Lesbians ’intended To Disrupt' Convention If Men... (Press, 8 June 1977)

On 8 June 1977, a significant controversy unfolded at the United Women’s Convention regarding the inclusion of media, particularly male journalists, at the event’s final session. Mollie I Clark, a member of the co-ordinating committee, reported that a lesbian group had made implicit threats to disrupt the convention if men were allowed in. This pressure ultimately led to the decision to exclude all media from the session. During the weekend meetings leading up to this decision, Clark identified herself as a dissenting voice among the organisers. She described her concerns about a small faction of radical feminists exerting undue influence, which she felt undermined the majority’s views. Despite the lack of backlash following her public protest, she expressed disappointment over the majority's inability to voice their opinions or have their preferences acknowledged. Clark praised the overall organisation of the conference, acknowledging the hard work put in by the organisers and the enriching experiences offered by the workshops. However, she viewed the radical feminists’ tactics as deceptive, stating that while she supported the rights of lesbians to live authentically, she was alarmed that a few individuals were able to dominate the proceedings through intimidation. The controversy intensified around the lesbian group’s demands: the exclusion of male journalists and a designated speaking time at the conference. The co-ordinators had initially reduced their speaking time from ten minutes to five, following negotiations with the group. Despite the courteous interactions, the situation escalated when Clark asked the group to leave temporarily for a private discussion, which was met with resistance. A report from the "Christchurch Star" on the conference's opening session was cited as a reason for the demand to exclude the media, which Clark believed was manipulated to garner support for such exclusion. She suspected that the incident involving a male journalist at the opening session was orchestrated, rather than spontaneous, reflecting the underlying tensions. On Sunday afternoon, after the decision to exclude the media was disseminated, Clark noted that many convenors expressed outrage over the lack of collective decision-making on such a significant matter. Even some radical feminists deemed the exclusion repressive. Before the convention's conclusion, the chairperson, Jean Herbison, called for a co-ordinators’ meeting. The co-ordinators threatened to walk out if a proposed motion to allow media was put to a vote and resulted against their wishes. Clark attempted to reason with them, stressing that a vote against the committee should not equate to a lack of confidence. However, the co-ordinators remained resolute in their stance, indicating a deep division over the convention’s governance and the balance of power within the feminist movement.

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