Lesbisk bevegelse

Part of Lavendelexpressen's front cover, celebrating five years of Lesbisk bevegelse.
Part of Lavendelexpressen's front cover, celebrating five years of Lesbisk bevegelse.

The organisation Lesbisk bevegelse (The Lesbian Movement) was established by lesbian feminists 5 September 1975 at Kvinnehuset (the Women's House) i Oslo. Some of the initiators were members of DNF-48, while others were part of the new women's movement.

Lesbian feminism

While some members of DNF-48 found feminists problematic, there were also feminists who found lesbians problematic. Some members of Lesbisk bevegelse viewed lesbianism as a political choice, while others experienced sexual orientation more as an innate characteristic.

The gay rights movement and lesbians

In addition to conflicts between DNF-48 and the women's movement, some women in and around the community of DNF-48 were dissatisfied with some of the gay men's attitude towards women. 

At the time, Venstres Hus was the location for DNF-48's social gatherings. There they would host an annual pageant for men in drag. Several lesbian feminists criticised the view this conveyed of women. To challenge gender roles and gender portrayals, a small group of lesbians decided to show up at Venstres hus – dressed up as men (probably in 1973). According to some activists, this resulted in them hard-handedly getting thrown out. The protest resulted in a meeting where DNF-48 discussed the organisation's attitude towards women. A group was established to discuss gender related topics. This group would meet at Wimpy, and started hosting their own parties for lesbians once a month.

The journal Lavendelexpressen and theatre group Livets mangfold had their origins in the community around Lesbisk bevegelse. The organisation was located in Oslo, but had sister organisations several places in the country, e.g. Lesbisk rørsle i Telemark.

Skeivt arkiv has received archive materials from members of Lesbisk bevegelse as well as the entire archive from Lesbisk rørsle i Telemark.

Sources

Conversations with Inge Ås and Kjersti Fjeldstad.

LB – 5 år! Lavendel-expressen (5), September 1980.