Today is International Lesbian Day!
We are going to try to answer a seemingly simple question: What is Sapphic Love?
The question is surprisingly difficult to answer. Sappho's love for other women is the stuff of legend, but it is not the entire picture. Sappho experiences intense love for her brother Charaxos. Their relationship may be a bit stormy, but she always expresses concern and deep passion for her family. She expresses a profound love for her daughter, connecting Cleis with Sappho, and her mother. Finally when Sappho does describe love for males, it rarely glorifies traditional masculinity, but rather on delicate, effeminate masculinity.
So we get a picture of Sapphic love as something special, a picture of an expansive understanding of passion powerful enough to transcend sexuality and traditional gender.
Have a good International Lesbian Day!