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The slang terms lesbian until graduation (LUG) or alternatively bisexual until graduation are terms used to describe women in high-school or college, who are assumed to be experimenting with or with adopting a temporary lesbian or bisexual identity. The term suggests that the woman to whom it is applied will ultimately adopt a strictly heterosexual identity. The term is largely considered pejorative in the LGBT community. Some women in lesbian communities use this term to disparage bisexual women.^[1]

Usage

To describe closeted women

At one time, the term LUG was associated with lesbian and bisexual women at same-sex high-schools, colleges or universities, who were closeted from parents or guardians. The term suggested that the individual was openly lesbian while on campus, but that they would ultimately conform to social and familial expectations of heterosexuality. A similar usage typically described a form of situational sexual behavior, suggesting that they would ultimately revert to heterosexual behavior, whether out of interpersonal pressure or actual preference.

To dismiss same-sex behavior

In recent usage, the term is generally used to suggest that the woman's same-sex behavior is somehow illegitimate.^[1] One negative suggestion is that the relations are consciously elective or temporary, or that they are primarily based in convenience. This usage suggests that the participants are:

concentrating on studies without the distraction of "genuine" romantic relationships
avoiding unwanted male attention
avoiding the risk of unwanted pregnancy while remaining sexually active

Another negative suggestion is that the behavior stems from a desire for attention, sometimes described as "bisexual chic". This usage suggests that the participants are:

trying to increase their sexual desirability among heterosexual men
surprising parents or relatives with news that is presumed to be undesirable
surprising friends and acquaintances with news that is presumed to be shocking
developing solidarity with an oppressed community
resorting to women out of a lack of male attention

LGBT reaction

Bisexual advocates claim that the term is evidence of biphobia or bisexual erasure, and that many women described as LUGs may identify as bisexual.^[1] Some LGBT advocates suggest that the appearance of the term is evidence that human sexuality is more mutable (as in the case of sexual preference) than it is fixed (as in the case of sexual orientation). They argue that the term is often used to disparage bi-curious and questioning youth who are exploring their sexual identity.

Advocates suggest that of women who engage in same-sex activity for a limited time period, some may be lesbians who become fully closeted, some may be bisexuals who subsequently suppress that part of their identity, and some may be experimenting. Advocates argue that these distinctions are irrelevant, and that the label is harmful regardless of to whom it is applied. Advocates state that societal acceptance and affirmation of same-sex attraction as legitimate would mitigate the pressure to abandon a lesbian or bisexual orientation for heterosexuality after graduation from college. Advocates state further that such acceptance would create an atmosphere where questioning one's sexual identity would be a legitimate experience, where the pressure to choose a definitive label would be relieved, and where questioning individuals would not be ridiculed or vilified for exploring, regardless of the outcome.

References

^ ^a ^b ^c "Bi For Now", by Amy Sohn, February 10, 2003 issue of New York Magazine, New York Metro section

