My Community is Not What it Used to Be
Two years ago, when I first began campaigning for women’s sex-based rights, I thought I’d attend an online coming-out group for women at my local LGBT Center. My purpose was to let other women know that we’re here.
There were two moderators and 1 other women in addition to me. We began chatting informally waiting for others. As I began to describe why I was there saying “you know…men in women’s prisons,” I was politely cut off and asked to leave by the older moderator (likely my age). She said theirs was a safe space, welcoming to “our trans sisters.” I retorted that I was lesbian member of this community since the 1980s and was furious that she was excluding me. I had to leave she said. The other two women, both younger were silent the entire time. I signed out before she could sign me out.
I live walking distance from The Center, in the gay part of town, with its enormous flag pole alternating the rainbow with that other flag, with a street renamed to Harvey Milk Street and rainbow stickers+ on every shop window. It’s not my community in the way it used to feel. I sticker the poll, surrounding street signs and chalk the sidewalks. I don’t use The Center really, but knowing it’s hostile to gender critical views makes me all the more determined to keep doing what I’m doing.
- Anonymous
Letters From the Front is a series from WoLF curating stories from women about how “gender identity” ideology has impacted them. We’ll share new letters, submitted anonymously, each week. Write in to share your own story!
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