Today's Spotlight looks at lesbian music pioneer Alix Dobkin, who released the groundbreaking record, Lavender Jane Loves Women in 1973. Today's song is a track from this record. It was the first record that was for and by lesbians, and paved the way for all the lesbian performers who came after her. She formed her own record label, Women's Wax Works, to put out this release. The record was also the first record produced, engineered, and financed by lesbians. Dobkin is considered so influential that she is sometimes referred to as the "Head Lesbian." She has spent her life traveling the world singing about lesbian life and love as one of the first to ever do so. Dobkin married a man in the 1960s and had a daughter but fell in love with a friend and came out in the early '70s.
Dobkin is an avid promoter of women's (she would probably spell it "womyn's") music and culture, and lesbian rights. She still tours and gives workshops about the early women's music movement. Dobkin has been criticized because she is pro-women only space and has been called a man hater and transphobic. She has been vocal in her criticism of trangender people, particularly of FTM transpeople. She seems to see FTMs as a threat to lesbian identity, especially butch identity. She says,
"I certainly have strong opinions about men's violence, men's dominance, men's politics, male institutions, male hierarchies and penis-centered culture (don't you?), but man-hating is irrelevant in my life. I look to transexuals to break new ground and not reinforce conventional gender stereotypes."
Dobkin is a vegetarian and on the advisory board of Feminists for Animal Rights. She is also a doting grandmother.
I hope some of you will take the time to read the following article. It's a different way of looking at transgender identity and very interesting.
Dobkin's take on transgender
Yesterday's poll is still open- vote if you have not yet done so.
50 comments:
Have you guys seen this?
Anybody know anything about the following movies-
East Side Story
Eating Out
Hellbent
Wild Reeds
They're the only ones with no votes in the poll.
OT- last night the Mrs. and I watched Borat. I laughed so hard I was crying! It is a must-see.
Reese traditional? She was six months pregnant when she got married.
Ms. Pieces made damn sure she was married before she pumped that kid out. She and Ryan were already engaged when she got pregnant. Engagement- 12/98, Ava born- 9/99. Ms. Pieces even said something at the time about being a good Southern lady and she would never have a child without being married. Maybe somebody can find the quote?
Forgot to add- this is why the Babblers want her pregnant so bad. They are convinced Jake would be forced to marry her then.
She must have the longest gestation period of any mammal on the planet!
I would not doubt that the engagement was backdated.
Great post today, Wicked. I see what Alix Dobkin is saying, and it is sad if that is the motivation in every case. You wonder if all of the difficulties of going against the established order of things is much more difficult for butch lesbians. But they are beautiful and sexy just the way they are. They don't have to feel a need to conform to a category. Yeah, I envy sometimes that a man can piss easier than I can - he can just go anywhere he wants to with that hunter/gatherer body of his, and I have to search for a 5-star hotel john somewhere, but that doesn't mean he's the ideal, but it is admirable. Nor does it mean that male cultural dominance is right.
I think that if a woman truly feels trapped in her body and wants to change it, then modern medicine can help, but I hope the motivation isn't the things that Alix lists in her essay, that all fall under the name of rejecting womanhood, and that women choosing to undergo such a permanent procedure will examine their motivations carefully. I think that is all Alex is saying. As we can see, beautiful womanhood comes in a lot of different forms, as does beautiful maleness. Thought-provoking essay, and that's a good thing. :)
Sorry for any newcomers. No anon posts. Got something to say, give yourself a name for a post, a day, a week or for good.
IHJ has more Reeke.
This link came from WFT2.
Thanks for another great thought-provocative Spotlight Wicked.
I found the article you linked extremely interesting and I can understand Dobkin's POV but in the end I can't help but wonder if her opinion is colored by her strong and fervent pro-woman activism.
