Women�s / Lesbian Only Space: Necessary or Outdated?

The other day I was thinking about why so much of the lesbian community doesn’t and won’t  come out to support other sisters’ plays, music, books and other art, work and live events. Then I saw that a friend had posted a related question on her Facebook page:

She wrote, “I mean, remember back in the day when you would run screaming to any event that was for women (wink wink lesbians)? Is it progress that we don't show up like we used to do? Like we are so cool and comfortable with our place in the world that we don’t need lesbian space/can't be bothered?”

Well, I for one say NO, we are not too cool; in fact it’s totally anti-cool! It sucks that so many lesbians don't and won’t support each other and our events, music, art, etc. So many lesbos are glued to their couches in front of the boring blinking blue cathode tube and cocooned in co-dependent relationships that they will not and cannot mingle and socialize with other queer women. It’s extremely sad and really frustrating!

There was further discussion on Facebook of why this is so and also about lesbians who are not feminist, which I do not understand at all. And then the whole issue of mainstreaming and fitting in came up—please don't even get me started on that topic because I could write a dissertation about it.

The original FB poster also brought up something extremely important: “Well here’s a thought... I mean, when I was coming up I had mothers in the community. Women who handed me books... Saphho Was A Right-On Woman, Our Bodies, Our Selves, Home Girls: A Black Feminist Anthology, This Bridge Called My Back. etc.

Those of us who had mothers in the community, or big sisters, women that even taught us the language … what are you doing that puts you in the position of being a mother/big sister in your community? I'm asking this of myself as well...

When I came around there were events already established. Now the women that started them are in their 50s and 60s. Are we taking up the slack and creating or supporting events to pass on? I remember looking up to these women. I never thought of them as the old fogies or old school... I thought of them as rock stars. And not just the musicians... I respected them. But I definitely see something different now when comfortability is almost de-politicizing us as a community…”

‘Nuf said.