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There is so much wrong with this article, it's hard to know where to begin. Lesbians are not extinct, nor are lesbians close to extinction. The L Word has never really been as popular as "gay" & this has long been the case, it's not a new thing.... https://www.telegraph.co.uk/news/2020/12/25/lesbians-facing-extinction-transgenderism-becomes-pervasive/
Then in the context of Queer activism, DIY activism & the burgeoning internet culture in the 90's younger adults did not seem to like to be labelled, or boxed into labels. It is still popular for younger adults to describe themselves as fluid, in terms of sexuality, gender...
Earlier, 70s/80s there had been an attack on #butch lesbians in the LGBT community, not from trans women, but from lesbian feminists & lesbian feminist theory, which branded butch #lesbians sadomasochists copying het roles & eroticising sexism & the oppression of femme lesbians..
There was also the so-called 'lesbian sex-wars' of the 80s which was really about Radical Feminist theory & lesbian feminist theory politically critiquing the industries of porn & prostitution, but also reflexively critiquing sexual practices like BDSM in the lesbian community...
There should always be space for such reflexivity, but what this was turned into was a false dichotomy between 'anti-sex' & 'pro-sex' feminists. This played into ancient misogynistic beliefs about lesbians as prudish, ugly, non-sexual, monstrous spinsters etc etc, NOT that this..
...was the fault of lesbian feminist or Radical Feminist activists or theorists; as I said this anti-lesbian propaganda is longstanding, because the most controversial thing a woman can do in patriarchy is be seen to reject men, domestically, politically, socially, sexually...
So this anti-lesbian propaganda has always been something that lesbians are swimming against, against a tide of misrepresentation. Within this is the misogynistic 'ick factor' with women's bodies being seen as sexual objects in culture but also as gross, in need of many products
..much beauty industry attention so these bodies don't offend. So 2 women together have double 'ick factor' unless of course it's in the image of some fake porn fantasy. There, to this day, are not many lesbian role models - although more than there were! Few butches really...
as #masculinity is serious & sacred & not for women's bodies, plus incites anti-lesbian propaganda about women not making themselves attractive to men at all times, so they must always be feminised. So there are few #butch #lesbian role models, but it's not trans women's fault!
Waiting lists to even see a 'gender-identity clinic' are up to 2 years long, so can everyone stop suggesting that tomboys up & down the land are being 'transed' within days. Counselling, mental health support etc for young ppl has been straining & collapsing for years due to..
..ideological Tory cuts to our welfare system so this is par for the course. Anyone who actually cares about young ppl exploring their sexuality, gender identity, feelings about their sexed body should want waiting lists to be shorter, quicker & should be concerned about a...
...response that is holistic, informed & reflexive, accepting & critical about a social/medical/psych context which is deeply sex/sexuality/gender conservative in a society that is also deeply sex & gender conservative. Do I think we have a self reflexive, fluid, critical...
...GID service for young ppl, I doubt it v much & this should be talked about. But none of this is the fault of trans women or trans men!
Plus, some trans women are lesbians, some trans women are in lesbian relationships, their genitals are their business & the business of their sexual partner, what business is it of anyone else for goddessakes.
Plus, trans men, trans women, transgender butches, cross-dressing men, NB ppl, queer ppl have ALWAYS BEEN PART OF THE LGBT COMMUNITY, always, historically & currently because this is a community of all those seen as 'deviant' to the sex/sexuality/gender norm.
Plus, there has always been crossover between trans/transgender/GNC always areas of overlap & shared communities between trans men & butches & trans butches, this was well documented in the 90s https://www.drfinnmackay.co.uk/blog/whos-afraid-of-female-masculinity
