Lesbophobia is homophobia with a side-order of sexism

[boston bean]

Men like Russell Brand, who recently told a journalist that all lesbians want to "jump the fence" – presumably with him – that those who resist his advances are "just being difficult" and something about his own noble quest to disrupt every lesbian relationship in the land.

Sadly men like Brand are all too common. Men who are so invested in a cultural narrative that requires a heterosexual female support act – real and imagined – that they label women who transgress this social rule as legitimate targets for abusive behaviour.

In the past few weeks alone I've had men ask me and my girlfriend if they can "join in" as we kiss each other goodbye, men who spot us on the tube who plonk themselves down in the seat opposite, splay their legs and rub their genitals, presumably to reassure themselves – and us? – that they are hot-blooded men despite our evident lack of interest, men who spat at us in the street, and a young man on the DLR who loudly entreated our carriage to join him in stopping us "being lesbians". On all these occasions I just had my arm around my girlfriend's shoulder.

It would be easy to dismiss some of these chaps as nutters, but this experience is so commonplace for lesbians (and bisexual women in relationships with women) that I and my team at DIVA magazine have decided to do something about it. You have to name a problem before you can address it, after all.

Inspired by the Everyday Sexism project, which documents women's daily experience of sexist piggery, we decided to launch our Everyday Lesbophobia campaign with an Everyday Lesbophobia blog, and Twitter and Facebook profiles. The response we've had so far is just the tip of the iceberg and reveals the prejudice we face.

http://www.guardian.co.uk/commentisfree/2013/jul/09/lesbophobia-homophobia-side-order-sexism

[Aerows]

1. I can assure you

that this shit happens regularly, particularly if you and your girlfriend are attractive lesbians. It's just assumed that lesbians are just die-hard sex freaks that really want a man to join in by a certain male segment of the population, and there's another segment that is just plain pissed that women aren't subservient to themselves, sexually and otherwise.

It's sad.

[ismnotwasm]

2. Part of that cultural narrative

Is expressed in and maintained by the majority who purchases lesbian-based pornography-- mostly younger males. The sheer sense of sexual entitlement is reinforced by ownership of Lesbian sexuality, as long as they're cultural norm attractive. Or if not, some sort of dominate submissive scenario is present, with at least one of the participates seen as attractive.


Also, a loving, natural partnership (or none at all, or less than perfect relationships just like anybody) in a my-sex-life-is-none-of-your-business kind of way is nearly impossible for Gay women OR Gay men in the larger hetero society because of our heteronormative standards, which have their base in sheer misogyny.

[Arcanetrance]

7. You said exactly what I was gonna say

Between porn and pop culture it's taught and enforced to males that female sexuality is fluid and the only reason they're with another female is because their horny and there's no male around. It's presented that way in things that kids watch everyday. My niece was watching family guy and I don't know if you know the characters but there's one named Meg. Well she starts hanging out with a lesbian girl and the girl has a crush on her. Well anyway it ends with the girl saying to Meg your choosing to be straight and Meg says wait I thought it wasn't a choice and the other girl says it's only not with guys.

[geek tragedy]

8. .

[BainsBane]

10. Gross and not sexy

Is my reaction to porn in general. It's just not erotic.

[ismnotwasm]

11. That was really interesting

(Made me laugh as well)

Thanks!

[BainsBane]

9. well said

[kestrel91316]

3. I don't know ANY men with "lesbophobia", strangely enough. They all seem to

think two women going at it is "hawt", even if they won't come right out and say it.

Doesn't do a thing for me, but whatever.........

[boston bean]

4. Way to prove the point. nt

[ismnotwasm]

5. True 'dat

Not difficult at all

[kestrel91316]

6. I'm a straight woman. Lesbians don't scare me, nor does the idea of what they do

in private, lol.

I'm making fun of the men who obsess over lesbian sex.