Activist Collaborations: Lesbians Against the Right
Much of the material in Diamond’s Lesbians Against the Right file [SD-07-01-003 – Lesbs vs. Right] are related to preparations for the 1981 Lesbian Conference whose theme was Lesbian Power: Organizing for the 80s. Diamond was member of the conference’s Fighting the Right panel which was recorded by Amelia Productions and presented here.
Also included online are a selection of minutes from Lesbians Against the Right, Diamond’s notes and drafts related to the panel, a recording of a discussion at the Woman to Woman art exhibit about lesbian sexual representation, and other materials related to lesbian activism.
Lesbians Organizing Against the Right
A workshop from the 1981 Lesbian Conference
Amelia Productions
Vancouver 1981 40:45
Writings
Speech by Sara Diamond, c. 1981. Addressing a workshop group about threats to lesbians from the right including defunding of Vancouver Status of Women because of politicians’ opposition to lesbianism and abortion; the rise of the KKK.
Speech by Sara Diamond, c. 1981. Addresses the rise in violence against gays and lesbians and how the queer community is used as a scapegoat of the right in difficult financial times. Quotes lesbian musician, Holly Near, “The greatest gift we can give the right is our silence.”
Lesbians Against the Right: Minutes and notes
Minutes, Against the Right
Vancouver, June 22, 1981.
SD-07-01-003 Box 114-05-028_Plan of action for Vancouver 1981 Lesbian Conference and rally (May 16-18)
SD-07-01-003 Box 114-05-025_Draft_Lesbian/Lesbianne June 12/81 Day of Action and Education organizing. [Contact us to view]
SD-07-01-003 Box 114-05-018_Minutes_Conference, Gay and Lesbian parade participation, name for group_July 7 [c.1981]
SD-07-01-003 Box 114-05-040_Minutes_Lesbian anti-Right group as yet unnamed_Aug 4/81
SD-07-01-003 Box 114-05-040_Discussion Paper_Clearing Up Disagreements_Aug 16/81
SD-07-01-003 Box 114-05-016 Draft_Notice of letter being sent to women in remote communities re organizing against the Right
Notes & Drafts
Sara Diamond wrote extensive notes about how to organize lesbians groups and be effective in combating the right. The notes are not dated but can be assumed to from c. 1981.
SD-07-01-003 Box 114-05-037_Draft_Fighting the Right by Diamond
SD-07-01-003 Box 114-05-013_Notes
SD-07-01-003 Box 114-05-012_Notes
SD-07-01-003 Box 114-05-011_Notes_Lesbian group
SD-07-01-003 Box 114-05-036_Notes on May 14 Queen’s Park protest to demand sexual orientation be included in the Human Rights Code
SD-07-01-003 Box 114-05-035_Notes_Who is the Right and how to fight back_status in Greater Vancouver
SD-07-01-003 Box 114-05-031_Outline_Secular fronts – a way to look at Right wing vision
SD-07-01-003 Box 114-05-024_Workshop notes_How lesbians can fight the Right_Diamond
SD-07-01-003 Box 114-05-023_Notes_Women and Work workshop plan
SD-07-01-003 Box 114-05-021_Notes on discussion Sexism
SD-07-01-003 Box 114-05-019_Notes by Diamond on the IWDC Fighting the Right, Toronto
SD-07-01-003 Box 114-05-030_Outline_Process and chairing in meetings [Group unidentified]
Related Events
1981 Lesbian Conference Event
Lesbian Resistance Vancouver
Lesbians Fighting the Right Toronto
Audio Recording
Woman to Woman Exhibition
Woman to Woman: Artwork in Celebration of Women was held at Women In Focus, Vancouver, in May 1981. It was originally conceived by Ellen Woodsworth (Lesbian Organizing Committee) and Persimmon Blackbridge and was one of the many cultural events programmed in conjunction with the 1981 Lesbian Conference.
In this recording, Diamond is in conversation with Ellen and others about lesbian art about sexuality
SD_CONF_047_1a
An dinner organized by Lesbian Resistance, organized out of the Vancouver Status of Women. c. 1981
