are actually reading this and im so so grateful❤️

here are some more scenes from heartstopper, which again, portrays the lesbian experience beautifully.

these are from episode 6!

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this is a bit from the comics which i strongly recommend, especially if this thread spoke to you

alice oseman is a genius

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on that note, im gonna talk a little bit about how the media is afraid of the word lesbian.

there are many LESBIAN characters that will do anything to NOT say the word lesbian.

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it is often times shows and movies tend to use the words “queer” and “gay” as opposed to the word lesbian even when it is made clear that the character is A LESBIAN and exclusively NOT attracted to men.

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this absolutely DESTROYS what lesbians fight for. we just want our sexuality to be normalized. we want to see ourselves represented. it is so messed up that hearing a character call themselves a lesbian is now a rare occasion, a breath of fresh air.

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the word is straight up dying. people will see a couple made up by two canon lesbians and still call it a “wlw” or “sapphic” couple before they call it a lesbian couple.

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characters nowadays will only say “im not into men” “i like girls” and heavily imply that they are lesbians but never actually SAY IT.

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this gives lesbians more reasons to think they should be ashamed of who they are if the media can’t even use their label for a fictional character.

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people underestimate how important it is for lesbians to hear and see themselves represented on screen. it helps a great deal with the overwhelming loneliness that comes with being a lesbian. SAY LESBIAN. JUST SAY IT.

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especially when it’s a main character, it’s important to see the popular character that everyone loves is a lesbian and is PROUD of being a lesbian and isn’t afraid to say it. WE EXIST.

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it isn’t more “inclusive” or “cool” to not state a character’s sexuality if it is heavily implied that they are a lesbian. we deserve to be seen and loved and to have our stories told.

Read this thread on Twitter