I have a hard time imagining that a person could go through the long, difficult and often painful ordeal of a sex change simply to jump at the chance to escape "gender distress". And although I'm not familiar with the psychological tests transgender people have to go through, I wonder if doctors wouldn't pick up and exclude those who are simply looking for what Dobkin calls a postmodern all-American quick fix.
I wonder what Dobkin thinks about men in the same situation. What "gender distress" does she think they're trying to escape?
On a shallower note, I made a mistake yesterday in my four faves. Beautiful Thing shouldn't be there (I've never seen the film!). It should have been Wedding Banquet. :)
Males being in the dominant culture, may not experience gender distress as acutely as women do, and they don't have to escape anything, but that is changing. As we all know, femme lesbians have a bit of an easier time of it, sometimes being the center of straight male fantasies as they are, and butch lesbians may not be as easily accepted, but I think they are sexier. I also wonder if sometimes a person may think they want the procedure, and then have regrets later, as in one of our other Out Spotlights, Renee Richards. I think a person can always find a dr. willing to do a procedure. I just think that Alix Dobkins makes a legitimate point.
Males being in the dominant culture, may not experience gender distress as acutely as women do, and they don't have to escape anything, but that is changing.
But men wanting to have a sex change is not new and it happened long before attitudes started to change towards gays & lesbians. As a matter of fact, when I grew up the only sex changes I was hearing about concerned men. But could it be because they were the only ones who could pay for the surgery in those days? Or maybe they suffered more from homophobia, particularly if they were deemed "more feminine" both in their looks and attitude.
I agree Dobkin makes valid points, although I still find myself disagreeing with her. :)
And your're right Interesting when you say that a person can always find a doctor.
It'd be interesting to see if the number of transgender people diminishes as acceptance of gays increases.
It'd be interesting to see if the number of transgender people diminishes as acceptance of gays increases.
Very true. :)
Interesting, your mentioning Renee Richards made me think about Thomas Beatie, the pregnant man, who was also Spotlighted not long ago.
Here's a woman who didn't want to be a woman but ultimately ends up going through what is still exclusive female territory. I'd love to know Dobkin's opinion about cases like that
a/k/a Interesting
I should clarify, I in ow way want to minimize the very real distress of men considering or having undergone transgender surgery, or homophobia towards gay men, just pointing out that the fact remains that the power base in the world historically has been and is male, although it is changing. It includes control of female sexuality. If that offers any more benefit to all men of a society, I don't know. I'm sure there are a percentage of people who do identify with the dominant culture at the expense of themselves.
^^sorry, that should should read "in no way".
Guess they had to do it since Jake was just announced as PoP.
No Reese, that hat does nothing for you.
Poor Babblers, still no engagement ring and it looks like she had her hair re-colored, something she probably wouldn't do if she was pregnant.
Anybody know anything about the following movies-
East Side Story
Eating Out
Hellbent
Wild Reeds
They're the only ones with no votes in the poll.
Well, apparently Hellbent's claim to fame is that it is the first gay film of the horror genre. Sounds interesting and kudos! ;)
Interesting spotlight today. "Head lesbian"?? - Odd name to be given someone I think. What does that mean really?? I thought her take on transgender woman was pretty extreme although I guess I can see where she's coming from on a very basic level. I’m sure the issue of changing your sex - whether its female to male or vise versa is much more complicated than that.
How can you tell she recolored her hair, btw, considering she wears a hat? Poor toothy tile-rs, looks like YOU are getting blue in the face!
The restaurant that Jeese went to is a known pap hangout. The only reason to go there is if you want to be seen.
Well, apparently Hellbent's claim to fame is that it is the first gay film of the horror genre. Sounds interesting and kudos! ;)
Hmm, a gay horror film. Interesting. I think I'd like to see how it was done and if it's any different from the straight ones.
