The man spearheading the case, publisher Dimitris Lambrou, claims that international dominance of the word in its sexual context violates the human rights of the islanders, and disgraces them around the world...He says it causes daily problems to the social life of Lesbos's inhabitants.

Now, I can totally understand this. Homophobia is rampant and dykes and gays are constantly victims of hate crimes, whether they be verbal, physical, outright or subtle. But taking action to ban Gays' use of the term is buying into the homophobe hype that it is, indeed, disgraceful to be, and/or to call yourself, a lesbian. What you should be working toward is a sea change in public opinion about gays worldwide: we are here, and we are just trying to live our lives.

The article goes on to prove its point that dykes should stop calling themselves lesbians by saying that contrary to popular belief, Sappho was not even a dyke. While this may be true, their proof tickles me a quite bit:

The term lesbian originated from the poet Sappho, who was a native of Lesbos. Sappho expressed her love of other women in poetry written during the 7th Century BC. But according to Mr Lambrou, new historical research has discovered that Sappho had a family, and committed suicide for the love of a man.

First of all, everyone knows lesbians never have families. Never. And as for the suicide: perhaps if she had STAYED ALIVE for a man, then I might believe you...

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And rich people are doing stupid, wasteful shit again! Chops sent me this link to a blurb about the "A Diamond is Forever" campaign (scroll down). Apparently, they plan to hand out 1,000 red roses in Grand Central Terminal next week, all of which will have a number attached for a drawing to win a $5,000 diamond necklace. This new initiative is to celebrate...well, raping and pillaging Africa, I guess. As if the diamond issue isn't enough, now they're doing roses. What's next? I'm sorry, but Bill Gates and Bono can throw as much money at Africa they want to "promote economic development" but if the "economies" revolve around the US's whims, ain't nothing gonna change. US out of AFRICA! But if you are handed a rose...I hope you win. For reals.

Y digo yo. ¿Por qué no nos dejan en paz? Bastante lucha tenemos con ser visibles para encima tener que estar día sí, día no con estos debates tan surreales. El problema de fondo no es el término en sí, sino el machismo y la lesbofobia subyacente. Y que sólo se hable de nosotras para decir paridas, no para dejar constancia de nuestro peso social.

Algo tengo claro de todo este absurdo, porque el imaginario es el imaginario: no soy gay. Los gays no se definen precisamente por acostarse por mujeres en ese imaginario colectivo español. Así que me niego a que una palabra me condene eternamente a la vida etérea invisible.

Así que, por favor, ni gays ni gayeles ni gayolas. Ya decidiremos nosotras cómo nos da la real gana de definirnos. ¿O es que pedimos mucho?

First of all, don't you have anything better to do with your time? I'm sure something in your house needs to be cleaned.

Second: Gayelle sounds too close to gazelle. You say it and I picture a herd of thin-legged hoofstock jumping over a log.

Third, gayelle implies you are a suffix to a root word, as if to say female homosexuals are a subset of male homosexuals. Now, correct me if I'm wrong but lesbians actually have nothing to do with men at all.

Fourth, there isn't anything inherently negative about the word lesbian. It has a rich and strong history, a history that is all our own. Read the wiki and get over yourself.

Finally, does Marg Piercy know you posted her poem on your blog? I'd like to hear what she thinks of gayelle.

PS: Dear bisexuals: they are trying to start calling you hipshe. WTF?