Category: Lesbians

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law Lesbians

I care about this issue because women’s oppression is a direct consequence of our biological sex

.  If sex is redefined to mean sex role stereotypes in language and law sex-based discrimination will not end but our linguistic and legal tools to address it will disappear. 

I have taken part in demonstrations, gone to meetings, spoken to friends, strangers and work colleagues, raised the issue at work, written letters, contributed to government consultations, written to all-party parliamentary groups etc.

I have been socially ostracised. I have lost friends, been banned from lesbian events, as well as, online and offline lesbian spaces and lost a job.

Jess Silverstone

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Lesbians

Trans is pure homophobia

I’m a life-long lesbian in her 50s. Trans is pure homophobia and misogyny. I’m a UK RadFem Activist.

I’ve organised opposition, recruited, educated, been on the front-line in demos, protested Prides last year. Direct action including putting Adult Human Female t shirts on five statues in Manchester Piccadilly last year, with one other woman.

I’ve been shunned and ostracised by my local community which is full of woke trans allies. I’ve been physically threatened by a local transwoman, banned from my pub, banned from all Prides, silenced on social media. I’ve had my Medium account permanently suspended.

Belstaffie, UK RadFem writer and activist

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Lesbians

I became increasingly concerned about the increase in welcoming formerly straight men, now identifying as lesbians, in to our group

As a woman, a lesbian and a mother of two teenaged daughters, I care about protecting physical and intimate spaces for women and girls – and I care hugely about the impact on young women who are rejecting their female bodies (often with regrets) because of sexist or homophobic stereotypes.

1. During the GRA consultation, I replied respectfully to a post on our large work LGBT Equality Network (in a University) that encouraged us to complete it using Stonewall’s guidance. I said there are other points of view to consider and other sources to look at for support.

2. I have also raised this in my local large lesbian group as I became increasingly concerned about the increase in welcoming formerly straight men, now identifying as lesbians, in to our group. This is gaslighting lesbians, especially those who are perhaps more recently come out as being attracted to other women.

3. Plenty of face to face and online discussions to raise awareness.

1. I was publicly reprimanded by the Chair of the network who sent an apology for allowing my post to be let through moderation. It was very personal, and also professionally damaging. I went to HR, was initially supported, and then essentially told I was wrong and to let it go. I tried to follow up, but the silence has been overwhelming. It has left a lasting impact on my trust for a fair hearing, and a fear of speaking out.

2. I was accused of transphobia (by a small number of other women), I eventually left the lesbian group, having been a very active member for 20 years. I had countless messages of support privately, and a few publicly (softly).

I feel angry with myself for having given in – my space taken – but at the time I felt like it was the only option I had.

3. Mixed results, delighted with small successes and changes.

Jess, Woman, lesbian, mother

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Lesbians survivor

I’ve gone from fully supporting gender id politics to questioning some things to questioning everything

As a Black lesbian, I’ve gone from fully supporting gender id politics to questioning some things to questioning everything. I realized how homophobic and sexist their rhetoric is, how riddled it is with contradictions and inconsistencies that I’m told I don’t have a right to question or challenge or have basic concerns about. This is not progress, it’s fascism.

After residing at a women’s refuge where men are accommodated as residents, I decided to post on social media about my general thoughts on the trans movement and more specifically about how men commit acts of violence against the women at the shelter.

I have been unfriended, disinvited from events, called terf, transphobic trash, etc. The most hurtful consequence, though,  has been the complete and utter silence of close friends.

BB, Proud Black lesbian, USA

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Healthcare Lesbians

The conversion and confusion of vulnerable children

This matters to me because of the reinforcement of gender stereotypes, the legal erosion of women’s rights, the homophobia and especially through educational programmes.

I have discussed what is happening with family and friends and posted (anonymously) on twitter.

I have been careful (cowardly?) about who I have spoken to.

Anne, Left wing, feminist, lesbian, autistic

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Lesbians

I have tried to bring it up but they won’t listen – even the ones who should know better

I am a lesbian and a radical feminist. And a biological woman. Obviously!  

(I’ve come back from the last page on the form to note that there isn’t a box under Politics to tick “radical feminist”!)

I have mainly talked about it, written about it and shared ideas and written work with other women who agree with me. I am aware that many people in my friendship groups (especially the ones local to my area) are very liberal (or think of themselves as such) and pro-what-they-think-of-as-“trans-rights”. With some of them, I have tried to bring it up but they won’t listen – even the ones who should know better.

Not experienced negative consequences yet, but I have been a bit of a coward to be honest.

Sam A, armchair activist

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Lesbians

I cannot remember an attack on women like this

I care because I am a lesbian and as such I have supported and contributed to Stonewall campaigns over the years. I am appalled and astounded by both the decisions made and the behaviour demonstrated by Ruth Hunt and her cronies and the terrible way in which this has impacted on women – lesbians in particular. I feel utterly and truly shafted by Ruth Hunt, Stonewall and The Labour Party – particular the soggy shower of female MPs we currently see before us. I have actively subsequently supported AWP, SFW, MMN and all if the various groups who have fought against the GR Act. 

