Looking out, looking in: anti-semitism and racism in lesbian communities

I am a white Jewish lesbian from a Non-English Speaking Background (NESB). This article is based on a speech which I gave at the "Sappho Was A Wog Grrrl" conference organized by the Interlesbian group in Melbourne in 1995. I discuss how racism and anti-Semitism are reflected in lesbian communities, examining issues of privilege, invisibility and exclusion from both personal and community perspectives. I offer alternatives to ignorance and guilt, suggesting some strategies for taking responsibility and moving beyond discrimination. This article is, and remains, a work in progress as I continue to learn and understand more about anti-Semitism and racism.