Women's Liberation Radio News

Issy Dickinson is a Lesbian-Feminist Activist and one of the Organisers of the Lesbian Strength March and Rally that took place in her hometown of Leeds in the UK on September 7th, 2019. Ms. Dickinson is studying for a Masters Degree at the University of Leeds and spoke with Thistle via skype on September 18th about the lead-up to the March and what the March was like on-the-ground the day it happened. This interview if full of useful information and lively discussion for any budding feminist activists out there who wish to learn how to organize uplifting and positive demonstrations on the streets. The Lesbian Strength March was born out of months of weekly meetings and planning sessions a handful of creative and dedicated women attended to make sure the marchers and speakers would be safe and have an enjoyable time. The two main organizations putting the March on were ReSisters and Get the L Out UK. Both had members who had attended Pride events in Lancaster and in Leeds prior to creating their own march, separate from regular Pride. Please view video coverage of what happened to the lesbian presence at Lancaster Pride in late June of this year linked to below. It is important to understand the prior situation on the streets some of these same demonstrators faced that day in Lancaster in the hands of the transactivists. youtube.com/watch?v=tcX11sKKUWM&feature=share&fbclid=IwAR1TPT4fwlDR54KC7Hv2vuKPAasNqoJcxBsC6wRHkf96RS2YT5X0l5aj22U Please also view the rally speeches given at the March: https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCuU_ArcIWrBmHlqyY5pww5Q From the frustration, trauma and demoralizing experiences the pro-lesbian activists had at these two Pride events, fertile soil was cultivated for creating the Lesbian Strength March on September 7th. What the story of this March shows is that we have the choice to go forward in solidarity and in our sisterhood, or to be demoralized and fearful because transactivism has gotten so ugly and in many cases, the powers-that-be, such as the police, are not on our side. These Leeds sisters and sisters from across the United Kingdom demonstrated to the world on September 7th that our sisterhood truly can be powerful and our bonds undiminished by transactivist attacks. Listen to this compelling telling of Issy's stories of her organizing experiences in a tightly knit group of ten women and then her glorious moment in the sun with her sisters the day the March happened.

In this podcast, the Michigan Framily Reunion is celebrated as a women-only festival that promotes community and empowerment. The episodes covers the highlights of MFR 2019 and plans for MFR 2020, the year of the Dragyn. It also discusses the importance of women's spaces, healing the planet, and the power of women-only gatherings. Additionally, it explores the significance of women's music festivals and unlearning societal conditioning under patriarchy.

Two sisters share their gripping experiences from the 2019 New York City Dyke March, revealing the rifts between feminist and trans activism. They discuss the tensions of identity and representation that shaped the event. Personal anecdotes highlight the atmosphere of enjoyment and reflection during the march. The dialogue continues with plans for future marches aiming to better advocate for female homosexuals. The conversation concludes with the importance of reviving women-centered spaces and the ongoing fight for women's rights amidst evolving social dynamics.

WLRN's 40th edition podcast takes a look at the current state of lesbians within what is now known as the LGBTQ+ movement, by exploring women's experiences at this year's Pride Parades and Dyke Marches. In this August 1st broadcast of our monthly news program, April Neault delivers the latest in women's news, followed by our featured song, "Whole Woman" by Ali Bee, written about a dyke march that was taken over by men. http://alibeemusic.com/ Next, you'll hear an interview with Eli and Jen, two lesbians who participated in this year's Dyke March in New York City who were barred from marching by trans activists who were Dyke March officials. Next up, Sofia Simonson of the Lancashire Resisters speaks with WLRN's Sekhmet SheOwl about the Resisters' demonstration this year at Lancaster Pride. They too encountered trans activists but had a "street plan" before they went and managed to maintain a lesbian feminist presence for quite some time before being taken over by the mobs. Finally, for our commentary this month, we have chosen to re-broadcast Thistle's commentary from Edition 31, which is once again particularly relevant to today's program. As mentioned in this month's show, the Lesbian Strength March is coming up this September in the UK—a pro-female event created by and for lesbians. Click here https://www.eventbrite.com/e/the-lesbian-strength-march-and-rally-tickets-64786948507 to learn more and support this brave and momentous initiative. https://www.gofundme.com/f/lesbian-strength-march-and-rally On behalf of all of us here at WLRN, thank you for supporting feminist-powered community radio. If you like what you hear, please share our content widely so our voices can reach more and more women across the globe!

