Terminology & Symbol Primer?

[Bowyn Aerrow]

RainbowMum, you wouldn't happen to be identifying with that last one, would ya? ;-)

All: So I have another question to throw in here. File it under "is it okay or derogatory?"

I haven't heard it in a while, but I used to hear "dyke" get tossed around a lot, always as a negative (therefore, it's not a word I like). But is it used in the community, or is it like calling somebody a bitch?

Does anyone have trouble with the word "lesbian"? Personally, I like "gay woman" better. Again, I'mnot sure if that's due solely to negative connotations or if I'm not the only one.

Thanks!

Depends on who is using it and how they are using it. I have a gal -friend (not a girl friend) who is my personal 'dike' - honestly I consider her just one of the guys. We do things together, like work on the truck, she has worked with me on some of my larger construction jobs... you know, guy stuff.

We occasionally joke around I call her a dike, she calls me prissy-boy or faggy-boy... It's actually good natured fun.

Of course if anyone else calls her a dike I'm the first to get up in their grill (assuming they are not LGBT and they use it with the wrong tone). And she would be the first to get up in their grill if they call me a fag.

So its the person and how it is used. They are, ultimately, just sounds with no real power of their own. Its the intent and how they are used that does the harm.