Re Alix Dobkin and female separatism- an issue that has come about at the Michigan Womyn's Music Festival, one of the biggest, if not the biggest, gatherings of women (mostly lesbians) anywhere, is that of transgendered women. Many at Michigan do not want them there and a "women born women" movement resulted. I was not sure if this had been resolved or how it was resolved, so I went to the Michigan Womyn's Music Festival website, but could not find clear guidelines there. I did find them here. They clearly state the Festival is for women born women and spell out the policy.
How can you tell she recolored her hair, btw, considering she wears a hat? Poor toothy tile-rs, looks like YOU are getting blue in the face!
This pic
No roots. Sorry Babbler.
Babbler Blues, you should check out the pictures first and babble later.
Reese should get an Oscar for Best Performance as a Beard for the pic with her foot up. So retro!
Foot up pic now on dlisted.
Today is Ian McKellen's birthday. Happy birthday Sir!
Hair looks freshly colored to me.
Re: the Womyn's Music Festival policy - that certainly does sound discriminatory, Wicked.
The restaurant that Jeese went to is a known pap hangout. The only reason to go there is if you want to be seen.
The WENN pics say Katsuya in Brentwood. I think you've confused locations. I always read about paps at the other one, the one on H'wood Blvd.
Yeah, happy birthday Sir Ian!
I really hope we'll have you among us for many more years! :)
The WENN pics say Katsuya in Brentwood. I think you've confused locations. I always read about paps at the other one, the one on H'wood Blvd.
They knew there were paps there and put on that show, knowing it would be and wanting it to be, photographed.
Re: the Womyn's Music Festival policy - that certainly does sound discriminatory, Wicked.
Women are allowed to bring their boy children if they are 10 and under. They have to stay at a special camp though.
I have never gone to the Festival, so I can't really say how it is. Anything that involves camping will NOT involve me! :) A lot of lesbians I know who have gone describe it as a near-religious experience.
They knew there were paps there and put on that show...
Jake and Reese are looking directly at the camera in few pictures.
Brothers and PoP are still deadheated. Anybody want to break the deadlock? Hate to close a poll on a tie.
TR, would love your take on this- do you see Reeke going all the way to marriage? What about engagement?
If this campaign is to turn Jake into a Soccer DILF, to match Reese's Soccer MILF, it's not working. It's just making him boring. Gone is everything that was interesting about him. Maybe this is who he really was all along.
How soon will we see the Reeke pix from today? Cause you KNOW they're coming.
Jake and Reese in "Pleasantville" -let's see how long they can stand it. . . I feel almost as sorry for her as I do for him . . .
Such a blast from the past to read about Dobkin and female separatism. And womyn's music (which I have never liked and never will--my gf made me turn the sound off).
That way of thinking is so just removed from my own experiences and who I am. I've never been comfortable with extremes, and I never felt like I had anything in common with women like Dobkin.
And when I read about what she has to say about transgenders, it seems just as confining as anything coming from people who insists on very rigid gender roles for men and women. She may be right that some people make the change for the wrong reasons, but that doesn't mean that it is always wrong.
How can you tell she recolored her hair, btw, considering she wears a hat? Poor toothy tile-rs, looks like YOU are getting blue in the face!
Now look, NoBreak, expecting us to drink the Reeke Koolaide is one thing; but you can't expect us to believe Reese is a natural blonde as well! ;)
Right now I can't get too excited about any of Jake's movies, but I finally voted for Brothers to break the tie, but someone else must have voted too Wicked as it still shows up as a tie.
Jake needs to put the Sox cap back on, because the Sox are dropping games on the road. Naybe he doesn't want to support anything from Boston while the Lakers and the Sox are in the playoffs. But the plain blue baseball cap is definitely a fashion DON'T. Bring back the Sturgis, the landscaping one, hell I even take the Lakers one. (NETB, you didn't hear that)
The original Brothers got great reviews and I admire Jim Sheridan's work and the hey its a good cast. So I am looking forward to seeing it. Informers I just want to see Austin again.
