leiagrace:

zen531:

leiagrace:

leiagrace:

Does anyone else find it kinda… disappointing that wlw are generally really supportive of mlm centric lgbt movies and tv shows but mlm never seem to give two shits about wlw movies

I mean, obviously it’s misogyny- gay and bi men have the same capacity for misogyny as straight men do- but it’s still disappointing and disheartening to see women continuously marginalized, ignored, and silenced, even in ‘progressive’ communities. So many fantastic films, shows, and novels created for and by lesbians and bi women are outright ignored by men in the lgbt community because men cannot stand to talk about anything other than men. It’s just yet another symptom of the misogyny all men perpetuate.

Men in the lgbt community really need to think critically about their actions and what they do and don’t support. Their voices will always be prioritized over lesbians’ and bi women’s voices when it comes to lgbt issues as long as we live in a misogynistic society; ergo, gay and bi men need to represent our interests and issues when advocating for lgbt rights. But how are gay and bi men supposed to be allies to lesbians and bi women if they don’t even listen to us? How are gay and bi men supposed to advocate for the lgbt community as a whole when they don’t care about the women in it?

Gay and bi men need to be aware that they are still perpetuating misogyny, no matter their orientation. They need to recognize that us lesbians and bi women have our own complex internal lives and our own unique struggles resulting from being both women and lgbt. The first step to doing these things is to actually listen to women’s stories and experiences, but it’s clear that most aren’t willing to do that. It’s heartbreaking.

I’m not going to lie. As a bi man there are times when I write off lesbian media that I probably should support. This is mostly from the feeling of jealously that comes from seeing the media treat lesbians as the “safe nonthreatening media friendly gays”. In some ways I know it’s irrational and I know trans have it much worse. But it is a thing I think about.

If you think people see lesbians as ‘safe’ or ‘non threatening’ or ‘media friendly’ you’re clearly ingnorant to the struggles lesbians face. Educate yourself. That feeling of jealousy stems from misogyny and lesbophobia, and if you want to be a legitimate ally to lesbians, do something about it instead of trying to justify it.