Thanks to the Wellington East old-girls…

LAVA, as part of our Action for Visibility, had planned to exhibit a large map we had made surrounded by our stories of local lesbian history - at our local Pride fair in March 2021. This history from the last century is known about because of the brave dedication of thoughtful lesbians, such as the many from Wellington East Girls’ College, who have preceded us and shared their knowledge.

Even though we have attended these mixed (lesbian and gay and many others’) fairs for 35 years or more, and newer lesbians and gay men have been asking for our stories, we and our display were barred from attending. We were discriminated against - not because of the content of our history displayed on the map, which can be read here on our website. We started posting all the information that was on our map so lesbians who didn’t get the chance to see it and enjoy the memories would be able to see it that there used to be a thriving Lesbian culture in Wellington. .

We were discriminated against:

- for knowing that lesbians are same sex attracted women (not same gender),

- for our politics which we have fought for over decades

- for looking out for younger lesbians and women who are wondering

- for having realistic understandings about sexism established from the lives we have lived.