Why are lesbians being left out?

[insaneclaw]

Ok I'm not a lesbian I'm the opposite I'm a gay guy, but I've always noticed that when people or advertisement refer to homosexuality or gay or LGBT the first thing they focus on is gay men and hardly mention gay women. For example I was looking at the website for that channel Logo to watch shows and movies, and most of their shows are about gay men. Like I read the description of the A-list (cus I never watched it before, and P.S if u plan to watch it don't you'll get mad at it sooo much but for some reason u can't get urself to stop watching it) which was suppose to be in the life of wealthy, successful gay people. That's what I read from a description and thought ok so they'll have different points of view of different gay people including maybe a lesbian here or there. Nope just all gay men, and also the same cliche drama obsessed gay man but that's another topic. And then they have a woman in the next season BUT SHE'S STRAIGHT, and I'm like what the hell are u doing in that show its about gay people so at least be bisexual or something come on. Then there is the show 1 girl 5 gays (which is an amazing show but still) which some of them say at times that they represent the LGBT community, but they don't they just represent gay men again lesbians don't have a voice. Finally in ads and billboards that say LGBT or homosexual something they always have two muscular gay men never two sexy gay women together. I think a good representation of when people say LGBT is this scene I remember from the show Will and Grace (i love this show so don't say anything DX) where this LGBT network has these people waving good bye and there a bunch gay guys waving while they're wrapping their arms around each other and in the corner in a very small bubble is one lesbian signing off. Idk I don't think its kinda fair that when it comes to mass exposure Gay Women don't get that much coverage or we don't get to learn about their struggles or their side of the story. Idk how do u people feel.  

[pikapikatroy]

(not a lesbian either, just a gay guy sweatdrop )

Okay, so, first off, I think we are soulmates because all of those shows which I am like in love with too. Lol xd .

I do see where you are coming from and I do think that lesbian women are not being given the proper exposure that they should be but at the same time they get more exposure into more mainstream works such as movies and television. There are lesbians in shows like True Blood and in movies like Chasing Amy. I mean, I do agree with you but it's not as if they get no kind of exposure or representation at all.

They also have that show The L Word and The Real L Word which I have not personally watched but I know that a few people in my own family have watched it. Including my mother and my aunt who are both straight so I think that it helps to educate and represent lesbians to a certain degree sweatdrop but maybe not in the way that some people would say is enough.

Wow.... I wrote too much lol. smile glad I came across your post though because you do make a good point in my opinion.... soulmate. wink heart
Lol sorry. Just kiddin smile  

[Oreo Panda16]

I'm not a lesbian, but I am bisexual. I am a bit enraged by how little we are being exposed compared to the gay men in this world. However, I know there are always little signs out there. I've tried in my own town to bring out the lesbians as well as gays, but it didn't exactly work out. :/ If you'd like some views on how hard it may be for us, then let me tell you: For me, it's not very hard to be bi. However, I know a few lesbians. Since there are so few gay women in my town, it makes it hard to find someone, so we struggle on finding a relationship a little more than gay men do. Then again, I can't speak for the whole lesbian community, but that's what I've been witnessing. razz  

[Shanna66]

some of it may be because most stright men i know at least love lesbians already

as long as we all get our rights in the end i dont care but ive noticed it too

i would love to see a glbt billboard somewhere that had a picture of 2 muscular women. i just dont want to see one with 2 porn star looking women which im sure would happen in my area thanks to the amount of perverts lol  

[Esiris]

It's called Cross Marginalization.
The LGBT section of the Civil Rights Movement has by in large seen more rage directed at gay men than at lesbians and bisexuals. Lesbians are "acceptable" because they play to many straight men's fantasies. Bisexuals are "acceptable" because they "can lead a normal life if they want to".

Homophobia is linked to homosexual arousal- so there are lots of guys out there who hate the part of themselves that is sexually attracted to other men, so by in large the Gay Guys have had a lot less acceptance and a lot more to fear.

This leads to "The Oppression Olympics", where some minorities say other oppressed and marginalized people "don't have it so bad" because they don't experience the same hardships they have. The problem is- No one wins in The Oppression Olympics- everyone is having their rights trampled. But that doesn't keep people from envying others who they think have it easier and sometimes that envy can lead to exclusion or even abuse.

It goes both ways though- hence "cross marginalization"- because people respond to that mistreatment with more mistreatment.  

