Love and lesbians
Sir: It is not entirely clear what causal rela- tion Petronella Wyatt wishes to draw between being — or not being — lesbian, and being — or not being — 'in love' (Fur- thermore, 11 May). Being lesbian does not preclude being in love; indeed, in some cases the reverse may be the very premise on which a self-defined lesbian identity is based.
However, her confusion becomes com- prehensible if we appreciate that in describ- ing the 'delusions of love' Ms Wyatt's use of the word 'love' was (unconsciously?) both elliptical and politically derived, referring by implication exclusively to heterosexual 'love'. Lesbian love may well be both per- sonally self-aware and more politically informed.
It would, however, be useful if Ms Wyatt made explicit her terminological assump- tions, for it is at this point where her argu- ment might become interesting, as opposed to merely entertaining.
S. Mulholland
17 Ludlow Road, Earlsdon, Coventry
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