Loud Lesbian Love

 Greetings Gentle Beings!

Today, I want to let you all know that the little things go a long way. Even the smallest act of love, kindness and service can make someone’s day brighter. To acknowledge another person and their struggles is all most people want. Hell, even to just acknowledge a person’s existence and value their life as you value yours can make a world of a difference. I want to start off by telling you that you matter and you should tell and show other people that they matter too. You never know who might need it.

This brings me to something inspiring that I read today about lesbian visibility/awareness in the late 70’s and early 80’s. Joan E. Biren, a documentary artist and photographer, took it upon herself to travel across the United States to reveal the lives of lesbians like herself that were hidden from society for various reasons. Biren’s 1979 book Eye to Eye: Portraits of Lesbians depicted lesbian life as no one knew it at that time. Here, lesbians are photographed as “mostly doing ordinary, everyday activities” such as tending to their children, mechanical repairs and expressing love to their significant other. Moreover, some of the lesbians photographed passed as heterosexuals in their daily lives.

Biren’s work was pivotal for lesbians of the past. Back then, Biren’s work signified the ever-growing presence of underrepresented identities that were hindered by oppression, discrimination, and homophobia. Her work encouraged lesbians from all walks of life to find a safe haven to love and represent themselves in comfortable and safe ways. Biren wanted women of her time to know that there is imperfection and beauty within lesbianism that is found within the authenticity of capturing the moment—not in the unrealistic perfectionism of lesbians in the media or fetishized lesbian pornography. Biren said herself that she wanted to “show something we could see ourselves in, what our friends and lovers looked like to each other”. Raw. Real. Flawed. Yet Beautiful.

Biren’s work is also a staple for lesbians and all people of the present time. Since homosexuality was heavily frowned upon until more recent decades, Biren’s work was originally exclusive to the lesbian community only. However, as our current society continues to evolve to represent marginalized groups like never before, there is a desperate need for authenticity and boldness. This authenticity and boldness helps people understand the existence of others that may be different from them. It helps people understand that EACH individual can be their own blueprint and that it is okay for others to have their own blueprint. It is okay to be different.

Joan E. Biren’s call to acknowledge lesbianism in such a risky time is the bravest thing she could have done for herself and other women. She moved mountains for people that were scared to move snow (and who could really blame them?). If that is not inspiring to you, I do not know what is.

I ask all of you, My Gentle Beings, to educate yourself about people you may not understand. Educate yourself on homophobia—pronouns—the sexual spectrum—your own flaws as a person. Ask questions to be informed. Be teachable. Teach with love. Let a marginalized individual know that they are heard, seen and respected for who they are. I promise, a little goes a long way.

You never know who might need it.

Article Link: https://www.theguardian.com/artanddesign/2021/feb/15/jeb-lesbian-photographer-eye-to-eye-republished-joan-e-biren