GenderYOUTH Network: "I don't believe in 'isms;' I just believe in me."

Catchy quote, huh?

I thought about that now very famous quote while talking to Tyrone, the GenderYOUTH co-coordinator, about progressive communities and the discrimination they can perpetuate while attempting to fight it. For example, feminist organizations like NOW and the Feminist Majority, both liberal feminist organizations, have very heterosexist campaigns. I am the president of the Feminist Majority chapter at my university, and one of my main complaints at my exit interview was how there was so much pressure from the parent organization to focus on reproductive choice and no mention of sexuality and gender identity and expression. In their lack of inclusion of LGBTQQI issues, NOW and Fem Maj seem to be saying that feminism is a straight womyn's ideology. This situation hearkens back to the first and second wave feminisms that pushed for WHITE, MIDDLE CLASS womyn's equality. Is third wave feminism really all that different if liberal feminist organizations continue to exclude non-straight feminists?

Last semester I studied abroad in Quito,Ecuador, where a burgeoning indigenous rights group has gained a lot of power in the past decade. These are people, much like Native American/First Nations in our country, who lost most or all of their land when the Spanish conquistadores arrived in Latin America to steal territory and destroy populations all in the name of their god. Centuries have passed and the indigenous people still live as second-class citizens, but the movement is working very hard to combat the racial and class structures that deny them their rights. Unfortunately, the indigenous movements have barred people of the African diaspora from joining their movement. They have joined the mestizos in calling them monkeys and criminals. I asked a friend of mine, an active member in the Quichua indigenous movement, why he mistrusted Black people, and he said, “You watch TV. You know how they are!”

This brings me to the bi, gay, and lesbian community. While much of the community is extremely mobilized and fighting for their right to marry and fighting against discrimination, transphobia runs rampant.

We are so busy fighting one “ism,” whether it be racism, classism, sexism, or heterosexism, that we forget about all of the “isms” that we may harbor. A heterosexist feminist, a racist indigenous rights activist, and a transphobic gay rights activist cannot truly fight for equality if they are unwilling to address the prejudices that they themselves hold. If we only believe in ourselves and fail to address the “isms” that are very real, we cannot possibly achieve equality.

-Sara/GenderYOUTH Intern

July 2006