March 11. 1992

the Other Press

the queer issue VVVVVVVVVVVVVVVVVV

 

DC Queer Collective Alive and Well

 

by Tim Crumley

We’re here, and we’re
queer - get used to it.

The Douglas College Les-
bian, Gay, and Bisexual Collective
is celebrating its third year - and
its highest membership. The Col-

 

lective is the largest “club” in =

Douglas College, according to

“We're even bigger than
the Ski Club,” Gludovatz said. “It
just goes to show you what hard
work can do.”

The Douglas College Ski
Club, traditionally the largestclub
oncampus, has22 members, while
the Collective has approximately
35 members. The College hasover
7,000 students enroled in full and

 

 

spokesperson Norman: 1. time studies.

ne me aueees Gludovatz
Symbols of Queerness

by Margaret Knight

 

I wear a pink triangle almost all of the time. Sometines I think
nobody notices it, occasionally I get a smile or a comment and once I
got “fucking dyke”. The triangle is the only identifier I carry as a
member of an invisible minority, itis the only thing that identifies me
as a lesbian; without it I feel I’m hiding something.

The pink triangle is the most common of the symbols we wear
toidentify oufselves. Othersinclude black triangles, lambdas, labryses
and double-linked male and female symgols. Each one hasa different
origin, and a slightly different meaning.

The pink and black triangles were used by the Nazis to idenify
people who were imprisioned for homosexuality. They are worn as
areminder of the atrocities inflicted on gays and lesbians by the Nazis,
andasasymbol of the continuing struggle against homophobia. Most
lesbians wear pink triangles, although we are now starting to recog-
nize this is a male symbol and to reclaim the black one.

The lamgda (Greek letter 1) was adopted by the Gay Activist
Alliance in 1970 to symbolize the gay movement. It was supposedly
worn by ancient Greek fighters to indicate the were fighting alongside
their lovers. It isa uniquely male symbol, and is for more common in
the United states than in Canada. The historical justification for the
symbol seems to be overly romanticized and there is little anthropo-
logical evidence to support.

A labrys is a double-bladed axe worn by lesbians to symbolize
the power of Amazons. Again this is a modern appropriation of a
rather suspect amcient symbol. This symbol is also often used by
feminists who are not necessarily lesbians. Labryses and lambdas are
more common as jewelry than as buttons or badges and are subtler
ways of expressing oneself.

The traditional maleand femalesymbolsarealsodouble-linked
_ to indicate homosexuality, and sometimes to indicate bisexuality.
These are probably the most blunt and graghic of symbols and tend to
be rare. The origin of these symbols is the 1970s feminist movement,
which claimed the woman symbol to represent feminism. In North
America, twolinked means lesbianism and threemeanssisterhood. In
the U.K., two means sisterhood and three means lesbianism.

The rainbow flag was adopted in the late 1970s as a symbol of
the unity and diversity of the gay community. Itisa North American
symbol and is used more often by organization than by individuals.

wishes that more lesbians and bi-
sexual wimmin would join the
collective and attend meetings.

“Itis unfortunate thatmore
wimmin aren’t in the collective
because we need their voices and
opinions to really serve the queer
students at Douglas College,” he
said.

“It traditionally happens
that lesbians are segregated from
the other queer groups because
gay men and bisexual men aren’t
willing to deal with their sexism.
Weare trying to get around that.”

The Collective was formed
in 1989 with the help of Gludovatz

and others with the intent of ad-
dressing heterosexism and
homophobia at Douglas College.
It also serves as a meeting place
for queer students and a healthy
atmosphere in which to come out
to the community.

Thenextstep forGludovatz
is to invite queer members of fac-
ulty, staff, and administration to
the meetings.

“They’re out there,”
Gludovatz said, “and we want to
invite all of them to the meetings.
Wecan help each other to createa
united front to wipe out discrimi-
nationon the basis of sexual orien-

tation.”

Gludovatz also hopes that
heterosexuals will call the line if
they are interested.

“We need allies. We need
people who know that bigotry is
wrong to stand up with us and
fight for equality. Whether it’s
posting signs, or protesting with
us, or telling someone in your
class that their homophobic jokes
aren’t funny, weneed your help.”

The Lesbian, Gay, and Bi-
sexual Collective Hotline number
is 527-5335 ext. 4550. Please make
use of it.

get even larger than : already

  

 

 

 

Douglas College's | esbian, Gay & Bisexual Collective

call 527-5335

extension 4550
for meeting times
& information

© pe here tor YOU!

STAFF PHOTO