Interesting post Wicked. For graduate school I went to a women's college that was co-ed for its grad programs. There were many there who were a part of the pro-women/womyn movement and shared their perspectives on campus and in class. So there were some guys who learned some new perspectives to some old ideas.
Whoever it was that pointed out the pictures were on DListed, I'm sorry I took you up on that. Those pictures about gagged me. You know, I used to really take it with a grain of salt when bloggers on here would mention that they thought these websites were monitored for tips, reactions, feedback,etc. I never doubted that they would check out the internet for reactions to their clients (to me, the internet is where it's at now, anyway), but I almost believe that they really are getting some barometer readings on how they're doing. This is as physically close as they have been since Rome. Come on, give me a break. Sometimes, things are mentioned on OMG and by gosh, if they aren't miraculously contradicted on the next Reeke show.
Just popping in for a sec - my dogsitting job has been unexpectedly extended. I'm up to Episode 5 of JFC - I am really liking it. I think Ed O'Neill is a riot and so is Austin. It's really funny. I don't get the mob-ish guys @ the hotel, tho. Just wish they didn't throw the f word around like it was sand at the ocean. I can't recommend it to my mom now. Do people really talk like that in real life? Rebecca DeMorney was a total downer, until they explained why - now I'm curious to see if she changes any.
Sorry for the long post - hope everyone is enjoying their holiday weekend.
And womyn's music (which I have never liked and never will--my gf made me turn the sound off).
ITA. Never got the whole lesbian separatist thing either.
Mrs. just said something interesting. Our friend Carol is in her 60s and was part of the whole women's scene in the '70s during her coming out. Carol is a veteran of the Michigan Womyn's Music Festival. She said that one of her issues with transwomen is that they often still carry around male privilege, because they did not grow up female. Carol also said that the experiences of transwomen and lesbians are very different and she could see how lesbians would not be comfortable having transwomen in a place they were expecting to be primarily lesbian.
She said that one of her issues with transwomen is that they often still carry around male privilege, because they did not grow up female.
I had wondered if this was a possibility, Wicked, and that some women might feel this way.
One of my gay male friends massively fancies Jakey G and they're actually very similar both in looks and mannerisms. My friend is a completely non-queeny gay who hates the camp gay scene and who you'd assume was straight unless you knew otherwise. He's tall and strong, interested in cars and overall quite manly. He only gives it away in small ways like his attention to detail in matters of interior design, home furnishings, clothes etc - the type of things most straight men would never think about in such detail. Jake Gyllenhaal strikes me as one of these. Not overly camp or queeny like you could imagine Tom Cruise or John Travolta could be if they let it out, but just quietly, happily gay. The body language between him and Kirsten Dunst was a total giveaway - there's no way they were a couple, they were like brother and sister. I'm certain he was just her gay best friend/beard.
Been reading comments that say that it's great that Jake's doing PoP because after that he'll be able to do whatever he wants, including come out. Totally disagree. I think after he does PoP, he'll be such a cog in the Hollywood machine that he'll never escape. The Borg will absorb him totally. It's already happening.
Dlisted skewers Reeke today. The post is filed under "boring couples" and they call R a "fag hag" and say a few other things a little too nasty for me to repeat. The commenters not much nicer. One even noting Jake is paying the bearding fee in cash, I guess referring back to Nailed problems.
I hate to sound like a broken record myself, but these are the phoniest looking photos I've seen yet. Right up there with Rome.
Saturday pictures BORING Sunday up it Jake touch her. Reese get your preg dress on.
Uh, new pics, so predictable.
I'm glad I got back in time to vote - Informers all the way - Jake is much less of a treat these days. Soccer DILF was funny - poor boy is 27, not 35.
For the Jake poll I imagined myself in the pics for all three choices, and Brothers won. Difficult to choose in the final poll since I've seen only half the films so I voted for two I love and one I haven't even seen but liked the reviews of :D
Wicked, I've seen Borat 3 times, it gets funnier.
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