Chicken Soup Chinese Medicine - Acupuncture, Herbs, Nutrition, 27 Years Specializing in Women's & LGBT Health, hepatitus, HIV

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Is Betty a Lesbian?

January 9, 2007

Is Betty a Lesbian? . . . or
Don’t You Just Love Those Labels?

As a student of language, I was more than slightly amused when it came to my attention there was a recent Internet search using this wording: “Is Betty a lesbian” . . . It did not appear with a question mark, so I didn’t give it one inside the quote marks here.

Why, I’m just thrilled that someone would care enough to ask!

Am I a lesbian? Well, I used to be, and in fact, I still am. But, I am also - in the spirit of President John Kennedy’s famous quotation “Ich bin ein Berliner” – a gay man, bisexual, transwoman, transman, intersex, questioning, drag queen, drag king, bio queen and probably a few more if I knew what they were. I love them all.

It’s true, however, that the label I choose to describe myself has evolved. Today, I am a full-spectrum queer and proud to be. In my view, queer truly encompasses all sexualities.

But, so much for labels. The reality of my sexual practice is another story. But it’s not going to be discussed here, for sure.

Lately I am interested in the phrase “Sex Positive” and what that means for the community I now call home. I think “Sex Positive” means inherently that sex is good. I think that it also implies an unstated commitment to responsible sexual practice.

If you have read this blog previously, you probably know that my mantra is “paying attention to the ramifications that one’s behavior has for the lives of others.” Need say more?

The more interesting question and relevant one, I think, is this: Is Betty butch or femme? But, let’s agree not to go there. My sign off time is nigh.