2. The History of Lesbians
1) Where was the term lesbian first used?
A) Lesotho
B) Greece
C) Rome
D) Lebanon

3. The History of Lesbians
2) What did the Greeks mean when they said lesbian?
A) A colony of lepers
B) Worshippers of Leto
C) Worshippers of the Letoides (children of
Leto, Apollo and Artemis)
D) Residents of the island of Lesbos

4. The History of Lesbians
3) Later on, what did the term lesbian refer to?
A) Members of the cult of Sappho
B) Women of Lesbos
C) Men ofwas a Greek poet, and lesbian came to refer to the numerous
Sappho
Lesbos
women that would come to live with her
D) Residents of islands surrounding Lesbos, including
the main island of Lesbos

5. The History of Lesbians
4) How did the term lesbian change again after this?
A) Women that had relations with both men and
women
B) Women that lived exclusively with other women
C) Women and men that loved like Sappho
D) Women that exclusivelylove poetry, and to be a lesbian simply
Sappho wrote very passionate loved other women
meant to “love as Sappho loved”

6. Other interesting stuff!
5) What animal was first used in a Boston subway
poster in 1973 to signify the lesbian community?
A) Squirrel
B) Tiger
C) Rhinoceros
A lavender coloured rhino was used. It is a docile animal, but will become
D) Scorpion
ferocious when challenged.

7. Exploration of Rich
• Feminist theory can no longer tolerate 'lesbianism' as
an 'alternative lifestyle'
• Failure to acknowledge restrictive societal forces
• Heterosexuality doesn't require an
explanation, whereas lesbian sexuality does

8. What does this mean?
◦ Heterosexuality was constructed over the course of
history by men who held economic and political power
◦ heterosexuality not a preference, but compulsory
◦ Heterosexuality as political institution
◦ not something natural
◦ Broader definition of Lesbian existence and
continuum
◦ include various woman-identified experiences and
acknowledge lesbians’ historical presence
◦ embrace different forms of relations between women

9. Exploration of Lorde
◦ Being Black and lesbian = 2 front struggle
◦ Accepting differences and call for unity
◦ Heterosexism and homophobia major obstacles to
political organization
◦ Social understanding of normality
◦ Delusion: Black lesbians as apolitical

10. Linkages
◦ Homophobia as a political stumbling block for women
◦ Lesbianism is not a disease
◦ Women working together to end oppression
◦ heterosexism and homophobia
◦ Acknowledging women’s sexual identities through
open communication

11. Sex Charades!

12. “The Lesbian Phase”
◦ Explore the idea of lesbian relationships as being part
of an immature sexual stage
◦ Interview high school and college level students
◦ Sample group: 14 - 25
◦ What do they think of lesbian sex?
◦ Why do they think that there is a “lesbian phase”?
◦ Why do some women go through a “lesbian phase”?

13. Modern Implications
◦ Tila Tequila – Shot at Love

14. Modern Implications
Do you see Tila Tequila’s show as “progressive” and
positive as it increases the presence of
lesbians/bisexuals in the media? What are the
implications of raising public awareness through
media?

15. Chaz Bono

17. Modern Implications
• We’re interested in Jenny’s (Chaz’ girlfriend)
experience.
• Lesbians are criticized for the use of dildos. Is this
reflected in Bono’s relationship with his girlfriend?
• How is Bono’s experience an example of Irigaray’s
argument that women have plural sexualities?
• Is this just another spectacle?

18. Discussion
According to Rich, both men and women tend to “search
for love and tenderness” in other women because
women are commonly the “earliest sources of
emotional caring and physical nurture.”
However, findings from Statistics Canada state that
there is an increasing number of single parent
families, where the father is the single parent and
caregiver. What are the implications of this for Rich’s
assumptions?

19. Discussion
Society has a need to clearly label different
sexualities, as reflected in our game. With this in
mind, do you think it will ever be possible to eliminate
these labels (such as
homosexuality, heterosexuality, bisexuality) and instead
refer to simply human sexuality?
◦ If so, what will need to happen for this to occur, and
what changes will this affect?
◦ If not, what barriers are there that prevent this from
happening?