May 25, 2003

An open letter to the Civic Media Center:

This is a collective statement from the Lesbian Avengers of Gainesville who would like to see the activist and progressive organizations in our communities work in active coalition and dialogue with all of the various feminist women/organizations locally. This is a call for action from the feminist allies at the CMC, particularly those men who run the space currently and who have been largely absent from feminist solidarity and ally work with regards to the issues of sexism at the CMC… specifically, this is in reference to a documented account of “sexism at the CMC” in the year of 2002 which resulted in the resignation and ostracization of Jessica Hardy, ex co-coordinator at the CMC as well as an outpouring of critique of her, her tactics, and some otherwise general critiques that were seldom coupled with sincere feminist solidarity and/or ally work. We’d like to ask each of you to publicly acknowledge what it is that you have done and will continue to do in addressing the issues of sexism at the CMC. Concrete goals and actions towards stopping sexism and being a stronger ally to feminist women should be the main focus of your reply. The purpose of the following is not empty rhetoric or the regurgitation of old debates. In fact, debate is highly discouraged unless it is amongst men strategizing on how to be strong feminist allies. Further, raising, facilitating, and mediating issues of sexism and the subsequent response should not continue to fall in the laps of women at the CMC. When this happens, as it did in the recent past, it is an unfortunate and blatant symptom of sexism. This and all relative matters should be addressed formally at the meetings of the CMC, and men who currently operate the space should strategize ways to make anti-sexist politics an ongoing and proactive gender-neutral effort at the CMC.

Again, in attempt to encourage dialogue and coalition we hope to find the feminist allies at the CMC rising to the occasion and sharing with us the concrete anti-sexist strategies that have been employed since early 2002. We look forward to seeing you all in action.

Sincerely,

the Lesbian Avengers