BUILDING A LESBIAN COMMUNITY IN EDMONTON, ALBERTA ...

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PERMISSION TO USE In presenting this thesis in partial fulfilment ofthe requirements towards a Postgraduate degree from the University ofSaskatchewan, I accept that the Libraries ofthe University may make it voluntarily available for examination. In like manner, I agree that permission to copy my thesis in whole or part for scholarly purposes may be granted to the professors who supervised my thesis work or, in their absence, the Head ofthe Department or the Dean ofthe College in which my thesis work was done. Further more, it is understood that my written consent is required in the case ofcopying or publishing in part or whole ofthis thesis for financial gain. It is also understood that due recognition shall be given to me and the University ofSaskatchewan in any scholarly use which may be made ofany material in my thesis. Requests for permission to copy or to make use ofmaterial in this thesis in whole or in part should be addressed to: Head ofthe Department ofHistory University ofSaskatchewan Saskatoon, Saskatchewan S7NOWO -1-
ABSTRACT This thesis investigates the methods used by one group ofwomen to increase the social spaces available to Edmonton lesbians. Ultimately, this paper analyzes the contributions ofsocial space to community identity. In this case, Edmonton's longest running lesbian organization "Womonspace" serves as a unique testament to the importance ofsocial methods for strengthening a sense ofcommunity identity. In 1981, the founders of"Wornonspace" set out to provide lesbians with a safe place in which to socialize and to foster a positive lesbian identity. The impetus for a growing lesbian organization came in part from a shared sense of oppression from both straight feminist groups and sexist gay male organizations. The mandate of the group stressed safeguarding the privacy ofits members. Womonspace organizers believed that overt political involvement discouraged closeted lesbians from joining the group. Thus, organizers did not adopt a political agenda. Not every member agreed with this policy. However, the goal of building a community and increasing social networks for lesbians called for a reasonable alternative to the more public face ofactivism. Ultimately, the efforts ofWomonspace strengthened the visibility ofEdmonton's once scattered and indiscernible lesbian population. Dances provided the central social event followed by a number ofother leisure activities. Word ofmouth, along with a monthly newsletter, kept lesbians abreast ofsocial happenings in and around Edmonton. Before long, the organization attracted women from both the city and from nearby rural areas. Thus, Womonspace expanded and transformed the cultural development 11
Page 1: WOMONSPACE: BUILDING A LESBIAN COMM
Page 6: I would like to thank all my oral s
Page 10 and 11: In particular, lesbians, by various
Page 12 and 13: individual independent ofsocial or
Page 14 and 15: truly ourselves and "normal.,,18 In
Page 16 and 17: The search for personal identity an
Page 18 and 19: philosophical basis oflesbian femin
Page 20 and 21: perspective focuses on the institut
Page 22 and 23: emain and challenge the universal d
Page 24 and 25: Within a lesbian community... indiv
Page 26 and 27: community became increasingly diver
Page 28 and 29: space and community identity. In Bo
Page 30 and 31: offered by the organization. This r
Page 32 and 33: Ofnecessity, this thesis uses pseud
Page 34 and 35: perceive their identities, experien
Page 37: Alberta established Womonspace afte
Page 40 and 41: lesbians.... We [Womonspace founder
Page 42 and 43: ar community, have no overt politic
Page 44: Village, New York. Enraged by count
Page 49 and 50: Damien, a jockey and racing steward
Page 51 and 52: community. ,,37 Four women, Jeanne,
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Jim Bentein ofthe Edmonton Journal
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sexual partners. In the context ofw
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movement needs in order to understa
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In 1974, during the first meeting o
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Protection Act. 72 GALA's Civil Rig
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CHAPTER TWO TOWARDS COMMUNITY: ALL
Page 67 and 68:
a few individuals struck by the lac
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group:> the founders wrote a series
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emembers a list going around the da
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organizational work involved in est
Page 75 and 76:
Because the newsletter linked the l
Page 77 and 78:
their lesbian sisters and lesbian s
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stereotype you. ,,28 As a young les
Page 82 and 83:
Women were invited to join a year l
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We gradually began to trust the peo
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The threat to Womonspace went well
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[Jackie's] partner at the time, [Li
Page 90 and 91:
coming in from GATE or GALA to recr
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on creating organized social activi
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way into the eager hands oflesbians
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Women's Liberation Newsletter (1974
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times, and so did the content and s
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for lesbians to get together, to ge
Page 104 and 105:
noteworthy exception was Karen's er
Page 106 and 107:
was true that the issue ofviolence
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hard core underground market to ano
Page 112 and 113:
participate. First and foremost, ho
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club with a large straight clientel
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Covers" featured critiques oflesbia
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would have remained isolated from t
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assessment ofthe actual relationshi
Page 128:
APPENDIX I EXAMPLES FROM THE WOMONS
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APPENDIX II ORAL HISTORY PROJECT Th
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APPENDIX ill RESEARCH PROTOCOLS The
Page 153 and 154:
Henry Abelone, Michele Aina Barale
Page 155 and 156:
Miller;> 11-30. London: The Women;>
Page 157 and 158:
Smith;> Miriam. Lesbian and Gay Rig
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