Sexuality and Gender

In response to the question: ‘Beebo describes her sexuality in part by saying that there’s a boy inside of her (51). What are the implications of this model for understanding homosexuality?’ 

Here we can see how closely linked and forced, issues of gender identity and sexuality are. We often see how people associate being gay with being a person who struggles with his/her gender. For example, Beebo’s sexuality is more “real” and valid because she identifies as a man, rather than a woman. Even in the novel, she wondered why Venus could like feminie women. This concept is internalized heterosexism and yet it is also liberating because it challenges the set structure and norms of sexism. However this can further marginalize gays that visually fit into the hetero culture because they may not be viewed by gays and straight people as really gay, or fake and particularly for women may be viewed as bi.