Crazy Hobbies - Should I be offended? Would YOU be offended?

Should I be offended? Would YOU be offended?

This weekend i participated in a study at the San Francisco LGBT Community Center. They were doing a study on gay/lesbian stereotypes and the accuracy of the "gaydar" myth. 8 women were selected, various ethnicities and appearances (some very feminine (myself included), others more sporty, tomboyish, really professional, or the whole college student look (sweatshirt, jeans & a ponytail). We stood in front of an audience of approx. 50 people, different ages, ethnicities & sexual orientations. 25 of them were selected to ask us ONE question a piece (what's your age, what's your profession, what's your favorite hobby, etc.) but nothing specific about our sexuality. After the survey, they were asked to select ONE woman whom they believed to be bisexual, and one they assumed to be a lesbian. I was picked by 2 people who thought i could be bi. I was the only lesbian identified woman in the group and NO ONE assumed it!! My girlfriend said i dont have a "lesbian vibe." WTF is that? Should i take it personally that it was such a shock when i was identified as the lesbian? If u had participated in such a study, and weren't identified as what you are....how would u feel? I'm NOT offended guys. Geez!! lol. Im asking SHOULD i be, and would you?? Personally, i could care less what others think about me, although it did kind of throw me when my girlfriend agreed.

Public Comments

"Lesbian Vibe" is probably her referring to you not falling under a Lesbian stereotype. You shouldn't be offended. There are lots of people on this planet, many of whom find it easier to generalize a group of people by one or a few characteristics.
Our gender and sexual preferences are not the whole package. What difference would it make if someone didn't apply a label?
It was just a study, you chose to participate in. By choosing to participate you understood the chances you would be picked as someone who was lesbian and/or bisexual. Since it was your choice to be in this survey you have no reason to take it personally. Get over it and move on. Edit: Sorry, that came off harsher than I meant it. No, I wouldn't be offended.
at the end of the day, all it means is that you don't play to the stereotype of a lesbian, i'm guessing they all picked one of the more "guyish" females as the lesbian. think of it this way : you were subconsiciously considered "femenine" by the people picking people out, so you've helped to prove that the LGBT stereotypes have no bearing on real life. congratulations on helping that study gather more valuable evidence that lgbt people are just normal people with a sexual orientation difference, and don't take anything personally. or would you rather be considered some sort of "ape-woman" as the stereotypes suggest because you love someone of the same sex?
Okay, I feel you. I used to get offended to.. When I used to go to Towers (Bar Code) whatever LOL, people wouldn't talk to me because they thought I was bi...I was told the SAME thing regarding the lesbian vibe...I don't know how to get it, LOL, all I can do is be me...I know this, I don't set ANYONE's gaydar off...and I'm very open...people who know me, know me... I'm fine NOW, as I've gotten older with not having the whole "vibe". I am who I am, I don't need to give a vibe PLUS I have someone....it does get irritating when you are single and you see a potential date, and you are jumping around like "lesbian over here" ... That's actually WHY I started putting the window clings in my car LOL...
people cant just pick pthers out and assume they are gay or whatever if they dont show it, just looking "normal". lesbian vibe... i guess you dont stand put in public like a gay guy.
That would be a pretty silly thing to be offended by. So, no. you shouldn't be offended. You know, sometimes I dress very butch because I am doing carpentry work or something. When I am doing this kind of work, my attitude changes as well to something alot more masculine/butch. Even so, when I am dressed this way and acting this way, some poor guys still hit on me. I think it would be wrong of me to be offended byt that alone.
Nope - you should look at it as a succesful learning experience for both the audience and yourself. I think that you were the type of person that made the 'experiment' successful!
I t was a group study, nothing personal and these people don't know you. I'm reading this trying to understand why your upset. 2 people "THOUGHT" u could be bi. keyword, "THOUGHT" they don't know you. am I missing something here??? don't over react about this it's nothing. P.S. when you find out what a "LESBIAN VIBE" is let me know!!
Most people only see stereotypes at first, and if you're feminine looking you don't play into the typical lesbian "look". They probably picked the more boyish or masculine women as the lesbian I'd guess. Good for you for giving them something to think about! Don't be offended, it's not a bad thing to just be who you are. I don't know what a lesbian vibe is, my gaydar ain't that great....
you shouldnt be offended totally pal, im a lesbian, but 100% of people I met able to opt me out, but I do get opted out by some of straight friends that i do look gay too, probably the vibe. There are no definite "look or style" a homo should be, anyone can choose to love their own same sex, or straight. its up to ones choices and route of love they wanted to go along. So rock on babe! ;) Be cool and loud and proud of whoever you choose to be~
I don't think u should be. It sounds too dumb to be something offensive.
I would not be offended, I would have no feelings one way or another...NO ONE can assume anything by appearances, some of the butchest women I have ever seen...and I mean the sterotype short hair, strong as an ox, looking like a truck driver are.....STRAIGHT! And some of the most feminine, beautiful women I have known are Lesbians...so what..does anyone with any intelligence really care any more? I certainly don't.
I never get pegged as lesbian or bi (I am officially "bi" but spent over 10 years in an exclusive lesbian relationship). The media has shaped people's ideas of what "gay" (LBGT) is. It's really sad. I just hope that by more of us being "out", people will realize that we come in all shapes, sizes and colors. :) Get one of those shirts that says "I'm not gay (lesbian) but my girlfriend is" (or get your GF one). :) HAHA! How lucky are you to live in San Fran??? You guys get all the perks out there. :) I live in Kentucky (where not all "butch" women are lesbian). We have what we call "farm girls" here who are "rough as cobs" but are straight and usually very religious (very offended if anyone thinks they are gay). They usually wear flannel and look much like what the world "thinks" lesbians look like. :) Just keep fighting the good fight!!! :) Good luck! :)
Yes, be offended. And you should sue those that conducted the study. No one has the right to offend you.
No, I wouldn't be offended. It just means you don't fit the stereotype (which is often negative) that people have in their heads about lesbians.
No, I wouldn't be. I'd be amused at how blind people are. Oh, and gaydar only works between two gay people. Not a straight person and a lesbian, they should know that. :)
The only person you can be is who you are. if people don't get the "lesbian vibe" from you...well, so what?! knowing who you are and having the people who love and care for you know who you are is all that truly matters.
yes. usually, america thinks black women don't have any kind of vibe. they think all black women, gay or straight have a bunch of kids, get welfare checks, have food stamps, or have std's. i hate america.