I have a question...

[»Kotomi«]

What's the difference between gay and lesbian? Gay means homosexual, which means a person likes the same sex (right?).

I just prefer to call myself "gay" because the word "lesbian" seems to be glamorized as a sexy thing and I don't like it when straight men see me as a source of sexual entertainment.

Anyone's personal opinions are welcomed![/size]

[AmbaLaBamba]

I guess that some people just use it to catagorise one sex from the other within our community.

But interesting question. I would love to hear more from people...

[blake]

I guess most people see it as lesbian = female and gay = male. But I know what you mean. Most guys I know, they hear 'lesbian' and they think 'ohhh hot'. But they here 'gay' and they don't think that as much, for some reason.

[Diesel]

Yeah, I think its just a gender thing. Though, i prefer to be called lesbian. I just don't feel right saying that I'm gay or whatever.

[xenalin]

Gay used to mean happy though. Or something similar. I prefer to say gay about both genders, but it's up to the individual I guess.

[cadethedo]

The term "lesbian" actually had no relevance to sexual attraction when it was first coined. It was simply meant to describe any kind of female companionship, be it an alliance between friends, sisters, or family members. Of course, people assumed that such deep companionship could exist between two people involved in a sexual relationship.

I prefer "gay" or "homosexual" as an all-encompassing term, as I still consider "lesbianism" as being something different and more broad than sexual orientation.

But, of course, to each their own. If it feels right to use it in reference to yourself, by all means, go ahead. :]

[tommygodbold]

With all of our friends gay = male and lesbian=female. Both refer to homosexual.

[chikasa]

i always call myself gay because lesbian (the word) sounds like some kind of disease. I feel like the words are interchangeable though.

[amoeba]

Lesbian hails from the isle of Lesbos in Greece where there was a poet named Sappho, born around 620 BC who wrote about different levels of relationships between women. Although the term wasn't used as we know it now until the 19th century...not sure exactly how or when that became popular though.