A proposed “Lesbians Born Female” event to mark this year’s International Lesbian Day looms as a national test case in the clash between women’s rights and transgender inclusion.
A lesbian community group has applied to the Australian Human Rights Commission for an exemption from anti-discrimination laws to hold an event open only to same-sex attracted, biological women.
The group is seeking a five-year exemption from the federal Sex Discrimination Act to hold an event at the Victorian Pride Centre in Melbourne on October 15 and future events which would celebrate lesbian culture and allow “like-minded and like-bodied” women to gather. It says the fear of being labelled as transphobic has eroded lesbian rights.
“It is unfortunate to see some people in our community resort to the blunt force politics of exclusion. The lesbians I know and the parties that I attend include all women and their friends, including trans women and non-binary people.″The management of the Victorian Pride Centre, a community-owned facility built in St Kilda with state, federal and private funding, has not taken a final decision on whether to book the Lesbians Born Female event.
“It is not anti-trans, it is pro-lesbians who are born female,” she said. “We are not asking for anyone to be denied who they are. It is for us to also be recognised for who we are and have a bit of space for that and acknowledgement that our lived experience is different.” “The paradox is we can legally get married but we can’t exclusively meet in a single-sex space,” she said.
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