I came out into the world of lesbian community in the mid-1980s. I had just begun the process of my gender change to woman, and community was a new concept for me. Women called each other sister. Lesbians reached their hands to each other. A very few of them extended their hands to me, the new trans thing on the block. Not many 80s lesbians embraced tranny lesbians. The popular word was that we trannies had our sights set on taking over the women's movement. But a few good-hearted women ignored the warnings of their more conservative, separatist sisters.
Networking has always been important to the many women's movements of the 80s. There was no internet back then. Lesbians networked by phone, or in meeting rooms and kitchens. Magazines and newsletters kept women informed of political progress and tribal whereabouts. The simple act of reading one of those early journals—written with such warm hearts—was enough to make a sister feel hooked in and part of something bigger.
I met Genia Stevens on Twitter. Genia (pictured, right) has been lead blogger for the SistersTalk website for over six years now. She weaves her postmodern political awareness with a tone that calls to mind the old lesbian print media of the 80s. I'm honored that she's asked me to appear on her blogtalkradio talk show: SistersTalk Radio. Genia and I invite you to tune in Sunday evening, March 22nd at 6pm, EDT. For more info, visit the radio site here.
It's a call-in show, so please call in and let's network.
kiss kiss
Kate
Kate,
We have followed your posts for years on social networking sites.
We were so happy to see you on twitter and started following you there the first day that we joined.
You are an inspiration to many in the Trans world as well as many of us in the Lesbian world. We may not always speak up but we are here watching and learning from your struggles and advancements.
Thanks for being a trend setter and an example of how it should be done.
Posted by: Hersband And Wife | March 31, 2009 at 09:49 PM