9 Comments
Jun 16Liked by Julia Golda Harris

I get the sense that when you talk about sapphic as being perceived more inclusive you are referencing specifically trans inclusion. For me, a big part of the inclusivity of sapphic vs lesbian is including non-monosexual identities e.g. bisexual/pansexual. I'm a bisexual about to marry a lesbian and if a space / event / opportunity is described as "lesbian" I will assume it is not a space for me, whereas a "sapphic" space / event / opportunity would include me.

Expand full comment
author

Thanks for sharing! Totally see this perspective. My two cents are that bi women have always been part of lesbian spaces and that lesbian spaces are for bi women too - and, for the record, lesbian events i put on and (fingers crossed) the eventual lesbian bar i am starting with my gf are absolutely for bi women as well as monosexual lesbians. i am also just generally against rigid taxonomization of queer identities and who can call themselves what/who belongs where - all of our sexualities are always incompletely captured by the words we use to call them, and that's a feature, not a bug, but i digress. my point is, i hope that lesbian spaces can do better at welcoming bi women (and recognizing that bi women are always already among us and are central to our culture), but i completely respect your perspective on this!

Expand full comment
Jun 15Liked by Julia Golda Harris

This is so fascinating, thank you! I love the idea of terms functioning generically as an escape hatch for each other, it'd explain a lot of how a term like "queer" also sort of moves around in terms of who feels identification with it. Also the sapphic science fiction erotica truly does sound so sick.

Expand full comment
author

Thanks, Lee! Ya at some point maybe I will try to put my theory of “queer” in the 2010s specifically to the page… alway interesting to think about what we are trying to express about ourselves/each other through changing terminology, and it’s p much always a reaction to whatever came before

Expand full comment
Jun 14Liked by Julia Golda Harris

Absolutely incredible tidbit about the citizens Lesbos and their legal battle

Expand full comment
author

Haha yesss had to fit that in somewhere

Expand full comment
Jun 14Liked by Julia Golda Harris

I like it because it feels really inclusive. I'm a Transfeminine Sapphic Gen X Riot Grrrl Dyke. Happy Pride month!

Expand full comment
author

Totally! There are so many factors that go into making these terms resonate (or not) for each of us. Happy pride!!

Expand full comment

re: lesbos lawsuit - strange aeons has a video with archival clips from a lesbian vacation to lesbos and the tension with the greeks who live there, and it's really interesting! https://youtu.be/AN-n-D2l6hg?si=Zr-F6DCYa0GK2yow

Expand full comment