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Lesbian Rights Summit Sets the
Tone of Feminism for
the Millennium
billijo wolf,
Rochester NOW Lesbian Rights Project
Washington DC April 23-25, 1999
The Summit, attended by over 700 feminists, opened at the Hyatt
Regency Capitol Hill on Friday at 9:00 AM. It was organized by
National Organization for Women (NOW) Lesbian Rights Project and
sponsored by over 100 Gay, Lesbian, Bisexual and Transgender (GLBT)
allies. It was the third NOW lesbian summit since 1984.
The
summit focused on creating dialogue to bring together all activist in
a united front to better combat attacks on the GBLT community and the
freeing of all oppressed. The summit comprised of four segments:
roundtable discussions, strategy working groups, four plenary
sessions and open caucuses. All provided the opportunity for
individual inspiration and expression of diversity.
While
too numerous to attend all, the roundtables were moderated by
presenters from national GLBT organizations. A full range of topics
were covered, including visibility, marriage and domestic partnership
benefits, transgender issues, partnership violence and a spectrum of
roundtables on politics and coalition building.
These
served as a beginning dialogue to bring our many diversities to
cohesive coalition. Strategy groups began in groups of ten and ended
in groups of 50-100 to arrive at a consensus of priorities facing the
lesbian and feminist communities. Three main categories were
discussed, "what are your top concerns as a feminist?", "what
motivates to action?" "what should we address as a movement" and "what
strategies have resulted in social change?" "what strategies should we
use to advance lesbian rights?"
After
intense process from the groups, these results were presented at
Sunday morning's plenary. The plenaries opened with Plenary I Friday
evening. Tammy Baldwin and Grethe Cammermeyer gave rousing speeches,
showing their courage, and inspiring pride and the need to be out. The
highlight of the evening was the awarding of the Women of Courage
Awards to Del Martin and Phyllis Lyon. Their persistence and
dedication to lesbian and feminist activism is inciting. The plenary
was followed by a concert of punk rock by The Butchies and the
soothing and activist lyrics of Sonia of disappear fear, joined by the
harmonies of her sister, Cindy Frank.
Plenary
II was a strategy briefing consumed by an act violence early Friday
morning in front of a lesbian club against a summit attendee. A zap
action, "to take back the street" was planned and took place Saturday
night. Saturday's Plenary III began the summit wrap up with speeches
by Urvashi Viad, Willa Taylor and Patricia Ireland. All spoke of the
need to move beyond inclusion to a global vision of activism, focused
on finding commonality in the diversity of our issues and our
movement. This was best said by Willa Taylor, National Black Lesbian
and Gay Leadership Forum, "it is time to end 'me-ism' politics". All
oppression is oppression be it affects the GLBT, blacks or any
oppressed minority. All oppression is a feminist agenda.
Plenary
IV, Sunday, ended with the presentation of the collected working group
reports. The consensus was we, as a feminist movement, are motivated
by passion originally fueled by shame and anger. In the midst of our
struggle Anger and shame transcends to passion for change, extending
to all humanity. We need to embrace all oppression as lesbians and
feminists through coalition building using direct action, legislative
agendas, and education. Education is important to carry our message to
the world and future generations. Inspiration by living our lives out
and through our actions is the prime tool of education. True diversity
in our movement happens through uniting in commonality and true
inclusion of all in our movement, not by dividing through a single
identity agenda.
Transgender
issues, along with fighting all "isms," are the most pressing issue.
Transgender issues serve to attack oppression from gender stereotypes,
gender roles and sexism. Gender needs to be brought to the forefront
as it is the unspoken cause of oppression.
A
panel of Elizabeth Birch, director Human Rights Campaign; Ruth Harlow,
attorney Lambda Legal Defense and Education Fund; Patricia Ireland,
president NOW; Kirsten Kingdom, director Parents, Families and Fiends
of Lesbians and Gays; Kerry Lobel, director National Gay and Lesbian
Task Force; Dilia Loe, director of programs Gay Lesbian Alliance
Against Defamation; Olga Orraca Paredes,co-chair National Latina/o
Lesbian, Gay, Bisexual and Transgender Organization; and Willa Taylor,
chair National Black Lesbian and Gay Leadership Forum, addressed how
their organizations can address these issues.
Before
closing caucus issues were briefly presented. Two important issues
came out of caucuses. We need to involve and facilitate spirituality
into our movement. It should not be left solely to the Radical Right,
The second , the NOW ProSex caucus petitioned for a change of position
by NOW on S&M and sex . The position on S&M was defined when NOW’s
"Delineation of Lesbian Rights Issues" (1980) included a policy
opposing S/M. This agenda advocates for a freer expression and
celebration of our sexuality.
The
summit ended with a protest rally led by Patricia Ireland from the
hotel to Supreme Court building. Over 300 demonstrated for the passage
of the Hate Prevention Crimes Act.
The
strength and the lasting power of the summit is best seen by the age
diversity. It was heavily supported by young activists along with
seasoned activists. The summit ended with a liberated vision of the
future, shown by our strength in numbers.
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