group host / statement of purpose

[justiceischeap]

52. As a lesbian and someone who considers herself a feminist, I have a comment on all this back & forth

Ganging up on lesbian feminists because of our allegiance to our community
My allegiance too is to the queer community and here's why...First, I still smart a little over the 2nd-wave feminists initially pushing lesbians out of their cause because we were too controversial or claiming our rights weren't their rights--I hold a bit of grudge, what can I say? I've encountered modern-day feminists who feel the same way; that somehow my lesbianism makes me less of a woman and therefore, I can't be a feminist.

Back to the topic of my allegiance to the queer community; I can still be fired from my job just for being gay. I can be denied housing, just for being gay. Some places of business can deny me service, just because I'm gay. I still can't get legally married (except in a handful of states) and be recognized nationally because I'm gay. Most states won't allow me to adopt children just because I'm gay. I'm judged solely by some on the fact I'm gay. I'm referred to more often as a dyke than a bitch. Until the gay part of me gets the same rights as the woman part of me, then my allegiance to the gay community stands. I at least want to be equally discriminated against like any other woman, right now I'm not equal on that scale.

On the topic of feminism and being a lesbian:
Being a lesbian informs my worldview. I see things differently as a lesbian feminist then, I imagine, a straight feminist does. That doesn't mean I don't want ALL women to excel in this world or that I don't want ALL women to be equal but it does mean that I don't see the world through the eyes of a heterosexual woman and there are things that effect me in the world that don't effect heterosexual women. For example, as a lesbian woman, not only could I get underpaid for being a woman but at some places I may not even get a job or get fired for being a lesbian (as I stated above). Because of that, I'm going to view the world differently and form different opinions on things and it's going to make my feminism different.

As I said, I'm not trying to marginalize or put women in different classes BUT, my worldview is definitely different, as I'd imagine a woman from a small town would have a different worldview than a woman in an urban area (where she may have better opportunities) or a woman of color has a different world view than a white woman. It's not a competition but to say that it doesn't make our view of feminism unique does everyone a disservice.

I agree with La Lioness Priyanka that it may be better to have a diverse group of hosts only because diversity in thought (as is there diversity in feminism) is a good thing and it brings different perspectives to discussion. No matter how hard I try, I am not going to know what it's like to be a straight woman living in this world, nor no matter how hard a straight woman can try, she's not going to know what it's like to go through the world as a lesbian. And all our unique experiences inform our feminism.

You can't put the definition of feminism in a box and then expect all of to be able to conform to that definition, it's unrealistic. And getting mad that, as a lesbian, I don't necessarily agree with your view or definition of feminism doesn't make me any less a feminist, it just makes me a different feminist. Is being a different feminist a bad thing if we want the same things? And how does one decide if I sincerely want the same things as the next person other than my word on it? And are my feminism 'creds' any better or worse because my allegiance, first and foremost, is getting the equal rights we all deserve? Remember, lesbians don't have the same rights as straight women...