Men can never be lesbians

Lesbians of all ages came to Leeds last Saturday for the Lesbian Strength march, to enjoy each other’s company and to remind the world that we exist. Paula Boulton, co-founder of Lesbian Labour, and a small group of organisers managed a perfect event. The police kept the trans-activist ‘Black Pampers’ at a reasonable distance and solid stewarding ensured a trouble-free day.

One useful idiot on X did try to advise all and sundry that this was not, apparently, a lesbian march at all. Who knew? But he was dispatched quickly and efficiently with an Exocet-like response from JK Rowling. Why is it some men just cannot tolerate the idea of a lesbian march?

We nonetheless whistled, shouted, banged drums, smiled and waved at people watching from the pavements. Then we had speeches, music and drinks. It was fun! But it was also deadly serious.

We hope we did the lesbians from the first Lesbian Strength march in 2019 proud. Like them, we honoured the memory of inspirational feminist Magdalen Berns, who died five years ago. Magdalen did not mess with words – she knew exactly what a lesbian was and said so. If you haven’t watched her YouTube videos by now, you’re in for a treat.

What Magdalen told the world – and we are continuing to relate the same message – is that lesbians are women who love other women. That’s it. It really is that simple. And it remains that simple for those whose understanding of what a woman is hasn’t been ‘queered’ to be ‘inclusive’ – that is, to include men.

Over the past two decades, our sexual orientation has been increasingly attacked and undermined. Through the totally unnecessary medicalisation of lesbians who are being brainwashed into thinking they can or should be men. Through people like barrister Catherine McGahey KC comparing lesbians who reject male partners to those struggling with racial reconciliation in post-Apartheid South Africa. Through the replacement of the word ‘sex’ with ‘gender’ – or the conflation of the two – in law, education and the media. Through the propaganda of former LGB organisations like Stonewall and multiple human-rights organisations insisting that men can be lesbians. Through intimidation, physical attacks, rape and even murder.

This is what we face. Global, national and local institutions are telling us we must remember that some men are lesbians. That is why we marched. We lesbians refuse to be erased because a group of male fetishists have persuaded people in power around the world that their rights matter more than ours.

In Victoria, Australia, for example, the Lesbian Action Group has been legally forbidden to organise women-only events. The group has had to apply to the Australian Human Rights Commission for an exemption to allow them to meet as lesbians – which means excluding men. Lesbian Action Group is currently awaiting the judgement on its case, but a similar application in Tasmania was turned down last year. Has Australia given us a preview of what the future looks like for all of us?

I – and all the lesbians who were there in body or in spirit last Saturday – say ‘No’. We will not be erased. We will not accept that any man can possibly be a lesbian and we will fight back against those who perpetuate this ridiculous lie.

How will we fight back? To begin with, we need to make our voices louder. Believe me, our combined incandescent rage is loud enough to drown out any number of spoilt little boys shouting on the street or at the Victorian Human Rights Commission or at the UN, who tell us we have no rights. But we need support as the attacks on us increase. Saturday – and previous marches – have shown what we can do. Now let’s broaden our reach.

I used to be a lesbian separatist 50 years ago, and what fun we had. I believe we’re once again in the battle of our lives, for the right to gather, to speak, to organise on the basis of our sexuality. And for the ability to say ‘No’ to men. Now, we need willing allies to stand alongside us in this battle against the lies of gender-identity theory, which threatens to ruin so many young lesbians’ lives.

So, I want to ask every man and woman who supports us to come along to our march next year. Of course, lesbian boundaries must be respected. But when we take to the streets next time, let’s make it bigger, louder and even more effective. Come and yell alongside us. You are all very welcome.

Kate Harris is a lifelong lesbian feminist campaigner and co-founder of LGB Alliance.