Summary of Post by @transmlms
- What does being achillean mean?
- What is the difference between MLM and achillean?
- What is the male version of sapphic?
- Can you be nonbinary and achillean?
Search Results
AI Overview
AI Overview
Achillean is an umbrella term for men or masculine-aligned individuals attracted to other men or masculine-aligned people, encompassing gay, bisexual, pansexual, and queer identities, serving as a counterpart to Sapphic for women. The term derives from the Greek hero Achilles, known for his deep bond with Patroclus, and symbolizes “men loving men” (MLM). It’s distinct from being exclusively gay, as it unifies various attractions to men under one banner, often represented by a flag with blue and green stripes and a green carnation, referencing historical gay symbols.
Key Aspects of Achillean Identity:
Inclusivity: It’s an umbrella term for men and masculine-aligned individuals (including trans and nonbinary people) attracted to other men or masculine-aligned people, not limited to exclusively gay men.
Origin: Named after the Greek hero Achilles, who had a significant relationship with Patroclus, making it a counterpart to “Sapphic” (for women attracted to women).
Usage: Promotes solidarity among men who love men, including gay, bi, pan, and queer men, similar to the term Men Loving Men (MLM).
Symbolism: The Achillean pride flag often features blue stripes (representing men) and a green carnation, a historical symbol of gay identity popularized by Oscar Wilde in Victorian England.
Achillean vs. Gay:
While gay men fall under the Achillean umbrella, being Achillean isn’t the same as being exclusively gay. Achillean is broader, recognizing diverse attractions to men, while “gay” often implies exclusive attraction to men (sometimes called Vincian).
Related Links
What does ‘Achillean’ mean and how is it any different than being gay?
Sep 5, 2024
Yahoo
Show more
wait, forgive me for asking but why is achillian problematic?
This question has been filling up my ask box so i’ll just leave this here!
tl;dr: “achillean” is a term created only to counter the wlw term “sapphic,” and is based off of a misogynistic, p*dophilic, and slave-owning Greek figure, (all of which is Not Good).
“Achillean” is a recently coined term used to regard mlm, and has been followed by lots of discourse. Created by tumblr user @asculan in June of 2016, many gay men/masc-aligned ppl and other lgbt ppl began to use the term on tumblr as an alternative to using the acronym “mlm.” “Achillean” itself is based off of the Greek figure, Achilles, who has been known to have had same gender relationships, thus becoming an inspiration for the creation of the term; but, despite his relationships, he had an extremely problematic past, including owning sex slaves, practicing p*dophilia, and being extremely misogynistic in general. Also, the term was only made to counter “sapphic,” a word for wlw based off of the Greek Sappho, in an almost “one-up” way label-wise. Overall it was created in bad taste, and instead of taking labels directly from wlw, it would be beneficial to both gay men and women to use “mlm” and its alternatives! If there’s anything i haven’t covered send me a(n) message/ask!