Lesbian Strength March and Rally in Leeds on 7 September 2019

Betsy I think there's one upthread but here it is again:

www.yorkshireeveningpost.co.uk/news/people/more-counter-protests-in-leeds-as-lesbian-strength-and-trans-rights-groups-gather-in-city-square-1-9982062?fbclid=IwAR29wu4WRSPrmvLS9zTC-XiR54TF8vTQqgTtxcPpfIGQ5bGiNnxPJfbfKNU

It’s a very weird thing where some guys try to silence women

It’s a very weird thing where some guys try to stop a man doing his job taking pictures of an event where women are

It’s very homophobic.

Silencing silencing. What country do I live in ?

You don’t hear much from the Bs within LGB these days (or the L for that matter). Is it just GTxyz123+*^¥$€??![~< 5)3/3 days?

There's also an account of the march and Nicole Jones speech in honour of Magdalen here:
forwomen.scot/08/09/2019/lesbian-strength-march/

Glad it went well for everyone. Is there a link to the Yorkshire Post article?

Omg DJLippy - just before the march got moving, an ally on the periphery said to me "There's already one bisexual snuck in; why don't you too?" but I couldn't because I was paralysed by my inability to work out, on the fly, whether this would be weird and somehow not on.

If I'd known they were talking about you I'd have jumped right in to say hello!

When his pics moved onto Carnival I first thought ‘oh he did Pride too...’ Pride’s really changed hasn’t it?

makemorenoise.libsyn.com/suffragette-city-radio-ten-abortion-and-femicide-and-climate-change

Podcast which talks about my experience marching in the procession and earlier involvement with the "get the L out Manchester Pride action

Ah, yes - because women assert our right to not to be discriminated against and abused for the terrible crime of expecting our non-flexible sexual boundaries to be respected = hate. How silly of us to expect otherwise.

I was a bit annoyed by the placement of photographs in the Yorkshire Post article. The top one, the one that's visible on the post when you share it on facebook, is a picture of the anti-lesbian protesters. I suppose one could make the argument that "woke idiots think it's progressive to protest against homosexuality" is more newsworthy than "lesbians still won't stop asserting their boundaries" but on the whole I would have preferred the photo placement to have been the other way round, for purposes of boosting lesbian visibility.

The pictures are great. I do feel bad for the photographer though. Irrespective of his personal opinions, he was just doing his job photographing events. No one would say that just because he took pictures of the Tommy Robinson march that he somehow endorses or agrees with the protestors. He's merely reporting and recording such events. Yet the TRA followers love to cry heretic simply for photographing lesbians and stating that it seemed to be a lovely event with no hate. What a time to be alive!

It shows very clearly who the players are though. Into the daylight and all that (and some of the Menz that turned out to protest looked like they do with getting out more).

Inspiring and joyful event. Fantastic meeting old friends and new, but sadly had to go before the end so didn't meet any mumsnet terms in person. So pleased we came to Leeds for it...feel strengthened by such strong wonderful lesbians and the supporters too.

Fantastic photos.

Feel sorry for Mike who clearly had no idea he would end up the target of such vitriol. A baptism of fire indeed and one I'm sure has been very eye opening for him.

From pimmsnlemonade:
"Some wonderful pictures here"
www.facebook.com/pg/mikebettneyphotography/photos/?tab=album&album_id=406462093337256

They are great pictures. However, Mike innocently thought he was just photographing some marching lesbians. He didn't realise he was actually photographing a "hate rally". The poor guy has had a TRA pile on, and no doubt been peak transed in the process.

Sorry Aspley, your first comment on the matter implied having men around would be a protection against homophobes. If that wasn't what you meant then I apologise for the misunderstanding.

Still agreeing with you for the most part - but I still think having men there on Saturday wouldn't have been worth it, because they might have boosted visibility simply by existing, but the tradeoff would have been not having that female-only, 99% lesbian-only space that was so valuable to so many. Which I personally think wouldn't have been worth the trade.

And yes to flyers next time!

@Tyrotoxicity "Strong courageous lesbian women marching for their right to exist regardless of male approval - and you'd have them bring along approving males for protection? It doesn't seem right to me."

That is all well and good but unless something happens to make Stonewall pay attention it is all pissing in the wind ( this will read like I am being critical of the Leeds event and organisers but that is not my intention).
It is nothing about protection wtf?!
This is about getting someone to pay attention, afaik Stonewall have not even acknowledged this march? Double the numbers with a couple of hundred of gay men then they will start to take notice. They are misogynistic to their core so, sad but true, and will only pretend to react if the men get involved.

So many gay men (and the vast majority of lesbians?) are oblivious to what is going on.

Ah Pegasus I recognise who you are now. Thank you for your honesty and courage.

It was so safe and friendly. I was, quite honestly, expecting some serious aggro and hostility given the geography but nothing, nada. where were all the Leeds nasty troons?

I've spent all day wondering if i dreamt yesterday because it was so amazing. I even escaped a hangover

here's a link to my speech
medium.com/@boudiccarises/lesbian-strength-3654425c41e4

Great speech!

Fabulous speech, DrLouiseMoody! Only wish I'd been there to hear it live.

Thought you might be, DrLouise. Very much doubt you're the only one!

When I nipped next door to pinch a slice of bread to accompany my hangover-mitigating bacon this morning, my brother actually made me a bacon and egg wrap. See, supportive men can totally do useful things to help the cause!

Me speech.

medium.com/@drlouisejmoody/lesbian-strength-speech-7-9-2019-26a1cdfe66be

Mostly monosyllabic today. Literally erased by hangover.

I agree having men - gay or straight - generally in agreement with us and willing to stand up and say so would make a hell of a lot of difference. And I'm sure there are supportive things they could be doing that would help.

But being physically there in the march or rally to intimidate homophobic dickheads into not causing a ruckus - no. I'm still not being very good with words today but... Think of the optics? Strong courageous lesbian women marching for their right to exist regardless of male approval - and you'd have them bring along approving males for protection? It doesn't seem right to me.

Christ on a bike. Straight women marching alongside their lesbian friends and relatives and getting abuse hurled at them by the menz - it’s just like... well pre-2010...