HERstory: Early lesbian organization created pride and resilience

HERstory: Early lesbian organization created pride and resilience

By Dennis Yeo, Niagara community member

As I indicated in the last blog, Canadian lesbians found themselves among the forgotten as cisgender gay white men focused on fighting for their rights. It took a few years after the 1971-72 birth of the Gay Liberation Movement, but the women got organized and began their outreach in November 1976. As you read about LOOT, the Lesbian Organization of Toronto, note the strategies they implemented to flourish for five years despite the odds.

• They set up as a collaborative with other women’s groups to afford space.
• Fundraising was creative, including even a lottery (LottoLesbian).
• They had a national rather than local focus.
• They created safe space for political, cultural and social interests.
• They facilitated events to appeal to a wide range of interests (a place to hear and see various artists and performers like Rita McNeil, a weekly drop-in, Sunday brunches, monthly house meetings, a library, a peer-counselling phone line, New Year’s dances, political discussions and actions.
• Communication with the lesbian community was geared to locals via monthly meetings and wider ranging through a regular newsletter.
• Toward the end of its existence, LOOT crossed borders and sought to collaborate with American women’s groups (the Bi-National Lesbian Conference held in 1979).

Among its finer moments, LOOT spoke out against an article in The Body Politic, “Men Loving Boys” (1977), inspired by women’s experience dealing with the power imbalance in traditional relationships with men and their doubts about intergenerational sex. Also, they were centrally involved in Anti-Anita Bryant organizing, and defended freedom of the press and specifically, the right of The Body Politic to publish, despite political disagreements.

From the perspective of 2019, one of their less-than-shining moments came about when a majority of members rejected a trans woman who identified as a lesbian; the prospective member became a victim of 1980s lesbian feminist orthodoxy.

The appeal and apparent strength of LOOT led to its dissolution in 1980 because the membership could no longer afford to pay for the venue that housed it, and a clear sense of purpose was lost due to its efforts to be all things to all lesbians.

“What did LOOT achieve? It was a social and political centre that created pride and resilience among the women who participated. It provided an important site of social connection, creativity and political awakening. From LOOT sprung many activists and dynamic cultural and political projects.” (Rise Up!)

Lesbian activism in the ‘70s was alive and well close to our own stomping grounds in Toronto, and also across the country. Check out LOON in Ottawa, Labyris, Gay Women of Montreal, the Montreal Lesbian Organization, the Womyn’s Collective in Calgary, the New Morning Lesbian Collective in Vancouver, etc.

To read more “herstory”, follow this link to an original LOOT document, written by a member and undated (but based on my research, probably some time in 1977).

OR SEE FOR YOURSELF…

To learn how the community at large, generally dominated by gay men, fought against ‘70s oppression… STAY TUNED.

Dennis Yeo

Dennis is a former teacher who was born and raised in St. Catharines. He came out as a gay man as an adult, was active in the 2SLGBTQ community in the city where he taught, and returned to St. Catharines when he retired. Dennis will be contributing a periodic blog throughout LGBT History Month (October).

His views do not necessarily represent those of OUTniagara.