Non-Binary AMAB who primarily IDs as femme or neutral here- let's talk about the John Hopkins Uni LGBTQ Glossary term for Lesbians "changing"
Opinion spoiler: I think women's feelings on this are valid on this and I believe retconning a term like lesbian feels wrong. Making a new term seems to be the most inclusive option.
I saw the title of the original now locked post on r/fourthwavewomen on popular and it caught my attention. I looked into it and I'm concerned about many things, firstly that John Hopkins doesn't even have a consistent view on this. Before getting into it though I do want to give a summary taken from Outkick :
" It should come as no surprise the same ideology that brought you “birthing persons” and “people who menstruate” is now redefining lesbianism.
But Johns Hopkins categorizing all “non-men” who love other “non-men” as lesbians is a bold move.
Two transgender-identifying males? Lesbians.
A non-binary male dating a transgender-identifying female and having heterosexual sex? Lesbians.
... Removed by me, don't think this comparison is valid
Notice the definition of “gay man” didn’t change, though. A gay man is still “a man who is emotionally, romantically, sexually, affectionately, or relationally attracted to other men.”
Though inflammatory I believe this is an accurate summary and that the hyperbolic tone provides value, though some parts feel mean.
Inconsistent Messaging from JHU:
https://web.jhu.edu/LGBTQ/glossary.html Lesbian: A woman who is emotionally, romantically, sexually, affectionately, or relationally attracted to other women, or someone who identifies as part of the lesbian community. Bisexual women may or may not feel include by this term.
https://studentaffairs.jhu.edu/lgbtq/education/glossary/ Lesbian [sexual orientation]: A non-man attracted to non-men. While past definitions refer to ‘lesbian’ as a woman who is emotionally, romantically, and/or sexually attracted to other women, this updated definition includes non-binary people who may also identify with the label.
Why is this inconsistent? This seems meaningful enough to be consistent between channels! Why is the student affairs page different than their main website? RED FLAG!
2. Framing by media as this just being conservatives getting triggered and needing to DEFAND WAMEN:
https://www.newsweek.com/johns-hopkins-accused-trying-erase-women-its-lesbian-term-1806134
" A small subset of conservatives online has expressed outrage at Johns Hopkins University over its non-binary-inclusive definition of "lesbian" in its glossary of LGBTQ+ terms. "
Assuming the viewpoint of people right out of the gate. Very nuanced of them. I am sure this may be the majority but you can't tell me there are no genuine trans inclusionary women that have valid feelings regarding this. They may not be correct, they may be misguided, but they are entitled to their own feelings. Personally, as someone who has identified as a "transfeminine male lesbian" this lowkey kind of feels like erasure. My experience is very different than that of many women's (and probably also quite similar to many as well but lets not make sexual orientation definitions based on trauma, yeah?) and I think putting them under the same umbrella by definition feels off to me. For example: I don't think I'd be comfortable going to a lesbian bar unless all AMAB people are good to go because I think women’s spaces are valid- though inclusion should generally be the rule- protection is valid. My gender identity shouldn't be a free pass to women’s spaces.
3. Feels dismissive of the unique struggles and difficulties of nonbinary people who are exclusively attracted to non-men
Having it all under one umbrella feels like my own struggles to discover and accept who I am are inherently being devalued. I'm open to discussing this more but I straight up don't really know how to feel about this. I get that it's inclusive and all, but it really feels like meaningful distinctions need to be made. I am 100% in favor of making a new word that is inclusive of everyone but damn, talk about hijacking an already defined word.