That’s like asking if a guy and girl can have a platonic friendship, isn’t it? The question is given the possibility of a sexual/romantic connection, can a relationship exist even without it?
Okay, let me get out of the pseudo-intellectualising and go real-life. I do know some lesbians. One of them is a friend. She hasn’t actually ‘come out’ as they call it or even ‘confessed’ to me, if such a revelation can be labelled a confession (as if it were a crime and one should look shamefaced about it!). Yet, I know. Don’t ask me how. I’d be a terrible friend if I didn’t realise it. As it is, I’m probably not as great a friend as I ought to be if she hasn’t felt comfortable sharing the truth with me. Or perhaps it is just too personal, too precious to her to speak about it. Either way, I’m fine with it. After all, I don’t consider friendship as a permission to sit in judgement and I also don’t think that one’s orientation bears judgement by others.
So that’s as far as it goes regarding our conversations (or the lack of them) about her sexuality. However there are other things…undercurrents, emotions and grey areas. For example, how far do I go with my displays of affection? I’m a natural born hugger, I love hugging my family, friends and people I feel close to. Thus far the only complication has been with men, particularly the ones in my age bracket with whom there is/could be a a certain attraction. Like most other women, I’ve tried and tested the waters and reached a certain comfortable balance of physical promiximity with the various men in my life. Now we arrive at the new complication of having to consider the same thing with another woman as well.
Personally I believe that sexuality isn’t binary with a person being either homosexual or heterosexual (and how does that account for bisexualilty?) ; it is more like a range of shades and all of us fall somewhere along the scale. Oh perhaps we even move up and down the scale at various points in our lifetime. Note now I’m talking about orientation not actual action so for the more conservative-minded, I’m not accusing you of doing anything that could shock you. And if you follow my belief it means that each of us is capable of feeling attraction for any other human being, male or female at any point of time in our life. I’ve written about my own bi-curiosity (as Desiblogging termed it) before. I’m quite unabashed in my admiration of other women. But I find it stops right there and I have no desire (physical, hormonal or otherwise) to go any furthur than that. That in my mind is what determines my orientation and keeps me in the dating pool of male partners.
How do you distinguish the affinity and closeness that like-minded women share from sexual attraction? How far do you go with someone you think there could be a spark of attraction with? How close do you get to someone you suspect might be attracted to you?
And therein I find I’m back on the same territory as I was a few years back when I discovered the opposite sex, attraction and love. Friendship is so wonderfully simple but the hormones just come and complicate them all, don’t they?
To come back to the case in point, my lovely lady friend appears to be in a relationship as well. How do I know? No, she hasn’t mentioned that either but it is clearly visible to anyone who knows her well. I wish I could speak up and tell her how happy I am that she has found someone special. When her eyes light up at the mention of her girlfriend, I wish I could tease her and hug her in sheer glee. But I don’t.
I also wonder sometimes what her girlfriend thinks of me. Just as I wonder what the wives and girlfriends of my guy friends think of me and I walk around on eggshells until I’m totally, completely 120% sure that they have no qualms about my closeness – I wonder in this case too whether her girlfriend ever resents me or even, well, frowns a bit at our closeness. Oh well, I think not. She seems a good sort in herself and I’m guessing if I had known her before I’d have been friends with her as well.
So to answer my own question of whether it is possible for a straight and a lesbian woman to be friends. Yes, yes, I think so. After all, sexuality is physical and perhaps mental but friendship, love and loyalty come straight from the heart.
Yes absolutely. I have several straight friends that I’m out to and I am affectionate with them. But when I’m around women who aren’t friends yet, but acquaintances, I do restrain the affectionate side of my personality just in case I make them uncomfortable.
[…] provide different perspectives ranging from heartfelt coming out stories, the apprehensions of a straight person towards gays to funny (and bizzarre) anecdotes about what the media and public feel about homosexuality. A few […]
MJ, i like the way to put things in a such a simple manner….!!!
watever be the equation between straight women n lesbian one, its the latter who ends up suffering more, if they get involved together someone..
Have u watched “I Cant THink Straight” and “World Unseen” by Shamim Sarif……???? IF yes, how we can get it in Mumbai?
This post has to much words….
* YES – Anyone can be friends dont mean your in a sexual relationship with them your just there friend.
* whether her girlfriend ever resents – No she just watching like any other its normal.
* I wish I could speak up and tell her how happy I am that she has found someone special.
You could do this 1 on 1 so you dont have to walk around on eggshells and she could or he could tell you maybe how they both feel.
I think if you are real friends, you should be able to share your thoughts feelings, emotions,mutual respect, honesty and non sexual intimacy: otherwise, are you friends or acquaintances? Straight girls- it has been my experience, test their lesbian friends way too often and moreso than their straight girlfriends and flirt way too much, and get confused,and they think their lesbian friends want to become sexually involved with them to maintain the friendship. I too am, a huggy, giving and loving friend. I do not expect, nor need or want sex from all my friends, especially, straight girlfriends, to maintain a solid loving relationship that is nonromantic. So, straight ladies, why can we not be the best and closest of friends without you freaking out when your lesbian friend offers platonic affection?
yes – ofcourse. friendship has nothing to do with sexuality. most of my closest dearest friends identify as straight. They are more demonstrative in showing their (strictly platonic) affection in a physical sense, than I am. When it comes to friendly affection – anybody can initiate and I donot differentiate on the basis of sexuality here.
As regards non-platonic physical contact – again I donot differenciate! I have never made the first move (physically) on any girl – I feel its the lady’s prerogative, just like I felt it was MY prerogative to decide what / when / how much – with men. So the key is to let the 1st, 2nd & 3rd (physical) move be hers! This has nothing to do sexuality / orientation. If she wants to, she will, on her terms. Or let it go.
p.s. I’m Queer! And I’m not interested in you and won’t touch you – unless you touch me first and make it clear AND I really like you (which is super rare, if I might add!)
So girls – please relax – most queer girls like me, bark but donot bite! and don’t complain about the barks – you enjoy it!!