Fix this text
LESBIANS ON THE LOOSE
Fix this textSEPTEMBER 1992 ISSUE 33
Fix this textVOL. 3 NO. 9
Fix this textFREE
Fix this textSURVEY REVEALS
Fix this textWIDESPREAD DISCRIMINATION
Fix this textby Frances Rand
Fix this textA survey on lesbian discrimination
Fix this texthas been submitted to the NSW
Fix this textLaw Commission's enquiry into
Fix this textthe operation of the Anti-Discrimination
Fix this textAct. Conducted by Christine Bird for
Fix this textVisible Community Education the survey
Fix this textreveals high incidence's of direct and
Fix this textindirect discrimination.
Fix this textOne hundred women responded to the
Fix this textsurvey distributed through the Mountain
Fix this textWomen's Newsletter, Feminist
Fix this textBookshop, The Bookshop Newtown and
Fix this textrural lesbian organisations. Lesbians from
Fix this texta variety of backgrounds were
Fix this textrepresented and verbal abuse was the
Fix this textmost common form of direct
Fix this textdiscrimination experienced. Over 70% of
Fix this textwomen had been harassed and comments
Fix this textincluded being called "fucking lesbian"
Fix this textoutside their place of work, being stared
Fix this textat and insulted by local boys, and being
Fix this textthreatened when coming out.
Fix this textSEXUAL HARASSMENT
Fix this textSexual harassment was the next most
Fix this textcommon form of discrimination with 34
Fix this textresponses. One woman said she was
Fix this textmolested by a doctor in front of her
Fix this textgirlfriend. 32 women had had their career
Fix this textprospects affected. One women was
Fix this textsacked after appearing on TV talking
Fix this textabout her sexuality. Health care
Fix this textdiscrimination was more common
Fix this textamong rural women and had affected 30
Fix this textwomen with experiences ranging from
Fix this textbeing denied access to donor
Fix this textinsemination to being told by a counsellor
Fix this textthat it was "sinful" to be a lesbian. 19
Fix this textwomen had been physically attacked
Fix this textbecause of their homosexuality and
Fix this textreported being kicked and hit. Christine
Fix this textreports that physical attacks were more
Fix this textcommon in the 16-21 age group and
Fix this textamongst those earning under $lO,OOO.
Fix this textINDIRECT DISCRIMINATION
Fix this textIndirect discrimination was felt more
Fix this textthan direct discrimination by all
Fix this text...Cont. p. 3
Fix this textCAROLE RUTHCHILD RETIRES
Fix this textThe female co-convenor of the Gay
Fix this textand Lesbian Rights Lobby for the
Fix this textpast three years, Carole Ruthchild,
Fix this texthas stepped down. The period of her
Fix this textinvolvement has been one of great growth
Fix this textfor the Lobby, in which it developed new
Fix this textoffshoots (Legal Rights Service, Gay and
Fix this textLesbian Teachers Assoc., Anti-Violence
Fix this textProject, Gays and Lesbians Against
Fix this textRacism) found premises and helped to
Fix this textmake lesbian and gay issues part of the
Fix this textpolitical agenda. The Lobby also became
Fix this textthe main agency the media contacted
Fix this textwhen looking for comments on lesbian
Fix this textand gay issues. Carole often acted as a
Fix this textspokesperson for the community and
Fix this textbecame a very visible lesbian. She sees
Fix this texther visibility as a strength of coalition
Fix this textpolitics, "having co-convenors means
Fix this textalways having a lesbian spokesperson."
Fix this textAlthough the Lobby's impact has been
Fix this textfelt in many areas and with many issues,
Fix this texteducation, the Armed Forces, law reform
Fix this textare some, Carole finds it most rewarding
Fix this textthat violence against lesbians and gays
Fix this texthas been put on the political agenda.
Fix this textAlthough the Anti-Violence Project, has
Fix this textbeen perceived as mainly about gay men,
Fix this textit has also been active in the area of anti-
Fix this textlesbian violence. The AVP will launch
Fix this text"Off Our Backs", a study into anti-lesbian
Fix this textviolence on September 6.
Fix this textCarole has found working with the Lobby
Fix this textboth exciting and satisfying and has
Fix this textmixed feelings about leaving. She'll miss
Fix this textthe Lobby but feels it's a positive step to
Fix this texthave a new co-convenor.
Fix this textCarole has had a long
Fix this textbackground in
Fix this textfeminist and gay and
Fix this textlesbian politics.
Fix this textBefore she came to
Fix this textAustralia (she joined
Fix this textthe Lobby five
Fix this textmonths after her
Fix this textarrival) she had been
Fix this textinvolved, at different
Fix this texttimes, in a Rape Crisis
Fix this textCentre, Lesbian and
Fix this textGay Line and a
Fix this textWomen's Liberation
Fix this textNewsletter, in her
Fix this textformer home in
Fix this textEngland. Carole still plans to be involved
Fix this textwith the Lobby, via the Anti-Violence
Fix this textProject, and has no intention of staying
Fix this textout of politics in the future. In the
Fix this textmeantime though she plans to do some
Fix this textAustralian lesbian history research.
Fix this textCarole has been talking about this for
Fix this textyears and now she finally has the time.
Fix this textShe hopes to have her work published.
Fix this textFiances Rand
Fix this textDeborah Taylor, Carole's successor,
Fix this textinterviewed on page 18.
Fix this textFormer GLRL co-convenor, Carole Ruthchild with her successor Deborah Taylor
Fix this textPhoto: Dianne Fairweather
Fix this textinside...
Fix this textwriting competition... loads of prizes to win!
Fix this textRegistered by Australia Post - Publication No. NBQ 4194
Fix this textIt's easy and takes two shakes of a lamb's tail!
With your Trove account you can:
http://nla.gov.au/nla.obj-884067517
(1990). Lesbians on the loose Retrieved April 1, 2025, from http://nla.gov.au/nla.obj-884067517
Lesbians on the loose Newtown [N.S.W.]: Lesbians on the loose, 1990. Web. 1 April 2025 <http://nla.gov.au/nla.obj-884067517>
1990, Lesbians on the loose Lesbians on the loose, Newtown [N.S.W.] viewed 1 April 2025 http://nla.gov.au/nla.obj-884067517
{{Citation
|
| title=Lesbians on the loose.
| year=1990
| issn=1324-6542
| issue=Vol. 3 No. 9 (September 1992)
| location=Newtown [N.S.W.]
| publisher=Lesbians on the loose
| url=http://nla.gov.au/nla.obj-884067517
| id=nla.obj-884067517
| access-date=1 April 2025
| via=Trove
}}
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