festival: Michigan: transgender controversy… …and right-wing attacks "americans for truth" claims MWMF endangers children Author(s): karla mantilla and Lisa Vogel Source: Off Our Backs, Vol. 30, No. 9 (october 2000), pp. 8-9 Published by: off our backs, inc. Stable URL: http://www.jstor.org/stable/20836703 Accessed: 14-05-2015 13:31 UTC

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This content downloaded from 130.209.6.61 on Thu, 14 May 2015 13:31:54 UTC All use subject to JSTOR Terms and Conditions I festival ^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^B

excerpts fromMichigan Womyn's Music Festival's statements on the transgender issue

The Festival iswomon-born womyn to gather in celebration of our womon space. That means it is an event diverse identities as womyn-born Michigan: intended for womyn who were born and womyn. who have lived their entire life experi It saddens me that the young womyr> ence as female?and who currently we used to call 'baby-dykes' are now identify as a womon. growing up questioning the validity of We ask the transsexual community the very concept of being female. Many to respect and support this intention.... of us growing up, myself included, Just as we call upon the transsexual struggled fiercely with the limited transgender community to support womyn-born societal definition of what being a womyn space, we encourage support "woman" meant. That's why we and respect for the transsexual commu created this Festival?as an exploration nity. As a community, we inMichigan and celebration of the full range of who are committed to fighting prejudice and we are and all we can be as womyn. We controversy... ignorance of all kinds; we do not want refuse to see "woman" turned into a to see transphobia fostered here or dirty word or defined as an out-dated anywhere. Claiming one week a year as construct. womyn-born womyn space is not in The Michigan Womyn's Music activists, members of activists, "If you do not identify as Eight transgender contradiction to being trans-positive and Festival remains clear and firm in our a called Trans womon-born womon, the is Chicago group "Camp policy trans-allies. In the year 2000, the queer commitment tomaintain the Festival as Committee" and the Boston and clear." When challenged repeatedly by Planning community enjoys such rich diversity. womyn-born womyn space. At the of Avengers, the activists to clarify their policy, the Chicago chapters We believe there is room for all affinity same time,we stand as allies with the wt re asked to leave theMichigan staff stated, "We have been clear about groups to enjoy separate and supportive trans community and refuse to be Music Festival this year. The what this festival is about. It is for Womyn's space, and also to come together in forced into false dichotomies that equate were escorted to theMain Gate of womyn-born womyn. Those of you eight broader alliances to fight prejudice that being pro-womyn-born womyn space the festival, their attendance wristbands who are not womyn-born womyn, who affects all of us. We are strong enough with being anti-trans. were cut off, and were identify as transsexual, not as they expelled to hold our incredible diversity inmutual We believe the greater queer commu from the In with we are asking you to grounds. keeping transgender, respect and support. nity is strong enough to support sepa Festival their entrance fees were leave." Activists that if the staff policy, replied rate space for all affinity groups. There net refunded. were telling them to leave, theywould From a statement by Lisa Vogel, are times all oppressed communities The followed a demon leave, but that if were merely expulsion they Festival producer: need separate spaces, even away from stration activists at the asking them to leave, theywould stay. by transgender "Michigan has always been home to their allies. The Festival community kitchen area during dinner on Saturday Festival staff replied, "Those who womyn-born womyn who represent learned this in the creation of a separate Activists held signs identify as transsexual, we are