Why is LAVA needed? Surely lesbians now have full legal rights
Indeed, lesbians do have full legal rights and protections, however we are becoming more and more invisible. With many people and organisations, including the Human Rights Commission and Government Departments, redefining the word woman to mean anyone who identifies as a woman, lesbians are under particular threat. We are harassed and told we are transphobic and trans exclusive if we do not include biological men who identify as women in our dating pool, or if we say transwomen are not women – they are men, or if we state the obvious – we are same sex attracted not same gender attracted therefore have no interest in forming relationships with men.
Theoretically lesbians are included under the Rainbow Umbrella. People now refer to the rainbow community when they want a lesbian or gay perspective rather than to lesbian or gay organisations. Rainbow organisations have become a one stop shop for the ‘Rainbow Perspective’. There is longer any recognition of the unique world perspective lesbians bring. Consultation that used to happen with both lesbian groups and women’s groups as well as gay groups, now happens only with Rainbow groups. Lesbians are not visible under the rainbow umbrella and along with our visibility our perspective has also been lost.
LAVA is working towards visibility at all levels – social and political - so that our existence, our needs and our contributions are valued. We believe it is critically important that we are visible to young lesbians so they can see themselves reflected in the world.