[insaneclaw]

@troidragon
Omg I love those shows so much so may be we are wink lmao anyway I know that they do have the L word but comparing that to the list of shows and documentaries that are just dedicated to gay men it kinda doesn't hold a candle. Also gay men are in a lot more main stream shows as well like Gossip Girl, Sex and the City, Desperate Housewifes, etc etc. When I see that lesbians get represented in a show with taste and dignity it does make me feel like they are thought of and its good. Like in the show Glee when the character Santana comes out as a full on lesbian I was sooo happy for some reason, because not only did they add a lesbian character but she also struggles with coming out and she is not portrayed as the usual butch truck driver lesbian the media is always making lesbians out to be. I think Gay men in media have come a long way in media and thats fantastic, but the fact that lesbians r hardly thought of in media or simply when people think of LGBT I just think it should change. But anyway thank you for posting and keep watching those show SM (soulmate) lmao

@Oreo Panda16
Thank you for sharing that. I have a lot of lesbian friends, a lot more than gay male friends lmao. I always hear how they are just as scared of coming out, and all the rude comments they get from not only family members but friends too. So to think that people believe that lesbians have it a little easier than gay men is very untrue, and people should not only get sitcoms about lesbian but actual documentaries or things of that nature to show that Lesbians struggle as much as Gay men. Thanks for posting XD

@Shanna66
Yeah I knew that that would be one of the reasons why, like they would wanna show the side that suffers most. However I don't think Lesbian women would like to be thought of as a category in straight porn rather than a group of people. I've seen men whistle at my lesbian couple friends and they always get ticked off just like when regular women hate when men see them as just sexual objects. I've heard from some of my lesbian friends that they would rather be hated as well than being thought of like that by straight men. And you are definitely right when it comes to rights, but due to the fact that I live in a house of women I've become a bit of a male feminist lmao so when I see any type of woman get less rights than men I get a little peeved lmao XP. Yes they should have those types of ads as long as its presented classy, or I would rather have like an old lesbian couple who r hugging and demonstrating true love than some shallow looking models but anyway thank you for posting.

@Esiris
Omg I read that article before lmao Thank you for putting that up, but like I said before I don't think some Lesbian women would like to be looked as simply as something on a straight man's porn site. My point is also that if a network or an ad or an organization says they represent LGBT then they should advertise and represent everything about LGBT not just the G. They should have things on Transgender life, bisexuals, and lesbians; but instead they always go for the cliche fabulous gay man which makes good television but still makes them a sale out and not really looking out for everyone. Thank you though for writing that it is very true and I kinda wish it would change, but thank you all the same XD  

[Rin Loveless]

I'm a pure lesbian, and I have to say that I agree that we don't get the recognition we should in opposition to gay guys. What's more, it seems that gay men are more widely advertised but lesbians are more socially accepted (maybe because females are just naturally socially and physically comfortable with each other even as friends). It seems more innocent as far as romance goes.

And as far as I can tell, people tend to be more interested in homosexual relationships between the opposite sex. I've had guys try to hit on me, I tell them I'm les, and they tell me it's still hot xp and I thought it was weird. But I'm not really one to talk because I also think that gay men are attractive, for whatever reason (maybe it means they won't be trying to hit on me, lol!)

So there's some pretty weird psychology behind it all. O-o  

[insaneclaw]

Rin Loveless

I'm a pure lesbian, and I have to say that I agree that we don't get the recognition we should in opposition to gay guys. What's more, it seems that gay men are more widely advertised but lesbians are more socially accepted (maybe because females are just naturally socially and physically comfortable with each other even as friends). It seems more innocent as far as romance goes.

And as far as I can tell, people tend to be more interested in homosexual relationships between the opposite sex. I've had guys try to hit on me, I tell them I'm les, and they tell me it's still hot xp and I thought it was weird. But I'm not really one to talk because I also think that gay men are attractive, for whatever reason (maybe it means they won't be trying to hit on me, lol!)

So there's some pretty weird psychology behind it all. O-o

Lmao no don't worry, cus when I see a pretty butchy lesbian who looks almost like a dude I sometimes think they're attractive xp i think its just because they may look like the opposite sex  

[Esiris]

insaneclaw

@Esiris
Omg I read that article before lmao Thank you for putting that up, but like I said before I don't think some Lesbian women would like to be looked as simply as something on a straight man's porn site.

wink I wasn't saying it's ok or right- I was just explaining why it happens. If lesbians aren't triggering the same self-hate that homophobes experience when they become aroused over images of gay men- then that's one reason they're more accepted and a reason gay men are more likely to marginalize lesbians.
3nodding

Quote:

My point is also that if a network or an ad or an organization says they represent LGBT then they should advertise and represent everything about LGBT not just the G. They should have things on Transgender life, bisexuals, and lesbians; but instead they always go for the cliche fabulous gay man which makes good television but still makes them a sale out and not really looking out for everyone. Thank you though for writing that it is very true and I kinda wish it would change, but thank you all the same XD

I agree- they should, but there's a reason they don't- and that's what I was explaining.  