Katherine MacLean is a research scientist, teacher and meditator. In her academic research, she studied how psychedelics and mindfulness meditation can promote beneficial, long-lasting changes in personality, well-being and brain function. Following her sister's untimely death from cancer, she left academia and co-founded the Psychedelic Education & Continuing Care Program in New York (www.psychedelicprogam.com), which focuses on increasing awareness and reducing risks of psychedelic use. WLRN's Thistle Pettersen was able to connect with her by phone to capture this interview in February 2019. Hear Ms. MacLean talk about her experiences in the male-dominated medical establishment before she left it and how she discovered that this male domination carried over into her experiences in the "alternative" psychedelic community. Ms. MacLean will be giving one of the keynote addresses at the third annual Mycelium Mysteries Women's Retreat in Almond, WI taking place the weekend of September 27-29, 2019. Learn more at www.midwestwomensherbal.com/mushrooms.

In this July 4th, 2019 release of WLRN's monthly news program you will hear the world news as written and delivered by April Neult before hearing Thistle's song "We are More" about getting active in the face of the overwhelming problems of war and climate change. After the song, we present two interviews Thistle did with professors Joni Seager, author of The Women's Atlas and Earth Follies: Coming to Feminist Terms with the Global Environmental Crisis, and Leah Horowitz, professor of Human Ecology at the University of Wisconsin. Both professors confirm that climate change is disproportionately impacting women yet power over what to do about it remains primarily in the hands of men, who also are the primary drivers of the problem. After the interviews, you'll hear Sekhmet Sheowl's commentary that will encourage you to explore and reconnect with nature, away from cameras, phones and electronics, in order to be fully alive on planet earth in these times of massive change. Thanks for staying tuned to WLRN, our feminist community powered radio station. Please listen, like and share widely as we rely on listeners like you to get our work into the ears of women everywhere.

Leah Horowitz, a Professor at the University of Wisconsin-Madison specializing in cultural geography, explores indigenous resistance to environmental destruction. She discusses the Kanak people's battle against nickel mining in New Caledonia, highlighting how women are increasingly taking on advocacy roles despite systemic challenges. The conversation also delves into the intersection of environmental and feminist movements, the importance of language in climate discourse, and the empowerment of collective action in addressing climate change.

Going to a women's festival or event this summer 2019? Consider creating some rad media around it for posterity. Contribute to WLRN's upcoming podcast focused on what we all did this summer. Take a listen to this public service announcement calling for submissions and then contact us at wlrnewscontact@gmail.com if you'd like to contribute your media to the program! More info here: https://wlrnmedia.wordpress.com/2019/06/26/call-out-for-media-submissions/ Thanks for tuning in to WLRN, our feminist community radio station powered by sisters who care.

Sisters! Women's right to our reproductive freedom is under attack AGAIN because patriarchy seeks to control women and women's bodies regardless of the year we are living in. In this 38th edition of WLRN's monthly podcast, we explore the issue of abortion. First up, hear WLRN's world news segment as written by Damayanti and delivered by Jenna Di Quarto. Next, enjoy Fallopian Rhapsody by the 90's band Lunachicks before hearing an interview Thistle did with MaryLou Singleton, midwife and women's healthcare advocate based in New Mexico. Then stay tuned for excerpts of an interview Julia Beck did with Judith Arcana of the Jane Collective last Spring. Finally, hear Sekhmet SheOwl's powerful commentary on the radical feminist politics of abortion and where our feminist conversations on this topic fall short. Thanks for staying tuned to feminist volunteer-powered community radio. Please listen, like, comment and share widely to get this handcrafted goodness into the ears of women everywhere.

WLRN's Danielle Whitaker recently interviewed RAINBOW STAR (all caps — listen and learn why!), a feminist performer and songwriter from Kentucky. RAINBOW STAR's first album is available at rainbowstarmusic.com, and her new album, Music from the Rainbow Sparkle Palace: Volume II, is coming soon, with part of the proceeds benefiting a domestic violence shelter in Richmond, Kentucky. One of the album's tracks entitled "Patriarchy Song" was recently banned from Facebook due to lyrics that were considered "offensive." In this interview, RAINBOW talks about the impact of this ban, the challenges of living as a feminist in rural Kentucky, and her journey as a feminist musician.