Coreen Douglas: Lesbian Visibility

Board member Coreen Douglas is interviewed about lesbian visibility and power relationships.

Douglas: “I think in ’82 the word ‘gay’ perhaps was used more commonly to include as an umbrella term gays and lesbians. But as the gay movement has developed, and as lesbians have developed as a group and have claimed more self-identity, more and more we’re looking at ourselves as lesbians not as gay women. And it’s been a very important affirmation for us, and I think that has to be acknowledged by the Gay Games movement. And it’s something that I’m very concerned about going through the experience of Gay Games III. Most of the events that have been open to everyone, if they’ve been organized by men, have primarily been attended and run by gay men who are very acutely aware of their needs but not necessarily of lesbians’ needs. And it’s a real concern to me. My whole effort in the Games has been to bring about lesbian visibility and to get our needs socially and politically and athletically met. And I’m concerned that it’s lesbians only pushing this. And we’re not as powerful as gay men. And so it’s not up to us necessarily to always fight for our right to be included and our right to have our own events. I think we need to be supported by gay men. It should be just assumed that that has to happen.”