[insaneclaw]

Esiris

insaneclaw

@Esiris
Omg I read that article before lmao Thank you for putting that up, but like I said before I don't think some Lesbian women would like to be looked as simply as something on a straight man's porn site.

wink I wasn't saying it's ok or right- I was just explaining why it happens. If lesbians aren't triggering the same self-hate that homophobes experience when they become aroused over images of gay men- then that's one reason they're more accepted and a reason gay men are more likely to marginalize lesbians.
3nodding

Quote:

My point is also that if a network or an ad or an organization says they represent LGBT then they should advertise and represent everything about LGBT not just the G. They should have things on Transgender life, bisexuals, and lesbians; but instead they always go for the cliche fabulous gay man which makes good television but still makes them a sale out and not really looking out for everyone. Thank you though for writing that it is very true and I kinda wish it would change, but thank you all the same XD

I agree- they should, but there's a reason they don't- and that's what I was explaining.

Oh no I know, I didn't mean u did accept sorry I was going to write that but I got caught up in it I forgot to add that in lol no I know what u meant...and yes I understood what u were posting that is why I wrote it is true and I wished it changed (so would the entire LGBT community lol)  

[pikapikatroy]

insaneclaw

@troidragon
Omg I love those shows so much so may be we are wink lmao anyway I know that they do have the L word but comparing that to the list of shows and documentaries that are just dedicated to gay men it kinda doesn't hold a candle. Also gay men are in a lot more main stream shows as well like Gossip Girl, Sex and the City, Desperate Housewifes, etc etc. When I see that lesbians get represented in a show with taste and dignity it does make me feel like they are thought of and its good. Like in the show Glee when the character Santana comes out as a full on lesbian I was sooo happy for some reason, because not only did they add a lesbian character but she also struggles with coming out and she is not portrayed as the usual butch truck driver lesbian the media is always making lesbians out to be. I think Gay men in media have come a long way in media and thats fantastic, but the fact that lesbians r hardly thought of in media or simply when people think of LGBT I just think it should change. But anyway thank you for posting and keep watching those show SM (soulmate) lmao

I can only hope that we are soulmates wink heart hehe smile
And I COMPLETELY understand where you are coming from and you are right. I do think though that lesbians seem to be more "accepted" not in media but by heterosexual males because they see it as sexy (not saying it isn't lol). While, at the same time, they see gay men as gross. So, I think that there are ups and downs to both lesbians and gay men and you are right when it comes to the part about Glee. (love that show too by the way). So, now that we've found each other, soulmate, we should never let each other go lol razz
PM me or something?  

[pikapikatroy]

Rin Loveless

I'm a pure lesbian, and I have to say that I agree that we don't get the recognition we should in opposition to gay guys. What's more, it seems that gay men are more widely advertised but lesbians are more socially accepted (maybe because females are just naturally socially and physically comfortable with each other even as friends). It seems more innocent as far as romance goes.

And as far as I can tell, people tend to be more interested in homosexual relationships between the opposite sex. I've had guys try to hit on me, I tell them I'm les, and they tell me it's still hot xp and I thought it was weird. But I'm not really one to talk because I also think that gay men are attractive, for whatever reason (maybe it means they won't be trying to hit on me, lol!)

So there's some pretty weird psychology behind it all. O-o

You make such a good point! I feel the same way about how lesbians are more socially acceptable. And btw it's not that weird to be attracted to gay guys lol wink  

[Sarah_L_Awesome]

yeah i know, i find it kind of... for a lack of a better word, disapoining.  

[finfageek]

I kind of feel the same way, but all in all, we're fighting for the same thing. We're not just fighting for gay males, but we're fighting for the gay community as a whole, and we make that message pretty clear.  

[Esiris]

finfageek

I kind of feel the same way, but all in all, we're fighting for the same thing. We're not just fighting for gay males, but we're fighting for the gay community as a whole, and we make that message pretty clear.

It's really only fighting for the same thing when as a community we don't engage in cross marginalization.