Affinity Community Services Executive Director Imani Rupert-Gordon and producer-promoter Kristen Kaza of No Small Plans Productions headlined a March 21 talk at Center on Halsted focused on how well-represented lesbian, bisexual and queer women's voices are in the LGBT community, and how those representationsor lack thereofaffect the community as a whole.
Rupert-Gordon and Kaza began by discussing the implications of the word "queer," and noted a hesitancy by some women to use the word "lesbian."
Rupert-Gordon noted that "queer" had become loaded with meaning, adding, "When I define myself as 'queer,' I wonder what my right to that word is."
Kaza said that, "It's perfectly fine to identify as both. … 'Queer' is about visibility and your identity." She added that she embraced the word "lesbian" too.
They also spoke about the lack of gathering places for women in the community, as numerous lesbian bars across the county have shuttered in the last several years. Rupert-Gordon attributed that to "run-of-the-mill institutional oppression."
"Businesses exist to make money, not make people feel safe," she noted. "Women make less and we live in a society that privileges financial empowerment, so it's going to happen."
Both Kaza and Rupert-Gordon said that women in the LGBT community still had much to fight for, even after marriage equality victories.
"Women's rights are really under attack right now," Kaza said. "When women's rights are under attack, that means queer, lesbian and bisexual women's rights are under attack."
Rupert Gordon added that, when she is asked what "comes after" marriage equality, her reply is, "Everything."
The talk, the March installment in the Center's Chats series, was moderated by Andrew Fortman, the agency's director of Community and Cultural Programs.