Opinion

How proud am I to be a lesbian?

(2 votes, average 5.00 out of 5)

Written by Jamakaya
Jun 2, 2011

I’m proud to be a lesbian because I love women.

I’m proud to be a lesbian in a world that fears difference, hates women and does everything possible to squelch our independence.

I’m proud to be a lesbian because I’ve survived all the hostility and homophobia thrown at me and managed to maintain my sanity (with only brief lapses).

I’m proud to be a lesbian because of our great literary legacy, from Sappho, Willa Cather and Gertrude Stein to Adrienne Rich, Audre Lorde and Sarah Waters.

I’m proud to be a lesbian because some of my best friends are queer.

I’m proud to be a lesbian because it helps build strong bodies 12 ways: chemically, physically, mentally, emotionally, spiritually, philosophically, intellectually, sensually, sexually, orally, visually, viscerally.

I’m proud to be a lesbian because, in the immortal words of Sue Fink, “Boys are thugs,” and, in her equally immortal words, “Me-no-wanna-weenie.”

I’m proud to be a lesbian because of the solidarity I feel marching in LGBT Pride parades.

I’m proud to be a lesbian because of all my crazy, inspired lezzie friends.

I’m proud to be a lesbian because it’s so damn subversive and because it gives me something to talk about when meeting new people. “Hi, I’m Jamakaya, professional lesbian!”

I’m particularly proud to be a lesbian when I consider the alternative.

I’m proud to be a lesbian because heterosexuality, with its epidemic levels of woman-beating, child abuse and incest, is an abomination!

I’m proud to be a lesbian because I love women’s manners, values and priorities. Well, most women’s.

I’m proud to be a lesbian because I love women’s bodies, I love women’s minds, and the combination of the two is most arousing!

I’m proud to be a lesbian because it bugs the hell out of men.

I’m proud to be a lesbian because I have more queens as friends than the average commoner.

I’m proud to be a lesbian because of its complexity.

I’m proud to be a lesbian because of its clarity.

I’m proud to be a lesbian because I wear only sensible shoes.

I’m proud to be a lesbian because Rachel Maddow and Tammy Baldwin are my sisters.

I’m proud to be a lesbian because I’m blessed with a gay sense of humor, our wonderful sense of irony that blossoms into camp. Yes, you naysayers, lesbians DO have senses of humor. See next item.

I’m proud to be a lesbian because lesbians are the funniest people in the world: Wanda Sykes, Lily Tomlin, Ellen DeGeneres, Kate Clinton, etc.

I’m proud to be a lesbian because some of my best friends are unrepentant Revolting Hags.

I’m proud to be a lesbian because of the exciting culture-building and activism within our community – in the arts, religion, sports, healthcare, you name it!

I’m proud to be a lesbian because in the profound words of Carly Simon, “Nobody does it better.”

I am so proud to be a lesbian that, given the choice, I wouldn’t change it for anything because I love myself just the way I am. And so should you.

Happy Pride Month, everyone!