[2] Political lesbianism originated in the late 1960s among "second-wave" radical feminists as a way to fight sexism and compulsory heterosexuality.
[5] According to the Leeds Revolutionary Feminist Group, the definition of a political lesbian is "a woman-identified woman who does not fuck men".
By coming out of dominating heterosexual relationships, women are given an opportunity to declare themselves as lesbians with shared interests.
As a result, feminism would be able to provide an environment in which lesbianism was not focused on personal pain or anguish, but was instead framed as an important political issue.
[13][14] Charlotte Bunch, an early member of The Furies Collective, viewed lesbian separatism as a strategy, a "first step" period, or temporary withdrawal from mainstream activism to accomplish specific goals or enhance personal growth.
[15] Members of The Furies Collective recommended that lesbian separatists relate "only (with) women who cut their ties to male privilege"[16] and suggest that "as long as women still benefit from heterosexuality, receive its privileges and security, they will at some point have to betray their sisters, especially Lesbian sisters who do not receive those benefits".