Reclaiming Lesbian Pride

[*Anya*]

Originally Posted by Heart

I did some online searching after reading what Toughy said in the BV thread, about "inflamatory" blog pieces being written, post-BV Conference. I found some (not hard to find), read some from both sides of the coin/ideological divide/whatever, and while none of it is surprising, I am left feeling utterly heartbroken.

Many of the posters, here and elsewhere, are articulate, passionate, convincing, many others are intent on policing what is being said, still others are desperate to bridge the divide at any cost.

My vision is not clear by any means and the overlapping oppressions and marginalization I see at work makes me dizzy with dispair. I am not of the school that there must be "one tent," I am not of the school that there can only be separate camps. I believe in allyship, solidarity, and coalition that honors differences and utilizes commonalities, I have seen it work in areas that are frankly more important than how any one of us identifies. So why is this so hard?


Heart

I personally feel heartsick by what I read in this thread.

Heart, I, too feel despair at reading them.

My bottom line is that I do not want my own woman-identified lesbian identity erased by anyone. Anyone.

Aren't the other posters also stating that nor do they want their own identity: butch/femme/trans, however they ID; erased or discounted either?

That each identity is fiercely protected by those that have claimed their own identity?

Am I reading correctly?

There is enough division out in the "real world", do we need to do it to each other too?

Do we all have to agree with each other?

Can we not respect each other without attacking each other?

Must this go on?