Home > Op-ed | To bottom

The place of lesbian activism in the People’s Movement

Innabuyog-Gabriela is giving way for Jhoanna Lynn B. Cruz’s article.

Bertolt Brecht once claimed that what the world needs for real change are ten questions which no one can answer. What kinds of questions could these be? Surely there are people who will say that there are no questions for which there are no answers; these same people are also quick to provide simplistic answers to complex questions.

We at Lesbond, Lesbians in Baguio for National Democracy, like to ask two key questions: first, “Why are lesbians discriminated against?”, and second, “What can we do to eliminate this discrimination?” In our efforts to find the answers to these questions, we have realized that we cannot take our lesbianism outside of its social, historical, and cultural context. That our individual efforts to liberate ourselves alone will remain meaningless unless these are placed in the context of a larger political movement.

Considering the feudal-patriarchal basis of women’s oppression in the Philippines, we can readily see how lesbians carry a multiple burden. We are discriminated against because of our gender, because of our socio-economic class, and because of our sexual preference. Using this analysis, we can also conclude that lesbians do not experience only one and the same kind of discrimination because it varies according to our socio-economic class. For example, while some lesbians may lobby for their inherent right to be depicted positively in movies, other lesbians in factories battle with issues such as unjust wages, job security, and the oppressive “last to be hired, first to be fired” policy. Lesbian farmers need to deal with landlessness and usury, rather than issues of coming out. Brecht would probably approve of asking the question, “Why should I problematize my lesbian identity when there is no food on the table?”, especially in the light of never-ending financial crises that are fundamentally offshoots of globalization, deregulation, privatization, and liberalization, which have resulted in poverty, massive unemployment, and displacement.

The advocacy of Lesbond centers on three aspects: education, networking, and organizing. Education involves holding consciousness-raising activities on lesbian issues and rights, like focus group and round table discussions with students, professionals, workers and trade union groups, as well as the academe.

We have an existing network with anti-imperialist lesbian groups in Germany, Australia, Canada, Switzerland, and the United States. Our organizing work involves harnessing the potential of lesbian workers to be involved and to lead in a militant trade union movement, especially in factories and export processing zones. We have also reached out to professionals, the youth sector, and the urban poor.

While the visible and immediate gains in pushing the agenda to free lesbians from all forms of economic, political, and cultural oppression have been few, we have succeeded in increasing lesbian visibility and pushing for recognition of our contributions to the National Democratic Movement. The militant women’s movement, particularly GABRIELA, includes in its constitution, a clause to support the elimination of discrimination against lesbians. We are also happy to report that several gay and lesbian unions have been acknowledged and celebrated within the movement.

The work that needs to be done in battling homophobia in a semi-feudal and semi-colonial country is immense. The lesbian struggle involves specific issues which separate us from heterosexual women, but we emphasize that our efforts as lesbians are integral to the women’s movement, which is in turn, an integral part of the people’s movement. We cannot see it any other way. Our vision of not being discriminated against on the basis of our sexuality cannot be achieved if we do not succeed in liberating and empowering the masses. If we are to be valued because of our contribution to society, we must continue to work outside the margins of legitimate hetero-patriarchal structures.

Note: Lesbond (Lesbians in Baguio for National Democracy) celebrated its 13th anniversary last December 15, 2005; and we are proud to report that its “founders” are still alive and kicking. New members always welcome. No fees to be collected! Contact them through Innabuyog-Gabriela at 074-442-5347.

Post your comments, reactions to this article

Home > Op-ed | Back to top