Reneé and LGBTQ+ folks in general should n’t have to defend their existence , but here we are .
Reneé Rapphas “had enough” of people questioning her sexuality, and I’m glad she’s speaking out.
It’s easy to see where Reneé’s coming from. When I came out, I thought my biggest battle would be against the evil, faceless collective of anti-gay bigots. It was. But as abisexualperson, I found myself also defending my identity to other LGBTQ+ folks — that was a shocker.
How you identify can be a journey, an experience that evolves or becomes defined differently as you mature and understand more about yourself. For me, I thought I had to"pick a letter," until I realized that I have complete control over defining my sexuality and what these terms mean or don’t mean to me at any point.
TheMean Girlsactor’s latest social media callout shows that this is a problem that many LGBTQ+ people face when we attempt to define our identities ourselves in public.
In the past, Reneé identified as bisexual, but recently, she has doubled down in interviews that she identifies as a lesbian.
In a February cover story ofthe Hollywood Reporter, Reneé discussed how she redefined her sexuality. “I’ve only recently started referring to myself as a lesbian, and I’ve only recently been in a relationship where I’m like, ‘Yeah, I’m a lesbian for sure,'” she said. “I’m watching all these movies and parts of gay culture, specifically lesbian culture, and I’m like, ‘I love this.'”
The “Tummy Hurts” singer walked the 2024 Vanity Fair Oscars Party red carpet with her girlfriend, Towa Bird, in all her sapphic glory, but somehow, she’s still forced to defend her identity.
On Monday, Reneé wrote on X (formerly known as Twitter), “If I say I’m a lesbian, I am a lesbian, and if someone says they’re bi, they are bi. I’ve had enough of you witches.”
if I say I ’m a lesbian I am a lesbian and if someone allege they ’re bi they are bi I ’ve had enough of you witches
Reneé’s comment highlights several critical issues when dealing with LGBTQ+ identities. LGBTQ+ people shouldn’t have to constantly label themselves and provide weekly updates to justify which letter of the rainbow alphabet they subscribe to. NOR should they have to define what that label means to them — but here we are.
Second, there’s bi erasure or bi invisibility, which GLAADdescribesas “a pervasive problem in which the existence or legitimacy of bisexuality […] is questioned or denied outright.” Speaking from experience, one move can change everything and completely discredit your existence, and it’s unfair and invalidating.
Reneé’s comment highlights what most LGBTQ+ people who have to defend their identities are thinking. Reneé or, indeed, anyone else shouldn’t have to justify whom they’re dating or whether they subscribe to any of the LGBTQ+ initials — and fans agree.
U tell Em Queenpic.twitter.com/CYtd6WXoz2
i love you so so so much i ’m sorry the great unwashed are invalidating you and both of these residential district . we merit to be respected no matter what ! !
hoi polloi really need to stop talk on masses ’s sexuality they have no right
and mollycoddler : people can change their sex and ypu do nt get to decide whether that s go for or not BC ITS THEIR SEXUALITY NOT YOURS
Being bi is hard bc if I date stamp a man “ I was never really bi ” but if I say i m straight and say a woman is spicy “ i m queerbaiting ” . Like omg leave bi people alooonnneee
earnestly people need to allow people b who they are ❤ ️
Thank you for speaking up, Reneé.
