Lesbians look to reclaim Leichhardt

Leichhardt may be the traditional home of the Dykes on Bikes and have its own feminist bookstore, but the local lesbian scene is struggling to maintain its identity.

But one local woman is attempting to turn that around and reclaim Sydney’s original lesbian precinct.
Teresa Savage, a Leichhardt local for 20 years, intends to start a group for local lesbians to meet and combine strengths to effectively lobby local government.

I moved to Sydney with my partner and our three children. A very straight man told me I should move to Leichhardt because we’d fit in, and we did, Savage said.

There’s a very neighbourly feel and even straight neighbours are very lesbian-friendly but take a walk down Norton St and you aren’t exactly overwhelmend with rainbow flags or pink triangles or women’s signs.

Savage already has an extensive range of ideas for the suburb, including pushing for a GLBT library collection and a written history of lesbians from the area.

The core of her plan revolves around the establishment of a group which could lobby the local council for increased services for the lesbian community.

I really want to see a lesbian community advisory group to advise Leichhardt Council on its service provision to lesbians, Savage told Sydney Star Observer.

We pay rates to Leichhardt Council, and, like other minority groups in the area, should see our needs reflected in service provision.

There is a certain daily affirmation from walking local streets and visiting local businesses and facilities in which we feel welcome and visible. Just like the local Italian community, we are a colourful part of the local scene with our own specific history.

Savage will be out of the country for the coming weeks and so is mainly interested in gauging interest in the idea for now via email.

info: If you are a Leichhardt local interested in meeting other dykes, send Teresa an email at [email protected].