Women in the building trades are hammering it out. Like me, they are strong, take-no-bull kind of women. They have chosen an untraditional profession and they hold their own in the building trade. These are talented, trained women that support their families. Their motifs and tribal tattooes have made a difference in our communities. A big difference. They are building billion-dollar freeway projects.

     It's not all about Sappho or 'THE L WORD.' To the greater lesbian community, Sappho is the esteemed archetypical lesbian and symbolic mother.

     In antiquity, the word 'lesbian' means simply 'native of Lesbos.' So we lesbians were named from a single poet? So we owe our most important names ' Lesbian' amd 'Sapphic" to Sappho?

     Amazons appeared to lesbians not only because of their warrior image.  The two-headed axe or labrys associated with Amazons became a lesbian symbol.

     Sappho was married and had a daughter Cleis. There is a feminist/lesbian small publishing company named Cleis Press and it is in operation today.

     Amazon. com is a Big media conglomerate today ... Really Big. I am an Amazonian. Yes, I am a "Lesbian" because that's what others before me named this lifestyle ...  but I think I am much stronger than a "Lesbian." I am a follower of the Amazon women, not Sappho. Perhaps because of their toughness. They cut off their right breast so that they were able to draw their bows. How's that for strength? I am a proud Amazonian!

     I wonder how close it was in the female homosexual name game that we may have been called Amazonians? Well anyway, Lesbian won out.

Sage Sweetwater, firebrand lesbian novelist