The lesbian workshop did not happen as it was planned. The organizers had invited community members to a general workshop on sexual minorities and the facilitators of the lesbian workshop agreed to change the focus.
The workshop opened with a statement by the lesbian facilitators that it is really important to us that we recognize the central role lesbians have played and continue to play in Women In Black. We do not want our culture, herstory, and oppression to be forgotten or erased. We need to gather as lesbians to learn from each other, gain support, and share the unique experience of being lesbians in patriarchal society. We feel it is important that we remain visible as we also find ways to support each other in the LGBTQI – Gender Fluid communities. Therefore, we suggest that at future WIB gatherings there be a lesbian workshop and perhaps a second workshop on LGBTQI concerns.

We worked on :
1) How do you indentify in terms of gender and sexual identity? LGBTQI, Gender Fluid, Heterosexual. You could say a sentence or 2 about how you relate to the themes of this workshop.
2)Tell one short story- an example of what it's like to be LGBTQI Gender fluid in your world- like in your family, political work. etc. If you are not LGBTQI Gender fluid, what was your response the first time you met or worked with someone LGBTQI Gender fluid?
3)What are the strengths you get from your gender and sexual identity?
4) How can we be good allies with each other?
To extra emphasize our strength, feel our strength deep inside us, we together did a witches laugh, it made us feel so powerful. We had a great workshop !

Facilitators : Sue Hodes, Janice Gutman, Haya Shalom and Lieve Snellings