Diversity: Women

Prior to the birth of the activism, Sydney’s homosexuals and transgender people generally called themselves ‘camp’. A ‘gay’ identity was adopted by activist male and female homosexuals and the emphasis became ‘coming out’ as homosexual and changing society and the law. From the early 70s the identities of what was once ‘gay’ tumbled out - Lesbian feminist, male (Radical Faeries, Clones etc), S & M, Leather, Transgender, Intersex and Queer etc.

Lesbians experienced discrimination based on both their gender and sexuality. Transgender people and those from culturally and linguistically diverse communities also faced compounding forms of marginalisation.

Robyn Plaister describes her involvement in the Women’s group in CAMP Inc and Women’s Liberation. Lynn Thomas talks about separatism from a woman’s perspective and feminism within CAMP Inc. Sue Wills talks about work for Refractory Girl. Anton Veenstra discusses the tensions between feminist principles and inclusion within the broader gay liberation movement.