A Point of Clarification on Gold Star Lesbians
Those who identify as "gold star lesbians" are using the phrase gold star as a qualifier for the term, "lesbian." Thus, by definition, there is a recognition that exclusively same-sex attracted women who have some level of history with men are still lesbians.
Increasingly, many women (both who fit the definition of a "gold star lesbian" and those who don't) are stating a desire to update the definition of the word "lesbian," so that exclusively same-sex attracted women who have some level of history with men are considered to be bisexual.
To bring attention to this argument, our project aims to look at the women who (throughout history) have been commonly referred to as "lesbians," and apply as much scrutiny and retroactive labeling as has been apparently deemed to be appropriate by those who have proposed this definition change in the first place.
We hope that clears some things up!
Considering the term “lesbian” is convoluted and too broadly used, gold star is just a synonym for real lesbian. “Lesbian” is supposed to be used to describe homosexual females, but is frequently used by men and bi women. It’s gotten to the point where you hear the term lesbian and think bisexual (because so many non lesbians identify as lesbian). Because gold star specifically derived from a derogatory phrase against gay women because we don’t sleep with men, it’s more accurate. Real lesbians use it nowadays in this climate to find other real lesbians. It weeds out men and bisexuals and helps provide spaces for real lesbians to talk about our experiences without being silenced.
Exactly! Ergo, the definition of "bisexual" now contains exclusively same-sex attracted women (who may have formerly believed themselves as lesbian), who are no longer considered legitimately using the term "lesbian" due to their previous history with men.
We are simply trying to encourage more women, who may find themselves using the term "lesbian" for whatever reason, to question why they are not calling themselves "bisexual" instead.
We propose that there is some level of internalized biphobia among these women (as well as a lack of understanding related to the new definition of bisexual which includes exclusively same-sex attracted women), and we seek to challenge it so that real lesbians can commune away from exclusively same-sex attracted women who have some level of male history (as is the expressed desire of many exclusively same-sex attracted women whose history only contains women, such as yourself).