telling evening. proclaiming every point along the continuum of and honored Womyn of Color space. themselves as "boy," "FTM," "intersex," you to leave. Anyone else can stay if gender identity: from butch to We call upon the transsexual community and "transwoman." They you want." Then Festival staff declared "drag queen," and beyond , including to respect and support the community called for festival attendees them would not debate the policy toj?in they many who consider themselves of Michigan, which by itsvery defini in their protest and passed out stickers anymore and proceeded to escort those transgendered. We remain committed to tion is separate space for womyn-born in support of transgender inclusion. who chose to go with them to the gate. providing space for womyn-born womyn." Their action was a challenge to the As the activists followed Festival staff to MWMF's express policy which declares themain gate, they chanted, "We have the Festival to be "womon-born been asked to leave, we are not going womon" space" and requests the voluntarily." "transsexual community to respect and In addition to the protest at the excerpts from Camp Trans press release support this intention. The Festival Saturday evening dinner, transgender furtherdeclared that theywill not activists staged a protest outside the question anyone's gender at the Festival, nightstage Friday night after the concert Eight young attendees variously signs declaring themselves a variety of but that individuals who self-declare as was over. Activists held a banner identifying as trannie boys, boydyke, identities, including "boy," "FTM," "male-to-female transsexuals or female proclaiming "Trans Inclusion Now." FTM, and lesbian were evicted from the "intersex," "drag queen," and to-male transsexuals now living as men" Festival goers leaving the concert mostly Michigan Womyn's Music Festival this "transwoman."... will be denied admission or asked to fell quiet as they passed the banner. One Saturday evening after they refused to [t]he eight's expulsion marks the first leave ifon the land. group started chanting "No boys at meet the Festival's "womyn-born time the "womyn-born womyn only" women There was disagreement as to the Michigan" with several joining womyn only" policy.... policy has been used against trannie Festival's decision regarding the eviction in.One of the transgender activists More than 60 gender activists from boys, boydykes, FTM's, Lesbian of the eight activists. In a press release blocked the way of those chanting, and these groups [Camp Trans Planning Avengers and younger gender-variant from www.camptrans.com, the expul for several minutes therewas a tense Committee, Boston and Chicago chap women. .. sion was viewed as "turning a new page standoff until the transgender activist, ters of ] plus members .Said one activist, "Vogel's policy in the escalating conflict over the who was blocking theway and yelling at of Transsexual Menace, supportive towards transsexuals is now the same as policy's application" and as "the first one of the chanters, was finally pulled attendees and renowned activist Dana theUS military;s toward homosexuals. time the 'womyn-born womyn only' aside by the other transgender activists. Rivers gathered across the road from But 'Don't Ask, Don't Tell" only works policy has been used against trannie (off our backs collective members were the Festival this year to do outreach and when the target group collaborates by boys, boydykes, FTM's, Lesbian among those involved. See sidebar.) education on what they viewed as a remaining silent.Well we aren't silent. Avengers and young gender-variant discriminatorypolicy being unfairly We don't identify as 'womyn-born and even women." ?info from www.michfest.com applied.... womyn'?we don't know what it off our backs reporters on the scene www.camptrans.com As thousands of attendees looked on means or why it should be used against observed festival staff saying to the during dinner in the Festival's huge us or our trannie friends." by karla mantilla dining area, the young activists held aloft ?from www.camptrans.com

