UNIVERSITY
Lesbian group cites sexism, splits from GALA
By Daralyn Trappe
Emerald Reporter
Many women who have been
active in the University's Gay
and Lesbian Alliance recently
formed a separate group that
will focus specifically on lesbi
an issues.
Several women who are ac
tive in the new group, called
the Lesbian and Hisexuai Wom
en's Association, said it was or
ganized because of sexist atti
tudes from some gay men in
('.ALA and the need for a sepa
rate space to focus solely on
women's issues.
"I felt like lesbians were feel
ing dis-empowered." said
(’.ALA Co-direct or Sue
Dockstader. "1 certainly was
anil even though I was in a po
sition of power. I heard com
ments every single day that
really were invalidating. Nasty,
anti-woman things were being
said.
"And I later found out the
worst people were the ones
who had already been through
anti-sexism workshops
Dockstader said she will stay
on as co-director of GALA until
the end of the school year. Al
though most women have de
cided either to become mem
bers of the new group alone or
remain active in both groups, a
few have decided to remain
solely with GALA.
"As far as 1 know, the other
ones who are with GALA feel
that they need to work with gay
men on issues." she said.
"Also they have made a com
■i wf ‘iC^i ■■■■!
mitment to GALA and they
can’t rearrange their s( hedule"
for a new group.
“By being inside GALA. I
can help support the women
there ."
Many men who are GALA
members have expressed a con
cern over whether this group
will work with G A I. A .
Doc kstader said
“I've told them that, from
what I can tell, the print iple of
the group is that women need
to empower each other." she
said. “I think, as far as I can
toll, that these people are proh
ably amenable to working with
gay men but they need to have
their own space to feel empow
ered .ind to lie around wom
en."
One of the male members ol
GALA said he was concerned
about seeing GALA divided
"1 think if women need their
own space they should lie able
to have it. they should lie com
fortable. If they're not comfort
able in a gay and lesbian situa
tion, then they should move
into their own situation," said
GA1.A member Brant Mitchell
“As far as the gay and lesbi
an movement. I think it's cer
tainly not going to lx- helpful
toward it," he said "It will lie
a dividing force. I don't think
it's going to help us to ac hicvc
equal rights I think we need
to stick together."
Mitchell said the charges of
sexism are valid, hut believes
that gays and lesbians should
continue to work together
GALA member Kristen
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Inmann-VYilson. who plans to
tie m live in both (iAI.A and the
new group. said she does not
think, .ill women should have to
take on the responsibility of ed
ucating men alHiut sexism
"So many women have been
beaten down for so long (in so
ciety! that they 're not willing to
wait around to educate men."
she said "Some of us are. and I
think that it s important for
those of us who are willing to
educate men to do that.
"Hut those of us who don't
feel that we can. don't have the
energy to and don't feel safe
doing it. don't have that obliga
lion
Steen Mitchell, one of the
women who has organized the
new group, said she believes
both groups will he able to
work together
"In creating a safe space, I
think it will i>e easier for lesbi
ans to work with gav men,"
she said "I don't see it .is a
problem The more groups we
have going that are strong, the
more we can do outreai It and
education
Dockstader Inmann Wilson
and Steen Mill hell all said the
gav and lesbians cultures are
very different from eai It other
and separate groups makes
sense.
"Really, there was never a
connection lietween gays and
lesbians, except that we're op
pressed by the same oppres
sors." InmennWilson said
"It's nice to lx* able to come to
gether and work together in co
alition building, but to share
office space isn't necessary. It's
a nice addition for those of us
who want to be around gay
men and bisexuals, but for les
Inans who don't need that,
don't want tb.it and don't feel
safe with that, it's unneces
sary. ’
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