In the LGBTQ2SIA+ community, there are a lot of ways to identify. There are butches, femmes, studs and more. One term that seems to be gaining traction is lipstick lesbian.
A lipstick lesbian is a femme that prefers a glamorous, traditionally feminine style. Natalie McCray designed the original lipstick lesbian pride flag in 2010. It had six pink and red stripes, a white one in the middle and a red kiss printed on it.
A Lesbian’s Guide to Lipstick
In this book, Lipstick and Dipstick give us their insider’s view on what’s really going on in the lesbian community. Lipstick, the femme, and Dipstick, the eternal tomboy, are here to help you whip your most precious lesbian commodity–relationships–into shape. They cover everything from finding a date to keeping them. They tell you the ten signs it’s not going to work out and give you pointers about what to do if things do go wrong.
A lipstick lesbian is a woman who has a highly feminine style and attitude, wears make-up, dresses or skirts, and exhibits other characteristics traditionally associated with feminine women. This term has become a slang term for lesbians who prefer a glamorous, traditionally feminine style over a butch or masculine one.
The lipstick lesbian flag was designed by Natalie McCray and introduced in her blog This Lesbian Life in 2010. The original design had six shades of pink and red stripes with a white one in the middle and a red kiss printed on it. The lipstick lesbian flag’s designer would later be accused of sexism and racism, as well as being transphobic and anti-butch. The flag design has since been reworked into different versions that no longer include the red kissing lips, and the colors have been changed to more pastel hues.
A Lesbian’s Guide to Chapstick
A lesbian who identifies as feminine appearing, but does not ascribe to typically masculine traits is often referred to by the descriptor “Chapstick lesbian.” The term is sometimes used playfully by those in the LGBTQ community. It has also been criticized by Beth Ditto for its association with straight celebrities who use the label to garner edgy publicity for themselves.
This lesbian is a natural athlete and is usually very physically active. She loves to hang out with her girlfriends, and is not afraid of public affection. She probably eats a lot of peanut butter and has a great metabolism.
Alternative Lesbians are those who embrace the granola lifestyle. They are free-spirited and have an eclectic fashion sense. They love rock music and may have dyed hair. They enjoy activism, and are not afraid to speak out for social justice.
A Lesbian’s Guide to Lipgloss
Women who are lipstick lesbians wear makeup, prefer feminine clothing like skirts and dresses, and exhibit other characteristics associated with femininity. This is in contrast to a butch lesbian, who demonstrates more masculine traits.
The term lipstick lesbian was first used in 2010 by Natalie McCray on the weblog This Lesbian Life to describe a sub-group of women within the LGBTQ community. She designed a flag featuring six pink and red stripes with one white stripe in the middle and a red kiss printed on it to represent this group. The flag has since evolved, with the addition of different variants and removal of the red kissing lips.
The lipstick lesbian stereotype has caused some controversy in the LGBTQ community. Some LGBT activists have criticized it for being stereotypical and for promoting the idea that women can simply switch their sexuality to become “gay” for publicity purposes, similar to a straight celebrity who changes their hairstyle for an award show. Other critics have pointed out that it can be harmful to young girls to portray homosexuality as being fashionable, especially if the person is a public figure who is admired by many girls and boys. Regardless, many women still identify as lipstick lesbians and enjoy the positive aspects of being so.