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Kris Anderson's avatar

As a lesbian on the west coast (Vancouver Island), a number of us are organizing as feminists and as lesbians and I'd love to make connections with other lesbians organizing in other parts of Canada.

While I agree with Julie that it's a bit depressing (or shocking for sure) to be starting over organizing in private homes, I also agree with Kathleen it is exciting for young lesbians (and women across generations) to be organizing.

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Miranda M's avatar

Have you considered reaching out to CAWSBAR? The vetting process is slow, and there is a huge range in political points of view, but it’s a good way to connect with Canadian women. I am Mirbee1111 on Xwitter, feel free to DM.

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Kate Bromwich Alexandra's avatar

We went to that B&B in Lyme Regis in 1988. Think it was called Castle House, or something. The femme half of the couple was, I think, called Cathy. She was Irish and very charming. They ran a creperie on a Friday in their dining room. We had a lovely room with a sea view (if you hung out of the window and dislocated your neck, you could see a tiny vertical sliver of the sea. The homophobic cafe manager was vile, but we were newly in love and simply wandered down to the Cobb and gazed or to sea a la Meryl Streep but without the cape, or the French Lieutenant. Very happy memories, thank you.

BTW In the Bowes Museum in Barnard Castle, there is a very beautiful silvered bronze statue of Sappho, that I've long thought should be liberated for the lesbian nation. Keep up the good work, sisters. I look forward to Friday mornings.

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The Lesbian Project Podcast's avatar

Lovely memories, thank you... We will keep an eye out for Sappho (maybe that was what Dominic Cummings was really going to see on his ill-fated trip)

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Dr T's avatar

The Michigan Womyn's Music Festival wasn’t held in an urban wasteland, but in a woodland in rural Michigan State. It was a wonderful event until it was destroyed by conflict over the admission of transgender identified men.

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Deb Downes's avatar

So much love for this episode, nostalgia (MWF), hilarity (Lesbian Nan) and, Kathleen has replaced her light bulb 😻

On a more serious note, Australia is not far behind Canada. Lesbian Action Group recently lost an application for an exemption to hold Lesbian only events, which they are appealing. Our Human Rights Commission doesn’t regard biological sex as binary and immutable 🥴

Lezzers, as groups, exist as private FB pages which, I’m sure we’ll all agree, is not ideal.

Thanks for the laughs :)

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Deirdre Anne's avatar

After four weeks of The Lesbian Project podcast, thank you to Julie and Kathleen for dropping by every Friday. Navigating the eclectics of life, love, politics and entertainment, your fabulous podcast is always interesting, humorous and intelligent.

This week I particularly enjoyed Julie being reduced to tears of laughter over the “lesbian nan” comedy. It is so stupid it must have been scripted. “Lesbian nan” highlights the incongruence of living in a realist world, where the utopians have really lost the plot. No matter how we wish away the Hobbesian reality, the very existence of the police accepts this reality. Nothing wrong with a bit of measured idealism to soften policing up, but “lesbian nan” policing is just political, utopian, individualism in uniform.

The other great segment was bringing Douglas Sirk to the conversation. Like Julie, I am a fan. Years ago, on a visit to LA, I had the pleasure of attending a cinematic screening of “All That Heaven Allows” at LACMA. I was in Sirk heaven, along with the six other people in the auditorium. The immigrant Sirk saw the reality behind the facade of middle class wealth and manners in post war America. Therefore, melodrama is what you get when idealism does not match reality. Who knew?

Julie and Kathleen, I’m really enjoying your company each Friday. Thank you.

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The Lesbian Project Podcast's avatar

Thank you!

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Kate Bromwich Alexandra's avatar

PS Lesbian Nan cop is out of control. In the pepper spray incident, she was chasing after those lads in order to spray them. It's supposed to be used defensively, for protection, not as a weapon. Like Kathleen, I lost no sleep over the rampaging youths, but I do lose sleep over rampaging, out of control cops.

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Catriona McKinlay's avatar

I too was reduced to the tears of laughter by the Lesbian nan story.

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Kris Anderson's avatar

Thanks Miranda - I am a member of cawsbar as well as another feminist activist group in BC, but I am also interested in working with other lesbians specifically. A few of us (BC lesbians) are planning some projects down the road.

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Dalriada's avatar

Really enjoyed this episode. Especially comparing Lesbos to Hebden Bridge! By the way, Sylvia Plath is buried in Heptonstall, not Todmorden. https://heptonstall.org/sylvia-plath/

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The Lesbian Project Podcast's avatar

Whoops, of course she is. Thank you!

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