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-{{gay rights}}The [[Sexual slang|slang]] terms '''"lesbian until graduation"''' (LUG) or alternatively '''"bisexual until graduation"''' are occasionally applied to [[high-school]] or [[college]] age women who are said to be experimenting with or with adopting a temporary [[lesbian]] or [[bisexuality|bisexual]] identity, but whom it is assumed will ultimately adopt a strictly [[heterosexual]] identity. The term is considered [[pejorative]] or sometimes [[humorous]].
+{{gay rights}}The [[Sexual slang|slang]] terms '''''lesbian until graduation''''' (LUG) or alternatively '''''bisexual until graduation''''' are terms used to describe women in [[high-school]] or [[college]], who are assumed to be experimenting with or with adopting a temporary [[lesbian]] or [[bisexuality|bisexual]] identity.  The term suggests that the woman to whom it is applied will ultimately adopt a strictly [[heterosexual]] identity. The term is largely considered [[pejorative]] in the [[LGBT]] community.  Some women in lesbian communities use this term to disparage bisexual women.<ref name="ny-mag">[http://nymag.com/nymetro/nightlife/sex/columns/nakedcity/n_8301/ "Bi For Now"], by Amy Sohn, [[February 10]], [[2003]] issue of [[New York Magazine]], New York Metro section</ref>
+== Usage ==
-One argument holds that such behavior is quite distinct from a "true" [[lesbian]] identity in that it is consciously elective, temporary "[[bi-curious]]" behavior. Another argument holds that such behavior is deliberately temporary, only engaging in [[lesbian]] behavior for [[hedonistic]] purposes, or for other purposes, such as:
+=== To describe closeted women ===
+At one time, the term ''LUG'' was associated with [[lesbian]] and [[bisexual]] women at same-sex [[high-school|high-schools]], [[colleges]] or [[universities]], who were [[The closet|closeted]] from [[parents]] or [[Legal guardian|guardians]].  The term suggested that the individual was [[coming out|openly]] lesbian while on campus, but that they would ultimately conform to social and familial expectations of heterosexuality.  A similar usage typically described a form of [[situational sexual behavior]], suggesting that they would ultimately revert to heterosexual behavior, whether out of interpersonal pressure or actual preference.
-# allowing the participants to concentrate on studies without the distraction of "genuine" romantic relationships,
-# avoiding unwanted male attention,
-# lack of male attention,
-# surprising parents, relatives, friends, and acquaintances with news that is presumed to be undesirable,
-# developing solidarity with an oppressed community, or
-# avoiding the risk of unwanted pregnancy while remaining sexually active.
+=== To dismiss same-sex behavior ===
-However it should be noted that these arguments are frequently used in a wide number of circumstances, primarily as a method of [[bisexual erasure]] to invalidate [[bisexuality]] as a ''"true"'' orientation.
+In recent usage, the term is generally used to suggest that the woman's same-sex behavior is somehow illegitimate.<ref name="ny-mag"/>  One negative suggestion is that the relations are consciously elective or temporary, or that they are primarily based in convenience.  This usage suggests that the participants are:
-At one time the phenomenon was most frequently associated with women at same-sex [[high-school|high-schools]], [[colleges]] or [[universities]]. In some cases those women remained [[in the closet|closeted]] from [[parents]] or [[Legal guardian|guardians]].  But in other cases they would [[come out]] to their parents and friends about their [[LGBT]] orientation.
+:* concentrating on studies without the distraction of "genuine" romantic relationships
-A quote from a Reuters health story by Alison McCook:
+:* avoiding unwanted male attention
-:Dr. Lisa M. Diamond of the [[University of Utah]] in [[Salt Lake City]] found that, among a group of women ages 18 to 25, one quarter of those who said they were lesbian or bisexual no longer identified themselves as such five years later.
+:* avoiding the risk of unwanted pregnancy while remaining sexually active
+Another negative suggestion is that the behavior stems from a desire for attention, sometimes described as "[[bisexual chic]]".  This usage suggests that the participants are:
-:In the ''Journal of Personality and Social Psychology'', Diamond writes that this tendency to change identities among young, non-heterosexual women has yielded the joking term "LUG", or "lesbian until graduation", on some college campuses.
+:* trying to increase their sexual desirability among heterosexual men
-However, researcher Diamond opined that the change in "identity" is merely a semantic issue.
+:* surprising parents or relatives with news that is presumed to be undesirable
+:* surprising friends and acquaintances with news that is presumed to be shocking
+:* developing solidarity with an oppressed community
+:* resorting to women out of a lack of male attention
+== LGBT reaction ==
-A quote from the ''[[New York Times]]'':
+Bisexual advocates claim that the term is evidence of [[biphobia]] or [[bisexual erasure]], and that many women described as LUGs may identify as bisexual.<ref name="ny-mag"/>  Some LGBT advocates suggest that the appearance of the term is evidence that human sexuality is more mutable (as in the case of [[sexual preference]]) than it is fixed (as in the case of [[sexual orientation]]).  They argue that the term is often used to disparage [[bi-curious]] and [[Questioning (sexuality)|questioning]] youth who are exploring their [[sexual identity]].
-:At some colleges, women feel free to experiment with the entire concept of sexual identity. At [[Smith College]] last year there was a "questioning" support group, for students who were wondering whether they were lesbians. There is even a new term &mdash; "lugs", lesbians until graduation. Some of these women hide their sexual orientation on leaving college, fearing harassment. Some ultimately choose men. &mdash;Sara Rimer, "Campus Lesbians Step Into Unfamiliar Light", ''The New York Times'', June 5, 1993 [http://www.wordspy.com/words/lipsticklesbian.asp]
+Advocates suggest that of women who engage in same-sex activity for a limited time period, some may be lesbians who become fully closeted, some may be bisexuals who subsequently suppress that part of their identity, and some may be experimenting.  Advocates argue that these distinctions are irrelevant, and that the label is harmful regardless of to whom it is applied.  Advocates state that societal acceptance and affirmation of same-sex attraction as legitimate would mitigate the pressure to abandon a lesbian or bisexual orientation for heterosexuality after graduation from college.  Advocates state further that such acceptance would create an atmosphere where questioning one's sexual identity would be a legitimate experience, where the pressure to choose a definitive label would be relieved, and where questioning individuals would not be ridiculed or vilified for exploring, regardless of the outcome.
-More positively for gay advocates, the phenomenon can be said to describe evidence that human sexuality is more mutable ''([[sexual preference]])'' as opposed to fixed ''([[sexual orientation]])''.
+== References ==
-In recent years there is support, in a way, in fictional presentations.  There are films such as ''[[Kissing Jessica Stein]].''  Additionally, there are pop culture personalities that engage in close contact that can be seen as bisexual (e.g., the kiss between [[Madonna (entertainer)|Madonna]] and [[Britney Spears]]).  These expressions, fictional and real, can provide validation for young women that are solidifying their identity as bisexuals or lesbians.  Therefore, these trends might mitigate against the trend towards abandoning any LGBT orientation for heterosexuality after graduation from college.  For more discussion of this issue, see [[bisexual chic]].
+{{moresources}}
+{{reflist}}
-==See also==
+== See also ==
-*[[Sexual orientation]]
 *[[Klein Sexual Orientation Grid]]
-*[[Situational sexual behavior]]
-*[[Bisexual chic]]
-*[[bisexual erasure]]
-==External links==
-* [http://select.nytimes.com/gst/abstract.html?res=F00616FE395C0C768CDDAF0894DB494D81 "Campus Lesbians Step Into Unfamiliar Light"] by Sara Rimer, ''The New York Times'', [[June 5]], [[1993]]
-* [http://www.citybeat.com/1999-08-26/cover3.shtml "Confessions of a LUG"], Cincinnati CityBeat, [[August 26]], [[1999]], same article also [http://www.seattleweekly.com/news/9937/features-davis.php "Confessions of a college lesbian"], by A. Davis, Seattle Weekly, [[September 15]], [[1999]].
-* [http://nymag.com/nymetro/nightlife/sex/columns/nakedcity/n_8301/ "Bi For Now"], by Amy Sohn, [[February 10]], [[2003]] issue of [[New York Magazine]], New York Metro section
 [[Category:Sexual orientation and identity]]