Sexual Orientation: Spectral

[elfs]

Ooh, here's one I haven't heard before. I was reading an article the other day about wild courses taught on college campuses and came across this one: "What are the political ramifications of identifying as gay, lesbian, straight, bi, queer, asexual, spectral, or something else?"

And what the heck is a "spectral sexual orientation?" It is the orientation one chooses when one wishes to be intimidating to straight society, a "threatening spectre feared by the heterosexual mainstream."

I don't know many spectrals anymore-- I'm probably too old-- but it's still a fun label.

Comments

[xengar.livejournal.com]

As far as I can tell, "spectral" orientation comes from this paper by Katharina Bunzmann (http://www.gradnet.de/papers/pomo98.papers/kabunzma98.htm). It reminds me of a quote from Through the Looking Glass:

"When I use a word," Humpty Dumpty said, in a rather scornful tone, "it means just what I choose it to mean--neither more nor less."