Lavender Suirsnip/Page 4/May 1973

Lesbian's Role in the Movement

self in the public eye as a lesbian representing a group. She has lent herself to avell the ranks of these women's groups passing herself off as an integral part of abortionist groups, welfare rights groups, and, of course, the

ity usually thinks in tems

of "male."

The lesbian sur.

as

fers doubly economically well. Few people stop to think about the economic sta tus of two lesbians living It goes on and on.

together.

It has been recently re-

various and numerous feminist vealed that a good number of

groups.

She has managed to

blend in well, only costing herself her own identity...so Put now, she has thought.

slowly and seethingly the lesbian has begun to recognize how she has sold herself out how she has been She has begun to rea-

A

B. Vogel, New York

NO MORE SHIT

Revolution at its best cannot even come to be the vehicle for which the position of the lesbian in society can be explained or used. Instead she must search out her own way of entering society's acceptance or rather taking it. To involve herself now in the "Revolution" which seems to have enveloped other women's novements or organizations, would indeed shadow what she has to do. It was for quite a while that lesbians were

COME

OUT

At last gay people have started to come together. We have started to go past that level of individual existence and are becoming aware of the fact that we must exist as a unified

clamoring to be let into the ranks of women's liberation groups, but after having been allowed to, she can only reflect now and declare to herself and others that she has been used by them. They have asked her to join their movement only when they decided that they could use her to increase the number value of their membership lists. Rarely has she been called upon to issue statements for the groups, to involve her-

used.

lize that perhaps it is not really necessary to submerge

lesbians have chosen to become lesbians by a purely po

abe bas op-

litical choice. ted to totally commit herself totally to women, making then the primary force in her life. She has realized that if she

is truly to embrace feminis and seriously undertake the task of freeing women, ther she has no time to be bother-

herself in others' priorities ed dealing in a male world.

in order to become accepted. It is with these other priorities that her own cause has become unclear--diffused and

muddled--totally overlooked by the majority of her unfeeling straight sisters. Indeed, the lesbian's real dilemma does become focused when occasionally a curious straight sister will momentarily wander into the world of the lesbian--usually asking the obvious--"Why are men allowed in the girls' bar and no women allowed in the

"

men's bars: " This, of course, is only one very obvious inequality. There are purerous reasons why the lesbian is the most discriminated against person in the whole auman race. Most of the reasors being somewhat obvious to the thinking person. It is clear in the many writings about homosexuality--it is usually the male homosexual that gets all the publicity. he straight person when spcaxing of homosexual-

Her prime concern now becomes woman. Her identity cannot now be clouded unless she herself allows it to. She is answerable now to only another woman. All ber epergies can now be directed to her sisters. A lesbian does not have to split ber commitments or energies. By devot. ing herself totally to the construction of the patterns that will liberate women, by concentrating on her own awareness and accepting what she is, the lesbian can become the most effective veapon in the "Fevolution." As women in the movement become more aware of the priorities of freeing vomen, there seens to be a definite interest is the lesbian lifestyle and philosophy. There are more women coming out now than there ever was. But we can't wait out our time for the. It is time we are beard zov:

Ann Weld-Harrington

@ME TOGETHR

group. Too long have gays been satisfied to go their own way and not care to come in contact with anyone except as a trick. e are now realizing that gay people have more to offer each other than sex. We are becoming aware that we can become an effective political force. We have seen that we can teach, not only each other, but straights as well. We know that we can become a strong economic force as well. But, there is still much work to do.

the

In order to overcome the prejudice and oppression that we suffer through, we must show the straight world that we are not just as good, but better than they are. And we are bet-

ter. We as gays possess a vast amount of skill and talent. That skill has not been allowed to be expressed simply because we are viewed as lesser beings. We must push aside the straights with their preconceived and misconceived ideas and show them that

they are wrong. We know what we are and what we can do. It is now a matter of showing them who we are. We must not be afraid to

stand up and say that we are gay. We must be strong enough to withstand the pressure that will be

placed on us when we dare to confront the straights. We must show them that we can produce enough votes to become a political bloc. We must stand tall and proud when called on to participate in social affairs. We must demonstrate to them that we can own and support a business enterprise. Pride, not fear, is needed, and we are a

proud people.

.

We are also sensitive people. That sensitivity is what helps set us above other groups. It is through that sensitivity that we use our talents to the fullest. But we must not let our sensitivity makes us weak and unable to withstand the jeers that we have gotten and will continue to zet, especially now that we are making ourselves known. We must use our sensitivity to make us strong. Our sensitivity gives us the ability to see problems that exist around By seeing the problet, we can come up with a solution. By having a 50lution, we become stronger. But, we must be willing to become one unified nationwide movement. We must move further from that level of individual existence to the level of group action. We must move together. We can move together.

us.

Gerator

01

Johnny Taylor III