Lesbian Publications Take A Stand Against Transphobia

Been noting the anti-trans rhetoric being published and posted in large part without concern for our trans lives or rebuttals from the trans people that it negatively impacts. 

It was nice to see several publications geared toward the lesbian community uniting to sign on to a statement  entitled 'Not In Our Name' condemning the media driven transphobia.

It's also in reaction to the transphobic content  and tweets being posted on AfterEllen, a lesbian site that was recently bought out and since its management change has become a cesspool of TERFism. 

Representatives of DIVA, Curve, Autostraddle, LOTL, Tagg and Lez Spread The Word have so far signed the statement.
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Following further vitriolic attacks on trans people in our media, the world’s leading publications for lesbians are coming together to send an unapologetic message of support and solidarity to the trans community.

DIVA, Curve, Autostraddle, LOTL, Tagg and Lez Spread The Word believe that trans women are women and that trans people belong in our community. We do not think supporting trans women erases our lesbian identities; rather we are enriched by trans friends and lovers, parents, children, colleagues and siblings.

‘We do not think supporting trans women erases our lesbian identities; rather we are enriched by trans friends and lovers, parents, children, colleagues and siblings.’

We strongly condemn writers and editors who seek to foster division and hate within the LGBTQI community with trans misogynistic content, and who believe “lesbian” is an identity for them alone to define. We condemn male-owned media companies who profit from the traffic generated by these controversies. 

We also strongly condemn the current narrative peddled by some feminists, painting trans people as bullies and aggressors – one which reinforces transphobia and which must be challenged so that feminism can move forward.

We are really concerned about the message these so-called lesbian publications are sending to trans women and to young lesbians – including trans lesbians – and we want to make in clear this is not in our name.

 As the leading publications for queer women, we believe it is our responsibility to call out scaremongering conspiracy theories leveled at the trans community, and make it clear that DIVA, Curve, Autostraddle, LOTL, Tagg and Lez Spread The Word will always be safe spaces for the trans community.  

 Forty years ago, to be a lesbian was to be questioned and persecuted. Today things are better for cis lesbians but there are still places where to be a lesbian is impossible.

 So it is for trans men and women, as well as non-binary people, many of whom identify as lesbian, bisexual, gay or queer. We know something of these struggles. And just as they and other allies have supported us, so we must support those among us who are trans, or risk ending up on the wrong side of history.

 The sooner we stop focusing on what divides us and instead focus on our commonalities, the stronger we will be to confront the other injustices imposed on us.

We won’t be divided.

Signed…

Carrie Lyell

Editor, DIVA magazine

Linda Riley

Publisher, DIVA magazine

Riese Bernard

Co-founder and editor-in-chief, Autostraddle

Merryn Johns, 

Editor, Curve 

Silke Bader

Publisher, Curve and LOTL

Eboné F. Bell

Editor-in-chief, Tagg Magazine

Florence Gagnon

Founder and publisher, Lez Spread The Word

I hope more sign on to the statement.in the coming day so that we in the trans community unequivocally know who stands with us.