Why 'Male Lesbians' Are Stirring Up Controversy

Although there is still a long way to go when it comes to LGBTQ+ rights , in 2026 people are generally able to express themselves, and while they may not adhere to traditional labels, there are now so many out there that one should stick. Many people within the queer community no longer identify as male or female, gay or straight. However, even newer terms such as demi-sexual or pan-sexual are failing to fit some people’s identity, and there is a new label on the block. On social media, the term “Male Lesbians” is taking off as a growing number of people are choosing to identify with a label which at first seems completely contradictory. While there is currently no dictionary definition of what constitutes a male lesbian , the term is disliked among members of the queer community, as a lesbian has always meant females who are attracted to other females. The new term has sparked a debate within the lesbian community According to Kiki Maree, a s*xologist and educator, the meaning of a male lesbian is under a lot of speculation from both inside and outside the community. She told BoredPanda : “There isn’t a single definition or community consensus, which is one of the reasons the term generates so much discussion. “Today, many LGBTQ+ people would say that ‘male lesbian’ is not a standard or widely accepted identity, as lesbian is commonly understood to refer to someone who is not a man and who is primarily or exclusively attracted to women or other non-men.” However, for people who do not fit into binary gender identities, it is a label that expresses both s*xuality and gender. Male Lesbians is becoming a popular term on social media. Credit: Vladimir Vladimirov / Getty Male Lesbian is most commonly used by trans men The controversial term is most commonly used by “transgender men, transmasculine people, or some non-binary individuals who identify and live as male or masculine but who identify as lesbian,” according to a LGBTQ+ and gender studies expert. The expert also revealed that some trans people chose to keep the label throughout and after their transition “usually because of [their] attraction to women and/or because lesbian describes a community, history, or way of relating that might predate [their] transition.” They added: “Within trans communities, it’s largely understood as a self-descriptive term. “Yet, some lesbians push back on any man, trans or cis, using the label because they see it as blurring a category that takes work to defend.” In a video explaining why they use the term, a TikTok user said: “When I tell people that I am a lesbian trans man, one of the most common arguments I get against my identity is that if I was just trans masculine, or just non-binary, that would okay, but being a trans man is too far.” Interestingly, they added that although they are a trans man , they still do not fit into a binary gender label, making them non-binary too. Which is why they say: “I view lesbian as part of my gender, lesbian is a part of my gender experience, like lesbian exists in the depths of my soul, it’s way more than just a s*xuality for me.” Featured image credit: Vladimir Vladimirov / Getty