These are not testimonies of outright violence but they give an idea of lesbians experience interactions with "transwomen" in lesbian spaces ——————————————

1. In 1995 I was in Ottawa for a work placement post degree. I connected with the Pink Triangle Women's Group and a particular 'T' was always at the meetings. He smelled of terrible BO, and he wore the same outfit all the time. He just sat around, never participating, but listened attentively as it turns out. It was creepy and unnerving, but I was new and didn't want to 'rock the boat'. One evening when in group, I told the women that on the weekend there was going to be a special presentation about the Group of Seven at the National Gallery. I was going and asked if anyone else would like to go too. Well, you can guess someone did. Him. He said he would like to go, I reluctantly said that I'd see him there. He sat next to me and asked, "Have you ever slept with a man"? I said I had been married for 17 years. That was all I said and he got up and left. He was looking for a Gold Star Lesbian I suppose to rape or whatever his fetish is or was. I imagine he\s progressed downwards since then, if he's still alive. Then in 2000ish, I was an acquaintance of a T in Saskatoon, who asked me if I would 'go out with him'. We were friends, so it was a surprise and shocking to be asked, because he knew me and that I am a lesbian. I declined, as politely as I could and a few years later I learned that he had been asking every single lesbian to go out with him. He was separated or divorced from his wife, who he did not want to be separated or divorced from. We remained friendly, but it was very disconcerting and surprising to have a man think he was entitled to me. ——————————————

2. At Lesbian Bar in Berlin, I spent most of my time talking to a man in a dress who was monopolizing my emotional time. I felt drained, as I couldn't connect with other women. ——————————————

3. Pansexuality is colonizing homosexuality. I personally have witnessed bisexual and pansexual females using the word "lesbian" to run their business. "Females attracted to females" are not necessarily "lesbians". I have experienced a sense of exclusivity and unease by a pansexual female who runs an online business for lesbians. During a zoom meeting I noticed some "lesbians" had their camera off. It came to me that one person was a transwoman. By mentioning it and saying that the virtual space was not "safe enough" to me, the business owner - pansexual female - said that she was inclusive of all forms of "women" and therefore inclusive of transwomen. I left the group. Pansexuality is not my sexuality. I don't feel emotionally at home" there. Not at all. ---------------------------------------------------

4. I've lived with a transwoman for a few month. Because I was looking for a place to stay. We are friends. We've been friends for more than 10 years now. (I'm a lesbian butch separatist). I've always known that transwomen are different kind of people than women. But I can be friends with anyone, if they are interesting people and respectful. Still, she made a few comments on my body as we were co-living. Those remarks were crossing my boundaries of respect. For instance, she would wonder why I do not get up at night to pee, since she had to get up several times to do so. She would say: "how can you hold for so long without going to toilet?"; she would also ask me about my periods, whether I needed tampons. I've never mentioned that I needed tampons, and even if it was the case, I believe I can go buy what I need for myself (I'm menoposed btw). She would then listen to videos on youtube from male explaining things about female bodies. such as: "the vagina is a symbole of XYZ", "enter the vagina is a symbole of XYZ". She would listen to these videos out loud in the house, almost every day. I have kindly told her that these videos were unappropriate in my presence. So she would turned down the volume once I enter the living room. Still, I felt it was really not appropriate for me. She would also stair at me while I was cooking. My rule is that I NEVER COOK FOR MALE. Unless they are a long time friendship (like the 20y friendship i have with a gay man). So I would cook for myself and rarely cook for her too. She would stair at me and play romantic music. I felt her needy energy on my body. I used several strategy to avoid having her looking at me while I was cooking. Finally, when I talked about male violence against women, she would remain silent. She would also say that patriarchy is universal, and that patriarchy has always existed. (my self-educational-path has taught me otherwise). I've moved out now. And live with lesbians. It was a good learning experience, but I would from now on clearly distance myself from transwomen in general. ----------------------------------------------------

5. Once I was a Dyke event in Toronto and I met this transwoman "lesbian" (passed really well but no bottom surgery) Later that night he told me to my face “you might hear that I’m a rapist, but it’s just gossip” Imagine how safe he knew he was because of the trans community. He was bragging about it.