Lesbians as Bait: The Development of the RI NOW Platform
Creatively using fear and prejudice to support intended subversion!
There have always been Lesbians who claimed feminism and proved to be strong supporters of rights for and equality of women. In Rhode Island in the second half of the twentieth century, Lesbians were critically involved in spearheading feminist activist organizations as well as support centers for women in general. Though not necessarily “out” or promoting Lesbian activities per se, Lesbians were actually, in many cases, the primary activists doing an enormous amount of the work. They participated in the founding and/or developing of important organizations such as the Women’s Liberation Union, the Women’s Center, community publications of resources and information, shelters for battered women, women’s health services, and other related social justice causes. The National Organization for Women (NOW) chapter in Rhode Island was also initiated by Lesbian women.
However, in those early activist days (1970-1980s), feminists did not always embrace Lesbians as allies. As mainstream media dismissed the women’s movement as “bra-burning Lesbians,” the national NOW organization, under the leadership of Betty Friedan, “purged” Lesbians from the organization in 1970. While Lesbians were advocating for women’s rights, the women’s movement did not necessarily acknowledge or accept the sociopolitical rights or needs of Lesbians. Lesbians were perceived by some feminists as threats, or at least, as divisive to the pursuit of women’s rights. Conservatives and anti-feminists also castigated those advocating for women’s rights, especially if Lesbians were involved.
But there came a time when those clever Lesbians and straight-women allies used this divisiveness to a strategic advantage, by using Lesbians as bait! The following story was energetically recalled by Cathy Gorman and M’lyn (Marilyn) Hines, Lesbians who attended these events.
In 1977, the United Nations officially recognized the first International Women’s Day, a movement that was built on the foundations laid by womens and labor movements at the turn of the twentieth century. In that same year, feminists in Rhode Island participated in developing the platform for the National Women’s Conference to be held in Austin, TX.. This organizing process took the form of a state conference held at the Meehan Auditorium at Brown University. Locally, the inclusion of Lesbian issues (as well as issues for elders and women with disabilities) were hotly debated. Several conservative churches opposed various positions but feminist activists wanted to come up with an inclusive platform. So, a strategy was developed to announce and hold a Lesbian-positive workshop. That Lesbian-focused workshop would (and did) attract religious far right opponents to protest there. The wording of resolutions on various controversial topics—pro-choice and Gay Rights, rights for women elders, minority rights, and other feminist position statements—was developed by feminists in various workshops in second-floor classrooms without distraction, while Lesbian women from the organization Gay Women of Providence and their allies captured the attention of an onslaught of conservative protesters. As a result, the feminist proposals emerged without disturbance and were brought to the conference floor where a supportive majority voted in favor of women’s equal rights proposals, including sexual and reproductive freedom. The Lesbian workshop had successfully served as bait for protesters, allowing the passage of these key proposals.
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