page 8/offour backs/october 2000 This content downloaded from 130.209.6.61 on Thu, 14 May 2015 13:31:54 UTC All use subject to JSTOR Terms and Conditions close the controversy: up ...and right and personal

It seems to that there has been a subtle, unacknowledged silencing of those a the who favor Michigan's womyn-only policy vis vis transsexuals. During attacks was an and Saturday evening dinner protest, there atmosphere of subdued quiet wing tension among most of the festival attendees. Although women talked privately about their distress over the transsexual disruption of the festival, therewas For some little ifany public vocal dissent against the demonstration. reason, "americane for truth" those who disagreed with the protestors seemed to feel reluctant to confront the protestors. This was perhapsjustified, given my own experiencethe night before. attendees Upon leaving the stage at the end of the Friday night concert, festival claims MWMF encountered transgender activists with a banner proclaiming "Trans Inclusion Now/' I decided to stage a minor counter protest by chanting "No boys at was confronted Michigan" with some others inmy group. I immediately by children one of the transgender activists who stepped infront of me, blocking my path, endangers about how dare I yelling at me?her face only inches from mine?something exclude her, that she was a woman, etc. I certainly had not wanted personally an announcement Lisa MWMF*s thatwas know that The following is by Vogel, producer, posted engage with her, just to let transgender activists and festie-goers on to an article written a in a calm voice that theMWMF website in response by right wing reporter therewas indeed an opposing view. I repeatedly requested accusing theFestival of endangering children and subjecting them to sexual abuse. she move out of my way, but she kept yelling at me. I tried to step to the side were a women to move past her, but she stepped in front of me again. There lot To womyn who use theMichigan course we all know this is a us so not with her front. after surrounding I could pass by blocking my Finally, are Womyn's Music Festival's discussion smear campaign and they attempting several very tense minutes, several other transgender activists pulled her away board, friends and allies?please pass to alarm our neighbors inOceana from me and letme pass. this on through personal emails. county and to provoke state and local 1was that would result in surprised merely voicing my opposing viewpoint I'm to the officials to the Festival. was a sorry report temporary investigate such a personal confrontation. Perhaps themost ironic thing of all closure of the Festival's Since part of theirmaterial came from woman afterwards who came to me and told me that the incident was my up bulletin board. We've been with the discussion and because have leftme alone. She dealing forum, faultbecause if I had just not said anything,they would our a situation over the last few days and it they directed the straight press to even said that the actions on violence although transgender protestor's verged was to close the forum while we the forum until we can me and in Iwas as violent necessary site, pulled against (by blockingmy path yelling my face), just we sort out. The sort it all a act. things through. because speaking up in counter protest was also violent group "americans for the truth" has No investigation has been initiated at the women at the Saturday evening dinner were wiser than I to not Perhaps the State this time, and it is unclear whether the was a cost to petitioned Michigan Attorney publicly acknowledge their dissent with the protestors. There General and theOceana and Mason Attorney General's office or theOceana The was and I felt shaken, speaking up. experience upsetting intimidating. to the will these me County prosecutors investigate County prosecutor investigate upset, and angry, along with the others inmy group. It certainly made think Festival regarding sixMichigan penal trumped up claims. out on this issue. again before speaking at codes they claim we have violated. After the initial shock and anger To the extent thatwe allow this tiny faction to silence dissent and dominate Allyson Smith, a "free lance reporter" being attacked by these people, I'm the debate on this topic, we endanger the continuation of womyn-only space. affiliated with theAFT who has never invigorated to take the strongest, The convictions, needs, and vision of the thousands of women who support the attended the event, constructed a smartest and most lesbian as a with their their and their MW^MF womyn-only space dollars, work, are sensational portrait of the Festival by loving response possible. They presence should not be overridden and silenced by the a small group of people on anony using the Internet, printmedia and is about. clandestinely eavesdropping who just don't get what womyn-only space a mous postings on the bulletin board, elected officials to attempt to advance by karla mantilla then selectively quoting these comments very hateful position. It's important that out of context. She melded thiswith we speakup proudlyand positively Festival childcare materials to paint a about our Festival community and use same picture where she claims children culture. We can, and will, the us to are endangered and subjected to sexual channels that are available to all of abuse. tell the simple truthof who we are. I'm This distorted picture, which is currently developing a plan with their primary "evidence" of any wrong thehelp of friendlylegal counsel, doing, has been sent to the press as well experts on the right wing and the best as state and county officials and thinking of our Festival community. As is posted on theirwebsite. things evolve, Iwill circulate updates (www.americansfortruth.org/ and let you know how you can help. michfest.html). I'm certain thatwe will emerge from even more This organization's purpose, in their this skirmish stronger and own words, is to "expose and oppose committed to the positive values that the homosexual movement". They have we celebrate atMichigan. attacked many queer organizations With love and thanks, and individuals throughout theU.S. Of Lisa Vogel

October2000/off our backs/page 9 This content downloaded from 130.209.6.61 on Thu, 14 May 2015 13:31:54 UTC All use subject to JSTOR Terms and Conditions