A woman (or non-binary person who relates to womanhood in some way) who experiences emotional, romantic, and/or sexual attraction primarily or exclusively to other women and/or non-binary people.
Definition
A woman (or non-binary person who relates to womanhood in some way) who experiences emotional, romantic, and/or sexual attraction primarily or exclusively to other women and/or non-binary people.
From the Greek island of Lesbos, home of poet Sappho (c. 630-570 BCE), whose lyric poetry described erotic love between women. "Lesbian" as a noun meaning a woman attracted to women solidified in the late 19th century through sexological literature.
History
Sappho (c. 630-570 BCE) - Her poetry celebrating love between women survived in fragments; the island of Lesbos gives lesbianism its name
1955 - Del Martin and Phyllis Lyon founded the Daughters of Bilitis in San Francisco - the first lesbian civil and political rights organization in the US
1970s - Lesbian feminism emerged as a political and cultural force, with separatist communities, bookstores, and music festivals
1999 - Labrys Lesbian Flag designed by Sean Campbell
2018 - Emily Gwen designs the Sunset/Orange-Pink lesbian flag, now the most widely used
Common myths
"A lesbian who has had relationships with men is really bisexual." Sexual history does not determine identity.
"Butch lesbians want to be men." Gender expression and gender identity are separate.
Notable people
Sappho (c. 630-570 BCE) - Greek poet; namesake of "sapphic" and "lesbian"
Radclyffe Hall (1880-1943) - Author of The Well of Loneliness (1928)
Del Martin (1921-2008) & Phyllis Lyon (1924-2020) - Co-founders of Daughters of Bilitis
Audre Lorde (1934-1992) - Black lesbian feminist poet; Sister Outsider
Adrienne Rich (1929-2012) - Compulsory Heterosexuality and Lesbian Existence
Ellen DeGeneres (1958-) - Came out publicly 1997, a landmark US television moment
k.d. lang (1961-) - Canadian musician; came out 1992
