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Removing a line as it was pointed out it could come off as trying to force labels onto lesbians.
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The modern idea that non-men are the only ones allowed to use the lesbian label excludes [[Non-Binary Man|non-binary men]] who feel as though the term lesbian best fits their attraction. It also forces identifying as a [[Male|man]] into a binary, which is simply not the case, as manhood does not have to be strictly binary in nature. In almost all scenarios (excluding individual trans men who identify with the label for personal reasons), binary men can't be lesbians, but non-binary manhood is different from binary manhood, and forcing it into a binary is harmful to non-binary men.
If one is to exclude non-binary men from lesbianism, they are endorsing in [[Exorsexism|exorsexist]]
The term lesbian isn't about the form of attraction one experiences (sexual, romantic, etc.) but about being a woman or non-binary individual who is queerly attracted to women, whatever form of attraction that may be. That means that someone can experience lesbian attraction romantically, sexually, etc., but since the term is independent of relation to any specific form of attraction, it's not necessary for individuals to be lesbian in all forms of attraction to identify as lesbian, as their lesbian orientation is still lesbian and not negated by their other non-lesbian orientation(s). So, someone could be romantically a lesbian, but sexually pansexual, or any other combination. Many lesbians who use the split attraction model use this concept of lesbianism to define their orientation(s).
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It is important to remember that lesbians with exclusive attraction and lesbians with non-exclusive attraction both face different issues, and thus should not speak for one another, but rather speak together on the many sides of lesbianism.
Many lesbians who are not
However, while this idea has harmed and continues to harm a large part of the lesbian community, and it should never ever be encouraged to tell any lesbian that they "can like men" if they don't, that harmful idea does not stop the fact that some lesbians are attracted to men. This in no way means that all lesbians do or should ever be "forced" to, just that some do, due to the history of lesbian definition and identity when it comes to m-spec lesbianism. No one who doesn't like men can be "forced" to be attracted to them, but at the same time, that harm should not be wielded against m-spec lesbians, as they face similar trauma, harm, and issues, and they are not to blame for the horrible crimes against the lesbian community committed by [[Queerphobia|Queerphobic]] men.
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== Non-Exclusive Lesbian Attraction ==
Although lesbian attraction is typically exclusive attraction towards women, historically there has been usage of non-exclusive lesbian labels, which have since fallen out of the dominant narrative, but have nonetheless retained their validity as well as expanding to incorporate new definitions as concepts like variorientations and fluid orientations become more explored in queer spaces. Since the term lesbian itself doesn't refer to any specific form of attraction, many
Additionally, since originally the term lesbian never actually implied exclusive attraction, some m-spec wlw/nblw use the term to emphasize being wlw/nblw, while also emphasizing their being m-spec. Though by far not the common definition anymore, if someone feels a connection to that definition then it is a valid way for them to identify. Additionally, the common definition nowadays that lesbians are non-men attracted to non-men, is inherently open to being m-spec, as 'non-men' includes a vast amount of genders.
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