I’ve spoken socially and professionally, posted on social media, attended meetings and actions and donated money

I have been a radical feminist for 45 years and I cannot remember an attack on women like this. As a result of my views I have been abused on social media to the point of feeling depressed, called a Terf many times and not often supported by friends, colleagues and even family, who will privately pledge support but are too scared to speak out. I am not in London and feel generally vulnerable as I have no outspoken like minded supporters where I do live. This is why the GC meetings and actions were so important to me when I could get to them. I will continue to fight this nonsense for my daughter and all the women who come after me ✊🏼

Maggie Moon , Radical lesbian feminist, activist and gobshite

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Lesbians

I’m increasingly being marginalised within the LBGT community in favour of heterosexual men

I care about this issue as a woman who has experienced male violence physical, emotional and sexual and feel that single sex access to spaces and services is essential for my well being.

And as a lesbian this matters to me because my sexuality is being rebranded as a gender preference and I’m increasingly being marginalised within the LBGT community in favour of heterosexual men who when they identify as women claim a lesbian sexuality. This issue matters to me because if you can compel people to believe we can change sex what else can you compel people to believe.

I’ve attended meetings, signed petitions, written to companies and my local authority. I’ve also taken it up with my former political party and and other political reps. I’m active on social media and even though I’m poor by anybodies standard living on disability social security I contribute to crowd funders when I can.

I often have negative interactions on social media from being called a vagina fetishist to being told I should be raped for my views. I’ve also encountered aggressive protesters when attending meetings.

Toni Morris, I am woman hear me Roar

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Healthcare Lesbians

I sat dripping tears onto my homework and whispered, “I wish I were a boy”

When I was twelve years old I sat dripping tears onto my homework and whispered, “I wish I were a boy” I thank God that I did not grow up nowadays, when some woke guidance counselor would have taken me under her wing, helped me “become a boy,” and ruined my life.

I wanted to be a boy because I perceived boys had more opportunities–because something was wrong with society, not because something was wrong with my body. That suffering children today are being politicized and sterilized appalls me. I do not support the labeling of gender non-conforming behavior in kids as something that needs chemical or surgical treatment.

Also as a queer woman who experiences primarily same-sex attraction, I agree with Rowling that erasing the significance of biological sex erases the reality of same-sex attraction. That the LGB community is willfully, collectively turning a blind eye to this stuns me.

So far I have done little, out of fear. This February, a trans-woman coworker wrote a threatening open letter in my company’s internal newsletter, saying that “harmful and transphobic” reading material had been left in the break room, and that this would be dealt with as harassment if the person was found out. It turned out the material was only an article about a Pagan women’s ritual, and said nothing about transgenderism. I was deeply unsettled by this event on the heels of the ruling against Maya, and sobbed in the shower over fear of job security.

Around that time I discovered and reached out to the LGB Alliance based in Britain. I went on a silent meditation retreat specifically to receive wisdom of what to do, both at work and in my personal life, with the culture wars having taken the turn they have. When I came back I felt the courage to write a letter to my (very SJA) manager expressing my concern about the coworker’s threats.

She told me I cannot be fired for my views, though she also said something vague about how everyone must be “comfortable” at work. HR asked her to serve as oversight for the internal newsletter so that false claims of what constitutes harrassment do not find their way into it again. So that is a small win.

I have made one social media post defending J.K. Rowling–not her views, openly, but just her character and her right to speak. The response was that she may hold her views in good faith, but they are still “appalling,” “hurtful,” and comparable to racism.

Summer 2017 I worked as program manager at an Episcopal camp. It was one of the most humiliating experiences of my adult life. The first week someone on staff brought up gender theory, I made a couple comments of courteous critique, and was met with extreme suspicion. I quickly came to understand that if I were honest with others about my views, I would be fired; a “don’t ask, don’t tell” policy was in place. As I was dependent on this job for housing as well and had no savings, I would have literally been on the street. Some of my subordinates came to recognize my economic dependency and gender-critical views, and used the combination to flout my authority. They took to being very disrespectful in meetings, knowing that if I called them out, they had “blackmail.” After that experience, instead of facing my predicament honestly—that I can’t make myself believe in much of gender theory, and therefore have to become strong enough to be despised—I buried it and numbed. I shrunk from life and didn’t let anyone get too close to me. I didn’t date because of this gender chaos, even though one of my biggest goals in life is to marry and have a family.

It all started coming to a head when I found out last fall about Maya Forstater’s case. I empathized with Maya being fired for her views on gender, as I knew the same would have happened to me. I donated $20 to her legal campaign. So the negative consequences for me the past three years have largely been stagnation and a sense of self-betrayal for NOT speaking up. When I do, I will probably lose most people in my life–my liberal church, my academic friends, my Facebook groups. And I’m not sure what I’ll build upon the rubble, as it’s hard for a feminist queer woman to just run across the street to the Right. But as a wise person said, “If you want to be loved, you must be willing to be hated.” I’m getting there. I don’t want to live like this for much longer.

E.J., who is very glad there was no one to help me “become a boy” when I was a confused, gender-nonconforming queer girl, USA

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Lesbians

I’m a lesbian and I see the way things are affecting us

I care because not only am I woman, I’m a lesbian, and I see the way things are affecting us. Yeah, retaliation sucks, but it’s the right thing. It’s hard work but necessary work.

The biggest thing I’ve done is join online discussions (since I’m not in the means to travel right now). I’m also planning on starting underground organizations.

Oh yeah! I’ve had people threaten to doxx me, I’ve been banned from online groups, I’ve had my personal profiles screenshotted and posted to other groups I was not in. I’ve also received rape threats and murder wishes.

Peach, lesbian, 23, Georgia USA, YPJ supporter. Twitter: 7layerburrithoe, USA