Supporting our lesbian sisters THREAD EDITED BY MNHQ AT OP'S REQUEST

Not really sure how she's defining 'gold star' tbh seeing as she doesn't define a woman by biology. Doesn't that make everyone potentially a gold star lesbian?

Funny how she knew to turn up on one thread of so many. What are the chances, eh?

Oh the gold star lesbian, seen her here before

Gold Star lesbian here, and if I had to define the help I want from my straight sisters it would be this:

Stop excluding our trans friends. I get that you think you're helping the cause. I get that some of you believe you're protecting me from penises. And that's... well-intentioned, I guess? But trust, I'm old enough and gay enough to know who I want to sleep with, and what genital configurations attract or repel me.

When you gatekeep against transwomen, when you define womanhood in a way that's dependent on biology, you don't help me. All you do is give more ammo to the straight dudes who want to keep us down. Stand with me as a friend and embrace women in all their forms.

Or ignore this, call me brainwashed, whatever. But if you do, don't pretend like you're my ally.

MsJeminaPuddleduck It's not tomorrow, it's next week.

Empress - I can't come tomorrow either but if you keep letting us know other protests we can support as and when or of things that we can do then I will do what I can.

In the meantime I like the idea of donating to GetTheLOut so will do that for now.

All the best for tomorrow - let us know how it goes. And love from MN to Sweary - she's an inspiration!

Another one for ‘no’ to ‘ally’ (always makes me think of ‘familiars’). Sisters (with an S) haha.

I’ve just been for a lovely long boozy lunch with Sweary Godmother, so apologies for any incoherence but thank you to everyone who’s acknowledged my post, whether you can come next Friday or not.

I have marched and protested about this issue before, but can't make it this time, much to my dismay. I support you. I fully support you.

I bought a Lesbian female homosexual t shirt to add to my ever expanding GC collection of tops. I wanted to wear it to encourage conversation around the subject but have felt put off wearing it by someone who said I shouldn’t wear it if I’m not a lesbian as it’s not my battle and a bit insulting to actual lesbians.

I’d love to know what any ‘actual lesbians’ on here actually think?!

If you believe that lesbians are female homosexuals then you should wear the t-shirt with pride. In exactly the same way that straight people are welcome to wear rainbows and cheer on pride parades.

I personally would be delighted to see straight GC friends standing alongside lesbian protesters at pride, making it more difficult for the rabid bullies to howl in their faces.

I strongly suspect that most of those bullies are snivelling cowards, and that their desire be part of a baying mob would evaporate if they were facing a substantial number of determined women instead of a massively outnumbered, tiny group of bravely defiant lesbians.

Straight and bi sisters I meant to say.

Unfortunately I’m not able to attend next friday either. I have a longstanding engagement and I’ll be in the middle of packing to move house.

I would love to see my straight sisters out at pride, marching alongside lesbians and showing their support.

It all comes back to the fact that we’re being targetted, not because we’re homosexual, but because we are female and homosexual, but having the experience of losing our spaces and being bullied, guilt tripped and coerced into unwanted sex is not just a lesbian one. All women to a greater or lesser degree put up with this throughout their lives, and just because it’s lesbians at this particular moment in time,doesn’t mean it will remain that way. The misogyny which is driving this movement will not confine itself to simply erasing lesbians. The complete submission of all women is what they seek, not just 1% of us.

Posie has done quite a long thread on her page about how we can help support lesbians, hers in reference to Pride particular, but same point: www.facebook.com/theposieparker/posts/2596815823771715

I am reminded of the times where (e.g.) Christians have stood in a circle round a mosque to let Muslims pray. That kind of silent solidarity to let the oppressed group get on with their activity while not having to worry about watching their backs.

Unfortunately I am on a 3 hour conference call Friday so I can't be in london either

Count me in.
Women have had equal rights for 50 years, and it turned out they were only on loan after all.

This actual lesbian thinks we need all the bloody help we can get!!!!

Thanks Empress! I don't think this is about sexual preferences, lesbians are being targeted because they're women. If it was, we'd see equal criticism of gay males for not wanting sex with female bodied people who identify as gay men and we don't. So it's a women's issue and as a women I want to help any way I can.

I'll get my t-shirt out

The 'Cotton Ceiling' and the belief of some trans-activists that lesbians must either accept penetrative sex from trans woman 'lesbians' with fully functioning male genitalia, or be labelled as transphobes, and abused, is one of the things about the whole trans issue that makes me most cross.

I am not a lesbian, but I support ANY woman's right to decide what does and does not go in or near her vagina!

Empress I would love to be there but not feasible (would cost hundreds to get a train from MCR to arrive on time).

I’ll be cheering you on from a distance (and please let this thread know about any future stuff happening in other regions?)

I’d love to know what any ‘actual lesbians’ on here actually think?!

This actual lesbian thinks we need all the bloody help we can get!!!!

I have donated to "Get the L Out" as a "straight ally"

www.gettheloutuk.com/

I do find the "trans ally" thing creepy but that's because of how they do the "ally" thing. Also the suspect characters in the Mumsnet "Allies and Boundaries" thread about some TW who purport to be allies to women.

I want to support lesbians as in wanting to support a just feminist cause, not because I have some psychological need for approval by lesbians or because I want to "earn" the right to be accepted into "lesbian spaces" or gaslight lesbians into feeling they are indebted to me.

If I was told, "You mean well but that's actually not really helping, this would be a better way to help instead" then I'd take notice. However, I can't imagine lesbians pulling that TRA-type emotional blackmail shit, "If you were a true ally you'd . . ." (usually a demand for money or goods or to STFU) but if they did I'd tell them to F*ck Off!

Maybe it will vary from place to place whether lesbians want support at Pride events? Pride can't legitimately object, seeing as they are happy to welcome anyone who supports trans people, although I don't suppose that will stop them having a go. There are lesbians involved with Resisters groups so word will get out that way too about what sort of support would help in different places.

I am f@ckin FURIOUS about what is being done to lesbians BTW!!

I bought a Lesbian female homosexual t shirt to add to my ever expanding GC collection of tops. I wanted to wear it to encourage conversation around the subject but have felt put off wearing it by someone who said I shouldn’t wear it if I’m not a lesbian as it’s not my battle and a bit insulting to actual lesbians.

I’d love to know what any ‘actual lesbians’ on here actually think?!

Out on a limb here, but I hate the word ‘Allies’; probably because of TRA allies that are required to be unthinking in their total support. It
‘others’ people and places them and their needs/rights second. As an ally you cannot disagree.

If someone is correct and their argument cogent then I will support them. I am not their ally, I just think they are right and deserving of support in that matter. If I think they are wrong, I will disagree with them.

I think Lesbians are being treated disgracefully by the organisation that purports to support them but unfortunately cannot make it to London.