Gold Star Lesbian

Gold star lesbian is LGBTQ slang for a lesbian who has never had sex with a man, sometimes specified as a cisgender man. The earliest known written record comes from the 1995 book Revolutionary Laughter, quoting a stand-up routine by comedian Carol Steinel. The phrase can be used playfully, but it has drawn substantial criticism. The gold star framing turns a simple fact of sexual history into a supposed mark of purity or greater authenticity, which can stigmatize bisexual women and lesbians who have previously been with men. Writers at outlets like Autostraddle and LGBTQ Nation have argued the term should be retired for exactly that reason.