Black lesbians so that the film doesn’t grossly whitewash jazz and the actual struggles black musicians went through 🙂
Consider: La La Land with black lesbians played by actresses who can actually sing and dance so instead of being a lack luster imitation of the golden age musical it is the sparkling revival of the genre with modern sensibilities.
I read the first article, and the author (Emma Heaney) noted the importance of retrieving the “perishable” trans-feminist archive, which isn’t as prominent/reprinted as the transmisogynist lesbian-feminist archive. In that spirit I also wanted to share some letters printed in the newspaper “Lesbian Connections,” which show – if not direct trans-feminist resistance – at least glimpses of the presence and acceptance of trans lesbians into some lesbian-feminist communities. [cw for outdated and transmisogynist language even in the supportive responses]
The first “item” is a series of responses to a transmisogynist article, “An Open Letter to Olivia Records,” which appeared in the November 1977 newsletter, rebuking Olivia Records for their inclusion of trans lesbian Sandy Stone and rejecting Stone’s claim to womanhood and lesbianism. Several responses followed in the February 1978 issue. Two letters agreed with the article, while nine rejected the author’s bigotry and called for inclusion (starting with the last letter to begin on the linked page). Two respondents cited experience with trans lesbian friends and a trans lover to counter the message of the original article.
Responses continued in the May 1978 issue, but were dominated by transmisogynist submissions provoked by the supportive letters in the earlier issue. Seven agreed with the original rejection of Sandy Stone, while only one solidly supported her (starting with “I would like to present my views…” on the linked page). I only checked the Responses section in the next (June 1978) issue, and the topic didn’t continue there; I don’t know if it continued in later issues, although earlier and later “Lesbian Connection” issues contained isolated transmisogynist references.
What I find notable here is that the trans-affirming and transmisogynist “sides” were evenly matched: 10 trans-affirming and 10 transmisogynist, including the original article. An additional short ‘trans people are people too!’-style response in the May 1978 issue tips the scale in favor of trans lesbians. The rejection of trans lesbians wasn’t universal or uncontested by cis lesbian-feminists.
The second “item” is an article called
“Organize a Lesbian Support and Singles Group” which came years later in the March/April 1986 issue. It talks about the creation of a support group for single Lesbians, “womyn of all ages and kinds.” In describing the qualifications for attendance – in addition to being single – the author notes that the group voted to exclude bisexual and straight women from general meetings, but voted unanimously for the full inclusion of a trans lesbian member.
The membership policy of this group provides a counter-example to the more commonly-cited coalitions between bi and trans people (especially women) based on a common rejection from gay (especially lesbian-feminist) spaces, or between cis lesbian and bisexual women (such as Robin Morgan) based on the rejection of trans lesbians from lesbian-feminism. The clearly-defined Lesbian identity of this group didn’t preclude trans lesbianism.
hey I’m starting a girl gang of lesbians, we’re gonna wear spiked leather jackets and beat up people who tell bi girls that they’re only bisexual because “guys think it’s hot”. reblog if you want in.
fantastic, our numbers are growing. next on the agenda is fistfighting TERFs and anyone else who disrespects trans women. we meet in the Dennys parking lot at dawn.
Jfc terfs have no interest fist fighting you
“No interest fist fighting you” says the person that supports a movement dedicated to harrasing, stalking, doxing, attacking and even wanting to eradicate all existence of trans women. Your tactic of seeming passive is a common ploy by terfs to make us seem like “violent males” (as they have called it) and an attempt to invalidate our more than justified anger about your hate for us. Transphobia in it’s self is an act of violence. A fist in the face is minor compared to a group of people that would love to see us dead. If you truly have no interest in fighting us then you better start denouncing the transmisogynist bullshit. Otherwise don’t pretend to be shocked when people have finally had enough. Transphobia is in the same vein as racism and homophobia etc. and those that inflict such rhetoric will be met with the appropriate resistance if necessary.
I too, am down for fist fighting Terfs behind a Denny’s at dawn.
Ladies and gentlefolk, here is my first piece of lesbian romance suited for young adults and sci-fi geeks! I present to you Moon People, which features a young black girl stuck on the moon who ends up meeting an extremely pretty alien girl! You can buy it here from SmashWords!
If you cannot buy the short story, please reblog this and share it with your friends. It would mean the world to me if you also tell me what you thought of the story. Thank you and goodnight!
L.J.'s Obsessions 