The first of a two page article titled "Radical Politics," by Rita Right On. It has a cartoon illustration of a woman wearing bellbottom pants who is spray painting the words "Sisterhood is Powerful" on the wall of a public restroom. The article starts with this note:
"The following is a partial transcription of a meeting attended last week. I felt it was very important, so I am printing it instead of my usual column on advanced political theory. -R.R."
CHAIR: The general meeting of the Radical, Revolutionary anti-racist, anti-capitalist anti-imperialist, anti-discrimination, anti-smog Lesbian Feminists will come to order. As you recall, last week, we voted to set aside today's business in order to devote the whole meeting to a discussion of the topic, "How do we reach the masses?" The chair recognizes Susan Savedwoman.
SUSAN SAVEDWOMAN: Yes, I think one of the reasons that our group has dwindled to a handful is because of the name of our group. It turns a lot of new people off, and most don't even come at all. For example, a lot of bar people don't like the word "Lesbian". They prefer the word "gay". I propose we make a change.
CHAIR: That's a very good idea. All in favor of Susan's proposal raise your left hand… The motion carries unanimously. Will the secretary note that the name of our group has been changed to the Radical, Revolutionary, Anti-racist, Anti-capitalist, Anti-imperialist Gay Feminists. The chair recognizes Frances Freedom.
FRANCES FREEDOM: I think a lot of our problem is that we keep ourselves apart from the masses. When we go to the bar, we all sit together. I think we should try to make contact with the "bar people".
WANDA WOMANKIND: We've tried it before, but they refuse to associate with us. They insist on dancing in couples even though we always try to pull them into circle dances, they won't listen to us when we tell them how stupid roles are, and when we start singing the Women's Army Song during sexist slow songs, they give us dirty looks.
SUSAN SAVEDWOMAN We really must do a consciousness-raising on those people. I propose we do a guerrilla theatre zap action in there this weekend.
WANDA WOMANKIND: Yes. I think we should get lavender spray paint and go into the bathroom and paint "Everyone in this place is a sexist pig" and "Sisterhood is Powerful" on the walls.
FRANCES FREEDOM: I'll help.
CHAIR: Good. Wanda will take responsibility for this action aimed at bringing about communication with bar people. Are there any more suggestions for the group in its outreach to the masses?… The chair recognized Nancy Nottaslave.
NANCY NOTTASLAVE: Yes. I think our problem is that we ignore new people who come to this meeting. Several new women a week show up, none of us speaks to them, so they never come back. I see two new women sitting over in the corner who haven't said anything at all this evening. I'd like to hear from them: why they're here and what they'd like to see this group do.
NEW PERSON: My name's Nicki and my old lady, Suzie, and I thought we'd come and see if you guys can help us out. I got fired yesterday from my job as foreman at a factory because they found out I'm gay, and I want to know what I can do to fight it.
FRANCES FREEDOM: You do have a problem, but more than you think. First off, calling your lover your "old lady" is very sexist and monogamous. Secondly, we are not "guys" we are women. And thirdly, you couldn't have been a foreMAN because you're a woman. Now what were you saying?
NICKI: What? Oh… I was saying I want someone to help me get my job back.
RITA RIGHT: Don't you realize that gays will always be oppressed under capitalism? Unemployment is a necessary part of our economic system, and oppressed minorities get it the worst. If you really care about gays having jobs, you'll work for a Socialist Revolution.
NICKI: Look, I just want my job back.
SUSAN SAVEDWOMAN: How do you expect to fight for job freedom when you're not even free in your own head. You should join a consciousness-raising group to free yourself from sexism, roles, and your oppression as a woman.
WANDA WOMANKIND: And why would you want to be a part of a sexist, male-dominated factory? Factories were invented by men, eight-to-five jobs were invented by men, and hierarchies like having a foreMAN were invented by men. We've got to come up with entirely new, feminist, woman-identified, non-structures for us to work with,
NICKI: Look, I need a job to pay the rent NOW. If you don't want to help, we're splitting now.
FRANCES FREEDOM: Suzie - wait! Don't leave with Nicki. Don't you realize she oppresses you?
CHAIR: Order please! Let them leave. They obviously have no consciousness. Can we get back to the topic we were on before those people interrupted? Now who has some other ideas on how we can reach out to the masses?
You can read this article in its original context, the April 1973 issue, in an archive of the rest of the Lesbian Tide magazine series thanks to the Houston LGBT History website.
