In Berkeley, we’re familiar with people coming out of the closet, but what about the people who hop back in? The magazine Bitch touched upon this dilemma back in 2002 when it published “What Happens to a Dyke Deferred?” The article relates specifically to “hasbians,” women who used to be lesbians exiled for fraternizing with the enemy.
The article, however, was more than just petty lesbians. It didn’t only explore what happens—it ultimately questioned sexuality itself. Is it possible, it asked, for a homosexual person to fall for someone of the opposite sex … and remain homosexual?
In the coming-out tradition, there is no going back. Once you’re gay, honey, you’re gay for life. Neither the queer community nor normative society deals well with people who can’t decide between ladies and gents. Mainstream societies, queer or otherwise, want labels to fit.
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