Diva editor, responds to 'lesbian rights alliance' article in the times.

[garam]

Another strongly worded restating of support for trans rights....


"A Times article, published today, announces “lesbian fury at Stonewall over ‘trans agenda’”, as if the 135 signatories of an open letter speak for every lesbian in the world.



Sorry, but you're wrong.


Given DIVA’s unequivocal stance on trans issues, I’m sure it goes without saying, but for anyone not quite sure: those 135 signatories do not speak for us, or for the majority of cisgender lesbians.



The letter, from an organisation calling themselves the Lesbian Rights Alliance, accuses Stonewall of erasing lesbians and says: “Stonewall has rarely represented our interests. Now in your single-minded policy to promote the trans political and ideological agenda you not only fail to represent us but you actually promote lesbian invisibility – and lesbian erasure.”



I do agree that lesbians are underrepresented in the LGBT community. But it's worse for bisexual people, and even more so for trans people who are also lesbian or bisexual. That's why it's so important that a magazine like DIVA exists, and that an organisation like Stonewall is women-led and promotes bi and trans inclusion. It's the likes of DIVA and Stonewall who are making us more visible.



In fact, I'd go further. It is not Stonewall – or any other LGBT organisation – erasing lesbian identities, but these so-called feminists who, by peddling hateful and transphobic rhetoric, make people like me not want to use the word lesbian to describe myself because I don’t want to be associated with their views. What a sad state of affairs.



The letter continues: “We urge you to stop claiming to represent us and leave the L out.”



Take your own advice, LRA, and stop claiming to represent lesbians. You do not speak for me, for DIVA, or for the majority of our community.



As I’ve said before, and I’ll say again, trans women do not erase lesbians. I believe we are enriched by trans friends and lovers, parents, children, colleagues and siblings.



Groups like the LRA would have you believe that it’s “them versus us”. It’s not. They are us. We’re one and the same, and we can’t let divisive, hateful and misguided people drive a wedge between us.




DIVA publisher Linda Riley agrees with me. She says: “It seems ironic to me to complain about a lack of lesbian visibility while, at the same time, asking the L to be removed from LGBT.



“We are stronger as a community and 135 lesbians should not be able to decide what a whole community should believe.”"

[UpstartCrow]

“We are stronger as a community and 135 lesbians should not be able to decide what a whole community should believe.”"

thats 135 lesbioans and The Equality Act.

• A man who experiences sexual attraction towards both men and women is “bisexual” in terms of sexual orientation even if he has only had relationships with women.
  
• A woman who is attracted only to other women is a lesbian
  

www.legislation.gov.uk/ukpga/2010/15/notes/division/3/2/1/9/3

[garam]

*thats 135 lesbioans and The Equality Act.

• A man who experiences sexual attraction towards both men and women is “bisexual” in terms of sexual orientation even if he has only had relationships with women.
  
• A woman who is attracted only to other women is a lesbian*
  

The equality act also states for the purposes of the act trans women are treated by default as female, so .. nice source.

[HotRocker]

Cis gender lesbians. She can fuck right off with that.
If she thinks she’s speaking for most lesbians I’d like to see her evidence. She can no more speak for most lesbians than I can. .

[TheBiologicalWoman]

She lost me at the c word.

[UglyCathKidstonBag]

I wholly reject the use of the word “cisgender”, it renders the whole article trite garbage.

[MillyTheKid]

This follows on from the letter signed by feminists critical of the Pride protest.

solidaritystatement650530505.wordpress.com/

It's useful to see that there are clearly a range of views within the feminist and lesbian community.

[UpstartCrow]

Women trying to shame lesbians into sleeping with people who have a penis wont coerce us into supporting them.

[thebewilderness]

I think it is a good thing when the leadership of these former LGBT supporters come out as homophobic misogynists.
Followers of Genderism have said for years that when they took over they would boot out all the "monosexuals" and that is precisely what they are doing.

[NanFlanders]

Sorry, what are 'monosexuals'?

[UpstartCrow]

People who have a sexual orientation to one sex only; such as heterosexual, or lesbian.

[HotRocker]

Garam
You do know that sexual relations don’t fall under the equality act don’t you? Sex isn’t a human right.
Honestly I’m torn between thinking that you’re obviously a bit thick, or that you do actually believe that a man has a right to demand sex.

[NanFlanders]

Ah. Thanks.

[NoDykeDoesDick]

Aunt Linda is enriched by dick

[FloralBunting]

Oh, look. garam has returned to educate the unruly women through another thread with the purpose of belittling lesbians (and by extension, all women) for having clear, unyielding boundaries.

I think I shall go to bed.

[NotMeOhNo]

Does anyone have a share token for the times article?

[thebewilderness]

Monosexual is what transgender advocates call people whose sexual orientation excludes all but one sex. So that would be Gays, Lesbians, and heterosexuals. It is part of the harassment of Gays and Lesbians who refuse to accept trans persons as sexual partners.

[ErrolTheDragon]

Here you go
www.thetimes.co.uk/article/lesbian-fury-at-stonewall-over-trans-agenda-pmm03kw05?shareToken=89dc2763b5e52c6a49c2dbd5c246f352

Good - a mainstream newspaper accurately reporting lesbians asserting what lesbians are. It was a bit buried so thanks for the heads up, OP.

[ErrolTheDragon]

Mostly sensible comments too.

[NotMeOhNo]

Thanks Erroll. Great article. Now we need the times to put that period tweet with the thousands of likes on their front cover.

[Dragoncake]

OP people change their opinions. It saddens me that former LGB supporters are now dismantling 'mononsexual' boundaries.

Why are the feelings of lesbians who object to this irrelevant to you? I thought that it was all about feelings, after all.

[WeAreGerbil]

But it's worse for bisexual people

I'm bisexual and I resent being used in this way to bash lesbians. Actually research does show that some things are worse for bisexuals but I'm much happier being bi than being lesbian with all the shit that's going on right now as I really don't feel welcome in the community for exactly the same reason as Get The L Out.

[Stilettosandan0venglove]

That Times article is really good, thanks Errol

[MyAuntyBadger]

Thanks for The Times article Errol, the comments under it were interesting too - no one really believes lesbians have penis.